Movie Club Monday: Leap Year and St. Patrick's Day Inspiration

As a kid, I was always fascinated by the idea of "leap year".  I imagined how funny it would be to say that my birthday was on Leap Day because then when I was 16, I would have only had four "real" birthdays.  (I've celebrated eight leap years myself.)  So while this year may not be a leap year--the next one is in 2020--I thought it would be fun to incorporate it into this month's Movie Club Monday theme which is a romantic comedy.  The movie of choice:  Leap Year, of course.  *wink*

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Maternity Pictures and 38 Week Bumpdate

My husband and I were talking earlier this week about some of the things we were looking forward to with the arrival of our baby girl: seeing what she looks like, watching our other two kids interact with her, snuggling her and just having her here with us after such a long time of hoping and praying.  We also talked about some of the less fun parts: feeling like a zombie due to nighttime feedings, buying lots (and lots) of diapers and frequent changes in routines.  *wink*  I also shared with him how hard this last trimester has been for me with this baby.  I've been sick 5 different times (although it feels like one long, horrible cold stretching from Thanksgiving to now) and so the normal lack of sleep and discomfort that comes with pregnancy has just been exacerbated.  This has also meant that the kids and I haven't left the house as much so we've been dealing with a lot of cabin fever.  All this to say that while I'm very grateful to be pregnant, I'm also looking forward to bringing her into this world and getting back to my non-pregnant self.

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My Hospital Bag Packing List {Plus FREE Printable}

Being prepared when I leave my house, whether we're going to the store, the park or a play date, is something that makes me feel more confident and in control.  And when it comes to packing my hospital bag, I like to do it ahead of time so I'm not worrying about what I do or don't have when the time comes to leave for the hospital.  Even though I'm only about 37 weeks right now, many of the items I'll be bringing with me can be packed ahead of time.  Whether you're a first time mom or one whose done this a time or two, scroll through this list and see if there is something you might have forgotten to pack.  I'd love to hear what else you'd add!

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$10 at Target: Spring Refresh

We've been having some very un-winter like weather the last couple of weeks, which is probably why I was so drawn to the bright spring colors and decor at the dollar spot when I went to Target this last weekend.  (Although we do have a winter storm warning in effect right now, so my dreams of spring may get put on hold for a little bit longer.)  I love decorating for spring and have slowly been getting rid of my old decor and transitioning to pieces that are more my current style.  I love bright colors, as well as the flexibility to use different pieces over multiple seasons.  I can't wait to officially start decorating for spring with these fun items.  And can you believe I scored them for less than $10?

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DIY Dollar Store Jeweled Vases

I've mentioned before that the dollar store is one of my favorite places to find craft supplies.  If you haven't taken the time to browse the craft aisle, definitely do it the next time you're there.  You might be surprised!  When I walked in last week, I didn't have anything specific in mind in terms of what I wanted to do for this month's Inspire My Creativity challenge.  After throwing a few items into my cart, an idea formed and that is how I came up with this month's craft: jeweled vases.  (And I'm not kidding when I say this is probably one of the the quickest and easiest crafts I've ever made!)

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A Wish List Gift Guide for Baby #3

At almost 36 weeks, preparing for my third baby has been a different experience than with my other two kids, partially because my wish list is a lot different.  I already have all the bigger items, like a portable crib and double stroller, and a lot of the basics like a car seat and burp cloths.  But where I noticed a desire for new items were those things that would make my life as a mom of three kids easier.  My youngest is almost four which means that there are a lot of new products on the market and I definitely want to get my hands on them!  Today I'm sharing my baby #3 wish list and I'd love to hear what you think or what you'd add.

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Cinnamon Roll Bites for Two

One of the first things I learned to make in my 7th grade Home Ec class was a classic monkey bread using refrigerator biscuits, cinnamon, sugar and butter.  While I was familiar with baking and did it a lot at home, I'd never made these before and thought they were delicious, especially when eaten warm from the oven.  I found out quickly however, that monkey bread left to cool, sit and eat reheated was hard, crunchy and not nearly as good as fresh.  I've tried out different recipes for monkey bread over the years, but it wasn't until I stumbled upon one calling them cinnamon roll bites that a light went off in my head.  With a little bit of tweaking, I was able to create a recipe for cinnamon roll bites for two and the bonus is that they taste just as good when you reheat them. *wink*

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