Thursday, July 22, 2010

Pink&Green Thursday July 22nd, 2010

Oh, my dear readers, I am so sorry that I have not been present in

blogging,
catching up on your blogs,
commenting,
emailing,
etc.

Just as soon as I felt like I had gotten all caught up from our little summer trip, we had back-to-back illnesses in our house.

First, my sweet Pretty Little Bare Feet had what her pediatrician concluded was just a mild case of roseola. She ran a little low-grade fever off&on for four days consecutively last week. & then on the fourth day, she had the

faintest little
lacy,
pink

rash on her belly. She wasn't particularly "under the weather" during all that - just cuddlier than usual (which was actually kind of nice!), & lacking a bit in appetite. Over the weekend I thought we were home free, as she seemed back to her usual spunky self.

But Monday morning I went to get her little late-sleeping booty up for playgroup, & she was a hot little firecracker there in her crib. Y'all, she had a fever of 103! I know most of you mamas have been there, done that; but the highest temperature my Pretty Little Bare Feet had ever run in her eighteen months (before this week) was 102.9. I was scared out of my bloomers!

The pediatrician was able to get us in pretty quickly, & he gave her a thorough exam. We were assured that Pretty Little Bare Feet had caught some awful little virus that is going around here, completely unrelated to last week's sickies.

(Although her little weakened immune system could have been what led to contracting it...who knows, apparently?)

That day she was about the most pitiful I've ever seen her:

hot to the touch
(but with cold little feet);
lethargic&weak;
no appetite;
quiet & not really crying
(just whimpering, & y'all mamas know how much scarier that is than actual wailing!);
squinting & not really waking up good all day
(just sort of lingering in that not-quite-awake-yet phase);
whiny
(but not fitful or throwing tantrums)...

The pediatrician had been seeing cases of this viral booger for the last couple days, but he advised us to keep an eye on her & call him if anything else developed. The general plan of attack was just to treat the symptoms by

keeping her at home & cuddling her;
& keeping her full of

juice,
Pedialyte,
water,
& alternating infants' Tylenol & infants' Motrin
(the generics, of course, because of the darned recall).

Since her appetite was virtually nonexistent, the pediatrician said Pretty Little Bare Feet could eat whatever she darned well pleased, without heed to nutritional value. So she has been enjoying a diet primarily consisting of


Her fever did spike up to 103.6 that afternoon...

(I thought I was going to faint when I saw that thermometer reading!)

...but after the longest day ever, she broke the fever at about 9:30-10pm that night, all sweaty in her little crib & shivering up under a blanket.

Whew! Sweet, sick little girl = emotionally&physically drained little mama!

Since we noticed a new little rash on her Tuesday night, I took her back to the pediatrician yesterday, which was the first time I heard him use the words viral meningitis. Of course that was probably the same "little virus" he'd been talking about on Monday, but those awful words sent shivers down my spine. So yesterday afternoon while Pretty Little Bare Feet napped, I learned all about the vast differences between bacterial & viral meningitis.

(Basically, one is scary; the other, not as much. One is relatively preventable with vaccinations; the other is random. Yikes. This world of mamahood has something new to teach me every single day, it seems!)

Anyway, our lives are progressing back towards the realm of the average daily routine, so I promise I am headed to check out all of the great blog posts I've missed - & to get acquainted with all of you fabulous new followers that I am so excited to have!!! =)

(& I have an award or two to share, too!)

But today is Thursday.

(Isn't it? I'm not sure anymore.)

& this means it's my favorite bloggy day of the week...


I've been noticing a lot of cupcake photos popping up within the Pink&Green Thursday posts on the blog hops lately. & not only has it made my sugar tooth ache, it's also inspired me to just revel in a whole post inspired by...






(via: Hanacakes)






Cupcake Roll-Up Kitchen by EvelynKate

(This is such a cute idea!)


mint julep cupcake

from


Booze Cakes by Krystina Castella & Terry Lee Stone



Green&Pink Polka Dot Cupcake Liners by Hey Yo Yo



Friday, July 16, 2010

What I Want This Weekend, July 16th, 2010

Here are some pretty things I've come across this week,

from some blog
or catalog
or friend
or magazine
or another;
or just from my own browsing&shopping&surfing,

that I need to convince My Prince to dole out the cash for...



I know, I know. It is definitely too hot to be thinking about long sleeve shirts already, right? But I am just about the most cold-natured person ever, & being pretty severely anemic most of the time doesn't help. So I wear long sleeves year-round, inside anyway, even in hot&humid Alabama.

& this just looks like the most comfortable thing to pull over a tank top, even with a pair of shorts, for running out the door quickly & still looking colorfully cute & put together.

(Or just for lounging in my cold living room when I am the only person who's freezing!)


Long Tunic in Lawn&Garden by TuNix

& speaking of

colorful,
cute,
& easy to throw on over anything!

I apparently neglected to include one of these chic&fabulous tunics when I did this post a while back...& as we Alabama ladies are able to count on quality time at the pool until at least September (although I once lived in a townhouse where the pool didn't close until late October!), I think it's perfectly reasonable to pick up a new tunic to use as a cover-up this late in the season. Besides, it's on sale!




& if we're going to continue to be out at the pool anyway, we might as well make it a party, don't you think?

I am sure you are familiar with Dabney Lee, but if you aren't, then click on over there & explore all the fabulous goodies there are to buy! I have had my eye on this particular set for some time now, but I'm pretty excited about most everything at this site, & I'd be delighted to just go on any kind of shopping spree at Dabney Lee!

(I'm sorry, that was cheesy, but I couldn't resist!)


Golf Year 'Round Vintage Sign by ArteHouse at VintageArte

A recent find of mine thanks to the fabulous limited sale site Ideeli (let me know if you need an invite!), ArteHouse is a site that I could spend loads of time (& money!) on. & their prices are absolutely reasonable! Perfect if you just want to do a quick change in decor by changing up what's on the walls.

Check out some of my other favorites from their offerings...




(I actually have some drinking glasses with that paradise living print on them!)


(all by ArteHouse available at VintageArte)

&...



I thought I'd missed the boat on these! They've been sold out on the Lilly Pulitzer website, which was a bummer because I thought they were kind of the perfect little go-with-everything earrings. However, not only did I find them still available on the Alexis Bittar site, they are on sale! Yaaay!

T.G.I.F.! What do YOU want this weekend?

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Chicken Cacciatore

This is another one of my I-love-my-crock-pot classics...try it! It is an Italian dish; & like most crock-pot cooking, it is not difficult to make.


chicken cacciatore

(yield: 6 servings)

  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 broiler/fryer chicken (3 to 4 pounds), cut up
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 2 medium onions, cut into wedges
  • 1 medium green pepper, cut into strips
  • 1 jar (6 ounces) sliced mushrooms, drained
  • 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
*Place flour in a large resealable plastic bag. Add chicken, a few pieces at a time, & shake to coat. In a large skillet, brown the chicken in oil on all sides. Transfer to a 5-quart slow cooker.

(You can read my take on crock-pot sizes here.)

*Top with onions, green pepper, & mushrooms. Combine tomatoes, garlic, salt, oregano, & basil; pour over the vegetables.

(I found the term "wedges" misleading for this recipe. I cut my onions into wedges about the size of lemon wedges, & I wished I had cut them smaller. I prefer just cutting them into chunks a bit bigger than the average "diced" onion. The basil, garlic, & oregano smell amazing while the dish is cooking. & the flavor they add is even more delightful!)

*Cover & cook on low for 4-5 hours or until chicken&vegetables are tender. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

(Make sure you get a bag of "real" Parmesan cheese, or shred your own from a block. If you use the "green can" grated kind, you'll be missing out!)



Monday, July 12, 2010

Orange is the New Black

So did y'all know that today is the Twelfth? I don't just mean the random old date of July 12th either. The Twelfth is apparently a Protestant holiday in Northern Ireland - & a pretty big celebration.

Well, y'all know me. I love a celebration!

(& My Prince & I are both descendants of Irish ancestry. ;))

So head on over to ye olde Wikipedia to learn all about the historical significance of "Orangemen's Day"...

...& then celebrate along with me in your own colorful orange way, if you are so inclined!





Proper Polo in "Old School" Orange by Southern Proper

(For the gentlemen!)





(For the ladies!)



Anchor Pant in Hotty Pink Ten Speed by Lilly Pulitzer

(For the little ladies! I have the Callahan poplin shorts in this print, & I think this would be a cute mommy&Minnie look!)




Heirloom Organic Orange Calendula Flower Garden Seeds at the Bear Foot Shaman

(For the garden!)




(For the cafeteria!)



"Oranjoy" your Twelfth today! ;)

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Pink&Green Thursday, July 8th, 2010


HAPPY PINK&GREEN THURSDAY!

(You can find me guest hosting for the fabulous Trish over at Pink Preppy Lilly Lover today...please come visit me there!)