Busy

I've neglected my little corner of the Internet  lately.  A week ago I was done with work for two and half months and since then I've been home with the kiddos each day.  

Every day seems to fly by in the blink of an eye, but we've had so much fun and been super busy.  Although it seems to take foreverandaday for all three of us to run errands or make a quick trip to grocery store.  Today we ran to get paint to make a couple of paintings and an hour later we were back home.  The store is 10 minutes away.  Life is just busy and my little blog has suffered.  I normally blog during nap time but I was busy all week and today Mr. Drew decided a nap was for the birds... 

We've been busy but we've been enjoying my time at home. I promise I'll put together a coherent post soon.  When both children nap, at the same time.  

I hope you're all enjoying your summer!  You can keep up with over on Instagram.  My username is Drewsmomma3. 

2012 a year in review

2012 was an amazing year and our family was so blessed with a new addition, some awesome travel and lots of fun time as a family of four. Let's take a look back at our year. In January we got ready to transition from one to two kiddos.  I also entered my third trimester of being pregnant with Kate whom I had dubbed "peanut" while pregnant with her.  We didn't know that she in fact was a girl while I was pregnant.

In February I started planning Drew's Sesame Street birthday party.

We also moved Drew to his big boy bed and he did amazingly well through the transition! We took full advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and spent time outside in February, in IOWA!

March brought some nursery progress, our Barbados travel review and our sweet Drew turned two years old.

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April had huge changes in our family as we welcomed Katherine Ellen into our family.

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In June I chatted about introducing Kate to Drew and how our transition at home had been going.  We took Drew on his first train ride and it was a huge hit!

In July I finally got around to sharing pictures of Drew's Sesame Street birthday party....Slacker alert!

Kate had already hit the 2 month mark!

We also spent the majority of the month of July in our backyard enjoying the awesome weather.

In August Brendan and I traveled to Puerto Rico and I returned to work. 

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September we were quite busy with family birthdays and my little brother got married!

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In October we visited the pumpkin patch, and I gave everyone an update as to what Drew was up to these days and Kate hit the 5 month mark.

November brought on Thanksgiving and a need to help me decorate.  We are nearly finished with our basement renovation and I couldn't be happier!

December was all about Christmas in our house! We even had a white Christmas this year with a snow day coming just one week before the big day.  I know I shared our Christmas card late this year but it's still our 2012 Christmas card. 

2012 was a great year!  We were so blessed with health and happiness, we are looking forward to all that 2013 has in store for our family.

 

Check out these blogs!

I've now been blogging for 4 years and have loved every moment! It's been a great tool for me to poor my nonsense into and "meet" some great bloggers in the process. I read blogs daily, usually in the wee hours of the morning or when laying in bed at night. It's been such a wonderful addition to my life and I truly enjoy reading each and every one of the following blogs. So go check them out, I think you will love them!


Karen at Home
Our silly Rodriguez family
Life in the Fun Lane
Mrs. Southern Belle
The DIY Show Off
Rare and Beautiful Treasures


Go check these amazing bloggers out, I know you will not be disappointed!

Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner!

You probably thought I had forgotten about all of you that entered the Real Simple Magazine Giveaway, I promise I didn't forget about you all! I was able to finally get my random.org account back up and working. It was being a little booger lately.

The lucky winner of a one year subscription to Real Simple is.....

SARE, comment number 9!

Sare, I will be emailing you today!  Thank you to everyone who entered, I truly appreciate you reading my little ole blog.

It's been brought to my attention

That apparently I drive at least one of my readers crazy with my writing style. This reader commented that I use too many commas... Oh and they weren't trying to be mean and they pointed out the fact that I work in a high school and have a college degree, gee thanks!
Welp, you don't like my writing style, please feel free to leave and never come back. That little red X at the top right of your screen will be your exit stage left. First, I'm not a talented writer by any means, however this is MY blog, my space to write about what I want. You don't like it, don't read it. Second, no need to point out my job and my degree, I'm pretty sure I already knew both points. Third, if anonymous keep leaving rude comments I know where you're coming from, as most every blog does, I have a stat counter. Your IP address is right there.
So please, if you don't like it here, don't come to my grammatically incorrect blog if it drives you crazy.
I however will keep sharing with my awesome and faithful readers whom I don't drive crazy. Apparently I missed the memo that blogging was an English course and I was being graded, who knew?
Thank to those readers who keep coming back day after day and leave the most awesome feedback and send your love and support, you guys rock!

A sidenote; I've heard from the anonymous commenter that prompted this post. Apparently she thinks I have a lack of knowledge of punctuation and thought I'd like to know for professional reasons... Gee thanks. First you know nothing about documents I write for work, and second don't assume. Third, screw you, get a life! You suggested I tell you that so there you go. Please don't ever comment or visit MY blog again.

And FYI, do have an email listed, under the contact me tab.

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A Thank You

I've now been blogging since 2007. I can't even wrap my head around the fact that I've been blogging for almost 4 years. Some of you have been with me from day 1, well not many but over the past four years my readers have kept me coming back day after day, week after week, year after year. I can not tell you how much each comment has touched me, the friendships I've made through blogging are simply priceless. You have been with me through my lowest of lows and given me encouragement, and prayed for me. You've been with me through some of the greatest moments in my life thus far and I can tell you from the bottom of my heart.....THANK YOU! Every single person who follows and reads my blog has a special place in my heart and life. My little blog is just that, my own little place, and for your following and readership, I am forever grateful!

As a thank you to my readers I am sponsoring a little giveaway for my readers. I've been thinking about doing this for a while now and it finally hit me, a one year subscription to Real Simple Magazine. First, I adore this magazine and have a subscription myself, second this mag encompasses everything I talk about here, food, fashion, organization, family, everything. So there you have it, as a Thank You to all of you, I am going to sponsor this giveaway.

So here's what you need to do to enter:

1. Follow this blog

2. Leave a comment with how long you've been reading and your email

The winner will be chosen by random.org. You must be in the United States to enter, no more than one entry per person.

Because I'm a ninkenpoop I forgot to add that you can enter until 5pm on Friday Septmeber 23, 2011.

Ask US anything

I have a bunch of new followers lately, hi to all of you!! Much love and thanks for following! So I thought I would bring back one of the posts that has gotten the most hits, Ask me anything but this time I'm going to give it a bit of a twist, you can ask US anything. Us meaning me, Brendan, Drew and even Ruby the dog!
This is a no holds bar free for all on all topics, we are pretty much an open book, but please remember my mom reads this blog... Anything from pregnancy, to marriage to toddlerhood, go for it! Fashion, cooking, exersice, it's all fair game.
So have at it, we are all yours, what are your burning questions for all of us here at Life with B&A? I'll leave this post up until Monday and then start answering questions. So come out and say hello, especially if you've just recently started following, if nothing else just to say hello!

Ciao! We can't wait to read your questions!




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You like?

Life with B&A got a bit of a face lift thanks to Designer blogs. I purchased a custom blog design from them a while back and their Designer Emily contacted me a few days ago and was ready to get started. She was absolutely fabulous to work with. It was a quick and painless process, with me being technically challenged I thought for sure this would give a number of headaches and I would utterly confused, but alas, I was not, Emily was awesome and VIOLA, the new look to Life with B&A! I hope you like it!

I got an AWARD!

Miss Sara over @ Mrs.and Mister awarded me the Stylish Blogger Award!  First, Sara, you are too sweet for words, thank you darling!  Second, go check out Sara's blog, NO, seriously, go check it out!  She is by far one of the sweetest bloggers I have ever had the chance to come in contact with.  You know what I mean, I read her lovely and fashionable blog!

So here's the low down with this bloggy blog award!

1. Link to the blogger{s} who gave you the award.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself.

3. Pass the award on to 15 ladies & let them know you did.

So 7 random facts about myself...

1. I can't go to bed without the house picked

2. I sleep most nights with socks on

3. I can't stand the smell or taste of anything pumpkin, Halloween to Thanksgiving is a tough time for me.

4. My mom says I was a spirited child, I danced to the beat of my own drum.  I literally danced from one place to another.

5. All but one room of my house is painted a neutral color.  That way I can bring color into each room with decor.  The one room that is a color is our master bath and I love the light blueish gray color that is.

6. I hate getting pedicures.  I can't stand having people touch my feet.  Although my toes aren't gross looking.

7. I'm a sucker for mashed potato's and gravy...mmmmm

Alrighty, now I need to pass this award onto 15 lovely ladies that are stylish blogger!

1. Karen @ Karen at Home

2. Mindy @ Learning as We Go

3.Pippy @ Life from Pippy's Perspective

4. Mrs. Southern Belle @ Mrs. Southern Belle
5. Lindsey @ Mixed
6. Gena @ Stirring my Coffee
7. Mrs.Bro @ The Thomas&Ben Chronicles
8. Mel @ Transatlantic Blonde
9. Holly @ Life in the fun lane
10. Leslie @ Leslie G.
11. Leah @ Marital-Bless
12. Kismet21@ Kismet's Fate
13. Sara @ Falling for Baby
14. Jenny @ Adventures of Two under Two
15. Cathy @ My old eggs and Ham

I've been deemed

Honest....who knew?

Anyway, first, I would like to thank Julie from Back to the Basics for givng me this award!  First, Julie is one the cutest mommies I've ever seen and her son Brayden is too cute for words!  I love Julie's honesty and her wedding pics are to die for!  So thanks Julie!

Here are the rules:

Here are the rules:
-Thank the person who gave you the award and link to their blog. (check!)

-Share 10 honest things about yourself.

-Present this award to 7 other blogs that you find brilliant in design and/or content.

10 honest things about me:

1. I absolutely adore my dog.  Seriously it could be to a fault!  She sleeps with us, cuddles with us all the time and every night I wrap her in HER blanket before we all go to sleep.  She is our baby and seriously, we are going to have a wake up call when this bambino arrives!

2. I have a distinct loathing for anything pumpkin.  As in flavor.  Can't stand the stuff, never been able to!  Needless to say I always bring an apple pie on Thanksgiving!

3. I don't think I could ever be a stay at home mom.  I admire anyone who can, but I think I would be unmotivated.  I have always needed something to keep me going and I might work part-time when this baby arrives, but the thought of staying home full-time seriously depresses me.

4. I can not stand eggs.  As in scrambled, fried, sunny side up, any egg is not my friend.  I think it's a texture thing.

5.  As for Thanksgiving, I am a green bean casserole snob!  I only like our families recipe!  I bring this dish every year to dinner and wouldn't have it any other way!

6. I have grown up in a blended family most of my life.  My parents were divorced when I was 3 years old and I wouldn't have it any other way.  I often feel bad introducing my step parents to people as my step parents because they are so much more than step parents to me.  They are my parents.  They've been there to guide and support me since I was very young.   I feel like that title doesn't explain their relationship with me.  It makes me feel like they are less important to me than my biological parents, but in reality, I am the luckiest gal in the world to have 4 loving and supportive parents and I am so thankful for each of them!

7. I often wonder what my purpose in life is.  I feel like my job now isn't what I am meant to do.  I feel like I have something more I am supposed to be doing.  I have a deep need to be giving back, changing lives, making each day for someone else the best that it possibly can be.  I know I have this calling, but I'v never been able to put a finger on exactly what I am supposed to do.  Each day I wake up and want more, I want more from my job.  I am so fortunate to have my health, my family, my friends.  There is a deep sense of needing to give back to those less fortunate.  Hopefully in the near future I can meet that calling.

8. This honesty post has taken me over a week to complete.  I don't have an issue with being honest, but more so, I was trying to make it at least a litle bit interesting to read!  I may be failing misserably!

9.  I am deathly afraid of child birth.  I know it's a little late now, but I am terrified of the pain, the contractions, everything!  I really have been hoping that the stork would just drop our beautiful child off at my hospital room in March!  I know, unrealistic, but a girl can always dream!

10.  I can not understand why girls have what I call the "Paris Hilton Syndrome"  Where they are actually intelligent yet act as if they have no common sense.  Think Jessica Simpson in  Newlyweds.  Seriously, I have no idea where this concept came from, but it needs to go away ASAP!  Empower yourself ladies, we are smart creatures that can solve problems, discuss important issues and even kill a bug if necessary!  we don't need to squeel at every little thing or use baby talk to adults, more than anything it's just annoying!

Now on to the 7 wonderful bloggers that I am passing this award on to:
Candace @ Mrs. Southern Belle
Karen @ A day in the life of Karen
Kristal @ Good food, Good Friends, Good Life
Suzanne @ Sunshine and Wine
Steph @ You paid more than me
Katie @ Blessed Hess
Leslie @ Leslie G

I've been deemed Kreativ.....

By Chelsea over at Life is Beautiful!! She gave me a Kreativ blog award and it was so unexpected and I am so honored!! Thanks Chelsea!! Chelsea and I have become "nestie friends" after we got aquinted on the nest earlier this past year. We share quite a few similarities. We both come from the great state of IOWA, both are both are enojoying married life, love fashion and tasty glass of wine! If you haven't checked out her blog....you must! It's fabulous and she is a very talented photog! Click HERE to check out for her blog.

Here's what she had to say about Life with B & A! "Life with B & A- Abby is such an awesome chick and her blog shows that! She is full of great ideas- whether it's for decorating, weddings, or styling outfits! She is so inspiring and I love seeing her latest ideas".

Thanks Chelsea, you're awesome!!! I can't thank you enough!!

So now I need to state 6 things I am thankful for and 6 blogs I think are worthy of this award.. So here goes nothing!

6 things I am thankful for:

1. My husband and best friend, I can't imagine my life without him. He makes ever experience that much better and truly is my rock, my support system and my best friend. I fall in love more each day with Brendan and I feel truly blessed by God that he deemed Brendan my partner for life.

2. Our little girl Ruby...She is the light of our lives and I am so thankful that she made it through her first couple of weeks with us, she was very, very sick. She is a cuddle bug and it's a priceless gift to see how happy she is everytime we come home.

3. My family... where do I even begin, they are simply amazing! They understand me, ground me, put up with me and love me unconditionally. They have been there through so much and I wouldn't be who I am without them.

4. My former nanny Jeanne....She started watching my sister and I when I was 6 weeks old until I went to school full time. She was like a second mom to us, and really helped us get through our parents divorce. Although she was taken away from us far too soon, I am thankful for the blessing of her in my life and the time I was able to spend with her.

5. Our health...Although we may have a sickness here or there, we are overall very healthy, happy people. We have been fortunate enough to not have to fight a major disease and I am grateful for that.

6. Lastly, I am thankful the Christmas holiday! I love this time of year and it beings utter joy to our household and to moi! I love decorating and getting together with our families!

Now 6 blogs I am passing this award along to!

Click each blog name to go directly to their blog.

1. Sarah at jeune Marie

2.Marialena at Old Fashion Gal

3. Kari at Better Together

4. Dunc at Simply Living

5. Katie at Hyper Homemaker

6. Not Martha at The Working Woman's Guide to Domestic Success

Post the award on your blog, tell us 6 things you are thankful for, and deem 6 bloggers worthy of the kreativ blogger award!

Have a great weekend everyone!!! Cheers! Abby