Summer Blog Challenge- Day 6, A Blogger By Any Other Name?

Today's challenge is to let you all know about any nicknames I have and why I have them...  I am actually one of those people who does not have many nicknames.  The most consistent one that I have is Care Bear, and that one started with my little sister years and years ago.  Maybe because of those cute and caring little critters from our childhood ...

I guess it makes sense since my first name is Carrie, and that name just naturally lends itself to Care?  ;)  My best friend since junior high also calls me by this nickname often.  

Sharing is caring! <3

Summer Blog Challenge- Day 5, My Goals This Month

My biggest goal for this month is to get my raised garden bed built and planted.  This will be my first summer attempting this.  I have longed to have a garden of my own for years, but usually didn't have the space for a decent one. At past places I have lived, I have just had a small patio so I would try some potted tomatoes or pepper plants.  This year we have some yard space and the go-ahead from our landlord to start a raised garden bed.   We just moved into our new home yesterday, so our plan is to get the bed frame built this Wednesday when my husband is off from work.

I already have 2 types of heirloom tomatoes to plant and a Big Boy tomato plant. I am also hoping to grow some peppers, and possibly zucchini and cucumbers.  I potted some basil and parsley, and they are both doing really well.

I am hoping to get the first 4 months of my daughter's baby book scrapbooked before the end of the month as well.  I am already kind of disappointed with myself for getting this behind on it.  I had high hopes that I would be updating it weekly, not missing or forgetting one detail or milestone. Once we get settled in this week, I plan on setting myself up a space in the spare bedroom to spread out my scrapbooking supplies and get creative. ;)


Oh, and I also hope to be unpacked and completely settled into our new house before the end of June, but I would REALLY like to see that happen by the end of this week.  Wish me luck!

Summer Blog Challenge- Day 4, The Evolution of a Mother's Blog

Today's challenge is to blog about the meaning behind my blog's name.  My blog has evolved quite a bit over the past year and a half since it's inception.  When I first started my blog (then named The Preggo Foodie), I used it mostly to post my original recipes, to pass the time in my third pregnancy.  8 weeks into that pregnancy, I lost my baby.  Then my blog became something different. Something more than just posting recipes.  That had been my second miscarriage in a row, and even though I had had given birth to my son 13 years before I was deemed as having secondary infertility.  Thus, the blood tests and ultrasounds and surgery followed.  My blog changed.  It chronicled our journey towards getting pregnant, and then my joyous, fearful, beautiful story about being pregnant with my baby girl.  My blog then became A Mother's Heart.  


Since the birth of my sweet daughter, my blog evolved yet again.  Before her birth, my husband and I knew that we wanted for me to stay at home with her for as long as we could financially manage.  Now my blog is about how we are making that happen.  Muddling my way through budgeting, but refusing to relinquish my foodie status. ;)  I still want to eat well, buy local and organic, and prepare my family healthy & tasty meals without breaking the bank.  Because the more money we can save every month, the longer I can call myself a stay-at-home mother.  Now my blog is aptly named Frugal Foodie Mama.

Summer Blog Challenge- Day 3

15 Interesting Facts About Me:


1.  I don't let anyone but myself do the household laundry.  Ever.  I had one bad experience allowing someone else to do it.  Let's just say bleach was involved.


2.  Once upon a time I had an idea to open a bakery.  A banana bread bakery. 

3.  I cannot prettily frost a cake for the life of me.  Every attempt I have made has miserably failed.  I am now a bundt cake woman all the way. ;)


4.  I do not know how to drive a standard.


5.  I used to be pretty good at photography.  I actually have 2 high school senior portrait sessions and a wedding under my belt.  I took all those photos with an old 35mm Pentax. ;)


6.  If you told me 10 years ago that I would be doing everything in my power to remain a stay-at-home as long as I possibly can, I would have told you you were crazy.  I was a stay-at-home mom with my son for 4 months, and decided then that I was not cut out for it.  13 years later with my 4 month old daughter, I can't imagine going back to work right now.


7.  My husband and I graduated from high school together 17 years ago.  We never dated in high school. We reconnected over Facebook 2 years ago, got married 1 year ago, and had our baby girl 4 months ago. <3


8.  My husband and I brought our baby girl home to the same house he was brought home to by his parents 35 years ago.


9.  I want to someday become a certified yoga instructor, with specializations in fertility and prenatal yoga.


10.  I taught at-risk, inner city teens for 7 years.  Rewarding, but I burnt out.  I may go back to teaching one day after my daughter starts school.


11.  I like scrambled egg and Miracle Whip sandwiches.


12.  I ran track as a sprinter all 4 years of high school.  I was co-captain of the girls' team my senior year, and placed 5th with my 4x200 team at states.


13.  My first bike as a little girl was a He-Man Master of the Universe bike.  I may have been a little bit of a tomboy.


14.  I scrapbooked my son's entire baby book, and am trying to do the same with my daughter.


15.  One skill I wish I could master is sewing.  I am terrible at sewing.

Summer Blog Challenge- Day 2

Today's Summer Blog Challenge?  To post a picture of yourself smiling! :)

This photo was taken the evening of my husband and I's wedding last May as the reception was winding down.  I was a very happy woman that day, and this pic might have also been taken after a few glasses of champagne or so. ;)

Summer Blog Challenge- Day 1

I literally came across this blog project/blog hop just this morning!  My first thought was how fun could this be??  

Day 1's topic is Why are you doing this challenge? I often blog about staying on a budget in the kitchen, recipes I have been inspired to try because of Pinterest, and my journey to and through motherhood.  I thought it would be refreshing to have some different topics to blog on, and to give my readers and followers a new perspective of me and what makes me... well, me! :)

I cannot guarantee that I will get my posts up every single day, but I will try! We are moving this weekend to a new home, and I am a stay-at-home mama to a 13 year old and a 4 month old. But I guess this is why they call it a challenge, right? ;)

Pinspiration in the Kitchen: Salted Caramel Goodness

My tasty obsession this week started with one little recipe showing up in my inbox- A recipe for a Salted Caramel Sauce from The Brown Eyed Baker- Get the recipe here.  I spent a half hour one evening last week and concocted my own batch of the sauce, and it has been sinful madness after since.  

First, I added it to my morning lattes.  Then, I drizzled it over vanilla yogurt sprinkled with chocolate chips and pecans (a turtle yogurt sundae!).  And then The Brown Eyed Baker had to go and put out a sister recipe for the Salted Caramel Sauce- Chocolate Salted Caramel Cupcakes (Click here for the recipe.)  I decided that I had to make these for the family barbecue my husband and I were hosting for Memorial Day.  

These cupcakes were amazing!  The chocolate cupcake itself was nice and moist.  The salted caramel frosting?  To. Die. For. I actually made cinnamon roll dough in my bread machine this week just so I could spread my leftover frosting all over them.  I definitely could not let it go to waste! ;)  Side note: This was my first attempt at making what I call "pretty" cupcakes.  You know, with a fancy tip and a not so fancy bag (I used a gallon sized plastic storage bag with a corner snipped off).  And I was pretty pleased with the results.  Never again will I be sloppily smearing frosting onto a cupcake with a butter knife!
I will say I added WAY more than the recommended amount of salted caramel sauce to the frosting.  Like maybe twice as much? ;)  I just kept tasting the frosting and adding in more sauce until it had the caramel flavor that I wanted.  


To go directly to the Salted Caramel Sauce for repinning, click here- http://pinterest.com/pin/203295370649680205/
For the Chocolate Salted Caramel Cupcakes, click here-
http://pinterest.com/pin/203295370649680197/