Beach Day: Grand Haven

While my sister Sarah and her baby Wyatt were here visiting, we made our way to Lake Michigan to hang out at the beach.  It was an overcast rainy day, but we still had a great time!

There were kites flying in the sky, dogs for the kiddies to look at, and great people watching.

Millie's first encounter with sand...not bad on the eyes and feet. 

This little mister loved the sand!!

Once we sat this little lady in it, she hated it!  But her dad saved her.

She liked looking at it better. 

 

We walked on the pier...

and trudged strollers through the sand. (which is very hard by the way!)

We finished our day with a corn dog from a little yellow shack called "Pronto Pups."

One thing I'll tell you as that they were mighty good! (and cheap too)

Then we headed to "The Front Porch" for homemade ice cream on a cone.  

It was to. die. for.!  I haven't stopped thinking about it since. 

We all had a good time and look forward to many more visits!

We sure miss these two!

Happy Memorial Day!

25k race

I did it!!  A few weekends ago, two of my friends and I ran the full 25k (15.6 miles) without walking.  I finished in 2 hours 33 min.  Made me appreciate those who finish marathons in half that time.  I don't know how they do it!

Besides the fact that I had to walk down the stairs backwards, I looked like a really old grandma when I stood up from the couch and I couldn't sit for longer than ten minutes without bending and straightening my legs, I felt great! haha.  My knees hurt and I was very sore.  But it was well worth it!  And I am so glad I did it.  It was quite the accomplishment.

My two cheerleaders pre-race.  Love them!

Finish line...

(excuse the pictures.  I stole them off the website. whoops.)

Post race with my Millie bug.  

I am so glad I did it!  

It was a lot of fun! 

(believe it or not)

Three Years...

Three years ago today...


I married this man.


Little did I know how great of a husband and father he'd be.


Oh, how I love him!!


Cheers to three years!

Recipe: Homemade Pizza

Crust:

this will make 4 pizzas--I froze the leftover dough 

2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (one 1/4-ounce envelope)

2 cups warm water (105 degrees to 115 degrees)

4 to 4 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 teaspoons fine sea salt

Extra-virgin olive oil, for bowl

Directions:

Dissolve yeast in warm water in a large bowl and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in 3 cups flour and the salt, stirring until smooth. Stir in an additional 2 cups flour; continue adding flour (up to 1/2 cup), 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring until dough comes away from bowl but is still sticky.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface, and knead with lightly floured hands. Start by slapping the dough onto the counter, pulling it toward you with one hand and pushing it away from you with the other. Fold the dough back over itself.  Repeat until it's easier to handle, about 10 times. Finish kneading normally until dough is smooth, elastic, and soft, but a little tacky, about 10 minutes.

Shape dough into a ball and transfer to a lightly oiled bowl; turn to coat. Cover with plastic, and let rise in a warm place until it doubles in volume. Press it with your finger to see if it's done; an indent should remain.

Meanwhile, scrape dough out of the bowl onto floured surface, and cut it into 4 pieces. Shape into balls. Dust with flour, and cover with plastic. Let rest, 20 to 30 minutes, allowing dough to relax and almost double.

Holding top edge of 1 dough ball in both hands, let bottom edge touch work surface (refrigerate remaining balls as you work). Carefully move hands around edge to form a circle, as if turning a wheel. Hold dough on back of your hand, letting its weight stretch it into a 12-inch round. Transfer dough to a lightly floured baking sheet. Press out edges using your fingers. Jerk peel; if dough sticks, lift, and dust more flour underneath.

Toppings:

Top it off with pizza sauce, or pureed tomatoes.

Italian mix cheese.

sliced pieces of Prosciutto

Bake at 350 degrees for 16 min.  (times may vary)

Remove pizza and add avocado and arugula tossed in balsamic vinegar.  

So yummy!

Enjoy!

(recipe via here)

9 Months Old

My little Millie girl is nine months old!  I have to say this is the most fun, most exhausting, most exciting, most nervous, most goofy, most funny, most crazy stage yet.  (although looking back I'd probably say that about every month.)

She is sooo fun!!  She has quite the little personality.  She loves people and will smile a huge smile when they talk to her or smile at her.  She loves to watch people.  She will just sit back and observe.  Our neighbors have a trampoline right outside our kitchen window-she loves to sit in her highchair while she is eating and watch the kids jump and play.

She is still in love with her dad, and I don't think that will ever change.  She knows when he is getting ready for work and cries when when he leaves.  When she hears the garage door open, she immediately flails her arms, kicks her legs and gets the biggest smile on her face, because she knows Dad is home to play with her.  I guess you could say she's obsessed.  I love it!

She is starting to crawl.  I wouldn't say it is a perfect form crawl, but she can get from one toy to the next by scooting, army crawling or rolling.  She stays very busy on all fours.  She loves to stand up on furniture and is starting to move from one end of the couch to the other.  She is very proud of herself when she does it!  And I'm proud of her too.  We definitely have to keep a close eye on her now.

She still loves food!  Cason was worried I was feeding her too much.  But apparently not, since she only gained 1.5 pounds since her 6 month check up.  I can't keep up with her.  I think she would eat all day.  She loves her ba-ba's.  I thought that day would never come.  I stopped nursing recently and she did NOT like formula.  That quickly changed!  Now she can't get enough.  Her favorites right now are little florets of broccoli, cheese, toast and oranges.  She eats just about anything though!  I hope that doesn't change.

She loves to read books and listen to music.  Sometimes she'll even sing along.  She has kind of done that since she was a newborn though.  It is very cute! (maybe all babies do it?  I love it nonetheless.)  

She has quite a few nicknames...a few are Mills, Mill, punk (short for punkin), punky, Mills Bills (my fam calls her that), monkey, Millie lou, Millie bug, Millie moo, etc.

She has a full head of dirty blonde hair and bright blue eyes.  Two little bottom teeth popped up last month.  It was an exciting day!  I texted my whole family to tell them...they probably didn't care, but I like to pretend they did.  

We love our little Millie girl.  Her smile and laughter brighten our day!  We love her to death!  And are so grateful for the joy she brings to our lives.  

and the best for last...

(if you look closely you can see two little teeth on the bottom.)

So Close...(and giveaway winner)

We're doing a lot of this...

and a little of this around here.

She's getting sooo close to crawling!

Those little arms just seem to tire out a little too fast.

She'll get it.  I know she will.

AND...the lucky winner of the DownEast Basics swimsuit set is:

Email me marieburr{at}hotmail{dot}com 

with what swimsuit set you would like,  your size and your address.

Thanks to everyone who entered!  

I found some new great blogs to read! :)

I mean...

TODAY is the LAST day to enter the DownEast Basics giveaway.  

All day yesterday I thought it was Wednesday.  You have about half the day left!  

Don't miss this. 

Enter HERE!

May

May is going to be such a good month!  And heres why:

Spring is in the air and the sunshine is coming out a little more than we've seen in the past few months.  I am so excited for summer.  The pool.  The beach.  and everything else that comes with summer! 

Millie has her first eye appointment with her new doctor here.  I am so anxious for it.  I've been waiting to get her in for so long.  And it's finally here!  I have many unanswered questions for him.  And I can't wait to get her checked out.

Mother's day is on Sunday.  I can't believe I'm a mom.  and that this holiday is for me.  And my mom.  And all the other moms out there.  Brings tears to my eyes.  

I am running a 25k this month.  That's 15.5 miles!  The only other races I've done are half marathons.  What's 2.5 more miles when you've already ran 13?  We'll see how it goes.  I am excited for it though! 

My sister and her babe are coming to visit me!!!  She booked her flight last night, and is coming for a whole week.  I know it won't be long enough, but I am beyond ecstatic!  It can't come fast enough. 

I have become quite the cook since living here in Michigan.  Either that, or I am now a mom and I am realizing that that's just what moms do.  I have some great recipes to share!  YUM!

Cason and I will be married three years this month!  Huzzah!  

And Cason will have a birthday!!  I am so excited for it!  Although, he is getting quite old!  :)

Oh!  and Happy Cinco de Mayo today!  We celebrated by wearing our mustaches-crooked, eating burrito bowls (so good!) with a blood orange fancy drink, and fried ice cream for dessert.  Oh it was yum!

I wouldn't mind if May was longer than 31 days.  I just know it will go by too quickly.  But I am soaking it all in and I can't wait for all these special dates!  Stay tuned for updates!

Don't forget to enter the DownEast Basics giveaway 
here.  
You don't want to miss this one!

Review and Giveaway: DownEast Basics

Have you seen DownEast Basics and Modbe's new swim lines?  All their swimsuits have great prints, patterns, and colors and they are modest, comfortable, and reasonably priced!  


 


The fun thing about these swimsuits is that you have the  option to mix-and-match different prints and styles.  They have some great options and I was fortunate enough to choose one to review. 

I chose the silver striped Sausalito Tank and the silver dots Bodega Bay Bikini bottoms.  Sausalito Tank is a long tankini halter top with wide straps and has a gathering detail in the center to give it a little more style.  The Bodega Bay bikini is a low-rise bikini bottom with button details on both sides of the hips.  They are both made from Nylon/Spandex and are available in sizes XXS-XXL.  Their suits complement every body type and will look great on anyone!

I really like the Sausalito Tank because it has enough coverage in the chest area, yet still looks fashionable and not frumpy.  The tank is long to ensure stomach coverage and is lined with removable cups for a little more padding.  The metallic print is fun, trendy and makes a statement.  The Bodega Bay bikini bottoms are very comfortable.  They don't hug too tight and don't ride like a lot of swim bottoms.   

Overall, I am very satisfied with my swimsuit choice!  DownEast Basics has offered to giveaway a swimsuit set to one of my lucky readers!

To Enter:

Visit DownEast Basics and Modbe's new online swim catalog and come back and comment telling me which swimsuit set is your favorite.


For  Two Additional Entries:  

Follow "A Little Lady".  Make sure you leave a separate comment telling me you are a follower.

Blog and/or Facebook about this giveaway.  Leave a separate comment with a link to your blog.  If there is no link, your comment will not count.    

Good Luck!

Giveaway ends Wednesday, May 11 at midnight.

(US shipping only)