According to Nina®

Babies Grow Up Too Quickly

by Nina on March 7, 2012

Don’t get me wrong. I love each new stage even more than the last but sometimes I have this dream that I wake up and Jack is in high school. I remember when I was a kid and the year between one birthday to the next seemed like three. Christmases seemed like they were centuries apart. Not anymore! Now that I’m a mother, I have a whole new appreciation for the saying, “enjoy it now because you’ll blink and they’ll be grown!”

This update is really late but better late than never, right? I think that’s my quote of the week. Better late than never.

Jack turned 7-months-old on February 9th! Yes, he’s only two days away from 8 months but I did take these pictures back in February so the update is semi-timely!

He’s always moving. His legs, hands, feet. He recently learned he can move his wrists so he twists them all around.

He is extremely happy and content. He loves to socialize with people.

He is investigating everything he can get his hands on. He loves books but I’m constantly saying, “Jack, we do not eat books, we read books.”

He is silly as can be!

His mischievous side is already starting to come out. He can also raise his left eyebrow.

He can raise his right one too! And back when these pictures were taken, with assistant he could stand up holding on to something like his crib.

He has his two bottom teeth but those popped up quite some time ago now. You can see them in this picture.

He is such a sweet boy and full of personality! He fills our hearts with so much love sometimes days I think mine might just explode!

A few of our favorite things right now:

Ella’s Kitchen Organic Baby Food

Similac Advanced

Evenflo ExerSaucer Triple Fun Jungle

Eebee’s Adventures

Tommee Tippee cups, bowls and teething keys

Huggies

Zutano clothes

miniBoden USA clothes

Cutest Kid on the Block

Questions for you:

What’s your favorite brand of socks for babies?

Did you or do you have an issue with diapers leaking at night? The only thing that has worked to date is lining the disposable diaper with a cloth diaper. Any suggestions?

{ 29 comments }

Coq Au Vin Fail, Beef Stew Success

by Nina on March 6, 2012

I can’t remember if I made these dishes two weeks ago or two years ago at this point but I promised you the recipes and a recap so here it is. Better late than never, right?

This recipe took most of the afternoon to prepare but it only takes one pan which is definitely a plus! Well, two pans if you make egg noodles. All the preparation went well, it looked pretty, it smelled delicious, the taste tests were so yummy but once it was ready to serve it was lacking in flavor and it kind of cold. I’m still unsure of what I did wrong. I followed the instructions step by step. I’m determined to make this right so I will be making it again in the very near future. I’ll let you know how it turns out the second time.

If you’ve made this recipe and have any tips or tricks for me, please tell me! Thank you!

Coq Au Vin

Prep Time:

20 min

Inactive Prep Time:

–

Cook Time:

1 hr 10 min

Level:

Intermediate

Serves:

3 servings

Directions

e2 tablespoons good olive oil

Ingredients

4 ounces good bacon or pancetta, diced
1 (3 to 4-pound) chicken, cut in 8ths
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 pound carrots, cut diagonally in 1-inch pieces
1 yellow onion, sliced
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
1/4 cup Cognac or good brandy
1/2 bottle (375 ml) good dry red wine such as Burgundy
1 cup good chicken stock, preferably homemade
10 fresh thyme sprigs
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, divided
1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 pound frozen small whole onions
1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, stems removed and thickly sliced

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.

Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven. Add the bacon and cook over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove the bacon to a plate with a slotted spoon.

Meanwhile, lay the chicken out on paper towels and pat dry. Liberally sprinkle the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. When the bacon is removed, brown the chicken pieces in batches in a single layer for about 5 minutes, turning to brown evenly. Remove the chicken to the plate with the bacon and continue to brown until all the chicken is done. Set aside.

Add the carrots, onions, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper to the pan and cook over medium heat for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the Cognac and put the bacon, chicken, and any juices that collected on the plate into the pot. Add the wine, chicken stock, and thyme and bring to a simmer. Cover the pot with a tight fitting lid and place in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until the chicken is just not pink. Remove from the oven and place on top of the stove.

Mash 1 tablespoon of butter and the flour together and stir into the stew. Add the frozen onions. In a medium saute pan, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and cook the mushrooms over medium-low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, until browned. Add to the stew. Bring the stew to a simmer and cook for another 10 minutes. Season to taste. Serve hot.

photo via thefoodnetwork

The coq au vin mishap had me questioning my cooking ability that is until the very next night. I made Paula Deen’s Old-Time Beef Stew! I made a few adjustments to make it my own and it was a HUGE hit! Even my chef-mother was asking for the recipe and my tricks. Which in my book is like earning another star on my cooking chart!

Old-Time Beef Stew

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

Prep Time:

5 min

Inactive Prep Time:

–

Cook Time:

2 hr 15 min

Level:

Easy

Serves:

6 servings

Ingredients

2 pounds stew beef
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cups water
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 clove garlic, peeled
1 or 2 bay leaves
1 medium onion, sliced
1 teaspoon salt
~~1 teaspoon sugar~~
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
~~Dash ground allspice or ground cloves~~
3 large carrots, sliced
3 ribs celery, chopped
2 tablespoons cornstarch
I added 1/4 cut Yukon gold potatoes
I also added a little bit of dry red wine

*The only ingredients I stuck to the measurements listed: beef, oil and water. I used frozen sliced carrots but I did use fresh celery. Everything else I added per taste and smell. I don’t use measuring spoons or cups for things like salt and pepper so I do apologize that I cannot give you the exact measurements I used.

Directions

Brown meat in hot oil. Add water, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, bay leaves, onion, salt, sugar, pepper, paprika, and allspice. Cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours. Remove bay leaves and garlic clove. Add carrots and celery. Cover and cook 30 to 40 minutes longer. To thicken gravy, remove 2 cups hot liquid. Using a separate bowl, combine 1/4 cup water and cornstarch until smooth. Mix with a little hot liquid and return mixture to pot. Stir and cook until bubbly.

{ 4 comments }

99 Miles

by Nina on February 27, 2012

On my way home from Blissdom yesterday I spoke to Joe at around 9:30 a.m. and we chatted on speakerphone because our sweet Jack wanted to contribute to the conversation as well. We discussed that I would be home in about an hour and half or so and that we would be spending the day just the three of us. Catching up and relaxing at home since I had been away since early Thursday and Joe said Jack was definitely missing his mommy.

I was driving in the hills of Kentucky where I had lost cell service for about 10 or 15 minutes. During that short time, I had missed a call from my mother-in-law and two from my parents. I immediately knew something was wrong. Panic set in.

One short phone call led to me finding out my husband had lost his father, my mother-in-law had lost her husband, my sisters-in-law had lost their dad, my brothers-in-law and I had lost our father-in-law, and our children had lost their grandfather. You can imagine the shock.

99 miles turned into the longest drive I’ve ever driven. The only place I wanted to be was next to my husband.

This was unexpected and far too early. Needless to say, we are all deeply saddened.

My father-in-law will be greatly missed by countless amounts of people including myself but my husband lost a piece of himself yesterday which makes my heart continue to break over and over again for him. Our lives will never be the same.

{ 78 comments }

Oreck AirInstinct™ 200 Giveaway

by Nina on February 23, 2012

Hey everyone! I’m so excited to finally post this incredible air purifier giveaway by a company I’ve come to love very much, Oreck! We received the Oreck AirInstinct™ 200 right before Christmas and we’ve been using it in our home ever since. We’ve never had an air purifier before but we love having this one in our home. Our home is pretty much odor free regarding smoke, animals, etc. I’ve noticed the biggest difference in the air when we use the AirInstinct in the nursery. This works like magic to clean the air of stinky little boy smells!

The AirInstinct™ 200 is light and easy to move around the house. We’ve moved it from the living room to master bedroom to Jack’s room.

The AirInstinct™ 200 is sleek and slim so it takes up very little space in our home.

The AirInstinct™ 200 is SO QUIET! It also has a silent mode but honestly you don’t even need it.

It’s a new HEPA product too! Here’s the definition of HEPA from Wiki: High-Efficiency Particulate Air or HEPA^[1] is a type of air filter. Filters that are awarded the HEPA accolade are used in various locations, whether in medical facilities, automotive vehicles, airplanes, home filters, or wherever very pure air is sought. The filter must satisfy certain standards of efficiency such as those set by the United States Department of Energy (DOE). To qualify as HEPA by government standards, an air filter must remove 99.97% of all particles greater than 0.3 micrometer from the air that passes through. A filter that is qualified as HEPA is superior to those unqualified, but is also subject to interior classifications. Due to this, not all HEPA filters are equal and care should be taken when replacing or purchasing a HEPA filter that the filter is of the specific grade required.

The User’s Guide is very simple and easy to follow and maintenance is minimal!

The Control Panel on the top has four simple buttons. I normally use the Auto setting with the Mood lighting off since it’s in Jack’s room.

But the Mood lighting is pretty awesome!

The front of the air purifier attaches magnetically so it’s fast and easy to remove for a quick cleaning of the screen. You only change the actual filter every 3 years!

The Oreck AirInstinct™ 200 is mother tested, Jack approved!

The incredibly generous folks at Oreck also want to give one lucky According to Nina reader an Oreck AirInstinct™ 200!!! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter! Good luck! Giveaway ends a week from tomorrow. We’ll announce the winner here!

The next time you hear from me, I’ll be reporting in from Nashville!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{ 2 comments }

Sweet Relief at Blissdom ’12

by Nina on February 22, 2012

As I mentioned in my last post, I’m once again partnering with Dr. Smith’s Diaper Ointment and together with Molly and Erin we are the proud brand ambassadors for Dr. Smith’s at Blissdom this year!

Diaper rash problem? Solved.

Dr. Smith’s Diaper Ointment treats diaper rash quickly.

- Developed by pediatricians
- Adopted by moms
- Recommended by pharmacists

For over half a century, parents have relied on Dr. Smith’s to prevent and treat diaper rash.

To celebrate Dr. Smith’s at Blissdom, Dr. Smith’s is hosting a giveaway for all of our readers! One According to Nina reader will win a $50 amazon gift card plus a supply of Dr. Smith’s Diaper Rash Ointment.

To Enter: You must comment on this post and “like” Dr. Smith’s on Facebook with a wall post telling them “Nina Sent Me.” Both are mandatory to be entered.

You can also visit Molly and Erin’s blogs for more chances to win!

If you are attending Blissdom, be sure to visit the Dr. Smith’s booth for some sweet relief with candy, samples and swag bags!

And the winner is… #24 Katie H!

{ 34 comments }

Blissdom ’12: Outfits, Schedule & Diaper Ointment

by Nina on February 18, 2012

Next week I’m attending Blissdom ’12 in Nashville, Tennessee. Luckily, Nashville is only about three hours from where we live so I’ll be driving down early Thursday morning and leaving at my leisure on Sunday. In addition to attending the conference, I plan to meet up with the talented Leslie Rodriguez and hopefully stop by The Bride Room for a quick visit with my favorite bridal gown gals!

Wardrobe

I posted about a few tops on DorothyPerkins.com last week. I decided against those tops but below is a sampling of what one will find in my suitcase next week. I do not own all of the exact items in this board.

I’m packing two pairs of jeans: the high rise 7s in black I told you about a couple of weeks ago and the Citizen of Humanity Amber fit in a dark denim (I also love, by the way) that I ordered from Nordstrom after a failed trip to the mall last weekend. I’m still debating packing the same Citizens in white. I landed them on eBay with the tags attached for $45! I’m not sure I’ll pack the white ones or not but if you’ve considered wearing white jeans year round, you most definitely can do so. Here’s a post all about it.

After reading post after post about comfortable shoes being a must-have item for Blissdom, I became very nervous about my shoe situation. I do not own any truly comfortable shoes. My revas are not comfortable after awhile, my riding boots are not comfortable, I’m sure not going to wear platform heels so that left me wearing my Asics tennis shoes with a fun blouse and cardigan. That wasn’t going to work either. Plus, I prefer wearing jeans with somewhat of a heel so I ended up finding a great pair of black suede boots with about a 3″ wedge. All the reviews were outstanding and said they were the most comfortable pair of boots they had ever worn. I’ve got my fingers crossed. Mine are scheduled to arrive on Monday. They are not the exact pair listed here.

Along with my jeans and boots, I’m packing two to three sweaters/cardigans, two to three blouses, one casual tunic type dress for daytime and one night-time dress. I’m also packing a couple items of workout clothing too in case we decide to do one or both of the Fitness Sessions and maybe for the drive home too.

I’m also packing my cowboy boots… because after all, we are going to Nashville!

Schedule

Here’s a peek at the sessions I’ll be attending while I’m in Nashville.

Friday:

How to Think Like An Entrepreneur and Turn Your Brilliant Idea Into A Real Business with Holly Hamann

Likeability 2.0 with Stephanie Smirnov

Ignite the Sparks of Passion with Fuel of Purpose with Justin McCollough

Saturday:

Legal Confidence: Empower Yourself for Blogging Success with Sara Hawkins

Grow Your Platform, Keep Your Voice with Tsh Oxenreider

Branding You: In Between Their Perception and Your Reality with Tami Heim

Diaper Ointment

Last but not least, Dr. Smith’s is a proud sponsor of Blissdom ’12 and is also my sponsor to Blissdom. I could not be more excited about the continued partnership with this outstanding brand and can’t wait to see what the future holds for us. If you have not checked out Dr. Smith’s Premium Blend Diaper Ointment, click right over right now! You can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook. Stay tuned for a giveaway from Dr. Smith’s coming soon!

{ 3 comments }

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