Sonic

Kids and I enjoyed some Sonic for dinner the other night.  That's what happens when you pack stuff up all day and don't have any plates!

Menu Monday

The hubs went to the grocery store.  So it looks like I will be having a side of ibuprofen with some of our dinners.  I guess when I said "I can't eat cheese" he missed that memo.  

Anywho, it was a great weekend.  I was off this past Saturday so we spent some time at the church bazaar.  The girls enjoyed some rides including a train ride, spinning swings, and pony rides.  

The boy isn't pictured because I was wearing him the entire time.  I was asked a lot if he was going to ride the rides.   "Um, no?"  He's 14 months, and I'm already paying $2-6 per ride for two other kids.  I think he will be ok.

Sunday was spent with me working.  It's technically my weekend to work but they were short staffed for Friday, so they switched my days around.  This coming weekend will be similar, I will be off on Saturday, but working Sunday.  THAT, however, is because I swapped days with someone to have Monday (29th) off, so we can... wait for it.... CLOSE ON OUR HOUSE!!!

I have no desire to pack, but I know it needs to get done.  So since I don't care much about anything else, I'll deal with the cheesy dinners.   Here's what we will/already have/had:

Saturday- Raspberry Chipotle Chicken with brown rice and salad

Sunday- Bacon wrapped Steak Filets with salad

Monday- Stouffer's lasagna (hubby's pick :/) with green beans

Tuesday- Vegetarian Tostadas

Wednesday- 15 bean soup with sausage

Thursday- Breakfast for dinner (eggs, breakfast sausage, and fruit)

Friday- Cheese Pizza (with a side of ibuprofen) 

Saturday- Stuffed bell peppers

Sunday- Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Monday- Chicken with rice and beans

Tuesday- Pasta with marinara sauce

And that's what happens when the hubby goes grocery shopping and spends $200 on food for a week and a half.  

It's official...

It is official.  I can't eat cheese.  I will get a migraine.  I tried with caffeine one day last week and that too was confirmed.  So freaking upsetting!  I LOVE coffee and cheese!  

This past weekend we had one of the 8 y.o. friend stay over.  Before she came I asked Sophia what she eats, doesn't eat, etc.  I quickly made my way to HEB because lo and behold, the kid eats like every other child in this world.  I wasn't surprised, that child is normal.  My kids are weird and request stir fry tofu and veggies or salad with grilled chicken for dinner.  That said, I enjoy weird ;)

So I bought typical kid things: white bread (OK OK, I bought the white wheat, that was the extent of what I could do), hot dogs/buns, cheez-its, and strawberries (cause I heard she eats that fruit!).

The weekend was spent at the children's museum with an outdoor picnic.  We were quickly scolded by the manager of the museum that no outside food was allowed.  I just stared at her like I didn't understand her.  Sorry, but if I bought a membership then I'm not paying for your $2 16oz. bottled water, or $8 grilled cheese I can't even enjoy.   The kids ate PB&J, Lorna Doone crackers and cutie clementines.  Our visitor didn't eat the crust, I hesitated being annoyed.  The hubs and I enjoyed turkey (sans cheese for me) on whole wheat.  

The evening was spent at GattiTown.  So pizza, with cheese, is what I ate.  Our visitor didn't eat the crust on the pizza, I was annoyed.  I was already feeling cruddy that night.  Sunday we had cinnamon rolls, bacon, eggs, and strawberries.  Our visitor managed to find the crust on the cinnamon rolls and not eat it (what??).  I was uber annoyed.  Hot dogs and pirate booty followed for lunch. Then she went home after tons of outside play.  

Yesterday, the hubs worked late so I just made grilled cheese for dinner.  I ate it too.  It was so good, but I seriously had the biggest headache by 8pm.  I was miserable and know it's from the crap we ate over the weekend.  I should have known better.  

Today I still feel yuck.  I've got a UTI I'm on macrobid for, and some upset stomach probably from the weekend and nothing sounds good to eat.  Nothing except a grilled cheese sounds good.  So I made a run by Krogers (since my local HEB doesn't sell this) to pick up my favorite non-cheese cheese!  

Daiya, I love you.  You're not cheese, but I love how you melt and trick my mind into thinking you are cheese.  

Best grilled cheese ever, ya'll.  Happy non-migrained woman here!

Vegetarian chili

I thought I would share a recipe I adapted from another blogger that I found on Pinterest.  I know, I know... but this wasn't a Pinterest fail!  It was good.  I made it, the kids LOVED it, the hubby LOVED it, so what more is there to love??

So here goes my first "how to recipe".  A concise recipe will follow at the end, so feel free to scroll down there the way I normally do with most blogs.

I diced up 3 cloves of garlic, 1/2 yellow onion, and 2 bell peppers (I did one yellow and one red).

Sauté all the veggies together in a good sized pot (mine holds 3 quarts) in approximately 1 tbsp of olive oil.

Meanwhile, I dicing up about a cup of carrots...

and then added those to the veggies already cooking.  (Some S&P went on top of that too at this time.  I once heard that the salt helps the veggies "sweat" so I just do that when I cook now)

Season the veggies with your "chili" seasonings.  1 tbsp cumin, chili powder, oregano, and unsweetened cocoa all gets added to the mix of veggies.  Again, I heard you should sauté your seasonings because it brings out their real flavor.... Also again, not sure if it's true but I do it! 

Dump in a bunch of canned beans (drained except for the chili beans) and tomatoes.

Simmer for about 45 minutes and enjoy!  We had our chili with some cornbread waffles, the kids had theirs topped with cheese!

Vegetarian Chili

1 tablespoon olive oil

3 cloves garlic, minced 

2 bell peppers, chopped 

1/2 onion, chopped

1 cup carrots, chopped

Salt and Pepper

1 tablespoon cumin

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder1 tablespoon oregano

1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed

1 can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 can of white kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 can of chili beans (DON'T DRAIN)

1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz), with juice

1 can crushed tomatoes (28 oz)

In a large pot, heat the oil over medium. Add in garlic, carrots, peppers, and onion, stirring frequently.  After 5 minutes add S&P, and all seasonings.  After another 5 minutes, add drained beans, chili beans, and tomatoes.  Stir and allow to simmer for 45 minutes.  Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from A Bitchin' Kitchen

Menu Monday, a few days late

What a week it's been so far.  I worked the past weekend (6-7).  It was steady, no ridiculous influx of babies at the hospital thankfully.  I am precepting a new intern, and she rocks!  She is on week 8 and doing so well.  I kind of attribute it to myself since I'm the one training her, but it does help that she is sharp and on track where she should be as a new nurse recently graduated from school.  

Last Thursday I decided it was due time to cut out the coffee and cheese from my diet.  The headaches were getting ridiculous.  By the weekend I was packing fruits and veggies again for work.  By Wednesday morning I woke up for work without a headache.  What an amazing feeling, ya'll!  I have come to grips that I just can't eat any crap in my diet or I feel so shitty.  Caffeine seems to be a big trigger, which is ironic since people tend to say their headaches are cured by a nice cup o' joe.  

So since this is Menu Monday (a few days late), I'll just post what we have had and will have the remainder of the week. 

Sunday- We ended up having the chorizo and potato tacos this day.  They were really tasty, but greasy. The kids ate it up, including the 4 y.o. (who hates potatoes!) 

Monday- Penne pasta with marinara sauce

Tuesday- Hamburgers with steamed broccoli and cauliflower

Wednesday- Turkey sausage sautéed with bell peppers and fruit (grapes)

Thursday- Meatless chili with cornbread waffles 

Friday- Pork tenderloin chops with peas and fruit

Saturday- going out to eat, probably pizza to celebrate with 8 y.o. and her BFF staying the night

We are really just eating a lot of fruits, veggies, and lean meats.  Although I am trying to still make a few meatless meals (Monday and today for example).  Our fridge is stocked full of tons of healthy stuff.  We buy a lot of cow's milk for the kids (1% for the girls, whole for the boy).  The hubby and I drink Almond Milk, although I recently went out on a limb and bought coconut milk.  Almond butter, Odwalla Superfood (for my quick breakfasts), and loads of colorful fruits and veggies (easily accessible for little hands to reach for a snack).  There is a Hershey bar in there, but it's the 8 y.o.'s!  Something she got with her birthday card from the hubs and me :)

We really have done well this week eating wise.  That said, I CAN NOT wait to make the cornbread waffles!  Thanks to the evil pinterest, I have figured out other ways to use my waffle maker!  Our favorite?  On Saturday or Sunday mornings every couple of weeks I will make cinnamon rolls in the waffle maker. So good!  Recently I saw you could put your hash browns in there.  Um, yum!  

So besides the few times we make something interesting in the waffle maker, dinners officially got a little more boring.  Boring in that there will probably be no more cheese products, and will probably not be some ridiculous cream of _____ laden pinterest recipe.  Enjoy the dinner ideas!

The internet: Love/Hate Relationship

Oh, internet.  I love you.

I love how you have brought so many fascinating things into my life.  I love pinterest for all it's evil time sucking ways.  All the ideas, recipes, home renovation possibilities... all that with mod podge!  I love how facebook brought me closer to friends I lost touch with or allowed me to keep up with after moving.

I love that you have provided a little corner where I can keep in touch with who wants to read up on my lame life.  (It's really just you BFG).  I love that I have a place where I can vent, post pictures, right memories of the kids.  My very own personal online journal.  Not personal though since it is posted all over you, internet.

But I hate you.

I hate how you steal my husband away from me.  I hate that his job revolves around you, and that you are connected to his phone 24 hours a day.  I hate how I can't just sit next to him without you sending an email that something broke.  I hate how every time he gets a tweet or a FB post/like/comment he is checking it right away.  I hate how my attention, my kids attention, has been put to the side because you are alerting him to something else, yet again.  And who the hell are these random women you are talking to on twitter?  Can I please have your attention, when you are at home, NOT HER?  Fuck her tweet, and fuck her.  Yes, it's just innocent tweeting, but I'm RIGHT NEXT TO YOU.  Can I have your attention, not her?  Why do you have to take the time to find a picture and tweet it to them?  How about your wife, who has repeatedly told you she wants attention?

Maybe it's his phone I hate more than hating you.  But ultimately it comes down to the internet.  I get so fed up with it, that I even say I'm going to quit the internet forever!  Maybe in hopes that I'll set an example in hopes that he will not be attached to the internet's hip.  But in reality, I can be guilty of it too.  I need an idea of something to make for dinner tonight.  And then OH!  Look at that cute kitchen.  I could totally do that to my kitchen too.

You and your blood sucking ways, internet!  Damn you!  I just want you to let go of my husband.  Maybe from 8-10pm?  I'm not asking much.  He can't quit you, you are his job, his source of income.  He's made that quite clear to me, that you will always be around 24/7.  But could you just leave him alone for a couple hours so I could have just a little bit of attention?  Please.

Menu "Monday"

It's Monday, right?

Anywho, here is our menu for the week.  Last week's menu didn't all get cooked up.  Hubby did not like the Chicken Caesar Salad Sandwiches.  It was too "chicken salad texture" for his taste, and he couldn't get over the fact that it was Caesar Dressing, so never again on that one.  On Saturday we went to my mom's house and she grilled Turkey Burgers.  Sunday I changed up the menu and made a ham, southern style green beans and 7UP Biscuits. So that left 2 meals uncooked: Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole and Potato Soup.

Monday- Chicken Spaghetti 

Tuesday- Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

Wednesday- Chorizo and Potato Tacos

Thursday- Potato Soup

Friday- Sausage and Pepper Sammys

Saturday- Tortellini "Soup"- I'm inventing this up, I found this recipe and thought it said velveeta cheese, but as it turns out it's cream cheese.... so we will see how it turns out.   

Sunday- Grilled chicken and salad?  Still not sure on this day!

Enjoy!

Bluebonnets 2013

The bluebonnets are in full force this year!  We went for a little drive just to get the pictures.  It's kind of a Texas tradition, ya'll.  It took some coaxing, but the girls finally sat down on the dirt and got over their fear of bugs.  The boy was more fixated on the flower I gave him to hold and only smiled when I made weird noises behind daddy's back.  I was that lady by the side of the road.   I think they turned out pretty good, at least the ones I'm posting.  A few of them are of my butt (thanks hubby!) and some have at least one of the children making some weird face in some form or fashion, so just the good ones for the blog... you know, so we at least "look" like a normal family.  

A Migraine Sufferer's Dilemna

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20306955_2,00.html

That right there my friends is what I should not be eating.  Ever.  I suffer from migraines.  I have had them since childhood.  I can remember coming home in 4th grade with a horrible migraine.  I was wearing these awesome forest green jeans and a cardigan that I think reached my knees and just laying on the bed, a pillow over my face, wishing the pain to stop.

My headaches have always been that bad when I have them.  I have to lay in a dark room, with something over my head, no noise, and lots of ibuprofen to help it go away.  It wasn't until I was much older in life (hah, going through nursing school) that I realized they were migraines.  I just figured this is how other people experience headaches as well.

Today I woke up with a headache.  I popped 2 ibuprofen and drank a cup of coffee.  My noon I had to take 3 more ibuprofen.  I laid down for a nap and hoped it would go away.  I got up at 3:30 pm and still felt it nagging, so I took 2 more.  Still now at this time it's pounding.  I took 2 Excedrin migraine and a Benadryl.  So now I find myself looking at preventative measures.  Soon my kids will be home (in about 30 minutes) and it will start pounding again, I can assure you.

A while back I cut out so much from my diet for the migraines.  Cheese and chocolate were a big one.  Those were also the hardest to cut out.  Oh, and coffee.... I love having my daily cup of joe.  I guess I'm going to have to revert back to teas and Daiya "cheese" again.  <sigh> I love most of the foods on that list!

The added stress of buying a house and family drama (more on that later this week, yippee!) doesn't help.  We had the housing inspection today, which went surprisingly well!  It's a "clean" house as the inspector said.  Thank freaking Gawd!  I could use something in my favor every now and then.  I turned in the loan application today, and have to get updated check stubs/bank accounts to them.  I'm going to worry about that tomorrow at work though.  That headache is still there after all.

Forever A Patient

The boy had minor surgery today.  Tubes in his ears.  Been there, done that with the 8 y.o.  It was a weird experience today though.  Yes, I'm a nurse.  Yes, I know it's minor surgery.  But I'm a nurse and a mother.  My mind started running last night.  I only thought of the worst that could happen.  What if he reacts bad to the anesthesia?  Do they have a pedi crash cart?  Will they do everything they can?

I couldn't sleep.

Of course, I got there at 0615.  They said to be there at 0600, but sadly I knew the MD wouldn't be there until 0700 at the earliest (he actually got there at 0715) so I had a bit of an arrogant attitude.  The boy flirted with the nurses, and wanted to be put down.  I refused so he writhed in my arms until surgery time.  Then the anesthesiologist came in, did her deal, and before I knew it he was taken out of my arms.  The nurses commented how he didn't cry, but how could he?  She took him before either one
of us could say good bye.

I went to the waiting room, fixed some coffee from their Keureg, sat down and waited.  I waited long enough to drink 1/4 of my coffee only to see the MD coming out to say "All done!"

Seriously?  I lost sleep for nothing!  In all seriousness, I think what it all comes down to though is that I may be a nurse and know the ins and outs, but ultimately I'm a mother.  Being a nurse and a mother?  It's a curse.  You have too much knowledge about what could go wrong, and that's your baby someone else is watching over.

He did fine though, he's running all over the place as we speak.  My bag of mismatched socks is always tons of fun for him.  Here's hoping this cuts down on the ear infections.

A very pinterest dinner

I'm a pretty frugal person.  My husband says "miser", but I say frugal.  With us preparing to buy a house, I'm trying to get us out of the habit of buying food out.  We don't do it often, but enough where it makes a difference financially if we just cut it out all together.  So last week I came up with a menu for the week.  It consisted of:

Breakfast for dinner (scrambled eggs, bacon, fruit)

Spaghetti with meatballs (this is a staple in our house, we use frozen meatballs because we're rushed for time)

Root beer pulled pork sandwiches

Shredded chicken tacos

Corned beef hash casserole

Stir fry tofu and veggies with ginger brown rice (also another staple)

Philly cheesesteak stuffed peppers

Quick "paninis" with salads

I think that's everything?  We tend to cook just enough food for our family of 5, and I eat off the leftovers for lunches.  The husbands work provides lunch everyday, kids in the daycare have all food provided, so it's pretty much all for me to finish.  Usually nothing goes to waste since, like I said, we cook enough for our family for dinner.  This week we have as follows:

Spicy beans with turkey sausage 

Bubble up pizza 

Slow cooker chicken caesar sandwiches

Chicken cordon bleu cassserole - kids LOVE this one for some reason!

Enchiladas

Baked potato soup - uses cauliflower to reduce the calories/carbs

Chicken spaghetti - another old recipe that the kids ate up

Obviously, I've been on pinterest.  Clearly you can tell that from the recipes.  If it's got cheese and cream of _____ soup, it's probably on pinterest.  Not the healthiest of things for dinner, but the kids eat a lot and I can only handle so many different versions of steamed veggies/ sauteed veggies with baked chicken.  I do try and rotate something (or two) in the crock pot for dinners.  We usually have pizza and/or spaghetti once during the week.  Also we tend to have one soup or stew during the week.  We are a dual working parent so our meals tend to be quick, or crock pot, without a lot of variety.  Hoping by posting this I'll have a little more variety.  I am going to take a cue from one of the links above, and cook a ton of chicken in the crock pot to shred and freeze.  That would probably help make some more quick dinners (the enchiladas for example).  

So there you go, enjoy.  I know I will... my stomach is rumbling thinking about dinner now.

Return from an extended vacation...

Perhaps I should try this again. Make something of this blog? I got into blogging from a friend of mine who is so good at posting on her blog at least once a week. Tuesday Ten? Freaking clever! When I started my first blog, I did it thinking... well, maybe people will look at it and I can make money off it. nope.

That's hilarity at it's finest! BWHAhahahahahaha.

 Then I was immature, got pissed at some people in my life and was all "F--k it! I'm starting a new blog bitches!" So I started a second blog. I think my goal with that one (this one actually), was to openly post my weight in hopes that I would be motivated to lose some of it. I mean, I think I posted other stuff, but I've forgotten since then. Shit, it's been a whole f--king year since I posted on here.

Life is different. I've changed. A lot in fact. So maybe I should try this again. Use it. Like, for real. Maybe an outlet to share my sadness and happiness? Document my kids growing up? So much time has passed and I've made so many memories so far, but nothing is written down. I want the kids to look back on it and think "Oh, life didn't suck as much as I thought." Cause yeah, I'm pretty sure my 8 y.o. thinks her life is suck, but it's not... I swear.

 So where am I at now in life. 31 years old. I tend to forget how old I am. Yes, seriously. Yesterday in the car I asked the hubby if I was 31 or 32. I guess I've lost track? Those grey hairs I colored for the 30th birthday? Eh, I could careless about them. They are coming in FULL FORCE people, so I'm just coming to grips with reality. I'm going grey, there's nothing I can do about it!

    
AHHH!  Can you see the greys??  Probably not.

Anywho, almost 2 years as a nurse. I did my stint in Labor and Delivery. Went to work every morning anxiety stricken of what to come that day. So I transferred. Just a hop, skip and a jump to the Level I nursery. I like it, I'm good at it. So much so I'm training new nurses in their new careers. Kinda cool to see how far I've come. Come July, I'll have been an RN for 2 years, and I'll apply for the RNC certification. Kind of like saying, "Yes, I'm a nurse, but here I have validated that I'm a GOOD f--king nurse."

 I think I cuss more, but I'll try and keep it out the blog for your viewing pleasure. Eh, fuck it. I don't really give a shit, do I? NOPE. Being nurse has jaded me. I do care about people, but now I'm so quick to just say "fuck it" now a days. More so than before. I've come to a point in my life where I just don't give a crap about what other people think about me. And I'm ok with that.

 I've been married now 8 years, together for a decade. He's not tired of my crap yet! He's a good man. Unbelievably good. Puts up with my shit. Takes care of the kids when I'm working every other weekend. Such a good, genuine, man. I love him. A lot. So much so I decided to buy a house with him. Huge step for us.

 We started from nothing, with nothing, and have worked our way up to a house. FINALLY. Now I find myself stalking pinterest for ideas on Frugal Kitchen Re-Do (slim pickin's, hah).

Let's mull over that one more time.... We're buying a house. A HOUSE... wow.

 I've changed so much. I'm a mom of 3. I'm impatient. I'm strict. I expect things from them that other parents probably don't demand. They are good kids though. And I love all of them. They are so different. I can't wait for them to all have their own bedrooms. A fucking house.  I can't belive it.

Rambling now. Maybe I'll make something of this blog now. Since I'm at the point where I don't really give a shit what people think, thoughts should hopefully come easily now.