how this stella got her groove back

over the last six months, thank you pregnancy, i have had NO desire what so ever to cook or bake. well other than basic nutritional needs. and that my friends has been pretty basic.

until this past weekend.  its soup week at work this week.  we are constantly finding reasons to bring ridiculous amounts of food and gorge ourselves until we are plump & sleepy.

i signed up for chili.  while i'm sworn to semi-secrecy over this said recipe, i have a recipe for super delish cheesy chicken enchilada soup that i will share later this week.

& because of said soup week, i have gained my desire to bake and make yummy things again. THANK YOU LORD!

tonights plan - cookies. with m&ms!

oh those cupcakes up there, thats from a few valentines ago, but they look mighty yummy right about now..

today's post sponsored by the makers of top ramen and hot dogs

or if its one of your better days, a red velvet bundtini from one of the bestest places on earth.

*caution: this post is to neither gain or lose followers, supporters, friends or anything there like. this is just a rant from the bethani broadcasting system*

maybe its me finally being an adult and having to help support a family &/or myself. or maybe its the fact that i've finally gotten my "voice." but seriously this place we call america is getting to be too much.  putting forty hours into a work week seems to be not enough anymore. its like we all need two jobs to make us feel like we are earning something.

its that time. its insurance enrollment time. and its come to my attention that every year its getting worse and worse.  prior to this enrollment period, i was either oblivious, naive or just playing ignorant, but things didnt seem so bad. now they just flat out piss me off.

its one of those worlds where you can't go without insurance. well apparently you can and get it for "free" from hardworking individuals like myself, but i have more respect for myself and others than that. dont get me wrong and start your slanderous comments already.. hear me out.. there are individuals out there who need the help. and i for one don't mind it at all.. never have.. i donate regularly.. i've purchased foods for the needy.  i give spare bills and change to the "santas" that stand outside hobby lobby and walmart at christmas.. i'm not a selfish person..i promise..

but i just can't wrap my head around the other people. that group that makes the really needy folks lose out on what all our systems were set up for.. those on government assistance driving nicer cars than i do, who i watch buy lottery tickets and beer, but everything else on their food stamps and wic cards. those fully capable who can work & just dont want to.

i've had to take a really deep breath today making those insurance selections. the prices are insane and generally unfair, but its a necessity, whether i like it or not. 

naptime on sundays



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ten things that are making me terribly happy these days

1. peppermint mocha creamer is back for happy teas and coffees

2. cool breezes & sunny skies

3. despite the tragedy, Big Tex will be back next year

4. presidential debates are finally over

5. baby kicks

6. seeing holiday baking display shelves in grocery stores

7. kids and babies in halloween costumes

8. watching christmas movies in october

9. naptime on sundays with husband, roxie and benjamin

10. the cardinals didnt make the world series

got a list of things that make you terribly happy?

send them to me & get featured on the blog.

cheersbethani {at} live {dot} com

little notes #10

25 weeks

dear mr benjamin,

i can feel you moving around in there all the time these days.  some days you've got me thinking what rock band you're a member of, because goodness gracious! but feeling you move reassures me that you're in there and doing good.

dear weatherfella,

you know how a few weeks or so ago, i wished the cool weather would stick around? well you heard my wish apparently (thank you!!), because a super cool front is supposed to move in late thursday night. and its only gonna be high 60 low 40's friday, saturday and sunday.. well thats as far as the forecast shows, so maybe you'll be good to me and let those temps stick around permanently.

dear roxie,

well its that time. apparently listening to your mother and father isnt a part of your vocabulary. and with benjamin's arrival approaching quickly, you need to learn a few manners.  so doggie school is in your near future.  i hope you forgive us for all the new rules, but you really need it. and so do we.

dear christmas. & thanksgiving.,

hallelujah! you're so close, i can feel all the tingles and excitement going on in my stomach. well that could be benjamin too. or my totally whacked out digestive system. but i think i'm more excited this year than i have ever been before for both of you. besides the fact that i get to "eat for two" at both holidays, this year has even more special meaning for me and dearest husband. a.) its our first christmas in our home, so this mama-to-be is buttering up husband for a REAL tree this year. b.) we're expecting so we get to celebrate with benjamin, (even though he's not "here" physically, he's here with us, big belly wise.) which means he gets presents too. c.) we have a roxie to buy for too and i'm pretty sure she will enjoy barking and trying to gnaw on the tree.  so its time to bust out the holiday stuff and get this holiday season started. (I may or may not have already started listening to my Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas music in the car. Benjamin and I totally love it.) have you started getting your holiday stuff together even though its not even November yet?



benjamin & buddy the elf.



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if you've been an avid cheers, bethani blog reader, you know my fascination with christmas. and maybe buddy the elf.

but this post has nothing to with christmas. but a little about buddy the elf.

yesterday was my 6 month check up at the baby doctor.  i look forward to every appointment. to make sure benjamin is growing properly, that he's still a benjamin (which now we are 100% sure) and make sure i'm doing okay, blood pressure wise and all. and yesterday did not disappoint.

typically at this point, baby's weigh approx. 1-1.5 lbs in the womb.  well apparently benjamin has already decided he is an overacheiver. based on the super awesome high tech sonogram tools, benjamin weighs 1.11 lbs.  seriously 6 oz over the "typical" weight in the womb.  i still have 4 months to go & the last trimester is when baby's go into super growing mode.  dear lord, help me..

but i shouldnt be surprised. husband is a big guy. and was a big baby too.

but hopefully i dont have a buddy the elf on my hands. i'm not that big. i'm 5'3''. and i can imagine benjamin sitting in my lap at 6 months wearing size 2T clothes. now that would be a picture.

anyone else have super sized babies in the womb?? or deliver a super size baby??

alittle change never hurt anyone

you're probably going what just happened.

yes the blog has changed. quite a bit actually.

my blog is becoming more about being a mother & growing as family.

so i figured lets change things up a bit.

you can still subscribe.

you can still join via google friend connect.

you can still grab a button for your sidebar if you like.

its just now at the bottom. the very bottom.

i've also added all my pages back to the top

things like: about me. contact. & faq.

email is still the same too.

cheersbethani {at} live {dot} com

hope you like the changes as much as i do.

do your duty

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election day is less than a month away.

which means early voting starts next week.

do your duty, your right.

vote.

you have no right to complain otherwise.

a dash of pinterest #2

even though our texas temperatures may not be showing it, fall is in full swing.

and that makes me going through the second and starting the third trimester of my pregnancy.

so i find myself eating everything. well except big chunky tomatoes & vomit inducing onions.

and stinky hamburgers, hot dogs and bbq.

and thanks to pinterest, i'm happily pinning away anything that looks slightly delicious.

here are just a few things from my "recipes" board that i find mouth-watering and will be trying soon.

inside out caramel apples

fire crackers

peppermint cheesecake

ten layer cookies

sweet ham and swiss sliders

if you want to follow along, find me here

the great pumpkin debate..

i remember growing up, carving pumpkins was the only way to go. and i eagerly looked forward to it each and every year. picking which super awesome design i was going to make & then usually failing miserably, resulting in a giant hole for my "carving."

now its 2012. & i am eagerly just as excited about decorating pumpkins as before.

but pumpkin decorating isn't what is used to be. i mean seriously. there are carved pumpkins. and chevron pumpkins. and pumpkins that are decoupaged. and ones with thumb tacks. and painted silly faces.  the possibilities are endless.

so what's your pumpkin decorating style? are you old school and carve? or try something new every year?

this year i'm thinking maybe a chevron or decoupage pumpkin for myself, while husband carves something fantastic in his.

*photo above courtesy of taloolakids, which has a giant list of pumpkin decorating ideas; a few i'm considering as well.

apple cider anyone?

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one of the main reasons i love autumn are the recipes. scores of pumpkin this & pecan that.  but apple cider is one of my most favorite and i look forward to when it hits store shelves late september, early october.

while shopping the other day, i saw it, apple cider, sitting there, looking beautiful, calling my name.  but then my eyes saw the price tag. 1 gallon... $5.99. yikes!

then i thought, why not make some?

heres where i need your help. 

i'm looking for some super delicious apple cider recipes.. non-alcoholic of course, so benjamin and i can enjoy..

start sharing! i will be forever grateful.

maybe its hormones.. or maybe some people are just a-holes.

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being pregnant is tough. and not all smiley like people say it is.

and maybe its my out of whack, raging hormones that have made me ultra sensitive

but here lately, people have really been getting under my skin.

case in point.

this morning, a co-worker said my baby was going to be born two months early.

who does that?

mister benjamin: some DIY projects

everytime i walk through a baby department, anywhere my little heart fills with warmth and joy as i eagerly browse through all the boy things. puppy dogs & skateboards & baseballs & dinosaurs & bowties. oh how the list goes on and on.

our sweet benjamin is already spoiled by his mommy, daddy and loved ones and he's not even here yet. i think hes got more clothes than mommy does.  but thats the way it usually works with kids, doesnt it? 

as i mentioned previously, like a few posts ago, i hope to get out my sewing machine really soon and begin crafting away at some items for him.  like too cute for words bowties & fun stuffed animals like a dinosaur are just a couple of things i've been thinking of adding to my list.

and maybe just maybe i can give my graphic design beginner skills a go and try my hand at a monographed print to don on his bookcase or dresser. 

oh let the fun begin. 
120 days and counting until his due date.
cook my little benjamin cook.

oh dearest weatherfella, please be wrong just this once

its been briskfully chilly here the past few days.  last night it got down into the 30's at our house and i can tell you, this pregnant momma has enjoyed every second of this chilliness. pulling out the leggings, scarves and little sweaters definitely put a smile on my face.   too bad, according to the weatherman, it won't be sticking around.  its supposed to reach back up into the 80's throughout the week.  i'm hoping this time, the weatherman will be wrong.



gah! i love me some ham & cheese hot pockets!

this past weekend, dear husband, my mom, my cousin, her mom, my aunt & i found our way to the just between friends consignment sale in weatherford.  luckily, we found this, because it was the last sale of the year until next spring.  all of us did a fantastic job of getting lots of things for even better prices.  can't beat gently used baby items on half price day..

we managed to find lots of onesies for benjamin & a couple of toys for him to tinker with when he gets here.  i must say ever 3 person in the place was a pregnant lady.  talk about estrogen pool.

afterwards, husband & i, figured it was as good a time as any to get registered at target and babys r us.  what a whipping! i'm so glad its done and hope to never have to register again for anything. some people enjoy registering. i personally hate it. and being pregnant and having to register is even worse.  but thank goodness its done & bring on the baby stuff!

we have another visit here in a couple of weeks & benjamin is growing bigger every day, so i cant wait to see his progress. i've been getting over a chest cold the last few days, so its been really hard the last couple of days, just trying to sleep & be a "happy" pregnant lady. i think husband is the one suffering most. :( thank you love for putting up with me and my horrible hacking cough.

other fun exciting baby news, i'm hoping to pull out my sewing machine in the next few weeks and start some projects for mister benjamin to enjoy or use.. now i just need the gift of motivation to get busy..