Do you wanna build a Snowman?

by CasieBlog, Mom Things, Toddler FunPosted on No Comments

Do you wanna build a snowman? (Are you even a parent if you aren’t singing along to Frozen in your head, while you read that sentence?)

Its the end of March, lets be real, I’m TIRED of the snow. We’ve had a couple of high 40 and even 50 degree days here in Maine. It’s a real tease when the next day we get 6+ inches of snow. That’s what happened this weekend.

But we had a beautiful sunny day last week, so my sister-in-law and I took my daughter outside to play in the snow. She’s FINALLY brave enough to walk in her boots and her snow pants! It was so exciting to see her bravely stomp through the snow (even if she did fall on her face a few times). Watching her grow and try new things or re-try things that once made her scared or anxious is one of the most amazing parts of being a mom.

My sister-in-law started to roll around a ball of snow, but come to find out, she’d never built a HUGE snowman before! I knew we had to make it happen before the snow was gone! So she rolled for a while, then I did. Then I did some shaping while she chased my daughter around the yard and we rolled up the second ball of snow. (I forgot how HEAVY snow can be, it took both of us to get it onto the bottom ball.) Then lastly, the smallest for the head.

I remembered that I had got my husband some Lego theme snowman accessories and ran down to the basement to grab them. I’m so glad I did! My husband works in the Health and Safety field, so we made the snowman into one of his co-workers. Hardhat and walkie-talkie included.

Checking out what Auntie is doing!
Face Plant, oops!
This looks fun!
Our main man!

This is a fun way to wrap up winter. Seeing as by the end of the day, the snowman face had melted off. Then we got snow this past weekend. I’m ready for spring. For green, for grass, hell, I’ll even take the bugs. (I don’t like bugs) I’m tired of being inside all the time and I can’t wait for us to spend our days in the yard, going for hikes, or heading to the lake. So here is my send off to winter. Snowman included. Until we revive him next year. Bring on spring!

What did I wanna be?

by CasieBlog, Mom Things, Prompts and MusingsPosted on No Comments

When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?

What did I wanna be as a grown up? When I was five, the world was actually a pretty exciting place! I’ll be honest, I don’t remember that far back. But I know as a little kid, there were so many things I wanted to be.

I wanted to be a Veterinarian! Especially one that worked on BIG animals! Elephants and Rhinos and Tigers! I could imagine myself doing surgery and saving these amazing creatures! Until I figured out that I’d have to deal with animals that were dying or have to put them down myself. Then it didn’t seem so great.

Naturally I had to think of something else cool! I wanted to be the FIRST female MLB player! Girls were just as good as things as boys were. So why shouldn’t I be able to play a sport with them? We know that there’re still no female players in “mens” leagues, and unfortunately any chance of that is just getting slimmer under our government’s administration….

I wanted to do anything that dealt with the Ocean! Because the Ocean was amazing! I wanted to be a Graphic Designer, I wanted to work in the government making people’s lives better! At least I kept one theme up with all these dream jobs. I wanted to help people or animals. And I’ve always wanted to help others. I love helping people and bringing people joy!

I’m extra lucky to get to do that as a Stay at Home Mom! Honestly, it’s probably the hardest job I’ve ever had! (And I worked in retail management! IYKYK!)

But now I can’t wait until my daughter is 5! What will her dream job be? What kinda jobs will there even be when she’s grown? Will she wanna help people? Will she be creative? Will she work in technology? Only time will tell, but I’m excited to see where she goes! ❤️

Sundays are for Rest, Right?

by CasieBlog, Mom ThingsPosted on No Comments

Sundays Aren’t for Rest (At Least Not Yet)

In a perfect world, Sundays would be for rest. Maybe brunch, a nap, some kind of quiet reset before Monday.

But as a parent of a toddler? Yeah—there are no rest days.

Weekends are for all the big chores. The “extra” stuff that never seems to get done during the week: washing sheets and blankets, building that piece of furniture that’s been sitting in the garage for three weeks, reorganizing the fridge that’s somehow already a mess again. (I swear I threw out those leftovers last week!)

I guess, if I were a god-fearing woman, I’d find time to rest before or after church. But I’m not religious. So instead, my husband and I take turns “sleeping in” on Saturdays and Sundays (and let’s be honest, sleeping in means 8 AM if we’re lucky). The rest of the weekend is spent trying to get the house in order, tackle the groceries, and gear up for the week ahead.

The last few weekends have been even more chaotic than usual—because our daughter got her big girl bed! Which is honestly kind of bittersweet. I had planned on doing one of those cute little Montessori floor beds, but we already had a queen mattress from our old setup (we upgraded to a king when we bought the house), so it just made sense to use what we had.

After some intense internet sleuthing, I found this beautiful four-poster bed on sale, and I couldn’t pass it up. It’s solid, timeless, and should last her well into her teen years (that’s the hope, anyway). I still need to add the curtains I bought to the “posters”, but the pocket was too small, so I’ll need to sew a new one. (Link to the bedframe at the bottom! And No, I don’t get any commission!)

In other “house things that feel bigger than they are,” I also grabbed one of those behind-the-toilet storage towers. (It was on clearance—because of course it was, I love a deal.) Our old bathroom shelf used to hold all our laundry stuff, since we’ve got a stacked washer/dryer situation in our bathroon. But now that Lorelai can reach it? Not ideal. The new tower keeps things out of her hands but still accessible for us. My husband hates it. But I think it looks cute! I popped on some blue glass storage jars I scored at the Target dollar section forever ago, and honestly, it’s giving “Pinterest mom on a budget.” (I added my pintrest to the bottom, just in case.)

Eventually, I want to organize the bathroom closet and swap out the hardware on the tower shelf with these adorable shark-shaped knobs I bought ages ago. But that’s another weekend’s problem, and the knobs are somewhere, in a box, from when we moved into this house.

I guess weekends have kind of just become the default “project time” because it’s the only time it’s not just Lorelai and me at home. It’s hard to tackle anything big with a toddler glued to your leg. And evenings are dinner, bath, bedtime, and—if we’re lucky—twenty minutes of couch time before we crash.

I know it’ll get easier. When she can self-entertain a little more, when I don’t need to be on toddler-alert 24/7. And sure, I let her watch some TV here and there (I’m not above Ms.Rachel, or Bounce Patrol). But I’ve never wanted the TV to be a constant babysitter. I try to involve her when I can… but some projects just aren’t 16-month-old-friendly.And that’s just how it is right now. No rest on Sundays. No aesthetic “slow mornings.” Just a whole lot of love, a little chaos, and a house that’s always almost clean.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Walker-Edison-Minimalist-Slatted-Wood-Queen-Canopy-Bedframe-Natural-Pine/3386377902

Tattoo Number 9 – But what makes a good tattoo for a mom?

by CasieBlog, Mom Things, Prompts and MusingsPosted on No Comments

What tattoo do you want and where would you put it?

A stylized tattoo of a Queen Bee with a Crown
My Queen Bee 👑 🐝 For my Aunt who passed 💖

This is one of those questions to ask myself often. As someone who got their first tattoo on their 18th(I almost left this as 8th and not 18th, ha!) birthday, I have quite a few, and want a ton more. Tattoos are akin to that haircut you get when your boyfriend leaves you. You know you need to do SOMETHING, and it’s something that’s kinda big, but also meaningful or empowering to you.

I’m not saying every tattoo has to be for your Grandmother or for your mom’s birthday or whatever symbolic idea you have. Some tattoos can be fun, for the hell of it. I mean we only live once, right? (YOLO…or whatever the kids say these days…I’m literally always a generation behind on the slang….I’ve become one of those moms.)

But tattoos are such a fun way to decorate the body. They show who you are as a person in a way not much else can. They have a way of letting your soul shine on the outside of your body, instead of just the inside.

My Current Tattoos

Personally I’ve gotten most of my tattoos at large changes in my life, or for some significant meaning. (Not that I don’t have a “For fun” tattoo, I totally do) But those have been the times I’ve had to scratch the itch, and do something drastic to my body, to show the world (and myself) that something large enough has happened in my life that I need to permanently make note of it. On my body…in my skin.

I’ve gotten a tattoo for turning 18, one for when my first husband left me out of the blue (a story for another time) one for when my Aunt passed away and a matching tattoo with my brother and one with my cousin. I’ve gotten a tattoo with a friend from high school who I now only speak to on occasion. (She has since converted hers.) So many of my tattoos have a meaning, or at least had a meaning, at the time. But I don’t regret a single one, and someday when I have a little extra money, I can’t wait to get another.

What tattoo will come next?

And although I know what my tattoo will be for, (Yup, this one has meaning!) I can’t for the life of me decide what it’s going to be of. I know I want a tattoo for my daughter. For my incredible little Lorelai. I was thinking of a Bee at one point, as it’s symbolic of my Aunt who passed, and because bees always seem to pop up on places of importance in my life, even when there’s zero reason for a bee to be there.

The reason behind a name.

And yet, we named her Lorelai, from the German name for the Siren of the sea, who lures fishermen to their demise. This may sound a little sad or creepy, but as a Feminist (especially in 2025…IYKYK) it feels fitting.  I know my daughter is strong willed, sharp as a tack, and honestly funnier than most adults (and she can’t even talk yet!) I plan to teach her that no matter what life throws at her, to never let a “man” stand in her way.

Here is a link to the story of Loreley if anyone is interested!

https://visitworldheritage.com/en/eu/the-loreley-rock/7b9a0bb3-18b3-44da-907e-e9861d3f831b

So would a siren tattoo be more fitting? I’m starting to think so. Something beautiful, yet slightly scary. Maybe based on the original German legend perhaps? A Beautiful maiden upon a rocky cliff? Or maybe stick closer to the more simple mermaid legends? Time will tell, and we’ve got plenty of time. If I did a mermaid of some sort, I’d absolutely want it to have a “frame” and be on my calf. So at least I got the placement down.

Tattoo of the cartoon character Lisa Simpson, choking Bart Simpson
My brother and I have these matching tattoos (his is Bart choking Lisa 😂) It’s very fitting for us.
A tattoo of Pigsqueak and Snapdragons in an illustrative style.
These are some flowers I got because I found them beautiful, and I wanted them to go with my Queen Bee. They are “Pigsqueak” and Snapdragons. Both native to Maine and also both beautiful 😍

DIY Toddler Sensory Bin: Fun, Messy, and only cost me $5.25!

by CasieBlog, Toddler FunPosted on No Comments

(So let me start this off by saying, this could be even LESS than $5.25. If you already own food coloring! I did not.) All you’re going to need is 2 ingredients. Food coloring, and a bag of uncooked rice. I used a 2 lb bag and I’d suggest at least 2 lbs of rice. (Also, I think you can get food coloring at Dollar Tree for $1.25. This would save you the extra $2 I spent at Walmart.) Everything else that I used for this sensory bin, were items I had around my house!

Depending on how many dishes you want to wash, (either use the 4 separate bowls, or keep reusing one, whatever floats your boat!) grab 4 bowls and evenly distribute the rice, leaving 1/5th behind in the bag. Then, add a few drops (5ish) of food coloring to each bowl. It’s kinda like Easter! But instead of eggs, it’s rice! *Bonus Activity, you could color the rice then add your Easter eggs to the bowl and swirl them around for a cool design!* Stir your rice and food coloring around until the rice is covered.

Don’t go TOO crazy, because the food coloring will only go so deep into the rice. It’ll only get so pigmented but I was pleasantly surprised that the rice dried fairly fast! Once each color is dry, mix all the rice together in a large bowl, including the rice you left white.

I initially had all the rice in a large empty seltzer water bottle. My daughter used this as a shaker for a while, it was a worthy instrument. But after some time had passed, she lost interest, and I figured it would be more fun for her to play with her hands and with some tools. But, as a parent of a Toddler, we all know how quickly a mess can happen. So I had to figure out a way for her to play with the rice, without it being ALL over my house.

I had a light bulb moment! We had just got some totes so I could do some organizing, and one of them we hadn’t put anything into yet. It was a big tote, so I knew she’d fit with room to spare. I brought over the tote and dumped the rice into it in front of her. She was FACINATED! And immediately wanted to be in the tote so she could try to put the rice back into the bottle. And thus, the Rice Sensory Bin was born!

Shopping Spree! If I Had the cash, Here’s Where I’d Go!

by CasieBlog, Prompts and MusingsPosted on No Comments

Where would you go on a shopping spree?

Imagine of a woman with multiple shopping bags and the text "Shopping Spree Dreaming"

Outfits or Home Accents? Toddler Toys or Fancy Meals? If I Had the Cash for a Shopping Spree, Here’s Where I’d Go!

Let’s be real — as a SAHM with bills and only one income, a shopping spree isn’t exactly on the horizon. But hey, a girl can dream! If I had the chance, I’d be filling my bags with goodies for both me and my daughter, sprucing up the house with some fresh decor, and treating myself to an amazing lunch.

I’d definitely hit up some name-brand stores: Hollister for my favorite jeans, Boot Barn for yet another pair of cowboy boots (because honestly, you can never have too many). I’d grab new bras from Victoria’s Secret and stock up on toddler clothes at L.L. Bean. And for home decor? I’d wander through the fancy boutiques in Portland’s Old Port — you know, the ones where you browse politely, admire everything, and quietly gasp at the price tags.

Well, now that I’ve been lost in a day dream for a while, thinking of all the wonderful things I would buy…I suppose I should go get something productive done with the rest of my Sunday. I attached a list to my Benable that gives you links to all the things I’d wanna buy on my spree! Maybe it’ll give you some ideas as well!

https://benable.com/Motherhood_Overloaded/if-i-could-go-on-a-shopping-spree-me-in-my-dreams-13

More Than a Name: The Significance of Our Middle Names.

by CasieBlog, Prompts and MusingsPosted on No Comments

What is your middle name? Does it carry any special meaning/significance?

You know when you’re in middle school, and everyone plays the “guess my middle name” game? Mine starts with a P, which always threw people off. I didn’t have a typical middle name like Mary or Beth. (Usually guessing my middle name took longer than anyone else.)

My middle name is Patricia. It’s uncommon, but a nice name. I’m named after my Great Aunt Patty. I wish I knew more about her. She was one of those relatives I’d see at family gatherings, the kind who’d tell me how big I’d gotten and remind me I was just a baby the last time she saw me. (I have an extremely big family.) I don’t know much about her, but my mom was close with her, and that connection always made the name feel special.

Now that I have a child of my own, choosing her name was one of the hardest decisions we made. We had lists for days, and honestly, we didn’t settle on her name until we were heading to the hospital. Since we didn’t know the baby’s gender, we had both a boy and a girl name ready to go.

It was important to me that the middle name flowed with the first name and honored someone meaningful to us. If we’d had a boy, my husband wanted the middle name to be Gideon — his first name — to follow tradition. But if it was a girl, I knew I wanted her middle name to be a tribute to one of my favorite people in the world: my Mom.

My mom shaped me into who I am today. She taught me perseverance, how to find the positive in every situation, and that all people deserve love. (“They put their pants on the same way as you and me,” she’d always say.) Her name is Yvonne, but we felt it was a little long and didn’t flow quite how we wanted. So, we settled on Eve.

It was perfect — a simple, beautiful name with so much meaning. And it became even more special when my mom helped deliver my perfect child into the world.

The sarcasm bubbling up inside of me…

by CasieBlog, Prompts and MusingsPosted on No Comments

What is one question you hate to be asked? Explain.

“Are you sure?” Do I answer politely, or use the sarcasm bubbling up inside of me?

Sarcasm, often times comes out, even when I don’t mean it to. “Are you sure?” We’ve all asked someone this. And we’ve all been on the receiving end of this question. Yet every time someone asks me “Are you sure?”, I can feel the sarcastic remarks knocking around in my brain. I usually take a moment before I give my answer to think about the context, situation and the person asking. Do I know them well enough to give a sarcastic response? Did my tone imply that I’m not sure? So they know something I don’t know?

And unless I’ve known you for a while, I’ll probably hit back with “Yes, I’m sure.” Because in reality, I’m not going to agree to do something unless I’m sure. Even if you think it’s going to be an inconvenience to me. It’s not. So you don’t need to ask.  I’m happy to do whatever it is I agreed to do or get.

witty sarcastic ecard

Easiest Chicken Caesar Wraps for Busy Families-15 Minutes (or less)!

by CasieBlog, Food and ReciplesPosted on No Comments

Who doesn’t love a good wrap? Look, if Ina were here, she’d tell me to go get my heirloom lettuce from my garden. But since the yard is covered in snow, store-bought is fine. (If you don’t get the reference…you’re too young. J.K., I still love you, but Google it.)

I Meme of the Chef Ina Garten that says "If you don't have time to travel to Madagascar and pick your own vanilla beans, Store bought is fine"

This recipe is so simple and takes like 5 minutes to throw together. (Cooking the chicken is literally the longest part.) I’ll give you the short version and the long version (aka, the lazy way and the slightly less lazy way).

The Laziest *Delish* Chicken Caesar Wrap

Ingredients:

  • 1 pre-bagged Caesar Salad Kit (I use Fresh Express)
  • Caesar Croutons (I eat these suckers right outta the bag)
  • Kens Light Creamy Caesar Dressing (you can use what’s in the kit if you like)
  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Cucumber
  • Parmesan Cheese
  • Sundried Tomato OR Spinich Wraps
  • Pre-cooked Chicken Tenders or Honey Chicken Breast Tenders

Instructions:

  1. Cook your chicken per package instructions (I use my air fryer).
  2. While your chicken cooks, slice your cherry tomatoes into quarters and your cucumbers into 1/4-inch rounds. (You can peel them if you like.)
  3. Put your salad kit greens into a bowl, but leave out the dressing.
  4. Grab a wrap and add a bed of lettuce to the middle.
  5. Add a sprinkle of your quartered tomatoes and cucumbers.
  6. Once the chicken is cooked and cool enough to handle, cut it into bite-sized pieces.
  7. Add the chicken to your wrap, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
  8. Throw some croutons on that baby.
  9. Drizzle on your dressing (I don’t measure this) and wrap that sucker up!

Ta-da! That’s it! Literally so easy, but it tastes like you put the effort in.

Before the “Wrap Part”

Classic Chicken Caesar Wrap

Ingredients:

  • 1 head of Boston Lettuce OR Romaine Hearts
  • Caesar Croutons (I eat these suckers right outta the bag) but if you have a loaf of stale bread you can make your own
  • Kens Light Creamy Caesar Dressing
  • Kens Light Caesar Dressing (The NON Creamy)
  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Cucumber
  • Parmesan Cheese
  • Sundried Tomato OR Spinich Wraps
  • 1/2lb-1lb Raw Chicken Tenders (or Breasts cut into strips)

Instructions:

  1. Take your chicken tenders (or strips) and marinate them in the non-creamy Ken’s Caesar Dressing in the fridge for at least an hour (enough dressing to cover the chicken).
  2. Once your chicken has finished marinating, cook it on the stovetop in a pan, or if the weather is nice, grill it! Cook until no longer pink in the middle (165°F in the center).
  3. While your chicken cooks, slice your cherry tomatoes into quarters and your cucumbers into 1/4-inch rounds. (You can peel them if you like.) Wash and cut up your lettuce into bite-sized pieces.
  4. Grab a wrap and add a bed of lettuce to the middle.
  5. Add a sprinkle of your quartered tomatoes and cucumbers.
  6. Once the chicken is cooked and cool enough to handle, cut it into bite-sized pieces.
  7. Add the chicken to your wrap, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
  8. Throw some croutons on that baby.
  9. Drizzle on your creamy dressing (I don’t measure this) and wrap that sucker up!

Honestly, this way takes a little longer, but the marinated chicken is SO good. Plus, it’s healthier because it’s not a processed breaded tendie. (Nothing against tendies.) I’m sure you’ll like this recipe either way you make it!

How does one start a book about themselves?

by CasieBlog, Prompts and MusingsPosted on No Comments

You’re writing your autobiography. What’s your opening sentence?

Is a well lived life defined by your achievements, your failures, or a combination of both?

Man, this was a tough one! One sentence? I feel like discussing one’s life is so complex. It is so full of ups, downs, joys and misery. And everyone’s story is so vastly different. How am I supposed to know where to start? What’s the most exciting moment in my life? So I start high? Or start low? I guess I’ve not lived enough life to feel a need for an autobiography just yet.

Although, I suppose I could start early. Then someday, when I’m old enough to actually write an autobiography, I wouldn’t have to try and remember the younger years.