Monday, January 21, 2013

Margauxbonnie Winner!

Good Monday Afternoon! Sorry for the delay, I have been having internet troubles this morning.
I am happy to announce a winner has been chosen via random.org for a beautiful studded phone case.
The winner is Victoria Polak!
 
Here is what Victoria posted about the phone cases:
 
 
Victoria, please contact me with your contact information at domestictopia@gmail.com   so I can pass the information along to the beautiful Calee!
 
Thanks so much everyone for participating and please stay tuned for more giveaways coming your way soon.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Just Slow Down

 

Dear Xander,

I remember the day pictured above so clearly. After a long struggle with high blood pressure all summer and being forced to be on bed rest the last month you were growing, I was just ready to meet you. I was so curious as to what your features were going to be, if you would be even-tempered or a little wild spark.

Your entrance via emergency c-section could not have been more opposite of your sweet disposition. I remember freaking out that something was wrong because I did not hear a cry when you came out. Then, I saw you in your daddy's arms. You were so content just being. You didn't cry and in fact, we thought something was wrong with you because we didn't hear a real cry for almost a month! And now, here you are my sweet, sweet child. You are even sweeter than that first day and just get even better day by day.

 

 
 
 
I constantly find myself taking pictures of you sleeping, taking in your sweet baby scent, and rocking you a little longer each time. I want to remember you just how you are, peaceful and sweet. You will be five months old in just a few short days and it makes me want to cry  that we are almost halfway to your first birthday. You are my baby, why can't you stay my baby forever?
 




Inevitably, I know you must grow. All I am asking is please, just slow down.

Love,

Momma

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Margauxbonnie Giveaway




What better way to make the week a little better than the chance to win a studded phone case courtesy of Margauxbonnie!

Margauxbonnie was the first Etsy store to begin making studded phone cases. What started out as a hobby for friends and family developed into much, much more.

My dear internet friend Calee, is co-owner with her boyfriend Mark of this great company. Not only does she make these fabulous iPhone cases, she also chases around her two adorable children, Aubrey and Dylan.

They offer very stylish cases for iPhone 4/4s, iPhone 5, and even Samsung Galaxy S3. They have a few varieties, but I personally love the floral cases and ones with designs such as crosses and hearts.




What started out as just a small hobby has developed into something much, much more. In fact, Margauxbonnie was featured in Self magazine's January 2013 issue. Talk about great success!


Calee has been so kind as to give away one of these great phone cases to a lucky reader! So, to enter, simply do the following:

  • Comment below stating which case you would like (and what type of phone) and why you love the Margauxbonnie phone cases.
Want additional entries? Here's how!
  • Like Domestictopia on Facebook
  • If you already like the page, send a friend to like it and tell them to give you credit! (1 friend limit)
  • Favorite Margauxbonnie's shop on Etsy.
  • Like Margauxbonnie on Facebook.
  • Tweet about this article and link it: http://bit.ly/SK6D9s - Just use the hashtag #domestictopia
All of these will count as one additional entry.

You have until Friday at 5 p.m. cst. A winner will be chosen at random and announced Monday.

Good luck!

Also, Calee, thank you so much for participating in Domestictopia's FIRST giveaway!!

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Cooking With Ashley: Chicken Parmesan

My friend Ashley and I have nights where she comes over and we cook dinner. We've only done it a couple of times, but we are planning to make this a continual thing. It helps me feel like I've got some sort of human interaction, and, let's face it, it is also a great excuse to taste Ashley's awesome cooking. Plus, what girl wouldn't love the promise of Italian food and wine?!




The other week we got together and made Italian food. Ashley made an amazing Chicken Parmesan and it was a somewhat time consuming, but fairly easy dish.

This is a great meal to make on the nights that you want something gourmet without the gourmet price.



She simply followed this video and in about an hour, we had this as a result:


These are both Instagram photos, with no filter. They really turned out that amazing and taste just as good as they look.

Don't have time to watch the video? Here's the recipe and instructions:

Chicken Parmesan


  • 2-3 small chicken breasts
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cup flour
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
  • 1/3 cup grated parmesean
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 cup Panko
  • Olive Oil
  • Jar of your favorite Tomato Sauce
  • Shredded Mozzarella Cheese


  1. Separate all ingredients. Combine Garlic Powder and Dried Basil in a dish. Combine Breadcrumbs and Panko in a separate dish. 
  2. Cut chicken breasts in half and trim the fat. Salt and pepper both sides of chicken.
  3. Combine eggs in a bowl and beat. Add garlic powder and dried basil mixture to eggs.
  4. Put in order, flour, egg mix, and bread crumb/panko mix. Then, put a handful of bread crumbs onto a plate. 
  5. Add fresh parsley and 1/2 parmesan with the breadcrumbs.
  6. Dredge in flour until evenly coated. Then, through egg mixture. Grab a handful of bread crumbs and then place chicken in bread crumb mix and pour handful of crumbs over chicken.
  7. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  8. In a pan, put about 1/4 inch depth of Olive Oil and heat. Gently fry until golden brown on both sides.
  9. After cooling, transfer chicken breasts into a baking pan. Slowly spoon a small amount of sauce onto each breast and spread. 
  10. Add Italian or Mozzarella cheese blend to each chicken breast generously.
  11. Bake chicken for 7 minutes in oven or until cheese is melted.
  12. Sprinkle the remainining parmesan and a little parsley onto the chicken fresh out of the oven.
  13. Place back in oven and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
The perfect side dishes for this meal are spaghetti noodles and a side salad. 

It may seem like a lot of work, but I promise you it is so worth it for the finished product.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Pinterest Pro: When You're Potty Training


 
If you follow me on Twitter, I am sure you have seen posts from me lately on that glorious thing all parents must endure: potty training. I always assumed I would have girls and watching my nieces be potty trained, I knew it would be a breeze. Even my youngest niece Laiken, even though she had accidents in the night, was potty trained fairly easily. And then, God blessed me with two little boys.
 
Potty training is going to be a long, slow process with Gavin. He hates wearing "big boy" pants and begs for a diaper any time he needs to go potty...which shows us he is ready to go. Because of his speech development and socia development, he is in the 3-year-old class at daycare. Even going with buddies isn't helping like I just knew it would!
 
So, what better place to turn than Pinterest? I've found a few great resources for potty training and even a few places that had tricks I had never tried before, but I assure you I will be trying them now.
 
Potty Training Resources. This site has a ton of links to other websites that have potty training sections. Mayo Clinic is one of the sites mentioned, and honestly, who would have known?!
 
Charts. This is a great resource for lots of free charts for the parents that are going that route. I am printing out the Diego chart as we speak to give it a try.

Food Coloring Trick. I would have never thought of this! This is one of those times that I thank God for inventing Pinterest, because, come on, what kid wouldn't love changing the water colors?! And for that matter, what adult wouldn't?


For more cute blog posts, tips, and tricks, look into my Potty Training Board on Pinterest.

Monday, January 7, 2013

Brothers

 
 
"There's no love like the love for a brother.
There's no love like a love from a brother."
-Terri Guillements
 
 
I grew up with two sisters, who were twins, and 8 years older than me. We were close (and still are), but I never quite understood the bond between my husband and his older brother, Cody.
 
Cody and Preston are six years apart, but they've got a bond like nothing I have ever seen. They communicate one way or another every day, play video games together, and now since we've moved back, they're even in a band together. I've never understood their bond because I am not as close to my sisters. That is, until I had my own set of brothers.

 
 There is a bond between brothers that is just as special as the bond between sisters. It is in the way Gavin kisses Xander. It's in the way Xander smiles and laughs at anything his big brother does. It is when Gavin is playing with Xander and I overhear him say, "Oh baby Xander, I'm so glad you're here." They never fail to make me smile or make my heart melt a little more.

Brothers. There's nothing in the world like them and I am so fortunate to know two sets of such great ones.


Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Pinterest Pro: When Your Kids Are Sick


If you are a female, with any sort of exposure to the internet, you more than likely know about the wonderful world of Pinterest. It's great for those easy (or so they say) last minute meals, craft projects, and even the disasters of the DIY site.

But how can you use it to your advantage? Well, in my series, Pinterest Pro, I'm going to attempt to show you ways, tricks, and tips for those times that you really need information, but Google spits out the same answers at every website you visit.

Today's topic is: When your kids are sick.




I am one of those mamas that likes to try everything I can before taking my children to the doctor over every runny nose. Most of the time, especially in infants, they will give you a list of things you can do to comfort your child, but no medication because of their age and organ development.

Here are a few of the best Pinterest Pins full of cures and information on what/when/how to treat your baby:


  • Using Your Scentsy. Did you know that a tbsp of Vicks and a tbsp of water in your Scentsy warmers will help to clear your child's (and your) congestion? We tried this last night with my youngest (He has RSV) and it really helped out. This really works great if you don't have a humidifier, or are like me and just want to get the word out.

  • Is This Safe? For those first time (or just curious ) moms, this is a great website. All you do is type in exactly what you are wanting to treat your child with, whether it is Tylenol or Triaminic and it will tell you if it is safe for their age group/weight. This is also a nifty site for the "what if" stages of starting solids!

  • Sick Child Kit. I cannot express my love for this nifty little organization trick enough! If you're a mom (And a full-time, busy one like I am) then you will appreciate having everything right at your fingertips. I cannot tell you how many times I went to grab the bulb syringe (booger sucker) or Vicks and had left it in the last room I used it in! This keeps everything, even things I didn't think of, on hand and ready to use at all times.

  • Magic Slushy DIY. Is your child tired of the same old same popsicle when sick? Mix it up a little with this fun, interactive, DIY slush project! I thought this was neat and even something your older ones could do while lying down on the couch (just beward of the mess)!

  • Is Your Child Too Sick For Daycare? This is a great little pin I found. It is a quick quiz from Parents.com that asks common (and not so common) questions for how your child is feeling and if they should attend daycare. I know this would be great, again, for those moms who have never had childcare experience. Even from someone who has worked in childcare since I was 16, I found a few things that surprised even me!

  • Immune Boosting Checklist. This is a great one for all you crunchy mamas out there. It is a list of natural ways to help boost your child's immune system to prevent having to reach for the Tylenol! There are even Probiotics on the checklist (found in most infant formulas - especially Gerber!) and as most moms know, they really help during these cold winter months.

So there you have it, my Pinterest finds of the week for your sick child. Please remember that Pinterest is just a site though, and if you child begins showing symptoms of being very sick (lethargy, trouble breathing, etc.) please make sure you see your physician.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

New Years Superstitions

Happy New Year! I hope all of you are starting off on the right foot this year! At the very least, I hope you're putting all those tell-tale hangover remedies to good use. Our New Year's Eve was spent at home with the boys, while Preston was working, so we had a relatively quiet NYE. But now, as I'm sure most of you are, we are preparing for a day of going to my parents' house for a yummy feast to help bring in a little (hopefully a lot) of good luck for 2013.

Growing up in a Southern household, with a very superstitious grandmother, I couldn't help but catch a few of the superstitions myself. It was always just known that on New Years you didn't do certain things or ate certain things to ensure a very lucky year. Here are a few of my favorites, a few for your children, and a few that are out there even for me!

When the Clock Strikes Midnight...

  1. Kissing Someone You Love - This is said to ensure affection all year long.
  2. Making Lots of Noise - We make lots of noise at midnight to ward off the Devil and Evil Spirits. It is said he hates loud noise, so that is why we shoot fireworks, shout, "Happy New Year!", and celebrate with family and friends.
  3. Finishing Off That Bottle Of Liquor/Wine - Nursing a colossal hangover this morning? It may not be in vain. It is said to finish off the last dregs of that bottle to ensure a healthy, happy year. 


New Years Foods

I'm sure if you belong to any family you eat some sort of feast on New Year's Day. If you live in a household like mine, you eat certain foods to ensure a great year.

  1. Cornbread - this is a Southern New Years staple. It is said to symbolize gold because of its yellow coloring and is traditionally eaten to symbolize having spending money in the upcoming year. So, if you want spending money, eat some cornbread. My family tends to spruce this up a little bit by making dressing instead of the traditional cornbread.
  2. Black Eyed Peas - This is another Southern staple that is said to symbolize wealth. As we speak my mom has a big pot cooking and although I hate them (cabbage, too) I will eat at least a spoonful to ensure a wealthy year.
  3. Pork - It is said to choose pork on New Year's Day versus chicken or beef because pigs root forward, while chickens scratch backwards and cows stay still! So if you want to go places in 2013, make sure you have a nice helping of bacon, sausage, or even a ham sandwich.
  4. Collard Greens/Cabbage - You are supposed to eat a "helping" of greens to ensure a wealthy New Year. This is something else I detest, but you better believe I will be choking down boiled cabbage when we eat today.
What To and Not To Do On New Year's Day
  1. Do NOT Wash Dishes/Clothes - By doing this you are said to be "washing" someone out of your life and it symbolizes a death in the New Year. This is one I take VERY seriously. Why? The one year I washed clothes on New Years FOUR people close to me passed away. I haven't washed clothes or dishes on New Year's Day since.
  2. Have Cash In Your Wallet - This is said to ensure you will have money in your wallet all year long. There sure are a lot of superstitions with money, aren't there?
  3. Do NOT Pay Bills - It is said you will be spending money on debts all year if you do.
  4. Wear Red - As the Chinese symbol for luck and love, it is said wearing red on New Years will ensure luck and love all year long.

Superstitions for Your Little Ones
If you want to have a little fun with your kids on New Years, here are a couple of superstitions for them:
  1. New Years Day Babies - You get more than a years' supply of diapers if you're the first baby born in the New Year! All babies born today are said to be the luckiest throughout their whole lives.
  2. Jump! Jump! Jump! - It is said that if children jump today, they will grow tall in the upcoming year.
  3. No Crying - It is said crying today will set the tone for the year, so children are not to be spanked or disciplined today. Let's see how many of you can refrain from doing so.
Out There...Or Not?
Lastly, here are a few superstitions that even I find to be a little out there.
  1. First Through The Threshold - It is said that the first through the threshold must be a man, cannot have flat feet, or eyebrows that touch, and cannot be a female, blonde, or red hair. It is said if any of these are the first, it will ensure turmoil in your house. For the Moss household, that rules everyone out.
  2. Washing Your Face With Money - No, really. In some cultures you wash your face with water where coins have been soaking to ensure a wealthy year.
  3. Dancing Around A Tree - If you dance around a tree you are said to ensure your health for the entire year.
________________________________________________________________
So, there you have it! What New Years Day superstitions do you follow/believe? Will you be choking down all of these foods, or will you continue to wash your clothes and pay your bills like today is any other day? As for me and my family, we are sticking to the "better safe than sorry" method.

Either way, from my family to yours, may 2013 be the best year yet for you!