Blog Designs by Fantastique Designs and a huge #blogger Giveaway!

You may have noticed some changes around here recently. 

It's all thanks to Monique of Fantastique Designs! Isn't the transformation pretty awesome?!

Working with Monique has been an absolute pleasure. The process is easy, she's super accommodating and somehow had a way of figuring out what I was looking for in a new look. From start to finish, I began with a blah-blog to a wow-blog in about 2 weeks time.  You fill out a questionnaire that helps her get an idea of what you are looking for. Be sure to give her links of other blogs that you like and tell her about what elements from it you would like to see on yours. Each step of the way Monique comes up with several options and variations of your design, with specific questions on what you like and don't like. Feel free to pick and choose elements from each design that you like and she weaves it all together in the end.

Then the day comes where she says "Ok, I've got it done - when are you available to let me in your blog?"

That was seriously my favorite part of the whole process - the anticipation of seeing my new design on my site and being so excited to share it with my readers :)

A little bit about Monique and her business:

Monique is a homeschooling mama to 2 boys and a little princess.  She's been homeschooling for 6 years and has enjoyed every minute of it (well most of it). She is a SAHM who desires to support her curriculum purchases by  creating a unique space  on the internet for other mothers. Blog design is her creative outlet and lets her make other mamas happy as well. She can design Blogger, Wordpress blogs and websites and can be found blogging about homeschooling at Living Life and Learning.

Between now and December 2, 2013 Monique is offering $20 off all custom blog design orders! Fill out her getting started questionnaire by that date in order to obtain the discount.

Monique would love to transform your blog too! She is offering 2 bloggers the awesome chance to breathe some new life into their website with 2 awesome prize packages.

*Note: Wordpress sites must be self-hosted, not the free version.

This giveaway has ended. Thank you to everyone who entered!

Are you interested in having your product, service or business featured on The Pierogie Mama? Contact me here.

Pssst, leave a comment with your blog link 

so that I can come visit you :)

Disclosure: I received services in exchange for this review and giveaway, though all opinions are my own.

Our Babymoon at Sleeping Lady in Leavenworth

Have you ever heard of a "babymoon"?

Babymoons are becoming the latest craze in the expectant parenting world. It's a time where you and your co-parent whisk yourselves away for a period of reflection, preparation and dare I say .. a last hurrah .. before your little one arrives.

Our first babymoon, while I was pregnant with Penelope, was pretty over the top and extravagant. We took a 7 day cruise from Barcelona, Spain along the western coast of Italy. Yea. Back then we were "DINKYs" (for you non-demographics majors, that's "double income no kids yet") and had a bunch of airmiles to burn.

This time around our wants have changed. Traveling to Europe with an almost 2 year old isn't really our cup of tea, and leaving her in the States when we've yet to take a night away from her just wasn't going to happen. Instead we took a look at our options locally, because hey - Washington State is where people come for vacation too!

One of the top vacation destination spots in Washington is the quaint town of Leavenworth. It hosts a number of festivals throughout the year and is best known for its Bavarian flair with some seriously legit eateries. We headed to Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort , which is right outside of town on Icicle Road.

I immediately knew this was the retreat I was looking for. I wanted a weekend getaway with the hubs to relax, reconnect and simply pretend like we were those globetrotting DINKYs again. I got exactly what I was looking for!

 

Before dinner we took a walk around their 70 acre resort; not the whole thing of course! Throughout the trails that meander the property you can find sculptures, walk through some of the lodges (some of which are original from the barracks and buildings when the area was "Camp Icicle" in the 1930's and 1940's), read in their library or have a drink at The Grotto. 

What we were really excited about was dinner.

Breakfast and dinner are served at the Kingfisher Restaurant and Magpie Wine Bar. Food is served buffet style - which I wasn't really quite sure what to expect, but ... you guys. You guys. Listen to me. The. Most. Delicious. Food. Ever. #preggyhappy. This isn't your typical buffet bar. Each and every bite of food, from the leaves in your salad to the halibut or beef loin for your entree is hand picked with care. The greens come from their own 2 acre organic garden. Everything else is locally sourced and also mostly organic. Dining out has become a luxury to me, not only as a parent of a toddler but also as a smart-with-our-money single income family. So getting the opportunity to eat this truly handcrafted meal got high marks from me!

Our sweet server even brought us a special dessert plate when she heard we were celebrating our 2nd babymoon - she thought it was really cute! :)

But I'm not going to lie to you guys - it was a buffet, and yes - I went back for more dessert.During my first pregnancy, I earned the nickname "Two Dessert Bianca." This time around I graduated to "Three Dessert Bianca."  Does that mean for the 3rd baby I get to have four desserts??! Can I opt for twins? The best part was simply getting to sit for two hours with my best friend and talk about whatever. 

The next morning, when we woke up at our leisure because it was Daylight Savings Time and our toddler was someone else's problem (thanks Grandma and Grandpa!), we sauntered back to KingFisher for breakfast. Again, every morsel was delicious and I wished that I could just sit there all day.

But I couldn't sit there all day, nor would I want to, because I had an appointment at the Aspen Leaf Spa for an Earth Mother Pregnancy Massage. Using a special blend of essential oils that smelled like orange blossom and lavender, my therapist relaxed me into a pile of bliss. Even Ruby, who had spent the last 12 hours bouncing around in happiness from the delicious food at KingFisher, quieted down and relaxed with mama.

We ended up with a few extra hours and walked around downtown Leavenworth. We treated ourselves to a cheese plate and beer from Icicle Brewing Company and 1 1/2 pounds of fudge..

But the best part.. coming home to our sweet miss. We picked up a stuffed kangaroo from the famous Australian store, as her favorite book lately has been Pouch! by David Ezra Stein. She was named "Hop Hop" as soon as we walked in the door.

Did you take a babymoon? 

Check out 
Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort in Leavenworth, WA // 
keep in touch on Facebook 

Disclosure: Thank you, Sleeping Lady, for hosting my babymoon through accommodation, meals and

 massage. All opinions are my own, though I wouldn't recommend this amazing resort if I didn't wholeheartedly believe you would love it too!

Welcome to my Blog-Warming Party!

Welcome to The Pierogie Mama's new home - like what you see?

I cannot thank Monique from Fantastique Designs enough - but I'll be sharing more about her in a few days (bloggers - there's a HUGE giveaway in store for you!).

So grab yourself a cup of your favorite tea (you'll find Earl Grey, a slice of lemon and a spoonful of honey at my table these days) and take a look around. While you're perusing, here are some of my favorite posts. Don't forget to leave a little note - I'd be happy to 'meet' you :)

Uhm, Why Pierogie?

Our 4th of July Anniversary Stay-cation

Romeo, my healing dog

Penny is 6 months old

Crockpot Applesauce Recipe

How to Buy Used Cloth Diapers

A Story About chocolate, Chocolat, an Unfulfilled Promise & Quality Time with Pops

The Maternity Sash

The Pierogie Mama's Strawberry Pierogies

Bed Sharing

The Best Anniversary Gift Ever: Our Pierogie #2

The Gender Reveal Party

Yummy sandwiches in a "JIF"

 I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Jif. 

I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Lately grilled sandwiches have been my thing. Grilled cheese + tomato soup is always a great standby, but something about this pregnant belly of mine craves all sorts of grilled, buttery, crispy goodnesses.

A current favorite? A grilled Jif Hazelnut spread sandwich with sliced strawberries. Can hazelnut, chocolate and strawberries be a more perfect combination or what?!

Did you know that Jif Peanut Butter holds an annual Most Creative Sandwich Contest every year? If your household has a kids between the ages of 6-12 you can submit your original sandwich recipe (has to include two tablespoons of your favorite Jif products) and you can have a chance to win a $25,000 college fund and a trip to New York City! Be sure to read more about the Jif Most Creative Sandwich contest. Last year's Tropical Fantasy runner up sandwich is on my to-do list ASAP. 

What are your favorite Jif products to use in a sandwich or for lunch?

Disclosure:  I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Jif. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

The Pierogie Babies: 23 weeks & 20 months

Miss Ruby has been doing a ton of flips, somersaults & last night bumped Daddy's hand hard enough for it to visibly move.

Miss Penny is hard at work in preparing to be an older sis. She loves swaddling her frog "Buddy" nice and tight, puts him to sleep throughout the day. She can also recognize each letter of the alphabet and say most of them too! 

This past weekend we took our "babymoon" and had our first overnight stay away from Penny. We left her in the capable hands of her paternal grandparents and we knew she'd be just fine. More about that to come - I've got a lot to share with you guys about that trip!