Malcolm

Cupcakes, Books, and Keeping It Real

I’m officially in cake mode again! Well, cupcake mode. I’ve been practicing cupcakes for Sadie’s first birthday party! We’re doing a honey bee themed party and I’m having way too much fun with ideas for treats.

Honey themed cupcakesHoney bee cupcakes with honeycombCandy honeycomb

I made chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream and butterscotch “honeycomb” and topped them with a drizzle of honey! The only thing missing are these candy bees. I’m thinking I want to try out some chocolate covered pretzel ideas next. Can’t wait!

Onto the topic of reading. I’ve been reading up a storm lately. Mostly pregnancy and birth-related books–my favorite.
-Just finished Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care
-Currently reading The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother
-Up next is this birth story book

If you’re interested in reading about all things pregnancy, birth, baby, and parenting, I have a page where I list all of titles I’ve read in each category.

Now it’s time to keep it real here on the blog. I have three things to share today!

White and brown American Cocker Spaniel

1. Malcolm puked under mine and Jimmy’s bed the other day and Mavis crawled underneath it to eat the puke before I could clean it up. She then decided she couldn’t crawl back out and was stuck. I couldn’t move our bed because it’s too heavy. I called Jimmy while he was at work and we both had to just laugh that we have these weird/random situations with our small zoo of animals. Mavis eventually crawled back out when I pretended I was going on a walk without her, lol.

2. Remember how I called 911 when Sadie hit her head and was bleeding from her mouth? Jimmy and I had to call again less than two weeks later when she was choking on a plastic gum wrapper while we were driving. It was by far the scariest moment of my life. Thankfully she was able to breathe again after the longest minute of my life, but it was awful. I had a lot of fear and worry after that incident. I’m just focusing on the fact that she is okay now and God is in control. This parenting thing is not for the faint of heart.

3. I am so behind on blogging. I feel like it takes me three times as long to post and comment on blogs. I am reading other blogs and thinking of post ideas all the time, I just have a hard time finding the time!

Well, that’s all for today! I hope everyone has a great week and I’ll be back the next time I find a free moment 🙂

Snapshots

Hello and happy Wednesday! Just popping in to share some snapshots from my life lately.

Fall flower arrangement with pumpkin candle for fall decor

I started to decorate our house for fall, but realized my decorations are a little sparse. I think I went on a declutter spree a few months ago and may have donated more than I thought 😉 I’m liking the simplicity, though!

Glade Cozy Autumn Cuddle fall candle limited edition scent Bear Naked granola pumpkin spice granola for fall

Speaking of fall, I picked up this candle and this granola and give them both a 10 out of 10! The candle smells wonderful and the granola is the perfect blend of spices, oats, and white chocolate.

I had some of the granola the other night mixed into in pumpkin yogurt with a cut up apple and it was fall on fall on fall!

Strawberry cake with vanilla buttercream and rosettes with silver sprinkles Strawberry cake with vanilla buttercream decorated with roses and sprinkles

The cake I made for my mother-in-law’s birthday party went well! I ended up doing exactly what I thought I would (for once, haha): a strawberry cake with strawberry filling, vanilla buttercream, rosettes, and sprinkles.

What was even better than the cake was the company that evening.

Puggle and cocker spaniel

Mavis and my sister-in-law’s dog, Dixie!

Hair twins girls with curly dark blonde hair

My sis-in-law and I were hair twins!

Jimmy and I brought Mavis over to my sister-in-law’s house and we all had dinner and hung out celebrating my mother-in-law! It was a lovely evening and so fun watching Mavis interact with her “cousin” lol!

American cocker spaniel sitting on chair

Mavis paid a visit to the vet over the weekend to get her yearly shots, plus a few extra shots so she can go to doggy daycare. I’m taking her for an interview at Camp Bow Wow today to see if she likes it.

Jimmy and I figure it will be good to have doggy daycare as an option for our little energizer bunny to get her energy out from time to time once her little sister arrives!

And rolling right into the topic of Mavis’ little sister, I’m happy to report that she and I had our last iron infusion!

Pregnant IV iron infusion for anemia

I can’t say enough good things about the doctors, nurses, and staff a the Hillman Cancer Center at Mercy Hospital here in Pittsburgh. I felt so well cared for and had great experiences each time baby and I went in for our infusions. My hematologist (and pretty much everyone) was a little nervous baby and I wouldn’t make it to all four infusions before delivery, but by the grace of God we did!

I’m still anemic, but my hemoglobin levels have risen, which is such a huge blessing! I’ll head back to the hospital in November for more blood work and infusions as needed.

Okay, two more snapshots because I love sharing pictures of our pets!

Cocker spaniel and pit bull Black cat with yellow eyes sitting on blanket

Lola and Mavis went to the groomer and got matching bandanas and Malcolm decided to camp out on our blanket and look adorably handsome.

What would a snapshot of your life lately look like?