One Year, and a Letter to my Love...

Sooo there's this guy that I kinda love...well, ok, more than kinda :)...

..and a year ago today I gave him my heart in exchange for his last name.

He means the world to me.

I think back on the day, and it was just as I had imagine...in a barn...in a field...with all of our family and friends to support us and celebrate with us. We have many wonderful memories to look back on and we are able to recount our many blessings!

Letter to my Love

A lot changes in a year...a wedding, a move across the country, and now we are expecting our baby boy, Henry! I look forward to the day that my love for you grows even deeper, when you're holding our baby boy for the first time. Even though our roles will soon change as we become mother and father, our love for each other will evolve to embrace our son.

I heard once that the secret to happy, long lasting marriage is more than just loving one another (that's the easy part), it's being willing to change, to evolve...together. The key is together. People change, circumstances change, time changes us. One thing is for sure-there will always be good times and hard times, but if we can manage...if we have the desire...to come together, to see eye to eye at the end of the day, we will be stronger for it. Yes, marriage is hard work, it's not easy. Nothing worth having comes easy, but if you can find the one that is worthy of the hard work, then it's all worth it. I'm glad I found you; you are worth it.

One year may not seem like a lot, but you build a house brick by brick, layer by layer, through the laughter, sweat and tears...we are laying our 'firm foundation' for the many, many years to come, and I cannot wait to see where life takes us. All I know is....I'm sure glad to have you by my side.

I love you to the moon and back...and I always will.

To many more wonderful years-Cheers! I love you, Matt!

Heisel Rules!

24 weeks

It feels surreal to type that title: 24 weeks. I can't believe how fast it seems to be going now! One month closer to seeing the lil man! We're considering getting the 3D ultrasound at the end of this month. It would be so cool to see how much he's grown and the chub that he's been accumulating! I wanna know who he's gonna look like!?

He's laying super low! He's supposed to double in size within the next couple weeks. Whew! I'm already running outta room in the womb soo I'm wondering where he's gonna try to stretch to. Last month the lil dude was head up (breach) so I'm hoping this time he is starting to get into position. Although, my OB assured me that they will move in circles until about 7 months or so. Speaking of OB, we got a letter today saying our OB is leaving at the end of August. :( Go figure, we find someone we really like, and she leaves...right before we're due. So sad. :( On the hunt for a new dr. Although, maybe this is the best time to switch to a midwife, which is what I wanted in the first place.

This last month has been kinda crazy. I began cramping at about 18 weeks and it last for about a month. These were no "round ligament" cramps, or "dehydration" cramps, or even "over exhaustion" cramps. These were intense, severe, unending cramps. I thought I was going to deliver my lil guy at 18 weeks. To make a long story short, it took countless calls to doctors and 3 office visits to 2 different doctors to find out that I had a bacterial infection that was causing the cramping.  A weeks dose of antibiotic, and I was back to normal, well, normal for 22 weeks! I was very upset that I had been in that much pain for that long, before I got to see MY doctor for the true diagnosis. I'm so glad to be over that though. Now I feel like I can enjoy the rest of the pregnancy, well sorta. ;) Maybe that pain was to prepare me for the real deal!

All that to say, if you think there's something wrong, don't let your doctor(s) tell you any differently. Don't let them make you feel silly for making a complaint about pain. You know your body better than anyone else. SO, keep pushing until you get the answers you need/until you are satisfied. I'm sure glad I did! :)

Other than that, it's just the typical swollen feet, achy back, uncomfortable/sleepless nights. I'm sure glad to have my hubby though. The nightly foot rubs sure help out a lot! Plus, he puts up with the new me- snoring, passing gas, bloating, moody, sometimes emotional, and hormonal. I bet somedays he thinks, "Where did my wife go?!" Thanks, Lover! {muah}

This week we celebrate one whole year of marriage! Where does time go?...seems like yesterday. Love you, honey! :)

Heisel Rules! {the Bump)

Banana Chocolate Chip Bread/Muffins

I typed this recipe on my other blog, but since then I've decided that I'm just going to keep it simple, and use this blog to hold my recipes and all other DIY things. Plus, I've tweaked this recipe again to include some chocolate. Yum!

This recipe is so easy, moist and delicious! Banana bread is one of those things that can be consumed year round. I usually do this as a loaf, but since I had enough bananas to make 2 batches, I decided I'd do muffins as well. And since my cravings are guided by the tiny one I'm baking in my belly, I wanted to add some chocolate chips. I didn't want the chocolate to overpower, though, so I went easy on the amount I used.

Ingredients:
4 bananas, mashed
1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, plus 2 Tbsp set aside (use to sprinkle on top)
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
1/4 cup chocolate chips (You can add as much or as little, or none)
1 small container of hazelnut spread (optional, but sooo good)

Directions:
Mash bananas and add melted butter, vanilla, and egg. In a separate bowl, combine all dry ingredients and mix until well combined. Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients slowly. Add chocolate chips (optional). Stir until just combined.

*If making a loaf, prepare pan with non stick spray. Spread half the batter in the bottom of the pan, spread the hazelnut spread on top of that. With a knife, make swirls in the batter, somewhat combining the hazelnut spread. Spread the other half of the batter on top and make swirls again, this time pulling the knife up each time so the hazelnut spread combines with the top layer. Sprinkle 2 Tbsp of brown sugar on top to make a sweet, crunchy topping. Bake in 350 oven for 1 hour. To test if they are done- toothpick/knife inserted should come out mostly clean.

*If making muffins, use tin liners so they don't stick. Just barely mix hazelnut spread in with the batter to make it look marbled. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop one full scoop in each muffin tin. Sprinkle the 2 Tbsp brown sugar that you set aside on top to make a sweet, crunchy topping. Bake in 350 oven for about 30 minutes. To test if they are done- toothpick inserted should come out mostly clean.

Enjoy with some butter in the center! Store in an air tight container.

Heisel Rules! {the Kitchen)

Easy Quiche with Crescent Roll Crust

I.love.quiche. I had it for the first time a long time ago and I've loved it ever since. However, I have tried a few recipes and I can never seem to make it like the first time. I've had other pretenders such as one that a big box store sells, and it's good, but it's not as good. Plus, the store-bought ones are only bite size, and I feel like a pig when I've eaten enough to settle my appetite. I just want a big girl slice! ;)

SO back to the Pinterest drawing board where I found another recipe that looked easy and yummy! And since I didn't have a pre-made pie crust, and I didn't want to actually make the crust from scratch, I needed a recipe that called for crescent rolls, which is all I had on hand. This is what I found and tweaked- http://allrecipes.com/recipe/quick-quiche-2/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=quiche&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Recipe

The great thing about quiche is that you can add whatever you like! Below is my rendition based on what was in my fridge.

Ingredients:
1 pack of garlic butter crescent rolls
6 eggs
3 Tbsp milk (any kind)
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
1 tsp parsley, chopped (optional, but I love parsley)
1/2 pack of bacon cooked and chopped (I make my bacon in the oven-perfect crispiness)
1/4 cup rotisserie chicken (this was leftover in my fridge)
1/2 cup broccoli, chopped and steamed
1/2 cup cauliflower, chopped and steamed
1/2 cup onion, diced
3/4 cup cheddar cheese (or whatever kind you'd like)
3 triangles of Laughing Cow Light Garlic Herb cheese (you can use cream cheese or just leave it out)

Roll out crescent dough and lay over pie pan (or whatever pan you have) and up the sides. (I used an oval Fiesta platter because that's all I have on hand.) Nothing is against the rules! ;) Bake in 350 oven for about 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool for a few minutes.

While the crust is baking, mix together eggs, milk, pepper, salt, and parsley. Set aside.

When crust has cooled some, spread the Laughing Cow cheese triangles over the top of it. Like I said above, you can skip this step if you'd like, it really didn't make that big of a difference.

Layer all other ingredients over the top. Then top with egg mixture. Rub some of the egg mixture over the edges of the crust, like an egg wash, for a golden crust.

Bake in 350 oven for 30-45 minutes, or until the center is solid. My pan is about 1 1/2 inches deep (not really deep) and it took about 40-45 minutes total.

Let cool for about 10 minutes and then enjoy! Wife tested, husband approved! :)

Heisel Rules! {the Kitchen}

Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes

I'm so glad the weather is getting warmer and I'm able to make fruity sweets now! I've been on quite a lemon kick here lately,  I've noticed. Plus, the contrast of the sweet and tart is just yummy!

I took a shortcut on this cupcake and used a boxed lemon mix since I had it in my cupboard.

Cupcake-
Follow the directions on the box. I used a mini cupcake pan because I love to bring mini cupcakes to parties. Easy and bite size! Bake at 350 for 11 minutes.

For the Filling-

3-4 cups strawberries (before pureeing, should make about 2 cups after puree)

2 cups white sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 Tbsp honey

Puree the strawberries using a blender or mixer. I used a blender to get them really fine. Pour puree into sauce pan on medium heat. Add vanilla, honey and half of the sugar. Let gently bowl for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. In a separate bowl, combine pectin (I used Ball brand) and the other half of the sugar. (The package says combine 1 ½ cups sugar with pectin, but I wanted my puree to have sugar to start to thicken).  Add pectin to cooled puree. Let stand or cool in fridge to thicken.

Hollow out a small portion of the center of the cupcake. I used a small piping tip. Using the larger side, gently push and turn into center of cupcake and cake will come out when you pull the piping tip out. Fill with strawberry filling (¼ tsp for minis), and then put the small piece of cupcake back in the hole you made. (The pic is showing them all filled)

Strawberry Buttercream Icing-

3 sticks unsalted sweet butter (at room temp)

3-4 cups powder sugar

¾ cup strawberry puree (I used what was leftover from the filling and it gave the PERFECT strawberry taste!)

In a mixer, blend butter until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes). Add powder sugar. Start with 3 cups and then add more later if needed. Add strawberry puree and blend on medium speed until well combined. I had to add more powder sugar, 4 cups total. Should be pretty thick. Pour into piping bag and pipe using large star tip. (I purchased this at Wal-Mart and it was only $3 for 3 large tips!)

*Optional (I’m all about the garnish, and I’m over the top so I did this…)

Slice a lemon in thinish slices and then quarter. Dredge the slices through Country Time Lemonade dry mix to give a little more sweet tart. Put on top of Iced cupcakes. This gave the sweet strawberry icing some tart. SO good!

You could also just zest a lemon over the top of the cupcakes.

Enjoy!

Heisel Rules! {the Kitchen)

Candied Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies

I've been on a bacon binge during my pregnancy!! But, before you go judging the name, trust me, these are DELICIOUS!! The bacon adds a little salt, which marries perfectly with the sweet of the chocolate. Plus, the candied bacon is yum just by itself! New guilty pleasure?? J

So, this was a pregger craving that I had, but I’ve never had a great chocolate chip recipe. So, I consulted with my friend, Pinterest, and she gave me just what I was looking for!

Here’s a link to the source: http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2011/02/candied-bacon-chocolate-chip-cookies.html

But I’m also typing it here along with any changes I made.

Ingredients:

For Candied Bacon:

1 pack bacon

½ cup brown sugar

For cookies:

2 cups all purpose flour

½ tsp salt

1 cup brown sugar

½ cup granulated sugar

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp baking powder

1 egg

1 egg yolk

1 Tbsp vanilla extract

¾ unsalted butter, melt and then let cool for a few minutes (very important)

2 cups choloate chips (I added the whole package)

For Bacon:

Slice bacon in half to make it easier to handle. Line cookie sheet with foil. Assemble bacon in rows. Cover generously with brown sugar. Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes. Flip and sprinkle on remaining brown sugar.  Cook for about 10 more minutes, or until crispy. When finished, lay out on cookie rack til cooled/hardened. Chop into small pieces.

Cookie Dough:

Combine flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Sift or mix well. Set aside.

In a blender, combine butter and sugars. When smooth and creamy, add vanilla, egg, and egg yolk. Add dry ingredients slowly until just combined.  Don’t overmix. Hand mix in the chocolate chips and candied bacon. Let batter rest for 15 minutes. Spoon onto baking sheet, and bake at 325 for 11-14 minutes, or until edges are just getting golden brown. For crunchier cookie, bake for a little longer. Cool on cookie rack. Enoy!

Heisel Rules! {the Kitchen}

Anatomy Scan

We had our anatomy scan on Tuesday so we got see our lil dude again! This time it was up close and personal! During the anatomy scan, the nurse uses ultrasound to look over baby from head to toe to see if she notices any abnormalities. Luckily, she said our lil guy is looking good. Of course, our OB will look over the pictures as well and talk to us at our next appointment. 

During the ultrasound, Henry was a little wiggle worm, but the nurse was able to catch some really sweet moments...

This is Henry opening his mouth and sticking his tongue out! We got to see this in motion, and it was the cutest thing, really! He looked happy! (The neat thing is, this week they start swallowing amniotic fluid so he can now literally taste what I eat!)

This is Henry with his arms and legs up by his head...limber lil squirt! ;) No wonder I've been feeling little taps every now and then!

And one of his sweet face. He's usually too wiggly to get a good profile pic! :)

She also confirmed that Henry is, in fact, a baby boy! :) Not like we doubted! Also, the quad screening came back negative for any risk of genetic, chromosomal, or heart defects. Praise The Lord! :)

That is all, just wanted to give you all a quick update and share the ultrasound pictures of our lil man! Halfway there, but can't wait to meet him already!

Have a great weekend!

Heisel Rules! {the bump}