Buh-bye mom suit.

I have bathing suit issues just like I have issues with jeans. Is there anything worse than bathing suit shopping? I think not. I've never been a bikini girl. A tankini yes. A teeny bikini.....um, no. I'm no prude, but I have issues with gratuitous amounts of flesh. People have no shame.

When I was packing last week I counted 5 different black bathing suits in my drawer (and a couple of cute colorful ones from my honeymoon that my little toe could wear now--not sure why I'm keeping them--we can all dream, right?). Out of all those bathing suits I don't really like any of them and only wear one. I've been trying them on randomly in stores this season with no luck whatsoever all the while lamenting that they just aren't at all stylish. But seriously, there isn't much to choose from out there. Tar-jay and Old Navy are really letting me down.

But I think there is hope on the horizon--and it's not because I lost ten pounds either.

I recently stumbled across a website that appears to be exactly what I'm looking for and you have to check it out. It's called Lime Ricki and has some cute and modest suits at reasonable prices. I'm always hesitant to order something I can't try on, but I think I'm going to go for it. If you order one before I do, let me know what you think!

Because seriously, this is a cute mom suit, right? And $40. Really.

Chaos.

Inside our apartment isn't a very fun place to be right now--piles of stuff, boxes and all around chaos. I usually think moving is an adventure, but twice in 6 months is a little much for me.

Skylar was gone when all of the packing went down. She came home and went into her room and saw all of the boxes for the first time and said "Oh nooooo!" She opened every single dresser drawer and said "Where???" Then she went to her closet and saw that her toys were gone and said again "OHHHH NOOOOO!" I tried to explain that everything had to go bye-bye for awhile and she started crying. She's going to have a tough time in NY when she wants to go visit Nana, Papa and Coco and she can't.

We had a free day between the packers and movers, so we just avoided the apartment as much as possible. After Micah came home from work we spent the evening at the pool, trying to take advantage of it while we can. (Thanks Amy for the cute bathing suit! Skylar still says "Addie" every time she puts it on.)

For Krandy.

Hey Aunt Kristy and Uncle Andy!

I just wanted to thank you again for those markers you sent for my birthday. That giant pad of paper and plastic table cloth that came with them was really fun, but then the novelty wore off and since then I've been coloring on lots of other things. The world is my canvas. Mom says I can't use them responsibly and she won't let me play by myself anymore.

Love, Skylar

Just because....

I think she's cute.

And she's a hot mess.

And I like taking pictures with my camera.

And the days are slipping away like sand through an hourglass.

I want to remember this little face when she's 18 and leaving for college.

Not that I could forget her sweet little 2 year old face.

But it doesn't hurt to have a 1000 pictures anyway.

Gettin' my sew on....

Our packers come one week from today. One week. We seriously just got here.

Apparently when faced with major life changes I feel the need to begin a dozen unnecessary projects. I did this with the last move too. I should have been scrubbing baseboards, but no...I was decoupaging magnets and making necklaces and hair clips for people. Stress=unreasonable need to make unnecessary crafts. It must be a coping mechanism.

It started again this week...........pillows, matching dresses for the cousins, and on and on.......

I have so many pillow ideas my head will explode if I don't start making them now. It's a matter of survival.Fortunately last night we had a bunch of crazies over and they saved me from another late night of sewing. Thomas and Margaret were in town, and my sweet friend Kate came over. Kate is my SC BFF--she and I have had a lot of fun these last 5 months and I'm really going to miss her! While the girls were having a pajama party, the boys were stretching........Micah loves to have Thomas stretch him out. It's their thing.

I know I'll end up doing what I always do, and about 24 hours before the movers get here I'll turn into a crazy person and get everything done at the very last minute. That leaves me 6 more days to live in denial.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies.

I remember my mom making Whoopie pies when I was child. I loved them. And somewhere along the way they disappeared from my life. I decided a couple of weeks ago to bring them back.

If you don't know what a Whoopie Pie is than you just haven't lived, it's as simple as that.

And please whatever you do, don't confuse it with a Moon Pie, they aren't even in the same class. In fact, if you like Moon Pies (especially the banana ones) you should probably stop reading my blog and never come back because you and I have absolutely nothing in common and can never be friends (unless of course we already are friends and you've been hiding your dirty little Moon Pie secret all this time, in which case I grant amnesty). I know that sounds harsh, but sometimes I just have to speak out against the injustices of the world--namely Cheese Whizz, any meat in a tube and Moon Pies.

I cover Skylar's eyes and walk extra fast to get away from Moon Pies when I see them in a store, and believe me they are all over the place down here. They even have their own special displays in prominent locations. I've probably burned a few extra calories by going the long way to avoid a Moon Pie display. Calories that could be better spent on a Whoopie Pie. A Moon Pie is not a dessert.

But this is dessert......

When I started searching for a recipe, I couldn't find a single one that didn't use Crisco in both the cake and filling--an ingredient that I refuse to use. In the end, I went with this version from Martha Stewart that still called for Crisco in the cake, and just tweaked it. I know I shouldn't mess with Martha, and I'm sure her original version is even more delicious. So for the original go here. My slightly healthier version is below:

For the Cookies:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, not Dutch-process
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed dark-brown sugar
1 large egg
1 cup skim milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the Filling:
1 1/4 cup natural, creamy peanut butter
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

To make cookies: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into a small bowl; set aside.
Put butter and sugars into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on high speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add egg; mix until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Mix in half the flour mixture, then the milk and vanilla. Mix in remaining flour mixture.

Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake until cookies spring back when lightly touched, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks 10 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks using a spatula; let cool completely.

To make filling: Put peanut butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on high speed until smooth. Reduce mixer speed to low. Add confectioners' sugar; mix until combined. Raise speed to high, and mix until fluffy and smooth, about 3 minutes.

Assemble cookies: Spread 1 scant tablespoon filling on the bottom of 1 cookie. Sandwich with another cookie. Repeat with remaining cookies and filling. Cookies can be refrigerated in single layers in airtight containers up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.

One bite and you'll know why their called Whoopie Pies.

Mother's Day at the Lake.

We spent a relaxing Sunday at the Armstrong's lake house. It's beautiful........You know you're a mom when you get caught doing a "booger check" on film........We went for a spin in the Pontoon and Skylar was thrilled. She said "Love you boat!" several times. We even had to pray for it tonight when she went to bed.
A sweet moment with Papa.....

Our hostess "Aunt" Mary:

She had quite a spread......

"Uncle" Pat steering his ship....

This one's for Gayle......you birthed him.....

This may have been Skylar's new "best day ever".

I had a great day with no cooking whatsoever! Micah out did himself this year--he gave me the gift of organization. Toy organization to be exact. He was in Charlotte, NC competing in a triathlon yesterday (In which he placed 3rd....he's a stud!) and decided to go to Ikea all by himself (thereby forfeiting his masculinity) and pick up something he knew I've been wanting. Check out this beauty that will be in Skylar's new room (I so want to set it up now, but that would just be pointless). He even got baskets to go in some of those cubbies and hold toys......LOVE IT.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there! Hope you felt the love today!

Breaking out.

After 3 miserable days of being home-bound with a sick, pitiful, Popsicle-eating little one, we needed a change of scenery today. Desperately.So we headed to Nana and Papa's for some fresh air and fun.

Like hanging laundry......

picking dandelions.....

and finding bugs in the garden.

She's still not back to normal, but I think the fresh air helped. It also helped that Aunt B was around to play with.I was fascinated by the abundance of crickets jumping around like popcorn. Kinda cool, kinda gross.

Nana let Skylar color all over herself with a blue marker while I was out running an errand.

Definitely a better day.

A few new favorites.

Here are a few of my latest finds that I feel the need to share with everyone who will listen....or read.

First up, this handy hamper from IKEA. The best $10 I ever spent. I like that it's 1) dirt cheap 2) inconspicuous 3) holds a ton of laundry.......

and 4) you can divide your lights and darks as you go. It's like two hampers in one. I am the queen of overflowing hampers, and I have yet to completely fill this thing. It holds 3-4 loads of laundry. Amazing.

Last weekend while in Charlotte with our friends Randy and Chad Johnson (my pictures of them didn't turn out, I knew I should have hauled my new camera with me!), Randy mentioned that she wanted to look for something in Forever 21. Normally I don't shop there, but I went in with her and of course, I'm the one that found something while she walked away empty handed.

But guess what? They have amazing sandals. I got these for $7.50 and that's the regular price, not a sale. I've worn them almost every day since, and even if they only last for two months it's okay. If you go online they have 3 pages of adorable and affordable sandals, including these. There were about 10 other pair that were to die for.

I don't know about you, but turkey sandwiches are pretty much my favorite thing. I could eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Usually I forgo the cheese on my sandwich because I can't really taste it anyway, so it's just a waste of calories. (If I do use cheese it's either 2% milk pepper jack or Jarlsberg Light--both can be tasted in a sandwich--yes, I'm a dork).

Anyway, I was at Wal-Mart and got really excited to see that they now have sliced Smoked Gouda in the cheese aisle. Who knows, maybe it's always been there and I've been blind. Usually you have to get it from the deli and pay and arm and a leg, but it's less than $2 and it's sooooooo good. It's a great change for the same old sandwich/wrap routine. If you can refrain long enough to get IN the sandwich that is.
I was also excited to discover baby pitas! How did I not know about these? They're perfect for making mini pizzas or little sandwiches for kids, or dunking in hummus. They are a little harder to find, but I know Publix has them. A great invention.

Some deep fried lovin'.

My brother Josh finished his finals this week and celebrated by going to a Taylor Swift concert last night with friends. He came home smiling from ear to ear and wearing a pink tiara cowboy hat. His (free!) ticket was a box seat, and he was served catered snacks as he watched Miss Cutie-Patootie in all of her dancey, prancey, hair-swishing glory. We were a little jealous as our evening consisted of eating peanut butter woopie pies and putting Skylar to bed.

Then he presented Micah with a consolation prize that erased all thoughts of Taylor Swift and her teen angst.....leftover fried chicken. No matter that it was 11 pm. Or that the chicken had been sitting in a warm car for 6 hours. Like an evil temptress, Josh explained that it wasn't "fried" it was "lightly battered" which is practically diet food in the south. So when you put it that way, why not......

So he did. After all, we aren't going to be in the south much longer with fried chicken on every corner. It's now or never.

And he got to keep the hat too.