The kids and I went shopping yesterday.
Not quite sure I would call it fun, but I got a few things I needed.
My husband decided we need another potty chair for downstairs, we are working on potty training our 2 1/2 year old.. I also needed some sewing supplies, a part for the lawn mower and wanted to go to Dollar Tree, just because. I did have a few other stores on my list, but Andrew started throwing fits and those stores did not get gone to.
Our lawn mower (I truly have no idea how old it is) decided it was going to have a cracked fuel line... Very nice. Filled the gas tank up, and out pours gas. Thankfully a neighbor helped pull the fuel line off the carburetor and we got the majority of the gas. (I only look like I know what I'm talking about because I called my dad!) So... I went the local parts store (Sturdevants around here) and got a new fuel line.. According to the guy at the store, I just need some muscle and it's pretty easy to fix. Since I really don't like the small engine mechanic here in town, I am doing this on my own. Thank you YouTube videos and a daddy a phone call away. And possibly the neighbor-we'll see if he sees me. That part cost $1.60.
I decided to hit Walmart so I didn't drag my toddlers through 4 different specialty stores.
Potty Chair $9.88
Elastic for sewing 2 at 1.77 total of $3.54
Three White thread spools at $2.27 each $6.81
One Beige thread spool at $2.27
Bra extender $1.77
Total of $27.04
I realized I forgot nursing pads. So I'm going without disposables for another week, I only use them when I go to the city, anyway.
Dollar Tree
Horse Toy
Animal Crackers-2 (kids say they taste like ginger, pink bag of frosted)
Rubber Ball-2
Little Girl Hair Clips-2
Dish Soap
Cookies for mommy
2 4 pack juice boxes
The kids got toys before Andrew decided he was going to be naughty. He lost his shortly after for a few hours.
Total of 11.66
We stopped at Subway and got lunch for everybody-the kids got some awesome reusable little back pack things with their meals.
I wanted to get me an ice coffee... But thanks to construction and traffic I couldn't get to where I wanted to go.
On the list for today is fixing the lawn mower, laundry, walk, dishes, lunch in crock pot at noon (Sesame seed chicken), plant tomatoes and cucumbers-I know, I'm LATE..might get some pots and plant them inside since I caught the dog digging up my potatoes. That's all I can think of for now, but I know I have a ton more to do.
Triple Clicks
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Some New Recipes
Here's some of our favorite recipes straight from my recipe box. I'll make a new section on the right hand side for these so they will be easier to find.. I'm really bad about remembering to take the camera to the kitchen when I cook to take pictures, so no pictures of these.
Lasagna-this recipe I got from my mom, so I'm not sure where it came from.
2 lbs ground beef, browned and drained
3/4 cup chopped onion
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 tsp oregano
1 quart tomatoes
16 ounces tomato sauce
2 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
Mix all together and bring to boil, then turn down to simmer while gathering the rest.
24 ounce cream cheese, ricotta cheese or instant rice
1 cup parmesan cheese (I usually use way more than that, but don't measure)
3/4 pound mozarella cheese, shredded or grated (again, usually use more)
1 package lasagna noodles (enough for two full layers)
Layer: meat, noodles, cheeses. End with meat and cheese on top. With the cheese I don't measure, we like cheesy lasagna so I just put on until it looks good.
Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or 200 for 3-4 hours. Let set 15 minutes before serving (or just enough time to use the broiler to make garlic bread).
Easy Taco Tamale Pie-I got this recipe when Andrew was a baby, It was probably from Kraft, but I'm not sure.
2 lb ground beef
1 bag whole kernel corn
16 oz jar picante sauce
1 bag shredded taco cheese
2 boxes corn muffin mix
Heat oven to 375. Cook beef in skillet and drain. Put the meat in a 9x13 casserole dish, mix in Picante sauce, corn and cheese. Prepare corn muffin mix and drop on top of beef mixture. Bake for 30 minutes or until corn muffin topping is golden brown.
Sloppy Joes-this is another one from my mom
8 oz drained tomato sauce
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon mustard
2 tsp worcestershire sauce
2 lbs ground beef, browned and drained
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vinegar
2 tablespoon BBQ sauce
2 tsp salt
Mix and simmer for 20 minutes, serve
My husband really likes rice to eat with this instead of or along with hamburger buns.
Sweet Hawaiian Chicken in the Crock Pot-This was one that was circulating around Facebook and Dennis wanted to try it. The jury is still out on it.
2 lbs chicken tenderloin, diced
1 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 soy sauce
Marinate overnight.
Cook 6-8 hours. Serve with rice.
The first time I cooked this, I used completely frozen chicken, so I had to shred it when it was done cooking instead of starting with diced.. This last time I diced it and it was dry. So...we are still deciding if we like this.
Lasagna-this recipe I got from my mom, so I'm not sure where it came from.
2 lbs ground beef, browned and drained
3/4 cup chopped onion
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 tsp oregano
1 quart tomatoes
16 ounces tomato sauce
2 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
Mix all together and bring to boil, then turn down to simmer while gathering the rest.
24 ounce cream cheese, ricotta cheese or instant rice
1 cup parmesan cheese (I usually use way more than that, but don't measure)
3/4 pound mozarella cheese, shredded or grated (again, usually use more)
1 package lasagna noodles (enough for two full layers)
Layer: meat, noodles, cheeses. End with meat and cheese on top. With the cheese I don't measure, we like cheesy lasagna so I just put on until it looks good.
Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or 200 for 3-4 hours. Let set 15 minutes before serving (or just enough time to use the broiler to make garlic bread).
Easy Taco Tamale Pie-I got this recipe when Andrew was a baby, It was probably from Kraft, but I'm not sure.
2 lb ground beef
1 bag whole kernel corn
16 oz jar picante sauce
1 bag shredded taco cheese
2 boxes corn muffin mix
Heat oven to 375. Cook beef in skillet and drain. Put the meat in a 9x13 casserole dish, mix in Picante sauce, corn and cheese. Prepare corn muffin mix and drop on top of beef mixture. Bake for 30 minutes or until corn muffin topping is golden brown.
Sloppy Joes-this is another one from my mom
8 oz drained tomato sauce
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon mustard
2 tsp worcestershire sauce
2 lbs ground beef, browned and drained
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vinegar
2 tablespoon BBQ sauce
2 tsp salt
Mix and simmer for 20 minutes, serve
My husband really likes rice to eat with this instead of or along with hamburger buns.
Sweet Hawaiian Chicken in the Crock Pot-This was one that was circulating around Facebook and Dennis wanted to try it. The jury is still out on it.
2 lbs chicken tenderloin, diced
1 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 soy sauce
Marinate overnight.
Cook 6-8 hours. Serve with rice.
The first time I cooked this, I used completely frozen chicken, so I had to shred it when it was done cooking instead of starting with diced.. This last time I diced it and it was dry. So...we are still deciding if we like this.
Friday, May 16, 2014
Menu for May
It's been a little crazy around here. We all had some sort of sinus stuff, baby Grace is still congested and just not feeling well. After our shopping trip I cracked my head on the freezer door putting groceries away.. That one hurt. My head is still a little tender in that spot a week later.
The menu this month is more detailed than it usually is. I'm hoping it will help me keep dinners and lunches straight. I also gained some inspiration from posts on Pinterest on how to menu plan. Next month I might even type it up on excel..we'll see. For now it's just on a notebook paper with a column for Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Each line is a day.
Our breakfasts barely vary-eggs, bacon, toast, grits, cereal, OJ, coffee and pancaked or french toast on the weekends.
Our lunches I have a space for Dennis' lunch-which we will switch back and forth from egg salad to tuna salad sandwiches and a space for our lunches-everything from tuna salad, to grilled cheese to pizza bites.
The dinners I planned a dinner for about every third day, spaghetti and pizza are one night dinners around here. I'll keep putting recipes under a page, so if you want a recipe, keep an eye out on the extra pages, I'll try write a post on them, but I don't always get there. :) We did have a free dinner this week, Dennis did a survey and we got to review some pizzas. :) We love a supper we get paid for eating. And the pizzas weren't bad either.
Dinner meals are spaghetti, Lasagna, Pizza and breadsticks, enchiladas (my husband calls them burritos), Sweet Hawaiian Chicken, sloppy joes, taco tamale pie, sesame seed chicken. And most of those are repeated at least twice throughout the month.
I'll do a post on Lasagna soon, but right now I a very unhappy Grace because big brother just woke her up...AGAIN.... :(
The menu this month is more detailed than it usually is. I'm hoping it will help me keep dinners and lunches straight. I also gained some inspiration from posts on Pinterest on how to menu plan. Next month I might even type it up on excel..we'll see. For now it's just on a notebook paper with a column for Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Each line is a day.
Our breakfasts barely vary-eggs, bacon, toast, grits, cereal, OJ, coffee and pancaked or french toast on the weekends.
Our lunches I have a space for Dennis' lunch-which we will switch back and forth from egg salad to tuna salad sandwiches and a space for our lunches-everything from tuna salad, to grilled cheese to pizza bites.
The dinners I planned a dinner for about every third day, spaghetti and pizza are one night dinners around here. I'll keep putting recipes under a page, so if you want a recipe, keep an eye out on the extra pages, I'll try write a post on them, but I don't always get there. :) We did have a free dinner this week, Dennis did a survey and we got to review some pizzas. :) We love a supper we get paid for eating. And the pizzas weren't bad either.
Dinner meals are spaghetti, Lasagna, Pizza and breadsticks, enchiladas (my husband calls them burritos), Sweet Hawaiian Chicken, sloppy joes, taco tamale pie, sesame seed chicken. And most of those are repeated at least twice throughout the month.
I'll do a post on Lasagna soon, but right now I a very unhappy Grace because big brother just woke her up...AGAIN.... :(
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Shopping Trip May 8
Well, we just did another shopping trip. I'm not sure having three young ones on a morning long shopping trip will ever get any easier.
It's certainly not getting any easier on the budget. We had to increase the budget by $50 out of necessity, which means we drive the van less-that's almost a tank of gas for the van. Pork is going up just like everything else, so since Sam's bacon is no longer the cheapest (at least for this month), I decided to get GOOD stuff since I had to pay full price. So I went to the local butcher and got the good stuff, and now I'm second guessing myself because I'm worried it won't last the month-they slice theirs thicker.
I went to three stores this time. I skipped Dollar Tree because Andrew was grumpy and my patience was thinning.
Fareway Food Stores
Fiora toilet paper 12 pack 6.49
Francesco Rinaldi Pasta Sauce 3 at 1.38 each 4.14
Olive Oil 8.99
Clabber Girl Corn Starch 1.39
Mild Cheddar Chunk Cheese 2.89
Mild cheddar Chunk Cheese 3.21
Mozarella Chunk Cheese 3.35
Mozarella Chunk Cheese 3.11
The chunk cheese was cheaper than buying the pre shedded from Sam's as I have been doing. Looking at my receipt I can tell I had mommy brain even with a list in front me, I was supposed to get $10 worth of each cheese. OOPS.
Pepperoni 3 at 2.99 each 8.97
Sweet Cream Butter 4 at 2.99 each 11.96
Ground Beef 10 lb tube 2.99 a lb 30.06
Cayenne Pepper 2 at .75 1.50
Yeast 3.99
Sour Cream 1.88
Lipton Tea Bags 3.69
Ziploc Bags 2 at 1.50 each 3.00
Pineapple Orange Juice 6 pack 2.69
Ricotta Cheese 1.99
Sweet and Zesty Famous Dave's BBQ Sauce 2.99
Refried Beans 1.39
Jolly Time Popcorn Seeds 3.49
Tortillas 2.49
Lettuce Head 1.29
Pineapple 2.68
Onions 2.07
Easter Candy on sale 2 at .99
Total of 128.98
Sam's Club
Cat Food 18.5 lbs 9.98
Vinegar 2 gallons 3.58
French fries 6.98
Sun Maid Raisins 7.67
Ham for Sandwiches 6.98
Sunny D 24 pack 5.97
Minute Maid 2 at 5.48 10.96
Frosted Flakes 6.58
Premade Hamburger Patties 6 lbs 16.98
Garlic Powder 6.38
Onion Powder 4.38
Chicken Breast 6 pounds 11.98
Oats and Honey Granola Bars 7.93
Whole Dill Pickles gallon 4.62
Velveeta 2 pack 10.88
Tuna 60 oz 8.98
Hamburger Buns 2.38
Chips single serving variety pack 9.98
Total of 151.78
Salem Farmer's Market (Our local grocery store actually had good deals!)
Large Eggs one dozen 6 at 1.58 each 9.48
Apple Juice 2 at .99 each 1.98
Fun Dogs 7 at .69 each 4.83
Watermelon .39 per pound 10.28 lb 4.01
Total 21.52
EarthGrains Bakery Outlet ( I didn't get a detailed receipt from here, so I'm just going to list what I got and the total)
8 loaves bread
Cookies
Donuts single serve 2 at .50
Juice 2 at .99
Eich's Meat Market (our local butcher)
Approximately 4 pounds of bacon 24.49
I will share my meal plan next week. Have a Happy Mother's Day!
It's certainly not getting any easier on the budget. We had to increase the budget by $50 out of necessity, which means we drive the van less-that's almost a tank of gas for the van. Pork is going up just like everything else, so since Sam's bacon is no longer the cheapest (at least for this month), I decided to get GOOD stuff since I had to pay full price. So I went to the local butcher and got the good stuff, and now I'm second guessing myself because I'm worried it won't last the month-they slice theirs thicker.
I went to three stores this time. I skipped Dollar Tree because Andrew was grumpy and my patience was thinning.
Fareway Food Stores
Fiora toilet paper 12 pack 6.49
Francesco Rinaldi Pasta Sauce 3 at 1.38 each 4.14
Olive Oil 8.99
Clabber Girl Corn Starch 1.39
Mild Cheddar Chunk Cheese 2.89
Mild cheddar Chunk Cheese 3.21
Mozarella Chunk Cheese 3.35
Mozarella Chunk Cheese 3.11
The chunk cheese was cheaper than buying the pre shedded from Sam's as I have been doing. Looking at my receipt I can tell I had mommy brain even with a list in front me, I was supposed to get $10 worth of each cheese. OOPS.
Pepperoni 3 at 2.99 each 8.97
Sweet Cream Butter 4 at 2.99 each 11.96
Ground Beef 10 lb tube 2.99 a lb 30.06
Cayenne Pepper 2 at .75 1.50
Yeast 3.99
Sour Cream 1.88
Lipton Tea Bags 3.69
Ziploc Bags 2 at 1.50 each 3.00
Pineapple Orange Juice 6 pack 2.69
Ricotta Cheese 1.99
Sweet and Zesty Famous Dave's BBQ Sauce 2.99
Refried Beans 1.39
Jolly Time Popcorn Seeds 3.49
Tortillas 2.49
Lettuce Head 1.29
Pineapple 2.68
Onions 2.07
Easter Candy on sale 2 at .99
Total of 128.98
Sam's Club
Cat Food 18.5 lbs 9.98
Vinegar 2 gallons 3.58
French fries 6.98
Sun Maid Raisins 7.67
Ham for Sandwiches 6.98
Sunny D 24 pack 5.97
Minute Maid 2 at 5.48 10.96
Frosted Flakes 6.58
Premade Hamburger Patties 6 lbs 16.98
Garlic Powder 6.38
Onion Powder 4.38
Chicken Breast 6 pounds 11.98
Oats and Honey Granola Bars 7.93
Whole Dill Pickles gallon 4.62
Velveeta 2 pack 10.88
Tuna 60 oz 8.98
Hamburger Buns 2.38
Chips single serving variety pack 9.98
Total of 151.78
Salem Farmer's Market (Our local grocery store actually had good deals!)
Large Eggs one dozen 6 at 1.58 each 9.48
Apple Juice 2 at .99 each 1.98
Fun Dogs 7 at .69 each 4.83
Watermelon .39 per pound 10.28 lb 4.01
Total 21.52
EarthGrains Bakery Outlet ( I didn't get a detailed receipt from here, so I'm just going to list what I got and the total)
8 loaves bread
Cookies
Donuts single serve 2 at .50
Juice 2 at .99
Eich's Meat Market (our local butcher)
Approximately 4 pounds of bacon 24.49
I will share my meal plan next week. Have a Happy Mother's Day!
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Will Spring Ever Come?
Garage sale season has officially started around here which means deals on clothes. Unfortunately, the weather didn't get the memo and it's COLD today.
Our town's city wide garage sales are this weekend, I have marked which ones I need to go to, along with a list of what I'm looking for.
I went to Goodwill with my mom last Friday while I was in Nebraska, but we didn't find much. Since I'm buying clothes, I am buying dresses and tights or pants to go underneath. We are trying to get away from form fitting clothes in our house, which is easier said than done in today's world. Luckily I have girls who love dresses. And a sewing machine to make if I can't find-which is a great repurpose for large sized clothes from a thrift shop if you can't find what you want.
This year's garage sale list has little girl clothes in 3T, which is a size I do not have-after this my hand me downs start. Church shoes for Andrew and once I have all the clothes found, books. :) I love books and I love being able to expand our little library with cheap books.
My nine year old would greatly appreciate having a selection of chapter books available, too.
We are all just lounging today. The girls and I have a cold, Eva is the only one who can take anything for it, but she is still miserable. Dennis isn't feeling well, either, so he stayed home from work. We are impatiently waiting for spring to arrive. The kids want to be able to play outside and take walks, and I'm with them. I just want it warm. But it looks like we will have to wait.
Our town's city wide garage sales are this weekend, I have marked which ones I need to go to, along with a list of what I'm looking for.
I went to Goodwill with my mom last Friday while I was in Nebraska, but we didn't find much. Since I'm buying clothes, I am buying dresses and tights or pants to go underneath. We are trying to get away from form fitting clothes in our house, which is easier said than done in today's world. Luckily I have girls who love dresses. And a sewing machine to make if I can't find-which is a great repurpose for large sized clothes from a thrift shop if you can't find what you want.
This year's garage sale list has little girl clothes in 3T, which is a size I do not have-after this my hand me downs start. Church shoes for Andrew and once I have all the clothes found, books. :) I love books and I love being able to expand our little library with cheap books.
My nine year old would greatly appreciate having a selection of chapter books available, too.
We are all just lounging today. The girls and I have a cold, Eva is the only one who can take anything for it, but she is still miserable. Dennis isn't feeling well, either, so he stayed home from work. We are impatiently waiting for spring to arrive. The kids want to be able to play outside and take walks, and I'm with them. I just want it warm. But it looks like we will have to wait.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Popcorn Chicken Bites
I found this recipe on Pinterest from the blog Food 4 Tots. My kids LOVE this recipe, and Dennis and I agree, it's awesome. Now, I did change the recipe a bit because I don't have in the cupboard some of the things and I couldn't add anything else to my list, but it was good.
My changes: I don't keep oyster sauce or sesame oil, so I just used black pepper, sugar, soy sauce and olive oil. Also, I used the entire egg instead of the egg whites.
Make sure you grease your pan first. I also did not pound the chicken, just did a little more cutting.
Liquid Marinade
1 1/2 tsp oyster sauce
1 1/2 tsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp sesame oil
1/4 tsp white pepper
pinch of sugar
2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
1/2 cup cornflakes
1/4 cup flour
2 egg whites
Breading
4 tsp garlic powder
4 tablespoon parmesan
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp black pepper
Preheat oven to 392
Trim fat from chicken and pat dry. Pound to flatten. Cut into 1 inch cubes. Mix seasoning for marinade, coat and marinade for at least an hour.
Pound cornflakes to crumbs. Add parmesan, garlic, paprika and black pepper. Mix well.
You need three bowls- one for flour, one for egg whites (whisked lightly), one for corn flake mixture.
Dip chicken in flour, egg, corn flake.
Grease baking tray, arrange chicken, spray on more grease.
Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown turning halfway.
I sent some to work with Dennis the next day when I made this last week, and it is not soggy the next day after storing in the fridge. Not sure about the freezer, I might make a bigger batch next month and see how that goes.
My changes: I don't keep oyster sauce or sesame oil, so I just used black pepper, sugar, soy sauce and olive oil. Also, I used the entire egg instead of the egg whites.
Make sure you grease your pan first. I also did not pound the chicken, just did a little more cutting.
Liquid Marinade
1 1/2 tsp oyster sauce
1 1/2 tsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp sesame oil
1/4 tsp white pepper
pinch of sugar
2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
1/2 cup cornflakes
1/4 cup flour
2 egg whites
Breading
4 tsp garlic powder
4 tablespoon parmesan
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp black pepper
Preheat oven to 392
Trim fat from chicken and pat dry. Pound to flatten. Cut into 1 inch cubes. Mix seasoning for marinade, coat and marinade for at least an hour.
Pound cornflakes to crumbs. Add parmesan, garlic, paprika and black pepper. Mix well.
You need three bowls- one for flour, one for egg whites (whisked lightly), one for corn flake mixture.
Dip chicken in flour, egg, corn flake.
Grease baking tray, arrange chicken, spray on more grease.
Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown turning halfway.
I sent some to work with Dennis the next day when I made this last week, and it is not soggy the next day after storing in the fridge. Not sure about the freezer, I might make a bigger batch next month and see how that goes.
First-World Problems and Health
Exercise. It's a good thing, it keeps us healthy. We all know that. So why is it so hard for a lot to stick to an exercise routine?
Well.. for me, it's just plain being lazy. That and every time I've got an exercise routine down I've been told by a doctor to stop it. Crazy, isn't it? I inherited my mom's fast metabolism. Which is awesome because I can pretty much eat whatever I want. My only problem is, the more I eat, the more I lose. And while probably all of you reading are calling me plenty of names and growling at me in your head I can assure you, it's not as fun as it sounds.
It's frustrating. Very frustrating.
I had to stop nursing my now 2 year old because I couldn't keep up with the calories with being pregnant and nursing. I dealt with a VERY unhappy toddler for almost a month until we got the new routine established, not how I wanted to stop nursing.
They were pushing me to GAIN as much weight as I possibly could during my last pregnancy because the scales said I just didn't weigh enough. Whereas I had gained 35 pounds by the time it was said and done, they wanted me to gain more but because of the high metabolism, nursing and morning sickness throughout, I was underweight when I got pregnant. On top of that, my diet was limited because of a low blood pressure issue my system decided it needed to have.
Yet, our youngest came out healthy and happy, the biggest yet at 8 pounds. And if you know me, you're probably like us and still trying to figure out how the heck I had an 8 lb baby. (I'm 5 nothing and typically 100 pounds soaking wet). I know the nurses and midwife were sure surprised because she certainly didn't look like an 8 pound baby. And to that, all I have to say to the doctor in Nebraska who told me my 7 lb 9 oz boy would have to be a c-section because he was 'too big' is a tongue sticking out at you and maybe a 'na-na boo-boo'. (No, I don't spend all day with toddlers.....)
I do have a point behind this post, I promise. And it's not to make my whole two dozen readers jealous that I'm little. I hate it as much as you do...
The year I got pregnant with Eva we decided we were going to start exercising. (I laugh now because we aren't really the go-getter types and my husband has a bad back so he really needs a trainer, but anyway...) We can't afford a gym membership-not like I could go because I have babies to take care of. So we went and bought the PS2 (I think that's right, I can never remember which version we have) version of a Wii fit 'game'. It was fun...for the first few weeks. I think I petered out about two weeks before we found out we were expecting Eva because I couldn't keep up with it. Go figure, I was only 15 weeks pregnant trying to do a hard core exercise routine. Plus keeping up with a one year old. And getting the now out-of-business family dollar store up and going.
So, for two years, this has been sitting on the shelf, collecting dust. I'm considering starting it again. We'll see. I know Grace is only two months and I have preaching since I got pregnant with her that 'it takes nine months to gain the weight, give your body nine months to get it off'. Which makes perfect sense to me and I fully believe that. But, quit frankly, I'm tired of seeing a muffin top every time I put on a pair jeans or a skirt and I can't wear my favorite dress because of said muffin top. Which is really frustrating and leaves me with a whole two skirts to wear to church.
I also know it's warming up (YAY) and that means, I'll start my garden and start cleaning out the gardens in the back yard. And we'll start walking every day. And housework and this and that the other.... I know the muffin top will go away soon between all this. I just feel self-conscious is all. It won't go away. 'Course it probably doesn't help that my four old declared the other day 'mommy, your belly isn't little anymore and Grace is out'. Gee, son, thanks for THAT. I don't remember my oldest being so brutally honest.
I also know we (the kids and I) snack WAY TOO MUCH around here. I need to find healthy snacks that don't break the budget. Quite frankly, I'm all for the carrot sticks with ranch dip. Or the fruit with cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk dip (I'd have to get that recipe from my mom-it's GOOD). The problem is, produce is more expensive than flour and sugar and raisins for raisin cookies. Hey, they have raisins, they have some health aspect. If say it enough, maybe it would be true?
My entire point here is that I don't FEEL healthy any more. Perhaps it's the constant back pain, perhaps it's because I want to get out of the house and walk, work on the garage, the gardens. ANYTHING but be confined to the house. Perhaps it's all in my head because of the muffin top (that makes my husband laugh that I complain about a muffin top). Most of all, perhaps I just need to be content with the body God gave me. Yes, that's got to be the key, right there.
Now that I've probably confused and infuriated every single one of you because I'm doing nothing more than venting and am starting to even wonder if I should publish this.... I think I have uncovered the root of the problem (besides this back pain that has been driving me crazy for two months).. I'm not content. I need to pray, sit back, and be thankful to God that he has given the blessings I do have. A wonderful husband, four wonderful children. A roof over our heads, food in our bellies. And the first-world problems of muffin-tops and gardens to clean out before black birds think it's their new summer home.
Speaking of gardens and the birds. The sun is starting to come up, the birds are singing-we have cardinal family and blue jay families this year. The blue jays are new. The cardinals were here last year for the first year. Maybe I'll even get pictures..during nap time so the kids don't scare them away. Now, if anybody in the area wants to come give their kids a lesson in horticulture and what NOT to do to gardens..or what house NOT to buy if you don't garden.. Come on over, give me call, message me. I would love the help and maybe you can teach me a few things while you're at it. Because I'm bad at keeping plants alive... I planted 9 tomato plants, three have survived-the cat killed 4; 6 onion plants-yep, they died. 3 pepper plants-the cat killed the one that grew... Are you seeing a pattern here? Which, with all the dead plants, I'm scared to try an indoor herb garden, but since the garlic is already growing on my kitchen counter I need to find the instructions I pinned for that... But since I have discovered this cat does not like vinegar (YAY! no more scratched furniture), maybe a herb garden has a chance. Can't hurt, can it?
But seriously...if you are close, you can even take some plants home. There's flowers galore. Tree saplings if we can get them out with the root... Peppermint running around somewhere. Rhubarb-which I'm told can't be transplanted until fall, but you can sure come harvest. I even have a back yard full of vine that likes to grow beneath my dryer vent and took over the back yard last year. Heck, take the ants. PLEASE TAKE THE ANTS that have invaded my kitchen every year for 4 years.. Seriously, you can't kill them. I have tried EVERYTHING. Diatomecious earth only slows them down. Heck, bleach didn't even work and if that chemical straight from Agent Orange doesn't work, nothing will. The point in this particular paragraph is, if you are close and want more plants in your yard, come take them-I'll even help you get them out. They will just go to the city dump here. I NEED HELP. I'm not cut out for pretty gardening and I'm wondering if I'm cut out for any gardening. Just...watch out for the resident snake.. I can show you where he lives... If you need wood-we have trees that need trimmed, you can have the firewood for trimming...we even have mini-pine trees (I have no idea what they are, besides little and pine) that need cut down because the ice storm last year killed them.
Well, now that I have begged and pleaded I suppose I had better start on housework and maybe even start that exercise program. At least get my last cup of coffee for the day.. 6 AM and I'm on the last cup for the day. Also proof that I need to remember to proof read when I write a post at 5:30 in the morning....
Well.. for me, it's just plain being lazy. That and every time I've got an exercise routine down I've been told by a doctor to stop it. Crazy, isn't it? I inherited my mom's fast metabolism. Which is awesome because I can pretty much eat whatever I want. My only problem is, the more I eat, the more I lose. And while probably all of you reading are calling me plenty of names and growling at me in your head I can assure you, it's not as fun as it sounds.
It's frustrating. Very frustrating.
I had to stop nursing my now 2 year old because I couldn't keep up with the calories with being pregnant and nursing. I dealt with a VERY unhappy toddler for almost a month until we got the new routine established, not how I wanted to stop nursing.
They were pushing me to GAIN as much weight as I possibly could during my last pregnancy because the scales said I just didn't weigh enough. Whereas I had gained 35 pounds by the time it was said and done, they wanted me to gain more but because of the high metabolism, nursing and morning sickness throughout, I was underweight when I got pregnant. On top of that, my diet was limited because of a low blood pressure issue my system decided it needed to have.
Yet, our youngest came out healthy and happy, the biggest yet at 8 pounds. And if you know me, you're probably like us and still trying to figure out how the heck I had an 8 lb baby. (I'm 5 nothing and typically 100 pounds soaking wet). I know the nurses and midwife were sure surprised because she certainly didn't look like an 8 pound baby. And to that, all I have to say to the doctor in Nebraska who told me my 7 lb 9 oz boy would have to be a c-section because he was 'too big' is a tongue sticking out at you and maybe a 'na-na boo-boo'. (No, I don't spend all day with toddlers.....)
I do have a point behind this post, I promise. And it's not to make my whole two dozen readers jealous that I'm little. I hate it as much as you do...
The year I got pregnant with Eva we decided we were going to start exercising. (I laugh now because we aren't really the go-getter types and my husband has a bad back so he really needs a trainer, but anyway...) We can't afford a gym membership-not like I could go because I have babies to take care of. So we went and bought the PS2 (I think that's right, I can never remember which version we have) version of a Wii fit 'game'. It was fun...for the first few weeks. I think I petered out about two weeks before we found out we were expecting Eva because I couldn't keep up with it. Go figure, I was only 15 weeks pregnant trying to do a hard core exercise routine. Plus keeping up with a one year old. And getting the now out-of-business family dollar store up and going.
So, for two years, this has been sitting on the shelf, collecting dust. I'm considering starting it again. We'll see. I know Grace is only two months and I have preaching since I got pregnant with her that 'it takes nine months to gain the weight, give your body nine months to get it off'. Which makes perfect sense to me and I fully believe that. But, quit frankly, I'm tired of seeing a muffin top every time I put on a pair jeans or a skirt and I can't wear my favorite dress because of said muffin top. Which is really frustrating and leaves me with a whole two skirts to wear to church.
I also know it's warming up (YAY) and that means, I'll start my garden and start cleaning out the gardens in the back yard. And we'll start walking every day. And housework and this and that the other.... I know the muffin top will go away soon between all this. I just feel self-conscious is all. It won't go away. 'Course it probably doesn't help that my four old declared the other day 'mommy, your belly isn't little anymore and Grace is out'. Gee, son, thanks for THAT. I don't remember my oldest being so brutally honest.
I also know we (the kids and I) snack WAY TOO MUCH around here. I need to find healthy snacks that don't break the budget. Quite frankly, I'm all for the carrot sticks with ranch dip. Or the fruit with cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk dip (I'd have to get that recipe from my mom-it's GOOD). The problem is, produce is more expensive than flour and sugar and raisins for raisin cookies. Hey, they have raisins, they have some health aspect. If say it enough, maybe it would be true?
My entire point here is that I don't FEEL healthy any more. Perhaps it's the constant back pain, perhaps it's because I want to get out of the house and walk, work on the garage, the gardens. ANYTHING but be confined to the house. Perhaps it's all in my head because of the muffin top (that makes my husband laugh that I complain about a muffin top). Most of all, perhaps I just need to be content with the body God gave me. Yes, that's got to be the key, right there.
Now that I've probably confused and infuriated every single one of you because I'm doing nothing more than venting and am starting to even wonder if I should publish this.... I think I have uncovered the root of the problem (besides this back pain that has been driving me crazy for two months).. I'm not content. I need to pray, sit back, and be thankful to God that he has given the blessings I do have. A wonderful husband, four wonderful children. A roof over our heads, food in our bellies. And the first-world problems of muffin-tops and gardens to clean out before black birds think it's their new summer home.
Speaking of gardens and the birds. The sun is starting to come up, the birds are singing-we have cardinal family and blue jay families this year. The blue jays are new. The cardinals were here last year for the first year. Maybe I'll even get pictures..during nap time so the kids don't scare them away. Now, if anybody in the area wants to come give their kids a lesson in horticulture and what NOT to do to gardens..or what house NOT to buy if you don't garden.. Come on over, give me call, message me. I would love the help and maybe you can teach me a few things while you're at it. Because I'm bad at keeping plants alive... I planted 9 tomato plants, three have survived-the cat killed 4; 6 onion plants-yep, they died. 3 pepper plants-the cat killed the one that grew... Are you seeing a pattern here? Which, with all the dead plants, I'm scared to try an indoor herb garden, but since the garlic is already growing on my kitchen counter I need to find the instructions I pinned for that... But since I have discovered this cat does not like vinegar (YAY! no more scratched furniture), maybe a herb garden has a chance. Can't hurt, can it?
But seriously...if you are close, you can even take some plants home. There's flowers galore. Tree saplings if we can get them out with the root... Peppermint running around somewhere. Rhubarb-which I'm told can't be transplanted until fall, but you can sure come harvest. I even have a back yard full of vine that likes to grow beneath my dryer vent and took over the back yard last year. Heck, take the ants. PLEASE TAKE THE ANTS that have invaded my kitchen every year for 4 years.. Seriously, you can't kill them. I have tried EVERYTHING. Diatomecious earth only slows them down. Heck, bleach didn't even work and if that chemical straight from Agent Orange doesn't work, nothing will. The point in this particular paragraph is, if you are close and want more plants in your yard, come take them-I'll even help you get them out. They will just go to the city dump here. I NEED HELP. I'm not cut out for pretty gardening and I'm wondering if I'm cut out for any gardening. Just...watch out for the resident snake.. I can show you where he lives... If you need wood-we have trees that need trimmed, you can have the firewood for trimming...we even have mini-pine trees (I have no idea what they are, besides little and pine) that need cut down because the ice storm last year killed them.
Well, now that I have begged and pleaded I suppose I had better start on housework and maybe even start that exercise program. At least get my last cup of coffee for the day.. 6 AM and I'm on the last cup for the day. Also proof that I need to remember to proof read when I write a post at 5:30 in the morning....
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