Blogger's Bliss

I can't believe another month has passed and I am back here sharing my bliss for the month.  Dannielle and I will be doing these together and you can find her list at her fabulous new blog Quite Dainty.  Be sure to show her send love and become a follower.  Click on the adorable button below to head straight to her page.

So what is bringing me bliss this month?  What is it I can't live without??  For starters, sweet treats.  At the beginning of my pregnancy I couldn't stand sweets just salty.  My world is back to normal because I can't get enough sweets!   My hubby has been so wonderful running here and there and everywhere to fulfill my cravings... whether its lemon cake, cookies, and yesterday it was macaroons.  He has gone out and gotten it for me.  Yup he's a keeper.

This month has also been loaded with lots of crafts.  I finished the quilt and the machine hasn't had a break since then.  Nothing makes me happier than having a little me time sewing.

My true definition of bliss is our times together as a family.  Those lazy weekends at home or when we are out and about.  True joy is being with my three loves.  This month we took a trip to the aquarium and it was awesome.  I left wanting sushi and the Iittle lady loved it!

To make this month perfect I also gave birth to our precious baby boy.  It was an amazing labor and delivery experience for us.  We have been soaking up on lots of baby hugs and kisses... the snuggles with both of them, pure perfection.

What was your bliss this month?   If you are a blogger, feel free to join us!!  This link up is on Megs page at My Borrowed Heaven.

Without Further Ado!

Why hello everyone and happy Wednesday!

As mentioned in last Saturday's post we said that we had a surprise! 

The time has come and here we go...

Nope, your eyes aren't playing a trick on you... you are seeing a new blog with my (Dannielle) face on it -  QuiteDainty.com!

As of recently Patty and I just were brainstorming which prompted us to think about our future. Patty has graciously told me that she thinks that I am ready to spread my wings. When she first told me I was shocked, scared, sad, and so much more. I am thankful that Patty and I have a trusting relationship to where I am confident that she would never have ill intentions or motives towards me. As she explained further how she thought I was ready I started to believe her. I have plenty of fears and the idea of 2 failed blogs is kind of daunting. However Patty reminds me that I’ve grown since then and because of that I will succeed.

So what does this mean for you our readers? 

Well, it just means that you will need to make one extra click. Patty and I intend with full accord to remain close… We will be sister blogs in the sense where we will still be doing collaborations together and maybe even guest posting here and there. So we will be separate but together, if that makes sense? Makes perfect sense to us!

Now what are you supposed to do now? 

Well that means that you need to shimmy your way on over to QUITEDAINTY.COM. There you will see all of my previous posts seen on Make It Cozee along with all the NEW ones!!! Hope you enjoy it and be sure to explore all the tabs. And don’t forget to send me some love by following my blog and by leaving me some comments (I LOVE comments)!

Reflection on my time at Make It Cozee 

I remember one day coming across Patty’s blog and couldn’t believe her success. At that time I had 2 failed blogs and I was coveting how great she was. We came in contact and caught up on what had been new in our lives since college. We then rekindled our friendship and Patty allowed for me to be a guest blogger. In time I must have proven myself to her where she asked me to be a co-writer. I was totally in cloud nine and super excited. Since my first post to now I can see how much I’ve grown.

My graphics got better… my content got better… overall it was an improvement. There were  a ton of things I didn’t know about blogging until I partnered up with Patty. Patty has become such a vital part of my progress as she gave me guidelines, input, suggestions, and constructive criticism. If it wasn't for Patty I couldn't have had the confidence or even the proper tools to start the Quite Dainty blog.  

With all that said, Thank YOU Patty! You have been (and continue to be) a great friend to me. Thank you for your patience and for putting up with my loads of crazy ideas. Again if it wasn't for you I wouldn't have the confidence in starting this endeavor. Thank you sweet friend! I am excited for our new journey of separate but together! And also a thank you to those who read my posts here on Make It Cozee, thank you for all receiving me so well! :)

Please make your way to quitedainty.com

XOXO,

Ringing in the New Year with PF Chang's

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of P.F. Chang's for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

The first time we ever ate at PF Chang's was when we were first married about five years ago.  We were driving cross country from California to Mississippi and stopped for a special dinner to celebrate our new life.   It's been a family favorite since then.  Their dishes are so fresh, the meat is always succulent you can't go wrong with PF Changs.

In celebration of Chinese New Year, PF Chang's is introducing a variety of new dishes featuring traditional ingredients symbolizing good luck and prosperity.  This Winter Seasonal Menu includes Orange Ginger Beet Salad, Chili Shrimp Bao, Red Wine and Pepper Braised Beef, Miso Glazed Salmon, Shanghai Waldorf Salad.  I would love to try the Firecracker Chicken.  I would also love to try the Miso glazed salmon.  Salmon is my absolute favorite!!

They also have some new desserts and drinks including Chocolate Raspberry Wontons, Sweet Vanilla Cream Wontons, Crimson Spritzer, and the  Red Goose Martini.

PF Changs is toasting the new year with these delicious new dishes!  I'm toasting our new beginnings for 2014, welcoming a little bundle of joy into our growing family.

Start the new year off right with a dinner with your family or friends at PF Changs!  What on their new menu would you love to try?  For a limited time, visit pfchangs.com/winter and receive and offer of $10 off $40.  With such a great offer why wait!

Also be sure to Follow @pfchangs and Follow P.F. Chang’s on Pinterest.

Recipe: Italian Meatball Subs

I have been meaning to share this recipe for a long time and so happy to finally have a chance to do so.  It's one of our faves and it was given to me by a dear friend in Germany.  I have made meatballs before but after making this I have never tried another recipe.  I think what makes this recipe so yummy are the fresh ingredients, the heavy cream, and cooking the meatballs in the sauce as opposed to the oven.  You can eat it with noodles but I usually turn it into meatballs subs and the hubby loves it!

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

1 egg

1/4 cup heavy cream

1/2 plain breadcrumbs

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp oregano

1 tbsp fresh parsley

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese.

1.  Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl by hand.

2.  Roll the meatballs about the size of a gold ball. 

3.  Drop raw meatballs into large pot of gently simmering sauce.

4.  Cover pot and simmer for about 2.5 hours.

Once the meatballs are cooked I plop them on some rolls. 

Add a mixture of Parmesan and Mozzarella  

Bake until everything gets toasty. 

And WALA a yummy meatball sub dinner!  It won't disappoint. 

Until next time.  Toodles!

We Have a Surprise!

If you have visited the blog recently you have noticed it has gotten a much needed face lift.  A big thanks to mlekoshiPlayground for their adorable template design.  I love the vintage look and feel of it and of course the color.  The new look isn't where it ends. 

As you know Dannielle has been an inspirational contributor to Make it Cozee.  Remember when you first met her last year around this same time in March!  Woah I can't believe a whole year has already passed.  She's shared some yummy recipes, organized, shows us an easy home improvement project,  shared her secrets, given this genius tip about gum on fabric, did this fun tutorial, inspired some collaborative posts like this one....

and started that awesome new series Hello Beautiful.  

Well, Dannielle and I have some huge and exciting news to share!  It's... well for now it's a secret I'm just giving you a teaser.  I know, I'm horrible and yes I really am going to leave you hanging like that.  Can you can guess what it is?!
Until next time!  Toodles.  

World Down Syndrome Day 2014 - Baby Knightly

   

I recently saw this video yesterday and it made me remember a special someone.  I want to share with you something that has touched my heart. Over a year ago a friends of mine (Drexelle and David) gave birth to their precious son Knightly. I was so excited to hear that she was pregnant let alone giving birth. I later found out that she had given birth and that her son had down syndrome. Her and her husband also didn't know before hand that they were giving birth to a son with down syndrome. Read their delivery story and discovery of down syndrome here.
 (Warning: I would grab some tissues first before you read it.)

This part of the blog post still resonates in me til this day and it is this part... 
"She then walked over to the baby, picked him up, and proceeded to pinpoint and touch every feature on his body that she said resembled  DS.  As she pointed at every feature, I felt my heart break with each remark.  Everything I had been memorizing, every part of him I had loved – felt like she was saying was flawed."

That was the part where I just lost it. I remember becoming so angry, angry at the nurses and doctors and wondering if they were gracious in delivering this news to my friends. I was imagining them poking, prodding, and criticizing every detail on knightly. This may or may not have been the case but that is how I felt. 

Then I remembered this verse popping up in my head immediately!

for this printable email quitedainty@gmail.com

In honor of Knightly let us celebrate World Down Syndrome Day 2014 tomorrow!

 My Message to Knightly...

 Dearest Knightly,

I just want you know that because of you I am no longer ignorant about Down Syndrome (although I still have a lot to learn). You truly are a gift. Because of your life I am that much more able to love like Christ. Always know that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. The Lord is using you and your life to draw people closer to Christ. You bring so much joy to your parents and to your family. You really are a gift and I pray that there will not be a day in your life where you will ever doubt that.

Lord Bless You,

Be sure to check out his parent's blog here http://www.dparkphotography.com/blog/ .

Ruffled Diaper Clutch and Matching Wipes Case

This baby craft is an oldie but a goodie.  I first made this when I was pregnant with my now three year old (wow how time flies!) and I thought it was time for a new set.  It's a simple little project and makes a great personal gift... The diaper clutch and covered wipes case.

The wipes case is really easy to cover.  I actually had a tutorial on my blog but thanks to Flickr all the images got messed up.  For a good tutorial on how to do it you can click HERE.

I wanted to do something different for the diaper clutch.  This is a great way to learn how to sew zippered pouches if you have never done it.  It's easier than you think.  You check out the tutorial HERE or click on the picture below for the basic tutorial.

Here is how I made the ruffled one.  As always be sure to read through the tutorial once before actually starting.

You cut two long strips of fabric and one shorter piece [this one you will set aside for later].  I wish I took down the measurements but I didn't... Sorry!  Ruffle each strip.  Iron it down.  

You will want to sew the ruffles down on both sides to make it easier to assemble.

Now sew all three pieces together [this picture shows the front of the clutch already trimmed]. 

Sew on lightweight interfacing to give the clutch body then trim [the above picture shows how it looks afterwards].    In some clutches I used batting and that is fine if you are quilting but I found it to be too bulky.

 I covered where they were linked together with thin bias tape.  It's not all that even but oh we'll good enough for me.

From here, assemble using the zippered pouch tutorial.

 In no time you will be ready to change those diapers wherever you go!

Until next time.  Toodles!

Silly Leprechaun

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!!  Guess who came to visit.... 

Mr. Leprechaun and I have have been scheming for a bit and last night he came and caused a mess! He was on the hunt for that gold and tore apart her room... 

When she woke up she thought she had made the huge mess.  She looked at me and said "I am so sorry mommy for the mess!  Let's clean it up together."  I couldn't help but giggle and assured her it must have been the leprechaun.

I guess he needed a potty break too because we found some green in the toilet.  She said he went yuck in the potty [more giggles from me].

We  followed his little green footprints to the kitchen...

where he had left a little treat at the end of our rainbow!  The treats were worth it after all the mess he made.  The little lady was ecstatic and even gave a little scream.

After getting her treats she was determined that he was still in the house.  She whispered let's follow the footprints and find him.  Oh it was so sweet.  We tip toed here and there looking for him but no such luck.  I had to convince her that he must have left and gone home.  

We had a special St. Patrick's Day breakfast.  A rainbow waffle with gold eggs for the little lady.

 Something more grown up for the hubby.

The activity I shared with you from Pink Stripey Socks was great!  It kept her busy for awhile. digging for gold while I did the dishes.  She found all the gold pieces and we saved them for a Shamrock share tomorrow.

For lunch I made a leprechaun sandwich.

'Twas a magical day. A successful visit from the leprechaun.

The little lady and I had a blast.  She told me thank you so many times throughout the day my heart has melted into a pile of goop in my chest.  It made all the extra work totally worth it.

Until next time.  Toodles!

BMO Harris Bank Scavenger Hunt

This post brought to you by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. All opinions are 100% mine.

How fun would it be to place an online interactive game that offers tips and a chance to win weekly sweepstakes!?  All you have to do is answer a few questions, earn tokens, and you have a chance to win real money!   Head over to BMO Harris Bank Scavenger Hunt Sweepstakes and start the scavenger hunt for those tokens! 

Each week there is a new life stage that is featured and each week you can access the game on facebook for a new chance to win!  They include having a new baby, getting a new job, buying a home, getting ready for college, and managing your fincances.   You click on the buttons for a chance to pick up tokens.  Do you know the answer to this question? 

Sometimes the buttons only contain information, but it's worth reading through.  I learned a lot of new financial information I did not know before, especially when it comes to buying a house.  

Keep clicking those buttons, learning and find those tokens!

Once you have earned enough tokens, you will be able to enter for a chance to win the sweepstakes! 

Keep your fingers crossed and be sure to head back over each week to keep looking for those tokens!   Who knows, it could be you who wins that cash prize.  

All these life stages inthe game will give you valuable financial information.  I could have used some of these tips before going to college.  Which stage in life would you want to financially learn more about?  Dont' waste another minute and head over to the BMO Harris Bank Scavenger Hunt Sweepstakes.  And be sure to like them on Facebook.