Happy Mother’s Day

May 10, 2015

Wore

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When I think back to when I was a child, I have a few very distinct memories that come to mind. I remember the the first time I had a cherry Jolly Rancher and how I thought it tasted just like Christmas. I remember the smell of my my dad’s iced tea he drank when he came in from mowing the lawn. I remember my mom sticking my blanket in the freezer on hot days before bedtime and loving how the silk edges felt cool on my face. I remember watching specks of dust float off my curtains during nap time and thinking they must be magic. I remember, in our bath, there was this milky green conditioner and how it looked just like frosting. I tasted it one day when my mother wasn’t watching … it tasted nothing like frosting.

I often wonder what kind of memories Jude will have of his childhood when he’s all grown and big. I hope more than anything else he remembers he was extremely loved. He has made me one happy Mama and I feel so lucky and grateful to call him mine.

I want to wish all you mamas the happiest Mother’s Day … especially to all our mothers/mother-figures. Jude, Camden, Kramer, and I love you all.  

simple + delicious

April 30, 2015

Photographs

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My mom came over the other night to help me with some “crucial” design decisions … life or death type decisions … like do my couch’s legs need to be two inches taller? Anyway, she brought over dinner, like moms love to do, and I was surprised to learn how extremely simple her meal really was.   Camden and I made it again the other night … It was just as good as I had remembered it. I’m at a loss for a super clever name to call this dish at the moment so let’s just call it what it is: pesto basil pasta with shrimp and asparagus. Recipe below 🙂

You will need: 
corkscrew pasta
raw shrimp (without shells and veins)
asparagus
Buitoni pesto with basil sauce  
extra virgin olive oil
butter
reduced balsamic vinegar 
salt and pepper

Place oven on broil setting.
On a baking pan, place desired amount of shrimp (so each person can have about 7-10 in their bowl). Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil shrimp about four inches away form the heat source for about 4-5 minutes. Set aside. 


Bring water for pasta to a boil. Add a little extra virgin olive oil and a few pinches of salt. Boil desired amount of pasta for about 7 minutes or until al dente. Drain pasta water and return to pot. 


While cooking pasta, place asparagus on baking sheet, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil asparagus for about 7 minutes. Remove from oven and drizzle reduced balsamic over top. 


Combine; pasta, shrimp, and Buitoni pesto sauce. Season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve in a bowl topped with asparagus. 

and then he said “mama”

April 27, 2015

Hey Jude / Photographs

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These photos are great representations of the difference between our morning energy levels. He wakes up bright and early ready to get his move on, I wake up ready to sit in a heap until I can muster up some sort of movement. Jude prefers to spend his mornings, climbing in and out of things, standing up and down, crashing toy cars, banging his maraca while crawling back and forth on the hardwood floors … I however, a little bit slower moving, prefer to lazily make breakfast, lay in bed, sleep. So every morning when I hear the waking babbles of my Juder-bug at the modest hour of 6:00 a.m., I’ll quietly lay in bed with the smallest of hopes that he will again be quiet and find sleep once more even if just for fifteen minutes longer . This morning was different, however. Yes, it was still very early and yes, I did still awake to the sweet morning coos of the baby Jude. But this morning, he distinctly called out “mama?” “mmmmm.” “mamamamama?”. A first word! And a “mama” at that! This morning his “mama” gave me all the energy I could ever need plus more.  

month ten

April 23, 2015

Hey Jude / Photographs

10 month old Jude
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10 month old Jude 2

Jude, at ten months old, playing his favorite game, drop something from the highchair and wait for mom to say “uh-oh”. I can’t believe in less than two months this little gooser will be a whole year old … How did that happen?!?!

giveaway

April 20, 2015

Miscellaneous

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Hey, guys!! It’s time for a giveaway, this one is from the darling Etsy shop, A Little Joy. A Little Joy is giving one Chalk White Arrow reader the chance to win one of their beautiful, handmade, baby quilts. Each one is made to order and they are so stinking pretty … There is some major quilt envy going on over here!

To enter:
Visit the shop A Little Joy, and have a look around.
Follow A Little Joy on Pinterest by clicking here, then share this giveaway on one social media platform of your choice (Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, ETC…). 
Come back to this post and let us know you did.

The winner will be chosen randomly one week from today and notified shortly after, via email. If you do not have an email linked within your Google profile, please leave your email or a way for us to get in touch with you in your comment. Giveaway is open to Chalk White Arrow readers only. Good luck!