Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Caught In The Act! A Post by the Real Baby

2012-01-13T12:34:00.000-06:00

My mom has been busy catching me in precarious situations like this one, so has had little time to pursue her blogging. Or knitting.

She says her first job is ME, then Daddy, then cooking, cleaning, volunteering with the Above & Beyond Children's Museum & Sheboygan County Master Gardeners and THEN she gets to fool around with her knitting and blogging. Lord knows she can't do it when I'm around. I'm in to everything right now. And I do mean everything. I'm tall enough to open doors, and small enough to slip in to tight spaces. I'll try to give my mom a little more time, and hopefully she can get back to her blog. I know people miss it--they tell her all the time. I think she misses it, too. Maybe I'll give her a break.

No promises!

The Real Baby of Sheboygan County

Farewell to Summer

2011-09-16T10:29:00.000-05:00

The Real Housewife has let summer get away from her. Luckily, she took lots of pictures.

The Real Baby went from baby to toddler over the summer. She runs, plays, slides and now even talks a blue streak. Her vocabulary is way ahead of schedule. Well over 75 words at seventeen months. She continues to amaze and change.

She spent time with her cousins this summer over the Fourth of July.

We also made a trip to Atlanta to visit more cousins in August. She waved at everyone and said "bye-bye" as they exited the plane. She cracks us up.

We've done lots of summer things

We gardened (this was Spring - look how she's grown!)

We ate corn on the cob

We ate watermelon

We drank beer

We drank wine (someone raided the coolers at the neighborhood picnic!)

We played at the pool

We played in the water at home

And played in the fountain with Paddy

We played dress-up (she never saw a purse she didn't like!)

We went to the fair and saw the chickens

And fed the ducks

Then, almost as if on cue, the weather changed and we needed our jackets and long pants.

We slid

Then we rode away from Summer on our trusty two-wheelers

Bye-bye Summer. See you next year (please come earlier next time!!)....

The Real Housewife (and Real Baby) of Sheboygan County

Where did Spring Go? A Post by the Real Baby!

2011-06-23T15:27:00.000-05:00

Hi! It's me, the Real Baby of Sheboygan County! It's been a while, but I've been very busy this Spring! My Mama has, too. That's why we've been a little absent from the blog. She says she'll try harder to stay up to date!

My cousins, Tommy & Gracie came to visit me for the Kohler Festival of Beer. We had lots of fun and they taught me how to play bean bags!

They are very fun to play with, and they're coming back for the Fourth of July weekend, too. I can't wait!

Daddy doesn't realize that I'm a multi-tasker and can handle both his Blackberry & his beer at once. I almost got away with it, too!

Uncle Wilber & Uncle Enos taught me the proper technique for "tipping back a cold one." Don't worry, it was milk, and not milk stout, although I heard it was very good, too!

Things got a little out of hand, and I danced on the table. I'm making the "Loser" sign because I couldn't get Uncle Wilbur to dance on the table with me!

I met a new friend, too. My name is Mary-Claire and her name is Claire Marie. I touched her nose - just like I do all my new friends. It's sort of like a baby fist bump, but not.

We didn't have much of a Spring, but the few nice days we did have, my Mama let me play outside. I played in the fountain.

I ran around the neighbor's yard in my new pink tennies - I can run fast in them!

I helped Mama water the plants - sort of. Paddy likes to help, too!

I played in the dirt. Herbs smell good!

I love to swing & slide!

And I have this new cool water table that I can splash and play in. I think it's even better than the fountain!

Now that it's summer, it's done nothing but rain and I've been cooped up inside. Rain, rain go away, come again some other day! Or at least rain at night. Please!

I'll catch you up again soon - I promise!

The Real Baby of Sheboygan County

Life & Death in the Garden: Yes, I'm a Killer

2011-05-07T14:51:00.000-05:00

I must admit something. I'm a killer. I did it. I confess. I killed my lilies. Perhaps they were day lilies, or maybe Asiatic Lilies, but honest to God, I could care less what kind of lily they are - I HATE THEM! I think the Lily is the most over-planted plant in the landscape. I cannot believe there are societies that revere them. I'm just glad they have someone to love them, because the good Lord knows it will NEVER be me!

The last shovelful.

The heaping barrel of lilies.

But for every death, there is life, and I am thankful for some of these things in my garden.

A few daffodils.

Blessed herbs - yes, I am a society member (Herb Society of America)

The new Mother's Day fountain that should be up & running soon. It's called "Hurricane's Eye" and very personal to me, as I was a Katrina evacuee when I lived in New Orleans. I can't wait to hear the sound of water in my garden!

Oops, here's the death of our arbor that rotted and blew over in the wind storm

But also, the emergence of an azalea I didn't even know we had (first Spring in a new house!).

Our new Celtic cross that we bought in honor of my confirmation into the Catholic church on Holy Saturday, as well as to honor our Irish heritage.

And some sprouts that will soon be Nasturtiums, Mini Basil and some Slow-Bolt Cilantro.

But here is my favorite "little sprout" of all, who is having a very hard time keeping her hands out of my lettuce bowl!

I think Spring has finally sprung! Hip-hip-hooray!!!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

A Hoppy Easter!

2011-04-25T15:37:00.000-05:00

Saturday we were greeted by a surprise visit from the Easter Bunny! Mary-Claire loved it, and I think she thought it was a big puppy dog - she kept patting it. A wonderful surprise from friends that we will appreciate for years!

The Easter Bunny snuck in again and left the little one with a few Easter treats. She loved "shaking" the eggs to see if there was something inside.

We went to Easter Mass, which was followed by an egg hunt, however Dad supervised and didn't want her to mess up her outfit in the wet muck. Good call by Dad, I think. I think she had fun watching the other kids, though.

We followed that with Easter brunch. It was a beautiful display, and again, we saw the Easter bunny.

Mary-Claire had a fancy lunch, and was mostly well-behaved, but then needed to run and play, so off to the croquet court she went.

She tried to make friends with the older girls, but they can be a little "cliquey."

Then back inside to play with the bunny ears

And finally home to dump all the eggs

It was a very Hoppy, Happy Easter!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

The Birthday Party

2011-04-20T10:12:00.000-05:00

We celebrated Mary-Claire's birthday a little late. Hey, she's only 1. What's a few days, right? She loved the balloons!

She was mesmerized by the candles on the cake!

She kept saying "mmmmmm" every time she had a lick of frosting or a bite of cake!

She got some new toys (guess I better pack the old ones away for a while!)

And some new clothes

And when she looks back on the photos many years from now, I think she will be able to see that she was loved!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

P.S. As I write this, I am looking out my window at a big fat robin in the snow. Yes, I said SNOW. It's almost the end of April for God's sake. Please let us have temps in the 60s soon. Please.

Happy Birthday Mary-Claire!

2011-04-07T13:41:00.000-05:00

Amazing to think that one year ago today, I was waiting to have a C-Section at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and to welcome our little Mary-Claire. We knew she had a tough road ahead, but both of us are very positive people and knew that everything would go our way.

She arrived at 10:13 a.m. and was shortly whisked away to the NICU to await her surgery. She had strong vitals, so we weren't concerned. Perhaps the grandparents were most concerned, but we had faith that she would "Play Like a Champion" through her surgery and recovery.

She was a trouper, and seemed to meet every milestone with ease. They even let her out of the NICU after 8 days - after cautioning us it would be 3-6 weeks!

She has thrived since then, and we have had many memorable moments. She loves her dog, Paddy, and I know they will be great friends for many years.

She is happy and goes to any one. Father Bob says he has never met a baby like her, who is at such ease with anyone she meets.

She will continue to grow and hopefully thrive and meet all her milestones, and we will always call her our little miracle. Amazing that her dad and I, after meeting in 1986, finally married in 2009, and welcomed her one year ago today on April 6, 2010.

Everything happens for a reason....

Happy Birthday Mary-Claire McBride Richerson,

If you would like, please click below to witness the miracle of her birth - it's graphic, but it does show you just how far this little girl has come!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PApWvefspzw

Much love from the Real Housewife of Sheboygan County and her awesome Husband

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Twice!

2011-03-17T14:39:00.001-05:00

All I can say is it's a good thing we had a "trial run" for St. Paddy's Day. We did a run-through a couple of weeks ago and I got some great pictures. A few of them are below.

Then, the real day hit. Mama had grand aspirations of great mother-daughter pics to share with Daddy when he came home from Scotland.

Someone had other ideas. We had a rough start this morning, starting with our "Little People" parade.

Little Miss Cranky pants just wasn't satisfied with the people on the float, so they all "fell" off. Kind of like a real St. Patrick's Day parade, I suppose, after too many green beers or Jamesons. We joke that the one in the green tuxedo is Uncle Wilbur, because he actually does have a green tuxedo from when he used to ride in the Kansas City parade.

We even tipped a cow!

I did get a couple of smiles - finally!

Then we tried a nap and a clothing change. I thought it would be a great time to get some mother daughter pictures and try out my new camera remote. All I can say is the camera remote worked great! The baby, not so much. Here are my best shots.

So, some St. Patrick's day dreams aren't meant to be realized. At least this year. Maybe practice makes perfect.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Walking on Sunshine

2011-03-04T09:19:00.001-06:00

I can't believe she's walking now. It seems like only yesterday that she was born. I missed her first steps, but her grandparents saw them, so that was almost better. She's been practicing all week. And this is what she had come up with as of a couple of days ago. Hands in the air! It's fun to watch her practice going from one thing to another. From the stove to the kitchen table. From the couch to my legs. Next thing you know she will be toddling off to school. Happy times.

Click below to watch her in action!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEO8BJGJ4RE

Hope you have a great weekend!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Tickling the Ivories - a Post by the Real Baby

2011-02-18T12:06:00.000-06:00

For some reason I just can't crawl by the piano without pounding out a little tune. My mom thinks this is funny, so she takes all sorts of pictures of me doing this, but today she surprised me! I got to sit on the piano bench and really go to town!

What shall I play, I thought?!

"There's a Song in the Air" popped open. Maybe I will play the piano for church like my Great Grandma Iglehart did! Or maybe I will be lucky enough to play by ear like my Great Great Mama Voorheis.

One thing I know for sure

is this piano stuff is very fun!

Musically Yours,

The Real Baby of Sheboygan County

Knitting Frogs

2011-02-08T09:49:00.000-06:00

I've joined a sweater knit-along. A KAL for short in the yarn world. We're knitting this sweater.
This is what mine looks like.

Please pray I finish. Those of you who knit will know what I mean by "knitting frogs."

Back to casting on - again.

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

If You Can't Beat 'Em--Adventures in Winter

2011-01-31T16:54:00.000-06:00

I am growing weary of winter, like most of you. I tend to hibernate and watch from inside as much as possible, but Saturday I had a change of heart. You see, I had new snow pants to keep me warm, and temperatures in the 20s and not teens. Also, there were activities to watch. I bundled up, then bundled up the Little Nugget, and off we went.

She didn't seem to mind, especially with the plastic cover for the stroller. Mom, really, I kept checking, and her hands were warm! You know, Missourians, they think I'm torturing the child, but Mary-Claire is hearty Wisconsin stock. She knows no better!

Our little village was celebrating Winterfest, because really, if you have no other choice, you might as well celebrate, eh?

There were sled dog demonstrations - maybe we will ride in a couple of years!

Snoga (yes, Yoga in the snow)

Snow sculptures

Ice Golf on the lake

Ice skating

And yes, the idiotic Polar Bear Plunge (at least idiotic to me!)

We kept warm and had fun. Mary-Claire actually had a couple of naps. They do say you sleep better when it's cool, right?

Yes, it was fun, and I wasn't cold. Maybe I will venture out again soon. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right?

Just waiting for the next batch of snow!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

The Joys of Home Ownership

2011-01-18T10:14:00.000-06:00

Three times this week

He's shoveled

And snowblowed

And worked up a sweat

So that we can get out of the driveway. Think he wishes we still lived in the condo?

We are thankful for the man of the house who makes sure we are well taken care of.

Happy Winter!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

A Day at The Beach - A Post by the Real Baby

2011-01-01T19:48:00.000-06:00

I had quite a day! I went to the beach. I'm really lucky that my Uncle Tommy & Aunt Barbara have a sweet beach cabana. We had lots of fun today!

First, there was this HUGE jar of Nutella! I'm trying to figure out how to get it open.

My cousin Allegra felt better today! Tomorrow is a BIG day for her - her baptism! She's practicing her smile for the camera!

I got to monkey around with some of Allegra's toys. Look at all my teeth - 8 so far!

Here I am in my new swimsuit! I look good in pink, don't you think?

Next, comes the beach. I'm really checking out all those waves thinking, "I'm not so sure about this!"

So, this is what sand feels like?

Well, my Uncle Mike and cousin Emma are very brave, and even Gracie & Aunt Minnie are dipping their toes in.

Guess it's my turn! Or maybe I should just play in the sand with KC & Jack....

Too late. Mama decided I needed to see what the ocean felt like.

And guess what? I DID NOT LIKE IT!

And can you believe my Mama laughed at me? I don't think I want to do that again very soon. Even though I'm from Wisconsin, it's just too cold - and it came up behind me and scared the dickens out of me!

Finally, Mama took me back inside to play with my cousins. I really like playing with Tommy.

And I also got hugs from my Nonna MariaDina. She's not really my Nonna, but she's Allegra's Nonna, and she says I can call her that. I should really learn Italian so I can talk to her!

I played some more

But my daddy gave me an idea

So, I pulled my kitty cat robe up over myself and did a face plant. Nighty-night all.

So, that's how my vacation is going. Monday, back to Sheboygan County.

Happy New Year!

The Real Baby of ~~South Florida~~ Sheboygan County

Finished Objects: I've been busy

2010-12-22T18:21:00.000-06:00

Not that I'm not normally busy chasing an 8 1/2 month old around, but I've been especially busy this month trying to finish some projects.

First there was the gift exchange with the "yarn ladies". Rules were, had to take two hours or less to complete and be made of some type of fiber. I panicked, then went to my trusty crochet hook and made this in about 30 minutes. Could have made it in 15 if I hadn't had a child to look after! Got the idea here: http://www.prudentbaby.com/2010/01/crochet-neck-cuff-scarflette-pattern.html

I also finished these for gifts:

This was from More Last Minute Knitted Gifts and called Big Lace Scarf. I only did two repeats.

This is the Ribs & Ruffles Pattern from MistiAlpaca.

Both yarns are Misti Alpaca Chunky. Gorgeous color, don't you think?

I also finished this for myself from some Misti Alpaca Chunky Handpaint

This for Mary-Claire

It's Kristen Kapur's Thorpe Hat in Mochi Plus self striping yarn from Magpie's Cottage

And finally, a double duty pattern I made up and knit out of Schulana Cashmere

Wrist warmer for me or

Legwarmers for this darling baby!

Whew! I need a rest! But, as all knitters know, unfinished objects await! So much yarn and so little time!

Merry Christmas from The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County & the Real Baby!

A Beautiful Weekend

2010-12-14T10:05:00.004-06:00

The pictures tell the story. It was beautiful in more ways than one. We are thankful this holiday season.

Lots of fun for the whole family!

Happy Holidays!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

It's Beginning to Look A Lot, well, a Little Like Christmas

2010-12-08T10:07:00.001-06:00

For the last several years I haven't been that much into decorating for Christmas. We always go somewhere for Thanksgiving, and somewhere else for Christmas, so there's not much time to stay home and enjoy it. I made a small attempt this year and here it is.

(no, I didn't make these, but I couldn't resist taking their picture!)

Stockings for Mary-Claire & Paddy!

Next year we'll have a tree - I promise!

Hope your holiday is off to a good start!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

A Thanksgiving Trip in Pictures - Another Post by the Real Baby

2010-11-30T11:11:00.000-06:00

This time last week I was looking out the window and pondering our trip to Missouri. How far is it? How long will it take? Will Paddy be a good dog?

It took a long time, but it was worth it. We got to see lots of family.
That's me with my great Granny

These are some of my cousins - I'm the youngest!

I got to open some packages!

I met Winnie the Pooh

I got to ride on an airplane with Mickey Mouse as the pilot!

I got some new books!

I tried to share with Paddy, but Grammy wouldn't let me! I'm sitting like a big girl in my great-great grandpa's high chair. Wow - that's old!

And on Saturday I went to my first Mizzou Tailgate party in Kansas City! They whooped up on the Kansas Jayhawks, and I think I was the good luck charm!

Finally on Sunday, we headed home

What a fun trip to Missouri! I'm cutting teeth, so I better go take a nap!

The Real Baby of Sheboygan County

All Bets Are Off - I'm Mobile! A Post from the Real Baby

2010-11-17T15:05:00.000-06:00

Things have changed for me this week, and my whole world has opened up! I can crawl! This allows me to chase after Paddy and his toys!

I have found lots of new things to get in to. Baskets to pull over, paper bags to play with....

And can you say "YARN?!" I like the way it feels between my fingers. I can see how Mama gets all wrapped up in her projects. This stuff is fun!

All this new activity has made for some early nights for me, too. Luckily I have a soft place to rest on Daddy's belly.

And did I mention that my top front teeth are breaking through? It's been a big week!

That's all for now!

The Real Baby of Sheboygan County

Gourmet Baby

2010-11-03T10:20:00.000-05:00

We have a gourmet baby on our hands.

She is really growing and seems to gobble up just about everything I make for her. And we're not talking mashed potatoes here. Not yet, anyway. I got it in my head that since I was no longer working I would have time to make her food. It's not difficult, just some steaming and whirring in the food processor, followed by pouring in the ice cube trays, then packaging into little plastic freezer bags so we can grab what we need when it's time to eat.

It's funny, because I've made things for her that I would probably never make for us, as we're not really vegetable eaters. Yes, I even roasted two pie pumpkins and made my own puree. And guess what - she liked it!

I guess I'm hoping to have a child who likes more than hot dogs and chicken nuggets and peanut butter sandwiches. I pray that I don't become a short-order cook. Or perhaps I should just refuse to.

I'm glad she likes avocado, which was her first food after a little rice cereal, and also yogurt. She loves sweet potato and her new favorite is edamame!

She likes all of this. And especially these

It's fun to listen to her whittle them down with her little teeth. She's such a big girl in her high chair that was a gift from Uncle Wilbur

She's over 17 pounds now, so I guess all the good nutrition is paying off! Perhaps my effort is worth is. Of course it is!

My blogging has become less frequent, as I have other things to tend to - like this

The rope is not her toy, it's the dog's--and it's heading straight for her mouth! Whew! Just in time!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Buenos Dias from Mexico:

2010-10-25T16:18:00.000-05:00

The Real Housewife is on a much needed get away. It started out a little rough, and we got here a day late, but life is good now. Nothing that can't be remedied by some of this:

And this (the nail polish just screams "Mexico" don't you think?)

And maybe some birdwatching

And people watching

And then we'll be refreshed for the job of watching this little nugget

Many thanks to my parents, whom I know have their hands full. Mom, see why my house isn't spotless?

Adios from Mexico!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Wow! I'm Six Months Old! - A Post from the Real Baby

2010-10-12T09:30:00.001-05:00

My mom and dad have been pretty busy since we moved to our new house. I guess it's a lot of work to have a cute baby like me around. I just turned six months old and I'm into all sorts of stuff. I have two teeth now, but I won't open my mouth wide enough for Mom to get a picture. I like to mess with her that way! I thought I'd share a few pictures of what I've been doing lately. As usual, I have lots of visitors.

Grammy Marva came to visit and take care of me during the garage sale. She couldn't believe how much I loved avocado! I guess "back in the day" babies didn't eat avocado! Mmmmm!

Grandma Mary & Grandpa Bill came to visit me, too!

Grandpa Bill is teaching me how to fall asleep on the couch!

I think my Grandpa Bob could have taught me that, too!

I'm also getting to be very mobile! I'm backing myself all over the place!

And when I can't get myself out of a jam, I get mad!

Mom says it's only a matter of time before I get my arms and legs going forward--sometimes you have to take a few steps back first, she says, just like in life!

I'm grabbing at things a lot, too. Look what came tumbling down at the yarn shop!

Luckily the "yarn ladies" weren't mad!

I've been a little fussier lately because of my teeth, I think, so Mom's been hauling me around in this get-up.

She says it's easier on her back, and I don't mind because I get to go wherever she goes.

Paddy and I are still best friends and we are starting to play more and more. He doesn't play with my toys, but he brings his to me -- see his deer antler? Not the best toy for a baby, so Mom has to watch us carefully!

So, that's what I've been up to. Sort of a lot for a six-month old, and I've still got lots to learn and lots of new food to try!

Hopefully Mom will get in gear and do a post on our new house soon. The remodel turned out really great, and my room is almost done, too!

I hope you have lots of fun this week!

The Real Baby of Sheboygan County

$1031.25 - Sometimes Garage Sales are Worth it!

2010-09-28T10:07:00.000-05:00

Parting can be such sweet sorrow

Memories of past lives

Things taking up space

A fresh start for a new house

And did I mention $1031.25?!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Sneak Peek: A Little Corner of My World

2010-09-17T13:34:00.000-05:00

Things have been a little hectic since the move, but here's a sneak peek to a future Before & After post. This is just a little corner of our new house, but one of my absolute favorites.

I love how the artwork "pops" on the wall. The best part is that it reminds me of my talented friend, David Fox. You can see some of his work here. I guess you could call me a groupie, as I own five of his pieces. And I'm not opposed to owning more!

It's Friday, and that's all I've got. Next week I'll be preparing for a garage sale, so who knows what I'll come up with. And I can't wait to see what people will buy!

Happy Weekend!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

I Know Why They Call it Labor Day: We've Moved!

2010-09-07T14:26:00.000-05:00

While many of you were enjoying summer's last hurrah, in a boat, on a lake, sipping cold beverages, we were moving! I have been going through lots of these:

And still have to get through all of these

My closet

His closet

Garage Sale Pile (and much more yet to be moved to the garage)

A little dirty laundry

And lots of fun!

I can't wait to show you some of my favorite spots in the house - once we're out of all the boxes!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

If You're Through Changing - The Makeover

2010-08-30T11:16:00.000-05:00

I have always been a big believer that "if you're through changing, you're through!" Needless to say, it had been quite a while since I had changed anything about my looks. I had been advised not to change my hairstyle while I was pregnant, or even shortly thereafter because the "hormones" might kick in and I might really regret it and become some sort of basket case. Not really, but I decided to hold off anyway.

So, I held off, relying on the chin length bob that has been my fallback hairstyle since high school - in many variations, of course. How 'bout this one from college?

I decided that since Mary-Claire was almost 5 months old, I'd had plenty of time to adjust and after all, it's just hair, right? It grows back!

So, I went from this:

To this:

I wouldn't doubt that at this time next year it will have morphed back into the chin-length bob, but for now, change is good!

All for now,

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

A Bumper Crop

2010-08-25T08:57:00.000-05:00

Last year I didn't get my first tomato until nearly the first of September. This was quite a shock for me, coming from Missouri where the first tomatoes started ripening just after the Fourth of July. This year, we had a warm Spring (well, for Wisconsin at least!), and I started getting my first tomatoes just after the first of August.

Now, I'm up to my ears in tomatoes! At least as far as a two person household is concerned (plus the Real Baby, of course!). All this from just three plants.

My favorite way to eat tomatoes - chopped up and drizzled with olive oil and white balsamic vinegar, plus a little sea salt & freshly ground pepper

Makes a beautiful centerpiece, don't you think?

What's your favorite way to eat tomatoes? Do you grow your own? Next year, I'm trying heirlooms!

Hope you're having a great week!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

The Sun Has Set

2010-08-16T09:53:00.003-05:00

(photo by www.studio170.com)

The sun has set on the 92nd PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. Now, we hope our lives will get back to normal and I can start sharing more of what has been going on with the Real Housewife of Sheboygan County.

Stay tuned!

Blessings for Mary-Claire

2010-08-05T10:14:00.000-05:00

We were honored this past weekend to have family in town to witness Mary-Claire's baptism. She put on a good show for them in her finest clothes

She glammed it up in hot pink on Saturday

Glamour is exhausting!

Then was a perfect baby for her baptism, seeming to listen to Father Bob's every word

She was dressed in heirloom finery that her Daddy and his siblings wore for their baptisms

She smiled for her Daddy

Posed with her Godparents, Uncle Tommy & Aunt Barbara

Also her grandparents

She was a trooper through all wardrobe changes!

Also, we took her to Milwaukee Friday for her four month surgery checkup. She is doing so well that they don't need to see her until she is a year old. She is truly our miracle. Dr. Lal is definitely doing good works at Children's Hospital.

And we are eternally thankful for our little angel, Mary-Claire

Next week will be a busy one for us, so if there is no post, don't worry!

Have a blessed weekend!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

What I've Been Up to This Week - Another Post from The Real Baby

2010-07-28T10:19:00.000-05:00

My Mom and Dad have been pretty busy this week. They're buying a new house, so I guess that takes lots of time. They say I will have more room for my stuff, but I think they will really have more room for their stuff! Or at least Mama's...and all of Daddy's golf clubs, and bags, and shoes....

We're moving from this:

To This:

Now, let's talk about what I've been doing!

I found my thumb this week. Much easier to handle than my whole hand! Why didn't I think of that earlier?

And I've been playing a lot! I have lots of family coming to see me this weekend, so I need to show off!

There's a lot to see, but I think I'm getting the hang of it!

And, I am still doing quite a bit of this! My mom says I am a good sleeper and she is very thankful for that!

Better get back to my playing! Practice makes perfect!

The Real Baby of Sheboygan County

Sidewalk Sale - Remember When?

2010-07-21T14:42:00.000-05:00

Mary-Claire and I went "sidewalk saleing" today. Yes, we live near a little town that still has a vibrant downtown, and it was just as I remembered small town sidewalk sales to be. Tables upon tables of "stuff" that was either in the way, out of date, or in some cases, just going out of season.

I got lucky, though. My favorite local yarn shop, Magpie's Cottage, was in on the action!

And they had good stuff!

I started by loading up the baby!

And, she wasn't that crazy about it!

So, we packed up our "stash" and went on our way.

Phooey on the sidewalk sale - until next year, that is!

Do you remember what a big deal your hometown sidewalk sale used to be? I remember Stephenson's Toggery and even used to help organize the tables when I got a bit older. Maybe Mary-Claire will get to work the "sidewalk sale" when she gets older!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

I'm From Missouri - You'll Have to "Show Me"

2010-07-14T11:19:00.000-05:00

"I'm from Missouri. You'll have to Show Me." I can't remember how many times I've said this throughout my lifetime. My cousins used to have t-shirts with this saying, and proudly wore them on our trip to Disneyland around 1981. I'm sure my mom has a photo somewhere, but I know I would embarrass the dickens out of them if I posted it!

Being from Missouri is something I'm proud of. So much so, that when I say I used to live in Kansas City, and folks say, "I've never been to Kansas," I always correct them.

My daughter will not be from Missouri, but we recently took her on her first road trip there. She did fantastic - all the hours in the car, and barely a peep. It was a chance to meet her family:

Uncle Mark

Granny & Mary-Claire

I regret that we didn't get to see more people while we were there, but there just wasn't time this trip. There are so many Missourians who are important to me, and I hope I get a chance to introduce her to everyone.

We did get to see the most important person, and the main reason for the trip. Granny.

Four Generations

It was fun to see my family, and I hope next time I can introduce Mary-Claire to all those other people who are important to me.

I'll always be from Missouri, and I can't wait to "Show" Mary-Claire the rest of the Missourians who are imprinted in my heart.

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County (but really from Missouri!)

Fourth of July in "Pleasantville"

2010-07-05T17:20:00.000-05:00

We are lucky to live in a small town where folks can leave their chairs and blankets in the park in the morning to save their "spot" and they're still there in the evening

Beer, brats & hamburgers from the volunteer fire department

The municipal band playing the "Sousa" concert

Kids running everywhere without parents being overprotective

Daddy and baby

Otherwise known as

And her first Fourth of July

Greetings from Pleasantville!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

I'm Glad You're My Daddy - a post from "The Real Baby"

2010-06-20T09:27:00.000-05:00

I'm glad you're my Dad. You were so happy when you found out about me, because I know that you and Mama kind of got a late start. You were strong, calm and always positive when you found out that I would need surgery and have to stay in the NICU when I was born.

You sat with me late at night and sang to me.

You helped me get well quick.

I went home in record time! Only 8 days after I was born!

I see lots of naps in our future

And lots of fun as a family

I hope I follow in your footsteps. See, I already have my golf shoes!

Soft spikes, just like yours!

I'm very happy that I'm Daddy's Little Girl

And I will always look up to you

Happy First Father's Day!

The Real Baby of Sheboygan County

Knitting in Public: Otherwise Known as Yarnoholics Anonymous

2010-06-18T10:40:00.000-05:00

My husband is always telling people about my "knitting club." There is no membership requirement, other than showing up, and we have a great group of ladies and one very cute sixteen year old young man named Caleb. Our "Yarnaholics Anonymous" group meets Wednesday afternoons and Thursday evenings at our local yarn shop, Magpie's Cottage in Sheboygan Falls, WI. This week in honor of World Wide Knit In Public Week, we took it outside!

We gathered at Settler's Park in Sheboygan Falls under the gazebo on the banks of the Sheboygan River.

That's Sheila, Joann and Bonnie. Joann is wearing her "Group Therapy" outfit.

We brought cookies for the cookie swap. You can find the recipe for these Coffee Crisps by clicking here.

Then we knitted.

Here are some photos of what I worked on.

The yarn is "Chakra" from Mango Moon. It was handspun and beaded in Indonesia and proceeds from the yarn help provide safe shelter, health care and educations to families in Nepal & Indonesia.

The yarn has a nice drape.

And the color will really make my green eyes pop!

Did I mention the most important thing for knitting in public? An easy pattern! At Yarnaholics Anonymous we like to chat, and it's important not to have too much counting or keeping track to do. It's called "Chakra Scarf" designed by Paula Zenick, the owner of Really Knit Stuff in Tallahassee, FL. It was a free pattern with the yarn, and requires little concentration.

The perfect project for World Wide Knitting in Public!

Did you Knit in Public this week?

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

The First Food I Ever Cooked: A Walk Down Memory Lane

2010-06-14T10:13:00.000-05:00

When I was young I received a cookbook from a teacher friend of my mother's, Mrs. Espy. She taught high school English. I have tried in vain to find this cookbook, as I know I would never give it away, but to no avail. The cookbook was especially for kids, and used kitchen appliances such as the toaster oven, the "fry-daddy" and maybe the "Presto" hamburger maker - remember those?

Mrs. Espy had gone through the cookbook and written little notes in red pen, such as "These sound delicious!" "I can't wait to try these!" And next to some recipes, she just drew a smiley face. This was my first experience with a cookbook, and especially one of my own. The recipe I remember making was Biscuit Pizzas, and I think I remember it went something like this:

Ingredients:

1 can of refrigerator biscuits

tomato sauce

cheese

Instructions:

Pat out biscuit dough until it forms a flat round. Top with tomato sauce and cheese. Place in toaster oven (or real oven) for time recommended on biscuit can.

That's it!

In honor of Mrs. Espy, I made them again, but "doctored" them up a little. They were a big hit with the hubby, and I'm sure P-Nugget will like helping make them when she's big enough.

Mrs. Espy was a very nice lady, and when she passed away, there was an auction for some of her belongings. My mother acquired some Southern Living cookbooks from the auction, and sure enough, Mrs. Espy had written little notes on the pages. Now when we look at the cookbooks, we think of her. I think this is the reason that I make notes in my cookbooks and on my recipes - someone will have my books someday (maybe little Mary-Claire) and with my notes, the books will have just a little more personality.

I still buy kid's cookbooks, and I recently bought the Sesame Street one for Mary-Claire. The Emeril's is an autographed copy from a few years back:

I can't wait until she's old enough to help me pick something out!

What was the first thing you remember cooking? I'd love to hear!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

2010-06-13T09:42:00.000-05:00

They say you should let sleeping dogs (and babies, and husbands) lie

I couldn't resist taking some Sunday morning shots

Slowly, they awakened.

First was Paddy - "Pay attention to me!"

Then, the happy baby

Wide eyed and bushy-tailed

"Talk to me, Mama"

Soon, the bell was rung

And we went out to smell the flowers.

Wishing you a blessed Sunday.

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Someone is growing:

2010-06-07T15:15:00.000-05:00

Someone is really growing.

She's doing some of this

And lots of this.

Must be a growth spurt. Mama's not complaining.

Don't you wish you could wear socks like this?

Happy Two Month Birthday!

No Recipe? No Problem

2010-06-02T21:29:00.000-05:00

I am still participating in the Dinner On A Deadline project, and our homework for this week was to cook without a recipe. Ten years ago this might have been a problem, but after taking a 14 week Basic Food Prep class at the local community college, I became much more comfortable in the kitchen. Now I see ingredients as a starting place, instead of relying on a recipe for everything. Yes, I still try recipes, but I don't fret if I don't have all the ingredients. Sometimes, the best meals come from just winging it!

Tonight I started with this:

Lettuce Leaf Basil from my herb garden

then found this in the pantry

Heated it up like this (over low)

Deglazed with this

And ended up with this

Tasty

The Great Pantry Experiment: 2010 Spice Oddysey

2010-05-27T13:58:00.000-05:00

My Dinner On A Deadline homework this week was to organize my pantry. I have been meaning to do this for a long time, and had even planned on taking "inventory" at the beginning of the year so I would know exactly what I had. It took this homework to finally get me in gear.

The project started on Monday with the spice cabinet and the pantry, then continued on Tuesday with the refrigerator and freezer. I threw spices away that no longer "smelled" potent enough, and threw away some items that had "use by" dates from 2006. The silken tofu might have still been good, but I decided not to take any chances. I also entered into my computer, by category, what I have, so that when I'm in a desperation dinner sort of mode, I can scan my inventory list and make up a recipe.

The second part of the homework was to make dinner based on some of the pantry items I found, and pair them with one splurge item to make dinner. These are the items I decided to utilize:

I have had the Red Curry Paste for a loooong time, but it had never been opened, so I figured it was fine. I wasn't sure what to do with it, but there was a recipe on the side for Red Curry Shrimp, and I just happened to have ALL of the ingredients. I couldn't remember why I bought the coconut milk, but figured I'd give it a go.

The recipe called for 1-2 Tablespoons of curry paste, but due to my hubby's sensitive stomach, I used only 2 teaspoons. It was still so spicy we both had to have a glass of milk (two for him) to cool the heat! The flavor, however was fabulous, and I will be making this again - just with a little less curry paste!

I served this over brown jasmine rice, made in my trusty rice cooker. Besides my fancy electric tea kettle, probably my favorite kitchen appliance. Shrimp - the big ones, were my splurge item here, although I do try to have them on hand as they are quick thawing and take only a few minutes to cook.

So, The Great Pantry Experiment is complete and here are a few tips:

1. Organize things according to how you use them - for example, I have all my baking staples, i.e. flour, sugar, etc. together. Some things are even in a pull out bin for easy access.

2. Place like things together - mustards, vinegars, oils, Asian sauces

3. Label & Date things in your freezer - I do this, but am still guilty of forgetting to use things. Now at least I know what I have! I threw away some wickedly freezer burned meatballs I made well over a year ago.

Pantry Staples I just HAVE to have:

Pasta

Jarred Pasta Sauce (good quality- no high fructose corn syrup stuff)

Eggs

Rice - several varieties

Cheese (I do live in Wisconsin)

Hope you have a great Memorial Day. My assignment for next week is to cook without recipes, which is what I do most of the time, so let's see what I come up with!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

The Hat Parade - A Post by The "Real Baby"

2010-05-21T10:27:00.000-05:00

My mom has finally started knitting again. I guess she's finally getting the hang of having me around. She made me this pretty pink "Baby Squash Hat" from 101 Designer one-skein Wonders, and she says that she's making the "Pink Tweed for Baby" cardigan to match. She better hurry up, because I'm growing like a weed.

This modeling is tough work!

She also made me this hat from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.

I'm growing so fast that's it's almost too small. I guess I will send it to one of my new cousins who will be coming soon!

Thought I'd show you my "baby blues." Just like my dad's!

The next hat is still a little big, and it's my mom's favorite color. Not sure where she got the pattern, but it's just an easy baby hat, knitted in the round.

My mom says I look like "Mushmouth" from the old Fat Albert cartoon.

Sometimes when I babble, I do sound like Mushmouth, so I guess I won't take offense.

I also got my first big girl sports equipment this week. Daddy is so happy!

His friends at Titleist made this Bullseye putter just for me! I'm sure it won't be the last club my Dad gets for me. He is a great teacher, so I'm sure we'll have lots of fun together.

Poor Paddy has been feeling a little left out lately, so we've been trying to give him a little extra love. He sure does like to lick me!

My mom will be back next week posting about her Dinner On A Deadline project. She got off easy this week, as my daddy was only home one night! We missed him, but I think I saw her eat a peanut butter & marshmallow creme sandwich for dinner last night! She did have a glass of milk with it.

Have a great weekend!

The Real Baby of Sheboygan County

Dinner on A Deadline: Week 2

2010-05-14T11:08:00.000-05:00

Granted, my posts have gotten less frequent since the baby arrived, but I am still committed to Dinner on A Deadline. Homework for this week was "planning." Never my strong suit, being a right brained, creative type, but like Frank Sinatra, I did it "My Way."

At the beginning of the week I had the conversation with hubby on scheduling - what nights will he be home and what nights he has meetings or other obligations. He told me he would be home Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday, and on Tuesday we would have our big city friend, Rufus, joining us and it's a tradition that they barbecue. Easy enough.

Now, to scan the freezer. We had chicken, and steak. Perfect for barbecue. I have a simple marinade that I use for chicken. I know I could use a bottle of italian dressing, but have you read the ingredient list on most of the bottles? I swear I can't pronounce most of it, so I have a basic marinade I use and "doctor" it up depending on what herbs I might have around. Here are the ingredients for the basic marinade:

Olive oil - I don't use Extra Virgin here because it's just going to get cooked. Save the good stuff for your salad dressing!

Vinegar - here I used White Balsamic, but be creative - if you're grilling pork, an apple cider vinegar would be nice, or red wine vinegar is good for flank steak

Salt - here is used Mediterranean Sea Salt, but Kosher is great, too

Pepper - I like freshly ground

My proportions are as follows - there is no science to this

A "count" of olive oil for each piece you are grilling - i.e. 4 pieces of chicken, you pour as you're counting 1, 2, 3, 4 (I made this up, but it works)

I did about double the count of vinegar - it pours slower, but really did it until it equaled a little over 1/3 cup (again, NOT science)

Salt - about 7 cranks on the grinder (if I were using Kosher I would have used 1t. for this amount)

Pepper - about 7-8 turns of the grinder

There's a reason recipes say "season to taste" It's OK to "wing it!"

Add any herbs that might go with what you are grilling - in the summer I love basil with this, but also know that the marinade is good just as is, extremely cheap to make and takes almost less time than opening a bottle of salad dressing, and you know EXACTLY what's in it!

Next, I pour this over the chicken in a plastic bag and let it sit for at least 30 minutes like this:

You can even mix the marinade in the bag if you like!

Next for the steak - here's my trick. I watch for beef tenderloin to be on sale at our local market - no kidding, I think I got this for $3.69/lb. Then, have the butcher cut it into filets - thickness of your choice - I usually do about an inch, which makes for a perfect serving size. Then I portion into quart size freezer bags and take out what I need. I also label them so I know how many are in the bag and when I froze them....

Oops! These have been here a while, but guess what, they were surprisingly fresh looking when thawed, so luckily no freezer burn. All the more reason to plan your dinners!

A tender cut like this gets simple treatment - a little olive oil and salt & pepper. That's it.

I tossed a mixed green salad with strawberries & goat cheese, used a basically the same mix for the marinade for the simple salad dressing and we were set!

Uncle Rufus was a happy camper! And so was Mary-Claire!

My Wednesday dinner was shrimp from the freezer, linguine from the pantry and jarred pasta sauce. Not fancy, not pretty, but I did it! And we liked it!

Now awaiting my next assignment from Dinner On A Deadline!

Have a great weekend!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Future Yarnoholic

2010-05-07T15:37:00.000-05:00

My name is Mary-Claire and I'm a future "yarnoholic."

My mama can't stay away from the yarn shop, and I know I'm going to get "hooked." The crochet hook is already clenched in my little fingers, and I know the knitting needles will be next.

Woe is me! This is hard work!

Enough already! I surrender!

Have a great weekend and a Happy Mother's Day!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

The Dinner on a Deadline Project

2010-05-05T16:25:00.000-05:00

I happened upon this post the other day, and it got me thinking about my recent dinner endeavors. I am a person who finds a lot of satisfaction in cooking, however since I became pregnant last summer, and now that I have given birth, I have been slacking in my culinary duties.

Luckily, I have a husband who doesn't mind, but I do know how much he appreciates when I go the extra mile. We tend to eat healthier, more balanced fare, and there is something to be said about knowing exactly how your food is prepared.

So, upon reading the post from Married With Dinner, I decided to get back in the game, food wise. It really doesn't take that long, so I have committed to taking the fish, pork, chicken, beef, or whatever else I might need out of the freezer at least three times per week and putting a healthy meal on the table. It really doesn't take that long, and although it may not always be pretty, it's better than some of processed stuff we have been eating too much of.

Here was last night's meal, which was truly a hit with my family.

We started with this:

Just a simple green salad with tomatoes, a sprinkling of parmesan and some Brianna's Blush Wine Vinaigrette, although I do make my own dressing frequently.

We proceeded to the main course

From Southern Living May issue - click here for the recipe

Spicy Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Blackberry Sauce

Very easy, and very tasty. For some reason I tend to forget how easy pork can be to prepare, so it doesn't get into the rotation very often.

We rounded out the meal with just a smidge of leftover mashed potatoes & stuffing from the night before.

Finally, a simple fruit cup for dessert: fresh pineapple ($2.79 at Costco!), strawberries, blackberries and some cut up Clementines.

Project Dinner on a Deadline has begun!

Hope you try it!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Things that go "Click" in the Night

2010-04-28T17:14:00.003-05:00

I have been a night-owl lately, and not by choice. The little "nugget", or "peanut" or "p-nugget", as we've taken to calling her, likes to eat. A lot.

So, I get up. A lot. And try to stay awake. That's where my iPhone has come in handy. I can catch-up on Facebook and Twitter - not that I really remember what I'm reading, but hey, it keeps me awake.

It's during these times that I have been finding new Apps for my iPhone and I thought I'd share a couple of my recent favorites with you.

Some of you know that I am a Mark Bittman fan. I love his books, his column, and now his "Slog", which is a combination "salon" & "blog."

So, I was ecstatic to find his "How to Cook Everything" App for the iPhone - and only $1.99 - for a limited time!

The next App I came across will help me when I'm knitting and don't have time to run

to the local yarn shop for help. It's the Vogue Knitting app.

I like that it has a "Stitchionary" and also goes over basic techniques, as well as

help "fixing" your mistakes.

Always nice to know that inspiration is only a "click" away when I'm up in the middle of

the night. God bless the "P-Nugget." And I won't be sad when she starts

sleeping through the night!

The Real "Tired" Housewife of Sheboygan County

Motherhood Can be a Pain in the Neck - but it's Worth it!

2010-04-22T14:35:00.000-05:00

We've been home from the NICU for 8 days now, and there's one thing I've learned: Motherhood can wreak havoc on your neck & shoulders! I am prone to back pain anyway from my years of gymnastics & cheerleading, but there's nothing like gazing downward toward your adorable child to put a kink in your neck. Two trips to the chiropractor seem to have helped, but I'm hoping I figure something out soon!

Any suggestions out there for avoiding the new mother syndrome? How can I avoid looking down at something this cute?!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Tribute to My Grandaddy:

2010-04-19T16:01:00.000-05:00

My Grandaddy passed away yesterday at the age of 91. He had lots of experiences in his life and we all learned a lot from him. Here is a tribute I wrote for him:

Granny saying Goodbye - they were married almost 75 years

Tribute to Grandaddy:

I’m sorry that I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye, but I know that you will understand, as I am busy caring for your great-granddaughter, Mary-Claire, and she really needs me right now.

Many kids don’t get to spend much time with their grandparents, but we were lucky in that we spent lots of time with you, especially in the hot summer. I remember the house before you got air conditioning, something in your later years you couldn’t imagine living without. If the breeze was blowing from the right (or wrong) direction, the smell from the hog houses was stifling. Thank goodness you finally gave in and put in central air! It was worth the money, wasn’t it?

You taught me how to drive when I was probably 11 years old. Many of my friends didn’t have that opportunity. I saw calves and pigs being born, rode with you to “count cows”, went to horse shows at the Boone County Fair, an occasional ham breakfast, and we can’t forget the “fiddle contest” that you liked so much.

You took the grandkids to Disneyland and bought our first cars. You always had “a little money” to give us before we left and told us to “watch our pocketbooks.” You took us on our first train trip from Jefferson City to Kansas City just because we’d never ridden a train. You made sure we “spoke to people”.

As we grew older, you were interested in our careers, but I’m not sure you ever really understood what we did. It was so different from hauling lime, or farming, but we carried everything you taught us about hard work and being willing to go the extra mile to our “newfangled” jobs and became successful.

I hope to pass along all the good things your taught me to my daughter, and although you could be cantankerous and bossy, your heart was always in the right place.

As you enter the Lord’s Kingdom, say hello to all those we have lost. And if it snows and ices up there, make sure to “watch the bridges.”

Thanks, Grandaddy for everything!

Love,
Kristi

Mary-Claire's Very Big Week!

2010-04-12T22:01:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to give an update on Mary-Claire's week! When I last posted, she was getting ready to go into surgery to repair her intestinal omphalocele. The surgery went great, and she is a very strong little girl. The nurses are calling her a "rock star" as she is meeting all of the expectations of the surgeons, and I truly believe that we will be home soon - she is making lots of progress on feeding and is only on supplemental glucose now and no longer being fed via tube. Practice makes perfect, so we will be doing lots of practicing this week so we can get home to Kohler and she can meet her future best friend, Paddy.

This is how she looked just after surgery. Lots of wires and tubes to monitor her every movement and breath.

Thankfully, she has her daddy's ears!

And his feet!

Imagine a sack about the size of an orange on the outside of her body that contained her intestines - and this is what it looks like after surgery. The surgeons did an incredible job - and she didn't even swell like they thought she would.

A close-up - it's even smaller now. This isn't a real belly-button, but one that the surgeons manufactured. I think it actually looks much better than most newborns belly-buttons at this age!

Grandma Marva, me & Mary-Claire

Wearing the first hat I crocheted for her - obviously she has her daddy's head, as it's already too small!!

At peace - most of her wires have been disconnected at this point.

In Grandma's arms after eating.

Wearing a hat that Mama knitted - this one's a little big, but will last longer!

All for now. It's been an exciting week for us and it's nice to know we have a little over-achiever. She even has the "corner office" in the NICU. One of only two pods with a window. Way to go Mary-Claire!

Thanks for all the good thoughts, prayers and comments. We are thankful for our friends and family!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Mary-Claire's Big Arrival!

2010-04-08T09:48:00.000-05:00

It's been quite a week for our family. On Tuesday we welcomed our first child, Mary-Claire McBride Richerson at 10:13 a.m. She weighed 6lbs, 14 oz and was 18 1/2 inches long. I am recovering quite well from the c-section, and that has been the least of our worries. Here are a few pictures - none of them are the greatest, but hopefully throughout the week I can get a few more.

First photo - still in the operating room. I barely got to see her before they whisked her away.

In the NICU - she was very stable

Trying to get comfortable! Daddy was taking the pictures as Mama was still in surgery.

Finally, almost 12 hours after delivery, I got to hold her. Mama was very sick all day, so had to rest.

This was taken yesterday just before her surgery. We call it her "Pre-Surgery Routine." Just like the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, we had her tap the "Play Like a Champion" placard before they took her away. It seems to have brought her luck, as she came through the surgery like a "champion". She is still on a breathing tube this morning, but the doctors say she has done very well and most likely will be off the tube later today. As for her features, she truly looks like her daddy, down to the shape of her fingers & toes. I do detect a little blond hair, so who knows - maybe she will inherit that from me, but for now, she is definitely her daddy's little girl!

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers this week. She has a lot of people pulling for her, and the good energy is definitely apparent. We are very thankful for all family and friends, including those who read the blog whom we have not met. You're the Best!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Spring is blooming & So am I:

2010-04-05T07:49:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is the big day! The arrival of our little girl, most likely between 8-9:30 CST. Exciting times for our family! My parents arrived yesterday, and dear husband's will meet us in Milwaukee for the big day. We spent the weekend doing some last minute things - who knows if we are actually prepared? This is the last picture I will take as a pregnant 42 year old!

This morning I took a final walk around my herb garden to see what signs of life were awakening! We have been lucky this Spring, with no late snowstorms, nor torrential rain, and have even had quite a few days of above average temperatures. I am hopeful to get tomatoes in the ground before June, which didn't happen last year. The herb garden is looking promising:

Chives are always the first to peek through - should have some lovely blossoms in a couple of weeks!

French Tarragon - I didn't have such good luck with this last summer in my Mediterranean Herb pot, so am hopeful for a more successful year!

I always have lots of Thyme - I think this is either orange or lemon thyme

And seeing this chocolate mint popping through gives me hope for my favorite mint of all - Kentucky Colonel. Kentucky Colonel is the best mint I have found for drinks - mojitos, tea, lemonade, etc. If mine doesn't come up, I will be ordering some for sure! I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

I can't wait to see what happens in the herb garden while I'm away! And I will have lots to share with you when I return!

Wish me luck!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Only One Week to Go!

2010-03-30T14:04:00.000-05:00

Today I had my last doctor's appointment and non-stress test here in Sheboygan. Everything looks great with the baby, so we are excited about next Tuesday's delivery in the Fetal Concerns Unit at Children's Hospital in Milwaukee. By this time next week, we will have a little girl. Soon after birth, she will be whisked off to the NICU and be prepared for her surgery to correct a small amount of intestine that is in a little sac outside of her body. It's scary having a baby at 42, but we have been prepared for this since she was only 12 1/2 weeks inside me, and are confident that other than this little bump in the road, she will be a normal, healthy little baby.

Here is the latest photo of my belly progress - I apologize for the graininess of the photos this week. As you can see, Paddy is very curious as to what has been happening around our house and has been spending almost all of his time as close to me as possible.

Dear husband put together this crib on Saturday, only to discover once assembled, it wouldn't fit through the doorway to our room! So, disassemble and reassemble! Live and learn, right?

I love the way it looks, but Paddy's not so sure! I think he thinks it might be a new "crate" for him! It's from Dwell Studio for Target, ordered from Amazon. Very cute & modern and reasonably priced. The bedding came from BabyEarth. Now, we are waiting on the mattress, and we should be set.

Then we will just wait for the baby to come home and settle in. They have told us it could be from 2-6 weeks, and at least one of us will be at the Ronald McDonald House during that time. Grandparents will be in and out, and daddy will be back and forth for work. Paddy will be playing with his friends at Central Bark.

We have a mantra at our house that "Everything's going our way," and so far, everything has!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

The Antique Dining Room Chair - Before & After

2010-03-29T11:26:00.000-05:00

No joke, I think I have had this chair for 12 years and it's always looked like this:

My grandmother bought a set of 6 chairs at an auction once, and parceled them out one by one to members of the family. Most recovered them quickly, however I just sat the chair in a corner, used it as a step-stool from time to time, or maybe set a pillow on top of it to hide the cracked top. Each time I moved, the chair made the trip, even though it was cracked and was getting quite rickety.

You can tell by the underside of the chair that it has been recovered many, many times! I'm not sure how old the chair is, but the writing on the top of the seat indicates that it was either made by, or once belonged to a man in Fairbault, MN. How it ended up in Missouri at an auction I have no idea! Months ago I bought the material to finally recover the chair.

I used wood glue to fill the cracks and tighten things up. Then the chair just sat upstairs with all the materials piled on top. Finally, on Saturday, I pulled out the staple gun and finished the job. It's not perfect, but looks better than before.

It's amazing what motivation it is to have both sets of grandparents and a baby arriving in a week with lots of unfinished projects around the house. Not sure how many I'll finish this week, but the pressure is on.

I will be checking into the hospital at 6 a.m. on April 6 and am not sure when I will be home again. Lots of changes coming our way, so let's hope I can roll with it all.

All for now,

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

The Baby Shower: The Countdown is On

2010-03-23T12:31:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was a big weekend for me. My mom and her friend, Sandi, came to visit and some Kohler friends had a baby shower for me. It was a fun weekend, and I'm starting to realize that time is running out. We will find out Friday when the actual day will be, and it's looking like it will be around April 8 or 9 (yes, during the Masters). Should we have a bag packed? What do I take? Since the baby will be staying for a while due to her surgery, what do I bring for her? Lots of things running through my mind, but it was nice to take some time Saturday to relax and enjoy the company of my mom and other friends and enjoy some great food. Here are some pictures from the day:

Mom & Me

Two dozen pink roses from Jim - one dozen for me & one for baby

The staff at Blackwolf Run outdid themselves!

Doesn't this look like Spring?!

Vanilla, Cinnamon & Key Lime Cupcakes!

Hubby stopped by and even brought me a gift certificate to Magpie's Cottage, my local yarn shop. Honestly, I have never met a more thoughtful man!

The ladies.

It was a lovely day with lots of cute little baby things for our little girl. I will try to post more about our baby preparations this week. You know how it is - "some assembly required" for almost everything!

I hope you have a beautiful Spring day!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Our St. Patrick's Day Celebration!

2010-03-17T08:55:00.000-05:00

We started celebrating St. Patrick's Day last night with this dinner

Beef & Guinness Stew from Cooking Light March 2010 (click for recipe)

Mrs. O'Callaghan's Soda Bread

Yummy!

For breakfast, we had these!

Guinness Spiced Muffins and they were excellent!

Everyday in our house, the Irish are celebrated in some form or other. We both have Irish blood: My family, the McBrides came to this country pre-Revolutionary war, so we don't know much about which part of Ireland from which they emigrated. Hubby's family, the Conways & the Jennings are still mostly in Ireland - County Mayo, and his grandparents met in Chicago after arriving here in the 20th Century.

We celebrate by welcoming our guests like this:

And no matter what the decor, I'm sure we will always have this displayed somewhere

And let's no forget how we try to "play" each day

And finally, we can't forget our dog "Paddy"

He brings lots of fun to our lives!

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Baby Update and some Finished Projects, too!

2010-03-15T12:52:00.000-05:00

I thought I would give a little baby update since I had a doctor's appointment on Friday. Things are looking good, however, the little one is not cooperating as far as her positioning is concerned. Both her head and her feet are up -- I guess she will be a little gymnast or cheerleader like her mama--and because of her small medical condition, the doctor doesn't want to try to get her to turn, thinking that she is remaining in this position for her own safety.

So, I go back to Milwaukee in two weeks for another ultrasound and we will decide what to do from there. I was so hoping for a natural delivery, but if I have to have a c-section, I guess I will make the best of it. I know it's a common procedure, but also know that natural birth is typically better for both mama and baby. Everything happens for a reason, so will give it some time and see how it all turns out. If I do have a c-section, she may be arriving sooner, rather than later, and this 42 year old former workaholic isn't quite sure what to do with a baby!

I did finish some baby projects over the weekend. This is the Bear Hugs: Baby Wrap Cardigan Kit from Plymouth Yarn Co.. It was my first kitted sweater and was pretty easy. My least favorite part was piecing it together, then finishing the ends.

Here is the button detail. Kind of unisex, don't you think?

I also finished this cute rolled brim baby hat that I started as part of the Baby Hat Class at Magpie's Cottage. I would be very disappointed if her head is too big for all the stuff I've made!!!

And finally, a spring scarflet for myself made from Misti Alpaca Pima Cotton/Silk yarn in colorway Neptune. I have lots left, so will probably make another little hat! Then mama & baby can match when we're out getting our exercise!

Now I'm off to enjoy the beautiful day we're having in Sheboygan County! Hopefully Mother Nature will be kind to us for the rest of the month!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Maybe I Will Keep Knitting....

2010-03-11T09:08:00.000-06:00

I started with this

And finished with this

Maybe I will keep knitting....

Yarn: Misti Alpaca Cotton Pima/Silk Blend in Fuschia Fusion

Quick Crochet Project: The Doris Scarf

2010-03-09T10:07:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was one of those days that I felt like I got a lot done. At least a lot of stuff that I wanted to do. The guest bed is still covered with stuff, the antique chair is still not recovered, the laundry is still not done, but I did make new pillow covers which I blogged about yesterday, and I also made this very cute, very springy scarf! So, see, all was NOT lost.

The pattern can be found at Vicki Howell's website - click here The project only took a couple of hours while I was watching TV - much faster than knitting!!!

I typically like to use yarn that I've purchased at my local yarn store, Magpie's Cottage, however there are times when I run to JoAnn's for fabric that something jumps out at me, and that's what happened in this case. The yarn is Caron Spa, a "silky soft Bamboo Blend" according to the label. It can be found at www.naturallycaron.com. The yarn is a little tricky to work with and tends to separate, but overall, not bad. And I like the drape for a springy scarf. My yarn shop has some new pima cotton that would have been great for this, too!

Busy day today - another non-stress test at the doctor's office, then the second half of my "Knit Baby Hats" class at Magpie's. I also have a very cute baby sweater to piece together and learn how to finish the edging. Stayed tuned for the finished projects!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Pillow Makeover: Quick Envelope Back Pillows

2010-03-08T12:22:00.000-06:00

The pillows on the living room sofa have been bugging me for a while. First of all, the sofa was not supposed to be in the living room, but in the basement, but when it was delivered it wouldn't fit down the stairs. So, until we move, and we really don't have a need to, it will remain.

Hubby was thrilled when his themed throw pillows matched, so I acquiesced. It's all about compromise, right? However, even he has admitted lately that they are looking a little worn. The cording is unraveling, and let's face it, it's been a long winter and these are a little dreary!

Spring has now officially sprung in our living room! Yeah! Those of you who know me know that my life has always been filled with bright and cheery things. So now I have a little piece of spring in my living room while I await the snow melt.

This is the back of the pillow. No buttons to fool with. Easy in, easy out-- just in case he hates them!

HOW TO MEASURE FOR AN ENVELOPE PILLOW:

1. Measure size of existing pillow and add 1/2" seam allowance all the way around. My pillow was 20" square, so I cut my squares at 21" allowing for 1/2" on all sides

2. For pillow back, cut 2 pieces. Divide by height OR width, depending on how you want your envelope oriented by 2, then add 4 ". For example, 21"/2 = 10.5" + 4" = 14.5", so I cut two pieces with a width of 21 and a height of 14.5

3. Hem the the bottoms of the back pieces with a 1.5" double hem (so, turn up 3/4", then turn up again, then stitch)

4. Place front piece right side up, then the other pieces right side down so that they overlap each other, but are even with the front piece, pin, and sew all around with 1/2" allowance.

5. Turn right side out and stuff with your pillow!

If you want more info on how to do this, I suggest the following website:

www.sew4home.com, or the book The Sewing Bible, as they both have great tips on pillow making!

Weather in the 40s the last few days - could it really be Spring?

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Six & a 1/2 weeks: Things are starting to get uncomfortable!

2010-03-02T09:16:00.000-06:00

Thought I would give a pregnancy update, as I only have 6 1/2 weeks left until my "guess" date and things are starting to get uncomfortable.

The doctor's visit on Monday went well, but I have started the twice weekly "non-stress" tests that will continue from now until I have the baby. Although they consider this a "normal" pregnancy, I think it's precautionary because of my "advanced" maternal age. ha, ha.

Definitely "Apple" shaped right now. Every time I put something in the microwave, I accidentally turn on the oven because my belly hits the buttons. More than once I've almost started the "self-clean" cycle.

Finally, with my boy Paddy. We have had him one year and one week, and I can honestly say, he is the smartest dog I've ever owned. Also one of the most lovable. He has been spending a lot of time on my lap lately, even though he's a little big to be a lap dog. We think he'll do fine with the upcoming changes, but only time will tell.

I hope to get some sewing done this week, as I have been ignoring my sewing machine in favor of my knitting projects. The baby hats are coming along great, and I didn't make any mistakes while on vacation that I couldn't fix myself! Quite an accomplishment!

See you soon!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Whale Watching: The Catamaran Trip

2010-02-25T17:22:00.000-06:00

Today we had a successful day on the catamaran in Cabo.

We saw the sea lions.

In front of the famous Cabo arch - where the Sea of Cortez & the Pacific meet

And were lucky enough to see several humpback whales!

Yes, we were that close!

A very good day!

One more day of vacation, then back to reality and the snow of Sheboygan County!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Swimming with the Dolphins:

2010-02-24T13:49:00.000-06:00

Vacation is going great and we are truly enjoying ourselves. The weather has been perfect and we hear it's not so perfect at home! Here are a few photos from our "dolphin swim" yesterday:

Dancing with "Agua" our dolphin friend

I took the slow ride

Jim took the fast ride

And everyone was happy!

Hope you're staying warm!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

On Vacation

2010-02-19T07:38:00.001-06:00

This time tomorrow I will be on my way to my last vacation as a childless person. We are taking a "last hurrah" to Los Cabos, Mexico to escape the Wisconsin winter and all the snow that is on the ground here. I can't wait to see the sunshine!

There will be none of these for me this trip:

But hopefully we will see some of these:

And lots of these:

I hope you have a great week! Now, I need to pack!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

all photos courtesy of Flickr via the Creative Commons license

The Chunky Newsboy (Cap, that is....)

2010-02-16T11:31:00.001-06:00

I finally finished the Chunky Newsboy Cap I started a while a go. I had problems with the gauge, and I have a small head, so significant modifications had to be made. Plus, as usual, I also used different yarn than called for, so I guess I'm a glutton for punishment!

I finally fixed it by using smaller hooks, and then I added some embellishment: a crochet flower and one of my favorite brooches (click here for closeup) that I don't wear much. I think it turned out pretty cute after all the trouble it caused me!

Next, I practiced my knitting, using a pattern from Jill over at Wool's Happenin'. Not sure my counting on my rows was exactly accurate, but no major mistakes, and I made my first "pattern." Tonight I start a baby hat class at Magpie's Cottage. We will be working on circular needles and also double points, so I think I have my work cut out for me!

And lastly, my husband gave me the best gift for Valentine's Day! Now maybe I'll finally finish The Pillars of the Earth that I started over a year ago, but it was such a heavy book I never wanted to take it with me! It was so heavy I couldn't even hold it up to read in bed! Problem is solved with my new Kindle.

Now what can I get myself into next?

Stay tuned.

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Friday Showcase: Finished Projects!

2010-02-12T13:48:00.000-06:00

I think Friday is a great day to showcase a couple of finished projects:

The first knitting project - not without mistakes, but hopefully not too noticeable! Two balls of Knitcol trends yarn - self-striping, 100% Merino Superwash purchased at Magpie's Cottage

Crochet Baby Hat made from leftover yarn

And matching Mary-Jane booties...they'd look better with little feet in them!

And finally, Happy Valentine's Day!

Have a great weekend!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

A Treat For Your Valentine (but not mine!)

2010-02-11T07:48:00.003-06:00

Don't these look yummy? I absolutely love meringue cookies! I usually have a tub from Trader Joe's around the house, and pop a couple when I need a quick treat. My husband, however, thinks they taste like chalk.

This idea is from this month's Better Homes & Gardens and the instructions can be found here.

Maybe you can make some with your Valentine, but unfortunately, I think I'm going to have to come up with something else!

Tomorrow I hope to post my finished first knitted scarf (keep your fingers crossed that the binding off goes well today!), and also some baby things I have finished. Still a lot of works in progress and works in my head, too, so must get to work!

Have a great day!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

What to wear to the Doctor? or How to be presentable without adding pounds!

2010-02-09T11:40:00.005-06:00

yYesterday was doctor day for me. I'm at the point where I'm going every two weeks, and soon will start going twice a week for non-stress tests, due to my "geriatric" pregnancy. At some of my doctor's visits, they don't do the weighing & measuring, so "what to wear" is never an issue on those days. I wear cute sweaters & jeans, with my nice cute boots. But on days when they weigh me, all bets are off! I want to wear the lightest weight clothes I own, so have been struggling with how to do this without looking like a slob. I ran across this crochet pattern over at the Prudent Baby Blog last week, and it was kind of a follow-up to a post they had done called "Hot Mess Mommy Tips" from January 30, 2010.

So, over the weekend, I bought some yarn and whipped one up. It took only about 100 yds and I used a lovely Malabrigo Chunky in Geranio that is soft and hand-washable (not-driable). You could make it with a less expensive yarn, and it would still be cute!

This helped solve my "what to wear to the doctor on weigh-in day" dilemma. Yoga pants, gray long-sleeved t-shirt and the new scarf. And yes, everyone looks better with a little lipstick, so that was part of my ensemble, as well.

Things are going well with the pregnancy, and I have finally decided to take some profile shots, as several people have told me I will regret not having any, so this is the first! I'm trying not to worry about the scale too much and just enjoying my time until our little bundle of joy arrives. The weight will come off when it's supposed to.

Watching it snow and enjoying the day!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Hot Biscuits for Lunch

2010-02-05T12:28:00.001-06:00

I have been thinking a lot about biscuits this week since reading this post over at www.browniesfordinner.com. It's hard to find a good biscuit up North, and I spent so many years in the South that biscuits were taken for granted. You could get a decent biscuit at a drive-thru--Chik-fil-A Chick-n Biscuit, anyone? A southern girl's favorite breakfast!

So, when I read that post, I immediately went to her source recipe over at the Homesick Texan's blog. The recipe is very easy and requires few ingredients.

I did have to run out for buttermilk, but was happy to see that they had the pints! These biscuits took about 30 minutes, and that includes clean-up and 12 minutes of baking time. Here are mine right out of the oven:

Mine didn't turn out as "high" as I thought they might, but I do think I may have rolled them a little thin, as I ended up with 17 biscuits and the recipe says 10-12. The more the merrier, right? I think I'll freeze a few for later!

I eat mine with butter & honey! My brother eats his with butter and a HUGE pile of grape jelly. How do you eat yours?

Crochet Baby Blanket - Finally FInished!

2010-02-04T09:32:00.016-06:00

Yes, it's true! I'm finally finished! I started this blanket for the baby just before Christmas, but have worked on many other projects along with it. Over the weekend, while frustrated with my knitting, I decided to get serious about finishing this project. Insomnia is good for something!

This is a pattern from The Big Book of Weekend Crochet. Of course, as usual, I altered it a little. I added stripes, and also made it larger, then I changed the edging, adding a nice scallop edge for a ruffly effect.

You can see the scallop edge in the photo below.

I just loved the way the Dark Horse Fantasy Yarn in Color #91 shows so much color variegation.

Another project completed for the baby's room! Now just waiting for the baby!

All for now,

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Crocheting for Baby

2010-02-01T15:59:00.000-06:00

My last post was about my knitting. I made it to Magpie's and got back on the right track. Until Saturday night. Things were going along well, and I was getting cocky. Then I looked at my scarf and realized I was knitting on the wrong side of the scarf! Maybe 3-4 rows worth. I thought I could take it out myself, but ended up in a tangle of knits & purls, so decided to put the cap on my needles and find another project to keep my hands busy. I will get this fixed on Tuesday, and start again.

In the meantime, I decided I hadn't crocheted for the new baby in a while, so decided to find a project. I have made her one other hat, and one thing keeps stumping me. Just how big is a baby's head? I started making the hat, and when I finished the increases and started working down the side, thought to myself, "This seems really tiny." So I asked my dear husband, and he said, "There's no way that will fit!" So, I added another increase row, and got to work.

Now, I think the hat is too big! So, I Googled "What's the circumference of a newborn's head" and came up with around 14 inches. Measured the hat, and it's a little over 15 inches, so I think I'll rip it out and go back to the original plan. At least I know how to rip out in crochet without ruining everything! Score one more point for crochet!

It's cute, though, isn't it? Maybe I'll make some booties to match!

To Knit or Not: My journey from crochet to knitting

2010-01-29T07:54:00.002-06:00

I learned to crochet last Fall, and have been very happy with my experience. I like the process of learning something new, so the early mistakes have made me a better crocheter, and I've made some lovely things, this being the latest finished product which I can't seem to take off:

It's the Maven Moebius Cowl pattern for one yarn, I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, and it worked up in no time!

So, back to the knitting. The local yarn shop I frequent, Magpie's Cottage, has an avid group of knitters and not nearly as many crocheters, so I decided to see what the fuss was about and signed up for a Knitting 101 class. Our first class was Tuesday. This is the book we are using to learn:

It's published by the National Needle Arts Association, and they also published the How to Crochet book that I learned from.

I am left-handed crocheter, but was pleased to see that I could knit "normally," which makes it much easier to learn. I started catching on, and I thought, wow, this isn't so bad after all. Then the lesson ended, and when I got home, this is what I ended up with:

The end product will be a scarf. Next, the problems came. I dropped stitches, and didn't know how to fix them, so I ripped it all out and started over. The good news in this lesson is that I can now cast on much better after ripping out everything 3 or 4 times. So, shortly after 10 a.m. yesterday, I was at the shop to get help fixing my mess! Everything fixed, and was going swimmingly yesterday, then again last night, whoops!

So, needless to say, my project is a shambles, and I will once more be at Magpie's shortly after opening today to get some help. Thank goodness for good local yarn shops! Kim Oslund has been extremely patient with me throughout my short yarn obsession.

The jury is still out on this knitting thing. So far, my "con" list is longer than my "pro" list, and as I continue on this yarn adventure, I may write more about that, so stay tuned!

Have a great weekend!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Healthy Soup to Warm You Up from the Chill

2010-01-27T09:02:00.003-06:00

Unfortunately our above freezing weather has come to an end. It almost felt like Spring for a few days! When the temperature drops, soup always fits the bill. I ran across a recipe in Monday's USA Today, which I adapted and made for dinner last night. It was easy, tasty, and best of all less than 200 calories for 1 1/4 cups, and 9 grams of fiber. I added some cornbread and a little citrus for dessert, and it was a filling and hearty meal. I hope you like it!

Black Bean Soup:

Ingredients:

1 small onion

1 T Chili Powder

1 t. ground cumin

2 15 oz cans of black beans, drained & rinsed

3 c water (or I used 2 c chicken stock & 1 cup water)

1/2 cup prepared salsa (I used Tostitos Medium Chunky)

1/4 t. salt

1 T. Lime Juice (I omitted, as my lime was shriveled!)

Sour Cream & Cilantro for garnish if desired

Directions:

Saute' onion in 1T. canola oil for 2-3 minutes, then add chili powder & cumin

Add beans, water or stock, salsa & salt.

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat & simmer for 10 minutes.

Remove from heat, stir in lime juice.

Puree' 1/2 the mixture in blender or use hand immersion blender

Garnish if desired & serve

Makes 4 servings 1 1/4 cups each

The taste was great and can be adjusted to suit different heat tolerances, via your chili powder & salsa choices. It was a little thinner than I thought it might be, so next time I may only rinse & drain 1 can of beans and use the other as is!

Today will be my first knitting class at Magpie's Cottage. Now that I've adjusted to my crochet hooks, let's see how it goes with two needles!

Wish me luck!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

A Tribute to New Orleans & The Saints

2010-01-25T14:17:00.000-06:00

I had the pleasure of working in New Orleans for several years, and living there part-time for three. New Orleans is not for everyone, with it's eclectic characters, humidity, and yes, sin, however I came to love it not for these reasons, but for it's community, it's spirit, and most of all it's food!

The Saints will be going to the Superbowl in the middle of the Mardi Gras season, and I can guess that the Carnival parades on that day will be sparsely attended, or you will find TVs on all the floats and large screens along the parade route. And, they will be playing the Colts, whose quarterback, Peyton Manning, is a New Orleans son. A very exciting and long-deserved occurrence for New Orleans and the Saints.

So, this year, I hope you all cheer for the Saints and cook up some good food for the Superbowl. Cooking Up A Storm is a unique cookbook that was compiled by the New Orleans Times-Picayune after Hurricane Katrina. Many people not only lost their homes and possessions, they lost their beloved recipes, so the newspaper started a recipe connection column to regather these lost treasures. These are recipes that home cooks make, so if you're looking for chef food, try John Besh's latest cookbook, which I hear is very good.

Here's a quick drink recipe for Brandy Milk Punch that is very popular during Carnival in New Orleans. You can even freeze it in milk jugs and take it to the parade with you for a slushy treat!

Brandy Milk Punch:
12 oz brandy or bourbon
4 C Half-and-half
1/4 C confectioner's sugar
2 t. vanilla extract
1/2 C heavy cream, whipped (optional for serving)

In large pitcher, stir together the liquor, half-and-half, confectioner's sugar and vanilla until the sugar is completely dissolved. Refrigerate (or freeze) for 3 hours or overnight. Serve with whipped cream, if desired.

Who Dat! Geaux Saints!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Check Out Flashback Friday:

2010-01-22T14:20:00.001-06:00

Sew Much Ado, has a great feature on her blog called "Flashback Friday". She is a talented seamstress, and features some great things on her blog, and this feature has been a funny one. She asked for her readers to submit their own "fashion flashbacks" that were handmade, so I submitted one to her.

Click here to my hubby and me featured in a fashion flashback from 1988!

Boy did I love that dress! I hope you had a little chuckle and that you have a great weekend!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Coffee Sack Crafts: My new bulletin board

2010-01-21T10:56:00.001-06:00

I have been transitioning my old work desk from my past corporate life, into my crafting area and one thing was missing -- an "inspiration" board to pin up ideas, photos, bits of fabric, or other things that inspire me.

I ran across this post from Lil Blue Boo last year on a dress she made that was inspired by a coffee sack, and it got me thinking. What happens to all those coffee sacks after the roasters are done with them? I contacted someone I know at Torke Coffee in Sheboygan, WI. He was more than happy to save a few sacks for me, and I was one step closer to my new bulletin board.

These sacks are very large, and the burlap is a little hard to work with - lots of fibers fly around when you cut it. I don't recommend wearing black, or knits. I learned the hard way, trust me. I also washed the sack before using on a quick cycle, then hung it dry. Be sure to get all the beans out first - again, I learned the hard way!

I cut the burlap to fit the bulletin board, then used a staple gun to secure it. Finally, I cut ribbon for the trim and glued it on with fabric glue for the finishing touch. Easy, and I have something attractive above my workspace.

I also added a little bling in the corner - a reminder of my time living in New Orleans to keep inspiring me.

There is another tutorial here by Maya Made. She also sells a pattern on Etsy for these cute coffee sack buckets, so I might have to buy one to use up some of the extra sacks I have. The dog needs a new toy basket!

Happy Crafting!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Project Planning: The Gum Boot Makeover (or how to trick out your Wellies)

2010-01-19T18:22:00.003-06:00

I still haven't slept much in a couple of days due to this darn cold, but have managed to be pretty productive nonetheless. Today I purchased some fabric on sale at JoAnn that I will use to make a couple of projects. I live in Wisconsin where the winter can be brutal and it seems to last forever, so one must have a collection of boots for all occasions because you'll most likely be wearing them until the first of June!

I have a cute pair of what my family calls "gum boots" but others seem to call "Wellies" or "Wellingtons" that I purchased at Target last year. They are great for rain, but not so good in the cold, so I found a cute tutorial here that I will use to make some linings for my boots so I can wear them in the slush as we start to thaw this spring.

My boots get a workout in the summer while I'm working in my herb garden or volunteering with the Sheboygan County Master Gardeners, so it will be nice to have some options!

Here is the fabric I picked up today. The solid colors will be the linings and the prints will be the cuffs. The colors are much more beautiful in person, but I have yet to get the lighting right, so you will have to use your imagination.

P.S. We had a doctor's appointment today and all is great with the baby. She weighs 2lbs 6 oz now, so is on track for a normal delivery around April 16. And, the doctor said I could take some Sudafed & Tylenol PM, so maybe I'll get some sleep tonight!

Hopefully I'll dream about my herb garden. Do you have a favorite herb?

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Insomniac Crochet:

2010-01-18T12:12:00.008-06:00

I am not at my best today - still in my jammies and it's almost noon. You see, I woke up at 1:45 and couldn't go back to sleep. This has been a problem recently, and not sure if it's due to the pregnancy, or just too much going through my head. Oh, and I have a cough and a little bit of a stuffy nose to boot, and can't take the usual Nyquil because of the Bambino.

The middle of the night is when I get some of my most productive crochet done, so there is a positive in this lack of sleep. I am trying to expand my skills as a left-handed crocheter, so thought I would try a new pattern that uses Foundation Single Crochet, since it's a technique I haven't tried before.

The pattern is from Alice at Futuregirl and is call the Starling Handbag. I keep wanting to call it the "Starlight Handbag" - seems prettier than a Starling. I decided to make the large bag, but if it turns out, I might try to make an XXL bag to use for a project bag. This will be not only my first crochet handbag, but also the first time I will make a lining for something, and Alice has a tutorial for that, too! I can't remember how I stumbled upon her blog, but I am glad I did. Now if you're left-handed like me, some of the directions will be different, but I'm getting pretty adept at flipping things. There are also some left-handed crochet videos on YouTube, so just enter this in the search and you'll probably find what you need.

So far, so good! The yarn is a nice Mission Falls 1824 Cotton that I purchased at Magpie's Cottage. They have great colors!

So, tell me, what do you do when you can't sleep?

What I've been up to this week!

2010-01-15T10:27:00.002-06:00

I haven't posted on the blog this week until now, so I will do a wrap-up of what I've been working on.

The Anniversary Scarf: Jim's anniversary present - almost done

The yarn is Jarbo Garn Duo, purchased at Urban Arts & Crafts when I was back in Kansas City over Christmas. It's acrylic, but very soft, and should wash well. It's a very simple pattern that I got from the Ravelry website called "Simple Textured Crochet Scarf". It's hard to find something that is "manly" sometimes, and I thought this pattern fit the bill.

I also made a scarf for myself, inspired by this tutorial on the Make It and Love It blog. Here is how mine turned out - not perfect, but I've worn it twice already. Next time I will make it a little shorter, I think, but will try this tutorial from Sew Much Ado with the rest of my material. If it turns out, I might make some for my nieces. P.S. You can also barely see my anniversary gift - the Tiffany heart necklace. I love it, as it's so lightweight I barely know I'm wearing it and I love the way it looks.

Finally, I got some new yarn on impulse yesterday as I was cruising through JoAnn previewing what was going on sale later this weekend. I loved the color, so bought a couple of skeins and will make a Moebius Cowl (similar to this one) for myself. I'm not sure the photo does the color justice. As you can tell, I like to work on many things at once, or I get bored!

I'm still working on the baby blanket, I hemmed two pairs of my husband's jeans this week, and will probably try to clean out some of my magazine clutter over the weekend. Hubby has to work this weekend, so I will have plenty of time to craft, daydream, watch the birds and play with the dog.

I hope you have had a good week!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

Happy First Anniversary!

2010-01-08T17:00:00.000-06:00

Today is my first wedding anniversary. The year has flown by, and one year ago today we were getting married beside the ocean in Playa Mujeres, Mexico. This is one of my favorite pictures from the day because I think it symbolizes that sometimes looking to your past will lead you to your future.

You see, I have known my husband since 1986. We were fast friends, then dated, had lots of fun, then broke up and went our separate ways. He was always my favorite boyfriend, and believe me, I've had my share. We both got married, both got divorced, then as fate would have it, ended up together again. We took it slow and realized that all the things we liked about each other the first time were still true, and that with our age and experiences we had become better people. We are still becoming better people with the help of each other, and I cannot imagine my life without him.

Now we are entering into a new realm of parenthood and all the joys, tears and fears it may bring us. I am more optimistic about my life and my future than I have ever been, and am comforted to know that we will be together in our adventures, whatever they will be.

Happy Anniversary to my husband, who will always be my "favorite!"

Home-Made Takeout: Lighter General Tso's Chicken

2010-01-07T08:37:00.003-06:00

Towards the end of the year I wasn't cooking as much as I'd like. Not sure if it was due to the pregnancy fatigue, or just laziness on my part, but I enjoy cooking, so have vowed to try to cook at least three times per week when my husband isn't traveling.

I have developed a taste for Asian food - sushi, Thai, Chinese - and one of my favorites is Chang's Spicy Chicken from P.F. Changs. The big problem is that P.F. Chang's is over an hour from us, so it's definitely a special occasion thing.

I was happy to find this recipe (click on recipe) from Martha Stewart last year, and have made it several times. It's easy, tasty and lighter than a lot of take-out. I serve with long-grain brown rice cooked in my trusty Sanyo Rice Cooker ( Sanyo ECJ-HC55S 5-1/2-Cup Micro-Computerized Rice Cooker and Slow Cooker, White), and it turns out perfectly every time. I usually make a little extra sauce, and yesterday added shredded carrots for a little more color. You can cut back on the crushed red pepper flakes if you don't like it too spicy.

Also, the rice is served in my new piece of Fiestaware. I love the color and the pattern on the side of the bowl. Very pretty!

Good luck! I hope you try it the next time you're craving take-out!

Stay Warm,

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County

My Perfect Year -- Planning for 2010

2010-01-02T12:48:00.001-06:00

I spent many years as a Vice President of Sales for an investment company. I enjoyed my job, but always struggled with the business planning process as I was starting a new year. This probably stemmed from being a "right-brained" person in a "left-brained" profession. At the beginning of 2005 I decided to employ a "business coach" with whom I would meet once a month or so and plan my work. I was traveling every week and feeling very scattered. Prior to this time, I always turned in my annual business plan on time, but typically didn't look at it again. It just wasn't a useful document for me. My coach, Ray, had me start doing something called "The Perfect Year," and all of a sudden, things started happening in my business. I made more money than I could have every dreamed of making, I surpassed sales goals and gained new clients. I became a believer in having a coach.

As time went on, my business was going swimmingly, but my personal life not so much. I was divorced in 2004 and since that time had focused almost solely on my career. Things had to change. The next meeting with Ray, I discussed this frustration, and we decided to start focusing on not only my business, but also my life. My perfect year became less about business and more about me and the way I wanted my life to look. Yes, I still had my money goals, but now I also had other things to focus on. It allowed me to daydream about possibilities, then put them on paper. I didn't really share them with anyone but Ray, but somehow even sharing with just one person made them more achievable.

The Perfect Year is easy to do. Just make a list with 25 things that you would like to achieve in the coming year. It can be professional or personal, but just make the list. Be specific. Not just "exercise more," but "exercise 3xs/week". Some of my past entries over the year have included vacations I wanted to take, amount of money I wanted to make, things I wanted to do. For example, when I moved into my new loft I wanted to entertain at least once every other month. As my personal life got more frustrating, I wanted to find someone to share my life with.

Things have turned about pretty great, and are only getting better. As I reviewed my Perfect Year for 2009 last week, I was amazed at how many things I accomplished, especially considering I hadn't looked at the list since November of 2008!

Got married
Got pregnant
Completed the Master Gardener class through the extension service
Played in two golf leagues
Threw a huge party for family & friends over the 4th of July

And the list goes on....

For 2010, here are a few of my items

Safe delivery of my child
Lose the baby weight, plus 5 lbs
More outdoor exercise with dog & baby
Learn to knit
Learn more about blogging
Cook at least 3xs per week
Less TV and more music or radio
Keep sewing and learning new things

And there are many more. So far, my New Year is off to a great start. I spent the morning sewing and this is one of the little projects I made--a wine gift bag for a nice bottle of Jordan--we're going to a party tonight! I must give credit where credit is due--this project was inspired by this post by a fellow blogger:
http://oldchateau.blogspot.com/2009/11/i-love-this-project-not-only-is-it-easy.html

Give it a shot, and you just might have your Perfect Year!

All the Best to you and yours!

The Real Housewife of Sheboygan County