Play That Funky Music...or Don't

So I love listening to music, but I also realize that you may not.  SO I have decided to mute my music playlist.  Basically, if you want to listen to the music, you can scroll down to the bottom of my blog and push play (like I will be doing).  If you don't like listening to music, well then...enjoy the silence!

PS. I added a couple of sweet tunes to the play list and I think you should check them out.   If you like music that is :)

Sunday Sentiments

I decided recently (when I heard about a friend of a friend who does this on her blog) that each Sunday I am going to start recording some of the the things I learn in church that day, as well as thing I have been thinking about during the week.  Some of the things may be funny, but mostly they will be spiritual in nature.  My goal is that one day, I (or my family) can look back and gain something from what I write.

Today the talks in church were based upon focusing on what matters most.  Sometimes we spend our time doing things that aren't necessarily bad, but also may not be the best either.   I have struggled with this recently.  I try to make good use of my time, but where do my real priorities lie?  Am I using my time as wisely as I should be/could be?  I loved this quote by President Utchdorf: 

Pause for a moment and check where your own heart and thoughts are. Are you focused on the things that matter most? How you spend your quiet time may provide a valuable clue. Where do your thoughts go when the pressure of deadlines is gone? Are your thoughts and heart focused on those short-lived fleeting things that matter only in the moment or on things that matter most?

....

Sometimes the things that distract us are not bad in and of themselves; often they even make us feel good.

It is possible to take even good things to excess. One example can be seen in a father or grandfather who spends hours upon hours searching for his ancestors or creating a blog while neglecting or avoiding quality or meaningful time with his own children and grandchildren. Another example could be a gardener who spends his days pulling weeds from the soil while ignoring the spiritual weeds that threaten to choke his soul.


I suppose that I need to reevaluate the things that matter most to me, and focus more on those things.  Spend my time serving others, instead of being distracted by the things of here and now.  That is hard, let's be honest.  It takes extreme commitment and effort.  We all need time for ourselves.  We need time to focus on ourselves and enjoy ourselves...but I think maybe, just maybe, when my priorities are in line I will not only be enjoying myself, but I will be happier.  Instead of creating unnecessary stress, I can eliminate it.  Instead of waisting my time, I can make the most of it.  The problem is, where do you start?   That is something I am still figuring out....and it may take me all my life to do it. 

Shower Me with Your Love

Today was a wonderful day.  Today I got up, cleaned a little, got ready and went to a baby shower.  A baby shower held in my honor!  It was wonderful.  I am so grateful to have so many wonderful friends here.  I have always felt that if I am going to be so far away from family,  I am glad I am surrounded by so many wonderful friends.  I can honestly say that they make the midwest not so, well, bad.  

I had one of the young women snap some shots for me.  She did a wonderful job, but some of the pictures won't make the blog cut! ha.  I have decided that I have officially entered the 'you can tell she's pregnant because you can see it in her face' phase.  I made that up, obviously...but pretty much that just means I have a chubby face.  I have to deal with it, and that means so do you!   Regardless, these pictures don't do this party justice...but at least you can get an idea of how awesome it was.

Starting in the back, left to right

(Tina, Emi, Jenny, Emily, Ruth, Brittany, Malee, Alice, Jeni, Jenny)

(Cheyna, Ashley, Me and Adley)

Thanks ladies.  You truly made my day and I am so grateful (and especially lucky) to call you all my friends.  

Hot Hoagies

Ok, another recipe from another one of my favorite recipe blogs.  You don't mind do you?  How would I describe this dish???? Warm, cheesy, crispy and just plain delicious!!   I put this on our menu plan when I first saw it over at Tasty Kitchen...but Melanie has her own recipe blog that I also love and you can find it there as well....  Anyway, here it is...the Hot Hoagie.

(Picture from melskitchencafe.com)

Hot Hoagie

click HERE to Melanie's original post. 

1 loaf french bread, cut lengthwise
2 cups cooked, shredded chicken (in a pinch, you can use two large cans chicken breast)
1/2 cup light mayo
1/2 cup reduced fat sour cream
2 green onions, thinly sliced (white and green parts)
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped (or 2 tablespoons dried)
2 cups shredded cheese (I used a combo of monterey jack and sharp cheddar cheese)
Olives, chopped (0ptional – I omit these due to my kids’ preferences)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place french bread on large baking sheet. Mix all topping ingredients together in a bowl. Spread topping evenly on top of both lengths of french bread. Bake for 15-20 minutes until bubbly and edges are lightly browned. Slice into pieces and serve immediately.

Can you say YUM?  First night we had it with some veggies and fruit salad...then the next night we ate the left overs with some bbq chicken salad.  The left overs were just as great!  

Give Me an 'E' for Effort!

So...today I tried to get a little workout in.  I have been AWFUL at working out lately...here are my reasons (lame they are, but they are my reasons none the less)....

First, this little dude interrupts me SO many times that I never even break a sweat.

(don't mind my hand gesture, I can honestly say I have no idea what I was doing)

In fact, I think I get more of a workout from chasing him around then I actually get from my videos (and today's 'workout' was no exception).  

Secondly, my sciatic nerve has been KILLING me.  I mean it is wretched, awful and almost collapsing.  I have been known to crawl up the stairs on my hands and knees on occasion, because it hurts so bad (does anyone else have this issue?  I never had it with Noah)!  I hate back pain, almost as much as I hated labor pain!

And last, working out when you are pregnant is simply not fun.  I mean, I understand the benefits and I am ALL for that (healthy you, healthy baby).  I usually love to work out and I worked out about 4 times a week with Noah...but then again I had a lot more time on my hands as well.  I know women who are pregnant and have 3 kids and still find time to get in a good workout...why can't I?   Who knows really, but unless I go for a brisk walk I just find myself dreading those FIRM videos.   Anyone with me??

I have a little under two and  a half months to go.  So lets hope that I can kick it into gear once the little lady comes, once I've healed from the c-section, once we've moved, unpacked and gotten into a routine.  Once I find a gym to go to, or force myself to spend $120 on PX90.  Once I get myself some real running shoes.  Once I get a little time to myself, once I can wake myself up before 6:30am.  Once I can get a workout and a shower in before 3pm...and once I stop typing this post and actually go do it (which won't happen because it is 11pm).

So the cycle starts again tomorrow and for some reason I'm not surprised :)  Hopefully I can get a little credit for trying, at the very least!

Guilty...Once Again...

Remember back when I posted list of my guilty pleasures/habits back in April?  If not, you can find the post here.  Since Andy has been home I have realized a whole new list of quirks about myself...so here is, yet again, another list of things I am totally and honestly guilty of.

1. I am guilty of seeing something on my carpet and going to get the vacuum to pick it up, instead of getting it myself.  If the vacuum can't get what I am after, I will pick it up and throw it in the middle of the floor, just so the vacuum can reach it.

2. I am guilty of cleaning up Noah's cars constantly throughout the day, even if I know he will be pulling them back out 2 minutes later.

3.  I am guilty of telling Andy that I am not eating sweets for a week, sneaking a chocolate during the day, and never telling him (until now I guess). haha

4. I am guilty of hearing a car outside our house and peeking through the blinds to see what is going on.  Sometimes, if I see my strange neighbors, I will totally people watch them.   (This one sounds totally creepy!)  ha

5.  I am guilty of shopping online, but instead of actually purchasing anything...I fill up my shopping cart with things I like and then close the browser.

6.  I am guilty of hiding some of Noah's toys for extended periods of time - because I am tired of hearing them, playing with them and picking them up.  I still have a laughing monkey in my laundry room that has been there for 4 months.

7.  I am guilty of taking 3 days to put the ironing board away, after I used it once.

8.  And lastly, to make it an even eight...I am guilty of asking my mom for a recipe, writing it down and then losing it...then having to call her back when I want to make it again.  This happens usually more than once...and thankfully my mom doesn't mind :)

So, tell me...what are YOU guilty of??

Twenty Nine and Feelin Fine

This weekend I celebrated my 29th birthday.  Um, how in the heck did I get to 29?  I am not freaked out by being almost thirty, I am freaked out by how quickly the time went.  If you were like me - when I was a sophomore in high school, I use to look at the seniors and think to myself "wow, they are so old!  I can't imagine being a senior!"  Once I graduated I use to think that about my 20 something friends and family.  Now I am here. One year away from the big three O.   The best part about being 29 so far?  People still think I am 22.   You could attribute that to the fact that a good majority of 29 year old mormon mothers have more than one child...so how could I be any older than 22, right?  ha.  Anyway,  believe it or not, I really am twenty-nine and feelin fine!

I decided that since I am almost 28 weeks along in this pregnancy, that maybe I should actually take a picture of myself pregnant.   Is it just me or does the second baby get gypped on all that stuff?  I am not as anxious to buy clothes or set up the bassinet.  I am not as worried about the fact that I have NO pink blankets, no bedding made, no hair bows, no cute little boots.  I mean, don't get me wrong, I am SUPER excited to have a little lady...but for some reason I haven't gotten into the shopping frenzy that comes with having a baby.  Maybe it will hit me right before she comes, and then I will be sorry.

So without further ado.  Here is the latest (and pretty much only existing) pregnancy picture.  Almost 28 weeks along.

As a side note....
Andy got me this really cute bag for my birthday by Vera Bradley.  I LOVE her stuff.  You should check out her website:  www.verabradley.com

Winter Salad

I saw this salad on one of my new favorite recipe blogs See Jane Cook.  Seriously, you should check it out.  Anyway, I love salads for dinner, and I loved this one too.  I am glad I had so many leftovers, because I fully plan on having some tomorrow for lunch! 

Picture from cjaneinthekitchen.blogspot.com

Winter Salad with Lemon Poppyseed Dressing

Dressing:

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup lemon juice
2 tsp diced green onion (or just onion)
1 tsp Dijon-style mustard
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup veg oil
1 Tbs poppy seeds

Salad:
1 head Romain lettuce or a mixture of different kinds of lettuce
4 oz shredded Swiss cheese
1 cup slivered almonds. (or you can use cashews if you want)
1/4 cup dried cranberries (I actually used Craisins)
1 apple-peeled, cored and diced 
1 pear-peeled, cored and diced

Directions:
1. In a blender or food processor, combine sugar, lemon juice, onion, mustard and salt. Process until well blended. Add oil in slow steady stream until mixture is thick and smooth. Add poppy seeds and process just a few seconds more to mix.
2. In a large serving bowl combine the lettuce, shredded Swiss cheese, almonds, dried cranberries, cubed apple and cubed pear. Toss to mix then pour dressing over salad just before serving and toss to coat.



Trust me, it's worth trying.  The dressing is really light and not too lemony, and don't even worry about peeling the apple and pear, I didn't - and it was still really good!  Serve it with a little bit of french bread or some homemade rolls.  Heck, maybe even a little of your favorite soup OR eat it alone.  Yuuuuummmmmy!

Dude Looks Like A Lady

Today, while I was getting ready for the day (at 2:00 in the afternoon, mind you), Noah decided that he wanted to get all gussied up himself.  Most days I wouldn't let him dig his fingernails into my eyeshadow, but if you know me you know I don't wear much anyway, so today I just let him go at it.

He is pretty talented if you ask me!  Plus he decided to top off the whole ensemble by wearing my bracelets, rings and slippers.  He sure makes me laugh, and trust me...I got a good laugh out of this.

He puts on eyeshadow almost better than I do! haha.

*****************************

As a side note...another one of my friends did some Bloggie awards of her own, and decided to also award me with one!  I am COMPLETELY flattered and just had to say THANKS to Kar.  You are super awesome (and way too kind).   

She Always Looks So Amazing!: Melissa
Melissa has the best sense of style. I love looking at her blog, just so I can see her cute outfits. She has gorgeous hair, and the cutest clothes I've ever seen. She makes it seem effortless. Look at her header! Could her outfit beeee any cuter??? Look at her sledding! She looks so cute! I look like a big poofy marshmallow when I go sledding. She's preggar, and she looks cuter than ever!!! We all know what I look like when I'm preggar. It isn't a pretty picture. Melissa, you inspire me. I need to do my hair and makeup more often and wear cuter clothes. Heck, maybe that should be my New Year's Resolution. I usually don't make New Year's Resolutions, on principle, but I might make an exception just this once, and resolve to look as cute as Melissa always looks. Maybe. If I can find the time... and the energy. I slept through half of church today. I don't know what's wrong with me!!!

While I read this, I was sitting on my couch...hair in a pony tail, no makeup on, wearing a baggy shirt and hadn't even showered.  I quickly went upstairs and fixed my hair and put on a little mascara.  haha  I told her she could revoke my award, but I not-so-secretly hope that she doesn't!!

You can see her other Bloggie awards HERE.    Thanks again Kar... you and Patty are the SA-WEETEST!

Perfectly Patty

I have a friend named Patty.  Each year she puts out a list of 'Bloggie Awards' on her blog, where she awards different friends with different prestigious titles.  This year I was one of her winners.  I can't tell you how much this award meant to me.  I mean that seriously, not because I was dubed the 'Most Suspenseful Blog' but because Patty said the kindest, sweetest and most thoughtful things.  Whenever I am having a bad day I am totally going to read this over and over.  Thanks Patty, I can't say it enough.

Read it for yourself below, and go here to see the other winners.  There are some awesome blogs on there, and Patty is definitely the awesomest (it's a word, according to me).

Winner: Cinderella, A-Train, and the Little Caboose

You guys have got to read this blog. It's incredible. She has really unique and differing posts. She can really tell a story. It's not all given away in the first line. It's never the same thing twice. Sometimes it's a recipe. (I have tried some and I lub dem.) Sometimes it's a family story complete with pictures. Sometimes it's an epiphany... it's beautiful. She's beautiful! She has a beautiful sense of self. And an incredible sense of style. She titles well. She writes well. And always leaves me wanting more. (Plus! Somehow she got her comment line to say "4 Cool People Said:" instead of comments. So cool. So cool.)

New Year, New You?

So obviously it is a new year...right.  I mean, yesterday I did put a check in the mail to XM and realized right before I sent it that I had put on the check 2010 instead of 2011.  I hate wasting stamps, but there wasn't much I could do but open the envelope and fix my mistake.  I am sure this will happen to me another 20 times before I get it right. 

That should probably be the least of my worries though, because that is a habit that is easily broken.  2010 has been an eventful year for us as a family, and for me as an individual.  There were a couple of goals I set for myself last year that I feel like I have accomplished,  first - learning to sew and second - learning to cook (or learning to cook better, at least).  There are other goals however that I know I did not accomplish.  Which is what I face each year.   Andy and I were talking about goals the other night.  I told him that I figured out what my problem is.  Instead of really thinking about the things I want to accomplish, I just write goals down without committing myself to them.  Therefore, by January 3rd I am already off to a horrible start.   So this year I am doing something different.  Instead of writing a list of goals that I know I have no real desire to accomplish,  I am picking ONE focus for the year.  One thing I can and really want to focus on.  Something I can look back on and realize that, yes, I can accomplish something I put my mind to!  I can set a goal for myself and achieve that goal. 

I read this story once...instead of me paraphrasing it I will just give it to you word for word (don't report me)...

When President Spencer W. Kimball was fifteen years old, he heard a speaker at stake conference ask how many people had read the Bible from cover to cover. Only five or six hands went up, so the speaker urged the people to go home and begin. “The meeting over, Spencer walked the block home, took down the family Bible, climbed the stairs to his attic room, lit the coal-oil lamp with a match, and began at Genesis. Night after night, by the flickering light of a kerosene lamp in the unfinished attic where he slept, … he plowed through the pages. At some points Spencer had only half an idea what he was reading, but he had made up his mind. It did not matter if long stretches were boring; he plodded on. He was sure it was a worthwhile project. At least he would have some idea what the Bible contained. He kept at it for about a year until he could shut the book with great pride, finished. The experience built his confidence. He had learned he could count on his own resolution”
 (Edward L. Kimball and Andrew E. Kimball, Jr., Spencer W. Kimball [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1977], p. 56).



Isn't that what goal setting is really about?  Learning that we can count on our own resolution?  Maybe it isn't really about what the goal is, but more about what we put our mind to?   

Flakiness and unreliability are two of my least favorite qualities that someone may posses...but really, am I flaky and unreliable myself?  If I can't count on my own resolve to do something, how can anyone else count on me?   As I type that, maybe that should be my focus for the year....or maybe that will come with actually achieving my goals.  We will see. 

Anyway, what is my said focus for the year?   Simply this:  Be more diligent in studying the scriptures and applying them to my life.  I understand that at the end of the year this may be hard to gauge, it may be different for some than for others...but I feel that not only with this help me to grow and become a better person but it is something I feel is certainly worth the time and effort I put into it. 

So there you have it...and here is to 2011.  Hopefully I can learn to count on my own resolution. 

Fort Leonard Wood Tornado

I am not sure how many of you have been watching the news, but from all the calls I've received I am sure it's been on TV in your home town.  Yesterday morning, New Years Eve,  a Tornado hit down on Fort Leonard Wood.  It is surreal to think that it was so close to us, and that so many of our friends and ward members were affected by this disaster.  

You can read more about it here, or search it on Google. 

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by the Tornado.  Thankfully, no one was killed in our area.  We are glad that people are safe and being taken care of.  Thanks to all our friends and family who have called to check in on us.  We appreciate your thoughtfulness!

Sledding!

Ok, this will be the last of my Christmas posts!  I had so many pictures that I had to split them up! 

On Christmas day we decided to take the kids sledding.  I LOVED seeing Noah sled...but mostly because I wasn't doing any of the work.  Sledding is fun, but when you have to haul a child, a sled and yourself up a hill just for a 5 second ride down, I can see how it loses its appeal.  My kind of sledding would be hitching a rope to the back of a 4 wheeler and pulling the kids around in the snow (on a sled of course).  All I have to do is steer.  Is that illegal?  ha.   Anyway,  because of my current condition (you know, being pregnant and all) I didn't sled myself.  Instead I took some pictures and enjoyed seeing Noah's face as he raced down the hill with Andy.  He LOVED it, and of course screamed when we had to leave. 

I sure love this little boy.

(Yes, that is my Mother sledding) ha.

We had a great time!! But after 30 minutes the adults decided the fun was over. haha.  Or maybe it was just me that decided (my toes were freezing!).  Lame excuse, I know.  Maybe we can get another sledding tip in if it ever snows (and sticks) here in Missouri.  Until then, we have these wonderful memories.