Dexter & Irish Creme

I've been off for two days in a row...was supposed to be three, but I knew that wouldn't last long. In all honesty, I was expecting to get called in early today. One of the girls who worked only two days a week called in and quit. I luckily I was the first to be called (due to my awesome C.S. skills of course) to pick up her hours. For how long, I'm not sure since they seem to have bigger plans for me.

Last week I was informed I'd be moving up to a Bridal Consultant soon. Once training is said and done (I only have a Bakeware class left, plus actual Bridal training). I'm pretty excited about it. Means more hours, and more pay. Probably working more weekends though. :(

I've been trying to keep an eye on my list of things to do this year, and thus decided to check on some online classes/pick a major. Going back to school at this point would be ideal, but tuition fees...wow. Maybe a little bit more down the road I can finish a four year degree. The majority of my General Ed. classes are done, so my main focus would basically be picking a major and finishing. It just seems so far fetched on this budget.

Sooo...I checked into some certificate programs that were available online. Some of those look a little promising and much better for the budget. Something to work for and not so overwhelming, ya know? Something in the medical field probably. Transcriptionist? Coding? Something along those lines. We'll see, after a little bit more research. I've never actually met someone who's done those jobs for a living. I'd like to talk to one.

Today I spent the day going through all the magazines I've collected of the past few months and ripping out pages for my 'Inspiration Book'. It's sparked some blog posts for here already, plus some eventual decorative ideas for the apartment.

Also, I'd like to get a list together of all the creative outlets I'd like to try/do, and try some new things with the ones I do already. Or, well...actually pick them back up. I don't even remember the last time I've picked up my camera. It's depressing.

Off to finish watching this Dexter S3 episode and enjoy my Irish Creme before it gets cold...

Jenny's Miracle Baby

I came across this blog via, another blogger I follow, per her request and boy is it really, and truly amazing. I had tears in my eyes! Absolutely beautiful. Go HERE to read the post about Jenny, the owner of Little Green Notebook blog and the birth of her third daughter, Evie.

I can't imagine having a baby at home (let alone having a baby), but I it really is nothing short of a miracle.

Congratulations, Jenny and family!

Photo: gabi_menashe

Chicken Parm w/Linguine

Doesn't this just look soooooo good??!?!

I think I'm going to make this next week. It seems very easy and just sounds delicious. Not to mention healthy for you with all the fiber!!

I can't WAIT to try and tell you how it is!

prep time:20 min

start to finish:20 min

makes:5 servings

1/2	cup Fiber One® original bran cereal
2	tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/2	teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1/4	teaspoon garlic salt
1	egg white
2	teaspoons fat-free milk
1	lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch-thick strips
1	tablespoon canola or olive oil
6	oz uncooked whole grain or regular linguine
2	cups Muir Glen® organic garden vegetable pasta sauce
	Chopped fresh parsley, if desired

1.	Heat oven to 400°F. Line 15x10x1-inch pan with foil; spray foil with cooking spray. Place cereal in resealable food-storage plastic bag; seal bag and finely crush with rolling pin or meat mallet (or finely crush in food processor).
2.	In shallow bowl, mix cereal, cheese, Italian seasoning and garlic salt. In another shallow bowl, mix egg white and milk until blended. Dip chicken pieces in egg white mixture, then coat well with cereal mixture; place in pan. Drizzle oil over chicken.
3.	Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until crisp and chicken is no longer pink in center.
4.	Meanwhile, cook linguine as directed on package; drain. In 2-quart saucepan, heat pasta sauce over medium heat until hot.
5.	Place drained linguine on serving platter; top with pasta sauce and chicken. Sprinkle with parsley.

New Couch!!!

Lowell and I just got back from Ashley Furniture with some great success. We finally bought a couch!! The great thing was we went in with the intent to purchase and only spend as much as we brought. No more. And we did! And I love it! As soon as I saw it I knew I wanted it! Check it out....

We only bought the couch and by-passed the chair, loveseat, and ottoman, we just don't have room for it all right now, plus it would have been a lot more money...plus I think I'd rather just add pieces when we can. After the couch comes the coffee table.

I can't believe I can already cross something off my list of stuff to do this year...and it's a big thing to cross off!! I'm so excited. Thanks Ashley Furniture for having a going out of business sale at JUST the right time...if they still have stuff when I get paid again, I may go back and get a nice coffee table, but we'll see!!

It won't arrive for 3-4 weeks so we still have some time to maneuver things around to get the futon upstairs for guests and the office...I can't wait till it's here. I don't think I've been more excited about a piece of furniture. :) Technically, it's Lowell & I's first furniture purchase by ourselves. :)

I'm sooo excited!!

RPatz

Just a little eye candy.

Yum.

:)

Smart Octopus

Animals are amazing, and this planet we live on is just so incredible...I wish humans weren't so selfish and straight-up asses...(yea, I haven't seen Avatar twice...)

This video is just so cool....

Amazing. I had no idea this 8-legged creatures were so smart. I'm just naive I guess

It's A New Year...

Boy, it's been awhile.

With the holidays, work, family issues, traveling, and friends the blogs have really taken a hit. Hopefully, I'll be able to really pick them back up and stay on top of them despite all the other things that have taken up the majority of my schedule during the week. I really love blogging (when I do), but it's hard to do when life takes over. What I really need to do is to make a schedule and stick to it despite how tired I am, or what plans I have.

I've been thinking of some resolutions I'd like to do this year and really (and I mean really) complete these goals. You don't get anything done if you don't have anything set in stone, ya know? So here is some things I'd really try to do before the end of next year (in no particular order)...

1. Quit smoking. It's just a really nasty habit that is killing me, and also killing the bank.

2. Develop a monthly budget for Lowell and I.

3. No more useless spending on things I don't need.

4. Save. Save. Save.

5. Buy a couch.

6. Limit eating out to once a month (and that includes ordering pizza, LOWELL. :) ).

7. Start writing everyday. (*sigh* I say this every year...I try...)

8. Listen to music more, and watch less tv.

9. Read more books. (I started this last year, and I've actually stuck to it!)

10. Save. Save. Save. Yes, I know I said this one already, but I'd like to save at least 300 a month, but after rent and bills, that really only leaves me with 25 bucks a week to spend on groceries and toiletries. We'll see!

11. Keep the house clean and tidy. I try.

12. Keep up on newspaper articles (for writing purposes) and keep them organized somehow.

13. Buy a large desk for the office. And set up the office for everyday use and use it!

14. Buy a coffee table...well, a SMALLER coffee table.

15. Get organized and stay organized on all aspects of my life. It's so difficult to stay happy when I feel like I have way to many things out of order in my life. And it's so easy to drop the ball on this one.

16. Look into going back to school for real.

17. Pick a major.

18. Take Bubbs and Lowell on more walks! :)

19. Continue couponing and shop for deals. I do this pretty well.

20. Love the people around me more.

21. Take photography more seriously and put up some prints for sale.

I plan on coming back to this list often to cross things off and talk about each number in a little more detail if I need to. I'm just really tired of all the anxiety when things seem to pile up and I try to do too much. Then I tend to take it out on the people around me. I did pretty well while I was only working part-time, but working full-time it is just so much harder. Getting home after a long 8-10hr day, making dinner, cleaning up, it's almost 8 o'clock and I feel like sitting and vegging out, and now working on the blogs, writing articles, and when I get paid I feel I owe it to myself to buy stupid crap that does nothing but clutter up my life. This is the year to get things in order.

It's do or die this year.

I want a quarter of this list crossed off in six months. (I don't want to try and out do myself right away! Then I'll just feel guilty and give up too soon and I'll never get anything done!) Maybe I'll try and do one thing a month. That sounds like a good plan!!

What was your resolution(s) for this year?