Close Encounters of the Drool Kind

My 23-Hour Stint, How To Deactivate a Pressure Bed, & Channeling Peter Brady

2011-11-11T18:32:00.002-06:00

Of course, very little in life goes according to our plan, but it seems that I have done nothing but plan over the past two weeks in preparation for my ten days away from home. I wanted to make sure that everyone was taken care of while I was away. For the most part, I was worried about how the kids would react. Surprisingly, as I write this on Day 4 away from them, they are doing just fine in my absence. I decided that I wanted to do something special for them each day that I was away. I purchased ten small gifts for each of them and placed them in labeled gift bags with the countdown day. Along with each gift, I included a card for each child with one of the ten things I love most about them and a picture of us together. From what The Husby tells me, this has been a hit with them and has worked as great motivation for them to get ready for bed in the evenings. No bath, pajamas, and brushed teeth...no gift. The power of bribery never ceases to amaze me. It has made things easier for The Husby, The Fred, and StickyBun-Scotti to have my grandparents in town from Atlanta to help out. They have taken care of StickyBun-Scotti during the day on two days that he was home with a cold, have handled all of the afternoon transportation for the kids, and have prepared all of their dinners. They even watched both kids all day today since they were out for the holiday. I am so thankful for them being there when we needed them, and it has made my absence much easier for the kids and The Husby.

Of course, I had arrived at the hospital around 8:45 for my 9:30 admission on Tuesday. The Husby and StickyBun-Scotti, who was home with a cold, were with me. After being admitted, I was taken by patient transport to my room on the Oncology Unit. It was easy to pick out which room was saved for me...the one with the huge radioactive sign on the door. When I walked in, I saw that most of the room was covered with blue chux pads. I had to laugh. I can't wrap a square box, so I can't imagine how you would begin to wrap a toilet. I have to think that this is an art that takes a great deal of practice. I'd be interested to know whose job description this falls under. Food for thought.

After saying my tearful "goodbyes" to my boys, I sat waiting, patiently, for further instructions. An hour went by without even a knock at the door, I was left to sit with the nothing more than the noise of the pressure ulcer bed, which is a story in itself. I have to admit that I don't sleep well in general. I am very sensitive to noise and movement. I have had to sleep with ear plugs in my ears ever since StickyBun-Scotti was born and a good mattress is a splurge I can always justify. If you know anything about pressure ulcer beds, you know that they are constantly moving, vibrating, and making noise. I tried to tell myself that it would be okay. I can stand anything for a few nights...right?

After two hours of waiting, a woman finally came in and introduced herself. I knew that she worked there, but she gave me no clues as to who she was...nurse...patient care tech...not a clue. She simply asked me when they were coming to give me my radioactive iodine. Uhm? Wouldn't she know more about that than I would? I had plenty of questions...to which, she was able to provide no answers. My most important question was about how to turn off the bed...to which she replied, "You can't." Fabulous. Instead, she told me to ask nuclear medicine any questions when they came to see me. She simply gave me instructions to change into a gown and have a seat on the bed. So, I sat and waited...and waited...and waited...with nothing but the air compressor noise from the bed and the constant vibrating movement. At this point, I was ready to push the bed out of the window. If you work in a hospital, you know that the beds can't be simply unplugged from the wall because they are hooked up to the nurse call system. An unplugged bed will constantly call to the nurses' station. I had to think fast, or this was going to be a long three days.

I had brought my phone in the bag that had my clothes to wear home, so I quickly downloaded the user manual for this type of bed. I knew that there had to be a way to turn the thing off without unplugging it. Of course, it can be done. I memorized all of the steps to deactivate the bed and snapped a quick pic of my blue chux covered paradise before returning the phone to my bag. Crisis averted!

At 1:00 that afternoon, an RN came in to draw some blood to make sure I wasn't pregnant. No answers from her either. At 2:45 that afternoon, nuclear medicine arrived at my room. The doctor briefed me on the rules: stay in the bed behind the lead shields surrounding the bed unless you are going to the bathroom, don't step off of the chux lined path surrounding the bed and leading to the bathroom, drink lots of water, and you can go home when your radioactive level is at 5. The more water you drink, the lower your level will be, and the sooner you can leave. Simple enough, right? I thought so.

My first low-iodine meal in isolation made me laugh...canned English peas, cooked carrots, white rice, and a slice of turkey. This was funny to The Husby because I love vegetables, with the exception of two things...you guessed it, canned English peas and cooked carrots. Not a good start to the culinary experience. Let's just say that the hospital where I work serves five-star gourmet fare compared to this place...no comparison.

In an effort to make the stay as short as possible, I started drinking water constantly. I told myself that I would drink a minimum of 10 ounces of fluid each hour and increase that to account for hours that I may be sleeping. At 6:00 that evening my radioactive level was 26, and they told me that they would check my level again around 8:00 the next morning. My wonderful endocrinologist came by after leaving his office to check on me. A gesture that I thought was very kind. The rest of the evening was uneventful. I deactivated my bed in hopes of getting some sleep...willing to trade sleeping on a loud, moving bed for a metal slab that is the product of a deflated/deactivated pressure bed. A trade that I would gladly make again. Someone would come in every 4 hours to check my vitals and peer at me for a split second over the lead shields. That was all. I slept in 2 hour increments and drank water every time I woke up. By the next morning, my neck was very sore, and I was nauseous. I took a hot shower and waited patiently for nuclear medicine.

When I was measured by nuclear medicine at 8:00 my level was at 10. Soon after, my endocrinologist stopped back by to check on me before he started seeing patients for the day. I shared the good news, and he went ahead and wrote my discharge prescriptions. By my calculations, if I continued to consume fluid at the same rate, my body should be at 5 or below by my next check after lunch. At 1:30, nuclear medicine returned and my level had dropped to a 3...woohoo!!! Escape!!! I was out of there within an hour. I have to believe that 23-hours is some kind of record since they were planning on me sticking around for 3 days. If there was anything that I learned during my hospital stay, it was that hospital food is not good, I don't like being confined to a bed for hours on end, I really don't like drinking water, you can find a user manual for just about anything on the internet, and CSI and NCIS come on at least one channel at any given time during the day and night.

My first day out was pretty exciting because I was discharged with the instructions to resume a regular diet...hallelujah! Unfortunately, I was so nauseous that nothing sounded good. I drove myself to Montgomery, and by the time I got there, I had decided that Pizza Hut would hit the spot...it did. When I woke up Thursday morning, I was shocked by how awful I felt. My neck had become so swollen that I look like I have mumps. It is difficult to swallow and difficult to breathe when I lay on my back. My vocal chords are so irritated that I sound like a pubescent Peter Brady every time I try to talk. I'm still nauseous...very, very nauseous...which makes the excitement over being able to eat whatever I want not quite as exciting. I miss my kids. I miss my husband. I'm over all of this.

My follow-up scan has been scheduled for the day before Thanksgiving, so I hope to have the results sometime around the beginning of the next week. I tried to share all of the humor in all of this so that I don't sound like such a "Debbie Downer," but I really am over it.

Hey, Cancer, it's time for you to plan your exit strategy.

Until next time, I love and miss you all! Great big hugs and kisses!

Love- K

A New Man (Doctor) and The Plan

2011-10-27T15:05:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I went to see my new doctor...he is wonderful! When I arrived at his office, I didn't even have to wait. He spent an hour and a half...let me repeat that, an hour and a half...in the room with me. He completed a very thorough health history for me and my immediate family. Then, we discussed treatment options. Finally, he completed a head-to-toe assessment. When I say "head-to-toe assessment," I mean the type that they teach you in nursing school. All of my nurse friends will understand this...tactile fremitus, respiratory excursion, abdominal percussion, listening for 60 seconds at the PMI...all of this was included. I was impressed to say the least. I even managed to walk out of his office with samples of a new prescription for my migraines...something I have not taken anything but OTC drugs for in years because I hate the side effects of the traditional drugs. He was quick to suggest something without any side effects...I like it. Only downside to this drug is that it is mixed with a small amount of water before you drink it, and it is flavored with anise (my family will understand why this is a negative). I digress.

Inpatient treatment is scheduled for November 8th...lucky for me, this is the first day that I am eligible for FMLA. We made the decision to be aggressive with treatment, so I am being treated with a high dose of I-131. The doctor made me laugh when he let me know that he was using the term "inpatient" very loosely. Basically, they will take me into a room, give me the I-131, and leave me there for 3 days. I can call if I need something, but otherwise, there will be limited interaction. Anything that I bring with me has to stay in the room because it will become radioactive. If I could take my laptop, at least I could work on school. Instead, I will be reading, watching TV, and sleeping. Not too bad.

The only negative is that I am really feeling the effects of the hypothyroidism at this point...extreme fatigue, muscle aches, dry skin...you get the picture. It is making the 12-hour shifts close to unbearable, but I am trying my best to keep up the positive attitude and the smile on my face...whatever will get me through the day. It could be worse...right?

In preparation for the radioactive iodine treatment, I have to follow a very strict low-iodine diet. I will follow this diet until after treatment and my follow-up scan. As someone that eats very little beef, chicken, and pork, I get most of my protein from fish, eggs, soy, dairy, nuts, and beans. This diet does not fit with this style of eating. I can't have anything that comes from the sea, no eggs, no dairy, no packaged or processed food, no soy, and no baked goods (including bread). Basically, nothing that contains iodine or salt. I can have raw unprocessed nuts and beans prepared from dry. I can have fresh fruits and vegetables, 4 servings of grains per day (unprocessed), honey, maple syrup, vinegar, 6 ounces of meat per day, oils, and fresh herbs and spices. As you know, I love to cook, so this diet makes me want to cry. For breakfast, I ate 2 salt-free Kosher rice cakes with unsalted and unsweetened peanut and flax seed spread with honey, an apple, and a clementine. For lunch, I am having a half cup of orzo mixed with two cups of spinach, dried cranberries, white balsamic vinegar, olive oil, green onion, and black pepper. Concord grapes and raspberries are my afternoon snack. Not a clue as to what I will eat for dinner. I am going to have to come up with some more salty foods that I can prepare because sweets are not that appealing to me. The fact that I can use non-iodized salt is a plus. Now, if only I could find someone to bake me some bread. I am not a baker, and I would pay someone to bake bread for me. I have some approved recipes...any takers?

So, that's the update! Until next time, I love you all!

Love- K

By Popular Demand: Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

2011-10-25T13:21:00.001-05:00

It is no secret to anyone that I love salty snacks! You can keep the cake, cookies, and ice cream. I crave salty and crunchy. With everyone carving their pumpkins around this time of the year, I have had several people ask me if I have a recipe for roasting pumpkin seeds. No surprise, of course, I do! This salty snack is as easy as it gets, and kids will love helping out. I find that their little fingers are perfect for sorting through the pulp to find the seeds.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

1) Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
2) Separate the pumpkin seeds from the pulp and rinse the seeds in a colander. Shake off the excess water.
3) Oil a baking sheet. Spread the seeds in a single layer on the sheet. Roast in the oven for 30 minutes to dry out the seeds.
4) Remove the seeds from the oven and toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper (or additional spice flavors). Return to the oven and bake an additional 20 minutes, until crisp and golden. Enjoy!

Here are some yummy flavor combinations that I found in Food Network Magazine this year:

Sweet
Toss with cinnamon and sugar (do not use salt in step 4).

Indian
Toss with garam masala; mix with currants after roasting.

Spanish
Toss with smoked paprika; mix with slivered almonds after roasting.

Italian
Toss with grated parmesan and dried oregano.

Barbecue
Toss with brown sugar, chipotle chile powder and ground cumin.

Surprises, Smiles, and Sinking Ships

2011-10-23T11:57:00.000-05:00

So much has gone on in the past month that I have a hard time remembering it all thanks to my perpetual "brain fog"...and yes, that is actually the terminology used by physicians to describe the foggy feeling that goes along with the hypothyroid state...add that to my "mommy brain," and you get some serious forgetfulness. It's a good thing I write everything down. I am going to try to recap the past couple of weeks, but I am sure I will leave some things out along the way.

The Husby and I celebrated our wedding anniversary last week...5 years married, and our first date was around the same time 15 years ago. It's crazy to think that we have known each other for that long, and to me, it doesn't seem like we have been married for 5 years...The Husby says it seems much longer...ha! When we first married, The Husby had recently purchased a jet ski...one of his prized possessions. But with kids and the busyness of life in general, the jet ski was rarely used. Eventually, the decision was made to sell it, and I could tell that The Husby was heartbroken. For this anniversary, I wanted to do something really special. We all love to fish, and The Husby has wanted to purchase a boat for years. What better present could there be than a brand new fishing boat?

I am awful at keeping secrets from The Husby, so the fact that this remained a secret over the 3-month process of purchasing this boat is a miracle. I have never been so nervous and excited...not since I was a little kid waiting for Christmas morning. I woke up at 4 am the morning I was supposed to go pick-up the boat and laid in bed wide awake until 6 am. I led The Husby to believe I was getting up to hit an early bird sale where I was shopping for some new dress pants for him as an anniversary present...boring, huh? I'm sure he was less than thrilled by the sentiment. Instead, I drove out to the Bass Pro Shop where I was picking up the new boat.

When I returned home with the boat, I pulled up in front of the house. I went inside to surprise him. Unexpectedly, I broke down and started crying while I was telling him how much I love and appreciate him. I handed him the keys to the boat and he said, "What's this?" I told him to go look out in front of the house. When he stepped outside, I could see that he was so excited. He and StickyBun-Scotti went bounding down the stairs to check out the boat. We decided that it would be best if he familiarized himself with the boat and the manual before we took it to the lake, so the plan was to go to the lake the next day.

There were two things that the mechanic at the Bass Pro Shop told me I needed to make sure I kept track of...the boat keys and the bilge plug. I handed both of them over to The Husby, and he made sure that the bilge plug was inserted before we went to the lake. When we arrived at the lake, we backed the boat into the water. The Husby drove the boat over to the dock while I pulled the trailer into the parking lot. When I got down to the dock, I helped StickyBun-Scotti get onto the boat, but then I noticed that the back of the boat seemed to be taking on water...all I could hear was "glug, glug, glug." I looked at The Husby and said, "Something is not right. We need to get the boat out of the water." I quickly grabbed StickyBun-Scotti, and The Husby ran to get the trailer. Luckily, a few men standing nearby, after docking their boat, saw the panicked look on my face and came over to help. They helped us get the boat out of the water and onto the trailer. It turns out that The Husby had inserted the bilge plug into the livewell water uptake hole instead of the hole on the other rear side of the boat. He was inadvertently sinking his new boat. We couldn't do anything but laugh at this point. After all of the water drained, we had an enjoyable day of fishing on Lay Lake. I told The Husby that I could not imagine calling the insurance company and having to say, "Hi, you know the new boat that I bought on Saturday? Well, we sunk it on Sunday." Thank goodness, that was a call I did not have to make.

So, now for the health update...I have been feeling pretty bad over the past few weeks...both physically and emotionally. I have consistently run a fever between 99.6 and 101 for the past 4 weeks, but I have no other symptoms besides the usual ones that go along with being hypothyroid. I have an appointment with my new endocrinologist on Wednesday to draw my labs and schedule my treatment. I am very excited to meet with this new doctor, and I think that he is going to be wonderful based on the feedback from others.

I will update after the appointment on Wednesday! Until then, I love you all!

Love- K

Life On Cruise Control

2011-10-08T18:21:00.001-05:00

I have officially reached Day 3 of 4 for the work week, and I feel my body losing its gusto. As bad as I am feeling, I have to admit, it beats sitting in a house, alone, all day. I love the people I work with...I feed off of their energy...they make me smile...they make me laugh...they lift my spirits...and that counts for a whole lot these days. I know that these are people that I can always count on for anything, and for that, I am very grateful. Slowly, but surely, I feel like I am getting my groove back at work, with the help of my wonderful co-workers. If it wasn't for them, this could be something I would dread getting up for in the mornings. Because of them, my days are better and brighter.

Overall, it has been a really good week. I celebrated my 30th birthday on Wednesday! Unfortunately, we ended up doing a "day late" celebration on Thursday because I was sick with a stomach bug on my actual birthday, but I have no complaints...it was still wonderful. I think that a lot of people dread their 30th birthday, but I feel like I am finally at a point in my life where I am comfortable...career, children, marriage, finances...everything comfortable enough that my stress level is significantly lower than it has ever been, and I feel like life is on cruise control. If this is what my 30's is all about...I like it!

Love- K

Can't Carry a Tune

2011-10-03T11:12:00.000-05:00

Prior to surgery, Dr. Best let me know that there may be some side effects associated with surgery. Because the vocal chords are manipulated during surgery, changes to the voice can occur that may be temporary or can turn out to be permanent. For me, the changes have been pretty noticeable. My voice is not as strong as it was before, and it takes a lot more effort for me to speak at higher volumes. One thing that my husband and children love is that I can no longer yell. Yep, that's right, not at all. I can't get my kids attention if I try. Which is kind of nice, because now, I don't even try to yell. Another noticeable change is that I can't sing anymore...can't carry a tune in a bucket. I'm not saying that I was some incredible singer to begin with, but I could sing...as only my show choir and musical theater peeps would know. Now, I need Songify just to sing along with the radio. It is awful...flat, tone deaf awful. It makes me laugh. I'm starting to think that my kids and The Husby are reaping the benefits here...no yelling and no singing.

All is well, I am feeling okay. The best way to describe how I feel is "like I am nine months pregnant." Everything is exhausting, my muscles hurt, my joints hurt, and my brain is foggy. Hopefully, all of this will go away after I complete treatment, and they begin supplementing me with T4. Right now, all I am getting is T3, and it just doesn't seem to be doing the whole job. I will start treatment sometime in November. My appointment with the endocrinologist is on November 7th. After meeting with him, I will be taken off of all supplementation and start a special diet for two weeks before treatment. Once I start the radioactive iodine treatment, I will be admitted to the hospital for three days before I can be discharged. I won't be able to return home for almost 2 weeks following the start of treatment since I can't be around women of child-bearing age or children. That will probably be the hardest part...going without seeing my babies for so long. It makes me sad to even think about it. The Husby asked me if I was going to glow in the dark since I would be radioactive...he always knows how to take my mind off of the sadder things by making me laugh.

I start back to work tomorrow, and I am worried about having the stamina to push through from morning until night. Please send those energy vibes my way this week...I am going to need them. Until next time, I love you all.

xoxoxo- K

Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month

2011-09-24T18:09:00.000-05:00

Did you know that September is national "Thyroid Cancer Awareness" month? That's okay...I didn't either. It's funny the kind of things you become aware of when they affect you personally. I have had a lot of people ask me if I knew that something was wrong with me when I went to the doctor. The short answer is..."no." Over the past few months, I had felt as if I had a lump in my throat when I swallowed, and my voice would become very hoarse if I talked for an extended amount of time. All of these symptoms were things that I attributed to allergies and post-nasal drip, so I wasn't too concerned. I hope that, if nothing else, this will be a learning experience for others. Of all of the times I have seen a physician over the past five years, I can only think of two times where the physician actually palpated my thyroid. The lesson to be learned here is that we should be proactive and ask our physicians to check our neck at our annual wellness visits. Thyroid cancer is the fastest growing cancer among women...it's Thyroid Cancer Awareness month...please ask your doctor to check your neck.

For more information, check out the Light of Life Foundation at checkyourneck.com.

A Hand To Hold

2011-09-21T08:08:00.000-05:00

The night before my second surgery, I barely slept at all. I would fall asleep for 15 minute bursts followed by waking up in a panic. I just couldn't get my brain to turn off. At about 3 am, I fell asleep long enough to have a very vivid dream.

In my dream, I was sitting in a pre-op room, waiting to go into surgery, and sobbing uncontrollably. None of the strangers in the room were able to comfort me. I looked up at one point and saw a familiar face walking down the hall towards me...a friend...swooping in to rescue me. She walked in dressed in surgical scrubs, shooed everyone else out of the room, sat on the edge of the bed next to me, held my hand, told me it was all going to be okay, and then, gave me some good medicine to help me relax...then, I woke up again. This time, I had a smile on my face.

I had to smile because, for me, I know that this friend is filed away in my brain under the label "calming nurturer." This friend lives many, many miles away, and unfortunately, I have not seen her in years, but we have stayed connected thanks to the marvels of modern technology. I had to share my dream with her.

Little did I know, but the night of my dream, she had been praying for me along with a list of several others. She had asked that our pain and suffering be relieved and that our loads would be lightened. We were both happy to know that those prayers had been heard. I told her that sometimes all we need is a hand to hold.

Over the past couple of days, I have gotten more hands to hold via email from others, thanks to my wonderful friend. They have put a smile on my face, made my heart feel happy, and put my mind at ease. It's good for the soul to have friends like that.

Cancer...Really?

2011-09-16T11:59:00.000-05:00

I must say that I was really holding out hope for a miracle. You know how you sometimes have that gut feeling that something just isn't right? In nursing, we are taught to always act when our gut tells us that something "just isn't right." My gut has been telling me this for a while now...just a different feeling that I have had over the past few weeks...nothing ominous...just a little bit different from the norm.

The first surgery, on Monday, went very well. They removed the right side of my thyroid, the tumor, and 2 lymph nodes. Thank God for excellent nurses! I am also very thankful for my CRNA that was kind enough to whip some good drugs out of his pocket (funny how they always just have this stuff in their pockets...anyone that has had surgery or works in healthcare knows what I am talking about) to calm my fears (and my stomach). I am eternally grateful. After surgery, I was comfortable enough to go home and get in my bed. There is something about being in your own bed that has a healing effect. My cold, dark room is like my own personal wellness retreat.

I was scheduled for my follow-up appointment on Thursday morning. Husby went with me to see Dr. Best, and after checking out my Texas Chainsaw massacre incision (just in time for Halloween, might I add) and taking a look at my vocal chords, Dr. Best got that look on his face. You know the look....the "OMG, I really don't want to tell you the bad news" look. The news was to let us know that the cancer diagnosis was confirmed and the tumor was a follicular variant papillary carcinoma with extension and lymph node metastasis. The other news was to let m know that I would need to have completion surgery on Monday...same time, same place.

They went ahead and did staging, so the cancer is T3N1a follicular variant papillary carcinoma, which is Stage III. Because I am under 45 years old, they usually like to stage better than they would for someone over 45 years old, so for age reasons, they can call me Stage I or II. After the second surgery, I will have a few weeks before I start treatment to prep my body for the radioactive iodine treatment.

As D-Daddy would say, "Are we having fun yet?" Really, I am okay. I know that is hard to believe, but I am. I just want my family to be okay. I am trying to keep as much normalcy in our lives as I can, and with the help of friends and family, that has been possible. I am still optimistic, and I know that I will be okay. Thank you to everyone for all of the food, prayers, and kind words...you all mean more to me than you know.

Until next time...I love you!

xoxoxox

-K

The Plan...Well, Sort Of

2011-08-20T12:05:00.000-05:00

I finally had my appointment on Thursday with the ENT surgeon (aka Dr. Best). I was feeling great about him being my surgeon after several recommendations from patients and reading every journal article of his research (sometimes PubMed access only feeds my neuroticism). He was even featured in an MD News article that was on the home page of our intranet site at work on Wednesday. All signs (big flashing signs) were pointing to "yes" for him to be the surgeon of choice.

Besides the fact that Dr. Best is (you guessed it) the best at what he does, he is also my kind of person...a serial optimist. He was very straight-forward and matter-of-fact in our conversation, and he said that he approaches everything as a best-case scenario. I like it.

(Side note: When I arrived for my appointment they checked my vital signs, heart rate 128 and BP 138/87...anxious much? I think so. It was laughable. The nurse said, "You know that nurses make the worst patients because we know too much going into the appointment." Agreed.)

So here's the plan...

The surgery is scheduled for September 12th. It will be performed as an outpatient procedure, and if all goes as planned, I will be home snug in my bed by late afternoon. The plan is to perform a right thyroid lobectomy. Cryo-pathology will be performed in the OR, and if the architecture confirms malignancy, they will remove the other half while I am still in the OR. I went ahead and signed consents for everything they could possibly need to do while they are in there. Since Dr. Best uses minimally-invasive techniques, I am looking at only a 2.5-3 cm scar and a much quicker recovery. I should even be back to work in 2 weeks or less. Once again, I like it. So, I call it a "sort of" plan because so much of it will be a "game time" decision.

When discussing possible side-effects, Dr. Best explained that a temporary loss of voice was normal and that I may not be able to speak above a whisper for up to two weeks. I told him that my husband and kids might like that.

So that's the plan!

-K

Putting Together a Plan

2011-08-11T09:35:00.000-05:00

I tend to brag about UAB hospital to others. The fact that I work there plays into the equation, but I honestly believe that this institution is at the top of the list when it comes to cutting edge research and some of the most gifted healthcare professionals in the nation. Of course, like most of us these days, I embarked on a Google quest to find the best ENT surgeon out there to perform my surgery. Lucky for me, one of the most notable surgeons just happens to work for UAB, and I was able to get an appointment for next Thursday to discuss the surgery and do some more lab work.

All of this is really starting to sink in, and I have to admit that I had not felt much more than numbness and a whirlwind of thoughts until last night. After the kids were in bed, I was moving through my usual bedtime routine. When I finished brushing my teeth, I turned around and saw that The Husby was laying on the bed watching me. He held out his arms for a hug, and I collapsed next to him in tears. He always seems to know exactly what I need, and this was exactly what I needed.

Trying to explain all of this to my kids has been difficult because I don't really know what to say. StickyBun-Scotti is oblivious to it all for the most part, which is fine by me. The Fred is a different story. She is a listener. She overhears a conversation and comes up with a million questions. I have tried to be very honest and direct in answering her questions, but I'm not sure that she understands. I laughingly joked with Aunt AllyCat yesterday about how I was sure that someone had written a children's book for this kind of thing. Sometimes, I just feel like I need an instruction manual.

Hopefully, I will walk away from the appointment with the doctor next week with a plan for the coming months. All of this waiting is in opposition to my desire to be in control, but I am going to be patient. Until then, love and hugs to you all!

Love- K

Time To Start Blogging Again

2011-08-09T20:39:00.001-05:00

I was thrilled when I received my acceptance letter for school last month, but of course, with any new program, there are a variety of hoops that you must jump through before you are officially “in.” One of those obligatory “hoops” just happened to be a physical exam. I was less than pleased by this requirement after having just seen my primary care physician, my OB/Gyn, and employee health for wellness visits within the past six months and been given the “all clear.” I continued to drag my heels about meeting this requirement, but finally, I scheduled an appointment with student health services. If only I had known what a blessing this would end up being.

At my scheduled appointment, the physician asked if I had been diagnosed with any thyroid problems because my thyroid appeared to be enlarged. Following some lab work, I was referred for an ultrasound. After the ultrasound, the decision was made to biopsy (deserving of another story in itself). For seven days, I agonized over what the results may be. Late this afternoon, I finally received the phone call.

Luckily, I had enough sense to grab a pen and paper and write as I talked to the physician. The next few minutes of conversation were riddled with words I wasn’t planning to hear…”atypical nuclei….suspicious for malignancy…refer for treatment.” What? Cancer?

Now, I have joked that the year I turned 30 was going to be a big year for me, but this was not exactly what I had in mind. The serial optimist in me believes that everything is part of a larger plan and even good things can come out of things that are bad. Luckily, I have wonderful family and wonderful friends that I know will be with me every step of the way. The next step is to meet with the ENT to discuss a plan. Until then, channel those prayers and good vibes in my direction. I will keep you posted.

xoxoxoxoxo

Love- K

Disney Made Easy

2010-10-14T09:57:00.001-05:00

For those that know me well, it comes as no surprise that for our recent Disney excursion I came prepared with customized maps, an itinerary organized by average ride wait time, and meal reservations. Because I believe in the importance of sharing the love, I am going to give you some pointers on making your next trip to Disney as magical as it can be.

How to get there...

If you are in the Birmingham area, Southwest has a direct flight to Orlando. They are kid-friendly with early boarding for families and very reasonable fares.

Where to stay...

As nice as some of the resorts are in the park, it is definitely not the most economical option. I highly recommend choosing a resort right outside of the park that offers a free shuttle to Disney. We stayed at the Caribe Royale, and with great deals on everything from a suite to a two-bedroom/two-bathroom villa (1 king, 2 queens, and a pull-out couch) with rates starting at $127 per night, it can't be beat. This includes a delicious, hot breakfast buffet each morning, $30 per day meal credit, and free shuttle to the parks. The villas have a full kitchen, so you can save some money by cooking dinners at the hotel after a long day at the park. Most cab drivers are willing to make a short stop at a grocery store for a few items on your way to the hotel from the airport. Frozen pizza, spaghetti, soup and sandwiches are great options. If you aren't interested in cooking, use that $30 per day meal credit in the market downstairs to get something from the salad bar or hot bar to take back to your room.

Buy tickets...

Go ahead and buy the Magic Your Way tickets online at the Disney Park Tickets website and have them mailed to you in advance. This will save you the headache of waiting in line with kids that are so giddy with excitement that they can't stand still.

Where to eat...

As soon as you figure out the bigger details, make your reservations for your meals at the parks. This can be done on the Disney Dining Reservations website months in advance. For lunch in the Magic Kingdom, make a reservation for Tony's Town Square around 12:30 and ask to sit on the patio outside when you get there. Your kids will have a bird's eye view of one of the parades as it starts across the street and be there to see it return later as the parade ends, giving them an up close view of both sides of the floats as they pass by your table. For lunch in the Animal Kingdom, the Rainforest Cafe is a must. Your kids will be entertained by aquariums, animals, rainforest storms, rainbows, and waterfalls from the minute they walk in the door. For lunch at Epcot, make your reservation for the Coral Reef restaurant. Your kids will dine with a panoramic view of the The Seas aquarium from underwater with fish, sharks, sea turtles, and rays swimming right by your table.

Get your maps and itinerary ready...

On the Disney website, you can make customizable park maps and an itinerary based on attractions you plan to see that can be printed at home. My recommendation is to figure out which rides your kids are big enough for and go from there.

Getting to the park...

Even though it means getting up early, you will be happy that you did. Take the earliest free shuttle to the park (usually leaves around 8 am), so that you are there when the doors open at 9 am. The travel time from shuttle to monorail to walking to the gate will put you there at about 15 minutes before the gates open if you leave at 8 am. This means a lot less time waiting in line...just trust me on this one.

Getting around the park...

I have one word for you...stroller. Rent one. A single is $15/day and a double is $31/day. It is worth every penny. You can go ahead and pay for several days at once for a discounted rate. All you do is take your card to each park, and they will give you a stroller with your name on it. No standing in line for a stroller after day one.

Magic Kingdom plan of attack...

Hit the left side of the park first, and you won't wait in line more than 5 minutes for anything. Here is my recommended order: Peter Pan's Flight, It's a Small World, The Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, and Magic Carpets of Aladdin. Then, head across the park to hit Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin and Monster's, Inc. Laugh Floor before you go to lunch. After lunch, you can see the Dream Along with Mickey show at Cinderella's Castle at 2 pm. After the show, you can go to The Many Adventure of Winnie the Pooh before the Celebrate a Dream Come True parade starts at 3 pm. After the parade, head to Tomorrowland Speedway. Both of mine were too short for Space Mountain, but now would be the time to ride if yours measure up. On your way out of the park, take a ride with Dumbo and ride Cinderella's Golden Carousel. Now, go home and soak those aching feet!
*Note: It's a Small World and The Mad Tea Party are closed for renovations until November 2010

Animal Kingdom plan of attack...

Head straight for Kilimanjaro Safaris and grab your FastPass. Then, take a leisurely stroll through the Pagani Forest Exploration trail. Return at your FastPass time for your safari and breeze through to the front of the line. Take the Wildlife Express Train to Conservation Station. After that, go see It's Tough To Be a Bug! Enjoy some lunch. After lunch, grab your FastPass for Dinosaur and Expedition Everest (if your kids are tall enough) before going to see Finding Nemo: The Musical. Return to ride Dinosaur with your FastPass (Warning: I found this ride to be scary/loud, and so did The Fred. StickyBun-Scotti loved it and wanted to ride again. You be the judge.) Take a ride on Primeval Whirl before returning with your FastPass to ride Expedition Everest. If you don't mind getting wet, take a ride on the Kali River Rapids. Now, you can stroll through the Maharajah Jungle Trek before the park closes at 5 pm. Go home and dry off!
*Note: Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade is at 3:45 if you want to catch another parade.

Epcot plan of attack...

Ride Spaceship Earth with no wait time. Head straight to Soarin' and grab your FastPass. While you are there, grab a FastPass for Living with the Land next door. Walk over to Test Track and go ahead and stand in line for this one since you won't be able to get another FastPass with one for Soarin' during the same time frame. After Test Track, head back to use your FastPass for Living with the Land followed by Soarin'. Enjoy some lunch before heading over to The Seas with Nemo & Friends. Catch a showing of Captain EO before heading over to Ellen's Energy Adventure. Now, take a deep breath and leisurely stroll around the World Showcase (stopping for a beer in each country of course). Enjoy that complimentary DD that you get with a free shuttle, head back to the hotel, and pass out for the night.

There it is...sounds easy enough...right? Just enjoy the wonder and amazement on your child's face. It truly is a magical place.

Happy Birthday, Boo!

2009-12-28T02:00:00.000-06:00

Make a Smilebox greeting

Holiday Food Detox Plan

2009-12-27T20:55:00.008-06:00

Now that we have all indulged over the holidays, it is time for some serious detox in hopes of trimming our waistline and improving our health. Whenever I need some assistance with lowering the calorie count, I always turn to my favorite standby, Cooking Light. Thanks to their website with thousands of recipes, you can enjoy some healthy cooking without a subscription. Here is the meal plan for the weeknight dinners this week...enjoy!

Monday:
Asparagus, Ham, & Fontina Bread Pudding

Tuesday:
Blackened Shrimp with Pomegranate-Orange Salsa & Basmati Rice

Wednesday:
Paella Valencia

Thursday:
Roasted Chicken with Asiago Polenta & Truffled Mushrooms

Friday:
Chunky Potato & Crab Chowder

Kids' Crafts: Crayon Recycle

2009-12-19T11:57:00.002-06:00

This is a great way to use up all of those broken pieces of crayon in the bottom of the crayon tin. Just melt the broken pieces into fun shapes using mini cake pans or shaped cookie sheets. Easy peasy!

Supplies:
Broken crayon pieces
Kitchen knife
Cookie sheet or mini cake pans

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 180 degrees F.
2) Cut broken crayons into pea-size pieces using a kitchen knife.
3) Let kids fill the shapes on the cookie sheet or mini cake pans with the crayon pieces. (FYI: They don't have to be filled to the top for this to work.)
4) Place pans or sheets into oven and heat for 15 to 20 minutes or just until wax melts.
5) Remove from oven as soon as wax is melted. Let cool in pans before placing pan in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
6) Pieces should pop out of pan easily after cooling in the refrigerator. Have fun coloring!

Favorite KIDS' Recipe: Christmas Krispies

2009-12-15T16:37:00.004-06:00

The Fred and I decided that we needed to make some sweets this week, so I wanted to try out some kid-friendly recipes. These were a lot of fun to make...and even more fun to eat! Enjoy!

Ingredients:
4 tablespoons butter
1- 10.5 ounce bag miniature marshmallows
5 cups rice krispies
green decorating sugar
red decorating sugar

Directions:
1) Melt butter in a large pot over low heat.
2) Add bag of marshmallows and stir constantly until melted. Continue stirring until mixture is a smooth consistency. Remove from heat.
3) Add rice krispies to marshmallow mixture. Stir well to combine.
4) Transfer mixture to a 9x13 glass dish coated with cooking spray. (Hint: Once mixture has been added to dish, press down with a spatula that has been sprayed with cooking spray to prevent sticking.)
5) Allow treats to cool completely before cutting into squares. Decorate squares with red and green decorating sugar.

Elf Yourself- Hip-Hop

2009-12-14T09:45:00.002-06:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Elf Yourself- Disco

2009-12-14T09:42:00.002-06:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Elf Yourself- Singing

2009-12-12T09:20:00.003-06:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Favorite KIDS' Recipe: Chick-fil-A Style Chicken Nuggets

2009-12-09T15:59:00.003-06:00

I know very few kids (and parents) that don't just absolutely love chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-A. There is something about those little perfectly seasoned nuggets that is just irresistible. I have always wished that I could make something just as good for the kiddos at home...well, now I can. This recipe tastes just like the real deal! Give it a try and save yourself the headache of having to climb into the indoor playground to retrieve your child during your next meal (I know that I am not the only one who has had to do that). FYI: This recipe requires prep 12 hours or more before it can be served. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 cups boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed

1 cup flour

1 and 1/2 cups cracker meal

1/4 teaspoon paprika

2 cups water

2 chicken bouillon cubes

2 and 1/4 teaspoons McCormick Season-All

peanut oil

Directions:

1) Place water in a large bowl and add 1/4 teaspoon of season-all. Dissolve bouillon cubes in water.

2) Place cubed chicken in water, mix well, cover, and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours.

3) After chicken has soaked, prepare flour mixture. Mix together flour, cracker meal, 2 teaspoons season-all, and paprika.

4) Heat peanut oil for deep frying.

5) Drain chicken. Coat nuggets in cracker mixture and fry until golden brown.

6) Remove chicken from oil and place on paper towel lined plate.

Dear Santa...Me Too!

2009-12-05T14:42:00.003-06:00

The Fred's Wish List:

1) Disney Princess Keyboard Vanity

2) Caring Corners Mrs. Goodbee Interactive Dollhouse

3) Leap Frog Leapster 2 Game System

4) Ultimotion Disney Fairies Game

5) Easy Bake Oven

6) Dress-Up/Sleeping Gowns: Disney Princess Gown, Cinderella Gown, Disney Fairies Tinker Bell Gown

StickyBun-Scotti's Wish List:

1) Super Lunar Rescue Team RC Car

2) Deluxe Canyon Road Track & Train Table

3) Leap Frog Leapster 2 Game System

4) LEGO Duplo Bricks & More Basic Bricks

5) One Touch Play Tent

6) Melissa & Doug Wooden Train Cars

Dear Santa...

2009-11-28T14:21:00.010-06:00

I have been a very good girl this year. If you are feeling generous, please just drop these off under my tree ; )

MommaDrool’s Christmas List:
1) The Miracle Worker by Philosophy

2) 5-Quart Stockpot

3) Rosetta Stone- Spanish (Latin America)

4) Amazon.com Gift Card (for more Kindle downloads)

5) NARS Everlasting Love Palette

6) TrendyFabrics.com Gift Certificate (for more Amy Butler fabric)

7) Sculpted Jewelry Tree

8) Wall Gallery Frame Set

9) Tea Infuser

10) Books: One-Yard Wonders, Design-It-Yourself Clothes, Sewing In No Time

11) Old Navy Gift Card

12) SpoonerZ Spoon EndZ Family Jewelry

Favorite Recipe: Chai Latte Mix

2009-11-23T14:40:00.004-06:00

This is one of my favorite beverages. I can even the remember the very first cup that I ever drank at a coffee cafe in Gainesville, Florida. I prepare this as a sugar free version, but feel free to substitute the real deal. Not only is this a great mix to have around the house, but it would be a great host/hostess gift for all of those holiday gatherings that are right around the corner. Just put the mix in an airtight jar and attach a bow with preparation instructions...done and done. Yields 8 servings. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Splenda
1/4 cup non-dairy powder coffee creamer
1/4 cup powdered milk
1/4 cup sugar-free CoffeeMate Vanilla non-dairy powder coffee creamer
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon white pepper

Directions:
1) Mix together all of the ingredients in a large bowl. Process the mixture in a food processor until smooth (this will make sure that the spices are evenly distributed). Store in an airtight container.
2) Boil water and steep your favorite bag or loose tea in a mug. Both black and white tea work well. Remove tea bag and stir in 2 to 3 tablespoons of the chai latte mixture. Let mixture sit for 2 minutes before drinking.

Favorite Recipe: Brunswick Stew

2009-11-05T16:32:00.002-06:00

I have to say, this is one of my favorite things to eat, and I swear, the cool weather makes it taste even better. For me, there is nothing more comforting than a good stew. I have always loved the Brunswick stew at Country's Barbecue since it isn't quite as sweet as other versions that I have had. I think that I have finally tried enough recipes and done enough tweaking to achieve a recipe that is very similar. I even came up with a recipe that can be prepared in the crockpot...what busy woman doesn't love that? Keep warm and enjoy! Yields 6 servings.

Ingredients:
1- 14.5 ounce can chicken broth
1 cup frozen baby lima beans
1 package Simply Potatoes Diced Potatoes & Onion
6 chicken tenders
2 tablespoons + 2 tablespoons butter, divided
1- 14.5 ounce can stewed tomatoes, chopped with juice
1- 14.5 ounce can creamed corn
1- 14.5 ounce can yellow corn
1 cup ketchup
1/8 cup yellow mustard
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 and 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons Liquid Smoke
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon Texas Pete hot sauce
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon brown sugar

Directions:
1) In a large crockpot, combine 2 tablespoons of butter, chicken broth, lima beans, potatoes, and chicken tenders. Cook on high heat setting for 4 hours.
2) Reduce heat to low setting. Stir stew, breaking up chicken into shredded pieces. Add tomatoes with juice, creamed corn, and yellow corn.
3) In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons melted butter with ketchup through brown sugar and whisk together until well mixed.
4) Add sauce mixture to crockpot and cook for 1 hour over low heat setting.

Halloween Weekend: Trick-or-Treat & Afternoon Hike

2009-11-04T20:08:00.002-06:00

Manicure Maven

2009-10-23T19:15:00.005-05:00

The Boy Dentist took The Fred to get her first manicure today...she was in awe as soon as she saw the wall shelved with hundreds of bottles of pink nail polish. Of course, she picked out the brightest iridescent shade of hot pink she could find. Then, the guy painting her nails asked if she would like flowers painted on them...he should have known that he didn't even have to ask that question...but, of course! Anyway, I told The Boy Dentist to be prepared for a return trip...The Fred likes to be pampered.

Pretty as a Peacock

2009-10-22T11:35:00.019-05:00

The Fred started looking for her Halloween costume beginning in August this year. She was determined to peruse every magazine that arrived in our mailbox in search of the perfect frock. Eventually, the Pottery Barn magazine showed up, and she was instantly smitten with the peacock costume. Unfortunately, MommaDrool was not smitten with the price tag...tutu + felt + shirt does not = $70...pulleez! It was one of those "this looks like a job for MommaDrool" moments.

I am going to share the love on this one because it was a no-sew project that could easily be used for several different costumes...bumblebee, ladybug, butterfly, angel, princess, fairy...you get the picture. In the end, I probably saved about $30...$40 if you include the cost of shipping. FYI, I bought all of my materials at Garden Ridge, Michael's, Hancock Fabrics, and a local dancewear store. If you can find the colors that you are looking for, I highly recommend buying your tulle by the roll...it is much easier to work with since you only have to cut for length, not width. I was able to find tulle by the roll in the wedding section at Michael's...just not any that was blue or green. The quantity of materials is what you will need to make a size 6 costume. So here goes...

Materials:
1 Body Wrapper long sleeve and long tight solid color unitard ($20)
regular white elastic, 1/2 to 1-inch width
3 yards grass green tulle (99 cents/yard= about $3) OR 1 roll of 6-inch grass green tulle ($3)
3 yards royal blue tulle (99 cents/yard= about $3) OR 1 roll of 6-inch royal blue tulle ($3)
1- 12x18 inch piece pale blue stiff felt ($1)
1- 12x18 inch piece grass green stiff felt ($1)
1- 12x18 inch piece dark blue stiff felt ($1)
10- green and/or blue eyelets ($2)
3 yard roll sheer 2-inch pale aqua ribbon ($1.50)
3 yard roll sheer 2-inch turquoise ribbon ($1.50)
3 yard roll regular 3/8-inch turquoise ribbon ($1.50)
3 yard roll regular 3/8-inch pale blue ribbon ($1.50)
Fabri-Tac fabric glue (any instant bond clear fabric glue will work) ($2)
1 peacock feather Christmas ornament with clip attached ($2 at Garden Ridge)

Directions:
1) Measure the child around the waist, just below the belly button. Take that measurement and subtract 1 inch. Cut a piece of elastic to that number of inches. This will give you enough length to knot the elastic and a fit that is snug enough to prevent the skirt from slipping down.

2) Take your piece of elastic and knot the ends together so that you form the waistband. Don't worry about what your knot looks like since it will be covered with tulle. Try the elastic on the child to make sure that you have a snug fit.

3) Measure your child from the waist to the desired length for your skirt. Take the number of inches and double that number. This is the length that you will need to cut your strips of tulle.

4) Cut your tulle into strips that are 6 inches wide and the length that you determined in the previous step. If you are using rolls of tulle, you won't have to cut to a 6-inch width, only cut to length from the roll. Continue cutting strips until you have used all of the tulle.

5) From your two rolls of 2-inch sheer ribbon, cut strips that are the same length as your tulle. Continue cutting strips until you have used all of the sheer ribbon.

6) Now, you are ready to begin attaching the strips to our skirt. You will alternate attaching the strips (one green tulle, one sheer pale aqua ribbon, one blue tulle, one sheer turquoise) repeating the sequence until you have used all of the strips. The strips are attached to the elastic using a Lark's Head knot. Below is a picture that shows you how to make the knot. As you attach the strips, be sure not to pull them tight. This will stretch the elastic and make them difficult to rearrange. Once all of the strips have been attached and are equidistant, pull all of them tight. (The other picture below gives a close-up of what the waistband looks like on the completed project.)

7) Once you have finished the skirt, it is time to create your peacock "feathers" from the felt. I created a template in photoshop for my feathers, and cut my felt from the pattern pieces. The larger teardrop was used with the green felt, smaller teardrop with the pale blue felt, and the circle with the dark blue felt. Cut 9 pieces of each shape.

8) After you have cut all of the pieces of the felt, attach the eyelets at the center near the edge of the rounded side of the large green felt teardrops. Now, you can glue the pale blue and dark blue felt pieces on top of the green felt using the fabric glue.

9) Measure the child from the waist to where you would like the feathers to hang. Take this measurement and double that number. Cut 5 strips to this length from one of your 3/8-inch ribbons, and cut 4 strips to this length from your other 3/8-inch ribbon.

10) You will attach this ribbon in the same way that you attached the tulle, but you want one side of the ribbon that hangs down to be about 2 inches lower than the other side. The lower side will be the one that you tie the felt "feathers" onto. Evenly space the ribbon, alternating colors, as you attach it between the tulle. For my skirt, they were evenly spaced if I attached a ribbon every 4 knots. I found it easiest to start at the front center of the skirt. That way you can attach one to the left followed by one to the right and move out from there.

11) Once you have attached all 9 pieces of ribbon, you can attach the felt "feathers." Take the side of the ribbon that hangs down lower than the other and thread that piece of ribbon through the eyelet from the back side. Tie a basic knot and pull the end so that it lays flat against the back side of the felt.

12) For the hairpiece, I did nothing more than attach the feather ornament by the clip to a simple hair tie. Although, the clip could also be attached to a simple aqua elastic head band. Another idea would be to use any left over felt and ribbon to make a peacock headband.

*Since I didn't mention this before, this is the same way that you would create a simple tutu, and it is much easier to find colors like pink and white in rolls of tulle. I made one for The Fred for ballet, but they are so much fun for just dress-up too! Just follow steps 1-4, using a shorter length for the tutu, and attach your tulle using the Lark's Head knot. Just an FYI, with smaller strips of tulle, your tutu will stand out further...thus, making it shorter. Be sure to take this into consideration when cutting the length of your tulle. Enjoy!

He Didn't Put Florist On His Resume...

2009-10-17T20:47:00.002-05:00

Things That Make Your Heart Melt...

2009-10-05T21:35:00.005-05:00

#1) Conversation with StickyBun-Scotti after I got out of the shower last night...

MommaDrool: "Alright, buddy, are you ready for bed?"
SBS: "Yeah, mom."
(Picking him up to carry him to his room)
SBS: "Momma, you smell like sweethearts."
(Grabbing my face in his hands)
SBS: "I love you, my baby."
MommaDrool: "Oh, boo-boo, I love you too!"

#2) The super sweet picture that The Fred drew on the front of my birthday card...

#3) The Husby taking the time to bake me a sugar-free low carb carrot cake with cream cheese icing for my birthday, so that I wouldn't miss out on eating cake this year...

Birmingham's Best 2009

2009-09-28T17:36:00.007-05:00

Please fill-out your nomination for the Birmingham's Best 2009: "Best Local Website" as BirminghamMommy.com in support of this great site. Nominations are due by October 5th.

Nominate BirminghamMommy.com for Best Local Website

Favorite Recipe: Cioppino

2009-09-27T19:40:00.002-05:00

I will preface by saying that this is something I probably would have never cooked if it weren't for Publix and their desire to drive me nuts by putting three fish filets in their frozen bags of halibut. Who needs three pieces of fish? Two, I understand. Four, I understand. But, three? The point is...what to do with that third piece of fish? Make cioppino!

Now, you may be wondering what cioppino is...think seafood stew. If you read the history on this stuff, it is a traditional Italian stew that was prepared with tomato, wine, and whatever was left from the catch of the day. All I have to say is, leftover anything never tasted as good as this. You really can use whatever seafood you prefer or have on hand. For economical reasons, most of my ingredients were frozen...which tasted just as good as fresh. Once again, quick and easy. This recipe yields 4 servings. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
1 teaspoon anchovy paste
1 tablespoon capers
3 teaspoons minced garlic
1 bay leaf
1 large onion, diced
1 cup white wine
14 ounces chicken stock
1 can diced tomatoes with garlic and onion
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 halibut filet, cut into large chunks
12 large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 package frozen mussels**
2 cans claw crab meat**
salt
pepper
4 servings linguine pasta, cooked
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese (optional)

(**Publix sells a brand of mussels in the frozen food section called Bantry Bay Mussels in Tomato & Garlic Sauce. This was what I used. Just drop it into the stew frozen and follow the cooking directions below. As for the crab meat, you can find this in the same section as canned tuna fish. The brand that I buy comes in a beige can with blue writing and is claw crab meat not lump crab meat, although you could substitute without changing the taste.)

Directions:
1) In a Dutch oven, heat olive oil, cayenne, Old Bay, anchovy paste, capers, garlic, and bay leaf over medium heat until mixture begins to simmer. Continue simmering for 3 minutes.
2) Add onion to mixture and continue cooking until onion begins to soften. Add white wine and simmer for 3 minutes.
3) Add chicken stock, tomatoes, thyme, and parsley. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium-low.
4) Season fish with salt and pepper. Drop fish chunks into pot and simmer for 5 minutes. Do not stir pot after adding fish since it will flake. If you need to stir, shake pot instead of using a spoon (unless you can be very gentle).
5) Add mussels, cover pot, and simmer for 10 minutes. Add shrimp and crab meat to pot and cook until shrimp are opaque.
6) Remove pot from heat. Equally divide linguine among 4 pasta bowls. Ladle cioppino on top of linguine (remember, this should be like a stew, so be sure to get plenty of broth). Garnish with Parmesan cheese.

Happy Birthday, Grammy!

2009-09-27T10:02:00.000-05:00

Make a Smilebox greeting

Favorite Recipe: Huevos Rancheros

2009-09-23T08:45:00.007-05:00

This is one of those entrees that I have never had the guts to order in a restaurant, but every time Goldilex orders it, my mouth waters. When I thought about all of the components of the dish, I figured out that this could be a simple dinner for those busy nights when I just don't feel like working too hard in the kitchen. After a little bit of tweaking the second time I made this dish, I absolutely fell in love with the final result. This recipe is E-A-S-Y! This recipe yields 2 servings. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 can black beans, drained

1 can diced tomatoes with zesty jalapeno, drained

1 can diced green chiles

1 can enchilada sauce

1 teaspoon + 1/2 teaspoon + 1/2 teaspoon Adobo All-Purpose Seasoning, divided

4 eggs

4 tablespoons Pace Mexican Four Cheese Salsa con Queso

2 flour tortillas

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

pico de gallo (optional)

sour cream (optional)

hot sauce (optional)

Directions:

1) Heat black beans in a small saucepan over low heat. Partially mash beans with the back of a fork to give a refried bean consistency. Sprinkle beans with 1/2 teaspoon Adobo seasoning. Continue to heat until cooked through.

2) In a separate small saucepan, combine tomatoes, green chiles, enchilada sauce, and 1 teaspoon Adobo seasoning. Bring to a simmer then reduce heat to keep warm.

3) In a medium skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Fry eggs in vegetable oil, seasoning with remaining 1/2 teaspoon of Adobo until yolk is cooked through.

4) Warm queso in microwave for 30 seconds. Warm tortillas in microwave for 20 seconds.

5) Place one tortilla on each plate. Spread 2 tablespoons of queso on top of each tortilla. Divide black beans and spread on top of queso.

6) Remove eggs from heat and place two eggs on top of black beans on each tortilla. Spoon enchilada sauce on top of eggs. Serve with pico de gallo, hot sauce, and sour cream.

Favorite Recipe: Seared Scallops Over Creamy Succotash

2009-09-13T20:20:00.011-05:00

O f course, whenever we start a new season of Top Chef, I am inspired to get creative in the kitchen. We had some really excellent sea scallops a few weeks ago that we purchased at "The Pig," so I have been craving them ever since. These days, I am aiming for recipes that I can only describe as "easy gourmet." I want it to look like I spent hours in the kitchen, but with as little time spent cooking as possible. The total time spent on this meal was about 15 minutes. This creation was absolutely delish! The Husby said it goes in the recipe hall of fame with a spot in his top three. This is a perfect meal for a special occasion or when you want to show everyone a glimpse of your inner Paula Deen. Recipe yields 2 servings. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

14 sea scallops

1 tablespoon + 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 medium onion, diced

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 can triple succotash, drained

1 bag baby spinach

1/4 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon butter

1 teaspoon Tony Chachere's seasoning

salt

black pepper

1 lemon, cut into wedges (optional)

Directions:

1) Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and saute 4 minutes or until soft. Add garlic and cook an additional 2 minutes.

2) Add triple succotash and Tony Chachere's seasoning to onion mixture. Simmer over medium-low heat for 6 minutes. Add cream to mixture and return to a simmer over low heat.

3) Once succotash begins to simmer, mix in spinach a few handfuls at a time. Continue to cook, stirring occassionally, until spinach softens.

4) Rinse scallops and pat dry with a paper towel. Lightly salt and pepper scallops on both sides.

5) In a separate skillet, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil and butter over medium-high heat. As soon as butter begins to brown in olive oil, add scallops to pan. Sear scallops for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until a caramelized brown crust forms. Immediately remove scallops from pan when finished cooking.

6) Put a few spoonfuls of succotash on plate and top with scallops. Squeeze a wedge of fresh lemon juice over top of scallops.

Personality Type

2009-09-05T10:37:00.005-05:00

We have been talking a lot about personality types in my mental health clinical, and I was interested to see exactly what my type is since I haven't taken this test in almost 12 years...and of course, I couldn't remember the exact results. I decided to take the Myers-Briggs test this morning and found out that I am an "ISFJ." I found it very interesting that The Husby is an "ISFJ" as well...not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing to have two of us under the same roof. I will do some more research and post an update on that. Of course, I had to laugh when I read that these are the "If you want it done right, do it yourself" people that aren't very good at delegating...oh, how true that is. You can take an abbreviated version of the test on the Human Metrics site. Here is a description of the "ISFJ" type reprinted from TypeLogic:

ISFJ- Introverted Sensing Feeling Judging

ISFJs are characterized above all by their desire to serve others, their "need to be needed." In extreme cases, this need is so strong that standard give-and-take relationships are deeply unsatisfying to them; however, most ISFJs find more than enough with which to occupy themselves within the framework of a normal life. (Since ISFJs, like all SJs, are very much bound by the prevailing social conventions, their form of "service" is likely to exclude any elements of moral or political controversy; they specialize in the local, the personal, and the practical.)

ISFJs are often unappreciated, at work, home, and play. Ironically, because they prove over and over that they can be relied on for their loyalty and unstinting, high-quality work, those around them often take them for granted--even take advantage of them. Admittedly, the problem is sometimes aggravated by the ISFJs themselves; for instance, they are notoriously bad at delegating ("If you want it done right, do it yourself"). And although they're hurt by being treated like doormats, they are often unwilling to toot their own horns about their accomplishments because they feel that although they deserve more credit than they're getting, it's somehow wrong to want any sort of reward for doing work (which is supposed to be a virtue in itself). (And as low-profile Is, their actions don't call attention to themselves as with charismatic Es.) Because of all of this, ISFJs are often overworked, and as a result may suffer from psychosomatic illnesses.

In the workplace, ISFJs are methodical and accurate workers, often with very good memories and unexpected analytic abilities; they are also good with people in small-group or one-on-one situations because of their patient and genuinely sympathetic approach to dealing with others. ISFJs make pleasant and reliable co-workers and exemplary employees, but tend to be harried and uncomfortable in supervisory roles. They are capable of forming strong loyalties, but these are personal rather than institutional loyalties; if someone they've bonded with in this way leaves the company, the ISFJ will leave with them, if given the option. Traditional careers for an ISFJ include: teaching, social work, most religious work, nursing, medicine (general practice only), clerical and and secretarial work of any kind, and some kinds of administrative careers.

While their work ethic is high on the ISFJ priority list, their families are the centers of their lives. ISFJs are extremely warm and demonstrative within the family circle--and often possessive of their loved ones, as well. When these include Es who want to socialize with the rest of the world, or self-contained ITs, the ISFJ must learn to adjust to these behaviors and not interpret them as rejection. Being SJs, they place a strong emphasis on conventional behavior (although, unlike STJs, they are usually as concerned with being "nice" as with strict propriety); if any of their nearest and dearest depart from the straight-and-narrow, it causes the ISFJ major embarrassment: the closer the relationship and the more public the act, the more intense the embarrassment (a fact which many of their teenage children take gleeful advantage of). Over time, however, ISFJs usually mellow, and learn to regard the culprits as harmless eccentrics :-). Needless to say, ISFJs take infinite trouble over meals, gifts, celebrations, etc., for their loved ones--although strong Js may tend to focus more on what the recipient should want rather than what they do want.

Like most Is, ISFJs have a few, close friends. They are extremely loyal to these, and are ready to provide emotional and practical support at a moment's notice. (However, like most Fs they hate confrontation; if you get into a fight, don't expect them to jump in after you. You can count on them, however, run and get the nearest authority figure.) Unlike with EPs, the older the friendship is, the more an ISFJ will value it. One ISFJ trait that is easily misunderstood by those who haven't known them long is that they are often unable to either hide or articulate any distress they may be feeling. For instance, an ISFJ child may be reproved for "sulking," the actual cause of which is a combination of physical illness plus misguided "good manners." An adult ISFJ may drive a (later ashamed) friend or SO into a fit of temper over the ISFJ's unexplained moodiness, only afterwards to explain about a death in the family they "didn't want to burden anyone with." Those close to ISFJs should learn to watch for the warning signs in these situations and take the initiative themselves to uncover the problem.

Favorite Recipe: Spinach & Feta Rotini

2009-08-21T18:19:00.003-05:00

We all know that we can save a lot of money by cooking a meatless entree, but all too often, those meals tend to be less than filling. By incorporating beans into the dish, you may find that they can be just as filling and flavorful without breaking the bank. This is one that the kids might like as well...and it sneaks in a few servings of veggies too. This is a recipe that even the beginner cook will find to be quick and simple...perfect for a weeknight meal. Enjoy!

Yields 4-6 servings.

Spinach & Feta Rotini

Ingredients:

8 ounces rotini pasta

1 bag fresh spinach

1/2 cup red onion, chopped

3 teaspoons minced garlic

1 can Northern beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup crumbled feta cheese

1/4 cup olive oil + 1 tablespoon

3 tablespoons lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:

1) Cook rotini according to package directions.

2) While pasta is cooking, saute garlic and red onion in 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat for 3 minutes or until onion softens. Add spinach to mixture and continue cooking, stirring frequently, until spinach wilts and softens.

3) Add Northern beans to spinach mixture and continue cooking until heated through.

4) In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

5) Drain cooked pasta and add to spinach mixture. Add feta cheese and pour olive oil dressing over top. Toss well to combine.

Favorite Recipe: Hog-Tied Sushi Roll

2009-08-20T17:06:00.007-05:00

Bacon, cream cheese, smoked salmon, sweet chile sauce, and fried onions...'nuff said. Enjoy!

Hog-Tied Sushi Roll

Ingredients:
nori, one sheet
cooked sushi rice, handful
1 strip of bacon, cooked
1 ounce smoked salmon
1 ounce cream cheese

Sriracha sauce

sweet chile sauce (recipe follows)

1 green onion stalk, minced

1 tablespoon fried onions

Directions:
1) Lay nori sheet on bamboo rolling mat with the rough side facing up.
2) Get your hands wet, and grab a handful of rice. Place the rice in the middle of the nori sheet, and spread it into an even layer on the nori, covering all but the top inch of the sheet.
3) Place your bacon on the bottom edge of the nori sheet and top with cream cheese and smoked salmon. Drizzle with small amount of Sriracha (optional).
4) Roll sushi tightly with the bamboo mat and cut with a sharp knife into 6-8 pieces.
5) Lay the pieces on a plate facing up and drizzle with sweet chile sauce. Top pieces with green onion and fried onion.

6) Serve with sweet chile sauce and soy sauce.

Sweet Chile Sauce

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

3 tablespoons lime juice

1 tablespoon fish sauce (this stuff stinks...hold your breath : )

2 teaspoons Sriracha

Directions:

Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl and whisk together until sugar dissolves.

Favorite Recipe: Taste of India

2009-08-18T20:12:00.004-05:00

I have been dying to try my hand at some Indian cuisine for quite some time now, but from countless hours of reading recipes, all that I gathered was that it was quite complicated. I finally came to the conclusion that if I couldn't put the time and effort into preparing my favorite Indian entrees, I could at least try to capture the flavors that make them special. Not only are the following recipes extremely simple, they are also quick to prepare, low cost, and very filling. If you like Indian, these recipes are a must. If you aren't sure, give them a try. You might be pleasantly surprised. Enjoy!

Vegetable Curried Couscous

Ingredients:

1 cup uncooked plain couscous

1 and 3/4 cups water

1- 15 ounce can chickpeas, rinsed

1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped

1 and 1/2 cups broccoli florets, steamed

3 tablespoons white wine vinegar

2 and 1/2 tablespoons olive oil + 2 teaspoons olive oil

1 and 1/2 tablespoons sugar

2 and 1/2 teaspoons red curry powder

1 teaspoon ginger

1 and 1/2 teaspoons salt

Directions:

1) Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. When water boils, stir in coucous. Remove from heat and cover with a lid. Let stand for 6 minutes.

2) While couscous is cooking, steam broccoli for 6 minutes.

3) In a large saucepan, saute onion with 2 teaspoons olive oil over medium heat for 3 minutes. Add chickpeas and heat an additional 3 minutes.

4) In a small bowl, whisk together remaining olive oil, vinegar, sugar, curry, ginger, and salt.

5) Add steamed broccoli and couscous to chickpea mixture, remove from heat, and mix well. Pour curry sauce over mixture and toss well to combine.

Cucumber Yogurt Raita Dip with Pita Slices

Ingredients:

2 cups plain, unsweetened yogurt

1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded, and chopped

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions:

1) Puree cucumber in a food processor until smooth. Add remaining ingredients to food processor and pulse to combine.

2) Let stand in refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.

3) Serve with sliced pita triangles for dipping.

Favorite KIDS' Recipe: Cotton Candy Shirley Temple

2009-08-05T14:12:00.005-05:00

We had a lot of fun ordering this for the kids at O'Charley's a few weeks ago, but since it came with a $3.99 price tag, I thought I would give it a go at home. The kids will love this, and it is really easy for a fun summer treat. Let the kids swirl some cotton candy into the glass to change the color and flavor or just eat it off of the straw. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
Sprite, 7Up, or Sierra Mist
Cotton Candy (any color)
Ice cubes
Clear glass
Straw

Directions:
1) Fill a clear glass with ice. Pour in Sprite until it fills about 3/4 of the glass.
2) Put a chunk of cotton candy, slightly bigger than the glass rim, onto the straw.
3) Place the straw into the glass without letting the cotton candy touch the liquid. (Once the cotton candy gets wet, it will dissolve. Just an FYI.)

Thank you to SimplyRed for the picture from her post about the Cotton Candy Shirley Temple!

Favorite Recipe: Hot & Sour Soup

2009-07-29T22:53:00.005-05:00

There is a chinese restaurant here in town that I love, and 90% of the reason is because they make some delicious hot and sour soup. It has all of the things that I like...lots of sour and some good heat. This recipe that I put together is strikingly similar, just without the shrimp and scallops. Of course, you could add those too! For those of you that don't like so much heat, just omit the chili oil in this recipe. You can put it on the table and let everyone adjust the heat to their liking. If you want it even milder, leave out the sriracha too...this will put the heat at the kid level. I highly recommend serving this soup with a recipe for egg rolls that RandomMommy shared with me (see below). They are killer! Also, this soup freezes very well for a meal at a later date. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

8 cups chicken stock

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup rice vinegar

1/3 cup white vinegar

1/2 teaspoon chili oil

1/2 teaspoon sriracha chili sauce

1 teaspoon ground white pepper

1 cup sliced mushrooms

1/2 cup sliced bamboo shoots

1/2 cup sliced water chestnuts

1 square of firm tofu, drained and sliced into 1/4 inch strips

3 tablespoons cornstarch whisked with 1/4 cup water

1 large egg, lightly beaten

chopped green onions, garnish (optional)

Directions:

1) Mix together first seven ingredients (chicken stock through white pepper) in a large pot and heat to a boil.

2) Add mushrooms, bamboo, and water chestnuts. Simmer for 10 minutes.

3) Add tofu and cook an additional 3 minutes.

4) In a separate bowl, whisk together cornstarch and water until smooth. Add cornstarch mixture to soup and continue to simmer until soup slightly thickens.

5) Turn heat to low setting. Stir soup in one direction to get a current going, then stop stirring. Slowly pour in beaten egg in a steady stream. Egg will cook immediately and feather in the broth.

6) Soup can be kept warm over low heat until ready to serve. Garnish with sliced green onions.

Recipe for RandomMommy's Rockin' Egg Rolls

Recipe for Chinese Hot Mustard

Recipe for Sweet and Sour Sauce

Kitty-Cats Beware

2009-05-24T20:30:00.001-05:00

Great Summer Fun: Splash Pad

2009-05-19T21:11:00.003-05:00

When I say that I love this place, I mean it. I really love this place. You might get a different response when you ask me again in July, and I am battling a 110 degree heat index...but for right now, the weather is perfect for some Splash Pad fun. You just can't beat a place with great kid entertainment for free, so I decided to give this place a try. The combination of a splash park and a playground all in the same place is such a great idea. Covered picnic tables make this the perfect place to spend the morning, followed by a brown bag lunch. The Splash Pad is part of Celebration Park located in Gardendale, Alabama off of the Fieldstown Road exit. You can visit the Gardendale Parks & Recreation website for more details.

Music Review: Mia Carruthers

2009-05-08T14:41:00.005-05:00

I will be waiting by my laptop for this album to pop up on iTunes. For any of you that have been watching "Taking the Stage" on MTV, I am sure that you are as smitten with Mia Carruthers as I am. Now, I realize that I may be the only person over the age of 19 that is watching this show, but you know that I was bound to love any show that is 90% music and dance and 10% drama...what's not to love? In my humble opinion, Mia is a phenomenal singer, songwriter, and musician. I will keep you posted on a future release date. Enjoy!

p.s. I apologize for the fact that you have to listen to a commercial first, but what do you expect? This did come from MTV ; )

Mia Carruthers: "Breathe You In"

Tent Time

2009-04-26T13:35:00.005-05:00

I don't know about you, but growing up, Auntie "A" and I made a daily business of making what I will collectively refer to as "sheet tents." You know what I'm talking about...draping the sheet off of the back of the couch and securing it with whatever heavy object you can find nearby. Of course, once we had honed our skills, we could easily make a state-of-the-art tent out of nothing more than a bath towel and some phone books. We kept this up for many years, and I will never forget the look on my mom's face every time she enetered the room to find that a "sheet tent" had taken up residence in the living room...a pure mixture of "not again," "I just picked up in here," and feigned excitement. I get that now.

Since The Husby has been working most of the weekend, I felt that now was the time to pass down the time-honored tradition of the sheet tent. I do have to say...I am impressed by their novice skill. Leave it to The Fred to make the resourceful incorporation of the "Chip Clip" to prevent the sheet from slipping...sheer genius. I think that they are well on their way to making a name for themselves in sheet tent construction...The Husby will be proud.

Been Awhile?

2009-04-22T17:23:00.003-05:00

I know...I know...it has been a really long time since I have updated my blog, but what can I say? Sometimes, life just gets really busy. If I tried to blog about all that has taken place over the past few months, it would take up more time than I can spare, so we will go with the run down version with a picture slideshow...

It has been an interesting couple of months...just finished my clinical rotation for med-surg at CG today...hard work, but I am walking away with confidence. Next up, a rotation in maternal/newborn, and I could not be more excited. If I can swing a shift that isn't until the wee hours of the morning, it will be the icing on the cake...keep your fingers crossed. (I will be keeping my fingers crossed on location as well ; )

We have celebrated another birthday! The Fred was 4 years old at the end of March...hard to believe that my baby is so big. At three feet and nine inches tall, I keep looking for the "pause" button. Time sure does fly when you're having fun. StickyBun-Scotti is still staying sweet...plenty of love and laughs, and he is rambling up a storm. You might need an interpreter to understand what he says, but hey, what are moms for?

All I can say is...life is good! We are all happy and healthy, and it is wonderful to have such great friends and family. I know...I might be the serial optimist, but I know a good thing when I see it. Hope all is well in the world...peace!

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-13T15:34:00.005-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day! Alli-Boo sent this to me, and I loved it so much that I just had to share...xoxoxoxo!!!

New Life For Your Britax

2009-02-03T08:51:00.004-06:00

In the hunt for the ultimate car seat, we stumbled upon the Britax Marathon a year ago when The Fred needed an upgrade. Of all of the car seats that we have purchased over the years, this one has been my favorite for many reasons. When it came time for The Fred and StickyBun-Scotti to once again move to a larger seat, I knew that I would want StickyBun-Scotti to move into a Britax Marathon as well. Since the Marathon that we currently own had a pink-flower cover, I began the hunt for a new cover that was a little bit more boy-friendly.

After pouring through hundreds of sites, I came across an eBay store called Sweet Cherubs by Lynn. These car seat covers seemed to be the most well-made and came at a bargain price in comparison to most of the car seat covers that I had seen. The selection of prints was also a huge selling point since there was a vide variety of some of the hottest fabrics. I am always hesitant with my eBay purchases, but with a 100% positive feedback for the seller, I was put at ease.

Even though the covers are custom made, I received my car seat cover very quickly after my purchase, and there was communication from the seller throughout the stages of the transaction. When the cover arrived yesterday, I was absolutely thrilled! The pictures on eBay don't even do these car seat covers justice. As someone who sews, I was extremely impressed by the quality of the craftsmanship as well as the quality of the materials.

I just can't say enough great things about these car seat covers. StickyBun-Scotti was instantly a fan and spent most of the evening watching his favorite shows while relaxing in his new car seat. Thank you very much to Sweet Cherubs by Lynn for making my favorite "little monkey" (and this Momma) very happy!

Favorite Recipe: Chicken & Dumplings

2009-01-13T14:34:00.003-06:00

This recipe has catapulted to the very top of my comfort foods list, and it is the perfect meal to warm you up on a cold winter day. I give this recipe extra points for being easy to prepare, child friendly, and easily modified in order to reduce calories. If counting calories is part of your New Year's resolution, just substitute the Campbell's Healthy Request Cream of Celery and Cream of Chicken for the original. You can also save time by using a rotisserie chicken from your grocer's deli or just add two large chicken breasts to a crock pot with a 1/2 cup of chicken broth and cook. Enjoy!

Chicken and Dumplings

Ingredients:

1- 32 ounce container of chicken broth or stock

3 cups of shredded cooked chicken

1 can cream of celery

1 can cream of chicken

1 teaspoon poultry seasoning

1- 10.2 ounce can of refrigerated jumbo buttermilk biscuits

Directions:

1) Stir together chicken broth, shredded cooked chicken, cream of celery, cream of chicken, and poultry seasoning in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.

2) Place biscuits on a floured surface and pat to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut biscuit dough into small 1/2-inch wide strips.

3) Return broth to a low boil over medium-high heat. Drop strips into broth one at a time to prevent sticking. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

It Takes A Whole Village...

2009-01-12T15:30:00.003-06:00

Most of us are familiar with the adage, "It takes a whole village to raise a child." I am realizing the truth in that proverb now more than ever. After receiving my clinical assignment at the end of last week, I was extremely discouraged. The assignment makes me feel guilty for having to be away from my children during time that I am used to spending with them, and it is sometimes difficult to figure out ways to maintain a balance.

Thank goodness for the overwhelming support that I have received from friends and family. Whether it was a good laugh, some encouraging words, an offer to help with the kids, or a hug, I appreciate it more than you know, and it makes me realize that only with the help of the "village," can we really raise our children to be the best they can possibly be.

Favorite Recipe: Shrimp & Sausage Etouffee

2008-12-30T20:14:00.007-06:00

All that I can say about this recipe is...YUM! This is an adaptation of a recipe that was published this year in Cooking Light magazine. The spice in this dish is the perfect blend of flavors, and I felt like it was better than any etouffee I have ever eaten...even in NOLA! You can adjust the heat with the amount of cayenne pepper that you use, or you can just drizzle some hot sauce on top.

Normally, I am a fan of the quick meal, but this recipe is anything but a quick one. I suggest doing all of the prep work and measuring ahead of time since this takes up the bulk of the time to prepare. Also, this takes three pots to cook, so be prepared for some clean up. If a recipe was ever worth the extra time, this is it. This would be a great meal to fix for guests, and the sauce freezes well if you want to prepare several meals at once. I also think that this would be just as good if it was served over white cheddar cheese grits instead of rice. Enjoy!

Shrimp & Sausage Etouffee

Ingredients:

4 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 bay leaf
1/2 pound Conecuh sausage (or plain smoked sausage)

1/3 cup butter, divided
1/2 cup all-purpose flour (about 2 1/4 ounces)
Cooking spray
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
2/3 cup diced celery
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, divided
1/2 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined (about 20 shrimp)
4 cups hot cooked long-grain rice

Directions:

1) Combine first 4 ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat; bring to a simmer.

2) Slice sausage into bite-size pieces. Cook in a separate small pan over medium heat until golden brown and cooked through. Remove sausage from pan with a slotted spoon and set aside.
2) Melt 1/4 cup butter in sausage drippings in the same saucepan over medium heat. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Add flour to pan; cook 8 minutes or until very brown, stirring constantly with a whisk. Remove from heat.

3)Add 1 cup broth mixture to pan; stir with a whisk until smooth. Add remaining 3 cups broth mixture, stirring with a whisk until smooth; set aside.
4) Melt remaining 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon butter in a large Dutch oven coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add onion, celery, and bell peppers to pan; cook 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender and onion is golden brown, stirring occasionally.

5) Stir in 3/4 cup water, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Add tomato paste, Cajun seasoning, garlic, salt, black pepper, and red pepper to onion mixture; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.

6) Add reserved broth-flour mixture and Worcestershire sauce to pan, stirring well to combine; bring to a simmer. Cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

7) Add green onions, 1/4 cup parsley, sausage, and shrimp; cook 3 minutes or until shrimp are done. Discard bay leaf. Serve over rice.

Yields 6 servings.

Favorite Recipe: Beer Cheese Soup & Fried Green Tomatoes

2008-12-30T08:49:00.008-06:00

I decided to try out some new recipes for the new year, and I stumbled upon a couple of new hits with dinner last night. The Husby has been asking me to try making a Beer Cheese soup, so after some research and taking bits and pieces from a few different recipes, I came up with a great soup for those chilly days. Since I want to be Paula Deen when I grow up, I thought the meal needed a Southern twist. What better to make this a hearty meal than some fried green tomatoes with a little bit of remoulade sauce on the side. After The Hubsy went back for thirds, I thought this one should be added to the favorites list. Enjoy!
Beer Cheese Soup

Ingredients:

2 celery ribs

1/2 medium onion

1 Bay leaf

1/4 cup butter

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups whole milk

1-3/4 cups chicken broth

1 (12-ounce) bottle ale (Newcastle or Bass)

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

16 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese, grated

4 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled

Directions:

1) Add onion and celery to food processor and blend until liquid consistency. You want the consistency to be as smooth as possible.

2) Melt butter in a 4-quart heavy saucepan. Add onion and celery mixture and Bay leaf to saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes.

3) Reduce heat to medium-low and sprinkle flour over vegetables. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3 minutes.

4) Add milk, broth, and beer, and whisk together. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking occasionally, for 5 minutes.

5) Stir in Worcestershire, mustard, salt and pepper.

6) Add cheese by the handful, stirring constantly, cooking until cheese is melted. Let simmer 4 minutes. Discard Bay leaf.

7) Serve soup sprinkled with crumbled bacon.

Fried Green Tomatoes with Remoulade Sauce

Ingredients:

2 cups vegetable oil

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 and 1/2 cups milk

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon paprika

2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

4 green tomatoes

2 cups Japanese panko bread crumbs

Directions:

1) In a large pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat to 350 degrees F.

2) In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne pepper.

3) Slice the tomatoes into 1/2-inch slices (about 5 slices per tomato). Dip the slices into the batter and coat thoroughly.

4) Cover both sides with panko bread crumbs. Add to oil in pan and fry until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Serve with remoulade sauce on the side.

Remoulade Sauce Recipe

Ingredients:

2/3 cup mayonnaise

3 tablespoons chili sauce

1 tablespoon Creole mustard

2 teaspoons hot sauce

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 and 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

1 teaspoon minced garlic

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon chopped capers

Directions:

To prepare remoulade, combine all ingredients and mix well. Cover and refrigerate.

We Must Have Been On the Nice List

2008-12-27T20:46:00.006-06:00

I told The Husby a couple of years ago that I would never buy my kids a Power Wheels because I never had one as a kid. Well, never say never. The Barbie Jeep was the one thing that The Fred had been asking for over the past year, and it was also mentioned in the stipulations of our "Potty-Training Agreement." Since we have been diaper-free, even at bedtime, for almost a month, I decided it was time to cave. Of course, there was no way Santa could bring a Power Wheels for The Fred and not bring one for StickyBun-Scotti too, so we put in a request for two of them on our necessary items list to the man at the North Pole. All I can say is...I know two kids that must have been on Santa's Nice List this year. The pics are too cute, and the video includes a clip of The Fred screaming for at least two minutes about StickyBun-Scotti being a bad driver...priceless.

30 Things To Do With Your Kids: Day #2

2008-12-16T15:07:00.004-06:00

Since the Wonder Pets is one of our favorite shows, I decided to take advantage of some of the craft projects on NickJr.com. This project was a lot of fun and provided plenty of laughs. Enjoy!

Wonder Pets Christmas Schoolhouse Puppet Theater

Sit Still for the Christmas Card...

2008-12-16T14:45:00.005-06:00

I knew that it was wishful thinking to ever dream that I would be able to get both of the kiddos to sit still long enough to take pictures in front of the tree this year. Luckily, TerriblyShy is "quick-draw-McGraw" with the camera, so she was able to grab a few snapshots of The Fred and StickyBun-Scotti in front of her tree. The "Popeye-style" picture of The Fred is my fave!

30 Things To Do With Your Kids: Day #1

2008-12-10T09:59:00.002-06:00

Since I will be home with the kiddos for the next 30 days, I thought that it would be fun to try a different craft or activity every day for the next 30 days. For our "Day One Project," we decided to build and decorate a gingerbread house that we received as a gift from TerriblyShy and The Boy Dentist. With the Kwik Build Gingerbread House Kit, I was confident that even I could build a pretty cute looking gingerbread house in just a few minutes. The kids were very excited about this project. Who could blame them? How often do you get to be creative with three of your favorite things: cookies, icing, and candy?

I do have to say, the end product came out much better than I expected. The kids were great helpers with the decorating, and as long as we worked faster than the candy was being eaten, we would have plenty of candy left for decorating. After dinner, we each enjoyed a slice of our gingerbread house masterpiece!

Today, we will be making Wonder Pets Christmas Ornaments...stay tuned!

Pillowcase Dress How-To

2008-12-09T14:22:00.006-06:00

I have a stack of cute pillowcases that I have picked up at sales over the past couple of years, and I am finally going to sit down and try to put some of them to good use. I have shared these instructions before, but I thought I would share again in case any of you have a stack of pillowcases waiting on the shelf in your linen closet too. I put these instructions together several years ago for a friend, and they are easy enough for the sewing beginner. Once your girls are older, the pillowcase dress instructions can be edited to make a top instead of a dress, and these dresses are also great over a long sleeved shirt for the colder weather too. Enjoy!

From Pillowcase Dress

Is It Really Over?

2008-12-09T14:00:00.004-06:00

To say that the past few months of school have been stressful, would be an understatement. Today, I am finished with the semester. Done. Finito. Fini. Terminado. I have a whole month to spend devoid of mental stimulation, if I so wish. My children couldn't be happier to have me all to themselves, but I keep telling them that in 30 days they will be tired of me again. I plan to spend my time doing the things that I don't normally have the time to enjoy...sewing, reading, and napping...and of course, updating my blog.
I need the time off. My friends may be starting to wonder about me due to my absence from the social scene. If I have to turn down one more e-vite because I need to study, I may soon find myself without any messages in my inbox. All I can say is...Happy "I Have A Whole Month Off From School" Day!!!

Favorite Recipe: Beef Tenderloin with Mustard & Herbs

2008-12-06T18:34:00.004-06:00

With the holiday season under way, we all have plenty of opportunities to showcase our culinary skills for family and friends. Here is a recipe that is sure to please the masses for a formal gathering or your holiday cocktail party. Enjoy!

Beef Tenderloin with Mustard & Herbs

Ingredients:
1 (2 1/2-pound) beef tenderloin, trimmed
Cooking spray
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Directions:
1. Prepare grill.

2. Lightly coat beef with cooking spray; sprinkle evenly with salt and pepper. Place beef on grill rack coated with cooking spray. Reduce heat to medium. Grill 30 minutes or until a thermometer registers 145° or until desired degree of doneness, turning to brown on all sides. Let beef stand 10 minutes.

3. Sprinkle parsley, thyme, and rosemary in an even layer on an 18 x 15–inch sheet of plastic wrap. Brush mustard evenly over beef. Place beef in herb mixture on plastic wrap; roll beef over herbs, pressing gently. Slice beef.

Yield: 10 servings (serving size: 3 ounces)

I Want TinkerBell and KungFu Panda and Wall-E and...

2008-11-22T10:42:00.003-06:00

If your kids are anything like mine, they are constantly asking to see a variety of new movies that are released on DVD. After a while, increasing that DVD library can put a strain on the budget. Thank goodness for OnDemand and DVR because they have saved us a pretty penny, but sometimes the movies are so good that we wish we had a copy. Well, I stumbled upon a site that seems to have answered my prayers.

The name of the website is ZML, and the site is a movie library with thousands of movies available for instant download in a large variety of supported formats, including DVD, DivX, iPod, and PDA. The downloads are compatible with Windows and Mac, and you can burn the downloads to DVD without a limit on the number of times you can download or burn a copy. The best part is that all movies are between $1.99 and $4.99.

Now, I know that everyone's first question is..."Is this legal?" Well, yes. The site is located in Russia, so Russian law applies. The cost for music and movie downloads in Russia is significantly less than it is here, so that accounts for the drastic price difference. According to legal analysis of these sites, it seems that there are not any legal implications to downloading, although some have voiced moral issue. I'll let you decide. I will be enjoying the sweet silence that comes from children that are being entertained by their new favorite movie download...enjoy!

You can check out the website here.

Biggest Loser Challenge: Final Weigh-In

2008-11-22T10:26:00.005-06:00

Well, today is the final weigh-in for our 12-week Biggest Loser Challenge. Now I knew that my chances of beating JayDoug were slim, but I wanted to push on until the end. At the end of the challenge, I have lost a total percentage of 13.04% of my original body weight. I only wish that we had started the challenge back in April because I have lost a total of 21.05% since then. I haven't received the final numbers, but I am confident that JayDoug will be our winner! JayDoug has worked very hard with a strict diet and workouts up to seven days a week, so please join me in congratulating him! I will post the final numbers soon!

Congrats to all that participated! I am ready for another challenge!

Favorite Recipe: Toasted Ravioli

2008-11-08T18:01:00.004-06:00

I am always looking for new appetizer recipes that I can take to various get-togethers, and my Bunco group served as the guinea pigs for my newest recipe. Luckily, this appetizer was a hit, and I think that it would work well for various occasions. Not only is it easy to make, but it requires very few ingredients. If you plan to cook this at home and transport it to a party, cooked ravioli can be placed on a cookie sheet and kept in the oven at 225-250 degrees and then transferred to a covered dish to keep them warm in transit. Enjoy!

Toasted Ravioli

Ingredients:

2 eggs

1/4 cup milk

1 1/2 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional)

1 package frozen cheese ravioli

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

marinara sauce

Directions:

1) Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Warm marinara in a large saucepan over low-medium heat.

2) Whisk eggs and milk together in a small shallow bowl. In another shallow dish, combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and Italian seasoning and mix well.

3) Dip frozen ravioli in milk mixture and coat with bread crumbs. Cook ravioli in batches until browned, approximately 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer cooked ravioli to a paper towel lined plate. Serve immediately with marinara sauce.

The Constant Gardener...Literally

2008-11-07T14:41:00.003-06:00

StickyBun-Scotti may have actually been lucky enough to inherit his father's green thumb. I, on the other hand, have very little to contribute to the world of gardening. I haven't tried my hand at it in at least five years, but my thumbs were very brown back then. I can only hope that things have improved. I assume that if I am capable of caring for two small children, I could not be too inept.

At first, I just thought that StickyBun-Scotti really liked dirt...playing in it, throwing it...eating it, but it seems that he really likes caring for plants too. He is just like The Husby...he craves order and is focused when there is a task at hand. And God forbid, you try to stop him mid-task or change the routine, you may be met with some opposition. Every time we visit TerriblyShy and The Boy Dentist, StickyBun-Scotti asks to go outside to care for the flowers...and yes, I am using the term "care" very loosely. Regardless of whether he is doing more harm than good, he sure does look darn cute while he's doing it! Maybe Unk will give him a job in a few years...

What Time Is It?

2008-11-03T16:20:00.008-06:00

This past weekend was nothing short of fabulous! The Husby and I had the pleasure of attending the wedding of one of my favorite girlfriends in Tallahassee, Florida, and it was quite the party. Alli-Boo has always been the kind of girl that you want around for a night on the town, and if there isn't a party already, she can make one. Long story, short...good friends + good music + good drinks + good food = a wedding to remember...not to mention an absolutely beautiful bride! Congrats to Alli-Boo and Banjo!

The only problem with the weekend was that between the time zone difference and the actual time change, I have no idea what time it is. Of course, I can look at the clock and figure it out, but my internal clock seems to be very confused. All I know is that when I got up on Sunday morning, the clock said 10:30 am, but it was really 8:30 am back at mi casa. I am definitely not complaining because I can actually see a sliver of daylight when I leave home in the mornings...a lot can be said about the power of sunlight when it comes to starting your day off right. Sunlight and a good cup of coffee seem to be my two defining factors in a good day.

It has been almost a month since my last blog post...I'm sorry...I must have been busy...because the time seems to have flown by. I will resolve to do better this month. If nothing else, I have plenty of new fall pics that I can be posting. Happy Fall!

Music Review: Nuttin' But Stringz

2008-10-10T12:03:00.005-05:00

Who would have thought that my next fabulous music discovery would have come as a result of watching Noggin? As StickyBun-Scotti was watching Jack's Big Music Show (the "Jack's Big Oops" episode) the other night, I noticed that even though I was plugging away at some homework on the computer, I had started bobbing my head to the music that was playing. When I looked up, I was surprised to see that the musical guests were two guys playing violins with a hip-hop beat in the background. After a little bit of research, I found out that the group is called Nuttin' But Stringz and is comprised of two brothers that were classically trained at Juilliard.

I downloaded a few songs off of their album, Struggle from the Subway to the Charts, from iTunes, and I have been enjoying them all week. If you get a chance to download these, they are definitely a crowd-pleaser for kids and adults. I highly recommend downloading "Broken Sorrow" and "Thunder"...my two faves from the album.

Economic Outlook

2008-10-04T15:28:00.003-05:00

This was just too funny not to share...

If you had purchased $1,000.00 of Delta Air Lines stock one year ago you would have $49.00 left.

With Enron, you would have had $16.50 left of the original $1,000.00.

With WorldCom, you would have had less than $5.00 left.

But, if you had purchased $1,000.00 worth of beer one year ago, drank all of the beer, then turned in the cans for the aluminum recycling REFUND, you would have $214.00 cash.

Based on the above, the best current investment advice is to drink heavily and recycle.

It's called the 401-Keg plan.

A recent study found the average American walks about 900 miles a year. Another study found Americans drink, on the average, 22 gallons of alcohol a year. That means, on average, Americans get about 41 miles to the gallon. How about those CAFE standards.

No Kitties Were Harmed In The Writing of This Post

2008-10-01T15:09:00.005-05:00

I had to steal this pic from TerriblyShy's latest blog post about StickyBun-Scotti. As you can see from the picture, StickyBun-Scotti is notorious for harassing TerriblyShy's and The Boy Dentist's cats whenever he goes for a visit. You can find the full story with additional pics on TerriblyShy's blog.

Favorite Recipe: Sesame Chicken

2008-09-30T14:30:00.006-05:00

I don't branch out very much when I go out to eat Chinese. I tend to stick with just a few favorites, and nine times out of ten, Sesame Chicken is my go to dish. I thought I would take a stab at trying to prepare it at home and stumbled upon the perfect recipe from BlogChef. With just a little bit of tweaking to match my tastes, I created a dish that is better than any I have had in a Chinese restaurant. Not only was the recipe very simple to follow, but I was able to find every ingredient in my pantry or refrigerator without making an extra trip to the grocery store. The Fred liked it so much that she asked me if I would make it again the following night...enjoy!

Sesame Chicken

Ingredients:
2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
2 tablespoons raw sesame seeds
2 green onions, sliced
Batter-
½ cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg, beaten
½ cup water (or as much as needed to make batter smooth)
3 tablespoons cornstarch
salt (to taste)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Sauce-
3/8 cup honey (or 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons for those that want to skip the math)
1/4 cup sugar
salt (to taste)
1/4 cup ketchup
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar
a pinch of ground black pepper

Directions:
1) Add 1-inch of peanut or vegetable oil to a skillet and heat to 325 degrees over medium-high heat.

2) In a large bowl, combine all of the batter ingredients and mix thoroughly. The batter should be thick enough to coat the chicken but thin enough to flow around the pieces. Set aside.

3) Add chicken to batter mixture and toss to coat. Using a fork or tongs remove the pieces of chicken from the batter and add to oil in skillet. Cook until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

4) Combine the sauce ingredients in a saucepan and warm over medium heat. Bring to a simmer while stirring and cook until sauce slightly thickens.

5) Toss cooked chicken with prepared sauce in a serving dish and garnish with scallions and sesame seeds.

Should I Include The Instruction Manual?

2008-09-29T13:41:00.009-05:00

Sometimes I think that whenever my children are going to be under the care of any individual other than me, I should send along an instruction manual with an outline of very basic procedures categorized by potential circumstances.

To prevent this from happening, you would look under the category, "While Grocery Shopping." Procedure #2 states, "Never place any openable/breakable/poisonous items within reach of children."

Please Burn a Copy for My Deserted Island

2008-09-27T12:41:00.006-05:00

We have all heard the hypothetical questions that begin with: "If you were stranded on a deserted island..." Well, The Husby and I were riding in the car, and I decided to fill in the blank with my own hypothetical: "If you were stranded on a deserted island, and you could only have ten albums, which albums would you take with you?"

Now, for me, this is a very difficult question because I love music...all kinds of music. There are several albums that I could listen to over and over again without getting tired of them. Narrowing down this list really became a daunting task because I wasn't sure if I could live without some of my faves. Now, don't read too much into this question. We aren't concerned with exposing future generations to music with our selections. We are only worried about what we could listen to every day without it becoming monotonous and boring.

Luckily for The Husby, most of our selections were the same, so it would probably be okay if we could each only pick five. I might let him stay on my deserted island after all. My top ten album picks are not in any specific order...there was no way I could manage to rank them by importance. I'm sure that if The Big Drummer Boy reads this, I will have to make some changes to my list. He seems to be my spiritual brother when it comes to music, and he would probably think of something that I forgot.

Now, it's your turn to fill-in the blank for my hypothetical question...have at it!

1) Rage Against the Machine: Self-Titled Album
2) Incubus: Morning View
3) Tool: Aenima
4) Korn: MTV Unplugged
5) Dave Matthews Band: Crash
6) Outkast: ATLiens
7) Al Green: Greatest Hits
8) Red Hot Chili Peppers: Greatest Hits
9) Seether: One Cold Night
10)Pearl Jam: Ten

They Might Like Each Other

2008-09-27T09:18:00.006-05:00

It has been a long time since The Husby and I have had a night out sans kiddos, let alone not having them for a whole 24 hours. The Boy Dentist and TerriblyShy were very good to us and have been entertaining them at their house. The Fred and StickyBun-Scotti were so excited when I told them that they were going to spend the night that I wasn't sure if either of them would get any sleep the night before.

Since it was just me at home yesterday afternoon, I got a lot of stuff done around the house...and I didn't have to be quiet. I got our HDTV cable and our DVR hooked up, so, needless to say, we have been having fun playing with the remote. The Husby took me out to dinner at The Melting Pot, and the meal was delish...and very quiet! After our three hour, four-course meal complete with a wine flight, we came home and crashed. I guess the only good thing to do when you don't have the kids is catch up on some much needed rest...but I'm not complaining.

The Biggest Loser: Week Three

2008-09-21T09:44:00.004-05:00

Week three of The Biggest Loser Challenege was not a great one for me since my percentage lost was only 0.599%, but ToothFairy captured the top spot with an amazing 6.29% weight loss! Congrats to ToothFairy on this phenomenal percentage lost and all of her hard work!

At the close of week three, I am in fifth place with a total percentage lost of 3.77%, and JayDoug is still in the lead with a total percentage lost of 7.991%. Everyone's numbers have been amazing, so everyone keep up the good work! I have a feeling NonLucidDrivel may come out on top at the end of week four after silently hanging close to the top spot for the past few weeks...good luck!

Favorite Recipe: Black Bean Pie

2008-09-16T16:18:00.003-05:00

Ihave been trying to find some more simple recipes to add to my recipe files, and I ran across this one and decided to give it a try. Of course, I had to make some changes to the original recipe, but it was a hit with the whole family. For those of you that shop at ALDI, all of the ingredients can be found there, and the entire meal can be made for under eight dollars. Since it makes eight servings and leftovers can be frozen, this meal turns out to be a lot of bang for the buck.

Not only was this meal delicious, but it was extremely easy to prepare. I would highly recommend this recipe the next time you need a quick meal. Enjoy!

Black Bean Pie

Ingredients:
3 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (16 ounce) jar taco sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons cilantro (optional)
1 (11 ounce) can Mexican corn, drained
1 (2 ounce) can diced green chiles
1 (4 ounce) can black olives, sliced
6 (8 inch) flour tortillas
2 cups shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
reduced-fat sour cream (optional)
hot sauce (optional)

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2) In a large bowl, mix together black beans, taco sauce, garlic, cilantro, corn, green chiles, and black olives.
3) Place 2 tortillas side-by-side in the bottom of a casserole dish. Spread 1/3 of bean mixture over tortillas. Top with 2/3 cup cheese, and cover with two more tortillas. Spread another 1/3 of bean mixture over tortillas, and top with 2/3 cup cheese. Cover with remaining tortillas, and top with remaining bean mixture and sprinkle with cheese.
4) Cover with foil, and bake in preheated oven for about 40 minutes. Cut into eight sections, and serve with hot sauce and sour cream.

Conversations With The Fred: Part Three

2008-09-15T20:06:00.005-05:00

As I was putting The Fred to bed last night, we made our way through the usual bedtime routine: two braids, two books, chocolate milk, and a movie. Once we reached the "movie" part of the routine, The Fred and I had an interesting conversation...

The Fred: "Momma, this is not the beginning of the movie."

MommaDrool: "Well, hold your horses! I'm getting there."

The Fred: "Hold the horses? Momma, we are in my room. There are not any horses to hold."

Very wise, my little one, very wise...

Favorite Recipe: Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Casserole

2008-09-15T17:34:00.005-05:00

Since I am participating in The Biggest Loser Challenge, I thought that I would share one of my favorite Weight Watchers recipes. This casserole can be made ahead of time and still tastes great re-heated. At a Points Value of 5, this is a filling meal that is a great start to the day. You can also add vegetable fillings...I have added steamed spinach and mushrooms, and the result was very good. Enjoy!

Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Casserole

Ingredients:
6 slices turkey bacon, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide strips
1 (12-ounce) bag frozen hash brown potatoes
1 onion, finely chopped
3 large eggs
3 egg whites
3/4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
2/3 cup shredded reduced-fat Swiss cheese
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions:
1) Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray three 2-cup oval baking dishes, casseroles, or ramekins with cooking spray.
2) Spray a nonstick skillet with cooking spray and set over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until crisp, about 4 minutes. Add the potatoes and onion and cook until potatoes are tender and golden, about 6 minutes. Remove the skillet from heat and let cool slightly.
3) Beat the eggs and egg whites in a large bowl. Add the ricotta, 1/3 cup of the Swiss cheese, the Parmesan, flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne, stirring until blended. Sprinkle evenly with the remaining 1/3 cup of Swiss cheese.
4) Bake until the casseroles are slightly puffed and golden and the cheese is melted, approximately 20-25 minutes.

(*If you bake the casserole in a single dish, the cooking time should be increased.)

Yields 6 servings.

Nutritional Info (per serving): 220 Cal, 9g Fat, 4g Sat Fat, 0g Trans Fat, 134mg Chol, 445mg Sod, 17g Carb, 1g Fib, 18g Prot, 271mg Calc

The Biggest Loser: Week Two

2008-09-14T17:23:00.003-05:00

The results are in for the weigh-in from the second week of the Biggest Loser challenge, and once again, JayDoug came out on top with 3.024% lost! This puts JayDoug's overall percentage lost at 5.832% at the close of week two. Congrats to JayDoug on all of the hard work!

For week two, I came in third place with 2.244% lost and an overall percentage lost of 3.188%. At this rate, I am well within reach of meeting my goals over the remaining ten weeks. Best of luck to everyone!

Favorite Photos

2008-09-10T22:32:00.005-05:00

The number of digital photo files on my computer had become so large that I finally sat down to organize the other day. I get so nostalgic every time I look at some of my favorite photos because they remind me of such important and special events in my life. It is amazing to see how much The Fred and StickyBun-Scotti have grown. I compiled a file folder with some of my favorite pics and decided to showcase them in a slideshow for all to enjoy!

The Biggest Loser: Week One

2008-09-10T18:32:00.003-05:00

Some of us have gotten together to participate in a Biggest Loser challenge over the next twelve weeks, and we just completed the first week of our challenge. Our group is made up of men and women of varying ages, fitness levels, and starting weights, and of course, we are all competing for a cash prize.

After the first week, I had lost two pounds, but our top dog, JayDoug, was down six and a half pounds at the close of week one. I have factored in a heavier cardio load for this week, and I am almost down by another four and a half pounds. The official weigh-ins will be every Saturday with the results figured as the percentage of weight lost, so I will update for each week once the results are posted with the winner for that week (nicknames only).

Time To Revamp

2008-09-09T16:01:00.007-05:00

Well, I decided that it was time to customize my cookie-cutter Blogger layout, and with a few tips from BloggerBuster, it was relatively quick and painless. After a few creations in Photoshop, things are looking a bit more my style, and I have a few more tricks up my sleeve...

I have been in awe of some of the great designs that I have seen from my fellow bloggers, so I decided to follow their lead and make some necessary design updates. Also, a big thank you to Squidfingers for my beautiful background pattern. For all of you that arrive here, I hope that you enjoy the new scenery!

Fishin' Time

2008-09-04T16:28:00.004-05:00

You Could Have Left That Part Out

2008-09-04T15:57:00.005-05:00

Ifinally made an appointment with a family medicine physician here in town and met with him yesterday afternoon. "Doc AM" has been telling The Husby and I since we moved here that we really needed to find a family doctor and quit using the "doc-in-the-box" for all of our ailments. Well, since I needed a physical examination and several immunizations for my medical clearance at the hospital, I figured that there was no time like the present.

Upon my arrival at the physician's office, I filled out and signed all of the necessary paperwork before following the nurse back to my exam room. The nurse was friendly and did a thorough background history before asking me the reason for my visit. I gave her the forms that needed to be filled out and signed for the medical clearance with a list of the immunizations that I needed. She told me that the doctor would be in soon and left the exam room.

I was pleased to meet the doctor, and he reminded very much of my OB/Gyn at the hospital where StickyBun-Scotti was born. Since I loved my OB/Gyn, I was pretty sure that this doctor would be someone that I would want to see again in the future. After some discussion, the doctor exited the room and let me know that the nurse would be back to give me my immunizations as well as draw blood for a titer test.

Normally, I am not fearful of having blood drawn or getting a shot, but I don't look forward to it. I also don't like to watch it happen to me...if it is someone else, I enjoying watching...I just would rather not watch when I am the patient.

As the nurse walks back into the room, she says something that I wish she had just left out, "I haven't done this many times before. I am still in school, so you may have to be patient with me. I haven't gotten really good at it yet."

WHAT!!!???

Now, I know that this could be me one day, but I also know that there are some times when it is better to keep your mouth closed. With those words, I had to try as hard as possible not to have an anxiety attack. I was just happy that I was the patient and not The Husby. If he had been the patient in that situation, he would have gotten up and walked out...or maybe he would run...and never gone back.

I wasn't too worried about her lack of experience when it came to the immunizations, but the blood draw had me a bit worried. I became even more worried when the nurse said, "Well, I want to make sure that I can find the vein before I start." You think?! After three sticks with the needle, she was successful, and I left there feeling like a pin cushion.

The moral of this story is..."Some things are better left unsaid."

Favorite Recipe: Spicy Shrimp Roll

2008-09-02T17:00:00.006-05:00

If there is one food that I crave more than anything else, it would probably be sushi. The only problem with sushi is the effect that it tends to have on my wallet. The Husby and I have really enjoyed the sushi at a popular Thai restaurant in Five Points, and we always order the Spicy Shrimp Roll which was recommended by our waitress the first time we had sushi there.

I mentioned to The Husby that I would love to be able to make sushi at home, but I did not think that I would be able to pull it off. The Husby told me that the key to making sushi was to use a rice cooker, so I decided to invest in one and give it a try. I found a rice cooker for $15 at Wal-Mart and did some research online regarding sushi preparation. After watching some animations at Sushi University, I was confident enough to give it a try.

The endeavor was a complete success, and we may be eating sushi at home quite frequently now! Enjoy!

Spicy Shrimp Roll

Ingredients:
nori, one sheet
cooked sushi rice, handful
3-4 tempura shrimp, tails removed
avocado, 2-3 thin slices
cucumber, 2-3 thin sticks
imitation crab meat
spicy mayo (1/4 cup mayo, 1 tablespoon sriracha chili sauce, 1 drop sesame oil)

Directions:
1) Lay nori sheet on bamboo rolling mat with the rough side facing up.
2) Get your hands wet, and grab a handful of rice. Place the rice in the middle of the nori sheet, and spread it into an even layer on the nori, covering all but the top inch of the sheet.
3) Place your shrimp on the bottom edge of the nori sheet and arrange avocado and cucumber snugly against top edge of shrimp. Mix crab meat with spicy mayo and spread on top of shrimp.
4) Roll sushi tightly with the bamboo mat and cut with a sharp knife into 6-8 pieces.
5) Optional step: Lay the pieces on a plate facing up and drizzle with a small amount of spicy mayo.
6) Serve with wasabi and soy sauce for dipping.

MommaDrool Mafia: Don't Call It a Comeback

2008-08-07T14:36:00.007-05:00

It has been a very long time since The MommaDrool Mafia has released a new single, but I was inspired by a new fave song, "Handlebars," by Flobots. It is a catchy little diddy, so I edited things to make the song about StickyBun-Scotti's antics. This latest release by The MommaDrool Mafia is titled "Monkey Bars." If you haven't heard the original song by Flobots, I highly recommend this as your next download. Enjoy!

Monkey Bars
by The MommaDrool Mafia

I can climb the top of the monkey bars
The monkey bars
The monkey bars

I can climb the top of the monkey bars
The monkey bars
The monkey bars

Look at me, look at me
up in the air like it's good to be
A kid
and I'm a super climber
even when my mom says no sir-rey
I can show you how to do-si-do
I can show you how to climb a sofa
I can take apart the remote control
And I can almost put it back together
I can throw the dirt in a flower bed
I can tell you about which way it went
I know all the words to "Go, Diego"
And I'm proud to be a crazy kid,
Me and my friend saw a platypus
Me and my friend tore some comic books
And guess how long it took
I can do anything that I want cuz, look

I can climb the top of the monkey bars
The monkey bars
The monkey bars

I can climb the top of the monkey bars
The monkey bars
The monkey bars

Look at me
Look at me
Just want to say that it's good to be
A kid
In such a big world
Climb the shelf for a book to read
I can climb up onto the table
I can scale the face of any wall
I can open any door I want
With little effort from me at all
I can make a mess of my whole food plate
I can swim in a big pool with aquatic conditions
I know how to throw a big ball
And I can make you wanna lose your temper
Mommas, Daddies and Grandparents
Me and my friends understand the future
I see the strings that control the parents
I can do anything with no assistance

I can talk to you on Mom’s cell phone
Mom’s cell phone
Mom’s cell phone

I can throw a ball right across the room
Across the room
Across the room

Look at me
Look at me
Climbing and I won't stop
And it feels so good to be
A kid up on top
My smile is happy
My crocs are secure
My cause is trouble
My laugh is pure
I can have you yelling in desperation
Or let Mom cry in exasperation
Dad’s all worried about lacerations
From climbing, that was the conversation
I can make anybody go the distance
Just because I won’t mind ’em
and I can do anything with no permission
I have it all under my command

I can reach the counter with my step stool
With my step stool
With my step stool

and I can through my big ball down the hall
Down the hall
Down the hall

and I know that stitches might be the cost
Might be the cost
Might be the cost
Might be the cost
Might be the cost
Might be the cost

I can climb the top of the monkey bars
The monkey bars
The monkey bars

I can climb the top of the monkey bars
The monkey bars
The monkey bars

Congrats, MommaPeas!

2008-08-05T17:43:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to say congrats to MommaPeas and family on the arrival of their new baby girl, "Airport!"

StickyBun-Scotti will be sad that he won't be the only baby in MommaPeas' life any more...he loves some MommaPeas!

Ready, Set, Salsa!

2008-08-04T14:33:00.004-05:00

The Husby was kind enough to let me enjoy a Mom's Night Out a few weeks ago. I enjoyed some much needed quality time with my favorite "mommas" at a local Mexican restaurant before heading to a salsa lesson at the studio owned by Fabian (and his wife Jackie) from the TV show "Dancing with the Stars." For those of you that watched the show, Fabian was Marlee Matlin's dance partner.

I arrived at dinner late...imagine that...but was happy when the waiter hurried over to get my drink order. Can anyone say "margaritas?" I asked for a margarita on the rocks, and the waiter asked me if I would like a small, medium, large, or jumbo. I have learned from all of my shopping at Sam's that it is always cheaper to buy in bulk, so I order a medium margarita. In my mind, medium would mean between 10 and 12 ounces. When the waiter returns to the table, he is carrying a glass the size of a pitcher with a straw in it! All of the other "mommas" start laughing hysterically because they think that I have ordered the largest drink on the menu. Much to my surprise (and theirs), in Mexico, "medium" must be more like 32 ounces...but no, I was not complaining...

After some riotous conversation and enough margaritas to let us float out of the restaurant, we headed to our salsa lesson. I'm not sure if our instructor was prepared for a room full of drunk "mommas" trying to learn how to cut a rug. All that I know is we all were too intoxicated to notice that we weren't very good. "Seis" was my partner for the evening, and she kept me laughing the entire time!

We all decided that we should take another salsa lesson again soon, but we were all in agreement that we will wait to have our margaritas until afterwards next time!

Blogging Blitzkrieg

2008-08-04T14:31:00.003-05:00

I have not done a very good job of updating my blog over the past few months with the fast pace of the summer semester, but I will have a week off before the Fall semester begins. Get ready for a Blogging Blitzkrieg because I have plenty of blog fodder in my arsenal!

And They Call It Work

2008-07-22T16:10:00.004-05:00

I recently started my position with Children's Hospital, and I am loving every minute of it! It is hard to believe that something that is so much fun and so rewarding can really be considered work. I am working in the PACU (Pediatric Anesthesia Care Unit), so I get plenty of patient contact and am learning a lot along the way. Things are very fast paced, but that is how I like it!

I have been able to meet and spend time with some very precious children, and my "mommy skills" are definitely coming in handy. This experience has further confirmed that I have decided on the right career path, and I hope that I can remain with Children's Hospital for many years to come. You know that I love something if I am excited to get out of the bed before the sun comes up! And they call it work...

Yankee Belle Has a Twin Sister

2008-07-18T16:21:00.006-05:00

I was checking out the website for a clothing line called Hunter Dixon, when I realized that Yankee Belle has a long lost twin sister. Jennifer Dixon, one of founders of the clothing line as well as a model for the collection, bears a striking resemblance to my beautiful Yankee Belle. As I continued to look through the pics for the Spring 2008 Collection, I was freaked out by how similar the two of them look. Check out more pics on the Hunter Dixon website...as well as some really cute clothes...

This Is The Life

2008-06-20T15:47:00.003-05:00

It's About Time...

2008-06-16T15:00:00.006-05:00

As I have told many of you, I have not done a very good job of having portraits taken of my second child. In fact, I somehow managed to delay having portraits taken until a few weeks ago, but StickyBun-Scotti breezed through his first portrait sitting like a pro! My little baby boy looks so big!

Conversations with The Fred: Part Two

2008-06-16T14:46:00.004-05:00

Last weekend, The Husby picked up some lumber for our latest project and needed to store it in our bedroom due to the rain. Of course, the boards became a playground for both kids.

Here is a conversation that I overheard between Nana and The Fred:

(Setting: The Fred and StickyBun-Scotti are running across the boards and giggling like crazy.)

Nana: "What are you two doing?"

The Fred: "Nana, we're playing board games!"

No pun intended...

Happy Father's Day

2008-06-15T16:01:00.000-05:00

To all of our favorite daddies, we hope you have a very Happy Father's Day!

Monarch Butterfly Emergence & Release

2008-06-09T17:32:00.002-05:00

After a total of eight days in the chrysalis, our Monarch butterfly emerged early Saturday morning. It was a few days earlier than we had expected, so we didn't catch the emergence on video. We did get some video as the butterfly dried her wings in the aquarium. The Fred was intrigued by the whole process and decided to name the butterfly "Lane."

We put some watermelon on a small plate and watched "Lane" eat her first meal as a butterfly. When we woke up this morning, the kids helped me mix a bowl of sugar water to coax "Lane" out of the aquarium. We coated a net with the sugar water, and the butterfly quickly jumped on for the ride. As soon as we exited the front door, "Lane" took off like a pro, flying high above the front yard. Both kids thought that this was the most exciting part.

This will definitely be a tradition for us from now on. I have had just as much fun as the kids, and hopefully, we will be able to raise even more Monarchs next year.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

VBS Performance

2008-06-09T17:26:00.004-05:00

The Fred and StickyBun-Scotti had a blast at Vacation Bible School last week and have been pooped after so much fun and excitement. To show off all that they learned during the week, some of the kids performed during the Sunday morning service. Check out The Fred showing off her dancing skills!

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Monarch Butterfly Waystation

2008-06-02T15:25:00.005-05:00

I wanted to find a fun project to do with the kids over the summer, and my interest was peaked by an article from Family Fun magazine on creating a Monarch Butterfly Waystation. Due to the widespread use of herbicides, milkweeds and nectar sources that are necessary for monarchs to reproduce and survive migration are steadily declining. The purpose of the Monarch Butterfly Waystation is to provide an ideal environment for the monarch to develop.

With the help of a few different websites, MonarchWatch and The AltaPass Foundation, we were able to create a small monarch habitat. Finding viable milkweed proved to be the most difficult part of the process. Luckily, we had some family connections in the nursery business that were able to provide us with clippings that had monarch eggs.

One of the eggs developed into a very cute caterpillar that almost ate up all of our milkweed before deciding to form his chrysalis. In 10-14 days, we should have a monarch butterfly that emerges. Within a couple of days, we will help him build some reserve strength with nectar and release him into the wild to continue his energy storage for migration.

The kids have enjoyed watching the process, and we are planning to plant a butterfly garden in our yard to encourage monarchs to lay eggs there for next year. I will keep you posted with pics and hope to catch the emergence on video. Definitely a fun activity to do with your kids!

Book Review: What I Read Last Week

2008-05-28T17:26:00.008-05:00

Okay, I am taking a relatively light course load over the summer, so the studying and assignments have yet to pile up. With a little more free time on my hands, I decided to take any spare moments last week to read a few books that I have been wanting mark off of my reading list. To my surprise, I was able to breeze my way through five books. Let the review begin...

The Kite Runner

by Khaled Hosseini

4.5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful book! One of my favorites from the stack...plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing.

A Thousand Splendid Suns

by Khaled Hosseini

5 out of 5 stars

I enjoyed this one the most! Maybe because it followed the story of two women, so I was able to sympathize with their plight. This one was definitely a page turner.

Beautiful Lies

by Lisa Unger

4 out of 5 stars

I loved this book so much that I read it in one sitting...a very quick read. Just my kind of story...a mystery with lots of suspense and even a touch of organized crime. Sexy and thrilling!

Sliver of Truth

by Lisa Unger

4 out of 5 stars

This was the long awaited sequel to Beautiful Lies, and it was more than worth the wait. Just as good as the first book and loaded with new spins on mysteries that we only thought were "solved" in the first book. Another quick read!

The Pact

by Jodie Picoult

3.5 out of 5 stars

It seems that most of the reviews that I have read were better than my impression of the book. I just didn't feel like the ending was strong. Interesting book, but in a "deeper meaning" sort of way.

6 Things About MommaDrool

2008-05-24T18:19:00.007-05:00

random mommy tagged me for this one...

Here are the rules:

Write six random things about yourself. Then, tag six people at the end of your post with links to their blog.

Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

1) I am not a picky eater...not just that, but I will eat almost anything. I love foods that most people despise. Case in point: I have a deep love for anchovies, caviar, strong cheeses, smoked oysters, capers, green olives, smoked salmon, and pickled okra. The only food on this earth that I cannot even stomach is pickled ginger. I will gag if I even eat something that has come into contact with it. It reminds me of a cross between soap and Listerine. StickyBun-Scotti can eat it by the spoonful...weird, huh?

2) I am scared to death of bad weather. A chance of thunderstorms or tornadoes will keep me glued to the TV for hours...even through the night. My next house will be equipped with a panic room that is severe weather proof...and you think that I am kidding.

3) I can no longer sleep at night unless I have earplugs in my ears and am holding a pillow. Since having kids, I can hear a pin drop on the other side of the house. Even with the earplugs in my ears, I can still hear my kids if they cry or call my name. Very odd because I can't seem to hear anything else.

4) I was scared to death of cutting my kids fingernails when they were babies, so I bit them off. I know that this is going to gross out most of you, but I couldn't bear to think of cutting their little fingers with nail clippers.

5) One of my least favorite things to do is dry my hair...it takes forever, and I am usually sweating profusely by the time I finish. Therefore, I usually take a shower at night and go to bed with my hair wet. I know, I know...if I would just cut my hair, it might not take so long. I just can't bring myself to do it.

6) There is nothing I dislike more than women bashing other women for unjustified reasons...you know what I'm talking about...just being catty because they don't have anything better to do. Now, if you have a reason, and it is justifiable, have at it!

Now ladies, if I am tagging you, this means that I think that you will actually take the time to do this, and your posts will be funny as hell...TAG...YOU'RE IT!

Roll Call: Terribly Shy, Non-Lucid Drivel, Glider Rider, We Doo Doo You, Little Red's Momma , and Hill Family Momma.

Conversations with The Fred

2008-05-15T16:26:00.005-05:00

The Fred: "Momma, I want some of those animal cookies."

MommaDrool: "Well, why don't you go over there and ask StickyBun-Scotti if you can have some."

The Fred: (in her most serious tone of voice) "Momma, I don't think that will work so well to ask him. He is not so very good with talking."

She really makes me laugh...

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-12T14:18:00.005-05:00

There is nothing better than Mother's Day...a day to enjoy how great your kids are and to get plenty of "mommy love" from your family. When I woke up Sunday morning, I was happy to notice that the clock read nine o' clock. I had stayed up half the night watching the weather and keeping an ear out for the tornado sirens, so I was happy to have the extra sleep. When I rolled over, I realized that The Husby was already up with the kiddos...is there anything sweeter?

When I entered the kitchen, The Husby was busy preparing breakfast. Have I ever mentioned that this man is a fabulous cook? The Husby had whipped up a breakfast that couldn't have been better if I had dreamed it up myself. We had egg sandwiches on sourdough ciabatta with sopressata, Havarti, and hot pepper relish...dee-lish!

The Fred and StickyBun-Scotti were excited to give me my cards and my present. The Fred's card was outfitted with SpongeBob, and it said that she loved me because I make sure she has clean underpants...funny...and true. StickyBun-Scotti's card was sweet and made me tear up because he had scribbled his "signature" at the bottom of the card. My present was a new all-in-one printer to replace the one that someone mysteriously broke by putting irretrievable Barbie accessories into the paper feed...hmmm...I have a feeling I know what partners in crime were behind that disaster.

After church, we enjoyed a wonderful three-course meal at The Plaza II, complete with Caesar salad, filet mignon, and tiramisu. Both kiddos were on their best behavior, so lunch was very enjoyable. After lunch, we did our traditional Sunday grocery shopping for the week before heading home for nap time. The Husby and I enjoyed some quiet time together and watched a movie while the kiddos were sleeping. After nap time, we enjoyed a late dinner with The Husby preparing shrimp quesadillas....once again, dee-lish! I'm starting to wonder why I don't let him cook more often...

All in all, it was a wonderful day with my family...a Mother's Day that I will not soon forget. To all of my fellow mothers, I hope that your Mother's Day was as wonderful as mine because it feels good to be appreciated. Happy Mother's Day!

Fun at the Beach

2008-05-05T18:24:00.000-05:00