Tubes

Hey friends! Just letting everyone know that Sawyer got his tubes this morning and everything went smoothly. It definitely was not a fun morning and hasn't been the best afternoon but I can see him starting to get better as each hour passes. The hardest part was watching him so confused and drugged after the surgery was over. He screamed until we got home and got him a bottle. He slept for a while and now is actually playing a little bit. I think we are officially on the road to recovery! Thanks for all the prayers, we are SOOO glad that this whole thing is over with.

Front Door Decor

When you throw a party do you ever wonder what to do with your front door? Or even when you aren't throwing a party do you ever feel lost with how to present the front of your house? Here are some fun ideas!

To find out how to make this seriously cute burlap wreath, check out Tatertots and Jello. 

Go to this purplelemondesigns.com blog to find out how to make this cute door accessory,

 P is for Party Blog featured a cute party where they used this banner to welcome their guests. So Adorable!

This was the B shower that I threw a couple of months ago. Instead of flower pots on the front porch, since it was the dead of winter I tried something a little different with these paper lanterns. I thought they

 turned out pretty darn cute!

 

This was grapevine that I shaped into a B for the front door for the B shower.  

This fresh carnation wreath shown on Pepper Design Blog would be cute in any color for any occasion. 

Your door is the first impression someone gets of your house or of your party so these are some fun ways you can really impress your next house guests! 

Yummy Monday Part II

I thought these pics were too yummy not to share! In my opinion even yummier than Chicken Sketti :)

I also wanted to give ya'll a little update. We are going through with the tubes. We met with the ENT on Friday and we all agreed that it was the way we needed to go. Wednesday is the big day so if you think about it send up a prayer for little man and for mommy and daddy. Andrew and I are the biggest babies when it comes to this kind of stuff. We both keep telling one another, this is no big deal,  but I know when it comes time to send him back with the doctor I'll probably lose it. I am excited to get this all over with and have Sawyer back to himself completely. What's funny though is I think he has been living with this ear ache for so long that he is actually sorta used to it. He is still my happy guy a lot of the time but it will be nice to get him off this constant medicine and be nice to not see him tug at his ears anymore. We are welcoming GOOD HEALTH in this household! Thanks for the thoughts and prayers and we'll let you know how it goes.

Yummy Monday: Chicken Sketti

When I got married my husband made sure there was one recipe that I got from his mother. It was the infamous Chicken Spaghetti that he grew up eating. Ever since I got this recipe five years ago it has been one of my first GO TO meals! There are many chicken spaghetti recipes out there and so far this is still my fav! Give it a try and let me know if you love it as much as we do!

Chicken Spaghetti

• 3 TB butter
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1 small onion chopped
• 1 package mushrooms chopped (optional)
• 1 can mushroom soup
• 1 can tomato soup
• 1 pint chicken broth
• 1 can Rotel
• 4 TB Butter
• 1 TB chili powder
• 1 ts tobasco
• 1 TB garlic salt
• 4-5 chicken breasts cooked and shredded
• 1 lb vermatelli noodles (1 normal size package)
• 1 lb cheddar (I use 2 cups mild and 2 cups sharp)
• Salt and pepper to taste

- Melt the 3 TB butter in a skillet and saute all the veggies until tender. 

- In a separate saucepan melt together the cheese, butter, soups, rotel and butter. Stir consistently and then add the spices and Tobasco sauce once everything is melted and mixed together. Stir until well blended. 

- Cook the noodles in boiling water like normal and then drain and add to a large mixing bowl. Add your finished sauce,  cooked veggies and cooked and shredded chicken to the same bowl.  You'll need some muscle to stir this all together!

- Transfer the spaghetti mixture to a 9x13 pan, cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for about 5 more minutes or until casserole is bubbly. 

Happy Yummy Monday!

Fashion Friday: GLADIATOR

My friend and I were talking the other night about which trends might be shocking to see years later after the trend has come and gone. Like the classic comment made by all of us, " I Can't believe I wore that?!!".  Even though I might fit this item into this category I have to say that I absolutely love the Gladiator sandal right now. I have been on the search for my own fun pair. Here are a few pairs that range drastically in price but all are adorable. See what you think!

Gladiator by passysandparties featuring Forever21 shoes

Happy Friday Ya'll!!!

The Latest

There has been so much going on in the Henry household.  Good and Bad...

Last Tuesday Andrew sadly found out that he was being let go at his job in Fayetteville. The company is downsizing and is suffering in this economy (like the rest of the country) and Andrew was part of that downsize :(. It has been a rough week dealing with that and dealing with the sudden changes that come with this new reality. My husband is the hardest worker and the company of course had nothing but great things to say about him all the time. It is heartbreaking to see the person you love the most feel defeated and disappointed. He is an AMAZING man and I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for his future. Even though its rough right now we are both confident that the Lord has an awesome plan for us and He will turn this into a good thing- He always does! So we would appreciate any prayers you could lift up for us. Prayers for job opportunities, clarity for Andrew, peace, and maybe even pray that our house would sell.

Secondly, we are taking Sawyer to the ENT on Friday for his Tube consultation. After finishing his 5th antibiotic in 7 weeks it looks like tubes might be our only option at this point. His right ear has not even budged in getting better. There is no more medicine to even try at this point so we are heading in this direction to find relief. At this point I am praying that it can all just happen fast so that my boy will get better fast. I am so sick of seeing him hurt. I'll keep you posted about what happens over the next few days with that.

As far as my health is concerned I am still waiting to see in the coming months if I will have to have surgery on my sinuses and deviated septum. My symptoms have been better so we are hoping that we can put that surgery off for a little bit.

I know, we are so pitiful!!! Seriously though, things could be SOO much worse. So many people are going through so many terrible things and we are so thankful for all the many blessings we see in our lives every day.

Other than these bigger things we are just hanging in there, trying to stay well, I have been well for almost a week straight now... Wow, Shocker huh?! We are still getting ready for my big man's First Birthday, which I am so excited about and getting ready for the busiest Spring and Summer wedding season. Lots of fun things are coming up in these coming months and we are so ready for some good weather, good health and maybe some good news!

We are in Little Rock right now so Andrew can meet with a few guys about a job. It's been so fun seeing family and getting to see some of our best friends. It is very refreshing to be here after our hard week last week. I will probably be more relaxed about posting over this week as we are traveling and getting caught up with life. Thanks for all your support and thank you to all my friends who have already given us so much encouragement and help over this past week. We love you all so much!

Fun Finds

Hey blogger friends! Well here in Fayetteville I am staring out my window at about 15 inches of snow on my deck! Seriously?!!! Weather in Arkansas never seizes to amaze me.

This picture was taken before about 4 more inches fell. Andrew and I both agreed that we have never seen so much snow in our lives. 

Before the snow storm hit yesterday, my friend Mindy and I decided to hit up some flea markets and a fun store in Springdale called "OOPS". I found many things that I will be using for an upcoming bridal luncheon that I am throwing and for Sawyer's birthday party. I am so excited about my fun finds!

I was in the search for some "Anthropologie" type vases and this is what I found!

All of these vases were a total of 30$! Spending less than if i bought one vase at Anthropologie. 

 I am not sure what I am going to use these for yet but I got a few of them. These basket woven cake stands were only 8$ and I think they are absolutely adorable! 

That's all for now. I found many more fun finds that you will have to wait and see! I Want to save the special details for the bride and the birthday boy. Can't wait for it all to come together though! Hope you all have a restful Sunday night. 

Lovin Spring!

We have tried to take advantage of every second that its been pretty outside. It's been perfect weather today and I just watched the news and we are supposed to get SNOW on Saturday..... What in the world?! I am so ready for Spring to stay for good. On that note, here are some pictures of some different outside outings me and Sawyer bear have had this last week.

This is one of my new favorite pics of him.. Oh my I love those sweet cheeks!

Pretty boy

Love this pic too

Picnic time

Best friends! It was the first time they got to sit up together and play. Lyla and Sawyer sittin in a tree!

I think he might love swinging more than he loves me. Ha!

Taking a stroll... He seriously loves anything we do outside. Spring and Summer will make life so much sweeter!

Stella and Lyla swinging away. Love those two girls!

Easy Renovation

I saw this on one of my favorite blogs and had to share the idea. I think it is so cute and clever.  If you are looking at your shelves and book cases around your house like I am and getting BORED, then definitely consider updating with some fun wallpaper in the back of your shelves. Look how adorable these shelves are......

From Centsational Girl

Check out Pepper Design Blog to see the full write up about these fun shelves. 

Las Vegas!

This past weekend I traveled with 8 girls to the place like NO OTHER, Las Vegas. We went to celebrate with Ashley Kella who is getting married in April. It was so fun to get a mommy break and to spend quality time with some girls. We had such a good time! I had never been to Vegas and I have to say I felt like it was a different planet. Here are some pictures of our vacation!

Seriously look at that pool! So Beautiful!

     The blown glass flower ceiling at the Bellagio lobby

I love all these girls and was so thankful to my husband and mother in law who took care of Sawyer so I could have a weekend away. Vegas was a blast but I am sure glad to be back to my humble, small town here in Fayetteville. Vegas was definitely a lot to tak

Yummy Monday: POP!!!

I have had a request from a few friends to post my recipe for this popcorn that I have made for a few parties and showers. It is SINFULLY good! It is super easy and it is so ADDICTING. So here ya go...

Cinnamon Popcorn

- 2 normal size bags of popcorn popped

- 1 cup butter

- 2/3 cups sugar

- 2 TB cinnamon

-Place popcorn in a large bowl. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the butter, sugar and cinnamon. Microwave on high for 1 minute; stir. Microwave 1 minute longer or until the butter is melted. Pour over popcorn and toss to coat. Transfer to two greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pans. Bake, uncovered, at 300 degrees F for 10 minutes. Cool. Store in an airtight container.

 Sidenote.. Target is selling the cutest popcorn containers in the 1$ section! Perfect for serving this popcorn in. I saw them the other day and invested in 24 of them to use someday for a party. They are too cute!

Ya'll have a HAPPY MONDAY!!!

YAY! and BOO!!

YAY!! for my new Cricut Expression machine! Andrew said I could get one for my birthday and I just now got it because I waited for the best deal on EBAY. I got it for less than 1/2 of what it's worth!! For those of you who don't know what this beautiful machine is.. It is a digital cutting machine. Basically it's any craft lovers dream machine! I can make cute banners, signs, labels, etc.. in a blink of an eye! I made that cute little flower in 10 minutes flat. I am so excited to get started on all of Sawyer's birthday banners.

BOO!! For Sawyer's chronic ear infection that WILL NOT go away! I see an ENT for my own problems and when I was there yesterday I had him check Sawyer's ears because he was on the last day of his antibiotics and I thought his ears were still hurting him. Sure enough they still looked bad. SO.. I took him back to the pediatrician today and basically we are doing one more round of aggressive antibiotics and shots. If this doesn't clear it up then we are getting tubes. I don't think my poor little guy has felt good in over 6 weeks so tubes sound pretty good at this point.

Boo! for getting shots! We had to wait at the doctor for 30 minutes after he got this shot to make sure he didn't have a reaction and right after this picture he fell fast asleep on me. Sweet little guy!

Spoiled Rotten

Sawyer is only 11 months old and I can already tell he gets SOOO spoiled when we go visit the grandparents. Both of his grandparents live in Little Rock so we try and see both sets when we are visiting. The older he gets the more I notice his attitude changes when we get home. Yesterday was seriously a different Sawyer; winy, vocal, discontent, and most of all not independent AT ALL! He gets attention every SECOND when we are in Little Rock and gets EVERYTHING he wants; I swear my mother in law feeds him all day long. Therefore I think my little bear goes through a little withdrawal when we get back to Fayetteville. Not that I don't spoil my first born.. Obviously I am obsessed and I think everyone knows he is one spoiled child, BUT he has been a little toot! DOES ANYONE ELSE DEAL WITH THIS?!

When Andrew got home last night I handed the boy off and regrouped for a new day. Thankfully, he has already been back to my normal Sawyer Bear.

Even though we go through a couple days of an attitude adjustment, I could not be more thankful and feel more blessed that he has two sets of grandparents who spoil him rotten! We love our Grandmama, Big Papa, Dae and Papa SOOOO MUCH!



Here's a couple pictures of my little toot yesterday!

I put him down and in two seconds flat he makes this big of a mess! 

My mom and I finally got him to do patty cake, patty cake and now he claps all the time. 

Yummy Monday: Staple Dessert

Happy Monday to all of you! We had a great weekend and have made it home from a fun time in Little Rock. But I have to admit I am DRRAAAGGINNGG this morning... Sawyer woke up at 6:30 and he woke up a wild man. I on the other hand could of slept until 2 in the afternoon probably. So.. to pick me up this Monday morning, I am going to share with you one of my FAVORITE dessert recipes and maybe even make it to satisfy my own craving today.

I recieved this recipe at a recipe shower from my sister when I got married and it has been a staple ever since. Everytime I make this recipe I pass it along to whoever endulged in the yumminess. That's how I know its a good one! Most of my friends have it as one of their staple desserts too!

Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

- 4 eggs

- 1 Cup Sour Cream

- 1/2 Cup oil

- 1/2 Cup Water

- 1 Pkg instant vanilla pudding

- 1 yellow cake mix

- 1 pkg 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips

• Beat together eggs, sour cream, oil and water
• Add pudding mix and cake mix then fold in the chocolate chips.
• Pour into a greased bundt pan and cook in 350 degree oven for about 1 hour. It will looked pretty brown on the outside but I promise it is so moist! Check with a knife if you are not sure if it is done. 

Bundt pan trick: A lot of people say they have trouble taking the cake out of the bundt pan and making it stay in one pretty piece. What I do is grease it heavily! Then sprinkle flour around the greased pan. Pour the batter in and bake. When it is done baking let it sit for about 10-15 minutes and then take a plate, turn it face side up on the bundt pan and then flip the bundt pan over. It should come out smoothly and perfectly!

ENJOY!! Have a blessed and Yummy Monday!

Fashion Friday: SEQUINS!

 Next Friday I will not be posting on because I will be in VEGAS for one of my best friend's bachelorette party!! Therefore in honor of LAS VEGAS, I am doing a post about adding some sequins and sparkle to your life. Sequins are a big trend right now and over the last couple of months they really have been calling my name. So here are some fun sparkly finds...

Nordstrom.com

Nordstrom.com

bloomingdales.com

etsy.com

Happy Fashion Friday and I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Immaculate Healing

Tuesday around 5:00 Sawyer went from acting like he was on his death bed with the flu to all the sudden starting to act completely normal. It was right about the time Andrew got home from work and we were both so confused. The timeline went about like this...

• Tuesday, 12:00 A.M. to 7:30 A.M. crying off and on
• 8:00 took temperature and with tylenol in his system, he had a 103 degree fever
• 8:05 called the doctor
• 9:30 at the doctors office with a lethargic, whimpering, sleepy, high fevered baby
• 10:30 tested positive for the flu, doctor said it will definitely be a LOOONGG week for us. Told us it was at the very beginning of the flu since he hadn't shown any other symptoms yet and the fever had just started so she told us to be prepared for a needy, sick baby for about 6-9 days!
• 11:00-3:00 still high fever and baby boy slept for about four hours off and on on me. 
• 4:30 he starts chippering up a bit and started to play
• 5:00 had a bottle and I noticed his fever had gone away
• 5:30-8:30 laughed, played, ate and went to bed like an angel
• Slept all night!
• Wednesday morning until now has had no fever and has acted completely NORMAL! 

All I can say is the Lord can heal! Thanks to yall's prayers and a lot of my own prayers, my son seriously is completely fine! The Lord's power of healing is the only way to explain it because even the nurse was confused. I called to see if there was such a thing as a false positive flu test and she said, NO. So even though we are all confused we are all SOOO THRILLED! Now that it has almost been 48 hours with no fever I am going to resume normal life and head to Little Rock tomorrow! YAY!!! Thank you so much if you sent up a prayer for my family, IT WORKED!

On top of it all, it is 65 degrees here and absolutely PERFECT weather! So me and little man have been taking advantage hanging out on the deck today. Life is GOOD!

How To....

If you are curious how to make the tissue flowers and tissue pom poms that were made for the "B" Shower  then KEEP READING! These are super easy and super cheap! If you know you have a lot of expenses with your upcoming party then this is a great way to save money by replacing some of your fresh flower arrangements with these adorable paper flower pom poms.

Here is what you need:

- scissors
- package of tissue paper (any color of your choice! You can even use two alternating colors!) You'll need about 10-12 pieces.
- floral ties, ribbon, or any kind of wire for tying
- ribbon of your choice if you choose to hang your pom poms.

What to do:

Flatten out your 10-12 pieces of tissue paper.

Start folding your tissue paper from the side with the shortest width and fold it in 1/2" to 1" inch accordion folds

Tie the floral wire or whatever type of wire you have in the center. Cut excess wire or ribbon.

Then you will cut the ends of the tissue in either a triangle shape or a round shape.

After you cut, spread out both sides of tissue.

 Start separating layers one at a time to the center of the tissue.

For the flower look:
Just pull up each layer of tissue on both sides to the center where the bottom will lay flat.

Just stick on top of a vase to achieve the blooming flower look or just line them up on the table all by themselves. 

For the pom pom:
Separate each layer of tissue paper to make a round pom pom. Fluff and play with it until it is the shape you like.

Tie ribbon to the center of the pom pom and HANG wherever you choose!

One more idea: 

Instead of the fluffy look you can also hang this cute pinwheel/flower! You could even glue a cute button in the center to make it look like an adorable daisy flower!

After you accordion fold the tissue and then tie the wire in the center pull out both sides to look like a fan and use double stick tape to stick all sides together! SOO EASY and adorable!

Picture from: http://alifestylething.blogspot.com/

For smaller pom poms or flowers just cut the tissue into smaller pieces depending how big you want them. 

Let me know if you have any questions!!