A *HUGE* Giveaway!!

The Rogue Baby is currently part of a *HUGE* giveaway going on now over at Pink Toes and Hair Bows.

Click the link above to enter. Over 30 fabulous prizes, including a CASH prize!

Beautiful & Currently

The older my daughter gets, the more eloquently she speaks. I love to listen to her talk. Not only because she has such a sweet little voice, but because of the innocence behind the words. While at the ocean recently she told me, "I love the ocean Mama. It's so beautiful." Beautiful is one of her favorite words, but I find it profound that a three year old can appreciate the beauty and awe of the ocean as well!

Because I haven't updated this little blog of mine much as of late, and I'm trying to get back into the groove of things, I decided to do a new "currently." a.k.a. lazy blogger post. Enjoy!

Currently Counting Down To: My new craft room reveal!
Currently Super Proud: Of how much The Rogue Baby has grown since the shop opened 2 years ago.
Currently Broadening: My makeup collection and techniques. Thanks to Ipsy & Julep.
Currently Concluding: that work days in general are a creation of the devil.
Currently Reading: (Nothing! Which is odd for me) I have a laundry list of "to read" books though.
Currently Thinking: About all the things I should be doing instead of this.
Currently My Kids' Favorite Thing: Pink, Princesses, Pirates, our puppy "Dude", the beach, and root beer.
Currently Saving All My Pennies For: A trip to Hawaii!!!
Currently Wanting To Travel To: See above.
Currently Wanting In My Cupboard: Ohhh hmmm, skipped lunch today. Everything sounds good, but my most favorite food --- Chile Rellano --- but it has to be fresh, wouldn't want it in my cupboard.
Currently Wanting To Learn: to knit.
Currently Drooling Over: A new wardrobe in general -- I wanna do some shopping!
Currently Confessing: I fail every time I start a diet or exercise plan and lose hope too easily.
Currently Listening To: The dishwasher running.
Currently Obsessed With: Making my Etsy shop a success.
Currently Addicted To: Pinterest and Candy Crush
Currently Fantasizing About: A Hawaiian vacation.
Currently Sad Because: I would love to be a stay at home Mama.
Currently My Motto: "No fear. No distraction. Let that which does not matter, truly slide."
Currently Dreaming Of: Vacation. Dreaming, fantasizing.. one and the same peeps!
Currently Needing To Update: The look of my blog.
Currently Want To See In My Closet: Lots of new shoes!
Currently Enjoying: My new car (Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland and all it's 390 horsepower glory!!!)
Currently Have A Girl Crush On: Lucy Hale
Currently Shopping: nowhere! but when I do it's usually for my daughter.
Currently Discovered: Recently found eyelash primer -- where has it been all my life?
Currently Redecorating: My craft room and the guest bedroom.

Now that we're all updated, it's time for me to get back on track with this whole blogging thing. I love writing and genuinely miss it!

2013 Wrap Up & a Giveaway

2013 has been a wonderful year for The Rogue Baby! Our little shop has grown leaps and bounds and far exceeded my expectations for how quickly it has grown. Which means I haven't been around here quite as much. Lots of exciting new things have been happening around here, like.....

Our new logo!!!

We're also remodeling my craft room (which actually involves swapping the guest room and craft room out). We'll be putting in all new wood floors, paint, lighting, and cabinetry. I am so excited to share the before and after photos once we're done and can't wait to decorate and put the room together. But for now, here's a sneak peek.

We're also hosting a Fan Appreciation Giveaway. You can go enter HERE

As 2013 is coming to a close, I want to thank all the fans, readers, customers, and supporters who have made this year so successful for us. I truly appreciate each and every one of you!

Reading Time: Children's Book Review: "Candy and the Cankersaur" by Jason Sandberg

My little one loves reading. Whether it be us reading to her or her reading to her toys (which is more a memorization of books we've read to her and her making up the story along the way). She just loves books in general. In fact, this past weekend we even got her a bigger bookcase for her room to accomodate them.

While I've read E-books in the past, I hadn't ever shown her an e-book on the computer or kindle. I had an email in my inbox recently about the opportunity to review a children's book. I love those kind of emails! I really do. Not only because as a blogger you are getting a free or discounted item or sneak peek of something, but because you are usually helping a small business owner, artist, author, etc. who wants to reach the general public with their works. And what better way than reaching real people like you and I?

Needless to say, I was really excited about the opportunity to show my daughter an e-book and after looking at the cover of this one -- I knew she was going to love it!



The book we got to read was "Candy and the Cankersaur" by Jason Sandberg. My daughter made me read it through *twice* before bed. The story is great for reading to a pre-reader and easy enough for younger readers to get through with help. What I appreciated most about the story was there are good values and lessons in the story. Not in a cheesy way, but disguised in to the story. I won't post any spoilers, but I can appreciate when a character realizes the cause and effect of their actions, especially in children's literature!

I only have a daughter -- and I think she loved that the lead character was a girl who has a pet dinosaur, but I think boys and girls alike would love this tale. Recommended age 3-9. I would happily recommend this book to friends, family, and readers with children in this age range.

When I asked my daughter her favorite part, it was simple. "The pictures Mama!" I must add the illustrations are fun!

This book and others by Jason Sandberg can be found here and on Amazon.com, Nook.com, and iTunes.com.

10 Years

I seem to be good at this whole blogging once a month thing. But I have a good excuse this time! I promise.

On September 6th, my husband and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary!!

While I would have loved to visited a tropical locale such as Hawaii during our week vacation, we opted for a less expensive getaway. We visted Pacific City, OR and rented a beach house. It was beautiful weather and we had a great time. Then, when we got home, we did a 72 hour remodel of our master bedroom. We tore out carpet, repainted the walls, replaced the doors and trim, etc. I absolutely love it! Now to find the perfect light fixture.

Let's Talk Makeup.... Mary Kay® Style

Let me start off by saying, I'm pretty much clueless about makeup. I've never really been taught how to apply it. I'm hesitant to try new things sometimes. I have a drawer of makeup that is rarely used, because I bought it, tried it, didn't like it. I love the idea of makeup. So when Influenster gave me the opportunity to try some awesome Mary Kay goodies for free.... I was so excited.

What did I receive you ask? Well, I got:

Mary Kay® Lash Love® Lengthening™ in I ♥ black, Lash Primer, Cream Eye Color in Violet Storm, Cream Eye Color/Concealer Brush and True Dimensions™ lip stick in Pink Cherie



So what was my favorite item you ask? For me, it was something I've probably heard of, but feel like maybe I haven't. And I wonder where it's been all my life. Lash Primer!!!

Mary Kay® Lash Primer ($15.00) and Mary Kay® Lash Love® Lengthening™ in I ♥ black ($15.00) paired together have given me some great results!



Here's me sporting all of my MK goodies (plus a basic powder -- no foundation, cover up, etc.)

I am also a huge fan of the color of the violet storm eyeshadow. I never would have bought a shade of purple eyeshadow on my own but now I am hooked.

Thank you Influenster for giving me the opportunity to try out these fun products. Next on my list to try from MK? Bronzer, BB Cream, and more of the cream eye colors. What's on your MK wish list? What are you favorite brands of makeup? Any other amazing secrets I should know about (like lash primer?)???



I received these products complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster.

29 in 29 Update

Exactly 364 days ago I posted a 29 in 29 post. 29 things to do in my 29th year. I was 28 at the time, but was too close to 29 to get it all done. I turn 30 in October. I wanted to look back and see what I had --- and hadn't accomplished of my 29 to do's. So here goes!

1.) Take our daughter to the zoo. Probably Oregon Zoo, or the one in Seattle.
Done! We went to the Oregon Zoo in June and it was a blast.

2.) Run in a 5k.
Fail 1 -- guess I have 2 1/2 months to check this one off still....

3.) Hit 250 followers on the blog.
Done! Thanks ya'll!

4.) Expand "The Rogue Baby" shop beyond Etsy.
Done! Record sales this month only remind me how awesome my customers are!

5.) Payoff debt. 3 year plan to be debt free baby! Gonna stick to it!
Been doing so good at this and will continue to. Will be virtually debt free in 12 months from now.

6.) Finish our remodel on our house. Cannot wait for the master bedroom redo.
Still a work in progress, but a lot closer than we were.

7.) Go to an IMAX movie.
Not yet. Better get that scheduled.

8.) Go to an Oregon Ducks game.
Not yet. Better get that in the works too.

9.) Reach my goal weight!
Ha ha, let's not go there. I'm no closer today than I was 364 days ago. #Getrearingear

10.) Learn to make eggs benedict.
I haven't done this one yet. I know what I'm making Saturday morning.

11.) Go kayaking more often.
Super fail #2 -- haven't gone once yet since my last post. Lame

12.) Re-learn to sew! So many pinterest projects await my regaining this ability.
This is one epic win for me. I have gotten a lot of use out of my sewing machines. Yes plural. In the past year.

13.) Focus on family time. My daughter will only be this young once.
This is something I can always improve on and will continue to.

14.) Read my bible daily.
I haven't been. I need to.

15.) Put together an emergency preparedness kit. Seriously, been meaning to do that forever and keep procrastinating.
Still haven't. Oh my Mom is gonna kill me if she reads this.

16.) Organize my filing cabinet, ha ha, yeah, this is the least likely to happen of all.
So hasn't happened....

17.) Get my crafting / shop space more functional. Crafting room makeover / overhaul.
I did a couple months ago, and it was awesome for like a week, and since I've had to expand my inventory and crafting area, it's insane. I need an ultimate craft room makeover.

18.) Celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary somewhere special (Sept. 2013)
Oregon Coast in September -- Hawaii in Spring 2014. Check

19.) Buy more shoes! A girl can never have too many.
Oh yes, I totally have!!!

20.) Try brussel sprouts. Weird, right? I've just never tried them. Hear they are awful, but how I can possibly turn 30 not knowing the taste of brussel sprouts!?!?
Still haven't. Time to hit the grocery store for brussel sprouts and eggs benny ingredients.

21.) Read a book from cover to cover. No biggie you say? Well, it is. Since my daughter was born, I have yet to accomplish this.. says the girl who once read all 4 Twilight books in a row in under 72 hours....
Ha.. still haven't.

22.) Take our daughter to see airplanes. She loves "Pair-Planes". I would love to take her to an aviation museum!
Haven't, but plan to in September, so this one will get checked off in time.

23.) Grow a garden. Zucchini, tomatoes, strawberries, etc. Next summer!
Do two tomato plants and a pot of basil count? If so, then yes.

24.) Finally get the windows tinted on my car. Owned it for 3 1/2 years, and each summer I say I will, and I never do.
I totally just did this like 2 weeks ago!!! Yay me!

25.) Take our daughter to see snow this winter. It's something I took for granted growing up in the Northwest, but here, we don't see much of it. Will be a blast to take her to the snow to play.
Didn't do this last winter, but had a bit of snow in our yard she got to see... yeah, this is a fail.

26.) Spend my first night ever away from our daughter. I know, I know, it's gotta happen someday. Cut the cord Mama!!! I think it will be tougher on her than me at this point.
Still haven't. Would you believe it? I have separation anxiety I swear.

27.) Do something drastic with my hair. Warning: this may occur sooner... I am getting very anxious for some change.
Oddly enough... I haven't done anything new to my hair in ages...

28.) Have movie marathon weekends! Star Wars, Back to the Future, The Lord of the Rings, etc. How fun would that be?
We tend to do Netflix marathons... Arrested Development. Walking Dead. Sons of Anarchy. That kinda thing....

29.) Go camping more often!
Fail. That is all.

Guess I should've checked back on this around the 6 month mark, but I'm like half way there. Do I get an A for effort? What do you hope to accomplish in the coming year??

Driving.....

Back in April I took on a new position at work. I not only had to move my office 30 miles away, but I also get to travel a lot. Not the fun kind of First Class flight travel. No, it's hours in my car. I don't mind driving usually, but it's starting to wear on me. Covering the same stretch of freeway gets a bit monotonous.


Dear Mr. Left Lane,
There is a right lane. It's also called the slow lane. They did not pave the left lane just for you. As you might guess the "slow lane" is for those going slower than the rest of traffic. Get your buns over!

Dear Mini Van Driver,
I am pretty sure your owners manual came with the instructions: "You must drive like an a-hole to drive this rig." No offense to those that do drive mini vans and don't drive like jerks. I'm being stereotypical here.... but if the shoe fits.... ;)

Dear Ms. I've Got Places to Be,
Surprise! So does everyone else who anticipated which lane they needed to be in for their exit. Cutting someone off in order to get one car length ahead is ridiculous. You best be glad my brakes are in good working order.

Dear Mr. Bright Idea,
That road sign with the big flashing arrow a half mile back indicating the lane you are in was ending didn't apply to you. We know. You're special. Go ahead and wait until the lane ends and cut someone off. We understand you deserve special treatment and to get somewhere a few minutes faster than everyone else.

Dear Mr. Trucker,
I know, you're on a time schedule, but how about passing another trucker on that nice straight flat stretch a half mile back. No? Ok, pass him on the hill and slow the rest of traffic on the freeway down to 40mph, only to decide it's not worth it, slow down to 30mph to get back behind the same truck. That was 3 minutes well spent.

Dear Out of Towners,
I'm pretty sure English is the language used where you come from, as indicated by your state license plate. That light you were at, where it said, "No turning on red." Yeah, they meant that, because some other people have a green light. You know those people you almost just plowed into. It's ok, you're from out of town. We get it. We should've drawn a picture. Reading is hard!

Dear Tailgater,
I understand you're in a hurry and you want to boogie. That's fine by me. I always enjoy having someone ahead of me speeding faster than me. Less chance of me getting a speeding ticket. I will gladly get right into the slow lane as soon as I pass this slow poke over there on the right. However, when you ride my buns to where I cannot see your headlights or even hood in my rear view, you best bet I'm going to be the most annoying law abiding, drive the exact speed limit citizen there is.

Happy Driving Friends!

A Family of 4

We have a new family member!

Meet Dude! He is our 10 week old French Bulldog / Boston Terrier Mix. Not quite sure if it's a Frenchton or Frenchbo --- seen it both ways. Either way -- he's stinkin' cute. He weighs in at a whopping 6 lbs.


I am new to this whole puppy thing. And the house breaking. And the cleaning up of (as all the dog sites call it) "elimination." Really?

Actually, you'd think with having a three year old, I'd remember the sleepless nights and diaper changes like they were yesterday, but I tell ya what, I've made them a distant memory! Please tell me it gets better? He is so lucky he's so adorable.

And you may ask, Dude? Really? Is that even a dog name? Well, yes. Yes it is. Our puppy got his name, much like our daughter did. Way back when, when we didn't plan on having children, my husband said, "If we ever had a daugther, I would name her Ella." And when we found out we were having a girl, he allowed me to "think" of other names and suggest them briefly, but it all came back to Ella. So a few years back he said, "If we ever get a dog, I want to name him Dude." And while we tossed around some other names. It all came back to Dude.

I personally wanted to name him "Chalka" (think Land of the Lost with Will Ferrell). #dontjudge
We also thought Jack, Ruger, or Winston might have been good fits for him. But at the end of the day, this is our little Dude. I guess I'll get used to it. :)

The Made to Match Challenge

I absolutely love making made to match accessories. It's one of my most favorite creative outlets. I love making one of a kind items that coordinate just right.

This upcoming weekend, my little girl will be wearing three different dresses. The challenge -- to create a hair accessory to match all 3.

Challenge Accepted!




Which one is your favorite? I simply can't decide. Do you have an outfit you'd like to challenge me with? Let me know! I'd love to take it on.

Weekends and To Do Lists....

Hello Friday! I have been missing you... since like... Monday, at 7am when my week began.

I drove like 400 miles yesterday for work. You know, my "real" job. Not that The Rogue Baby isn't real, but it's not quite my day job yet... But maybe, someday. For now, I can dream. And right now, I am exhausted. Waking up on Fridays isn't quite nearly as bad as waking up on a Tuesday. I woke up super happy that it's the nearly the weekend, but then I remembered....

The to do list...

* Invoice co-op items. What is a co-op you say? Well, I am host in an online co-op, where a group of us ladies place one large order together with a supplier to get better deals. Think magic eraser sponges for 10 cents each, etc. Co-Op host is my 3rd job. I know, I'm crazy. And with that job I don't even get paid... I actually make more money from blogging, so technically blogger is my 3rd job, and Co-Op host is my 4th.

* Work on opening some more "make up" buys in our Co-Op. Our co-op ladies love makeup. I am obviously pretty oblivious to make up and fashion, but they entrust me to find them good deals. Which I am good at.

* Go through all of the baby / kid clothes I've been meaning to sell and either list them on Ebay, take them to a consignment store, list them on local sites, etc. They need to be gone. I need to make room for more inventory for The Rogue Baby!!

* Summer headbands and hair clips. I have so many fun new designs to finish, take photos of, and get listed. If only I could just do the creative part and leave the rest up to someone else.

* Get to some of my sewing projects. Ok, it's not a must-do, but... I've spent the money on the fabric and supplies... why not?

* Oh yeah, there is that thing called laundry and "cleaning" my house --- During the week, I just think why bother with a three year old tornado running behind you?

* Family time! Can't forget about spending some quality time together... Maybe taking the little one to the park to play if weather permits... Maybe we'll do some craft projects.

* Finish up the proto-types and get them ready to ship to the photographers / models for The Rogue Baby's new summer items.

* Pull my dead ranunculus' from the flower pot and replace with something less pitiful. They were beautiful a month or so ago, but alas, they are done.

* Febreeze my car. It smells like a brewery. Literally! On my way home last night, I stopped off at a brewery / pub up North to pick up some beer. If you've read here long, you know my husband and I enjoy a good microbrew. So there is this one place up North, where you can only buy their beer there.. not in stores. Not near our home, so when given the opportunity to pick some up. I did. And it spilled while I was driving on the freeway....

* Speaking of my car, my first stop when my weekend officially begins is the gas station... my car is on empty.

* Buy the little one some new "running shoes." Here I thought coming into summer she'd be wearing her flip flops and sandals, but no, this morning, she wanted to wear running shoes, and I realized, she has no tennis shoes at all. Shoe shopping.... Not really a chore, shoe shopping is fun... but it's still a to-do.

* Put away the winter clothes, get the summer clothes out... maybe hang the clothes strewn about the floor of the master closet... if I'm ambitious.

* How can I forget... grocery shopping, dishes, and all things kitchen related. Yeah, all that too....

Maybe, I will enjoy my last few hours here at work... in my quiet office... like a relaxing Sunday afternoon... (what are those?)

What are you up to this weekend??

My legacy...

Inevitably, we all pass on our legacy to our children, and eventually our children's children and so on. My daughter just turned three, and it made me think a bit about my legacy and what I am passing on.

Last night, I discovered I've already been passing on a lot to my sweet baby girl. As I was working on some adorable new headbands last night, she found a box of baby toys in my office / shop / inventory room. She opened it up and said, "Was this mine Mama? From when I was a little baby?" I told her that yes it was, and in order to get new toys we had to get rid of her baby toys. She looked concerned and said, "But I love this. Don't you remember how much I loved this when I was a little tiny baby?"

It made me smile a bit. She's got the same pack rat / emotional attachment to inanimate objects mentality that I do! I am so super sentimental over silly little stuff. And when I think about that, I know exactly where I got it... from my Mama!

What ways are you building your legacy? Anything fun you've discovered in your children recently?

And here is my favorite of the new headbands, just in case you were wondering....

Why I think blogging is like high school....

I had a sort of epiphany last night. Blogging really is a bit like high school. If you let it be.

I don’t have super fond memories of high school. In fact, I’m not proud of a good majority of my actions during those 4 years of my life. To be honest, I wish I had a worse memory…. But I digress.


In the blogging world, like in high school, one day you can feel pretty cool. The next day you can feel totally snubbed and alone. If you focus too much on numbers, and views, and comments, and just plain feeling popular, you won’t enjoy blogging. I know, because I did just that. You can let the drama get to you. You can get wrapped up in it, and just lose the joy.

In my first year of blogging, I tried so hard to be “friends” with “those” bloggers. You know, the ones everyone loves…. The ones who charge big bucks to advertise on their blog. I offered up items for giveaways and would quickly watch my “likes” and “followers” go right back down after the winner was announced. Where’s the fun in that? I wasn't having fun anymore.

I honestly got a little jaded about blogging and maybe I still am a bit. Pardon me here, but when I see a “pin” on Pinterest from one of “those” bloggers for a tutorial my three year old could accomplish with her eyes closed without said tutorial, and then see the stellar response they get for it, it bugs me. Seriously! Then I see other small blogs where the writers are genuine. They put so much work into their posts and no one seems to read it, or comment, or respond. And it makes me think…. Those are the kind of blogs I want to read. My time is valuable – I want to read something heartfelt or informative or humorous.

I had to put blogging into perspective and blog for me. About what I want, when I want. I no longer follow a lot of the “popular” blogs because it just plain annoys me. And I get headaches from rolling my eyes. I kid, I kid, well sort of.

I do follow quite a few still some have a lot of followers and some have just a handful, but they aren’t the blogs filled with blog hops and twitter parties, and fluff.
The best way that blogging is like high school, is that sometimes, you meet some really cool people. And sometimes they are super sweet and write wonderful posts about you, without even telling you… like Jeni did yesterday here.

Isn’t she super sweet? Made my day.

It's Ok....

It's been awhile since I have done one of these posts, but I like them. They are great for days where you just have a ton on your mind, but not one thing worth dedicating an entire post to.

So here we go...

It's ok that I had "Mom Brain" this morning in the shower and wet and rinsed my hair but forgot the ever important "shampoo" process. And failed to realize this slip up until the drive to work. It's a pony tail kinda day. :/

It's ok that I am super excited and want to pack for our mini-vaca (which isn't until the end of next week) already. I am going to try my best to not start packing until at least this weekend.

It's ok that my daughter wants to watch "Monsters Vs. Aliens" tonight as a family and have ice cream and we are totally gonna do it. After dinner of course.

Speaking of, It's ok that my daughter doesn't have a bed time and we never made her cry it out. As a working Mom who also owns a small business from home, I soak up every moment I can get with her. If her falling asleep in my arms cuddling each night is wrong, I don't wanna be right! I don't criticize anyone's parenting choices regarding this kind of thing. Every family dynamic and child is different. I embrace that!

It's ok that I have totally been missing all the fun pregnancy and little baby experiences lately. How could I not. EVERYONE (ok, not quite everyone, but it sure seems like it..) is pregnant or has a newborn. It's ok that I am a little jealous of that. It's also totally ok that I talk myself out of those feelings each time, reminding myself, unless we win Publisher's Clearning House, no more kiddos are in our future. And you know, that's ok.

I'ts ok that I think it's wrong for blogger to capitalize off of tragedies. I have feelings about the events in Boston, but no, I wasn't going to post about them in hopes my blog would come up in a search, or keep my relevancy up. Sometimes, I think it's best to keep silent in wake of tragedy. (Except for in the case that you are or know someone personally involved.) I like to think of blogging as not the same kind of media like the news that secretly loves the tragedies because they mean good ratings... No offense is intended to anyone who did pour their heart out in a post -- I don't know everyone's intentions in their posts, nor did I read them all. I did however read a few that prompted me to feel this way.

It's ok that I honestly haven't read a book cover to cover in over 3 years (i.e. since my daughter was born.) I fully intend to again. Someday.


Ya know what, it's all ok! Happy Thursday! T minus 7 days until Mini-Vaca... but who's counting, right?

Cooking with The Rogue Baby: Thai Chicken Coleslaw

So, it's been awhile since I posted a recipe. Probably because I suck at taking pictures of the ingredients, prep, and finished yumminess. I really do. But this one is so good, I wanted to share it with you anyhow. This is a new favorite in our house and super delicious!

What you will need:

2 or 3 large chicken breasts
1 package coleslaw mix (cabbage, sometimes shredded carrots, etc.)
2 tbsp Rice Vinegar
1 apple
1 tbsp Sesame Oil
2 tbsp Peanut Butter
1 tbsp Cayenne Pepper (more or less depending on how spicy you want it)
1 cup peas ( I use frozen and defrost)
1 red bell pepper
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 cup dry roasted peanuts (crushed)

Start with cooking your chicken. I've tried it a couple ways. First, being boiling frozen chicken then shredding it. Super easy, no prep time. Second would be pan grilling your chicken then cutting it into cubes after it's cooked. Either way, you need to end up with 2 or 3 cups of shredded or cubed cooked chicken.

Next you will work on your sauce. This is the substitute for mayo in traditional cole slaw. You will need to peel and cube the apple first, then in a blender or food processor (I use a Magic Bullet) blend the apple, honey, peanut butter, sesame oil, rice vinegar, cayenne, soy sauce, and 1 tbsn water until it is about apple sauce consistency. In a large bowl, mix your cole slaw mix and the sauce mixture. Set it aside.

Dice your red bell pepper and add it to your coleslaw mix. Then add your peas, chicken, and lastly the cup of peanuts.

It usually tastes best after it's been in the fridge a couple of hours. This is super low calorie. Only about 150 calories per cup, which makes it a great alternative to traditional cole slaw.



And there is the one picture I took along the way... mid-prep. In this variation, I used a second apple and cubed it up and left it in the mix. Told ya I suck at this. Want to know what doesn't suck though???

This recipe.

Shooting Zombies

My baby girl turns three at the end of this month. I've learned so much from her already. But what I've learned the most is this child has one awesome imagination. Oh the stories she will tell me. Awhile back she saw a robot, in a tree, sleeping.... Yeah, I really need to start writing some of this stuff down.

This morning was not particularly unusual. As we're leaving to head to preschool, I uttered the words, "No you cannot bring your gun to school." Totally random right? Well, not in our house, she was "shoot shooting" zombies. Her words, not mine.

Now before you get all "What kind of parent are you?" up in my face.... let me say... we've never allowed her to watch any "zombie" shows or movies. Walking Dead is a show we indulge in only after our little one has gone to bed. But, awhile back, maybe 6 months or so, she got the idea from somewhere... And this kid talks about zombies. Often.



And here we are in the car this morning. Notice the sweet puppy sticker on the barrel of the gun? She's my little goofball. I did not let her bring the "gun" (it's a cap gun for which we've never purchased caps) into school. It had to stay in the car. I'm sure they appreciate that.

Of course, this brings up all new parenting issues to think of. Teaching your little ones to respect guns. Teaching your little ones it's not nice to play shooting games if you "shoot" at people, etc. Teaching your little ones that zombies do not exist.

Unless of course you believe in the zombie apocolypse. In which case... I think we're on the right track!

Goodbyes & Going Back Home

Saying goodbye is the worst. I hate it.

This past week, my Grandmother passed away. I called her Grams. It was tough. I am so happy she wasn't in pain, wasn't suffering, and had a wonderful day with family before she went to sleep. You couldn't ask for a more peaceful way to go. I am selfishly sad that she is not here with us any longer.

When I was a little girl, I was at my Grams and Gramps house, spending the night. And I don't remember why exactly, but I was crying. My Grams looked at me and said, "Please don't cry. It hurts me so badly to see you cry." So that is exactly what I am trying to do right now. Not cry. Grams wouldn't want me to be sad and crying. She'd want me to remember all the good memories. I love and miss her dearly and cannot wait to see her in Paradise!



So we drove the 650+ miles Thursday after work to be with family this past weekend. It's a long drive, but we've done it many times. I wouldn't have missed going up there for anything. The longer I am gone, the less that it feels like "home" there. We were able to spend time with my Mom, my Uncle, my Sister, and Neice and Nephew and other family and call things considered, we had a nice visit. We got up at 4am yesterday to drive back home. Needless to say, I am exhausted.. physically, emotionally, and otherwise. But today, I'm going to do my best not to cry. I love my Grams and will forever be her "Ricki Raccoon."

Help! Too Much Cuteness!

Happy Hump Day!

We have a Fan Photo Contest going on now on our Facebook page and I cannot handle all the cuteness!?!! Do you have a photo of you or your little one(s) in The Rogue Baby gear? If so, get your entries in now.

No you say? Well, I still need your help. Please go here and "like" your favorites. The fan photo with the most votes by April 1st wins a shop credit.



Want to enter your photo? Post them to our Facebook Wall or email them to: RogueBabyBoutique@hotmail.com.

Hello Stranger!

Hello, my name is Ricki and I used to be a blogger. I feel like I have taken a huge hiatus from this little piece of my life. And I wish I had something more exciting to have caused it. But I don't. Life has just happened. I even failed to celebrate my one year blog-iversary. #IamAshamed

I have been blessed with 2013 setting record sales numbers for The Rogue Baby! I appreciate each and every one of those orders that is helping make my little dream a big reality.

Work has been very stressful the past few months, heck... the past year, which will hopefully subside after the official merger and systems conversion next month. Blah!

Our home remodel is slowly chugging along still, with my pantry nearing completion. You have no idea how excited I am for a pantry! Pictures to come soon!

Our baby girl turns 3 next month. And oh yeah, she's been potty trained for quite awhile now. Huge accomplishment and super exciting! I also sewed her a super cute new dress recently.... no pattern. Should I maybe do a tutorial??


My health has been on a roller coaster ride. Rheumatologists, neurologists, my family doctor, pretty sure they all know me by name. Thank goodness for health insurance!

I am counting down the days to our mini-vacation to one of my most favorite places in the world --- The Oregon Coast!

I am proud to announce that TheRogueBaby.com is up and running! It's still in the beginning stages, but it's progress.

I'm going to do my best to not be a stranger anymore, because I kinda like hanging out here!

My Friend Jeni, Anchors Away, & Oatmeal Muffins

So, I have this friend Jeni...

She lives in beautiful Southern Oregon, like me!

She sells me Tupperware. No joke. Super excited to get my pantry organized!

Jeni's visiting the blog today. She submits guest posts when asked to. This is my way of saying, thanks for being awesome Jeni, and not flaking out on your guest post like I did! Be sure to check out her blog and if I ever get my act together, you may see me hanging out over there soon.

Hi you guys - I'm Jeni from over at Anchors Away!

I'm a wife and a mom. In addition to the daily duties both of those (and working full time) holds...I'm on a mission...a mission to lose weight, and gain faith! 

When I'm not counting calories or researching bible verses - I love anything DIY, spending time next to a campfire, and reading magazines in bed. I'm addicted to polka dots and just know that if I were 60 years older, Betty White and I would get along famously. 

I hope you come join me in my journey to get healthy and to build a relationship with God - two things that have both weighed heavily on me for many years!

Being on a diet is hard.

But perhaps the hardest thing for me on my quest of eating healthy, is eating a good breakfast while I'm in the midst of the morning rush.

Gosh knows that every morning a mini-disaster or 7 has to happen as you're running out the door - toddler incident, missing shoes, lack of outfits, and any combination of those are usual in the Q household!

If you're a mom to little ones, an even greater challenge can be getting them to eat a breakfast that packs in more nutritional value than a pop-tart or otherwise.

These little guys are so versatile! Add any toppings you'd like (I'm thinking of experimenting with apple cinnamon, and raisins next go around!), freeze them for storage, pop them in the microwave for a sec (10 seconds or so) and you're good to go!

They were husband, Noah, and Dixon (yes, our dog stole a muffin during this process....but he too approved them!) and pack in some protein for your day while maintaining a low calorie count!

Protein-Packed Oatmeal Goodie Muffins!

Ingredients

• 3 mashed bananas (the riper the better. I'm talkin' black-ish ready-for-banana-bread ripe!)
• 1 cup vanilla Almond milk (you can substitute for skim milk, but I found the vanilla almond milk makes it a tad sweeter!)
• 2 "scoops" protein powder (I used vanilla whey protein powder, but have also substituted for the popular "Body by Vi" powder with equally YUMMY results)
• 2 eggs
• 1 tbsp Baking powder
• 3 cups (240g) Old Fashion or Rolled Oats
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• any "mix-ins" your little heart desires!

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Mix all ingredients except your "mix-ins" and let sit while you prepare the muffin pans.

Spray a muffin pan and/or liners with with non-stick spray.

Stir your"mix-ins" into the oatmeal batter (I separated mine - made 9 chocolate chip, 3 cinnamon/brown sugar, 3 maple/brown sugar this last round)

Divide batter into 15 muffin cups. They should be just about filled.

Bake 20 minutes, you’ll see the edges just starting to brown and they will be firm to the touch.

The muffins may stick when hot but are removed easily when cooled for a bit.

Thanks again Jeni! You are welcome back any time.

Content....

Why is it so hard for people, myself included, to just be content with the blessings they have?

I was lying in bed last night unable to fall asleep and was thinking of all the parts on the house remodel that needed done before we could list it for sale and work on getting our home on acreage. And then I'm lying there thinking, why not just be content with the lovely home we have? If I was, that might mean I'd be a lot more likely to be able to be a SAHM someday. Maybe we could payoff our little debts sooner. Maybe there would be less stress overall, if only we could learn to just be content.

I think it's human nature to want to accomplish and obtain, but to what fault? No matter how much money you make, you always find a way to spend it. You just start buying more expensive versions of the things you already had. Things you'd formerly been content with.

I resolve to consciously try to be more content in all aspects of my life! And grateful for the blessings I have.

I may not have 1000's of followers on this little blog, but each and every one of you are appreciated. I am thankful each and every time someone stops by to comment and say hello. Not to say I don't want to see followers grow, but in less than a year, I'm nearly to 300, and I think that's something to be thankful for! =)

P.S. I'm thinking when we hit 300 there will be a fantastic giveaway. And if we aren't to 300 by the end of next month, heck, I'll do one anyone to celebrate the one year anniversary of my bloggy world.

Three Day Weekends & Weddings

Let me start out by saying.... I love three day weekends. I wish I had them every week. I got to spend yesterday with my baby girl and she hopped up on my lap in the afternoon to cuddle and said, "Mama, are we having a sick day?" So stinking cute, since we'd stayed home sick one day awhile back and I'd told her we were having a sick day. Funny how much they retain and remember at just 2 years old. =)

Here she is about to go out and enjoy the sunshine this weekend. It's been stinkin' cold out, but I am definitely digging all the sunshine we've been having! Did you notice, Mama had to make her a headband to match her winter coat? Yeah, I'm that Mom.

The three day weekend also allowed me to finish up a custom wedding order. I adore custom wedding orders almost as much as I adore three day weekends. Almost. I had a lot of fun on this one and hope to see pictures from event! The flowers are all handmade -- so this bride is getting truly one of a kind hair pieces and garter for her big day. I love getting to be a tiny part of such a special event / day.

I think the apple green and peacock color combo turned out beautiful! I'd never worked with peacock feathers much before, but loved the challenge! And yes, I curled the feathers myself (tutorial coming soon!)

We have some exciting new products I got to work on this weekend that will be reaching our Etsy shop this coming week, so keep your eyes peeled.

Happy Tuesday!

Gotta have Quik-Style!

Since becoming a Mom, I can count the number of times I've been able to take an uninterrupted shower on one hand. My morning routine has changed drastically as well. I went from getting myself ready for work, making one breakfast, and one lunch to getting myself ready for work, getting my daughter dressed (a challenge within itself! If you've read many of my other posts you know what I'm saying!), getting my breakfast and her breakfast made, and packing two lunches.

Now, I suppose I could do what my husband suggests and "just get up earlier." But ya know what? I miss my old friend sleep almost as much as I miss having my eyebrows waxed or at least plucked regularly!

I've tried it all. Shower right before bed. Shower early when daughter is still asleep. Shower after daughter wakes up. Nothing seems to work for us. But a remarkable product came into my life about a week ago. I received a Goody Quik-Style brush in my Holiday Vox Box from Influenster.

"The GOODY® QUIKSTYLE™ Paddle brush works like a towel and brush in one. The super absorbent (and antimicrobial) microfiber removes 30% of water from wet hair to help speed your drying time!" So seriously ladies, I've got some THICK hair. We are talking 20 minutes minimum to get my hair from wet to damp dry. With my Quikstyle, I can go from wet to dry in under 10 minutes.

Seriously #amazeballs stuff going on here. I will be buying another one of these babies very soon! They run about $12.99 at Walgreens, Target, CVS, and Wal-Mart. Money very well spent! I did receive the free brush from influenster but was not paid to write this post. I'm writing it out of sheer love for the brush!

I'm all about efficiency when it comes to my routine, which makes the Quikstyle my favorite new product I've discovered in 2013 thus far.

I'd love to hear any tips you have for getting out the door quicker on Monday mornings --- besides getting up earlier. #nowayjose

It's all about the budget, baby!

Money. Oh what a necessary evil you are.

Finances. Bills. Expenses. Are your palms getting sweaty at the thoughts of those words?

I know the feeling. At just 25 years of age, I filed bankruptcy. No joke, and you know why? Because I had a ridiculous amount of credit card debt that I could not pay back. As embarrassing as that is to admit, I feel my story could help others.

I got my first credit card right when I turned 18. In just one short year, I had over $12,500 in available credit at my disposal and a car payment on a car that kept breaking down. By the time I filed for bankruptcy, the amount had nearly reached $35,000 in credit card debt. I was using credit cards for groceries, gas, medical expenses, car repairs, going out to eat, shopping, etc.

Simply put, I was living beyond my means.

When my bankruptcy was final, it was a relief. Prior to filing I had NEVER had a late payment. I'd been raised to fulfill my promises and live up to my obligations. I stressed each month to make ends meet, but I didn't see the big picture before it was too late.

I now have a much more healthy relationship with money and finances. I can attribute that mostly to limited credit use and sticking to a budget.

Having a family budget doesn't have to be scary! You know what is scary? Not having a budget. Seriously. Credit cards historically have the highest interest rates and highest fees imposed for late payments, going over your balance, and more.

If you are like many parents, by the time you had your children you had perhaps a student loan or two, a car payment, a couple credits, etc. Depending on your exact situation, that pregnancy and delivery might have incurred some major medical expenses for you as well. Now comes the expense of diapers (even if you cloth diaper, the initial cost isn't cheap!), formula or a breast pump (both big expenses!), and oh yeah, all those "things" everyone tells you that you need for your baby.


So how do you go about starting a budget? I started with just a piece of paper and a pencil. I wrote down my monthly net (after taxes / take home) income. Then I wrote down all my fixed expenses like rent, car payment, and auto insurance. Then I wrote down my fluctuating expenses like utilities, minimums on credit cards, and an estimate of what I spend on groceries, gas, etc. Hopefully in the end, that net income is more than your expenses column. With what is left, designate an amount for miscellaneous expenses and an amount for savings.

There are many resources available on the internet for spreadsheets and printables to make your own budget as well. I found the thing that helped me most was to go back through a couple months of bank statements and really see where I was spending my money. Wow, convenience store trips for snacks and energy drinks really added up in my young age!


Do you already feel like there may not be hope? Stuck just paying your minimums? Or you just don't know how to begin the process of paying down existing debt? There are some great calculators out there online, but one great tool I've found is this one over at CareOneCredit.com.

You simply enter the amount you owe, the amount you charge on the card each month, the amount you pay each month, and the interest rate. Then you can see graphs and tables that will tell you how quickly you can pay off that debt. Accelerate your payment amount by $50/month and see how much you can save in interest!

I strongly believe the best way to either stay out or get out of credit card debt is to stay accountable for your purchases and track it with a monthly budget. Don't get discouraged if you stray off course. Just know you may have to trim your budget elsewhere.

What better time to start than NOW? In the NEW YEAR! Do you have any questions about budgeting? Would you like to hear more about budgeting and saving? I'd love to hear your responses, comments, and questions!



I received compensation from Net Focus Media for writing this post.

10 Tips That Could Save Your Life

Are you paranoid? I am. To a fault. I stress and worry. I always think of worst case scenarios. Especially after watching a thriller or suspense movie. Then I don't sleep. For days.

The sad truth of the matter is... in this day in age, you need to be a little paranoid. And you have to be prepared. You don't have to take it to my extremes by any means. #nothealthy.

But here are a few things you can do that may just save your life someday. I've borrowed these from a compilation of FWD's over the years from my Grandma, posts on Facebook and Pinterest, and word of mouth.

1.) This one makes total sense, and I wish I'd thought of it myself. Most cars nowadays have a key fob. That key fob has a panic button. You may not have an alarm on your home, but if you keep your keys on your nightstand at night, you can hit that panic button when in need and certainly will draw attention to your home. Whether it be break in, medical emergency, etc. You may never need it, but it provides a nice little piece of mind.

2.) This one I can vouch for from personal experience. While driving, ALWAYS lock your doors. In 2008, I was driving just a couple blocks from my home when I came to a red light. I was turning right. At the intersection a man who appeared to be homeless / a transient knocked on my window. I was alone, with my purse on the passenger seat, I just shook my head no and hoped the light would turn green soon. He then started to try to open my door and proceeded to kick the side of my car repeatedly. When the light turned green I sped away. Pulled into a parking lot a mile or so away and called the police. They and the several cars behind me at the light did nothing. I was scared beyond belief. I may never know the man's intensions and I hope they were not sinister. But chances are, if someone is trying to force their way into your vehicle, their motives are not pure.

3.) When walking outside alone in daylight or night. Stay off your phone and be aware of your surroundings. Even if just from the grocery store to your car. Don't allow yourself to be distracted. No more walking with your head down texting. You hear me ladies?

4.) Trust your instincts. This is a crazy world we live in. You know the saying "Better safe, than sorry"? Well, in this case, better paranoid, than dead. Some of the most notorious serial killers, i.e. Ted Bundy, were clean cut, decent looking, and seemed educated. If approached by a stranger look them in the eye, let them know you've seen their face, and keep your personal bubble. Try to avoid stair wells when alone if possible.

5.) This sounds like common sense, but regardless of where you live, keep your doors on your home locked while away and while at home. My husband always tells me, if someone wants in badly enough they will break out a window, etc. True, but that window breaking will give you an advantage of warning and many criminals are looking for an easy target!

6.) Don't ever get into the mentality that something bad could never / will never happen to you. Better to have a plan that is never put to use, than none at all. Keep your cell phone charged. Have a strategy in place for family evacuation in case of fire, break in, or some other threat. Where will you meet up? Do you have a disaster kit prepped? Natural disasters and unforseen circumstances can crop up. Having a rubbermaid tote filled with some basic supplies doesn't make you a nut case. It makes you prepared.

7.) Have an exit strategy. It's sad that we have to think about these things, but when in a restaurant, theater, school, place of work. Always try to be aware of the nearest emergency exit. Teach your kids to do so as well.

8.) Coming from a blogger, this one might sound hypocritical... But keep your personal details private. The internet can be a scary place too. When you open yourself up online, you are not just letting your friends know about you, but potential predators as well. Be sure to check your privacy settings on Facebook and other social networking sites often to make sure any of their "updates" haven't exposed your account to any sharing you aren't wanting. For example, when you add a new profile pic on Facebook it will become public automatically UNLESS you choose friends only or otherwise.

9.) As a financial professional, this one has always been encouraged amongst employees. Vary your routine. Do you run alone in your neighborhood every afternoon on the same route? Do you take the same drive to work every day at the same time, parking in the same spot? If someone is watching you they will pick up on this.

10.) Prepare for combat. Carry pepper spray, a whistle, etc. It's ok to take some self defense classes. In fact, I highly recommend it. I have seen some recommendations of having small key chain weapons, like Kubatons. It is an offensive weapon that will be able to deter someone more than just your hands and fists. Simply put, there are defensive and offensive items at your disposal to carry if you desire. Research them. They may give you some peace of mind.


Do you have any additional personal safety or self defense tips you'd like to share? Please comment and let me know. I'd love to work on a follow up post. Knowledge is power my friends!

Please share with anyone you think could use these reminders! Sharing may also save someone else's life as well.

Be safe!!!

The Week of "No's" - Revisited

About 6 months ago, I posted about my week of no's. And I felt compelled to revisit the subject.

I am the Mama of a 2 year old. "No" is an all too familiar word in our home.

Here's the most recent photo of us taken last week. She's getting so big. Almost 3. And I think the terrible 2's have only gotten worse!

This morning, like many others was full of "no's." No, I do not want my shoes on. No, I do not want to help you pick up my breakfast that I just spilled all over the floor. No I will not sit in time out. You get the picture right? I love her dearly though, and 99% of the time, she's a pretty good kid. I might be a little biased, but I digress...

So I decided to take a positive twist on "no". Each day of the week, I'm putting into place a new "no." And here is how it is all laid out...

Monday - No processed foods. This was the start of an attempt to completely eliminate processed foods from my diet, so far doing ok with it. Aside from energy drinks, do those count?

Update: I totally train wrecked this one. Although I did 3 weeks in October of whole foods / non processed, etc. And I felt great, but it was TOUGH.

Tuesday - No internet (at home.) I have to be on it at work....

Update: Totally haven't followed through on this one. With shop orders, listing new items, working on the new website, and a little online shopping, this one is probably the most unrealistic of all.

Wednesday - No TV. Ok, so I probably can't stop my hubby from playing video games. But Wednesday nights will be no tv shows or movies.

Thursday - No spending. Yup, that's right. I challenge myself to a day of no spending. No stopping for coffee, no going out for lunch or running to the grocery store after work for a few last minute things for dinner, etc.

This one is great. I'm working on expanding it to 2 or 3 days a week!

Friday - No chores - no housework. Yup that's right. Friday nights after work will be my night of rest. I've got all weekend to get that stuff done.

Saturday - No watches, clocks, or checking the time. Saturday is family time! No set time for being here or there, or doing this or that. Let the day take us where it may.

Sunday - No beverages - except for water. Sounds harsh, right? But if you knew me, you'd know I drink about 4 ounces of water per week, on a good week.

So there you have it - a week of No's with a positive twist.

This year....

This year....


I will snuggle my daughter more.

I will complain less and appreciate the blessings I have.

I will read more and watch less TV.

I will write more letters.

I will go on more date nights with my hubby.

I will focus more on my health.

I will drink more water.

I will not dwell on the past.

I will laugh more.

I will not only start, but finish, more craft projects.

I will get my store website completed.

I will pamper myself every now and again. My eyebrows desperately need waxed. And I haven't had my nails done in years.

I will save more and spend less, determining needs and wants along the way.

I will focus on what matters and forget about what does not.

This year, I will embrace life and love.

I hope you all had a safe and fun New Year's!