monday brain dump

• Whew! To say it's been a busy day would be an understatement. After Wednesday-Friday off last week for spring break, I've got lots of catching up to do {hate I left my desk a mess} as well as a big event to prepare for this week.
• My morning has consisted of spreadsheets, emails and phone calls. Lots of yawns, too.
• Our garage sale went really well! If I remember correctly, I took four boxes and three large totes of stuff ... and returned with just the four boxes! Plus I made about $175 ... not too shabby.
• Cooper enjoyed spending time with his grandparents during the sale :) I took him with me on Wednesday while we did setup, and again on Saturday so his daddy could accomplish some outside work.
• Little Mister had a BIG accomplishment over the weekend, but I'm going to wait and share it in his four-month {how on earth did that happen?} post on Friday.
• Yesterday, he also got photos taken with live bunnies. Too cute. Pictures to come soon, but I just don't have time right now. He loved them, of course. If it has fur, Coop likes to touch it --- so far :)
• I have a work event on Wednesday night and it's hubby's night to work late. Thankfully, we have some great friends who will keep an eye on Coop for a couple hours for us.
• That still doesn't help the mommy guilt. I work salary, so it's not like I can say that since I'm working two hours late, I can come in two hours late, because I still have to man my office. So I'm missing out on an extra TWO HOURS with my baby. Sad face. But I will be picking him up/dropping him off with friends so we'll get some decent "face time" then.
• I am LOVING the beautiful, summer-like weather we are having. It's been in the 80s the past few days and it's just great. Tonight, I think we may pull out the stroller and go for a family walk.
• I am typically the queen of cheap. Back in the day, hubs and I would sweat {or freeze} to save money on utility bills. I mean, a couple years ago, we waited until JUNE to turn on the air. But it was so darn hot last week, I was {this close} to turning on the air. Ugh. Please don't let this summer be unbearable.
• The change in weather has me realizing how pale and out of shape I am. That needs to change pronto ...
• Time to get back to the grind ... ugh

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Mish Mash

It sure has been crazy in these parts! I guess the craziness of spring/summer is already beginning.

• Today is my last day of work before spring break. I do have a meeting scheduled for 8 a.m. tomorrow, but it may be canceled ... On one hand, I just want to do it, but on the other, I'd love having the day to sleep in.
• Like a crazy woman, I decided to use my three days off to have a garage sale with my mom. I have about six totes/boxes of things plus sevearl items on hangers, and I'm ready to get rid of a lot of it, so I'm pricing it pretty cheaply.
• To prepare for the garage sale, hubby & I organized our closet on Saturday. I mean, we pulled everything out, sorted, etc. Sadly, after amassing quite a pile to sell/trash, our closet is still stuffed. But it looks pretty.
• I'm loving that it's sunny so late now, although I forgot that spring forward also means it takes longer for the sun to rise in the morning. Boo.
• To celebrate the beautiful, sunny weather yesterday afternoon, I opened the windows at the house, and Coop and I spent some time on the front porch. We were being silly :)

3.12.12

• I was concerned that with the time change, Coop would be getting to bed late and waking up even later in the mornings. But so far, that's not the case - in fact, he's a little backwards. He's still going to bed at the same time (on the clock) but has been waking up earlier. I used to wake him up around 6:45, but yesterday he woke up at 6:15, and today it was about 5:15 a.m. Hungry both times, of course.
• I'm thinking Mister may be experiencing another growth spurt, in light of all this. On weekends, we typically will give a bedtime bottle and I'll nurse through the day, and this weekend I upped him to 7 ounces because I didn't feel like dealing with just 1 oz. and he smashed it. Like, less than 10 minutes. Yesterday I sent a 7 oz. to the sitter and he finished it with no problems, too. Oh and we had to bring back the small bottle in addition to nursing at bedtime.
• I'm really focusing on getting plenty of sleep and water now, because even though he is eating more, Coop is still eating five times a day, so my body basically needs to produce that extra milk. Body, please keep up.
• I made a very yummy pizza casserole last night and it will last us at least three meals. Score! It was a bit dry, though, so I'm asking my mom about it before I share the recipe.
• On Saturday, hubby and I set up round pen panels. My dad was getting rid of his and we {hubby} needed them to work with Jax horse {gotta get him broke for Coop} so we got them. We bundled up Little Man and let him chill in the swing. Of course, my little farmer and I had to get a picture :)

 

3.10.12 - and yes, I am rocking my FFA All*Star shirt from way back in high school

• Little Mister sure does love spending time outside and wearing his shades. He seems to have some allergies, but we're hoping that exposing it to him will make it better in the long run.

3.09.12

• I don't believe I've mentioned it, but Coop has an "angel kiss" - one of the birthmarks that's mostly just raised blood and typically fades over time. Clearly, it isn't in a visible area because most people don't know about it. Well, last week it bled some and then looked a bit blistered, so I called the doctors office and they had me bring him in for a quick visit. Luckily, it's totally normal, but seeing blood is freaky. We got done at 3 p.m. and I still had a lot of work to do, so my little angel got to come to work with me. Apparently, he thought mommy's job is super interesting :)

3.07.12

• I'm going to have another good paycheck from my {extra} job this month. Yay! Especially since I'm still getting used to only getting paid once a month. I'm not the best at budgeting, y'all! But the best part is that half of it is going straight to savings.
• Hope y'all enjoy your weekend while I'm {hopefully} getting rid of a lot of junk really great stuff and making some dinero

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10 little things ...

1. I'm working at our main campus tomorrow. Then on Friday I have to be there for a meeting at 7 a.m., and back in the town where I work (45 minutes away) by 10 a.m. Next time, I hope we plan a bit better.
2. We are very close to beginning to solicit donations for our campaign, and the idea both excites and terrifies me.
3. A new Italian place opened in town and my friend Jess and I went last week. The food was amazing. So much so my Wally World chicken fettucinne fails in comparison.
4. Will you keep our Hank Dog in your prayers? Without really going into details, he went to the vet for the second time in as many months yesterday due to a cough and swollen abdomen, as well as decreased energy. We think we've found the problem this time and the meds should greatly improve the symptoms, but I'm still worried. We love that big guy.
5. Even though it means losing an hour, I am SO ready for Daylight Savings Time this weekend. I can't wait for it to be warm enough that we can actually spend that extra hour outside!
6. This week, I am on a salad kick. I could eat a grilled chicken salad every night. Last night Coop's feeding fell in the middle of me preparing supper, so hubby finished and my salad was so beautiful I almost didn't even want to eat it. But it was super yummy ...
7. I'm talking myself out of doing a garden. I love fresh produce, but last year it really tanked, due to my exhaustion, back problems and the heat. I just hate not doing one, but it's not really feasible with a baby who will be 6-9 months old during that time and my working 10 hour days Monday through Thursday. Luckily my mom has a garden and I'm sure will keep me supplied :)
8. How is it that winter is just about over and I've just now given into the leggings trend? I totally love them and would wear them every single day!
9. Sometimes, I wonder if the money you make off a garage sale is worth all the work that goes into it. And in my case, gas, since it's not at my house.
10. Is it bad that I'm glad St. Pats falls on a Saturday so I don't have to buy some ridiculous outfit for my kid to wear to daycare? It's weird, I like most holidays, but think this one is dumb ...

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this weekend {plus menu monday}

• I almost got all the laundry done!
• We watched a chick flick while cuddled on the couch and I fell asleep. Whoops.
• We ate way too much ... including baking a cake at 8 p.m. Saturday. Funfetti is the best ... and I think in the future, we will ALWAYS make a bundt cake, warm up the icing and just pour it on top - so easy!
• Cooper got some quality time with his grandparents.
• He also got to see his aunt, uncle and cousins. However, he wasn't in a very good mood when they came and pretty much insisted on sitting in his Bumbo the entire time.
• We went on a family walk to test out the jogging stroller {although we didn't jog much.} This little guy is our little Cee Lo :)

3.04.12

• Poor baby woke up this morning with a snotty nose and, after eating, coughed and spit up A LOT. So much I had to take off my T-shirt AND his jammies. But then he smiled and giggled while daddy got him suctioned {again} and dressed for the day.
• We did the "balancing broom" trick. These sort of photos have been blowing up my facebook feed so we tried it. My parents were there and thought I was crazy, but it worked! Some people said it's like the egg one and due to the planet alignment/gravitational pull, but some Googling indicates it's really just a balancing act. Have you tried it? {For the record, this is an angled broom.}

• And here's our menu for the week. Last week we did pretty good, but ended up with McD's one night and some leftovers lasted longer so I never did make our chicken dish.
• Sunday: Hamburger and rice, mashed potatoes, green beans
• Monday: Hamburgers, French Fries
• Tuesday: OMG Chicken, Alfredo noodles, salad

Source: theenchantedcook.blogspot.com via Michelle on Pinterest

• Wednesday: Leftovers
• Thursday: More leftovers :)
• Friday: Salmon patties, fried potatoes, bowties in tomato juice
• Saturday: TBD. Probably something super unhealthy, like pizza.

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Make My Monday #2

Good Monday morning! I hope you all had a great weekend! Ours was wonderful, just too short, as usual.

I'm linking up again with Kelly and Jessica for Make My Monday! This week, we're sharing favorite recipes :)



I really love food. I mean, I made one of these recipes over the weekend and meant to take a picture, but got too caught up, you know, eating it, that I didn't. Oh well. Trust me, it's all delish!

Breakfast pizza squares

You'll need:
1 can crescent rolls
1 lb. sausage, browned
4 eggs
2 T. milk
Shredded cheese

Make it:
Spread crescent rolls at the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Sprinkle sausage on top. Combine eggs with milk and a dash of pepper, and pour evenly on top. Cover in cheese {however much you like!} Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Inhale.

I make this for brunches with friends, garage sale mornings, and it was also requested by a good friend I make it for her wedding morning while we got our hair done :)

Refried bean dip

You'll need:
1 lb. hamburger meat
1 packet taco seasoning
1 can refried beans
16 oz. sour cream
1 head lettuce
Tomatos, diced
Shredded cheese

Make it:
Brown hamburger meat & drain. Add in taco seasoning and water as directed and mix together. Stir in the can of beans. Once mixed, spread in a 9x13 and allow to cool. Top with sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. Enjoy on tortilla chips.

Note: you can add olives, onions, etc. in the layers but we don't like them :)

A great party dish! You can make it ahead and it is delish!

It also pairs very well with these ...

Margaritas!

You'll need:
Minute maid frozen limeade
Tequila
Triple Sec
Sprite
Ice

Make it:
Fill a blender to the top line with ice. Add in your limeade. Using the limeade container, do a 50/50 mixture of triple sec and tequila (it's supposed to be 3 oz. each). Add in a full container of Sprite (6 oz.) Blend until it's reached the desired consistency.

These are a family favorite of ours, and we go through several pitchers at my mom's family Christmas every year.

Let me know if you try any of these!

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This & That

• No storms last night! But they are in the forecast for this afternoon now ... in fact, my phone is buzzing with NWS warnings right now.
• I've had quite the craving for bagels lately. Or maybe just cream cheese? Anyhow, I bought some earlier this week and they're staying at the office. I can definitely handle having one less thing to worry about {breakfast} in the mornings.
• Our PAT coordinator came for a visit the other night. She said she wouldn't be surprised if Coop is rolling over at our next visit in four weeks, based on what he was doing last night. Excitement!

03.02.12

• Sometimes, I hate subscribing to deal blogs. I saw this morning that Target.com has an additional 10% off its baby clearance plus free shipping, and promptly spent about 30 bucks.
• We stayed out way too late last night. After I skipped my lunch break so I could leave early to sign some of the refinance papers at the bank, we stopped by my dad's farm to see the damage from Wednesday's storm - a grain bin had blown over! Anyhow, by the time we visited and Coop got to meet his great-aunt, it was almost 8 p.m., so we hit up the McD's drive-in {salad for me!} and headed on home to do bottles, bedtime, etc.
• I'm considering chopping my hair off. It's gotten a bit damaged with split ends and such and I just feel I need to get rid of a few inches and get it healthier. The only thing stopping me is that I don't want people saying I have a "mom cut." Ha!
• I'm trying to decide if we should do a family vacation this summer. Since we're working on a few other big projects, our beach trip is out. I'd like to do an overnight trip to, say, St. Louis {2 hour drive} and go to the zoo. Hubby and my mom think it's silly because Coop won't remember, but I just want to get in the habit of taking him somewhere every year. 
• A sweet friend gave me a gift certificate to have a pedicure after Coop was born. I'm thinking that since the weather is warming up, now is the time to redeem it.
• Have a great weekend :)

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hello, march!

Well, had we not had a leap year and yesterday been March 1, the month definitely would have been "in like a lion." Today is nice, but we're bracing for more storms tonight/tomorrow - so please keep my husband who has to deal with me family in your prayers.

Anyhow, last month I posted some goals, if you will, for February. I thought it would be fun to recap them and post more for March.

Feburary:
- Do Fab Ab February. Meh. I did it for a week, go off track due to my birthday, tried to catch up, got sick, yada yada yada.

- Eat healthier. Sort of. I did pay attention to portions at first and did attempt to do more veggies. But I still ate sweets practically every day.

• NOTE: These things would be SO MUCH easier if my hubby was on board with me. Excuses, exchmushes, I know.

- Lose 4 lbs. I was very surprised to see I'd lost 3 lbs. this month. I guess I must have done something right.
- Get caught up/save money. Well, we paid off all the doctors bills this month. And I would totally have the money to save, but forgot my insurance is now on a different cycle, so my money will go toward that instead. Le sigh.
- Organize the spare bedroom/buy a file cabinet to get all the paperwork in order. Nope. We did do a bit of work in the spare bedroom one weekend so it's better, but still far from perfect.
- Keep the house presentable/spend 10 minutes each night picking up. Didn't happen. I think that by the time I get home, nurse, cook supper, prep bottles and do the dishes, I'm just plain exhausted and don't have it in me to pick up while hubby is just watching TV.
- Live in the moment/put the phone down more/do more multi-tasking. I sucked at the multi-tasking - clear by the fact that laundry sits in the baskets for about a week. But I did much better at leaving the phone alone and spending quality time with Coop - although I still could use some work.

So for March ...

Source: Uploaded by user via Michelle on Pinterest

• Complete Mad Abs March in conjunction with Fab Ab February.
• Do a better job of eating in moderation. Sweets are OK, just don't go overboard. And watch those darn portions!
• Lose 4 lbs. I think this should be attainable with just a little willpower, considering I did 3 lbs. without much trying this month. I wanna go on my birthday shopping spree!
• Get outside/walk at least once a week (even if it's at lunchtime)
• Continue breastfeeding.
• Out to eat no more than two times/week (unless it's work-related and I can't help it.)
• Save at least half of my "extra" paycheck.
• Continue to work on putting down the damn phone! And spending more quality time with my boys.
• Only start a load of laundry if I can finish it.
• Purge our house of junk we don't need and have an awesome yard sale (which is to be in two weeks ... EEEK!)
• Finally finish cleaning the spare room and basement hallway.
• Make one PHONE CALL to friends who don't live in town each week.
• Start couponing again
• Try two new recipes

OK, I think that's plenty for this month!

Do you all set monthly goals? How do you keep yourself accountable?


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