::domestic goddess::

January Blues.

2012-01-22T09:53:00.000-06:00

I usually feel the blues set in right along with the short, gloomy days, and terrible cold. As I'm shivering, trying desperately to get warm, I'm also realizing how hard it is to be motivated with my fitness when I have very little time, when it's dark and freezing in the garage (where the treadmill is), and when the TV has been taken over by one creature boy in the house.

I feel so cold and then I feel so hungry and it becomes this cycle of boredom sets in, EAT. Eat, feel guilty and mushy and flabby. Boredom again, EAT. Wash, rinse, repeat.

As I'm trying desperately to get my head right and in the game, forgive my doom and gloom.

How do you make yourself feel better in these gloomy months? Any tips for me?

shrimp scampi pasta?

2012-01-07T13:51:00.001-06:00

Work nights mean I'm ALL about the easiest but tastiest meal I can whip together in the least amount of time. It's been such a hard adjustment this year to figure out how to still being domestically amazing and a mama who works outside the house. I've probably failed colossally, but hey, let's just keep that on the down low.

Coming home from a long day of work with a stack of papers in my bag that still need grading does not an eager cook make. Therefore, most of our meals lately have been tried and true recipes.

However, the other night, we had some shrimp hanging out in our fridge, leftover from snacks on New Years. My mind started working and I tossed together a "shrimp scampi style" pasta.

Shrimp Scampi Pasta

1 lb. shrimp, peeled, divined, all that good stuff

16 oz. spaghetti, cooked

Butter

Garlic

Pepper

Parsley

Dill

In a large pan, melt the butter. Toss the garlic in and let cook for about 3-5 minutes. Add the shrimp and spices, with the exception of the parsley, and let cook until the shrimp are pink and curling, about 8 minutes. Toss in the pasta. Add additional butter or salt if necessary. Toss with the parsley. Easy as it sounds and delicious as well.

so long, 2011.

2011-12-31T10:16:00.000-06:00

I can't believe that 2011 is already coming to an end and ushering in 2012. It's been a great year, full of changes: new jobs, new experiences, lots of love and books and food and time together.

Looking forward to a 2012 full of love, happiness, and togetherness.

things i love thursday.

2011-12-29T08:28:00.001-06:00

I've been getting my Zumba on, thanks to a Christmas gift from my sister! Seriously, love it. It's so much fun, I work up a sweat like crazy doing only a 20 minute class, and it flies by. Doesn't even feel like a workout, to be honest and I know that for me, not feeling like a workout can be important on my lazy days!

If you would have told me last year that I would spend so much of this year indulging in historical fiction, I would have laughed at you. Ever since the most boring history classes in both high school and college, I thought, "Oh my, history is so boring." But now? Discovering historical fiction and as a result, reading more historical nonfiction? Love it. I think it was just the droning on of my teachers that lead to a false representation about how stinkin' awesome history can be. A little enthusiasm goes a long way!

The minute I get home from work, the dress clothes are off and sweats or pajamas are on my body, sports bra, and a tank or t shirt. These are the most comfortable bras ever. Seriously! And unlike a lot of sports bras, they do make my boobs look great (hey, just keeping it real!). I love the lace bandeaus as well, because I can wear them under work tops for a different look and to prevent too much cleavage!

Finally, what could be better this chilly Thursday morning than cuddles? I've spent so much time this holiday, cuddling my boys (all three of them) and loving every minute.

super easy and super delicious

2011-12-27T08:55:00.000-06:00

I ran out of coffee creamer this morning. I was mortified and terrified about what the lack of caffeine on such an early day (thanks, Adrian!) would mean for the day.

Frantically, I scrambled in the kitchen and at times, lost hope. Then I tasted my creation and felt bursts of joy.

Pumpkin Spice Coffee

Fresh hot coffee
Milk
Pumpkin Pie Spice (About a tbsp)
Tsp of sugar (Add more to taste)

In a sauce pan, add the milk, pumpkin pie spice, and sugar. On very low heat, mix. Slowly add in your coffee to get it mixed and the flavors meshed for a few minutes. Pour back into your cup, sit back, and think, "Who needs creamer anyway?"

Is this thing on?

2011-12-26T10:08:00.000-06:00

Is it really December 26? Life has been passing by in a blur of equally amazing and stressful days. Things have been full of all the excitement of the holidays, whirlwind of the end of the semester, and exhaustion that usually sets in along with my tendency to hibernate.

But instead of hibernating, I've been busy dropping pans of Oreo truffles on the floor (sob), watching two very cute boys love every minute of this season, and being goofy with family.

2011 has been an insane year, full of changes and surprises, ups and downs. I'm excited to see what challenges that 2012 ushers in.

From my family to yours, Happy Holidays.

the most divine cornbread ever.

2011-10-10T12:00:00.016-05:00

For some reason, I've seriously struggled with perfecting my cornbread. It would either come out too mealy and crumbly or just not with the right cornbread taste that I needed in my life.

Thankfully, that problem is no longer an issue. I found the most delicious cornbread ever. I could probably feast on nothing but this cornbread for a meal and be absolutely happy about it.

Best Cornbread You'll Ever Eat

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
2/3 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray or lightly grease a 9 inch round cake pan. In a large bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder. Stir in egg, milk and vegetable oil until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Eat with a gob of butter, clog your arteries, and feel perfect.

spicy corn chowder.

2011-10-09T12:16:00.000-05:00

I love soups and chowders entirely too much. Truly, if it wasn't for the fact that it's unseasonably warm this weekend, we'd be chowing on some soup. While I don't mind soup when it's warm, heads would roll, so carnitas it is.

However, about three weeks ago, it was deliciously cool and fall.

Spicy Corn Chowder

2 c. chicken broth
2 c. frozen corn
2 tomatoes, chopped
1/2 c. bell peppers, diced
1/4 red onion, diced
1/4 c. milk
1 tbsp. canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped finely
2 tsp. garlic
Salt & pepper to taste
1/3 c. potato flakes
1/8 c. sour cream

Toss everything except for the potato flakes and sour cream in your crock pot and let it cook all day. About 30-45 minutes before you are ready to serve this, toss in the sour cream and potato flakes and whip up some absolute divine corn bread. Serve with sliced avocado on top if you love it like I do.

Seriously, it was slightly spicy, and perfect with the most divine corn bread I've ever made (and will post that recipe tomorrow!). Some people aren't into the processed stuff in this recipe, like the potato flakes, but-- it was a great way to use things that I had no idea how I ended up with in my pantry and it was easy peasy. A great way to have dinner almost ready to chow when you get home from work after a long day.

time keeps on slippin'...

2011-10-08T16:44:00.000-05:00

it slips right out of my finger tips. I keep wondering, "how is it October already?" I'm watching time pass us by and I'm reaching my hands out, desperately trying to grasp on to something, anything.

Hours are packed full of things to do. Things that I want to do pretty much no longer exist. Books that I once would read in a day have been taking weeks. Dinners have been easier and faster or crock pot meals if I want to cook.

I keep waiting to adjust or find my groove but I'm still searching. In the meantime, my patience at home is thin, which makes me angry at myself. Time for myself is non-existent, which makes me sad for myself.

Watching my boys grow and trying to figure out where time has gone. How do you make it slow down? How do you get back into your groove?

goodbye, summer. it's been great.

2011-09-10T09:09:00.000-05:00

I cannot wrap my head around the fact that it is September. I've been MIA-- getting back into the swing of things is so hard.

I went back to work in the middle of August, and since then, I've been flailing around, trying to figure out how to juggle all the things that I need to do for my classes and students and all the things I need to do for my own babies and home. It's hard and an adjustment, so I just kind of went into survival mode. I'm not quite there yet and I think it will take this entire year to get it all figured out, but it's a process.

To wrap up the end of our summer before my big boy started school again (first grade!), we took our boys to Key Lime Cove to end on a family togetherness note.

Our boys were ecstatic when we got to our room. They hopped up on the bed that they proclaimed as theirs and as patiently as they could, waited for us to find the swim suits and head down the the water park.

Our stay was truly a great time for the boys. There is a lot to do there, with eating out, exploring the "boardwalk" with the stores and various things. There is a kids area that they can hang out, watch movies, play toys, and do other planned crafts and activities. Not to mention, the arcade and the water park. We truly spent the majority of our time in the water. The staff was great, and very friendly. The food prices are similar to any eatery and while we only ate out for dinner, we were able to treat ourselves to ice cream and other things without breaking the bank.

It was the best way our boys could have possibly imagined to end their summer. We kept the cat in the bag the whole time we were planning and just told the boys we had to run some errands. The surprise on their faces when we pulled up to Key Lime Cove was truly amazing.

In exchange for this blog post, we did receive discounted stay at Key Lime Cove. We were thrilled to be extended the discount, but truly, have gone before and paid full price and would again.

things i love thursday.

2011-08-04T08:12:00.002-05:00

Iced coffee is serious perfection right now. In general, I just absolutely love coffee. Love it, can't get enough of it, drink way too much of it. But I have this Keurig iced coffee tumbler and it just elevated the ease in drinking coffee even more, as I can drink my delicious icyness with me with ease.

Yes, I truly love coupons. I'm not a crazy coupon lady (and if you are, you totally rock) simply because I just don't have the time needed to devote to loading up stock piles and other really awesome but equally (slightly) crazy coupon tricks. But I definitely search for coupons, shop sales, and use as many coupons as I can. I only really use coupons for things I was going to buy anyway, so if I can get a bargain? I'm on it.

I have a huge... HUGE HUGE HUGE... pile of books that are staring at me right now. There are textbooks that need lesson plans written, there are library books that I checked out last week, there are personal books that I own that I want to read. And that doesn't include the books I have waiting for pick up at the library (I broke their hold list! I cannot request any more right now; I have so many requested), the huge bookshelf in my closet that has double rows of books that I own to read, or all of the hundreds of books on my Kindle. I have a book problem. A serious one.

New running shoes! Finally. I purchased a shoebuy.com groupon a week or two ago and was hoping to get score a good deal on running shoes. Even better, I paid $20 for the groupon PLUS a whopping $0.45 cents for the balance on these shoes. They are super cute (in my humble opinion) and oh they are so comfortable, like walking on air. Love them!

Sweet, sleeping little cuddlebugs. They sleep in the same bed right now, as we are trying to get them out of ours, but... it hasn't quite been working. In the middle of the night, child 1 will sneak from their bed and slide into our room, followed a few minutes later by child 2. Before we know it, they've taken over our bed and we wake up with a crick in our necks. I've landed in the toddler bed that you see in the picture (I'm having a hard time parting with it, okay! don't judge.) and I promise I'm not exaggerating. These kids have some massively strong karate chops in their nighttime thrashing.

I've finally done it--- found the world's most perfect jean, that is affordable and makes my butt look absolutely amazing. Seriously. Old Navy's Skinny Mini Flares seriously made my butt look divine. I couldn't count the number of compliments (and trashy whistles out the passenger side window!) that I got when I wore these pants for the first time.

What do you love this Thursday?

July... oh wait, August already?!

2011-08-03T08:29:00.000-05:00

I'm absolutely floored that it's already August. Do you think if I refuse to change my calendar, we can remain in sweet July for the next couple of months? I'm overwhelmed with back to school plans, plans returning to work outside the house, housekeeping, house remodeling that is screeching to a halt for some reason, and just a plethora of "to dos" that refuse to move to "done". No, that's totally not my fault either.

I'm slightly heartbroken at the fact that these two gorgeous faces will not be home with me every day anymore and since I've worked from home since Adrian was an infant, I'm slightly petrified how he is going to adjust. Somehow I have a feeling that I will take it a bit harder, since I was sobbing in the car yesterday.

Isn't that the measure of being a mommy? Sacrifice-- time with our children, time with our spouses, time for yourself, time to do all of the "to dos" on your list for one more game of Candy Land and just one more book and cuddle before bed?

I'm just not ready for August. I knew it was going to get here (and fast) but somehow, I'm still not ready.

tasty tuesday

2011-07-26T08:37:00.000-05:00

Tuesday and I are best buds. I typically hate Mondays-- the weekend is over, I'm exhausted, and there's so much "stuff" to catch up on, from housework and laundry from the weekend to just the return of the work week and other exhausting stuff.

But Tuesdays and I have a love affair going on. I feel energized on Tuesday, and I have accomplished so much on Monday that Tuesdays are a day of relaxation and love. Even better for some tasty Tuesday dinners! You should make this.

Growing up, my absolute favorite thing in the world to eat was cheesy broccoli and chicken casserole. But I was the only one in the house who liked it, so out of principle, my mom typically didn't make it, except on special occasions. I still love it, but the combination of the gloopy cream of soups and the jar of cheese... well, knowing what I know about food and health and all that doesn't send me rushing to the kitchen to replicate it.

Until I had no idea what to make for dinner and started just assembling. You'll love this, I promise!

cheesy chicken, broccoli, and quinoa casserole

2 cups cooked quinoa

Cooked shredded chicken, I used about 2.5 thighs-- use as much or as little as you'd like

Chicken broth

3 c. cooked broccoli

1/4 c chopped green onion

~ 4-5 tsp flour

2 c. milk

1/3 c. sour cream

~12-16 oz cheese-- I used cheddar and colby jack. You can use whatever!

1 tsp. dill

1/2 tsp. garlic salt

1 tsp. pepper

1/4 tsp. cumin

Spray a 11 x 13 in pan with cooking spray. Mix up your quinoa, chicken, broccoli, and onion. In a large saucepan, whisk flour and milk, adding milk gradually, until smooth. Add cheese (leave about 1/4 of the cheese for the top!) and sour cream, as well as seasonings and mix until smooth and creamy. Add delicious sauce to your quinoa mixture and spread in pan. Top with the remaining cheese and bake for about 15-20 minutes on 350, broiling the last few minutes for a nice golden brown cheesy crisp on top.

This is a nice alternative to the processed version of my favorite. You can skip the chicken and serve this as a delicious side dish.

not my baby anymore!

2011-07-20T07:55:00.000-05:00

My little turned 3 on Monday and for the first time, I've looked at him and thought, "Oh no, he's not a baby anymore."

I'm pretty positive that this is the first time that I've thought back to his baby days and wanted them back. Don't get me wrong, I love every moment of every day in these little boy adventures that we have, but my uterus may have just twinged for the first time and wanted him to hop back in and restart.

He's getting to be so big and independent, but since day one, he's been mama's boy all the way. Bedtime, bath time, sick time, sad time, happy times: he's wanted mama for all of them. So the thought of losing this really special connection that we have has been breaking my heart the slightest bit.

But in the meantime, I'm going to relish all these new 3 year old moments, complete with 3 year old attitude, and just savor this time, this now and remember these moments forever.

Wordless Wednesday.

2011-07-13T07:09:00.000-05:00

Going round and round, with two of my best guys at my side and the other behind the lens.

Pictures like this remind me to keep putting one foot in front of the other, on those days when you want to curl up into bed and lock yourself away.

Happy Wednesday!

summer dinners.

2011-07-12T09:43:00.005-05:00

these days, i'm lucky that i actually manage to make it to the kitchen to cook. needless to say, my meals have been repeats of: grilled chicken, pasta salads, grilled burgers, grilled veggies-- see a theme? it's hotter than hot outside (at 9 am, it's 84 degrees outside) and I just don't want to cook with that blazing sun in my kitchen.

but the monsters and the belly gets restless of the same ole' routine, so when a friend linked up this delicious recipe, my curiosity was peaked. Operation: Find a local store that sells quinoa was a bust. So I went to the next step and ordered it online.

Make these. Everyone in your house will love them (and you) and you will be full and happy.

Quinoa Patties

Recipe adapted from Eating Well... Living Thin

2 c cooked quinoa

1 c shredded cheese (I used a mix of colby, cheddar, and mozzarella)

1 carrot, grated

3 eggs

3 tbsp flour

~ 1/3 red onion, chopped finely

1/4 tsp cumin

1 tsp dill

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp garlic salt

Oil for frying

1/2 c sour cream

In a big bowl, combine all ingredients except for oil. Mix well. Form into patties, using about 1/4 . c. of the mixture for each patty. Heat oil for frying. Fry each side about 3-5 minutes, until golden brown. Serve as a patty with a dip (we used BBQ; the recipe recommends tzatziki sauce, which I bet would be divine, just didn't have the ingredients!), serve on a bun to trick your kids, serve on a lettuce bed. Seriously would be divine any way you eat it.

Don't doubt me. Just make it. Even my husband was turning up his nose when he walked into the kitchen after work and he may or may not have had thirds.

ah, the sweet cacophony of tantrums.

2011-07-09T09:22:00.004-05:00

I know, look at this sweet face.

Terrible twos have absolutely nothing on torturous threes... well, technically 2.95 years, but seriously.

Lately, you'd swear I was a yoga goddess or possibly a member of the choir, because deep breathing and humming scales is what is keeping my head firmly attached, without standing up and screaming ALRIGHT ALREADY (Adam Sandler style).

If you've never had the pleasure of experiencing the never ending temper tantrum (topic of said tantrum is very flexible), then I want to be you.

But because I'm clearly losing at this mommy thing, let me give you some tips on what not to do:

1. When child begins tantrum, don't assume that the tantrum will eventually taper out. As my neighbors now are aware, my child can scream and cry for days. Good thing I never tried crying it out, I can only imagine it would have been a disaster.

2. When laughing at your child (because really, what's the alternative?), don't assume that they'll abandon their mission and jump ship. For some reason, the giggles at how ridiculous they look as they roll around on their floor with their banshee screams are just not as funny for them. Hm, ain't that something?

3. Finally, bribes don't work. Hold strong in your reserve. I mean, after all, they'll lose their voice sooner or later, right?

In all seriousness, how do you handle tantrums? After attempting sweetness and love, the knock it out of their memory with distraction, and laughter, I've just realized that while ignoring them doesn't make it stop, it's all I can do for my own sanity. And believe me, there is only the tiniest amount of sanity remaining within... I need to reserve it.

hip, hip, hooray

2011-07-05T20:38:00.006-05:00

A crazy week, full of busy days.

Full of fireworks...

Beach days

Splashing and laughing and hugs.

Movies and breakfast and sleeping and cuddles.

Perfect week for a holiday. I hope you and yours had an amazing 4th of July.

summer reading!

2011-06-24T07:04:00.002-05:00

Summer means local summer reading programs for the kids and I. We love participating in the events at our local library. But believe it or not, it's been so hard to find time to read lately, short of locking myself in the bathroom and pretending that it's dire straits.

My favorite part about reading in the summer is that I feel a lot more inclined to read light, easy reads. Don't get me wrong: I'm all about tackling the newest, most thought provoking books and classics and literary genius. But sometimes? You need a good, cheesy, so dramalicious you can't put it down book.

If you're looking for a similar beach style read, I definitely recommend Heat Wave by Nancy Thayer. It's a love mixed with drama book about relationships, survival, and friendships. Really easy read and I just got caught up in the characters.

And how about a series? After reading (and loving) The Hunger Games series, I realized that I really need to force myself out of these typical genres so much and try new things. I picked up The Last Survivors series (Life As We Knew It, The Dead and The Gone, and The World We Live In) by Susan Beth Pfeiffer and really loved them. I flew through them. The series follows two teenagers points of views as a major catastrophe strikes earth and changes everything about the world.

So what's on your summer reading must read list? I'm currently reading A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan and have a long request list at the library. Now, to find time to actually read!

it's the little things.

2011-06-23T09:03:00.006-05:00

I mentioned that J was on vacation last week. We collectively decided that going anywhere for vacation just wasn't in the cards (bummer), but nonetheless, it was just perfect doing things here and there with the boys and relaxing together. It's easy to forget how much you miss someone's everyday presence when it doesn't happen!

We watched the boys play, played basketball, went to the park... of course, when the weather cooperated.

Took our littles to the zoo, the batting cages, for walks... laid in bed and napped and played video games.

Serious absolute staycation perfect. Unfortunately, this week is back to reality. Hubby is back at work, one child is sick, and the other is in temper tantrum mode. But that beautiful kick off to our summer made everything just right.

uninspired, unmotivated, undeniably

2011-06-21T07:29:00.005-05:00

Hi friends!

I've been pretty lackluster in the kitchen lately. Between the heat really encouraging me to shut off the oven and grill and just the lack of motivation to really do something different, most of my meals lately have been the same variations of different things: easy, chicken, or easy and chicken.

One of my creative successes has been both easy and chicken, and even better, it utilized leftovers. Win win for me!

Black Bean Chicken Quesadillas

Leftover chicken, chopped in small pieces

1 large can organic black beans (or not organic, whatever floats your boat)

1 small can green chilis

Onion, chopped

Shredded cheese

Tortillas: any kind works, I used large flour burrito tortillas

Heat up your black beans. Toss them in your food processor with the onions and chiles, pulse for a few minutes until the desired consistency. Place a row of flour tortillas on a cookie sheet. Layer: cheese, beans, chicken, cheese, then top with another tortilla. Toss in the oven for about 15 minutes, flip over and cook for another 5-10 minutes.

Serve with sour cream, guacamole, or salsa. So delicious and hearty, but especially easy.

summer summer summertime!

2011-06-16T07:15:00.002-05:00

and so it begins!

summer break, that is. which explains my very neglected and quiet blog here. I'm still trying to juggle having both boys home and very much under my feet. I know that eventually, we'll all adapt, but that will probably be in August, about a week before school is due to head back in session. I'm just absolutely frazzled, I even forgot to pick up my boy's report card yesterday! Oops.

You see, my little and I had an amazing schedule throughout the weekdays of the school year. we woke up and got things done, then he'd take a nice nap around 12ish for about two hours. But on the weekends, when life was clearly more exciting and daddy and brother were home, sleep was not an option in the event that he was going to miss something.

unfortunately, that weekend mentality is translating to our summer break. Now, mama is exhausted, juggling an early morning work schedule, fitting in time for my other job, feeding, breaking up fights. Oh yeah, and let's not forget those pesky things like trying to shower and exercise (not that I would ever neglect those very important things).

so in the meantime, the blog might be a bit quieter than usual. Bare with me! I know that I'll adapt soon.

Does summer throw off your schedule at all? Even when we are adapted, the later bedtime is always happening, as we take advantage of more of the sunshine.

on running.

2011-06-08T07:16:00.002-05:00

I'm not a runner. I've never been a runner. When I was in school (elementary, middle, AND high), I was kinda this cute, chubby little thing who could barely pant past the 50 yard dash. When it was time for gym fitness tests to roll around, I was usually the last one to finish the mile in something like 30 minutes.

It's okay to laugh. I laugh too.

So in the past two years, when I've noticed this desire to suddenly become a runner, I'm like LOL OKAY, setting yourself up for disappointment here.

I haven't done much with consistency in the way of training though. Life gets in the way, kids get in the (very literal) way. Time really gets in the way.

I've tried Couch to 5K (still working on it) and tried just going with the flow. I don't know what is going to work for me. I don't know if I'll ever be a runner. But the other day, I ran two miles in 24 minutes, and I ran them straight through, with maybe a minute or two of walking in there, because my knee was killing.

I was so proud I promptly texted my hubs a picture of the treadmill read out and said something like IN YO FACE (or maybe not... details get fuzzy in my post run bliss). And then later that day, I churned out another 1.45 miles.

I can't begin to describe what accomplishing something so minimal to most people did for my self esteem. Seriously. It only took 26 years of my life for me to be able to run a mile.

I accomplished it. I did that. So the next time I'm having an off day and feeling so low in my self worth, I can reach in my arsenal and pull that one out.

What helps you feel better about yourself on those low days? Are you a runner/ do you enjoy running? Tips, tricks, and bragging also welcomed.

the sun is shining.

2011-06-02T08:40:00.003-05:00

The breeze is drifting in my open window and I'm drinking a green smoothie. Life is quiet right now. Key words: right now. Because I know that in a matter of 3 minutes, my little one's video on YouTube (The Gingerbread Man is so much better when someone other than mama reads it to him!) is over and he might need a refill on his snack or his drink or something else will ail him.

I'm seizing the quiet. I'm seizing that cool breeze from my window and just being.

I am too much of a doer. I absolutely feel wrong about doing nothing. There's always something that I know I should be doing: laundry, dishes, cooking, prepping food for something, vacuuming, playing with the little or teaching the little or taking him outside and then once I'm outside and he's happy and playing, it becomes pulling weeds, mowing grass...

It's weird to be that person who doesn't know how to relax or feels guilty relaxing. Even when I finally have everything done for the night and sit down on my loveseat with my book, I guarantee that I probably get up at least 2-3 times and do something.

I'm a perfectionist and I hate it. I hate it because it makes me nitpicky. At times, I'd rather do everything myself, but then I feel overwhelmed that I do everything myself. My poor husband is probably the most confused man in the world because I'll ask him for help, and in the 30 seconds it might take him to do what I've asked of him, I've already started/finished whatever it was.

How do you let go of that control? How do you sit back in the summer sunshine and just let it wash over you and don't think a million times, "I shouldn't be doing this right now, I need to do X, Y, or Z?"

whew, so that was that.

2011-05-30T09:50:00.004-05:00

Thank goodness that a crazy, hectic week has ended and left me in (mostly) one piece. Birthday weeks are always so hard: you have to plan home birthday celebration, school birthday shin dig, and then the family party. That means there's juggling a schedule, driving everywhere and anywhere, cooking, baking, and just flat out stressing. Do not like, but it's so worth it when my boys are happy and enjoyed their little parties.

But that meant two things yesterday. I have not been to the grocery store in probably close to three weeks and we've reached THAT point.... the empty pantries, what the heck should I make with these remnants?

Lucky for me, some of the best meals have been created in these dire circumstances.

Chicken, Spinach, and Zucchini Alfredo

4 chicken legs, cooked, deboned, cut into pieces

1 box noodles, any kind

Handful of spinach

1 zucchini, sliced

4 tbsp butter

4 laughing cow cheese "things" or cream cheese-- whatever you have on hand.

Spices: I used garlic powder, Mrs. Dash, pepper

Parmesan cheese

Mozzarella Cheese

Chives, a handful, diced finely

~2 cups of chicken broth (I used the chicken broth from the chicken I had cooked, any will do)

Okay, this should be the complete cast of characters. Fill a pot of water with a dash of salt and get boiling for your noodles. In the meantime, melt 1 tbsp butter in a skillet, and saute your zucchini. Once sauteed, set aside. In a large pot, melt the remaining butter. Add in the laughing cow cheese (or cream cheese) and melt with the butter. Whisk until mixed well. Add in your spices and your Parmesan cheese. Once mixed through, toss in your mozzarella and stir until melted. Slowly start adding in chicken broth, until you've reached your desired consistency (we like it a little thinner, but you can add less chicken broth for a creamier sauce). Toss in your chicken and veggies, then your drained, cooked noodles. Devour.

This was so delicious and easy. The kids ate thirds, and loved every bite (even eating the spinach and zucchini without even asking what it was!). The sauce is "alfredoy"-- it doesn't taste exactly like alfredo, but I think it's even better. Perfect dinner for a stormy, ugly evening when the last thing you want to do is head out to the grocery store.

birthday cake!

2011-05-27T07:15:00.002-05:00

It was my baby boy's birthday yesterday-- 6 years old. Commence freaking out and nonstop reminiscing. I just cannot believe that I have a 6 year old. And like the crazy, sweet, sometimes bratty, and unique boy he is, his birthday cake request was no different.

Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. None of that traditional chocolate cake for this boy!

Carrot Cake

1 c plus 2 tbsp flour

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 c grated carrots

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 c brown sugar

1/2 c white sugar

1/2 c vegetable oil

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

Combine your wet ingredients: egg, vanilla, oil, and add your sugars. Beat. Add in your dry ingredients. Mix. Fold in your carrot. Bake for about 40 minutes on 350.

Top with the best cream cheese frosting ever.

Best Cream Cheese Frosting EVER

1 pkg cream cheese, softened

1/2 lb. butter, softened

1 tbsp vanilla

Powdered Sugar

Splash of milk

In a bowl, mix softened butter and cream cheese. Add vanilla. Slowly begin adding in powdered sugar. Add in a splash of milk to get your desired consistency. Let your cake cool completely and then slather it with this delicious frosting. Eat the remaining frosting with a spoon, or toss it on a bowl of ice cream (Not that I would ever do something so unhealthy!).

Listen to your birthday boy tell you that it's "the best birthday cake ever!" and smile for days.

i'm still THAT mom.

2011-05-21T11:47:00.002-05:00

I'm still that mom with the tantruming toddler but the only difference now is that while you are judging me, I'm side eying you like crazy.

See, here's the funny thing. My kids can be massive brats. But they are cute, funny, and sweet. And just like adults, they have bad days, bad moments, tantrums, and emotional breakdowns. Sometimes, they are in the grocery store or on the playground or when I'm trying to strap them into their car seats and it's totally the end of their world because I'm mean.

I'm very much still bothered by the lack of community that I receive, as a young mom. I can sell myself to you, bloggies: I'm friendly, sweet, and open. When I see another mom in the store, I give her my most dazzling smile, complete with bags under my eyes, crazy hair tamed in a ponytail, and tennis shoes. And I'm so desperate for some adult interaction, that there are many times when I'll strike up conversation in the produce section or make cute comments about their children. I'm trying, people!

On the playground, I smile and try to chat with the other moms. My kids must not be telling me something about my odor or something, because I've noticed that I either: A- smell really bad or B- have the plague. I'll let you know once I get my diagnosis. Whatever the case may be, when I sit down on a bench or at a table, it's suddenly diseased and anyone who may have been sitting there runs for the gate, fast and anyone who may have been considering sitting there walks in the opposite direction.

Dear other parents:

I promise, I'm just trying to be friendly. I see you here at the school with your children and I feel like we have something in common. I'm sorry my body odor is so bad, next time I'll use body spray.

Love,

Me.

But obviously, that's not what it is. See, in the grocery store, on the playground: it doesn't matter that my kids aren't tantruming. I've realized that it's me. I'm that young mom, pushing around her kids (and one is almost taller than me!) and I promise, that while I can look like I am 12, I'm actually over legal drinking age! Seriously, I can show you my id. I thought that I'd at least have a few other young moms to bond with over the injustice of the ~judgement~ but I've yet to find her.

But in the meantime, you can continue to judge and I'll continue to enjoy the satisfaction of having the bench all to myself. Odor or not, I'm here to stay, and so is my smile.

hey y'all

2011-05-19T17:39:00.005-05:00

it's been a crazy week, y'all. But you know what solves that crazy? Butter. Lots of butter, y'all.

Just kidding. Slightly. Because I do love butter. My waist just doesn't.

I've been in the camp of "I'm only making it if we have it in the house to make" (aka I'm on grocery shopping strike).

So yesterday's dinner was part necessary evil with what was on hand, and part "delicious, y'all".

If you haven't noticed a theme yet, I'm talking Deen. Paula Deen's Ultimate Lady's Cheesey Mac and Cheese. Some slight variations based on what was in the house and all that good stuff. It was so good and just like I think a baked mac and cheese should be: thick and cheesy. What's even better? You know it's good when everyone goes back for seconds.

Ingredients

2 cups dried elbow macaroni (4 cups cooked)
2/3 cup grated Cheddar
1/3 cup grated Jack
1/3 cup grated colby
1/3 cup grated Muenster
1/3 cup Monterey Jack
1/2 cup sour cream
4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup milk
Chives
Nonstick spray

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large pot, bring water to boil. Season water with salt and cook macaroni until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain pasta and place in a large bowl and while pasta is still hot add all the cheese. In a separate medium bowl, using a whisk, combine the sour cream, butter, eggs, salt, pepper, and milk and add to the macaroni mixture. Spray casserole dish with nonstick and pour macaroni mixture into the dish. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. Top with additional cheese and chives, if desired.

these days, everyone is a parenting expert.

2011-05-14T13:25:00.004-05:00

back when I still had a life and an identity other than any variation of "mom," I had no sense of what kids were TRULY like, despite the fact that I had two little sisters. feeding choices? diapering? how kids behaved due to age? how kids slept?

no. freaking. clue.

Don't get me wrong: I changed diapers. I babysat. I was around kids all the time. But when it came to parenting topics, I had no clue and so I did this weird thing. I shut my mouth about them.

But nowadays, everyone is a parenting expert. Oh, my child will NEVER throw a temper tantrum in a store (oh no, I'm not choking, just trying not to laugh in your stinkin' face). Oh, my child will only ever eat all organic foods, and they will always love their vegetables, and they will never ever ask for something as horrendous as a happy meal. My child will never (insert judgmental comment here).

Dear nonparents and all other so called child experts,

I'm here to tell you today that everything you swear up and down your child will not do? They will eventually do just to spite you. Yes, despite the fact that we all want to believe that we are all raising the perfect, most well behaved special snowflakes EVER. But trust me? Sometimes, kids just act like kids.

So it's so great that you are so eager to offer up your "experience" designed to make us parents feel like bigger jerks than we may already be feeling at the moment (no one WANTS their child to act like a buffoon, just to let you know), but next time, I'll just smile at you. One day, it might be you.

(not so) wordless wednesday

2011-05-11T13:33:00.000-05:00

Also captioned: sorry for posting your behind on the internet, lady.

My little got his first haircut this weekend! That's definitely one of those moments that you realize that they aren't babies anymore.

It may or may not have caused my husband to remark on the fact that he's changed his mind and does in fact eventually want another one, in which I tried not to have a heart attack, put my fingers in my ears, and yelled "la la la".

tasty tuesday

2011-05-10T18:38:00.004-05:00

It's gloriously, wonderfully hot outside and I was loving every sticky, sunshiney minute of it. Something about the heat really kicks me into high gear, so today was full of productivity and I loved it.

When I was thinking about the perfect dinner to accompany such a beautiful day, of course it had to be something easily prepared in the afternoon heat-- and what's better than having something chilling in the fridge already. So little and I headed out to the grocery store to get the items for Stacy's potato salad, brats, and corn on the cob.

Of course, I tweaked the recipe a bit so that I didn't have to buy too many things (like spices, mainly). Stacy's recipe calls for tarragon, but let's face it-- I don't like it. The last time I used it, I just couldn't stand the flavor. One more side note: if you lov

e mayo based potato salads, this might not be the recipe for you. This is very light and tasty and not too heavy.

Potato Salad

2 lbs small red potatoes, quartered

1 tsp salt

1/2 cup EVOO

1/4 cup cider vinegar

2 tsp dill

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 cup chopped celery

1 cup finely chopped sweet onion

1/2 cup chopped green onions

2 tbsp sweet pickle relish

4 large hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chopped

1/2 cup mayo

Toss your potatoes in a boiling pot o' water with the salt. Let cook until soft. Drain and place in a bowl, making sure the bowl is big enough for all the ingredients and the mixing, of course.

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, dill, and pepper. Add olive oil mixture to potatoes. Stir in celery, sweet and green onions, eggs, and pickle relish. Toss with the mayo. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.

So delicious and a seriously perfect compliment to dinner tonight! What's your go to dinner on hot days?

Feliz Seis de Mayo!

2011-05-06T20:19:00.004-05:00

It's okay, I know you've already put away your sombreros. But bust them back out, because sombreros are always in style in my house. Just sayin'.

Sick kid + house repairs + work + BULLS = limited time and limited creativity. So when I woke up on Cinco de Mayo, I thought yum, margaritas. Instead, I chowed down on this tasty enchilada casserole I made while simultaneously holding above mentioned sick child and hoping and praying that my arm muscles (who were almost numb from holding child all.day.long for the past two days) didn't give out and I dropped him in the oven or something.

So needless to say, this casserole was made in a hurry and I paired it with my to-die-for yellow rice. It's easy as can be and it's tasty. Everything that I used was stuff that I had in the house already, because there was no way in fiddlesticks that I would have been able to navigate a cart with one arm. Sorry, just can't do it.

Enchilada Casserole

2 pkgs. tortillas (I used flour, that's what I had... you can use corn, but warm them for a few minutes first!)

Enchilada sauce

1 can tomatoes and chiles

2 lbs. ground turkey

2 pkgs. taco seasoning (hey, I mean, at least it was all natural?)

Refried beans (you can use canned-- I had made some the night before. )

Lots of shredded cheese

Green onion

Black olives

Brown your ground turkey. Toss in your can of tomatoes and chiles and let simmer with the meat. Add the taco seasoning and about 1/2 c. of water. Allow to simmer again. While meat is simmering, start your prep. Chop your olives and onions. Place a layer of enchilada sauce on the bottom of your pan. Layer some of your tortillas. Next add your refried beans and then your meat. Top with more tortillas. Continue to the top of your pan where you will finally load up your tortillas with enchilada sauce, cheese (lots and lots), olives, and onions. Bake at 350 for about 30-45 minutes. Serve with sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, whatever your heart fancies.

After you take a bite, feel free to hold on to your marriage proposals, folks.

april books.

2011-05-01T07:56:00.006-05:00

I woke up this morning and discovered that I aged about thirty years over night. My back is aching. The arches of my feet are screaming in agony. So if you see me hobbling around sometime today, try to resist the urge to laugh, okay?

The past few days have felt like such delightful springy days that I'm just in springtime love. I love the slightly cool breeze through my house, the smell of fresh cut grass, even the sound of kids screaming and playing outside.

Springy rainy days are even delightful. I love the slightly warm rain and the smell of freshness outside. I love even more that I feel so delightfully lazy and it's almost okay, because it's ugly and rainy. Which means more time for books.

April has been a crazy reading month for me. Some weeks were a little slower than others on what I was reading, due to circumstances or whatever the case may be. I would say that overall though, I read some amazing books this month.

If after reading my blog, you've still yet to read a book written by Kristin Hannah, you're in trouble. Because there is just no excuse not to read these beauties. The best part about K. Hannah books is that I feel like you can't really put them into a "category". Sometimes, they are sprinkled with love stories, friendship stories, tragedy, heartbreak... they are never one dimensional where you could say "this is a romance". I'd call them "relationship" books: they are almost always examining some kind of relationship: sisters, friends, mother/daughter. Night Road was her most recent book and it was simply amazing. I cried, a lot. I sobbed through the last 200 pages of the book. I could not put it down. So raw and honest and poignant that you have to read it.

I think I've mentioned before that I really love books written about the World War II era. I'm just drawn to the history of the era, the people who survived, and it really speaks to me. So when I was scrolling through my 200+ books on my Kindle (I'm obsessed), I ran across this one and said, "I can't believe I haven't read you yet!" Jenna Blum really weaved a beautiful story. I think that it's often hard to work the past and the present in the same book without taking away from what you are telling and the story development, but she managed to do it beautifully. It was very well written; so well written that when I was done reading, I decided to see if she has any other books, which is why I'm currently reading The Stormchasers by her.

What's your measurement of a great author? For me, when I love a book by an author, I'm compelled to read all of their books.

it's friday! (yippee!)

2011-04-29T15:39:00.006-05:00

I've been anxiously awaiting Friday because Saturday means sleeping in (past 4:30AM, of course), my hubby's birthday, relaxation, time for books and running and doing absolutely nothing (and not feeling guilty about it).

When taking a pre-birthday survey, I always like to ask my husband what his favorites are, very nonchalantly, of course. So on the menu for tomorrow is my tasty lasagna, garlic bread, and dessert, of course, which is a J favorite: Strawberry Shortcake.

I love Alton Brown's recipe for shortcake. It's easy peasy and delicious.

2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons shortening
3/4 cup half and half
Melted butter to brush shortcakes
Strawberries
Ice cream

Heat oven 450 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Cut in butter and shortening. Mix in half-and-half. (I love to toss in some chocolate chips for a little extra something!) Drop by large spoonfuls onto a baking sheet. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 15 minutes or until brown. Cool and eat with berries, ice cream and/or whipped cream.

Have an awesome weekend!

Easter.

2011-04-26T21:10:00.003-05:00

Easter was beautiful this year. So relaxing and perfect and everything a holiday could be. We laughed, lounged, watched a movie, visited with family, ate too many Reese's eggs (okay, so I may have tackled that one all by myself).

Holidays are typically not stress free here, sadly. There's always some kind of rush to be going to a relative's house or getting the house cleaned and meals prepped for the relatives that came there, which usually ends in massive meltdown (mom and kids both). But as I'm working on just enjoying the moment, I found it a lot easier to quit staring down the clock, quit rushing the kids out the door, and just be.

It was perfect. The candy gluttony afterwards is not so perfect though.

and in true fashion to sunshine...

2011-04-23T09:21:00.004-05:00

Now that it's a beautiful day outside, my big boy is sick. Cue whining (from me) because I won't really get to enjoy that sunshine.

Such is life, and such is the dreaded spring cold.

However, I'll still be eating like it's beautiful! One of my absolute favorite things to eat, especially in the spring/summer is Broccoli Ramen Slaw. Now, before you continue, it sounds healthy, but in reality? Maybe not as much as it could be. It's a little salty and yes, full of sodium from those dreaded Ramen seasoning packets, but it's oh-so-good and I don't much mind.

Broccoli Ramen Slaw

1 (16 ounce) package broccoli coleslaw mix

2 (3 ounce) packages chicken flavored ramen noodles

1 bunch green onions, chopped (Optional)

1 cup sunflower seeds (Or whatever kind of nuts or seeds you have-- I frequently use almonds instead)

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/3 cup cider vinegar

Directions

In a large salad bowl, combine the slaw, broken noodles and green onions.

Whisk together the sugar, oil, vinegar and ramen seasoning packets. Pour over salad and toss to evenly coat. Refrigerate until chilled; top with peanuts and sunflower seeds before serving.

My mouth is watering just thinking about this in my fridge. I'm thinking it just might be the perfect accompaniment to some sun tea and my Kindle-- I finally cracked and am reading The Hunger Games. Have you read it? Did you enjoy it? What's your favorite sunshine inspired food?

thursday, schmursday.

2011-04-21T17:51:00.004-05:00

Between last minute holiday prep (and by last minute, I mean that the Easter bunny had to do her shopping today, because it was the last day that I wouldn't have both big and little with me) and work and interviews and just the doldrums of housework that never end, I feel so overwhelmed!

Today was my big boy's side by side lesson at school, when parents are invited to come and sit in on a lesson (today was math), and watch the kids complete the lesson and interact with them. So much fun, but let me tell you. If I were a Kindergarten teacher, I'm pretty sure I would have never had children.

I left the school (more like, darted out as soon as possible, telling my boy, come on! let's hurry) with a pounding migraine. Let's face it; mama needed to decompress.

So now my lovelies are throwing plastic Easter eggs at each other as hard as they possibly can (of course, until one is hurt and crying) and guess what: I don't care.

I am a perfectionist, to a tee. When I'm not in control, I'm panicking. I'm worried and stressed constantly. I just can't allow myself to be that way anymore.

So I'm trying on these new pants. They are called the "I don't care" pants.

Because these boys? Are so rough. They are constantly rough housing, playing sports, wrestling, power rangers, swords, etc. etc. I think by the end of the day, my voice is always hoarse because of the amount of times I have to say "Be careful!" "Someone is going to get hurt!" "Stop that!" "Hey, didn't I tell you guys to stop that?!" And guess what?

They don't stop. Until, of course, someone does get mildly hurt, and then their attention is redirected to another, equally painful possibility game.

So if they are happy, let's just go with it. Thus, my "I don't care" pants. You should try them on some time. Word on the street is that they one size fits all, elastic waistband included.

Wordless Wednesday.

2011-04-20T15:59:00.002-05:00

Oh, you know, just taking a cruise in the Beamer. No biggie.

cookie monsters.

2011-04-18T18:08:00.004-05:00

We may or may not be sweet junkies in this house. I cannot confirm that, because if I do, perfect mothers across America will set out for my little corner of Northwest Indiana with their pitchforks crammed full of organic fruits and vegetables, ready to rescue my poor, sweet loving children.

I've just always been a sweets junkie (thanks, Dad!). I mean, as far as vices go, it's a pretty sweet (hah) one to have.

So that means that sometimes I have to really bust my gut trying to come up with a limited ingredient recipe, in my currently limited ingredient household.

That's why I love my Cooking Light cookbook. Not only does it let me kid myself into thinking that I'm eating so low-cal with these cookies, they are easy and don't require a ton of off the wall things.

The Perfect Icebox Sugar Cookies

from Cooking Light

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons stick margarine, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg white
Cooking spray

Preparation

Combine the first 3 ingredients in a bowl, and set aside. Beat margarine at medium speed of a mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually add sugar, beating at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended. Add vanilla and egg white, and beat well. Add flour mixture, and stir until well-blended. Turn dough out onto wax paper, and shape into a 6-inch log. Wrap log in wax paper, and freeze for 3 hours or until very firm.

Preheat oven to 350°. Cut log into 24 (1/4-inch) slices, and place slices 1 inch apart on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from pan, and cool on wire racks.

it's raining, it's pouring...

2011-04-16T07:48:00.004-05:00

Good morning, sunshines! It's a gloomy, rainy day here, which really takes away so many weekend (cheap) possibilities and leaves us stuck in the house (once again). That's okay. My Kindle is fully charged and loaded with so many goodies that I'm dying to dive into: Sweet Valley Confidential (don't judge me!), Incendiary, Those Who Save Us, Post Birthday World, and The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn. Can't wait! First, I have to finish trucking through The Borgia Bride, which is super interesting but I just haven't had a chance to hide from my kids to read any substantial amount yet.

Have you read any of the books above? Which should I start with? (Yes, that's my most pressing dilemma at the moment!)

I've still been so uninspired with cooking lately. I don't know what's up with me! Well... let me rephrase that. I do know what's up with me: exhaustion + limited (super limited) budget = limited meals to make.

But that's okay. My kids are demanding that I make them the following this weekend: fudge, onion rings, and "something really yummy".

I hit a home run last night though with dinner. If you've never had to reach into the depths of your pantry and come out with something edible and enjoyable, I'm jealous. Last night was one of those nights. I'm standing in the kitchen, staring in the cabinets for a couple hours, just waiting for something to magically appear. Finally, I realized that despite my best efforts, I haven't perfected my magic skills yet, so it was time to get a move on dinner.

Thus, tuna patties that even your kids will eat!

Tuna Patties

4 cans tuna in water

2 stalks celery, chopped finely

1/2 onion, chopped finely

Bread crumbs (I didn't have any, so I used a combination of crushed crackers and crushed Chex cereal that I ran through the food processor)

Sprinkle of Cumin

Dash of dill

Pinch of garlic salt

Dollop of pepper (Aka-- I didn't measure any of these spices, and just spiced according to my eyes and taste buds)

2 eggs

How easy is this recipe: Mix, make patties. Fire up your skillet and spray with cooking spray. Place patties down in skillet, cook for about 5-8 minutes on each side. Place in the oven on warm.

Serve with tartar sauce, if you desire! These would make amazing tuna burgers. We served with a cheesy risotto and steamed corn on the cob. Each kid had seconds and there may have been thirds consumed by others in the household.

Wordless Wednesday.

2011-04-13T15:43:00.002-05:00

"I tired, Mommy. I lay with Bubba," says Adrian.

10 minutes later, the sweetest sight ever.

ah, mr. sunshine.

2011-04-12T07:24:00.004-05:00

There you are, slightly spring weather and sunshine. I've missed you oh so much. I didn't miss the sudden reminder of my hot weather clothing insecurity mishap.

In my rush of desire for spring to finally get here, we got this lovely taste of 80 weather on Sunday. Then it reminded me how much body insecurity just sucks.

All of a sudden, the tank top I'm wearing was making my arms look a little flappy and my thighs were rubbing just a little too much. The whole wide hip thing I had going on made the shorts I was rocking look disproportionate and... I could keep going. This was my inner dialogue with myself and the mirror on Sunday.

I know, everyone has their days where they look in the mirror and just kind of grimace. Whatever you feel most self conscious about, I know there are those days where it just sticks out in your face more than others. Lately, my body shape itself has been getting me down.

Isn't that ridiculous?

Then I stumbled across a picture of a "celebrity" that I really have never taken the time to really look at. I mean, sure, lots of guys drool over her body but I've never really just looked at her.

Now, seriously. I'm not deluding myself to think that I could look that cute. But... I saw my body and I was just like... hm.

Here is this beautiful woman and so many men and women not only desire her body, but strive to have a similar body. People actually want to have those hips of mine, that I curse from here to there? People look at her curvy thighs and think that's beautiful, instead of pinching and squeezing and all that negative stuff.

Makes you think.

Is there ever a time when you are feeling down about your body? How do you cheer yourself back up?

CLOSED: Boysterous Boys Action Figures (Review & Giveaway)

2011-04-08T11:35:00.009-05:00

Congratulations, Danielle! You won this giveaway. I'll be contacting you for your information.

My boys absolutely are loving action figures right now, and I really love watching and listening when they play with action figures. They use their imaginations, play nicely alongside each other, and there are minimal ways for them to get hurt (what can I say, they are very rambunctious!). So when I had the opportunity to review for Manhattan Toy, I was super excited.

Their new line is called Boysterous Boys, and it's a really cute line of action figures for boys. My boys tore into the package and were beyond excited when they saw Goalie Gavin and Shreddin' Sean. These action figures come with an accessory each, which are magnetized-- easy to play with and really adorable. The best part of all is that they are soft, with bendable legs and arms, and there are no small pieces that can break off or become a hazard.

The boys also received a Extreme Sports Zone play environment, which is an extreme sports play mat that also folds into a storage bag to take along. You can kick the ball into the goal or flip it over and start shreddin' along the halfpipe.

The boys were able to load up their new action figures and take them to their grandma's house, and it was so easy for them.

Boysterous is meant for ages 3-8; it has small choking hazards for children under 3. You can purchase the Boysterous Action Figures for $18; the Sports Zone tote is $30.

Since we received this package on Saturday, Gavin and Sean have been everywhere with us-- that's just how much the boys really love them. And that's a reason why I'm excited that Manhattan Toys want to share the opportunity this greatness with my readers.

You can enter to win a Boysterous Action Figure by doing one or more of the following; just be sure to leave a separate comment for each way that you enter.

I’ll draw the winner, via random.org, on Saturday, April 30. This giveaway is open to U.S. only.

Required entry:

Visit Manhattan Toy, and let me know what toy/action figure you like the most.

Bonus Entries:

Follow @ManhattanToy on Twitter.
Tweet about this giveaway; you can tweet once daily to earn extra entries.
Like Manhattan Toy on Facebook.
Follow domestic goddess via Google Friend Connect.
Stumble this post.

(Disclosure: I received Boysterous Action Figures/toys, free of charge, from Manhattan Toy, for the purposes of this review. All views/opinions are solely my own.)

things i love thursday.

2011-04-07T15:42:00.006-05:00

In a desperate, last ditch attempt to ditch these foggy day blues and exhaustion, I'm sipping on an absolutely delicious iced chai tea latte (Thanks, Tassimo!). So good and creamy and delicious. But I need something to go with it...

Oh goodness, yes. Gooey, chocolatey warm cookie. I need you. Sadly, I do not have you. But if I did, I would so love you on this Thursday.

But since I don't have you, delicious cookie that I desire, I will replace you with doing amazing yoga and feeling strong and powerful and sweaty. Clearly, I'm logical. Clearly.

In the spirit of absolutely loving Yoga Meltdown, I was perusing YogaDownload.com and found some really fabulous yoga work outs. No, it's not the heart pounding cardio that I really need to do to ditch the last ten, but it just feels so relaxing, amazing, and I feel so accomplished when I'm done. If you're in a "I need to work out but don't want to" mood, try some yoga. Seriously. You'll be so surprised how you can feel.

Green smoothie of deliciousness makes the world go round: bananas, strawberries, pineapple, celery, carrots, romaine, and spinach. Perfect way to start your day and perfect way to quench your mid day hunger.

What are you loving on this Thursday?

wordless wednesday

2011-04-06T07:27:00.004-05:00

a little end of the day roughness, but nothing better than cuddles on the couch with your boys.

tasty tuesday

2011-04-05T11:49:00.004-05:00

I've been feeling majorly uninspired in the kitchen lately, partly in fact that I'm in some kind of tasty limbo... our grocery budget has gotten scaled back a bit and I'm just feeling lackluster about dinnertime.

In spite of that, I managed to kick butt on an amazing meatloaf the other night. I mean, my kids each asked for seconds, and so did J. It was amazing, and best of all, it utilized some leftovers and some of those things that hang out in your fridge, with barely enough to use by itself, but just enough that you feel guilty getting rid of (if you are me, anyway!).

Ground Turkey Meatloaf

1 lb. ground turkey

1 onion, diced

Bread crumbs (In my case, I used some leftover crackers- about 8-10, crushed)

Leftover cous cous, about 1 c. (You can use anything, doesn't have to be cooked-- rice, cous cous, or left it out completely and add more bread crumbs)

Leftover zucchini, finely chopped

2 eggs

Seasoning: black pepper, Italian seasoning, a pinch of garlic salt

For the top "dressing"

I made a mix of BBQ, a splash of hot sauce, French dressing, and ketchup. Mix your ground meat, veggies, bread crumbs, and eggs. Shape your meatloaf; cover in 'sauce' (or tomato sauce or leave it out completely). Bake in the oven at 350 for about 45 minutes.

You can't get a better meatloaf pairing than some good ole' mashed potatoes and corn. Nice and hearty, and just so comforting.

What's your favorite comfort food?

and we're STILL together.

2011-04-01T08:16:00.012-05:00

10 years ago today, my husband and I went on our first date. Can I get a collective "aww"? As little teens, of course we did the teeny first date: went to the movies. The other night, we were laying on the couch, trying to remember what the heck we saw. Of course, we couldn't remember until I woke up in the middle of the day with a sudden flash of memory and remembered it was Exit Wounds.

Look how little and baby we are!

Of course, like all teen relationships, it was full of silly drama, fun times at the movies and parks and proms. Then we grew older... not by much, by any stretch of the imagination, but circumstances were a bit different and we moved in together.

Flash forward a couple years and we went from couple to family of three. Still very young, still working out a lot of life's challenges as a couple and a family.

Life was interesting from that point out, figuring out the balance of parenting, a relationship, and you know what? Sometimes we are still trying to figure out that balance.

We got hitched and things felt great. We were living in our home that we had just purchased and I was finishing up college and set to graduate that next month.

Our very impromptu and not at all what we pictured wedding. Story for another day.

And then we went from a family of three to figuring out how to be a family of four. Another big adjustment, right in the middle of job losses, cancer scares, surgery, and battles of the monetary sort.

Don't the kids look so happy?

It hasn't been easy, by any stretch of the imagination and often times, it hasn't been very graceful either. But we did it, together. We've been through some things in the past ten years that most couples may not ever experience: loss, job loss, money stress, unemployment for extended periods of time, medical scares (and accompanying medical bills), raising children, buying a home.

And we're STILL together. Isn't that the amazing thing? There were times when I promise you, people would have picked us to be the first couple to break up. There were times I probably would have picked us for that too. But love is a crazy, funny thing.

Ten years later, still butterflies and still missing him while he's gone, even if it's for a 10 hr. work day. Happy 10 year first date-a-versary, babe! It's been a wild ride.

painting and baking and boys, oh my!

2011-03-31T07:41:00.013-05:00

Thursday already. Holy cow. My boy's spring break is flying by. Spring break goddess: next year, how about some spring to accompany the break? We're making the best of our break by enjoying sheer laziness, taking baths in the middle of the day, lounging around, reading books, and just generally enjoying the feeling of having nothing in particular that we have to do, and instead, just doing what we want to do.

With not too much else to do yesterday, we busted out the paints, hung out in our PJs, and made some more cookies. Because you can never have too many cookies.

Peanut butter chocolate chip divineness in every single little bite. And I may or may not have had too many bites, but I will neither confirm nor deny a cookie binge.

If I could marry these cookies, I might. The combination of peanut butter and chocolate is absolutely divine and I've told y'all before that I just love soft, cakey cookies. These are no exception.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

(Also known as heaven in a bite)

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp hot water

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup peanut butter

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup white sugar

1 package instant vanilla pudding mix

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F. Cream butters, white sugar and brown sugar with an electric mixer. Dissolve baking soda in hot water and add in with instant vanilla pudding then beat to combine. Stir in eggs(one at a time) and vanilla. Fold in flour, followed by chocolate chips. Bake for 10-12 mins till edges are golden brown.

jillian michaels, you are a goddess.

2011-03-30T08:30:00.002-05:00

I've been feeling pretty uninspired lately when it comes to working out. It's too cold to venture out to the tundra of my garage where my treadmill hangs out, and while I love Pilates and Turbo Jam both a ton, it's just become routine and just the tiniest bit mundane.

So I'm flipping through my onDemand options under ExerciseTV and stumble on the Jillian Michaels section. After shaking a bit in fear, I flipped through the various programs that she has under there. Let me just say, any Jillian Michaels workout intimidates me like crazy. She's no joke! She really knows how to make you want to sob hysterically while working out. I decided ho hum, let's try the yoga one! I mean, it's yoga, she can't kick my ass too hard.

Well, let me just say, some time during the second circuit, my arms and legs were quivering with exhaustion, and I was dripping sweat. It's seriously no joke. I feel sore today, but it's not absolutely unbearable. If you're looking for a way to switch things up and kick your booty, try this. Seriously. For a home workout, you really maximize your calorie burn and bust a sweat.

tasty tuesday

2011-03-29T08:00:00.004-05:00

It's spring break! Cue flashing lights and confetti. Despite the complete shock to my very scheduled self, it's much appreciated not to have to leap out of bed these very cold mornings and rush to school!

Of course, it's freezing outside so we aren't enjoying much springy goodness. Instead, we've been cuddled up inside, coloring, dancing, watching movies, reading, and baking!

My big boy loves to cook and we were much anticipated the little's nap yesterday so we could get to work. The nap never happened, but nonetheless, we created Oatmeal Raisin and Craisin Cookies.

Oatmeal Cookies

A mixmash of the recipe on the Quaker Oats containers and tweaks from other cookie recipes.

Ingredients

2 sticks unsalted butter (1/2 pound), softened but still firm
1 cup light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cups raisins, craisins, chocolate chips-- whatever

Instructions

1. Place oven racks in low and middle oven positions and preheat oven to 350-F. Beat butter until creamy. Add light brown and granulated sugars and continue to beat for about 3 more minutes, until fluffy. Beat the eggs into the mix one at a time.

2. In another bowl, mix together the flour, table salt, baking powder, and grated nutmeg.
Mix the dry ingredients into the sugar/butter mixture using a rubber spatula or mixing spoon. Mix in the oats and dates.

3. Line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper and evenly distribute 8 to 10 dough balls on each cookie sheet. Bake until the edges of the cookies turn golden brown, about 22 to 25 minutes. Halfway through baking, rotate the cookie sheets from front to back and top to bottom. Allow the cookies to cool about 30 minutes before serving.

Serve with milk and resist the urge to just grab the whole bowl. These cookies are perfect for me, because they aren't overly super sweet, they are pretty light, and yet, kind of cakey. Love that.

We are back to spring breaking today! I'm not sure what we have planned for our day. My big boy is reading his first chapter book on his own, can you believe that? I can't. He's proving that he's a fast reader like his mama and made it through 80 pages on his own in one day last night.

What's your favorite thing to do on these cold days? We need some new ideas and I'm not quite ready (or desperate) enough yet to bust out the paint.

bookish weekend

2011-03-26T09:24:00.003-05:00

Umm... I thought it was spring and yet, I'm shivering right now. Therefore, I'm declaring this my bookish weekend. I'm on mommy light duty, doing as little as I can without the house falling down in shambles around me. My husband doesn't know this yet, but the 5AM wake up call that my little sent me sealed the deal.

This weekend, I'm planning on finishing up Bringing Adam Home: The Abduction that Changed America and finishing another one of Philippa Gregory's books The Queen's Fool. My Kindle is loaded with about a million books that I'm dying to read: Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult, for starters. In addition to that, I was just sent a review copy of The Last Darling by Cloud Buchholz that I'm also anxious to tackle!

What are you reading? What's on your bookshelf, waiting for you to dive into it?

revving up the engine.

2011-03-24T10:04:00.004-05:00

I'm absolutely out of gas. Averaging a few hours sleep a night, if that, and certainly none of it is uninterrupted. The tantrums. The screaming. The demands.

It's utter chaos and I'm flailing around in the middle because I'm just trying to find my grasp of the edge, but it keeps crumbling in my hands.

These are the moments of parenting

when you sit back and in your exhaustion, you wonder what in the world you are doing wrong. What could I do differently?

I'm running out of patience and let me tell you, it's hard. It's so hard to wake up and smile and make breakfast and smile and clean and just on and on.

But the only ease in this hardness, in this exhaustion are these two smiles:

These crazy goofy smiles and man, my kids know how to work them. If they are in the midst of being tiny terrors, they know to run up and catch me around my legs and hug me. They'll flash me a goofy smile in the midst of my haze and how can you not know that it's going to work out.

I have to hope for a balance to be figured out and on each end of the pendulum will be these two sweet, goofy smiles and it will be okay. I'll sleep, one day.

tasty tuesday

2011-03-22T06:46:00.004-05:00

Tuesday, again? It's like time has no sense of anything lately and has just been flying by. I suppose the whole "daylight savings time" stuff did particularly help our situation, and then combine that with trying to make my little sleep through the night and weaning... well guys, if I could share my exhaustion, I'd start finding random people and plopping them with some. Even then, I suspect that I would still feel exhausted.

Dinner tonight is a classic Pioneer Woman recipe. In fact, back when I was learning how to do this cooking thing, I stumbled across this recipe and thought, okay, even I can't screw this one up. You'd be very happy to know that I in fact was able to successfully make it and ever since then, I happened to gain some kitchen confidence, I mean-- I tackled a PW recipe and I won.

Here's the thing: this recipe is amazing because you can easily customize it based on a few pantry items and working with what you have at home. Not only that, but you can easily prep it the night before and then throw it in the fridge until dinner time.

Chicken Spaghetti

Adapted from PW

Ingredients

2 cups Cooked Chicken (Great way to use up leftover chicken, if you have any)
3 cups Dry Spaghetti, Broken Into Two Inch Pieces
2 cans Cream Of Mushroom Soup
2 cups Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
¼ cups Finely Diced Green Pepper
¼ cups Finely Diced Onion
1 jar (4 Ounce) Diced Pimentos, Drained

1/2 c. broccoli

1 jar mushrooms
2 cups Reserved Chicken Broth From Pot
1 teaspoon Lawry's Seasoned Salt

Salt And Pepper, to taste
1 cup Additional Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Instructions

Cook spaghetti in same chicken broth until al dente. Do not overcook. When spaghetti is cooked, combine with remaining ingredients except additional 1 cup sharp cheddar.
Place mixture in casserole pan and top with remaining sharp cheddar. Cover and freeze up to six months, cover and refrigerate up to two days, or bake immediately: 350 degrees for 45 minutes until bubbly. (If the cheese on top starts to get too cooked, cover with foil).

I hope you enjoy your Tuesday! As for me, it's a stormy day, full of gloom. I'm hoping that I have a date with my book The Boleyn Inheritance, a nap, and a massage. Instead, I reckon I'll be reading The Pig Who Wished, putting kid to nap, and massaging him.

What's on your agenda for today?

Sunday dinner & things.

2011-03-20T10:04:00.003-05:00

My kids woke up, balls of energy this morning (every morning, who am I kidding?). But after sleeping on the couch for half the night with one child, I just can't shake off my sleepies and get into the game. I'm sure the doom and gloom of the clouds doesn't help. Until it subsides, I'm chugging my coffee and planning my afternoon.

So what's for dinner, Sunday? I like to do a more traditional dinner on Sundays, just what I was always used to growing up: a big Sunday family dinner. But see above... I'm lazy today, which translates into using what's in the house and making some yummy and easy.

That's where I bust out the chicken and get to work.

Chex Chicken

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts

About 3 cups of Chex, crushed

1/2 c. Parmesan cheese (I'm using a combination of Parmesan and Romano)

3 tbsp. melted butter

3 tbsp. milk

Spices: (Seasoning salt, garlic powder, pepper, and a touch of paprika)

Preheat your oven to 450. Mix your spices, crushed Chex, and cheese. Soak your chicken in the milk and butter. Coat with Chex mixture. Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes or until no longer pink.

My kids really love these. Sometimes, I'll cut a few of the chicken breasts into smaller, bite sized pieces so they are more nugget like for them and they can't get enough.

We'll probably eat these with some delicious, roasted red potatoes and steamed broccoli... or whatever else I dig up out of the pantry.

what doesn't kill you...

2011-03-19T16:32:00.002-05:00

Finding strength in the unknown is something I'm really constantly trying to do. But this week had been trying in the worst ways. Between no sleep, potty training, defiant five year olds, and a general lack of energy, I'm beat. I have such little energy that even the thought of moving is exhausting me.

Of course, there is no rest for the weary (or moms!) so I'm sucking it up the best I can. In the meantime, leftovers, easy dinners, and minimal cleaning is taking place. I hope that I can find my game face this weekend, so it can be on and raring to go come Monday.

Happy weekend! How do you motivate yourself when you just can't find it inside?

tasty tuesday

2011-03-15T15:45:00.003-05:00

It's almost St. Patty's Day, which is a chance for me to share another side of my children's heritage with them. Of course, what's a better dinner to serve than corned beef and cabbage?

We just love corned beef here, but we usually only eat it once or twice a year. Why is that? I don't know.

And the great thing is-- it's easy peasy to toss in the crock pot. The leftovers? Make excellent Reuben sandwiches. My mouth is salivating already.

Crock Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage

Corned beef brisket

Red Potatoes

Spices: There's usually a handy spice packet in with your corned beef brisket.

Carrots

Beer

Cabbage

Does it get any easier than this? Chop up carrots and potatoes. Place in crock pot. Place corned beef briskets on top of the veggies. Spice. Pour beer over the top. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. About 30 minutes before serving, toss in your cabbage.

Can't wait for our delicious Thursday dinner. What about you? Do you celebrate holidays by making traditional meals?

sunday breakfast.

2011-03-13T09:40:00.006-05:00

What's better on a lazy Sunday daylight savings morning than waking up and having breakfast in the fridge, ready to pop in the oven? Let me tell you, NOTHING. Since the little chitlins like to wake up before the sun, it was especially painful this morning. I'm so thankful that I thought ahead to what the monsters may do when we are busy spring forwarding.

This recipe is great and it's perfect for breakfast, brunch, even dinner! Prep it the night before and toss it in the fridge and you'll have something really easy for breakfast.

Sausage Breakfast Casserole

Thanks, Jimmy Dean!

16 oz. package hot pork breakfast sausage
10 eggs, lightly beaten
3 cups milk
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 teaspoon salt
6 cups cubed bread
4 oz. (1 cup) shredded mozzarella cheese
4 oz. (1 cup) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 c. green onion, sliced

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325°F.

In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until thoroughly cooked and no longer pink.

In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, mustard and salt; stir well.

Distribute half the bread evenly in a buttered 9″ x 13″ x 2″ baking dish. Sprinkle with half the pepper, half the cheese, half the sausage and half the onions. Repeat layering using remaining bread, pepper, cheese, sausage and onions. Pour egg mixture evenly over casserole.

Bake uncovered for 60 minutes, or until eggs are set. Tent with foil if the top begins to brown too quickly.

books: what's for entertainment.

2011-03-10T07:18:00.003-06:00

Ever since I can remember, books have been my source of entertainment. I would take a book with me everywhere, and read at every available opportune moment. I used to read and walk to school (I did sadly have to stop to cross the street). I would be itching to get back to whatever book I was reading while in class, while completing tests, homework, cleaning at home, whatever.

That hasn't changed. People are often intrigued by how I have time to read as much as I do, with two kids and work and housework and cooking and all that jazz. But for me, it's not a question. I make time, especially when I'm in the midst of a book that I want to finish right now.

Unfortunately, I'm reading a book that I'm really questioning if I will finish at all: We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. I've heard some great things about the book, but I'm barely 50 pages in (and almost been attempting to read this book for three days).

That's my downfall. When I come across a book that I just can't get into, I have this internal debate. The reader of me tells me FINISH IT. It might get good. You want to know what happens.

But the "fun" side of my brain says, "Forget it. You're reading for fun and this book clearly doesn't meet those requirements."

So what do you do when a book is boring you to tears? Do you keep struggling to get through it? Do you put it to the side and try it again later? I have two others sitting in my library pile: The Invisible Bridge by Julie Oringer and Almost Heaven by Marianne Wiggins. Not to mention, my Kindle has some beauties waiting for me to delve into them.

What to do, what to do? And while I'm being indecisive, what in the world should I make for dinner?

Wordless Wednesday.

2011-03-09T13:07:00.001-06:00

Otherwise known as "Hmm.... I might listen to you, but most likely not," and comes complete with finger tapping.

focus.

2011-03-08T06:32:00.004-06:00

I'm trying to focus on the big things in my life, the things that have meaning every day.

But today? I'm feeling low.

It's days like today when I really have to remind myself to allow myself to focus on the big picture and just let the little things go.

If the scale says I'm up some unimaginable amount, let it go.

If my boy wakes up almost two full hours before the alarm would have woken us, let it go.

If I have no clue what to make for dinner, let it go.

I have a hard time letting things go. I didn't win "Biggest Perfectionist" for no reason. I can't help but focusing on every little detail in my life and trying to manipulate it into what I want or need.

But today? I'm ripping up my to do list, settling down in my couch, cuddling my babies, drinking my coffee, and saying "it's okay".

rise and shine!

2011-03-07T08:36:00.002-06:00

Monday morning, again! Boy oh boy, how weekends fly by in this house. Today is definitely a multiple cup of coffee kind of morning, because I'm just drained.

My husband doesn't really request much for dinner often, but last night, he requested that I find the best cream of mushroom soup, ever. He wants it and he wants it now. Well, whenever really. So that's what I'm tackling today.

I'll serve that up with a side of my to die for Beer Bread and call it a day.

Cream of Mushroom soup
Ingredients

5 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup half-and-half
1 tablespoon sherry

Directions

In a large heavy saucepan, cook mushrooms in the broth with onion and thyme until tender, about 10 to 15 minutes.
In blender or food processor, puree half mixture , leaving some chunks of vegetable in it. Set aside.
In the saucepan, melt the butter, whisk in the flour until smooth. Add the salt, pepper, half and half and vegetable puree. Stirring constantly, bring soup to a boil and cook until thickened. Adjust seasonings to taste, and add sherry.

Snowy Sunday.

2011-03-06T09:15:00.003-06:00

After beautiful weather in the 60s on Friday, you can only imagine my dismay to wake up to freezing winds, snow, and ice yesterday. My heart broke a tiny bit, because I'm so ready for spring.

Cold and snow means staying cuddled in the house, but unfortunately, we have a very busy weekend. Thus, busting on the crockpot.

This soup is seriously to die for. It tastes amazing heated up the next day too, so your leftovers will be enjoyed.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 pound shredded, cooked chicken
1 (15 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, mashed
1 can black beans
1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce
1 medium onion, chopped
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups water
2.5 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

Directions

Place chicken, tomatoes, enchilada sauce, onion, green chiles, and garlic into a slow cooker. Pour in water and chicken broth, and season with cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Stir in corn. Cover, and cook on Low setting for 6 to 8 hours or on High setting for 3 to 4 hours.

When serving, we topped our soup with shredded cheese, crunched up tortilla chips, cilantro, and a dollop of sour cream. I also made some quesadillas, because my boys all have decided that soup is not a meal, they need more.

things i love thursday.

2011-03-03T07:35:00.007-06:00

It's been a busy week, with a busy weekend ahead of us as well. With weeks like this, it's no wonder that it's March already (but still, how did that happen?!). I'm okay with the rest of this cold to fly by, as long as it gets me to spring faster!

Move over, blueberry Chobani. Sorry to tell you, but you've been replaced by Black Cherry. I was so excited to see that my local Target was now carrying raspberry and black cherry flavors! While the raspberry is tasty, the black cherry is absolutely delightful and full of cherry goodness.

This winter has been a dark and dreary one indeed and I've been suffering from a bout of seasonal depression. Thankfully, I've been taking Holy Basil to really boost my spirits and I was so thankful when it actually was working. I definitely notice a huge improvement in my overall happiness when I added this to my morning vitamin regiment.

I'm dying to get back to a Zumba class. They are so much fun. If not, I'll totally settle for the Zumba Fitness game for Wii. Just thinking about it makes me want to start dancing around the house right now, and I'd better not, because my son might proclaim that I'm embarrassing him.

It's really not often that I go to the library by myself, but this past week, I was lucky enough to do so. I just love being in a library. I have so many good memories from reading at the library when I was young. I picked up The Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick, The Postmistress by Sarah Blake, and The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman. Have you read any of these?

What are you loving on this sunny Thursday?

Wordless Wednesday.

2011-03-02T18:27:00.004-06:00

Nothing says the perfect way to end our night like bedtime stories.

And no better way to begin it than a green smoothie to kick a spring back into my (very sluggish) steps.

tasty tuesday

2011-03-01T08:29:00.004-06:00

Happy Tuesday! Can you believe it's March? I'm still in disbelief about it myself. I can't wait for spring to finally arrive and take these cold winds and frosty grounds and get lost. I'm anxious for spring breezes, thunderstorms, blooming flowers, and of course, the park!

Dinner last night was another Mexican dish. I don't know what's up lately, but we've been channeling J's roots and getting down and south

ern. Hey, I won't complain. They are delicious! The meal was also another way I keep my grocery budget down-- cook with what you have and make it work for you.

Since I still had some pork from the roast and some chicken from the roasted chicken I made, we decided that nothing would use up that leftover meat like flautas.

Flautas

Ingredients

Pork or Chicken (or in this case, both!), cooked and shredded

Corn Tortillas

Oil

Toothpicks

For garnishment:

Avocado

Lettuce

Sour Cream

Salsa

Refried Beans

Seriously, flautas are very easy and because they do not need a ton of ingredients, they are very budget friendly. Using a comal or skillet, heat your tortillas. When your tortilla is warmed and ready to go, place a small amount of meat in the center. Roll your tortilla by tucking one end over the meat and then rolling towards the other end. Using a toothpick, toothpick it closed. Repeat until your flautas are all assembled.

Once assembled, fill your skillet with oil about less than halfway and allow to get hot. You can use this time to chop up your garnishments if you need to. Once oil is hot, place about three to four flautas in oil. Heat until crisp, then flip. Once the other side is crisp, remove from oil and place on a papertoweled plate, to allow some of the oil to drip off.

Eat, love, enjoy. I know I did.

And now it's off to continue my day. It's early but it's time for my break-- a green smoothie and The Red Queen await my arrival.

books and breakfast.

2011-02-27T10:11:00.000-06:00

Oh my, I've been so busy this week spring cleaning and trying to survive my children's attitudes that my exhaustion sets in. Despite that, I've been knee deep in Tudor historical fiction, much to my chagrin.

So what have you been reading? Philippa Gregory is a new found author that I cannot recommend enough. Her books aren't completely factual, so if that's something that bothers you, well... don't read them. But since I typically am bored to tears by history (I know, I know- it's awful, but it's true), I'm so pleasantly surprised that I've been enjoy her books.

I started reading The Other Boleyn Girl because of frequent recommendations of various people. I've had it sitting on my book shelf for probably close to 7 months now, and last weekend, I opened my closet (where my book shelf hangs out) and was scanning the shelves and comparing the books on my shelves with my 200+ ebooks that are currently hanging out on my Kindle. I did some kind of eeny meeny miny mo, and poof, ended up reading this book.

I couldn't get enough of it and was honestly laying in bed at night, trying to fall asleep and couldn't because I was thinking about how the book was going to end. So when I was through with the book, I made my way to the "G" shelf at the library and grabbed a couple more of Gregory's books: The Constant Princess, The White Queen, and The Red Queen. Since Thursday, I've devoured two of the three and can't wait to get my house and dinner in order so I can start on The Red Queen. The books are full of historical basis, drama, intrigue, and the fight for the throne.

So what better to accompany an early morning reading session than a steaming cup of coffee and a delicious muffin?

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Recipe Adapted from Allrecipes

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt (I omitted the salt)
1/2 cup butter
1 cup white sugar (Used 1/2 c. sugar and 1/2 c. honey)
2 eggs
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups chopped apples (Also tossed in a bit of unsweetened applesauce)

Topping
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter
Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 12 cup muffin pan. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl, beat together butter, sugar and eggs until smooth. Mix in vanilla. Stir in apples, and gradually blend in the flour mixture. Spoon the mixture into the prepared muffin pan.
In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture is like coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over tops of mixture in muffin pan.
Bake 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Allow to sit 5 minutes before removing muffins from pan. Cool on a wire rack.

Serve with a cup of coffee, a good book, and preferably silence from happy children. You'll feel as blissful as I did this morning.

my babes and burritos.

2011-02-24T07:27:00.004-06:00

My sweeties, when they aren't beating the crap out of each other, are so sweet and cuddly. Unfortunately for me, their sweetness with each other is often short lived when they remember their Nerf swords and then they morph into Power Rangers, which often results in tears.

This often requires me to think fast when making dinner, otherwise I could end up with overcooked macaroni or something, as I push each boy into their own corner of the ring and run and hope I have enough time to whip up something edible before the next crisis begins. So trust me when I tell you, boys are great. Boys are lovely and sweet. Boys are NOTHING like my sisters and I were. Boys often flabbergast me with their energy.

Dinner last night was a stroke of genius after watch t

he Food Network. I'm shameless. I love the Food Network, I probably eat too much because of the Food Network.

Mama's Leftover Burritos!

Leftover shredded spicy pork from Monday!

Refried beans-- you can make them yourself or you could use my Samari tricks and buy Annie's Organic beans, because they are delicious.

Shredded lettuce

Chopped onion

Black olives

Shredded cheese (Queso fresco would have been perfect, but we didn't have any and the point of leftover night is using what we have!)

Avocado

Burrito sized tortillas

Using a comal (or just a skillet), warm up your tortillas. Then it's time to assemble. If you want sour cream, I suggest throwing that down first. We skipped it because we were out. Layer your beans, meat, cheese, then all your other delicious toppings. Then wrap. Because the art of wrapping is something that I'm still working on, I was happy to let the hubby do this dirty work while I finished my delicious yellow rice.

Yellow Rice

About 4 c. long grain rice

8 c. water

A small onion, chopped finely

Sazon pkg.

Black eyed peas (or really, any veggie works great here, like mixed veggies)

Rinse your rice under cold water, then remove excess water. Place your rice in a saucepan and add your water and the other ingredients, except for the veggies. Bring to a boil and then lower your heat and allow a simmer. After your rice has cooked for about 10 minutes, you can add your veggies. Cook until most of the water is evaporated, typically about 20 more minutes.

Menu Planning Monday.

2011-02-21T08:32:00.005-06:00

Menu planning is absolutely necessary in my house. Absolutely. If I don't sit down, plan out my meals, make sure I have all the ingredients before I hit the grocery store, and really think, we'll end up eating grilled cheese sandwiches and take out all week. Yes, I just admitted that. That's exactly what used to happen before Adrian was born and I worked my full time job outside the home. I didn't plan meals and therefore, our money was wasted on food that was definitely not nutritious or effectively spent. So if you don't plan your meals, plan!

My biggest tips for menu planning is that it's okay to be flexible in your meals. You don't have to make a certain thing on certain days. Just make sure you have 7 available meals to make for the week. Next tip: include an easy night (and by easy night, whatever qualifies that statement is just fine: leftovers, take out, whatever!). I always include two of what I consider "easy nights": one night is leftovers and one night is typically leftovers + grilled cheeses or hot dogs or something equally easy that takes no time and no thought. Without those easy nights planned in, our budget gets out of control. Finally, if you don't have a crock pot, get one. This is crucial for busy people! Having a crock pot meal planned and prepared on your busiest days will help you resist buying food out.

So what's on my menu?

Monday: Spicy pulled pork

Tuesday: Roasted chicken

Wednesday: Tacos (with leftover pulled pork)

Thursday: Spaghetti and meatballs

Friday: Breakfast for dinner

Saturday: Leftovers (Depending on what we have leftover and what we have planned for Saturday, we might use our Applebee's gift card)

Sunday: Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo

I was so thankful that I planned to use my crock pot tonight, because both boys are sickies and big boy stayed home from school because of his fever. I've been up since 4AM and I guarantee you if I didn't have this menu plan, I would be telling my husband, "nope, not cooking tonight. not going to do it."

Crockpot Peppercini Pulled Pork

Any type of pork roast. I used a boneless skinless pork loin that was on sale this week.

Onion

Spices

Jar of Peppercinis (I bought sliced peppercinis, because once again, on sale)

1/2 bottle of beer

Chop up them onions and toss them on the bottom of your crock pot. Lay your roast on top of the onions. Spice (I used ground black pepper, some Italian spices, dill, and a bit of garlic salt).

Pour in your peppercinis, juice and all. Then top with about 1/2 bottle of beer. Let slow cook for about 6-8 hours. To serve, shred your meat. Toss on rolls with your favorite cheese. Savor the delicious goodness in your mouth.

gloomy and rainy

2011-02-20T10:11:00.005-06:00

When I finally dragged my sleeping behind from bed, the house was semi trashed because my two sweeties decided that they wanted to get up and party without telling mama or daddy they were awake. Hey, it's all good with me. The mess cleans up really easy and that extra hour and a half of sleep is much appreciated. Today is full of grocery shopping, laundry, and laziness, I hope.

With that said, what's for dinner? I'm planning on making Chicken Malibu, roasted potatoes, and steamed broccoli. Yummy.

Chicken Malibu

Boneless Skinless Chicken breasts, 4-6

Deli Ham

Mozzarella Cheese

Honey Mustard

Spices (Typically season with ground black pepper, dill, and a bit of garlic salt)

Pineapple Slices

I'm busting out my trusty George Foreman grill today. Season your chicken breasts to your desired tastes. Toss on the foreman grill and grill until your meat is thoroughly cooked. Layer on top of each chicken breast: deli ham, mozzarella cheese, and a sliced pineapple. Grill until cheese is melted. Serve with a side of honey mustard.

Until dinnertime though, my couch, blanket, and Kindle are calling my name. I'm knee deep in The Confession by John Grisham and am dying to finish it.

tgif.

2011-02-18T06:38:00.002-06:00

It's Friday (cheers!). So happy for Fridays to arrive because my boys have this thing going on right now that they insist on getting up while Daddy is getting ready for work, despite the fact that we could sleep for two more hours. Do not like! But I do like the prospect of snuggling with my hunnie and sleeping beyond 6am tomorrow.

Not to mention, weekends are just so much more relaxing. No homework to tackle, no early mornings with grumpy kids who I have to rush this way and that way.

So what's for dinner this Friday night? Last weekend, I made a calzone that got me thinking about some delicious Bellacino's grinders. Then, like fate, Mara at What's For Dinner posted about stromboli and a light when on in my head.

Stromboli and Seasoned Home Fries

Ingredients
pizza dough (I make my own; you can use premade if it's easier!)
shredded Italian cheeses
1/2 lb. thinly sliced deli ham
1/4 lb. turkey pepperoni
Italian seasonings
tomato sauce for dipping
egg wash (egg white + water)
Directions
Pre-heat the oven to 375*F. Roll the pizza dough into a large rectangle. Sprinkle on seasoning. Layer on one layer of cheese, then ham, and pepperoni. Top with a few more pieces of cheese, a bit of Romano, and a bit more spice. Roll on the longer side forming a long roll. Seal the edge and ends, apply the egg wash, then sprinkle with cheese. Bake for about 35 minutes
And of course, delicious homemade french fries (Sliced potatoes, coated in olive oil and seasoning, bake at 350 about 45 minutes).
Perfect Friday night dinner-- easy, casual, and yummy enough to make you reconsider your ideas about eating out.
Have a Happy Friday!

things i love thursday.

2011-02-17T17:39:00.006-06:00

If you've never heard me talk about my love for Chobani, you're probably lucky. I don't know what it is, but Chobani is quite honestly the only yogurt that I can stomach. I do only eat it with granola, just because dairy and I don't mix in general, and well... the granola amps up the calories and the protein count just enough to fill my tum.

I don't really buy coffee or other delicious treats out much, just because we do try to watch our spending on things like that, but trust me when I say that I would grab a delicious hot Dunkin Donuts coffee over any fancy pants coffee house drink. It's just so delicious and hot and the flavor! So good and I think I deserve a special treat tomorrow morning.

Now that the weather is slowly starting to break (yay!), my treadmill and I have reunited and it feels so good. My treadmill hangs out in the garage and it's just quite simply too cold to venture out there during weather that's below 40 degrees, usually. So today, I busted my booty and did a 5K and it just felt amazing.

After reading (and loving) Still Alice, I was excited to start reading Lisa Genova's new book, Left Neglected. I'm about six chapters or so in and it's really amazing so far. Sarah Nickerson is a busy, important mom and an accident leaves her unable to resume that life... and that's about as deep as I am so far.

tasty tuesday

2011-02-15T13:15:00.004-06:00

It's Tuesday, and there are some tasty smells wafting through my house right now. Just another reason to absolutely love my crock pot.

On the menu tonight are my absolute delicious Stuffed Green Peppers.

Stuffed Green Peppers

4 large green peppers, tops cut off and cleaned off

1 lb. ground turkey, browned

1/2 small onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

Italian Seasoning

Dill weed

Cous cous (any variety)

Spaghetti Sauce

Cheese

Brown your ground pepper. Toss in your onion, spices, and garlic. Prepare your cous cous according to the package. Place spaghetti sauce in the bottom of your crock pot. I also tossed in a can of tomato soup. Mix the cous cous and the ground turkey mixture. Place large helpings into the green peppers. Place green peppers in crock pot, cook on low for 6-8 hours. During the last hour of cooking, scoop a small amount of spaghetti sauce over the top of the green peppers, then toss some cheese on top of each pepper.

Serve, drool, and enjoy. Be impressed that even your children will scarf down these pretty healthy delights.

So, whatcha making on this tasty Tuesday?

my kid doesn't like me.

2011-02-15T08:57:00.002-06:00

My oldest son is a daddy's boy. There's no way to put it other than his dad is number one in his eyes. Unfortunately, he's also numbers two through ten lately. I'm falling somewhere to the left of the list.

You expect your kids to dislike you sometimes or be angry at you when you are being the bad guy. You expect them to grow up and be angsty and teenagery and yell things like "I hate you" and "you're ruining my life" because well... even if you raised the perfect kids, sometimes you are in fact "ruining their lives" by their interpretation because you aren't letting them do anything and everything they want.

But at five years old? I definitely wasn't expecting this.

It's just little things that stab my heart, like how he made these beautiful, sweet Valentine's for so many: a couple for his dad, for his grandpa and grandma, and his aunts, and one for his brother and his best friend. Ouch, okay... I can deal. And daily, when I'm making him do all the "fun" things he absolutely doesn't enjoy, like waking up early and getting ready for school or doing his homework or brushing his teeth or eating his vegetables, he asks me questions that are kind of painful, like "Why aren't you ever nice to me?" or "Why are you so mean?!" or my favorite, "why do you want me to be sad?"

But Sunday, well.. I experienced the five year old's version of angsty teen when he said, "Why do you even need a mom anyway?" Hi heart, please be meeting this stake that just went through you.

I know that I'm just the current bad guy because I'm the main parent while Daddy is at work, and unfortunately that means I'm the one doing things that he doesn't want all day. Tupac also reminded me that in about 15 more years, he'll appreciate all that I've done for him and all the love I've shown him.

But in the meantime, it hurts like hell.

V Day, Schmee Day.

2011-02-14T18:14:00.004-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! I hope your day has been filled with love, appreciation, and kindness.

As for me, my beautiful husband surprised me with flowers and chocolates, I've received hugs and kisses, and just basked in feeling loved today... but then again, I try to do that every day. So whether you are enjoying celebrating Valentine's Day or don't really much care about this Hallmark holiday, I hope you give yourself the love and appreciation you deserve!

For dinner tonight, I made my funny Valentine's enchiladas that were absolutely to die for. TO DIE FOR.

Amazing Chicken Enchiladas

Recipe found on AllRecipes.com

Ingredients

2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast meat - cut into chunks

1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup

1 1/4 cups sour cream

1/4 teaspoon chili powder

1 tablespoon butter

1 small onion, chopped

1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilies, drained

1 (1.25 ounce) package mild taco seasoning mix

1 bunch green onions, chopped, divided

1 cup water

1 teaspoon lime juice

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

5 (12 inch) flour tortillas

3 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded, divided

1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce

1 (6 ounce) can sliced black olives

Directions

Place the chicken in a large pot and add water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the chicken pieces are no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Shred chicken by placing two forks back to back and pulling meat apart. Set the shredded chicken aside. Meanwhile, combine the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and chili powder in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, then turn off the heat and cover to keep warm.

Heat the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the shredded chicken, chopped green chilies, taco seasoning, half of the bunch of chopped green onion, and water. Allow to simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the lime juice, onion powder, and garlic powder; simmer for an additional 10 minutes.

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Stir 1 cup of the soup mixture into the skillet with the chicken mixture. Spread the remaining soup mixture on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.

Fill each tortilla with chicken mixture. Sprinkle Cheddar cheese over the chicken filling before folding the tortillas, reserving half of the shredded cheese for topping the enchiladas. Fold tortillas over the filling and place seam-side down in the prepared pan.

Pour enchilada sauce evenly over the enchiladas. Cover with the remaining 1 1/2 cups of Cheddar cheese. Sprinkle the reserved chopped green onions and the sliced olives on top of the cheese. Bake in the preheated oven until filling is heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbling, about 25 minutes.

Served with Spanish Rice and beans, our tummies are so full, it's hard to imagine having room in a bit for the delicious brownies that I whipped up earlier.

if you thought it gets easier...

2011-02-12T07:32:00.002-06:00

I was under a false impression that the older my kids get, the easier it gets. I'm sorry to burst any bubbles that you may have had (just like me), but it seems to just get harder and more complicated as Junior gets older.

Sure, it's much easier in other traditional "hardships" that new moms face: there are many less sleepless nights because of a crying, nursing baby and there aren't teething pains or colic or gassy tummies.

But now you have sleepless nights over other things, things that your child probably has no clue you are even up worrying about. Like school choices and making the right decisions in punishments and how much is age appropriate to tell him about the big topics and HOW DO I KNOW?

How do I know if I'm raising him to be a polite, kind, and smart man? Because something always comes along and helps you question what you are doing. For instance, a visit to the principal's office to talk about not joining in doing things that Jimmy and Polly are doing just because other kids are laughing... and he's only 5, so I can just imagine what is going to continue to happen.

Man, being a parent is rough. It's complicated and daunting and the hardest job in the world... a million times harder than I ever expected.

whatcha reading Friday?

2011-02-11T06:58:00.005-06:00

I've been devouring books lately like you wouldn't believe. I just have hit the jackpot when it comes to finding that time necessary to read a few chapters (bedtime, especially).

Right now, I'm currently reading Testimony by Anita Shreve. I honestly wasn't sure what to expect when I decided to read this one on my Kindle. I have a lot of Anita Shreve books on there, and I had just finished Rescue, loved it, and wanted more Anita Shreve.

This book is a lot different. Every chapter is written from a different viewpoint of all of the involved parties... and there are quite a few. The basis of the story is a party, which got out of control and resulted in a sex tape among high school students. So far, I'm intrigued, but also irritated. The story is unfolding two years after this incident has happened and now everyone is examining what really happened.

Some other reads that I've gotten into these past few weeks that I wouldn't recommend Legacy and Sisters by Danielle Steel (she used to be my secret author) and The Marriage Game by Fern Michaels. I think that I could classify all these books in one word for me: SNORE. Yes, I judge my books on whether they keep me interested (and from going to bed) or put me right to sleep.

Taking a dive into the realm of "things I don't usually read," I decided to try out this sci-fy style story, mostly because I loved Sisterhood of Travelling Pants and I figured Brashares might actually catch my interest. While she definitely did get me intrigued, the story is slightly strange and a bit hard to get into at first, but it definitely picks up right away and then you just want to know what happens.

So, whatcha reading?

weight, weight, weight.

2011-02-10T09:46:00.013-06:00

Now that it's nearing the middle of February, so many people are striving to continue on their New Years Resolution journeys. Keeping your eye on the prize is so hard sometimes, especially when you aren't seeing results or reaping benefits of resolutions that you may be hoping for.

So many people resolve to lose weight. Almost two years ago, I did the same thing. I started in February of 2009, about 8 months after I had my tiniest little booger. I was tired of feeling blah: unenergized, mushy, and just sit of carrying around extra baggage (with nothing inside to make the extra baggage worth it!). It helped that my husband wanted to hop on the journey with me as well.

In the spirit of telling people that it is totally possible to lose weight the healthy way and sharing that you really can reach your goal, I'm going to do the unimaginable (for me, that is).

My high weight was 211 lbs. I'm 5'3 and that felt like I was carrying around a huge weight. I cropped myself out of most pictures, I hated the way I looked. I felt gross because I didn't feel happy about myself; I couldn't love myself because I wasn't taking care of myself. Our diets were blah, at best, and at worst, they were too processed, too much fast food, and too much convenience as I tried to figure out how to be MOMMY and EMPLOYEE and juggle so many things.

I was squeezing myself into a size 18.

I did get a bit motivated, before I got pregnant again-- and dropped down to 170.

After I had my second son, I was back up to 200 lbs. and that's when my husband and I really found motivation. We bought a treadmill and really refocused our eating to just be healthier.

Losing weight for me has not been easy, especially alongside my husband. His weight started to seriously drop off, and I would be stuck, stuck, stuck. I started scale obsessing. I started getting FRUSTRATED, which would lead to bad habits, like binging and not exercising. I would think "Why bother? I'm not losing weight anyway."

But then something happened in my head-- I started watching my body change. I may not have lots a ton of weight, but I wore shorts for the first time in 12 years. I reached my prepregnancy weight from my oldest son of 159 lbs. (hey, only 4 years later). I wore a bikini on the beach and said, "I don't care who doesn't like it." I started to see my shape.

I realized that health is a lifelong journey. Here I sit, 70 lbs. later and sometimes, I still think and feel like I weigh 211 lbs. Sometimes, I feel my bones and I'm absolutely shocked by that. Sometimes, I see myself in photos and I honestly don't recognize myself.

I struggled to lose weight my entire life a healthy way. When I got it, it stuck. But that doesn't mean that I didn't have set backs and set back months. I watched myself have so many plateaus where I would be stuck at the same weight for months! (I'm at one right now!) I watched my husband's frustration when he wouldn't lose weight. But at the end of the day, we play with our kids. We can run. We take them biking. We feel so much healthier. That's what made all the frustration worth it. And hey, wearing a size that I've never in my entire life, not in high school, not in middle school, could fit into helped.

So if this is you-- if you are trying to lose weight and struggling and feeling frustrated or let down or disappointed- don't give up. The numbers on the scale are just numbers. Go by your body. Let your body guide you towards health. You can do it. It takes time, energy, and a lot of effort. But if I can do it, I know you can.

wordless wednesday

2011-02-09T07:29:00.003-06:00

No, this isn't just a gratuitous shot of my booty. In fact, this action shot is of the joy my children find in walking past me, hard at work in the kitchen, and smacking my booty. I'm still trying to figure out who taught them this little trick or why in the world it's so hilarious to them.

But until I do, you are darn skippy that I'm going to have to put them to work.

it's time for a giveaway! (closed)

2011-02-06T08:08:00.005-06:00

I love ordering postcards, because not only can you adapt them for whatever you are looking to do, but they look great, they are good on postage, and you can make them both pretty and informative. That's what I enjoy getting my postcards printed through Uprinting.com, an online printing company. Uprinting.com is great, because you can choose one of their designs or create one of your own. The last time I ordered postcards from there, I ordered generic thank you cards, but you can do so much more. If you are thinking about ordering birthday invitations, birth announcements, various stationery items, etc. I just love these postcards!

That's what I'm happy to host a giveaway for 100 5" x 7" postcards for one winner.
14pt Cardstock Gloss on a 2 Business Days Turnaround; Front Only printing
Restriction: Limited to US residents 18 years old and above only.

So you want to win them? Awesome, you won't be sorry.

Entry requirements:

Mandatory entry:
Follow me through Google Friend Connect if you aren't already and comment, letting me know how you would use your postcards!
Extra entries:
1. Follow me on twitter @mamatisca and tweet about this giveaway, including a link to this post! You can tweet once a day for additional entries. Please comment when tweeting with a link to your tweet!

2. Blog about this giveaway, including a link back to this post! Comment with your blog post.

3. Refer your friends to my blog! For each new follower that you refer, you'll receive two extra entries. Just make sure they let me know you've referred them!
4. Head to Uprinting.com and tell me something else that you might be interested in ordering from them.

This giveaway will run until February 13, 2011. At this time, a winner will be chosen by random. I will then pass on the winner information to Uprinting.com. They will send out the information for you to order your postcards around February 24th (by around, I mean sometime after that point!).
I received no compensation for this post. However, I will be receiving 100 postcards for this giveaway from Uprinting.com.Happy winning!Congratulations, Melissa! You're lucky number 4. Look for an email from UPrinting.com with details on how to claim your prize.

saturday morning quiet.

2011-02-05T09:03:00.003-06:00

It's a quiet, relaxing Saturday morning. The kids are snuggled up together, playing action figures and watching the Johnny Depp version of Alice in Wonderland (which is awful, BTW). My cup of sweet, delicious coffee is keeping me company, and the big man of the house is finally catching up on some of his sleep that he missed this past week, from all the overtime he worked.

I'm finding it so hard to believe that it is already February. January was an interesting month. I turned another year older, was busy, was tired, was up and down. I tried some new recipes, read a lot of books (I'm currently 18/75! for the year), and yet, it feels like I did absolutely nothing successful for the month.

Breakfast this morning for the family is absolutely to die for Apple Cinnamon Baked French Toast. You know you want some. Seeing as how I still haven't been to the grocery store, I am forced to be creative and I never in my wildest dreams imagined that this would come out so good.

Apple Cinnamon Baked French Toast
Ingredients
Loaf of crusty bread, slightly stale (I used the bread I made yesterday, that I left out overnight)
6-8 eggs
Milk
Cinnamon
Vanilla
Brown Sugar
3-5 apples, peeled and sliced
Butter

Cut your bread into chunks, and place into a greased pan. Mixing your eggs, milk, and some cinnamon, cover your bread with this mixture. Place in the fridge to allow the bread to really soak up the mixture. (I did this overnight-- but it's not necessary. If you don't allow it to soak for too long, just make sure all your bread is soaked in the egg mixture, stirring for completeness if necessary.)

Meanwhile, peel and slice your apples. In a pot, melt the butter. Toss in your apples, some brown sugar, a splash of vanilla, and cinnamon. No measurements here, just eye it to your desired sugaryness! Pour apple mixture over the top of the bread, place in the oven at 375 for about 45-60 minutes. Serve with maple syrup and enjoy.

all rumbly in my tumbly.

2011-02-04T11:50:00.003-06:00

We're still semi snowed in. My husband's car is almost out from the snow and now I must tackle the alley in order to even get the car out of our car port. Not fun, friends. So, in lieu of any more shoveling (oh my goodness, I'm SORE!), I decided we were roughing it at home and we'll survive. From this emerged, sweet and delicious homemade bread that we will be feasting on for dinner.

Amish White Bread
Ingredients

2 cups warm water
2/3 cup white sugar
1 pkg. active dry yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
6 cups AP flour

Directions
In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water, and then stir in yeast.
Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam.
Mix salt and oil into the yeast. Mix in flour one cup at a time.
Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth.
Place in a well oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat.
Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
Punch dough down. Knead for a few minutes, and divide in half.
Shape into loaves, and place into two well oiled 9x5 inch loaf pans.
Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

My house is so cold and drafty, I let my bread rise in the microwave, after I heat up a cup of water for about 30 seconds. It works great! This was the easiest bread recipe that I ever successfully tackled, and I know it would be great with less sugar, wheat flour, and honey! But alas, I had what I had and it's tasty.

SNOWMYGOD.

2011-02-03T14:50:00.002-06:00

Friends, it's been a helluva week. A helluva week. Monday, Adrian was diagnosed with pneumonia. Tuesday, he was still miserable and I was committed to chaperoning J's field trip to the Survive Alive Fire Safety House. Then Tuesday afternoon, we were hit with the massive snowpocalyspe. We've been snowed in. I would say more, but my arms feel like they are dangerously close to falling off for the four plus hours I've been shoveling today alone.

raising a reader.

2011-01-30T08:46:00.002-06:00

It was hard for me to believe that not all kids love books. In fact, I just recently realized this when I was working one on one with a student and he confessed that he never read if he didn't absolutely have to, and even then, he tried to find a way around that.

You can only imagine the look of SHOCK AND HORROR on my face. How do you not love books? How is that humanly possible?

I mean, I know it happens. My husband doesn't like to read (and I'm busting him out on saying if he reads one book a year, it's a good year for him).

Passing on my love of books to my children was just so important to me. I want them to know how fun and relaxing and exciting reading can be, not just because I know that being a strong reader will help them throughout their schooling, but also because books are such a strong part of me.

I never really thought about raising a reader, but it's totally true. Kids don't instinctively pick up books and think "wow, exciting". Isn't it our job as parents to make them enjoy reading, desire new books, and see how exciting reading can be?

It's so easy to just incorporate reading into your every day. Once your child is getting too old to nap, you can incorporate books into their daily quiet time. Give them a pile of books and make them a comfy, quiet reading spot. Since nap time and quiet time is often mommy time, you don't have to use that time to read to your child. Let them "read" to themselves. You'll see how absolutely adorable it is to listen to your kids make up their own stories to go with the pictures.

And let's not forget how calming story time at bedtime can be. My son looks forward to that part of his day.

What sealed the deal with my big boy and his love of reading was getting him his own library card and participating in the summer reading program and story times at the library. He loved our weekly library dates and getting prizes for participating in summer reading. Most libraries have some sort of program for children during the summer especially, so it's so worth looking into it.

We were all laying in bed last night, surrounded by a pile of books. I was reading my book, and the boys had a pile of books surrounding them. Junior was quietly reading a story, laughing ever few minutes (Barfburger Baby, I was here first was a hit, apparently), and Adrian was looking at the pictures, chattering away about what he personally thought was happening. The light went on and it just made me grin from ear to ear.

things i love thursday.

2011-01-27T12:10:00.002-06:00

Totally worth the calories: Coldstone Creamery Birthday Cake Remix. NOM NOM. All my favorite things in one little dish.

I was pretty anti-Kindle when it first came out. However, my sister got me one for my birthday last year and ever since then, I'm in e-reader love. Seriously. I know that a lot of people say that it will never replace real books and it's true! But the funny thing is... I actually read more real books now that I have my Kindle. I probably read just as many real books as I do ebooks. I love the ease, I love the lightness when I'm laying in bed, reading.

I love trying new workouts. I love workouts that are fun, exciting, major calorie burn. Turbo Jam fits all of these requirements. The 20 minute workout is a great way to fit a high calorie burn in with short amounts of time. It really truly does transform your body.

There is something so delicious and refreshing about eating a diet high in vegetables. It makes your body feel amazing, they can fill you up and really improve your energy level. Just love them.

What are you loving this (snowy) Thursday?

(trashy) tasty tuesday.

2011-01-25T19:24:00.003-06:00

You know those days when you absolutely do not want to be in the kitchen, and making dinner seems like it's going to be a "take out" kind of night? Yeah. This was one of those days. I'm tired, tired, tired.

However, we really try to avoid eating out as much as we possibly can, and since we are out and about on the weekends, the weekdays mostly require me cooking.

But guys? This meal is absolutely easy peasy, and it's delicious. Trashy eats, for sure. But your family is going to love you and it seems much more complicated than it is.

Oven Baked Chili Cheese Dogs with Homemade Fries

6 potatoes
ground black pepper
garlic salt
EVOO

Slice up them potatoes (after washing them up). Toss them in a big ole' bowl. Throw on your seasonings and some dashes of EVOO. Mix them up and make sure that they are all coated. Place them in a single layer on a pan, and throw them in the oven at 350 for about 45 minutes.

8 hot dogs
8 hot dog buns
onion
mustard
ketchup
leftover chili (or make it trashier and opt for a Hormel chili in a can!)
shredded cheddar

Bust out your baking pans and slap the hot dog buns in the pan. In each bun, place the mustard and ketchup. Throw in the hot dogs. Top with onions, chili, and cheese. Don't be skimpy! Be generous. The messier, the better.

Toss in the oven after the potatoes have already been in there for about 15 minutes and let everything cook up for about 30 more minutes.

Take out. Serve. Savor.

I know, we've all had chili cheese dogs before (more than likely!). But the way the flavors all cook together... it's just too good.

on parenting and difficulty.

2011-01-22T11:16:00.003-06:00

One thing that I find it often very hard to admit is that parenting, for me, has not been easy.

Sure, my kids are amazing and beautiful and rewarding. The love and hugs and kisses that I do get make up for the difficulty.

But I never imagined the isolation that I would feel once I became a parent. I never imagined how hard it would be and how often I'd be overcome with anxiety over various situations. I never imagined being a version of a helicopter parent-- you know, I am able to let go, but I never stop flapping until my kids are back where I feel like they are safest: with me.

I think, for me, the isolation of being a young mom has been the hardest thing. I'm at an odd age. I became a parent very young (at 20), but not as young as some. So now, while one child is at school age, I fall into this category of young but not young enough. The older moms really stick with each other and the younger moms don't want anything to do with my slightly young, slighty crunchy exterior.

Add to that working at home and I've completely eliminated all possibilities of actually making friends... because now I'm completely isolated. My days consist of working at home, running my kids to and from school, and the opportunity to meet people just doesn't really exist.

I never knew how lonely it could be.

With the loneliness I experience, there is also just this overwhelming feeling of "I'm doing this all wrong." Does anyone ever really know how to parent or when they are making the right choices? We are all kind of just flying by the seat of our pants and hoping that we are making the right decisions and choices for our children and molding them into the people that we want them to grow up to be: happy, adjusted, well mannered, satisfied.

I think that more often than not, I fail. I fail at patience, at parenting, at making the right decisions, on giving my kids freedom without giving them too much, with allowing my kids choices without allowing them to eat nothing but chocolate chip cookies and ice cream and hot dogs all day. Sometimes, I'm too lenient. Sometimes I'm too strict. I cannot find that perfect balance that parenting must be all about.

I'm always seeking that balance... I've yet to find it and when I do, I can only imagine what joy, what relief there must be in it.

whatcha reading Friday?

2011-01-21T08:22:00.003-06:00

It's freezing cold here in good ole' Indiana, so cold that local schools even have a two hour school delay. Let me tell you, when it's this cold, the only thing I want to do is grab a book, grab some coffee, and grab my comforter and hibernate on the couch.

Yeah, yeah-- a girl could dream. Most of my reading is in the stand up over the stove while dinner is cooking variety, but just the same!

I've been reading so much lately-- just trying to meet my personal goal of reading 75 books this year, while I realized... yeah, that will be no problem (I'm already at 12/75!). I might up the ante.

Right now, I'm deeply engrossed in Kim Edwards The Lake of Dreams. It's absolutely intriguing and really, brilliantly written. Kim Edwards is the author of The Memory Keeper's Daughter, so when I heard about her new book, I ran to my computer to request it from the library.

Next up on my "to be read" pile is How to Read the Air. I've really been trying to go beyond my personal book genres to find some new and exciting books. I've heard great things about this book. Have you read it? Did you like it?

What's in your "TBR" pile? What are you currently reading? My Kindle is loaded with 15 pages of books, waiting for me to dive in as well, but I just can't help but getting caught in different books from recommendations.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-19T14:11:00.003-06:00

Every night, my kids each pick some books they want to read... sometimes with Mommy, sometimes to Mommy or Daddy, sometimes with each other. Junior had an early bedtime last night, as he hasn't been feeling 100%, so it left Adrian to pick all by himself. Last night, he was anxious to pick from Mommy's bookshelf. Then he selected his favorite: Webster's New Dictionary and proceded to sit and enthrall Daddy with his own version of Spiderman, washing the dishes.

Moments like this, forever in my heart.

"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." -- Martin Luther King Jr.

2011-01-17T14:49:00.003-06:00

We are all at home, nestled in the relative quiet of sick kids who are slowly getting better, lazy PJs, and nothing goes better with days like that than rich, hearty comfort food.

Lucky for me, my family loves my lasagna, and a huge pan of it lasts us for several days because we love lasagna even better the next day.

Megan's Meaty Lasagna

2 boxes lasagna noodles
1 large container low fat small curd cottage cheese
1 large container ricotta cheese (I use low fat, you float your own boat with the fat percentages)
2 pkgs. mozzarella or Italian style cheese
2 jars spaghetti sauce or about 32 oz homemade sauce
1.5 lbs. italian sausage (Feel free to skip the meat for a vegetarian version of this dish! Just add extra veggies.)
Spinach
Mushrooms
Zucchini

Brown the Italian sausage (some people use ground beef or turkey-- hey, that works, but I love the flavor the Italian sausage really gives the lasagna). After browned, drain the sausage. While browning the sausage, boil your noodles until al dente. Drain your noodles and rinse with cool water, then lay separately on a cookie sheet or something to prevent the noodles all sticking before you can assemble your lasagna. Prep your veggies by sauteeing your mushrooms, zucchini, and spinach. Mix all the veggies with your browned and drained sausage. Set aside. In a very large bowl, mix your cheeses. Once the cheeses are mixed, I toss in some Parmesan cheese, Italian herbs, and ground black pepper. Mix. Add the meat and veggie mixture to your cheese mixture.

Now grab a big pan, and pour a generous amount of spaghetti sauce on the bottom of the pan, making sure that there is sauce all over the bottom of the pan. Then start to layer your noodles, followed by your meat mixture. Once you've run out of the meat mixture, top with one more layer of noodles, followed by a hefty helping of sauce to cover all the noodles, and then some more mozzarella. Bake at 350 for about 60 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly, and everything is heated through.

Serve with salad and garlic bread and eat this deliciousness for days.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-12T09:31:00.002-06:00

I promise, it's just 7UP he's toasting with.

what's for dinner, monday?

2011-01-10T18:37:00.005-06:00

Mondays and I are not friends, typically. The boy returns to school, the man returns to work, and the babe and I are out of sorts and busy, cleaning, running errands, and all the other not so fun stuff that I put off doing for too long until I have no other choice.

So I like to make easy Monday night dinners.

Tonight, I took a recipe that was passed to me by another mommy, and my family devoured it. The kids and hubby are already planning the leftovers as their breakfast.

Breakfast Style Biscuits Cups
1 lb. turkey bacon, cooked and cut into pieces
24 biscuit dough-- whatever style you liked. I used premade because, like I said, I was going for easy. You could easily use your homemade biscuit dough (like the one I posted below!)
5 eggs
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
dill
ground black pepper
shredded cheese
~5 tbsp of milk

Preheat your oven to 350. Grease a muffin tin. Taking your biscuit dough, press in the greased muffin tins, pressing the dough on the bottoms and sides. Mix your cream cheese, eggs, and milk. Add the egg and cream cheese mixture on top of the biscuits. Sprinkle with bacon pieces and top with cheese. Bake for 20 minutes. Let your eyes roll back into your head as you ponder how something so easy is so delicious. Listen to your family wane on about how amazing you are and think of me.

No, really. This is the second time I made this-- the first was without any bacon, just the eggs and cheese and they were devoured. Feel free to mix and match the flavors-- different meats and cheeses would all work well here, as well as some veggies, like spinach, onion, green pepper. I tossed some bacon on and they finally realize what a goddess I am.

saturday morning eats.

2011-01-08T08:51:00.004-06:00

Weekends, in our house, are all about the big breakfast. We rarely have time during the week to sit down together and eat a big breakfast. Husband usually grabs something on the run, kids are happy to eat cereal or oatmeal or some quick cheesy eggs before we have to rush out the door and take Junior to school, and most weekdays, I don't even think about the fact that my tummy is grumbling until 10AM.

But weekends are a different story. We are all home together, we have nothing to do and no where to rush. So I make it a point to toss together at least one big, hot breakfast during the weekend.

The home favorite is definitely sausage gravy with biscuits. I'm a biscuits and gravy connoisseur... I grew up on the stuff, both good and bad, so I definitely have a developed taste for what good sausage gravy is.

If you've never had it, for shame! Go get the stuff and go into your kitchen right now. Your family will thank me later. I promise.

Sausage Gravy

1 lb. breakfast sausage (any spice is fine-- we use medium to keep the kids happy and it gives it a good flavor)
¼ cup all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
Salt and black pepper to taste
biscuits

Crumble and cook sausage in large skillet over medium heat until browned. Stir in flour until dissolved. Gradually stir in milk. Cook gravy until thick and bubbly. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot over biscuits.

Old School Biscuits

Ingredients:
2 cups sifted flour (If you don't have a sifter, just put the flour into the measuring cup a tablespoon at a time!)
2 tsp. baking powder
4 tablespoons butter or shortening (I always use butter-- I just love the flavor that butter gives the biscuits, but shortening is good too!)
1/2 tsp. salt
about 3/4 cup milk

Mix flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in shortening or butter. (this is where I use my hands by rubbing the butter into the flour). Add milk gradually, stirring until soft dough is formed. Turn out on slightly floured board and lightly "knead" for 30 seconds, enough to shape. Roll 1/2 inch thick and cut with 2 inch floured biscuit cutter. Bake on ungreased sheet in a 400 degree oven for 12-15 minutes. Makes 12 biscuits.

After you eat, unbutton your pants and seriously, contemplate eating more. This is just my absolute favorite breakfast and makes its way to the dinner table a couple nights as well. Good eats.

things i love (thursday edition)

2011-01-06T10:25:00.008-06:00

Pilates is so good to my body. I have been experiencing awful back pain that is kicking my tush lately and running is just not doable. But Pilates is amazing, low impact, and it stretches out my sore back so nicely. If you are just considering trying Pilates, I suggest Pick Your Level: Weight Loss Pilates that you can find on Netflix Instant Watch or on Amazon because it's so easy but it really does produce results. (No, this is not a paid endorsement, I really love this Pilates video!)

I perfected my BBQ Pulled Pork recipe yesterday and it was to die for and so easy. Perfect combination, right?
Take a pork roast (any kind-- I usually buy what's on sale). Toss it in your crock pot and pour either a root beer or a regular beer over top. After the beer had settled a bit, I generously spiced the pork roast with seasoning salt, ground pepper, brown sugar, and dill. Let it cook on low all day long. About an hour before serving, remove the pork roast (carefully) from the crock pot. Drain the juice that it's been cooking in a bowl, you might need it still. Shred the pork and return it back to the crock pot, where you can add your BBQ sauce (we love Sweet Baby Ray's Original!). After the bottle is empty, add some of the juice to the bottle to remove what's hanging out on the bottom and sides. Shake, add to pork roast, and put crock pot back on low. Let cook in sauce for about another hour, then you can serve or switch to warm until it's time to eat.

Books, of course. My only real resolution for 2011 is to read 75 books this year. I've been really trying to focus my free time and make time for myself by reading, even if it's just 30 minutes a day while my boys are eating breakfast. My picks of the month, so far, are:

Still Alice by Lisa Genova & Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
Both really different but amazing stories that kept me absolutely enthralled. Right now, I'm 5/75 of my challenge, but I have faith in myself that I'll finish and follow through.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-05T19:35:00.002-06:00

My kids certainly know how to tear up a dance floor.
(New Years Eve 2010)

tasty tuesday.

2011-01-04T07:29:00.003-06:00

Holidays are over and yes, for some this means a devotion to healthy eating. I always try to eat pretty healthy, so for me, this just means, more days that we are at home and not spending time with family, which require me to cook! You know I don't mind though.

I love soups, especially soup for dinner. My husband, on the other hand, hears that we are having soup for dinner and he already starts thinking of things we have on hand that he can accompany his soup. Soup, for him, is not dinner, but an appetizer.

But when his nose started commanding him to the chicken because it smelled so stinkin' good (and honestly, the only thing going was all the veggies and spices), his mind was changed and he kept coming in the kitchen every few minutes, to see if I was done yet.

Poblano Chicken Chowder
Adapted from a Paula Deen recipe

1/4 cup oil (I used half olive and half vegetable, because I ran out of olive)
Handful of baby carrots, cut into 1/2-inch dice
2 large Vidalia onions, cut into 1/2-inch dice
5 stalks celery, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/8 cup minced garlic
1.5 large poblano peppers, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin, or more to taste
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, or more to taste
1 chicken bouillon cube
3 quarts chicken broth
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro leaves, minced
3 cups diced (large pieces) grilled chicken
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce, or more to taste
1 cup half and half

Directions

Heat the oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the carrots, onions, celery, garlic, poblano peppers, salt, white pepper, cumin, and thyme. Saute for 7 to 8 minutes, or until the vegetables begin to soften. Stir in the chicken bouillon. Add the chicken broth and cilantro, and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the carrots are tender. Stir in the chicken and cook, stirring frequently, until the chowder is thick and the chicken is heated through. Shortly before the chowder is done, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the flour and stir to combine. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 4 minutes to cook the flour. Do not allow the mixture to brown! Ladle 1 cup of the hot liquid from the stockpot into the skillet, whisking constantly.

When the first cup of liquid is incorporated, add another 2 cups of liquid, 1 at a time. Pour the mixture in the skillet into the stockpot, whisking to blend. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 5 minutes longer, or until the mixture begins to thicken. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the hot sauce, then the cream, and serve.

So, after making it, here's what I would change for next time. The poblanos and cumin gave it a nice little spice, perfect for the kids to eat and not complain. If there were no children eating, I would add more poblano peppers and maybe even a little extra dash of hot sauce. I like spice in my soup. I like my soup thicker as well, so I might consider adding less broth or more veggies/chicken. My husband swears that this would be DELICIOUS with noodles added, and has requested that I add a noodle next time. I think it's perfect the way it is, but I'm willing to concede that a small pasta, like a small shell or rotini noodle would be really good.

I served this with the most delicious spinach salad ever (spinach, lettuce, red onion, roma tomatoes, dried cranberries, and granola). I was so pleasantly full, not that nasty overfull.

What's your favorite, filling soup recipe? Post about it and come share the soup for dinner love.

never grow up.

2011-01-03T16:09:00.008-06:00

Your little hand's wrapped around my finger

And it's so quiet in the world tonight

Your little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming

So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light

To you everything's funny, you got nothing to regret

I'd give all I have, honey

If you could stay like that

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little

Taylor Swift "Never Grow Up"

2010, i don't hate you.

2010-12-30T09:17:00.003-06:00

Honestly, 2010 has been one of the fastest passing years ever. It's been full of ups and downs, new jobs and the loss of old jobs. It's been full of kids who grow and learn and cry, and so many tears and so much laughter.

It's been a year of learning how to let go, to trust, to accept. I can't say that I've been especially successful at any of the above, but I've been successful at trying my booty off.

Can you believe that it's almost a new year? Time for new beginnings and old continuances.

In 2011, I hope to be a better mom, more patient, more well rounded. I hope to be happier with things are they are, and learn to leave a sink of dishes for bedtime if my kids want to cuddle or read books or roll around on the bed and tickle each other.

I hope to live more in the moment and learn to let things that I cannot change or prevent go. I hope to be more worry free and stress free and I hope that being that way fills my heart with even more happiness.

I hope to find more body acceptance in my heart and learn to love myself-- the stretch marks and the post-kid tire belly and the hips that stretch across the nation. I want to love them and embrace them and spend a lot less of 2011 worrying about changing them.

Just my hopes and dreams for a new year and the opportunity to seize new beginnings.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-12-29T18:43:00.002-06:00

Yes, yes, I'm the queen of Wordless Wednesday's lately. I promise I'll get back on my blogging game soon, but in the meantime, check out my cuties on Christmas morning.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-12-22T19:05:00.002-06:00

My cuties and I, after putting up the Christmas tree. They were not amused.

things i miss (the BC version)

2010-12-19T05:24:00.002-06:00

People tell you a lot of things when you are pregnant, like take advantage of sleep! just wait until your baby is born! and other vaguely threatening items about parenting that you kind of just shrug your shoulders and roll your eyes and think< "seriously, negative nancy?!"

but there are things that no one told me that I would miss from BC (before children).

1. Fingerless entrees. Moms, you know what I mean. You and your child can have identical meals, but there is just something that much more appealing about your plate that they have to stick their grubby (cute) little fingers into your plate and they point out which of your meal they absolutely just need to sample.

2. Embarrassment free shopping trips. Yes, sometimes that is my child screaming in aisle 7. I promise you, I don't want to ruin your shopping trip by listening to my child scream and yes, I'm indeed doing everything in my power, short of cramming my scarf into their mouth to shut them up. Dirty looks are totally unnecessary, how 'bout a sympathy smile or hell, even an "I'm grateful I'm not you" smile. Yes, other moms, I'm talking to you. I really your child probably never acts like a butt in public, but well-- we can't all be perfect.

3. Quiet. I love listening to the boys chatter away and talk and play. But sometimes, it's just too much. There's toys going off, chattering kids, the tv squawking in the background. I just love nap time so I can shut everything off and just have silence.

4. Floatie free drinks. Yes, this is just like #1, but seriously, child. Leave my drink the eff alone. Once it's contaminated, it's yours. Come to think of it, that's probably your main goal. It's no wonder the amount of coffee I drink, it's guaranteed to be floatie free.

5. Naps. BC, I didn't take naps. I didn't like to waste my time sleeping, I felt like that was unproductive. Well, BC me, I want to kick you in your face. Naps are a wonderful, magical thing that I need more of in my life.

6. Uninterrupted, glorious sleep. Oh sleep, I think I miss you the most. In my little over 5 years of being mommy, mama, ma, mom, mamamama, we've been broken up. I'm sorry, sleep, I really am. I would give anything to have more of you in my life. But currently, a little 3 ft. something boy who currently likes to pick his nose, much to my chagrin, is keeping us apart. I hope to be reunited soon and oh boy, will it feel so good.