- Alex has the book "Actual Size" by Steve Jenkins. Everytime I see this book, the song "Actual Size" by They Might Be Giants pops into my head and I can't get rid of it.
- The baby has decided that my bladder makes both a nice cushion and a wonderful plaything. I've gone to the bathroom more in the past week than I have all month.
- I wish I could finish a crochet project. I have three "in progress" projects: a blanket, a scarf, and a market bag. I think I'm more of a small project crocheter. I need something I can be done with in a day or two. Otherwise, I get overwhelmed and want to walk away.
- Craig and I will celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary next year. I have no idea how we will celebrate. I'm kind of hoping we take a trip someplace. Guess we should probably talk about it at some point before our 20th wedding anniversary, huh?
- If I could get paid to read books all day, I'd quit my job in a heartbeat.
- That being said, I still think my job is kinda cool. Not as cool at TV news was, but cool nonetheless. (I'm in PR for a Fortune 500 company now.)
- It cracks me up that Alex can now distinguish between Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters, and requests these artists whenever we are in the car. Well, that and the "Wicked" soundtrack. He's recently started singing along with what he hears. I love it! (Not that there's anything wrong with music produced especially for kids, it's just that we've only subjected him to stuff that we enjoy. And none of the music we enjoy in his presence has lyrics that need to be edited, thank goodness.)
- I feel kinda guilty that when I was pregnant with Alex I took belly pictures every month. With this one, I haven't yet taken one belly picture. We'll have to work on that. I'm 7 months now...
Friday, October 9, 2009
More Random Friday Thoughts
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Recipe Swap Thursday
My friend Therese is once again hosting Recipe Swap Thursday. Go check out the other offerings at her blog, Musings of a Mom.
Easy Black Bean-Beef Enchiladas
(This recipe makes up to 16 enchiladas, depending on how much meat you use and how full you stuff them!)
1 to 1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 15 oz. can black beans (rinsed & drained)
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 tsp. cumin
1 cup monterrey jack or pepper jack cheese, shredded
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1 can red enchilada sauce flour tortillas (soft taco sized)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray baking dish with non-stick cooking spray (I recommend either square, oval or 9X13 dish). Brown ground beef, drain. Salt and pepper to taste. Add onion and black beans. Cook till onions are transparent. Place 3 tablespoons of meat/bean mixture into tortilla, top with monterrey jack cheese, roll tightly and place seam side down in baking dish. Repeat until all mixture is used. Pour enchilada sauce over enchiladas. Cover with alumninum foil which has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from oven, top with cheddar cheese before serving.
(The original recipe was vegetarian. I added ground beef. You can also substitute shredded chicken if desired.)
Easy Black Bean-Beef Enchiladas
(This recipe makes up to 16 enchiladas, depending on how much meat you use and how full you stuff them!)
1 to 1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 15 oz. can black beans (rinsed & drained)
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 tsp. cumin
1 cup monterrey jack or pepper jack cheese, shredded
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1 can red enchilada sauce flour tortillas (soft taco sized)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray baking dish with non-stick cooking spray (I recommend either square, oval or 9X13 dish). Brown ground beef, drain. Salt and pepper to taste. Add onion and black beans. Cook till onions are transparent. Place 3 tablespoons of meat/bean mixture into tortilla, top with monterrey jack cheese, roll tightly and place seam side down in baking dish. Repeat until all mixture is used. Pour enchilada sauce over enchiladas. Cover with alumninum foil which has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from oven, top with cheddar cheese before serving.
(The original recipe was vegetarian. I added ground beef. You can also substitute shredded chicken if desired.)
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Movies that sucked me in this past weekend...
As I mentioned, Craig was out of town last weekend. Normally when he's out of town (which is not very often), I gorge my brain on Chick Flicks. Last time he was gone, I fully intended to watch "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Sex and the City." Instead, I found "An Affair to Remember" on one of the movie channels, and was sucked in by Cary Grant. (sigh... The man was sexy. The dark hair. The accent. Always played characters with a little bit of arrogant charm.)
This past weekend, two movies kept me up way too late. Neither of which could be classified as a chick flick. The first one was "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." We saw the movie in the theater on a date night. At the time I thought it was pretty funny. It's been in rotation on HBO since spring... and everytime I watch that movie it gets funnier. It's just a hoot! Extremely naughty, so if you haven't seen it and decide to watch, know that it's "naughty/raunchy" humor, but still quite funny. I mean, the lyrics to the songs alone are enough to induce fits of giggles if you think about them. And Russell Brand and Jonah Hill darn near steal the movie. And the guy from "30 Rock." There's just so much to love about this movie. Whenever it's on, I usually stop and watch it till the end. (as long as Alex is safely tucked away in bed... he's WAY to young for that!)
The other movie I get sucked into is "Wedding Crashers." I love this movie. I think Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn are so hilarious. And I love Rachel McAdam. I think she is beautiful. There are so many great funny people in this movie too. Isla Fisher is great as the zany sister, Gloria. Christopher Walken and Jane Seymour are also fantastic as the parents. Wilson and Vaughn play so well off each other. I had every intention of going to bed early Sunday night... but this movie came on right after I put Alex to bed. I listened to it while doing the dishes, watched while folding the laundry, kept telling myself, "I'll just watch till the next commercial." Next thing I knew it was 11PM!!! On a work/school night!
What are the movies that make you stop your channel surfing and watch?
This past weekend, two movies kept me up way too late. Neither of which could be classified as a chick flick. The first one was "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." We saw the movie in the theater on a date night. At the time I thought it was pretty funny. It's been in rotation on HBO since spring... and everytime I watch that movie it gets funnier. It's just a hoot! Extremely naughty, so if you haven't seen it and decide to watch, know that it's "naughty/raunchy" humor, but still quite funny. I mean, the lyrics to the songs alone are enough to induce fits of giggles if you think about them. And Russell Brand and Jonah Hill darn near steal the movie. And the guy from "30 Rock." There's just so much to love about this movie. Whenever it's on, I usually stop and watch it till the end. (as long as Alex is safely tucked away in bed... he's WAY to young for that!)
The other movie I get sucked into is "Wedding Crashers." I love this movie. I think Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn are so hilarious. And I love Rachel McAdam. I think she is beautiful. There are so many great funny people in this movie too. Isla Fisher is great as the zany sister, Gloria. Christopher Walken and Jane Seymour are also fantastic as the parents. Wilson and Vaughn play so well off each other. I had every intention of going to bed early Sunday night... but this movie came on right after I put Alex to bed. I listened to it while doing the dishes, watched while folding the laundry, kept telling myself, "I'll just watch till the next commercial." Next thing I knew it was 11PM!!! On a work/school night!
What are the movies that make you stop your channel surfing and watch?
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
So Cool!
It's been awhile since I entered a blog contest, but I entered one this weekend and won!
To see what I won... check this post out... two super cute kids shirts and a pair of legwarmers.
(May have to pass those on to someone with a girl, or hope that someday I have a girl of my own.)
I stumbled across Rook 17 on SITS. I was kind of out of the SITS loop for awile, but am trying to get back into it. It's a great way to discover new blogs and support other bloggers. They also have GREAT blogging tips every Saturday.
So I can't wait to get the t-shirts... I will take pictures of Alex in them and post them here! Thanks Rook No. 17!
To see what I won... check this post out... two super cute kids shirts and a pair of legwarmers.
(May have to pass those on to someone with a girl, or hope that someday I have a girl of my own.)
I stumbled across Rook 17 on SITS. I was kind of out of the SITS loop for awile, but am trying to get back into it. It's a great way to discover new blogs and support other bloggers. They also have GREAT blogging tips every Saturday.
So I can't wait to get the t-shirts... I will take pictures of Alex in them and post them here! Thanks Rook No. 17!
Monday, October 5, 2009
I am woman, and I'm exhausted!
Craig has been gone since Friday for work, and is due back today (THANK GOD!) and I'm exhausted.
I am reminded of how awesome a husband, dad, and partner he is when he is gone.
Friday night Alex and I had "Movie and Pizza" night.
Saturday we hung out at home, cleaned up around the house a bit, then babysat for my friend (the one I do the babysitting swap with). Alex was pretty good, but let's just say he's not used to wood floors. We have carpet all over the house, my friends house has wood floors. Alex kept jumping around after the kids went to bed, then would not calm down.
Sunday was church... again, not awful, but not his best behavior. Meltdown after church (him not me). Recovery, lunch, then massive errand running, then more quality Mommy and Alex time. Then after dinner it was time for him to shower... meltdown #2. Recovery again, then finally bedtime. I'm pooped! In between I've done the dishes and the laundry, taken the crazy dog out about 4 dozen times. Helped Alex work on riding his bike. Helped Alex work on some papers for school. Helped Alex practice writing letters. Crocheted a little. Read a little.
I'm so tired. Hopefully Craig's flight will land on time and we'll all be able to have dinner after Alex's swimming lesson!
p.s. Happy Birthday today to one of my awesome sisters-in-law... Sarah!
I am reminded of how awesome a husband, dad, and partner he is when he is gone.
Friday night Alex and I had "Movie and Pizza" night.
Saturday we hung out at home, cleaned up around the house a bit, then babysat for my friend (the one I do the babysitting swap with). Alex was pretty good, but let's just say he's not used to wood floors. We have carpet all over the house, my friends house has wood floors. Alex kept jumping around after the kids went to bed, then would not calm down.
Sunday was church... again, not awful, but not his best behavior. Meltdown after church (him not me). Recovery, lunch, then massive errand running, then more quality Mommy and Alex time. Then after dinner it was time for him to shower... meltdown #2. Recovery again, then finally bedtime. I'm pooped! In between I've done the dishes and the laundry, taken the crazy dog out about 4 dozen times. Helped Alex work on riding his bike. Helped Alex work on some papers for school. Helped Alex practice writing letters. Crocheted a little. Read a little.
I'm so tired. Hopefully Craig's flight will land on time and we'll all be able to have dinner after Alex's swimming lesson!
p.s. Happy Birthday today to one of my awesome sisters-in-law... Sarah!
Friday, October 2, 2009
sneaky
I take a certain over-the-counter allergy medicine that has worked wonders for my moderate seasonal allergies. I don't want to name it here, for fear of some search engine getting ahold of this rant, but it begins with a C and rhymes with "Hair-i-tin." I was super happy to find out that it was okay to take this medication while pregnant.
I recently purchased a box of said OTC allergy medication. And noticed it wasn't working quite as well as normal. For about a week I thought to myself, "Gee, my allergies must be bad this year. Hope I don't have to start on something stronger." Then last week I noticed the word "new" on the outside of the box. This stuff isn't new, it's been on the market for years. What's so new about it?
Then I looked more closely at the box... it's 12 hour dosing! Not the usual "lasts 24 hours."
Sneaky! Sneaky Sneaky! Same blue box. Same package. SAME PRICE AS THE 24 HOUR STUFF, BUT YOU HAVE TO TAKE TWICE AS MANY! Sitting right next to the good stuff at the drug store.
So I figure, fine, I'll take two pills a day according to the proper dosage. Finish off this 12 hour stuff then get back to the good stuff. Let me tell you, 12 hour strength doesn't cut it!
I finally broke down and bought a box of the 24 hour stuff, and took it this morning. I don't know if it's all in my head -- well... the stuffiness is definitely all in my head! but within about an hour my sinuses started to clear. I can breathe again. It's a miracle.
I recently purchased a box of said OTC allergy medication. And noticed it wasn't working quite as well as normal. For about a week I thought to myself, "Gee, my allergies must be bad this year. Hope I don't have to start on something stronger." Then last week I noticed the word "new" on the outside of the box. This stuff isn't new, it's been on the market for years. What's so new about it?
Then I looked more closely at the box... it's 12 hour dosing! Not the usual "lasts 24 hours."
Sneaky! Sneaky Sneaky! Same blue box. Same package. SAME PRICE AS THE 24 HOUR STUFF, BUT YOU HAVE TO TAKE TWICE AS MANY! Sitting right next to the good stuff at the drug store.
So I figure, fine, I'll take two pills a day according to the proper dosage. Finish off this 12 hour stuff then get back to the good stuff. Let me tell you, 12 hour strength doesn't cut it!
I finally broke down and bought a box of the 24 hour stuff, and took it this morning. I don't know if it's all in my head -- well... the stuffiness is definitely all in my head! but within about an hour my sinuses started to clear. I can breathe again. It's a miracle.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to My Awesome Husband!
Not going to get all mushy on here, since he doesn't read it anyway, but he is such an amazing husband, father, and partner. I don't know what I would do without him!