Friday, March 30, 2012
DELICIOUS!!!
Tonight's meal was rated a "9" by Chris and I think the kids would agree. I made Baked Chicken Nuggets from a recipe I found online (I substituted buttermilk for the butter). Our side was Bacon Braised Green Beans (Kendall gobbled them up!). My mother-in-law made the green beans last Thanksgiving and everyone raved about them. They didn't disappoint again tonight. SOO much flavor for green beans!!!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
my kid-free day
This morning I had a doc's appointment and then headed to Starbucks for a Soy Caramel Macchiato and some reading time. My mom gave me a new book to try and I really like it. The last time I sat at Starbucks and read was last year and I forgot how relaxing it is!!
Afterward I went to Macy's. When I reached the check out counter I was VERY dismayed to find that my gift card I had planned on using had a zero balance. The dismay came from the fact that I had over $100 on it!!!! What???!!! Come to find out someone had fabricated a card and somehow put my number on it. Long story short, the Macy's rep I talked with could tell it was fraud and I will hopefully get a new card with my correct balance in the mail soon. Whew!! I never knew that could happen!!
I got a few chores done this afternoon (not as many as I had hoped for). I was able to get rid of a big bag of stuff at the thrift store which was SUCH a great feeling!!
I also made some cookie balls (or truffles) for Cam's old preschool teacher (whom we are visiting tomorrow) and his speech teachers. I can't believe how much the similar cake balls are at someplace like Starbucks as opposed to how much I made these for. One cake ball at Starbucks is $1.50. I made 57 cookie balls (granted they are a tad smaller) for $7.00!!! I used Strawberry Creme Cookies for the first time and they were quite tasty!
Afterward I went to Macy's. When I reached the check out counter I was VERY dismayed to find that my gift card I had planned on using had a zero balance. The dismay came from the fact that I had over $100 on it!!!! What???!!! Come to find out someone had fabricated a card and somehow put my number on it. Long story short, the Macy's rep I talked with could tell it was fraud and I will hopefully get a new card with my correct balance in the mail soon. Whew!! I never knew that could happen!!
I got a few chores done this afternoon (not as many as I had hoped for). I was able to get rid of a big bag of stuff at the thrift store which was SUCH a great feeling!!
I also made some cookie balls (or truffles) for Cam's old preschool teacher (whom we are visiting tomorrow) and his speech teachers. I can't believe how much the similar cake balls are at someplace like Starbucks as opposed to how much I made these for. One cake ball at Starbucks is $1.50. I made 57 cookie balls (granted they are a tad smaller) for $7.00!!! I used Strawberry Creme Cookies for the first time and they were quite tasty!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
*Went to see The Hunger Games last night with a couple of friends. It was great!! The book was better (which is always the case) but I still think it's so fun to see movies after reading the book to see the differences/similarities. :)
*Kendall has been doing GREAT with potty training!! She really only had a few accidents in the beginning and is even pooping on the potty! Makes me wonder if this could be the end of our constipation issues!! :)
*Last Friday we went over to a new client of Chris' for dinner. They have two boys a little older than our kids. What a night. What a wonderful, normal, this-is-what-typical-families-do night! The kids were gone to the back of the house or backyard most of the evening, allowing more adult conversation than I thought possible in a situation like that. We used to never go over to other peoples' homes for dinner nor have them to our house because it was too stressful for me with Cam. So great to not have that issue anymore!!
*I stumbled across this dress and LOVE it. I love the bow in the front and the poofiness of the skirt.
*My parents are taking the kids to Disneyland tomorrow. I'm not quite sure what to do with myself. :) I know I want to make a cleaning list of places in the house that don't get enough attention. :)
*Have you seen the new Turkey Provolone Sandwich at the Costco food court? While it looks good, I doubt it will make it into our rotation. $3.99 is a little steep for our Costco dinners....not to mention it's not THAT big considering it's 730 calories!!!! :) Also, for those of you who love Costco as much as we do, this is a great website.
*Kendall has been doing GREAT with potty training!! She really only had a few accidents in the beginning and is even pooping on the potty! Makes me wonder if this could be the end of our constipation issues!! :)
*Last Friday we went over to a new client of Chris' for dinner. They have two boys a little older than our kids. What a night. What a wonderful, normal, this-is-what-typical-families-do night! The kids were gone to the back of the house or backyard most of the evening, allowing more adult conversation than I thought possible in a situation like that. We used to never go over to other peoples' homes for dinner nor have them to our house because it was too stressful for me with Cam. So great to not have that issue anymore!!
*I stumbled across this dress and LOVE it. I love the bow in the front and the poofiness of the skirt.
*My parents are taking the kids to Disneyland tomorrow. I'm not quite sure what to do with myself. :) I know I want to make a cleaning list of places in the house that don't get enough attention. :)
*Have you seen the new Turkey Provolone Sandwich at the Costco food court? While it looks good, I doubt it will make it into our rotation. $3.99 is a little steep for our Costco dinners....not to mention it's not THAT big considering it's 730 calories!!!! :) Also, for those of you who love Costco as much as we do, this is a great website.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
pretty typical weekend
Saturday morning Chris took the kids to Panera Bread for breakfast and then grocery shopping. I stayed back and relaxed as well as worked on a project I'm working on with Chris. I'm glad to be able to do something to help in his business. There is no way I could design, but laying out the innards of a book is something I can learn and I feel like I'm catching on pretty well.
Cameron had a T-ball game and then we came back for lunch and nap. While Kendall slept, Chris took Cam to watch the remote control car races.
Upon their return the kids watched a movie with some "movie candy" (candy they get to pick out from the bins at WinCo). I had tivo'd The Princess and the Frog, which for some reason was NOT a hit with either one. :)
That night we ate a fun but unhealthy dinner. I can see why eating unhealthy is very attractive to those on a super tight budget. We had tater tots topped with peppers, cheese, onions, and hot dogs. We figured out that the four of us ate for about $5! Too bad we can't eat like that every night! :)
This morning the kids took a much needed bath, then we headed to church. Afterward Chris brought the kids home as I had to stay for the next service. After I returned we relaxed while the kids napped/rested, then headed out to Palm Springs. Chris hit a golf store while the kids and I roamed the mall.
Eating a Sees sample:
I found this cute girls' bedset at JC Penney, however I'm REALLY not liking the no sale policy. I find myself not wanting to spend the full price because I don't feel like I'm getting a good deal. We'll see what I decide. :)
After the mall we hit Costco for dinner and a few groceries then headed home in some nasty weather.
Right now Chris is watching Tiger Woods win a big tournament and I'm about to make my Skinny Cow creation. :)
Cameron had a T-ball game and then we came back for lunch and nap. While Kendall slept, Chris took Cam to watch the remote control car races.
Upon their return the kids watched a movie with some "movie candy" (candy they get to pick out from the bins at WinCo). I had tivo'd The Princess and the Frog, which for some reason was NOT a hit with either one. :)
That night we ate a fun but unhealthy dinner. I can see why eating unhealthy is very attractive to those on a super tight budget. We had tater tots topped with peppers, cheese, onions, and hot dogs. We figured out that the four of us ate for about $5! Too bad we can't eat like that every night! :)
This morning the kids took a much needed bath, then we headed to church. Afterward Chris brought the kids home as I had to stay for the next service. After I returned we relaxed while the kids napped/rested, then headed out to Palm Springs. Chris hit a golf store while the kids and I roamed the mall.
Eating a Sees sample:
I found this cute girls' bedset at JC Penney, however I'm REALLY not liking the no sale policy. I find myself not wanting to spend the full price because I don't feel like I'm getting a good deal. We'll see what I decide. :)
After the mall we hit Costco for dinner and a few groceries then headed home in some nasty weather.
Right now Chris is watching Tiger Woods win a big tournament and I'm about to make my Skinny Cow creation. :)
Thursday, March 22, 2012
a few food items...
*I think I've mentioned before that my favorite part of a bag of chips/crackers is the very bottom. I love all the broken pieces for some reason. I think they are more salty and just more fun to eat. :) So here is my little snack pile today with my favorite chips. :)
*I've seen a few different cooking shows make colored sugar by simply squeezing a drop of food coloring in sugar and mixing. Seemed easy enough. And it really is! I colored sugar green to cover my Mint Oreo Cookie Balls today. I made them for the kids' teachers at my moms group as well as the girls at my table tomorrow. While I'm not a mint fan when it comes to dessert, I think most people are and therefore like these as opposed to regular Oreo ones.
*Two new foods my kids really like: Tuna and Bell Peppers. Woohoo!!!
*I've seen a few different cooking shows make colored sugar by simply squeezing a drop of food coloring in sugar and mixing. Seemed easy enough. And it really is! I colored sugar green to cover my Mint Oreo Cookie Balls today. I made them for the kids' teachers at my moms group as well as the girls at my table tomorrow. While I'm not a mint fan when it comes to dessert, I think most people are and therefore like these as opposed to regular Oreo ones.
*Two new foods my kids really like: Tuna and Bell Peppers. Woohoo!!!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
if I had pinterest, this is what I would pin for the future...
*This Smashed Chickpea and Avocado Salad Sandwich looks sooo tasty. I'm going to attempt it for the kids tomorrow...I wouldn't even dare try it on Chris. :)
*I've tried a tube of polenta before and was not impressed at all. I think I didn't know how to make it so it had much flavor. But I'm willing to give the stuff another shot. This Baked Polenta looks like the ticket.
*This pizza didn't interest me because of the toppings, but the crust. Good heavens is this right up our alley!!!! Thick, thick, thick!!!!
*This 3, 2, 1 Cake is SOOO intriguing to me (disregard the totally unnecessary fruit in the pic!). I read about it a while ago and don't know why I have not tried it yet. Basically it's a dessert for one that takes less than a minute. You mix two dry cake mixes (one has to be angel food). You take 3 tbls. of the cake mix, 2 tbls. water, then microwave for 1 minute. How easy is that??
*This Soft Chewy Wrap Bread looks good and the potato flakes in the recipe make me think it really is that soft.
That's it! Hopefully I'll make at least one of these this week and I'll report back!!
*I've tried a tube of polenta before and was not impressed at all. I think I didn't know how to make it so it had much flavor. But I'm willing to give the stuff another shot. This Baked Polenta looks like the ticket.
*This pizza didn't interest me because of the toppings, but the crust. Good heavens is this right up our alley!!!! Thick, thick, thick!!!!
*This 3, 2, 1 Cake is SOOO intriguing to me (disregard the totally unnecessary fruit in the pic!). I read about it a while ago and don't know why I have not tried it yet. Basically it's a dessert for one that takes less than a minute. You mix two dry cake mixes (one has to be angel food). You take 3 tbls. of the cake mix, 2 tbls. water, then microwave for 1 minute. How easy is that??
*This Soft Chewy Wrap Bread looks good and the potato flakes in the recipe make me think it really is that soft.
That's it! Hopefully I'll make at least one of these this week and I'll report back!!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
top 5
I recently read a book that definitely ranks in my top five of all time. It is called Unbroken, and I believe I'm a little late in the game as it was on the best seller list for quite a while. It is the true story of the Olympic athlete Louis Zamperini, whose WWII plane crashed and was captured by the Japanese.
It was one of the most fascinating books I've ever read. However the word "fascinating" is almost too positive of a word to describe it. What he went through is utterly unimaginable and made me feel rather pathetic for the things I complain about in my life. While some parts are hard to read (gruesome as far as how he was treated), it is SUCH a good story and I would highly, highly, highly recommend it if you want a book that you just can't put down.
p.s. The author is the same one who wrote Seabiscuit, one that I adored also. Not being a horse person, let alone a racing horse person, the fact that she held my attention soooo well speaks very highly to her writing! :)
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