alex fazio

A Very Happy Birthday!

I am sooo stoked that I finally have my new blog up and running. It was super simple and quick, and I think it looks pretty good. So, from now on, you can read all about the Fazio happenings at

New Blog

So fresh and so clean!

Lovin how sweet she smells after a nice warm bath :)

Mini-Photoshoot

Little miss O was in a great mood today after I got back from getting my hair done so we had a quick little photoshoot in our garage of all places. Who knew it would have such awesome light?? I put her in a non-pink outfit (gasp!!) and she still looks so cute I can hardly stand it. Thanks to my Godmother, Mary Pat, for this adorable dress. O said it tastes really good too ;)

"Where are we mommy??"

"Outside?? Yay! "

I love that she actually looks semi-chubby in this picture...I love me some chubby babies!!

"Olivia, please don't eat your dress, mommy really loves it and would rather not have barf on it ok sweetie?"

"Fine, I will eat my hands then!" (I love how she is like angrily eating shoving them in her mouth, lol)

"Olllliiiviaaaaa....."

"OKAY mommy!!!!"

"Excuse me missy...."

"MOM! I said ok! Stop telling me that please!"

"Meanie!"

Nom nom nom

"Ok Ok, I really give up this time"

Binks will have to do

How gorgeous are those eyes??

I love how she looks like she is really trying to stick her tongue out at me

Leap was singing ABC's and she wanted to sing along. "Hi! I'm Leap! Lets sing the alphabet..." Man don't get me started on that song.

And when I wouldnt replay him for the 27th time, she lost it, but let me take one more, which I think may be my favorite of all time

I love love love this girl, I am so incredibly lucky to be her mommy, even at the times where I feel totally useless and like I have NO clue what I am doing. She makes me a better person and I love her so much for that!

Happy Thursday!

Whats a day without a pic of miss O??

Southwest Corn Dip

I have been on a blogging strike with my family being in town, but now that they are back home, :( , I can return to the regular blogging schedule :)

I made a super yummy dip this weekend and wanted to share it with you

Southwest Corn Dip

Courtesy of Tasty Kitchen

4 cans Corn (15 Oz.), Drained

1 can Chopped Green Chilies (4 Oz), Drained

1 can Chopped Jalapenos (4 Oz), Drained

1 can Black Beans, Drained And Rinsed

1 whole Red Bell Pepper (Chopped)

1 bunch(es) Scallions, Chopped

1 cup Sour Cream

1 bag Finely Grated Mexican Cheese (8 Oz)

½ bunch(es) Fresh Cilantro, Coarsely Chopped (or To Taste)

Directions:

Drain corn, chilies and jalapenos. Put in a large bowl with the beans and tilt the bowl on its side while you chop the other veggies. Add the rest of the veggies and drain – there will be liquid accumulated in the bowl. Stir in the sour cream and grated cheese. Add the cilantro last.

Refrigerate before serving if you have time and the self-control to keep from eating it.

You must eat this dip with Fritos Scoops or lime Tostitos. It’s like the law or something.

 

 

Or...you can make something really yummy and put some inside of a quesadilla!

 

This would be really great (and easy) for partys or potlucks, its seriously GOOD!

Pumpkin Bread

So what if I am still wearing my flip flops here in AZ, this time of year just screams fall, and I have already pulled out my fall decorations, lit my pumpkin and spice candles, and baked 2 batches of my favorite pumpkin bread. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, my favorite is to heat it up and enjoy it with a big slab o' butter :)

Maine Pumpkin Bread

Recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2/3 cup water
• 3 cups white sugar
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 7x3 inch loaf pans.
2. In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into the prepared pans.
3. Bake for about 50 minutes in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

I usually double the spices but you can taste the batter and see how you like it

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday!

To meee! Home made cinnamon rolls and a weekend with my family = one happy girl!

Oh Daddy

Some of you may know this, some may not, but now that I am back to work, O stays with daddy all day long. As in, 13 hours together with no mommy around. At first I was nervous, ok, terrified, to go back to work. I thought so many (sometimes rational, sometimes totally and completely irrational) thoughts, will he love her as much as I do? Will he give her enough kisses? Will he sing her songs like I do? Does he even know the words to any songs? What if he doesn't burp her right? What if he doesn't check her breathing 327 times during each nap like me? Will he change her diaper as often as I do, and when he does oh gosh, what if he wraps it too tight and her leg loses circulation?? And oh lord, what if he brings her out in public with no bow and an ugly outfit, or one with barf stains?? What if when they are out in public, he turns his back for one second and a crazy baby snatcher steals her out of the cart? Seriously, yes, I did think those exact thoughts, on numerous occasions.

Now that I have been back for almost a month, those thoughts have subsided, and I am so so happy that they get that time together. There is never an argument between either of us as far as who has spent more hours in the week taking care of her, who has gotten up for the most night feedings (I will tell you right now its me, but that's a whole different story), who has spent more hours hearing her cry, etc etc. Of course we care for her differently, we are two different people and two different parents, but we work really well together and I know that our daughter is so well taken care of. I am so proud of my husband, and the father that he has become these last 3 months. He tells me every day how much he loves her and that he never knew he could love anyone as much as her. He has gone as far as to tell me not to get mad, but he is pretty sure he loves her even more than me :)

I thought this picture was appropriate for this post ;)

And for the record, he does a fantastic job. He may not always know what headband matches which outfit, or that if you hold her upright for 30 minutes after eating she tends to not spit up, but oh well. He does play with her, he sings her songs (even if they are the made up kind to a well known tune), he does kiss her and snuggle her, he teaches her things, he takes her out in public proudly and gets offended if the person in line behind him doesn't comment on how cute his daughter is. He watches cartoons with her, and takes tons of pictures and videos to send to mommy at work all day long. He loves her more than I ever imagined he could, and I am so incredibly lucky it makes me want to cry.

Tubby Time!

I don't know anything sweeter than a freshly washed baby, yummy!! 

I never take pictures of O in the tub, because lately I have been giving her baths on my own in our master bath, and since I am a freak who will never take my hand off her, even for one second, its pretty much impossible! Who needs those when you have a baby who looks this cute right after her bath??

I love how her hair looks wet (weird, I know.)

Ooops! Is that a little baby booty you see??

It sure is, and no oops here, its so stinkin cute how could I not share it with you?!?! (just so you know my blog is not listed on any freakish-stalker sites, it is only viewed by my family and friends)

She is seriously so beautiful I cant stand it, this momma is so proud :)

And the next one sums it all up

Aaaaaand, back to the bath we go!

The end.

Another week gone?!

Seriously?! I felt like I was just posting about our sunday funday. The week has come and gone in the blink of an eye, I worked a little over time this week (which broke my heart being away from O a second longer than I have to), and am working this weekend, have monday off, work tuesday and wednesday and then am off for 5 or 6 days since my parents and sister are coming to visit, yay!

I have got to finish some house work today, and am headed off to a big baby consignment sale at a local church (I need a high chair and exersaucer, maybe I can find some more fun stuff too!). Couldnt go the entire weekend with no O love, you know me :)

I have never seen a sight as cute as the one below...how cute is a little baby in jeans and adorable shoes?!

Ok, so yes, I agree, these jeans are ridiculously HUGE on my child, they are 0-3 months and she hasn't read the memo yet on needing to eat more food to get bigger.

But they are just so cute mommy had to make her wear them :)

And the shoes? As tiny as these appear to be, she could toss them across the room with one swift kick!

So we ditched the shoes and the jeans

And just wore mommys most favorite baby item ever! A hand knit sweater in my favorite color made by Dr. Oliveras.

And 2 seconds after this shot, she puked all over it :(

And typepad better be really lucky that their headquarters are not in Queen Creek, Arizona. This was the one second of my day I had a chance to pop on here to blog and post pictures, and my posts froze and were lost THREE times!!! I cant wait for my new blog!

Have a wonderful weekend family & friends!

Ghetto Toffee Goodness

 

Stop whatever your doing, write this recipe down (or print it, whichever you prefer) and make it. Immediately. It is seriously SO good! I made some the other day because hubby and I were craving it, and had to take it to work because if not, I would not have been able to button my pants the next day.

This makes a great, easy, and affordable recipe to make as gifts for the holidays, because lets be honest, we would all rather have something loaded with butter and sugar than some stinky body wash we plan to re-gift the following year ;)

Ghetto Toffee

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar (I use light)

1 sleeve saltine crackers (with salt, the sweet/salty combo makes it so much better!)

12 ounces chocolate chips (you can use milk chocolate or semi-sweet, or a mix of both, whichever you prefer)

6 ounces of heath toffee bits (that's half the bag for the not-math-savvy)

Line cookie sheet with foil. Spray foil with non-stick cooking spray. Place entire sleeve of saltines, salty side down, in a single layer. They may not fit perfectly, but its ok because they will separate after baking anyway so don't worry about it looking perfect. Unless your like me and do it anyway, even though you knowit will separate when it bakes.

Pre-heat oven to 350. In a medium sauce pan, over medium heat, melt butter, add brown sugar once melted and stir to combine (it will never really look combined until after it boils, but its what the recipe says so just pretend it does and stir away). Once mixture begins to boil (and not a second sooner), stop stirring, and let boil for 3 minutes. By boil I don't mean bubbling over the top of the pot, but to where you can see bubbles forming and popping out of the mixture, if that makes any sense. It will begin to "puff up" and that's ok, don't turn the heat up or down, just let it do its thang for 3 minutes.

Remove butter/sugar mixture from heat. Pour immediately over crackers. You will need to use a rubber spatula most likely to ensure this yummy buttery goodness covers every inch of your crackers. Once they are covered, turn off the burner the pan was on, because you don't want to do what I did and place it back on the stove top, with butter/sugar running down the side, and burn it onto your glass surface so badly that you are still scrubbing it off ;)

Place cookie sheet in oven and bake for 6-10 minutes, if your oven tends to run hot you may take it out after 6, you just don't want the sugar to get too browned.

Right after removing from oven, sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over tops, let them set for 5 minutes, then take rubber spatula and spread evenly over crackers. If you don't let it stand 5 minutes, the chips wont melt properly and you will have clumpy looking toffee stuff. Sprinkle toffee bits over chocolate. Place in fridge for 1-2 hours to set.

To break apart, I just use my hands, but have read others using a pizza cutter. It may be a wise idea to brush your teeth, chew gum, pull out your old headgear, anything to keep your mouth busy while cutting because seriously, every crumb will make its way into your mouth.

Enjoy!

Note: You could mix this recipe up however you wanted. White chocolate, dark chocolate, dark brown sugar instead of light, you could use nuts in place of toffee bits, candy cane pieces, the possibilities are endless!

Next up: Green Chili Burritos!

O & Daddy

Crazy day!

I dont know what I exactly accomplished today aside from laundry and some light cleaning, but seriously, I feel so drained I might slump over and fall asleep as I type. Little miss O was un-happy most of the day today, I think she is starting to teeth. She is drooling more than normal, and wakes herself up from naps crying. Today I think she cried for at least 5 minutes every hour of the day. Her usual bedtime is around 6pm, so I attempted bathtime alone since I work the next 2 days and by the time I am home from work she is fast asleep. By asleep, I do not mean sleeping through the night, oh no, she still is up every 3 (sometimes 4 and if I am reeeeeeally lucky 5) hours to eat, burp, and falls back asleep. Her usual wake-up time is around 7am. Hubby is out tonight doing some business stuff, and I am sitting here debating on if I should shower or finish the laundry, hhmmmm.

Until then, I will share some pictures of my adorable child

Yesterday we spent the day lounging and swimming at my in-laws, Kobe LOVES going there, he is such a water dog!

(All of the below pictures are with my Tamron lens, which I dont use that often but am trying to get better at. I love my 50mm 1.4 so much its always on my camera. I had some major issues with focus and the white balance is so different on auto than with the 50. Its a great lens, but my 50 is still my first love!)

 

 

We set O up outside in this rainforrest chair, shes deciding if she likes it or not...

 

"Hmm...now what exactly does this do...?"

 

"It moves and sings?! Omg I am sold!"

 

This morning she looked so cute in this outfit I had to add a cute little clippie. She looooves this frog, and I find myself singing the annoying tune all day long! "Hi! I'm Leap, lets sing the alphabet song..."

 

 

 

After this picture, she lost her breakfast all over her shirt and the sheets, so we changed into something mommy thought was cute. Apparently she didnt feel the same.

 

Not to worry, I only let her cry like this for 0.2 milliseconds before I picked her up. You have to admit, even when she cries, she still SO cute!

 

The next pictures were this evening, after mommy and daddy set up her new play mat. I had been searching for a solution for our front room that has been pretty much nothing since we moved in. I know before we know it she will be crawling and walking, so I wanted something fun that screamed kids playroom. I think we achieved our goal :)

 

 

I think she kinda likes it, no?

 

 

Working the next couple days, hoping to have a better time than my last few shifts. Excited about my parents coming in for my birthday weekend. Starting to decorate the house for fall. Nothing else too exciting to report!

Oh and stay tuned for some changes around here...I think I was good this year, and have asked for a brand spankin new, really pretty and fun blog for my birthday. I have been drooling over it for some time, and think I am ready. While this blog has been really fun (and the new blog will be able to transfer this entire blog onto my new one, bonus!), it really takes me a loooong time to upload pictures, and as you can see from the last 3 months, I take a LOT. I also plan on pouring more of myself into photography this fall and spring (obviously in 112 degrees its pretty much impossible all summer!) and my new blog will help me to showcase that since I dont have a website, and it will still be what it is now, a place to write about our life, gush about my daughter, keep in touch with family, etc etc. It also helps that the new blog will be sparkly and pretty, which makes it even more fun to read so I look forward to sharing it with you :)

Sunday Funday!

I am sooo thrilled to be off today, while I have 207 things to get done around the house (laundry, vacuum, clean counters, bathrooms, etc), I am just so happy to be home with Olivia the next 2 days, and the best part of all is that me and hubby are both off today! He is currently snoozing away with Olivia (which I am SO happy about, I do not want to deal with bad mood bears all day, O was up every hour from 1am until 7am!) so I made myself breakfast, tossed in 2 loads of laundry, and am blogging :)

Check out this cute fall clippie I made for miss O

 

 

I love that the seasons are changing (although not visibly here in Arizona!) and for whatever reason, these months put me in the mood for cooking and baking. I decided once or twice a week I will share a recipe (only if it was good of course) on here along with a photo. I am sooo inspired by food photography (check out www.foodgawker.com I drool over it daily!) so why not play around some. Mind you, I am not a professional chef, baker, cook...but I do love experimenting with new recipes!

Egg MockMuffin

1-2 medium eggs

1-2 slices canadian bacon

1 slice sharp cheddar cheese (I love Tillamock)

1 english muffin

To cook eggs: heat skillet over medium heat, spray with non-stick spray. Place egg/pancake ring (pictured below) onto skillet, crack 2 eggs, pour into ring. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

 

While eggs are cooking, place canadian bacon slices in same skillet and grill just until slightly brown

Toast english muffin to your liking

To assemble, place cooked eggs, canadian bacon, and cheese slice between muffin any darn way you please!

Viola!

Note: I cook my eggs for about 2.5 minutes per side and I like my yolks a little on the runny side. Also, don't forget to spray the egg ring with non-stick spray!

 

Hope you enjoy your Sunday. Later this week I will post my to-die-for recipe for cracker toffee, its seriously deeeeeelicious and makes the most perfect gift for the holidays!

Hiccup Video

Yes she is naked and bow-less, another day spent with daddy :)

3 Months Young!

Just because saying 3 months old makes me feel so sad, shes getting older, my baby is growing up so fast and I cant take it!

Here are some pictures of this little cutie, followed by her 3 month letter. (Just so ya'll know, the reason I write so much about Olivia, stories of our life, etc is because every year I plan to publish this blog into a book, and I hope that when she is older she will read them all and know just how much her momma loves her!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Don't laugh at my kids wild and crazy hair!!)

And the most important picture of all...

 

Dear Sweet Olivia,

Really?! Its been three months since mommy and daddy welcomed you into our world? Time flys when your having fun kid! This last month has been so much fun for us, watching you change every day, seeing your smiles and facial expressions, knowing that you really know now who your mom and dad are, giggling when you throw your over-dramatic fits, and laughing out loud when we hear a new "coo" every day.

This month was a challenge for momma, going back to work was not fun at all, but you know what? It has given you time alone with your daddy, and I know you both need that. I wish I could capture all the love daddy has for you, bottle it up, and sell it on the black market, we would make some serious dough! Your daddys little girl, and its so special for me to watch your relationship grow.

I so look forward to seeing your cute face when I get home from work, and I count the hours until the next day I have to spend just me and you. Even if you do throw fits when I attempt to take you shopping, I appreciate it because that just means less money for momma to spend in the long run! I LOVE dressing you in cute little outfits, with a bow to match, even though your 0-3 month clothes are still huge on you. I promise we are feeding you, sometimes with how much you spit up, I wonder if you are bound to be bulemic to keep your girlish figure. (Totally kidding, with mommys baking skills and daddys yummy meals that will never happen!).

I love seeing you with your grandparents and aunts and uncles, they all love you SO much and enjoy every moment they get to spend with you, I am telling ya, you are one loved little girl!

As much as it hurts me inside to see you growing, it makes me so happy and so SO proud to be your mommy. I am so excited about the weeks, months, and years to come. I cant wait to enjoy my life now with you in it, I swear I cant remember a day of it without you now that you are here. Thank you for bringing us so much happiness Olivia, I can only hope that throughout this crazy life, I can do the same for you.

I love you to the moon and back,

Mommy

I remember.

I have so much blogging to catch up on, but today something is just on my heart and I have to let it out.

We had a short, 3 day trip to California this past weekend, and went to the wedding of some very dear friends. The wedding was of course beautiful, and as I sat there next to my husband, my heart overfilled with memories of the day it was me and him exchanging our vows.

Check out this gorgeous bride! Thank you again so much for including us in your most special day, we love you guys!

 

( The above photo was taken by Araxi, www.araxiphotoblog.com )

The day began chaotic as ever, we left at 5 in the morning to make the use-to-be 6, but now 8 with a little one in tow, drive to Cali. We rushed around, trying to figure out who would drive with who,  how I would have time to do my hair and makeup, etc. We arrived at the ceremony, dressed up for the first time since, oh geez, since who knows when! We took our seats next to our family and sat joking with each other in our usual manner. The usual processional of weddings began, and it just hit me, it almost took my breath away the emotions that came flooding in. Seeing the mother of the bride (who looked beautiful by the way) walk down so proud, watching the bridal party come down the aisle arm in arm and hearing the same song we had played during our processional, watching the mother of the bride stand and look onto her first born daughter, with tears streaming down her face, as she happily walked hand in hand with her father down the path that would be her last as a single woman. Seeing her then fiance's smile as he awaited his bride. Oh God, that's when I lost it. The second I laid eyes on the bride, I remembered.

I remembered that special day that was mine, just 14 short months ago, and I remembered exactly how I felt. I will never forget the feeling that I had at this exact moment.

 

As I clutched my dads arm tightly, waiting behind the doors that would soon open to our beautiful wedding ceremony filled with all of our closest family and friends, I shed a quick tear, trying SO hard not to lose it and get myself into a full on ugly-faced cry (you know the kind I am talking about). I knew that was my last moment with my dad as his "little girl." I knew that my dads heart must have been so filled with pride, but at the same time must have had an ache so deep, knowing he was giving me away in a few short minutes. I waited to hear the first sounds of my wedding march, At Last by Etta James. I had butterflies, no, full on BIRDS in my stomach I was so incredibly nervous. I thought of my mom, standing out there, waiting for my dad to take the seat by her side, and I am sure she shed a quick tear right along with me, just as I am sure she shared that same ache in her heart.

The beginnings of the song began to play, and I clutched my dads arm even tighter. I reminded him to make sure I didn't fall down the steps, and made a quick promise to myself that I would not cry walking down the aisle. I remember the overwhelming emotion that I felt when that door opened and I felt the outside air hit my face, I took a deep breath and told myself to savor every single second. I remember every step I took, making our way from behind that door to our destination at the end of the aisle, I remember the love I felt in my heart for my dad, and the smile I had on my face when I locked eyes with my soon-to-be husband.

 

I remember how my heart was both bursting with excitement and joy, and heavy with sadness as my dad gave me away. I will treasure that hug for the rest of my life.

 

I remember the look on my parents faces, hearing us exchange our vows.

 

That look and those emotions, will forever be ingrained in my memory.

I remember seeing my sister looking on as I handed her my bouquet. I remember feeling a tinge of guilt, as if I was moving on from our life of sisterly fun and our memories of it being just the two of us. That was quickly replaced by knowing that deep down, she could not be happier for me as I was about to enter this new chapter in my life, and how excited she was to have a brother in law.

 

I remember the way that my voice cracked, reciting my vows to my husband, promising him my unconditional love and a lifetime of happiness.

 

I remember the silly look on his face that he had promised me months prior he would make, just so that I would not spend our entire ceremony bawling.

 

I remember hearing the sweet sound of his voice as he read me his vows, promising me a lifetime of laughter and vowing to always keep things young and fresh. For the record, so far he has kept up on his end of the promise!

 

I remember it all, I remember it so well. I remember both of us anxiously waiting to be pronounced husband and wife for the first time, the words we had been waiting to hear for three long years. I remember hearing the cheers of everyone, knowing that they all sincerely shared in our excitement.

 

I remember never being so happy as I was at that moment, on that incredible day, July 12th 2008.

I will always, always remember, as long as I shall live.

Thank you to our friends, for letting us share in such a memorable day. Thank you for helping me to remember. My wish for you is that you will always remember those moments of your special day as well.

On the road again

Cali here we come! :)

Nom nom nom!

 

Rolling over?

Ok so maybe its not rolling over per se, but it looks pretty darn close!! We were playing the other day on her cute little surfer chick tummy time mat, and as she was chomping away on her hand she started to take a tumble. Check it out

 

 

Yum yum!

 

Wait wait wait....this thing moves??

 

What the heck, how did I get on my back mommy??

Once she realized she could now see the ceiling fan in her bedroom (her favorite thing ever, I swear it mesmorizes her!), she was happy as could be being on her back, and mommy was so proud even if it wasnt a true roll.

Hey Grandma and Grandpa, Auntie Bean and Uncle Josey!

I am starting to grow really fast over here, mommy says I change ever day so could you guys please move to Arizona already?? I miss you all sooooo much!

I love you to the moon and back!

Kisses,

O