Winter Woes

I felt like I was coming out of hibernation today. After 3 days of being snowed in Coby took me out on the town today. We took the dogs to play ball then to lunch and Target and I actually got dressed and put on make-up! Crazy! We actually ended up getting a good 6 inches of snow here on Wednesday and yesterday afternoon it finally started melting off. We did a lot of this... I also got the house cleaned and got caught up on laundry. Then I got my Christmas present from Coby out and am about halfway finished. I didn't get out in the snow at all but the dogs did. Chox gets a little crazy when he can't be out all day.

We plan on getting up tomorrow to head to church and then lunch. Bible study also starts tomorrow night. We are doing Beth Moore's Daniel. I really enjoyed Esther and how she took us through the entire book. Hopefully Daniel will be just as good.
Next week should be busy. I've got to get my tax stuff together, I've got a birthday dinner for a friend, and I just might have to go to work a full 5 days next week!
Here is our meal list that we have been working though. Have a good week!
Baked ziti with salad
Beef fajitas with guacamole
Slow cooker chicken sandwiches with baked zucchini fries
Southwest chicken roll-ups
Salmon with orzo and veg
Slow cooker jambalaya with rice
Pita with tabbouleh and feta and hummus
Vegetable noodle soup with bread
Black bean burgers with sweet potatoes

Things I'm Loving This Friday

A surprise snow day!! I don't think anyone, including the weatherman, thought we'd get much in the way of precipitation today. But one of my co-workers texted me at 4:30 this morning saying schools were closed. There was nothing on the ground yet but the snow came rolling in around 9:00.



I went back to sleep and then the doctor called around 7:30. We had an appointment today at 2:00 but they wanted to move it up to ten.
So we went in and heard the baby's heartbeat and had some blood drawn. Although we have our own doppler at home there is just something reassuring about hearing the little one's heartbeat with someone else there to say "yep that's a heartbeat!".


Other things I'm loving.
I saw these boots a few weeks ago but thought they were too expensive and I would not get very much wear out of them. I kept thinking about them. Especially after the last big snow where I wore my rain boots and almost lost my toes to frost bite. We went back the other day and they were on sale. White was not my top choice but that's all that was left. I decided to get them and got to wear them for the first time today. My toes stayed toasty warm, even when purposefully walking through the snow to test them out. I can't wait to wear them with the little one and play in the snow with him/her.


This lotion. I have had such dry itchy skin lately. Gross I know. I thinks it's a combination of the weather and preg hormones. I have tried everything and finally found this. It's a little more expensive than other store brand lotions, but not more that a little tub of body butter I got a Bath and Body Works which did nothing. A little goes a long way with this, it's not greasy at all, and soaks in fast. But best of all the itch goes away fast and stays away. (I sound like a Gold Bond commercial, don't I?)


A clean house. I did a once over of the house when we got back from the doctor. So nice to know we have the rest of the weekend and everything is clean and laundry is caught up. (It's also fun vacuuming with our new dyson;)

Swiss Miss hot chocolate with the little marshmallows. I wish they would sell those teeny-tiny dehydrated marshmallows by them selves. Wonder what would happen if I tried to dehydrate my own mallows? A big mess I bet.


The wrist braclet I got in the mail the other day to go see Beth Moore in April!!!

The chocolate chip cookies I just made.
Except the pregnancy brain that got in the way. I was scooping out the batter and
kept thinking something wasn't right. Hello Liza, add the chocolate chips!!
I always use our silpat when baking or cooking anything in the oven. Nothing sticks and its so easy to clean. You can buy knock offs that work ok, but not as well as the real thing. If you do any sort of baking I suggest you get yourself one. They are easy to store. Takes up no room. They also my dough mats.


Happy Friday!!!!

Week in Review

This past week has been anything but normal. We were out for MLK day then I had a continuing education course on Tuesday and Wednesday and it snowed some on Thursday causing school to be let out an hour early. I feel like I still have not gotten into a post Christmas routine yet and it's almost February! Friday night Coby worked late and I laid in the recliner all night. So unproductive. Saturday Coby got up and ran errands and took the dogs to the park while I worked on a Sunday School lesson. I got caught up on laundry and went to the grocery store. I also got started on some baby shower presents. (I'll post about them when they are done.) Today we got up and went to church and I taught Sunday School. Then we went to lunch. Planning on spending a low key afternoon at the house then heading to Coby's parents for dinner.
I am still feeling good as far as this pregnancy goes. My hips and back are achey at times but I figure it's just stretching out and making room for the little one. I can also tell when I think the baby is having a growth spurt. Every few days or so I will be ravenous, eat a good meal, and then be starving 5 minutes later! I'm 16 weeks today. It's hard to believe that in five weeks or so we will be half way there! It is fling by! We have a doctors appointment a week from Friday and then they will schedule a radiology appointment within the next week or so for a good quality u/s. Let's just hope that the little one is wiggly and not too modest. I have been looking at nursery decor ideas. I like the darker brown crib sets but I just keep coming back to the modern looking white crib. I've got some really great ideas for a boy or girl and all of them go along with this type of crib. I have also found some Ikea furniture to go with it. Another bonus is that it is the least expensive option and I feel like the other furniture could be used for a long time. We'll see. I'm trying to hold off on making any big decisions until after we find out if we have a he or she.

In other baby news I ordered a fetal heart rate doppler off Amazon.
And I LOVE it. Some friends gave me other type/brand of heart rate listener but said they were never able to get it to work. I decided to spend a little extra and get a good one. I figured since I have tons of borrowed maternity clothes I could splurge and then share the doppler later on. It is totally worth the $70!

We also made another big purchase. After some research we decided to invest in a new vacuum cleaner. We figured with the baby coming and the dogs that we needed a good vacuum, not to mention the fact that our old one was smelling like burnt hair every time we used it. We decided on a Dyson and got a really good deal on ebay. It came in yesterday and we tried it out right away. So far so good.

P.S. I know my layout and header look a mess but the place I got my old one from changed servers and did not have new codes to my old layout. I don't feel like really messing with it right now and I am debating paying someone to make me a good one. Any ideas or suggestions on who does good designs?
I am still adding to my weekly meal database. It has meal ideas, ingredients by meal, and instructions. Most of the meals are super easy and don't have instructions. Let me know if you want me to e-mail you a copy. I also read about these on Org. Junkies blog. She is giving away one and you have until Jan 27th to enter! It looks like a great project that I might get to one day, one day.

Meals for this week and last:
coconut chicken with side and veg
salmon with side and veg
chicken quesidillas
mongolian beef with brown rice
bison burger with green beans and scalloped potatoes
flat iron with okra and mac and cheese
homemade pizza
chicken and orzo pasta
cod with roasted potatoes and asparagus
blt with chips and pickle

2011

It's officially 2011. 2010 was a good year but I am so excited to see what 2011 has in store for us. Speaking of baby (you know that's what I meant, right). Here are some new baby things.
My parents gave us this Razorback bib for Christmas and I got this monkey at a gallery during an after Christmas sale. I am leaning toward these colors for the nursery if it's a boy.

These are some Christmas goodies my cousin Audrey sent. Love Dr. Seuss!

We went out yesterday to look at baby furniture. I have found a few sets I like but we are trying to decide wether to get am ok set, that I would be happy with, for less, or to go ahead and splurge on a really good bedroom set that he/she will have for a long time. Any suggestions?
Just one more day of break then I head back to work, work, work. Only half a year left though! Well I'd better get cooking. We are having black eyed peas, and corn bread, fried potatoes, and greens for dinner, along with apple skillet pie. Not the most healthy but definitely a new years tradition.

Thanksgiving recap

Thank you all for you sweet comments. We are so excited about this new chapter and can't wait to see what is in store for us!!
I've luckily been feeling pretty well. A little nausea here and there and being prettly wiped out at the end to the day, but other than that I feel good.
Now for a little catch-up. Thanksgiving was good for us. I made sweet potatoes, stuffing, cranberries, and an apple, pumpkin, and chocolate pie for lunch at my parent's house on Thursday. We went to dinner Wednesday night at Coby's aunt and uncle's house and had a nice relaxing time. Last night we went to dinner at Terry's Finer Foods The Resturant, it was delicous, and then to The Repretory Theater and saw A Christmas Story. It was nice to have a date night. Something we haven't done in awhile. This morning we did the Advent reading in church then came home and got the grocery shopping completed for the week. Tonight is our churchwide dinner and Christmas carols. I am definatly getting in the Christmas spirit. I have completed and wraped about 75% of the gifts and the tree is up.
I've got to go cut the brownies I made for dinner tonight. Hope everyone has a nice, warm, and relaxing Sunday evening!

The Pumkin Patch Adventure (that never was)

Today has gone by so quickly. We got up this morning and headed out with the dogs for Coby's surprise. I figured out in the car that we were going to a pumpkin patch. I hadn't been to one since I worked respite weekends at camp in college. We always took the kids in the fall. Coby had seen a sign near his work and thought it would be something fun to do. A wrong turn, a spin out of the truck on gravel, almost hitting two dogs in the road, and a snake sighting later we made it. But no dogs were allowed and they were charging $5 per adult to get in. Has anyone else ever been to a pumpkin patch where they charge to get in? I wasn't planning on buying a pumpkin and just wanted to walk around a little. We decided it wasn't worth it and ended up taking the dogs to the park to chase the ball. When we got home I was able to get some laundry started, make a shopping list, go to the grocery store, make tuna sandwiches for lunch, and make homemade banana pudding.


It turned out really well and was pretty easy.
Side Note. This weeks meal list:
pulled pork (from the crock-pot) sandwiches with okra
confetti spaghetti and salad
flat iron steak, mac and cheese, veggie
meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans
(left over) pork tacos, black beans, avocados
spaghetti with left over (frozen) sauce
I also watched the Hogs pull out a win against Texas A&M. I repainted my nails and now am waiting on Coby to finish dinner. He said he would be in charge tonight and he's grilled steaks and green beans, with baked potatoes. I am also making the Pioneer Woman's rosemary dinner roll. Yum!

I had plans to take some pictures of my friend, Dee, and her family this evening but she had to cancel. Oh well, we'll have to reschedule. Coby has to work all day tomorrow so I plan on organizing the craft room and finishing up laundry for the week.

Whew...

I just spent the last 2.5 hours cleaning the house. Aside from doing the normal cleaning of the bathrooms and floors I wandered the house with my bucket of warm water, vinegar, and baking soda. I cleaned baseboards, doors, and walls. This is something that only gets done about once a year but probably needs it about 5-6 times a year. Does anyone else's walls get dusty? Strangest thing, but I am blaming all the dust on my 1942 house, not my lack of dusting.
Coby went to his nephew's football game tonight about 3 hours away and won't be back until late tonight. After cleaning I made a makeshift dinner of carrots and a quesadilla and turned on "Say Yes To The Dress". Nights like this remind me of when I was single. Not single in college, but single and an adult, with an adult job, and an adult house. I would find myself spending evenings alone wondering if I would ever have anyone to spend them with. Now I am just so thankful for nights alone but to know that the love of my life will be back in a few hours. Just one of those things that you look back on and realize how truly fortunate you are now. Speaking of my love. Coby says he has a surprise for me tomorrow morning. I am the worst with surprises. I ask, and ask, and ask, but this time I have tried really hard to leave it as a surprise. Wonder what it will be??!!
I plan on doing some organization of the "craft" room tomorrow afternoon before the Razorback game. Then I am going to take some pictures of my friend, Dee, and her family.
Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Fall is in the Air!

Why do I feel like I live for the weekend and then they just fly by? I had a super busy day at work on Friday. I had planned on cooking dinner but we decided to go get Mexican instead. After dinner we went to the North Little Rock football game. It was such good football weather. Saturday I woke up a got to work cleaning out the closet. I feel like I just did this but it's such an easy place to dump stuff and not put things up like we should. I organized, dusted, and vacuumed. I even ended up cleaning off the ceiling fan. We've been talking about putting our house on the market. Just talking so far, but we have lots of things around the house that need to be fixed or spruced up. I guess the cleaning of the closet was a start. Saturday afternoon I went to Hobby Lobby with my friend Dee and her baby son Weston. Then we went to scope out some places for picture taking. She had asked me to take some fall picture of Weston next weekend and we wanted to find a good scenic spot. Today we got up a went to church then to lunch with my parents. Once back at home I started work on a fall wreath I had seen here.
This is what I came up with. I wish I had used a different color to wrap the wreath but it's ok.


I am usually all about decorating for Halloween and then in November I switch out all my stuff to fall decorations, but I just can't get inspired this year. I think I might skip Halloween decorations and just go with a fall theme.
I also entered the dogs in a photo contest through our local newspaper. The top prize is a new camera! Click here if you want to vote. Here's hoping.



Something else random but exciting (to me at least). My new nail polish color. I never paint my finger nails. My toes are usually some shade of red but I have never liked any color on my finger. Until I saw this. I decided to give it a try and LOVE the color. It's great for fall. Not too bright or distracting. Coby thinks it's "goth" but he's a boy. What does he know?

Tonight for dinner I made potato soup which we will probably be eating off of for the up coming week. I haven't gotten around to making a menu and this week is looking like a busy one. I hope everyone has a good Monday!

Meal Plan Monday after a Loosing Saturday

Welp. We lost. It was a hard loss. And in true Razorback fashion we pulled ahead in the first half and let is slip away in the second. But it was against a very good #1 Alabama team. I think we played better that anyone expected us to and proved that we are a team to be contended with.
I was disappointed but not as disappointed as my dear, poor hubby. I decided to get out of the house right after the game to head to the grocery store (Monday Meal Plan at the end of post) and to my surprise he decided to join me vowing to not let the loss ruin his night. The grocery store was pleasantly calm compared to it's usually craziness. We had a good trip, came home and unloaded the car and then watched Boardwalk Empire on HBO. It's set in the 20's and is about the mob. Entertaining but a little gruesome. Tonight is the second episode.
I woke up this morning with a terrible sinus headache and a painin' in my ear. I'm feeling better and am thinking that it's just allergies. I have spent today doing a whole lot of nothing except catching up on laundry. Tomorrow it's back to work. It was crazy before I left and I'm pretty sure things have not got much better. Oh well, 60 more days until Thanksgiving!!

This week's meal plan...
Spaghetti
Shrimp and Grits
Tacos
Potato Soup and Sandwich
Chicken breast with Veggie and Mac and Cheese

Fall Fancy

Saturday was the first "game day" of the season! I love football. We plan on going to a few of our nephews games as well as going to some North Little Rock games where Coby played in high school and where his younger cousin is a cheerleader. I love football weather, football food, and hot chocolate!
Saturday I made a big dinner of beef brisket, creamed spinach, and potato skins. Here are some picture and recipe links. It ALL turned out really good, and easy!
Crockpot BBQ Beer Beef Brisket This will make really good sandwiches for the rest of the week.

Creamed Spinach

Pioneer Woman Potato Skins

Coby also made this very yummy chocolate pie. Homemade crust and all!

I had to take a picture of my chalkboard in my kitchen. I try to change in up for the season and I thought my razorback turned out pretty well. I've had a few people ask about the chalkboard. I painted a square with a chalkboard paint directly on the wall then framed it out with trim. If I ever did this again I would find a frame I liked and was sized correctly, paint the frame if needed, and then use the chalkboard paint on the glass. Much easier!

Yesterday Coby and I got up, hung around the house and then ran some errands. Then we made a last minute trip to Hot Springs to see his parents. They were having a fish fry at their lake condo. The food was great and the weather was perfect. The dogs were well behaved and swam a ton!
Today has no plans. I hope to get some much needed crafting projects finished.
Happy Labor Day!

Much to do about nothing.

I guess all that organizing did me in because today has been a big day of nuthin'! Coby seems to have injured his back and really hasn't felt like doing to much. The fact that I have had macaroni and cheese for lunch and dinner today, and that I spent the entire day in this, shows that I obviously had no objection.

It's a maxi night gown. Or like I like to call it, a modern day moo-moo. Check out Urban Dictionary's definition.
(Audrey, these are synonymous with Aunt Shir in my mind;)

Anyway. I love my modern day moo-moo. So comfortable and cool for the summer time.
Back to my day. We lazed about. Watched John Cusack's movie 2012. Horrible. I would have been really mad if I would have had something better to be doing. I read a few chapter of The Horse Boy. It's really good and an easy read. They are in the works to make it a movie too.


I made bread yesterday and it turned out really well. Will definitely be doing this more often. It is SO much better than store bought. I even read some of the book Bread Maker's Apprentice today and am excited about trying out a few other types of bread.

I also cut up a huge watermelon and juiced it in our Jack Lalanne juicer. It made the HUGEST mess. I think because the watermelon is mostly liquid. Other fruits and vegetables have more pulp so the juice doesn't come out so quick. At any rate it should make some good sorbet. I'll let you know how it turns out.

We have also been watching Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factor. Totally not a show I would have ever thought about watching but Coby convinced me one night and I watched begrudgingly. It is HILARIOUS! You much watch to believe.

Gosh, that was a lot to say about nothing! I have to work the little kids Sunday School tomorrow morning and this post is about the most energy I have exerted today. I guess I'll lay on the couch then head to bed.