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!


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

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


Boys Have Cooties


Yes, this is how I feel right now.

Lowell was sick Friday night through Monday, he's still not 100% but he's doing better.

However, now I have a horrible sore throat and feel feverish and is getting worse by the hour.

Boys have cooties.

Considering I talk all day at work to customers, and answer the phones, I may call off work tomorrow if I'm any worse than I am now. There is just no way I would make it through the day like this. I really hate to call off work this time of year when I really need the money, but I'm sure they'd let me make it up on my day off or something. They are pretty good about that. Thank goodness.

My plan for today was to get lots of stuff done, but I've done pretty much nothing all day except organize my coupons according to deals and stores this weekend. I just logged on to All Dog Blog, but not sure how much I'll get done, if any.

Blah.


12/01/2009 Horoscope

Someone close -- maybe a coworker -- is trying to pin you down in some way that isn't comfortable, but you should be able to wiggle out of any commitment. Try to just avoid the situation, if possible.

It's hard for you to set professional goals now, for your perceptions are clouded. You may feel scattered and fear you won't be able to get your work finished on time. Unfortunately, you might worry so much that it can have a negative impact on your productivity today. Don't judge yourself so harshly; you'll have a clearer sense of what's happening after the Full Moon tomorrow morning.

I am so not answering my phone today...I swear if I get called in...hence...avoid the situation!!