Chambray Love

Who doesn't love Chambray? 

Who doesn't know Chambray? 

Oh the love I have for it! To set the record straight, Chambray is NOT denim. I will repeat...Chambray is NOT denim. Although it looks like denim. ;)  Chambray is a lightweight cotton weave fabric primarily used for summer and spring fashion. But it can be found in thicker weight for fall and winter. It originated from Cambria, France, thus it's name.

Chambray can be worn so many different ways: Here's my OOTD on this rainy/snowy day. Chambray with a little bit of Henri...swoon! I purchased mine here because I wanted one long enough to wear with leggings. (note: the Rubbish boyfriend shirt runs LARGE! I should have ordered a size down. :)

What I love most about Chambray is how versatile it is. It can be dressed up or down and pretty much worn for any occasion!  Here are some pics I found on the web. The first is from the Blonde Ambition blog and the rest I found on Pinterest! Enjoy.

I love how Leslie, yeah, we're on a first name basis, styled it a bit formal with the black skirt and tights!

How gorgeous with a maxi skirt this spring! I WILL be sporting this look often!

The basic, classy look of Chambray. Paired with white.

Who likes color? Chambray is the perfect neutral to pair with your on trend colored bottoms.

My love for Chambray continues....And they lived happily ever after!

Our favorite pot roast

I type this post right now with a pot roast in the crock pot cooking for dinner. No, it is not this pot roast but it's going to be yummy all the same! It's one of those, throw everything in the slow cooker and go. That's not this recipe. This is the, I have a little time and I want that yummy rustic real food flavor. This is Pioneer Woman's pot roast.  

I cooked this pot roast and took these pictures on 12-8-12.  I remember that date specifically because I made if for a Christmas dinner for my husbands work. I also remember it because I went into labor at 3am the next morning with little Ty! <3

This recipe is copied directly from her website :)

Ingredients

• 1 whole (4 To 5 Pounds) Chuck Roast (mine was 3 pounds I think)
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 2 whole Onions
• 6 whole Carrots (Up To 8 Carrots)
• Salt To Taste
• Pepper To Taste
• 1 cup Red Wine (optional, You Can Use Beef Broth Instead) (I use beef broth)
• 2 cups To 3 Cups Beef Stock (added to the other cup :)
• 3 sprigs Fresh Thyme, or more to taste
• 3 sprigs Fresh Rosemary, or more to taste

Preparation Instructions

First and foremost, choose a nicely marbled piece of meat. This will enhance the flavor of your pot roast like nothing else. Generously salt and pepper your chuck roast.

Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Then add 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil (or you can do a butter/olive oil split).

Cut two onions in half and cut 6 to 8 carrots into 2-inch slices (you can peel them, but you don’t have to). When the oil in the pot is very hot (but not smoking), add in the halved onions, browning them on one side and then the other. Remove the onions to a plate.

Throw the carrots into the same very hot pan and toss them around a bit until slightly browned, about a minute or so.

If needed, add a bit more olive oil to the very hot pan. Place the meat in the pan and sear it for about a minute on all sides until it is nice and brown all over. Remove the roast to a plate.

With the burner still on high, use either red wine or beef broth (about 1 cup) to deglaze the pan, scraping the bottom with a whisk to get all of that wonderful flavor up.

When the bottom of the pan is sufficiently deglazed, place the roast back into the pan and add enough beef stock to cover the meat halfway (about 2 to 3 cups). Add in the onion and the carrots, as well as 3 or 4 sprigs of fresh rosemary and about 3 sprigs of fresh thyme.

Put the lid on, then roast in a 275F oven for 3 hours (for a 3-pound roast). For a 4 to 5-pound roast, plan on 4 hours. 

The only completed picture I have is in the crock pot to transport it to the party. :)

This post roast is delicious! I have made it several times and it is a family favorite.

Enjoy!

Friday Favorites - Newborn Edition

Now that Ty is a month old, I have realized what has been some good purchases/finds for baby and mama, and what I have not used! Here are my top 5.

1.  Fisher Price Rock & Play

I love, love, love this little ditty! Ty sleeps in it and hangs out in it! I switch him back and forth between this and his flat bassinet during the day to keep him from getting too dependent on an incline. This is wonderful. Read the reviews. :)  I bought this color from Babies-r-Us, but there are tons to choose from. This folds up and we can take it to grandparents house with ease and it is so lightweight, I can carry it around the house.

2.  Target nursing tank

I knew from the beginning this was going to be on my favorites list. I honestly don't know how I would nurse easily without it! It keeps me discreet and is so comfortable. Here is one that I have, but I have several from Target and love them all. :)

3.  Black & White patterned flash cards

Of course, Ty loves staring at our faces. Newborns are fascinated by the human face. But they also love black & white patterns. It helps their eyes develop. The stimulation is very important for their brain development. They prefer black & white over colors at this stage. Here are some that I use, I found them online.

4.  www.kellymom.com

Let's just say, this website has been a lifesaver!

5.  Real Food for Mother & Baby

I highly recommend this book! Here is the description from Amazon:

"Nina Planck, one of the great food activists, changed the way we view old-fashioned foods like butter with her groundbreaking Real Food. T hen she got pregnant. Never one to accept conventional wisdom blindly, Nina found the usual advice about pregnancy and baby food riddled with myths and misunderstandings. In Real Food for Mother and Baby, Nina explains why many modern ideas about pregnancy and infant nutrition are wrongheaded and why traditional foods are best. While Nina can be controversial—her op-ed in the New York Times on vegan diets for infants was one of the paper’s most e-mailed articles— she’s no contrarian. Readers applaud her candor; they also trust her research and welcome her advice.

Nina’s basic premise hasn’t changed—whole foods are best—but some of the details are surprising. Pregnant women need meat and salt, not iron supplements. Nursing will be easier if you act like the mammal you are. Delaying the introduction of certain solid foods doesn’t prevent allergies. Cereals are not the best foods for tiny eaters; meat and egg yolks are better. From conception to two years, the body’s overwhelming needs are for quality fat and protein, not for carrots and low-fat dairy. Even as she casts a skeptical eye on the conventional wisdom, Nina is reassuring. She shows you how to keep your baby healthy on good, simple food. Real Food for Mother and Baby will be the new classic on eating for two."

So very informative, I will read it several times I am sure.  I only wish I would have read it when I was planning to get pregnant!

This is my top 5 for the first month of babydom! <3 

Ty's newborn pictures

Here are a few newborn pictures of my precious son. <3 Oh how my world changed when he was born! My puzzle is complete. Love has been redefined.

1 month old!

I can not believe a month has gone by. Time is sure flying when it comes to my little man. *insert sad face.  Here are his 1 month pictures. :)

Weight & length:  10.2 lbs and about 21 inches long

Sleeping: He wakes up about every 2-3 hours to eat. During his 3 week growth spurt it was more like every 45 min to an 1.5 hrs. Every morning about 4:00 he starts stretching and grunting. 

Eating: I nurse on demand so the schedule is different every day. The first 2 weeks he cluster fed in the evening for about 4 hours.

Diapers: moved to size 1 on 12-29. Sad day for mommy.

Clothing: newborn size

Hair: Dark brown. He is starting to lose some of it.

Eyes: Navy blue

Milestones: He can lift his head very well during tummy time. His doctor said he has very strong legs and will be rolling over very quickly. :) Ty had his first real smile to daddy this week! Oh how precious. Daddy was so excited. He had his newborn pictures on the 22nd.

Firsts: Ty's umbilical cord fell of at exactly 10 days and he had his first "real" bath.  He loves bath time but dislikes getting lotioned up. He celebrated his first Christmas! A lot of his family came to visit him on Christmas day and he got to meet so many people that love him so very much. He got his first bicycle, the cutest Eeyore stuffed animal and an activity bar for his stroller. :) His first outing was to Nana and Papa Deal's house. <3

Stats:  Had his first Doctor's visit on 12-13. When he came home from the hospital, he weighed 6.13. At his 4 day doctor visit, he was 7.1 (38%) and they measured him at 19.5 in (58%). He was 20 in in the hospital. ;) His head circumference was at 64%.  

His 2 week doctor's appointment was on 12-27. This was the first time I took him anywhere by myself. He was up to 8.12 lb and 20.5 in long. :) weight, length and head circumference were all in the 89-91%. Very proportionate. :)