My Latest Obsessions & Happy Memorial Day Wknd

Happy Thursday! Wow - it has been quite a HOT week in Chicago. I'm looking forward to a long Memorial Day Weekend (thought the pic above was cute w/the little guy walking through the flags!) with Peter and the girls! We have been so busy lately with everything that it will be nice to have an extra day with P and the little gals! 

Love this youtube video - Swagger Van - reminds me of my "Cabs to a Minivan" post! 

My sister-in-law sent me this adorable blog entitled Cooking with My Kid: Creating an Adventurous Eater One Recipe at a Time. 

Check out these vintage silverware garden markers by Monkeys Always Look (on Etsy). 

I'm in love with Snow & Graham's stuff (letterpress stationary, calendars, etc.) and had a "mini moment" the other day when I passed their place in Chicago. I didn't realize they had a blog. I'm LOVING it! Loved their post on the Jamie Oliver (who doesn't love the 'naked chef' and his adorable accent). I must make these little "cupcakes skirts" next time I'm bringing some cupcakes over to a friend's place - how fab (my two faves = cupcakes and pretty paper)! 

Isn't this little one of a kind elephant adorable (w/a mix of vintage and new fabric)? So cute! This same etsy seller (rabbitsmoon shop) has tons of cute stuff - like this red dachshund frame pouch. I like this green deer and birdie frame pouch even better. FUN! 

How fun would it be to send someone a fun postcard that turns into a mini living botanical garden?! 

So, I've stayed away from my favorite store Anthropologie for way too long (not the best store to shop in when prego) but I took a peek the other day and thought this dress was great and SO ME! Someone else should get it for summer...! And I think we are using some wallpaper that is exclusive to Anthro in our new downstairs powder room (however, I'm not going to reveal until I see the sample and decide to go w/it!). FUN. 

Week 30 - Our little "Cabbage" Patch Guy

30 weeks down...10 to go! TIME FLIES! I remember when Baby Boy Carr was just 6 weeks and about the size of a lentil bean! He is now about 15.7 inches long and weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). I can now feel little "BBC" all the time - which is so fun. 

I am lucky to be surrounded by so many pregnant moms and soon to be moms - as it has been fun to compare notes and ask the veteran moms questions about babies and the entire process. 

Food Cravings this week: Trader Joe's Chocolate Covered Toffee (why did I ever start w/this stuff - it is DIVINE!). And I did indulge in some YUMMY Sweet Mandy B's cake at a friend's baby shower last PM. And today the gals in RF (River Forest) threw me a shower - so adorable - and I had a YUMMY cupcake (w/a little onesie on it). Tomorrow = VEGGIES and more VEGGIES to cancel out all the yumminess I had this weekend! 

Currently Reading: "Rules for My Unborn Son" by Walker Lamond (someone gave this to me today at my baby shower). Ironically I did a post about this book some time ago - as I read about the book online and thought it sounded really interesting. 

My Latest Obsessions - Trader Joe's HOT LIST

I truly love Trader Joe's and lately I have been asking friends for their TJ "HOT LIST." I decided to send out an email and take all the responses and create a TJ "HOT LIST." A SPECIAL THANKS to all those out there that participated in this LIST. Here goes (with comments from folks as well!): 

NOTE: Items with an (*) were recommended by more than one person! 

Snacks/Apps 

*TJ Brand Hummus "by far the best store bought hummus I have had" 

Horseradish Hummus "just enough kick" 

Peanut Butter filled Pretzels 

TJ's fresh Hot Salsa (and one avocado) = "fab dip" 

Flaxseed Tortilla Chips (multi-colored ones) "awesome and healthy" 

Kids Yogurt Cups 

Omega Trek Trail Mix for Snacks and Salads 

Truffle Mushroom Flatbread 

TJ's Almond Butter w/Toasted Flaxseed 

TJ's Dark Chocolate Covered Powerberries  (for homemade granola or snack mixes) 

*TJ's nuts "especially the spicy ones" 

Tart d'Alsace (frozen) - a french style flat bread with ham, carmelized onions and gruyere cheese

TJ's Avocado Number Guacamole (2 pack) 

*TJ's Corn and Chile Tomato-less Salsa 

Baked Cheetos 

Pomegranate Packs (in the produce section) "sprinkle on whatever you fancy" 

Sides

*Ready to eat Edamame beans (in their fresh produce section) "my kids gobble them up!" 

*Frozen Mac and Cheese (for kids and ADULTS!) 

*TJ's Organic Brown Rice 

*TJ's Sweet Potato Fries 

Brown Rice Medley (blend of brown rice, daikon radish seed, and black barley) 

Drinks/Tea/Coffee

TJ's Irish Breakfast Tea 

Costa Rican Coffee 

Breakfast Items

TJ's Turkey Bacon

TJ's Oatmeal 

Whole Wheat Mini Bagels 

Frozen Mango for Smoothies

Maple Syrup "good price for 100% syrup" 

Dinner/Meals 

*Orange Chicken 

Veggie Fried Rice 

Turkey Meatballs

Nitrate Free Hot Dogs 

Mini Bagel Pizzas 

Cuban Mojito simmer Sauce for Chicken in a crock pot or marinade 

Precut Tri-colored peppers "perfect for quick fajitas!" 

Pizza Dough 

Herb Dijon Marinated Salmon "so easy and delish on the grill"  

Dessert

Mint Dark Chocolate Meltaways 

TJ's Toffee (covered in chocolate and nuts) "wish I never discovered these...they disappear instantly" 

Dark Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans 

Dark Chocolate Covered Ginger 

Chocolate Almond Clusters 

Sea Salt Brownies 

Chocolate Ganache Torte 

Dunkers (biscuit style cookies) 

TJ's Mint Joe Joe's (seasonal for holidays)

Mocha Ice Cream Balls "love them"  

Misc Food Items 

Sunflower Seed Butter (for those with peanut allergies) 

Naan Indian Bread 

Pound Plus Chocolate (in "Dark" and "72%") "Cannot beat the price for baking chocolate" 

Misc. Items 

Vanilla Lavender Body Scrub 

Orchids "inexpensive and they last" 

Enjoy the LIST! I'm super excited now to head to TJ's. Anything else to add to this LIST? 

Here are some sites that I found on TJ's: 

Trader Joe's Fan: Recipes and Reviews

Tracking Trader Joe's 

Trader Joe's Jelly Beans and Citrus Gum Drops (actually we put these in the gals Easter eggs this spring / I think I ate more than Cate/Margaret did!)

Chowhound - Post your Favorite TJ items 

Insider's Guide to TJ's 

Week 29 - Butternut Squash

NOTE: Pic is from my mom's in AZ (on my way to my baby shower with her friends). I was 26 weeks here!

So, this past Friday little Baby Carr hit the 29 week mark - wahoo! 29 down...11 to go! Seriously, time is flying by so quickly. I'm now officially in my third trimester - wild!

Little Baby Boy Carr now weighs about 2 and a 1/2 pounds and is a little over 15 inches according to Baby Center. Our little guy has been quite active and I can feel him all the time now. I love feeling the little kicks here and there - makes this process all that much more real.

It is amazing to think that my mom had me at 30 weeks (so basically this upcoming Friday). She had such a different pregnancy than I have been having (let's just say that uneventful is a good thing!). The little gals are getting so excited - especially now that they can visually see my BUMP!

My Latest Obsessions

First and foremost, I hope all my favorite and fabulous mom friends/family members out there had a wonderful day last Sunday. I don't know if I am overly emotional from being pregnant but Sunday was such an overwhelmingly special day for me on many levels. The little gals and Peter showered me with cards and some cute gifts. I LOVE nothing more than a handwritten card and their cards brought me to tears. I love that Peter understands and appreciates my obsession with letterpress and he gave me this card from one of my letterpress faves - Egg Press.  I thought a lot about Cate and Margaret's mom and I know that she is so proud of them (and Peter). 

OMG, this "Cute as a Button" package (per Design*Sponge) is adorable. Love it. I may need to send one of these to Peter at the office. How fun would this be to get? 

On Mamaista Daily I saw a post about Bubs Bears. Abby Harris, of Bubs Bears, can turn favorite outfits (of your little ones) and create keepsake bears. If only I could find the Florence Eiseman dresses that my mom put all three of her daughters in...that would make for one fun (and hilarious) Mother's Day gift for my Mom (JuJu). Just saw that Florence Eiseman has a Facebook page and they are looking for vintage photos of children in their attire (not sure if they would consider the 80s vintage or not...but I should send in our pic!). 

Lately I have been at a loss about what to make the girls for dinner. I tried to make them turkey burgers a few nights ago (however, they told me they didn't taste like "burgers"). I was flipping through the magazine Real Simple (May 2010) and saw a recipe for Cheddar Chicken. I think I'm going to give it a try w/the little gals. We shall see...

Stay tuned for my "BEST OF" Trader Joe's list that I'm going to post next Friday. I shop at Trader Joe's once in awhile and I know there is such great stuff there - I just never know what to buy...so I polled some of my pals to email me their list of faves - stay tuned. 

Have a FABULOUS weekend!