snow.

I have nothing to share other than this

enjoy, 'cause I'm ready for it to go away. It's pretty to look at, but it doesn't belong here.

I have nothin'

Today was a real disappointment of a day. I accomplished nothing. I got out and got my coffee, started to pick up some birthday gifts that I need to get out and decided that I just couldn't do it anymore. I convinced the girls that lunch was calling our names. N asked if it was McDonalds, and the answer was a big fat NO. Got home, did a load of laundry and a load of dishes and that was it. I had no energy, no motivation, nothing.


If you're trying to be frugal, trying not to let anything go to waste, don't do what I did today. Tonight, according to the menu, was to be chicken rice-a-roni. So, I pulled the chicken breasts out of the freezer to defrost. Then at six, grumbled that I really couldn't pull it together to cook dinner. So, we went to Costco.

Yes, I didn't have to cook - the kids had pizza. I ended up getting some groceries that I needed. However, I forgot about the chicken sitting on the counter and we've been back for at least two hours now and I'm pretty sure the chicken went bad. damn.

So, my advice for tonight

stick with the plans you've set, otherwise it all just goes down the crapper

in the field and not at playland

The baby cows are cute. They're my best friend. I want to go to their house.

Um... How exactly would you respond to this. I agreed that they were cute, and asked her where did you meet them. She stated that she met the baby cow, whose name is Elena, at playland and that she lives on the slide. Hmmm... She then insisted that we go immediately to playland. I then had to inform her that mommy was not in the mood for McDonalds and that the baby cows were in the field and not at playland today.

And amazingly, she left it at that.

Wow. I love how her little mind works and where it goes. Not to mention that at a mere 34 months, her imagination is on fire!

Get up each morning knowing that baby cows are cute and then drop it like a dead fly.

daily bit of advice... sort of

You can always try it again tomorrow, even if you didn't even try today.

This applies to all of us in some form. Procrastinators unite! While I did do my dishes today - I made more. Dammit. It's never ending.

Remember yesterday's advice? Go check out Not Martha we are making these this weekend! How did I not discover this sooner!

bleh. diapers and dirty dishes

It's monday morning and I feel amazing. I got up early enough (before the kids!) and went to the gym. Then, got everybody ready for school and was even able to run a quick errand while in town. I got back started laundry and walked into my kitchen. Now, I'm hiding. We had guests over Saturday night, and while I did do our sit down dishes that night, I put the serving dishes, and pots and pans to the side. Then yesterday M unloaded the dishwasher and everything else sat. We had fun yesterday and I couldn't ruin it by doing the dishes. So, there they sit, still. I made fried chicken and biscuits last night and it's just such a mess that I can't bring myself to going back in there. I know that I have to do it, it's just a matter of when. I need to make cinnamon rolls today and need the entire kitchen in order to do this. bleh.

Next on my list is diaper laundry. I've needed to do these and really I love doing diaper laundry. But here's my dilemma -I haven't done diaper laundry in a couple of weeks. ew. L started teething and I tend to use disposibles during times like these. She is still teething, but I am running out of sposies and don't feel like going and buying more -so cloth NEEDS to be washed. This is going to take all day because of sitting for so long.

If you are interested in some diaper coupons here is a link to Seventh Generation, if you sign up you can print their baby products coupon for $2 off twice.

Okay, so boring, but my to do list is something that I need to be accountable for and I'm accounting for it!


THIS WEEK'S MENU!

Monday - Pork Chops, rice, & broccoli
Tuesday -Crockpot night! Some chicken/potato dish, undecided
Wednesday -Chicken rice-a-roni
Thursday -Breakfast night! Egg bake w/ bacon
Friday -Taco skillet (new recipe for us!)
Saturday -Soup/Sandwich/Salad night
Sunday -Random surprise dinner a la mom

On Friday night I made this I love coffee cake and thought -Chocolate chips, why not? Um... not that it was bad, it just wasn't right. I loved the coffee cake, just not with chocolate. So, if you get an itchin' for a good coffee cake, this is one to try, just leave out the chips my friend.

I'll post more later, as I feel this is incredibly lame.

dude. You need followers

Apparently, I need followers. It is the new cool thing to have. The new Iphone, the new Ipod, the wii, they were all the cool thing to have. So, in my desperate attempt to attract followers I will offer some advice daily. Not that you or anyone else is looking for advice, but just for the fact that I like to dole it out to unsuspecting recipients. No one asks for it and no one necessarily needs it, well except I think that you may need it. It may not even apply to you, but you look like you could use some.

So, for today's advice

Bacon, butter, and a hug make everything better.

Take a moment and really dig down deep. That made you feel better, didn't it?

no doubt, the gods are crazy

Well, the gods are against us. For reals people. Considering J and I never get to go out alone - ever. - and we actually had someone to watch the kids, this past weekend had looked bright. But as usual, we are forever being punished for something we did in a past life. To start things off, who in the hell starts their period the day before Valentines day? me. Seriously, not only is this cruel, but it is just plain mean. Very romantic, a real deal killer. Not to let anyone top that, they decide that L needs to get a new set of teeth. Molars to boot. The kid is a mess. Snot, drool, hacking cough, up all night, and just pitiful looking. Poor kid. Poor us. Needless to say, nana and papa did offer to watch the girls for a bit, and we were able to catch a flick. We then whisked our defeated family back to our compound to rest up in our own environment. Suck.

I'll just get down to the nitty gritty today - here's this week's menu:

Monday -Happy President's day homemade Pizza & Caesar salad-recipe to follow
Tuesday -Spaghetti & Caesar-using sauce that we made a couple of weeks ago and froze
Wednesday -Tacos
Thursday- swedish meatballs/potatoes/green beans
Friday- Teriyaki chicken w/ rice
Saturday- Veggie night -baked potatoes & Caesar salad
Sunday- Baked rotini/bread/caesar salad


Pizza Crust - this crust is a mix of a couple of recipes that I found and worked with what I had on hand and wah lah!

4 tsp bulk dry yeast
1.5 c warmish (bathtub warm) water
4 tsp sugar
1/3 c olive oil
4.5-5 c flour
1-2 tsp roasted garlic granuals

sprinkle and mix yeast w/ water, then add sugar, let sit for about 10 min or until fuzzy looking. Start by adding the olive oil, garlic, and yeast mix into mixer (I use a kitchenaid for the whole bit)let mix for a couple of minutes. Change out to the dough hook, and start adding 3 cups flour slowly to the mix until it starts to pull from the sides,it gets kind of spider-webby looking, let got for about 10 minutes. At this point add remaining flour until smooth.
I then leave dough in the mixing bowl, cover and let rise. Let sit for about 30 minutes, punch down and let sit for another 30 minutes(or whenever you remember to get back to it :)) Split into two balls, set one aside. Spray some Pam on that baking sheet or pizza stone and start to roll out the dough. I use a combination of my fingers and a pin. I put the pan aside, cover until I'm ready to use it. Add toppings and back at 425 for 20-30 minutes. Enjoy. The sauce I got from here I didn't exactly like it, I just used what I had on hand, but I have to say that garlic is a must.

Oh, the other ball that you set aside- cover with parchments paper or plastic wrap put in a labeled ziploc and toss in the freezer for next time.

Picture to come.

Also, I'm making croutons again. This time I'm trying a method that shouldn't take days. Hopefully, they don't end up chipping teeth and being used to sand the roads. Wish me luck, we'd really like croutons in our salads this week.

dates, presidents, hearts oh my!

Okay craziness is my life and another chapter starts today! Much running around will happen today, starting in about five minutes! As I lined out yesterday, we are heading out today for the weekend and umm... I get to go on a date this weekend! What will I wear? Do you think he'll like me? Oh, what if my hair is frizzy? What will I ever do? Seriously, I don't think I could ever go through that again. The thought that I would have to spend more than 2 minutes fretting over that stuff would put me over the edge. I've got better stuff to worry about, like who's missing the potty in the middle of the night or didn't change out the toilet paper last. I'm just glad that he still looks me up and down when I'm in my flannel jammies, with that crazy look in his eyes - and no, it's not the "what in the hell is that?" look. My parent's have agreed (with some bribing of course) to watch the kids for us. We haven't been on a date in over 2 years. I haven't seen to a movie in... umm... you know what, the last movie I saw was Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby YIKES! Okay, I think we need to go see a movie!

The rest of the weekend will be up in the air - which is so fun! We love to fly by the seat of our pants! Considering we haven't been out to visit family and friends since before Christmas, we'll definitely be doing some visiting! So watch out people we know - we're coming over!

I hope that you have a fantabulous long weekend - we will!
Happy birthday President Abraham Lincoln - it's all about you today man!

oh the humanity!

Craft magazine's last edition is the current issue. I am so sad. I have informed my husband that now is the time to invest in my future and get the back issues. Craftzine.com will continue, which is awesome, but I'm still sad. Please mourn with me.

my return from the underworld

After taking a brief siesta from the internet in general, I have returned! I'm not promising daily updates - but who really wants to delve that deep into my life. Really.

I've been trying to figure out where I really want to take this - sharing of info, experiences, life stuff... and I've concluded that, I really don't know yet. So, I'll continue with what I've been doing and see where it takes me. You and me, kid. We're going places.
I will try and organize the chaos better. Maybe have Monday always be my update of the weekend and our weekly menu post, with recipes to follow during the week. I'm hoping that once a week I can post a new foodie recipe and maybe a crafty project. Let's see!

I've been obsessing the last couple of nights, staying up late, reading Craft magazine online. I love this website and the blog is pretty awesome too. J and I got hooked on Make magazine a few months back and then I found Craft. Really, I don't know what I was doing before this. There is tons of different projects and the ideas that people come up with are INSANE and yet quite ingenious.


While, J has already subscribed to Make and picked up a couple of the back issues, I am left to fantasize and wish on the first star of the night. But, I am totally digging this stuff, and for now - as it is with most moms, we come last- I must wait to get Craft for myself. Basketball, Baseball, Valentine's Day, birthdays are coming and therefore I am in the backseat until this season passes. hmmmmm.... until then I can daydream and surf!

Moving on from the pity party.

A couple of weeks back I made up an entire month's menu and it was incredibly easy. As I had done in the past, I typed up all of usuals and favorites and then numbered them, entered it into Random.org 's list randomizer. It was easy peasy. I had meals for a month, and with only a few repeats.

This week is kind of wacky, Z has a half day on Thursday and both M & Z don't have school on Friday so we're heading to nana & papa's for the day/weekend. I will share more after the holiday weekend. It's a doubly thrilling weekend too! It's Valentine's Day and President's day all rolled in to one exciting package! Woo hoo! So I leave you with this special message - Happy President Valentine's day weekend!