Update: About ME!

So, it appears I haven't updated my blog with my 'about me' for a while. So... for any of those of you that are reading this and wondering- here it is! About me!

Name: Heidi Lynn
Age as of today: 27 {ahhhhh, seriously?!}
Current location: Iowa
College: Yep, MBA!
Marital status: {don't even get me started... ;)} Not married yet, boyfriend and I living together for 3 years
Boyfriend name: Aaron Lee
Kids: One on the way! Due in June.... baby girl! And our "first" child- our miniature black goldendoodle puppy, Bentley (I'll attach a pic!}
Favorites-
Food: Now?? I'm pregnant, so.... most everything {sweet}, unfortunately! Love me some seafood also. Yum.
Drink: Water w/lemon, skinny caramel macciato's, Stella Rosa wine
Past-time: Crocheting, couponing {yes, I get tons of free stuff... all the time!}, walks with my puppy, Bentley {and anything else with him, actually!}, decorating, researching, cooking, shopping, family and friend time, and being silly with Aaron!

So, to wrap it up.... I'm a small town girl who has since lived in bigger places. Aaron and I met 5 years ago, started dating 3 years ago, and have been about inseparable ever since! We help each other, make each other grow, challenge each other, and most of all- make each other better- together! We are SO excited to have moved back from Monett, Missouri to Marshalltown, Iowa, for Aarons career and to be closer to our family and friends. We loved living in SW Missouri, had tons of great life experiences, and are so happy we had that. But... we are thrilled to be back in Iowa to have our baby girl. We want to raise her here, close to family and friends! This is our first and we are busy preparing everything for her! We started our Lamaze class last night, and we even enjoy that! Our life is going to change drastically, and we know that... but we are both in a great place in life to start that next chapter! In my spare time, I love to cook {try new recipes or make my own}, crochet {see my Old Soul Charm Etsy store}, spend time with our little goldendoodle, Bentley, coupon {I LOVE good deals and free things!}, take walks, and stay connected to family and friends. Life is good!

SUPER Pregnancy Green Smoothie

Okay... I'd be lying if I said I wasn't obsessed with these. Literalllllyy... obsessed. I don't know what I'd do this whole pregnancy without these! They give me needed vitamins... annnndd... all that good stuff! But really, they taste great and make me feel like I am giving my baby lots of good "stuff"... as well as myself, of course! I drink one DAILY, and almost feel deprived if I am somewhere and cannot have one. 

So... now that I've talked this smoothie up enough... here is a little "recipe" for my "Super Pregnancy Green Smoothie"!!! Try it and let me know what you think!

Ingredients:
*Blender
*Crushed ice
*Water/{Orange} juice
*Spinach
*{Mixed} frozen fruit
*Banana

Optional:
*Prunes {SERIOUSLY!!!!!- they make it SO good!} I promise I'm not 95 years old... and we all know that they can "help" a pregnant lady :)
*Any other fruit you like {blueberries are great and turn it purple!}

*Avocado

*Flax and/or chia
*Yogurt- I don't put it in mine, because I don't like the {creamy} flavor/texture it adds, but it is up to you. I MUCH prefer my {GREEK!!!} yogurt on the side... makes for a perfect breakfast! 


To start- get all of your ingredients ready to go! You can see in this I'm using a little oj, banana, frozen mixed fruit, prunes, and- of course- spinach.

Next.... throw it all in your blender {make sure you have one that will blend the ice}. I start with a little ice first {cup?}, enough water/oj to cover it, two handfuls of {fresh} spinach, a banana, and about two handfuls of frozen fruit. Here is where you can also add any other things to it... like I am adding my prunes in this one!

Got everything in? Mix it up! If it doesn't seem to be mixing enough/properly, I usually add a little more water and it starts turning! You will most likely need to use a spatula to scrape down the sides about mid-way through {the darn little spinach gets stuck on the sides}.

Get ready to enjoy........

Pour into a tall glass, get a {thick} straw, and ENJOY all of this fabulous pregnancy SUPER smoothie!

How was it??!

Spring! Pink Flowers, Mothers Day, Just-Because-Days!

So, two weekends ago was my moms {35th? ;)} birthday! Her, my dad, and my little brother, Chase, were coming to stay with us for the weekend, because my older-younger brother, Griffin, was playing baseball in Mount Vernon {by Cedar Rapids}, and we were all going to attend. I had been wanting to crochet my mom something for quite some time, but, this time of year, when the weather had been in the 80's, I just didn't feel like a scarf was my best bet! I know she would love a blanket {and that will come} next, but I need to find a {perfect} pattern and get started on it! {Finish my baby blanket, first, though!} SOOO... what did I whip up for her that weekend? A bouquet of a dozen roses, of course! I had spotted the pattern for these little pretties on a Pinterest link, so I just grabbed all my pink and green yarn, and got started!

Pattern I used is found here.

Her finished product!

I am not putting these on my Old Soul Charm ETSY store, because, frankly, they take too long and labor-intensive to make! Butttt..... that being said, if you or anyone wants one, or a dozen like these, message me, and I'll see what I can do!

Aren't they gorgeous? I heard they look beautiful sitting on her table at home- and are the perfect "spring-time" accessory!

Baby Crochet!

So... as many of you know- we are expecting our 1st baby in June! We couldn't be more excited, and since finding out... I've been busy crocheting baby hats, headbands, and just started one, of probably many, baby blankets! Booties/shoes are next on my list to tackle as well!

I am going to show you all that I've been working on... pics or sites of them done by the originators! I'll upload my finished product pics as soon as we get our new DSLR (coming soon!). :)

I think these products will all be perfect for the new baby... for CUTE pictures as photo props, etc! 

Like any? Let me know and I can maybe whip one up for you! They will be added to my Etsy store then as well. I create something new basically daily or every-other day. Any requests or any good ones you've seen? Let me know!!!

Multi-Color ELF Hat
Mine is a couple shades of pink, green, gray, yellow, and navy. Adorable.

Newborn Earflap Hat
This is the first thing I made, before knowing if we were having a girl or a boy. Mine is white with gray piping... and I will be adding a baby pink, super-light flower!

Owl Hat 
LOVE these! I think they are so precious. Mine is fuchsia on top, pink on bottom, with green and yellow accents!

Teddy Bear Hat
The picture they have on this helps- isn't is so sweet?! I am in the process of making this one now... and I cannot wait to have it on my babe taking some pics.

 Beanie Hat with Flower 
Mine is light brown with a huge light pink flower... and matching light pink piping/trim around.

Flower Headband
Okay... So this is an example pattern that I've used. I must admit I have made MANY different headbands with many different flowers (some big, some small!), colors, thicknesses of the bands, etc.  They're so cute on- why not make multiples?! :) We have an Iowa Hawkeye one, a white and pink one, an all sparkly-light-pink (super-sweet) one, etc!!

Are YOU Ready for Some FOOTBALL? And the snacks that come along with it!

Well, folks, it is that time again! Football season has officially begun... So, start your tailgate or party off right with some of my all-time FAVORITE snacks that people are sure to be asking for the recipes over and over again!

Hot Wing Dip

In slow cooker/crock-pot, mix all together:
2 packages softened cream cheese
1 cup Franks Red-Hot sauce
1 cup Ranch or blue-Cheese dressing
2 cups cooked, diced chicken
1- 11/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Heat on low for about 2 hours, or until hot... serve with tortilla chips. My ABSOLUTE favorite!

Little Smokies

In slow cooker/crock pot, mix all together:
2 packages little smokies/cocktail weiners
1 bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
1 Tbsp Worchestershire sauce
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup Jack Daniels, optional
Heat on low for about 2 hours, or until ready to serve. So bbq-y, but with the extra, "hmm, what is that?!"

Cocktail Meatballs

1 lb ground beef
1 egg
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tsp soy sauce
3 Tablespoons minced onion
1/2 cup bread or corn flake crumbs

Sauce:

1 (8 oz) can jellied cranberry sauce
3/4 cup chili sauce
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
11/2 teaspoons lemon juice
Mix all top ingredients into small balls. (Or, if you want to cheat, buy pre-made meat balls!) Bake 20-25 minutes in 350 degree oven, turning once.
In slow cooker/crock pot. blend all "sauce" ingredients, stir. Add in meatballs, and simmer for at least 1 hour before serving. YUM!!! You cannot eat just one, I promise you!

Creamy Beefy Salsa Dip

1 pound ground beef, with 1/2 package of taco seasoning added
1 package cream cheese, softened
1 jar salsa (Mild- Medium- Hot, whichever you prefer!)
1 pound loaf processed cheese spread (Velveeta)
Brown hamburger, drain extra grease.
Add cream cheese to bottom of a 9 inch pan/baking dish. Spread a layer of salsa on cream cheese, then a layer of ground beef. Top with Velveeta, and cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 15-20 minutes in a 400 degree oven.
Serve hot with your favorite tortilla chips. This is my boyfriends FAVORITE thing! I swear he can eat half!

Jude 1:2

Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.

- Jude 1:2 NIV

The ABSOLUTE BEST Fettuccine Alfredo

SO... I love Fettuccine Alfredo like you wouldn't believe. Do I eat it daily? NO!! I'd be as big as a house! Do I sometimes wish I could eat it daily! YES!!!

I love to go out to eat dinner and try different places that make it... some are good, some are great, some are absolutely horrible (seriously?!- who puts CANNED Alfredo sauce on their restaurant pasta?- gross!). Well, it's fairly easy to make at home, so I've tried TONS of recipes to make the "perfect", restaurant-quality Fettuccine Alfredo. I like mine with either chicken or shrimp... so feel free to add whichever you'd like! :)

Without further ado... here is The ABSOLUTE BEST Fettuccine Alfredo recipe to make at home... Enjoy!

• 24 ounces fettuccine pasta (dry)
• 1 1/2 c butter
• 1 pint heavy cream
• 1 tsp crushed garlic or 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 c grated Romano cheese
• 3/4 c grated Parmesan cheese
• Pepper and at least 1 tsp salt- but, to taste

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add fettuccine pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain water.
2. In a large saucepan, melt butter into cream over low heat. Add salt, pepper and garlic salt. Stir in cheese over medium heat until melted; this will thicken the sauce.
3. Add pasta to sauce. Use enough of the pasta so that all of the sauce is used and the pasta is thoroughly coated. 
4. Add your favorite meat- sauteed shrimp or chicken is the best!
5. Serve immediately... and ENJOY!!