Being Sick is the Pits...

...and having to go to Urgent Care instead of your regular doc stinks even worse.

I've had a terrible cold and it's developed into Bronchitis. Never smoked a day in my life, but you wouldn't know that from how I sound!

Thank heaven for a wonderful husband, who has stepped in to help me enormously with taking care of the house and Caden. He is the BEST EVER!
(love you, Greg :)

Here's to hoping I feel better ASAP!

Me + Resolution = FAIL

So, I haven't been doing so well with my resolution to make at least one extra meal each week to freeze and use a frozen meal for one week each night to save on $$$, sanity and dishes...

But hey, I've got excuses! The holidays were, of course, super busy with a baby and multiple parties in multiple states, we traveled with two infants to Alabama (in the car!) and I've been up to my EYEBALLS in cootie catcher orders (thank you, REAL SIMPLE magazine. :)

There's always tomorrow...

But seriously, I am going to try to get back on the horse next week. In the meantime, here's a really good recipe for a delicious meal that doesn't work well for freezing, but is simple, and that's almost as good!

Asian Chicken and Rice Bake
(courtesy of Campbell's with a little tweaking by moi)

1 C uncooked long grain rice
4 chicken breasts
1 can Campbell's golden mushroom soup
1 Cup water
1/4 C soy sauce
2 TBSP cider vinegar
(I used red wine vinegar in a pinch & it worked fine)
3 TBSP honey
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
dash salt
dash pepper
paprika
1 can diced water chestnuts, optional

Spray 2 qt. baking dish with Pam. Spread rice in the bottom of dish and place chicken breasts on top. Mix soup, water, soy sauce, vinegar, honey, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper in a bowl. Whisk until smooth and add water chestnuts if desired. Pour over chicken and sprinkle with paprika. Cover.
Bake @ 400 for 45-60 min, or until chicken is no longer pink and rice is tender. Serve with additional soy sauce, if desired.
I think this pairs great with snow or sugar snap peas.
Enjoy!

Quote of the Day

"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy..."

Someone please tell me I am not the only one who thinks that is a hilarious quote!

(Bonus points if you can tell me where it's from!)

This post is definitely a shout out for my HANDSOME and HANDY hubby Greg!

If you've been reading my posts you know that I have a craft show coming up this weekend in Hamilton, Michigan (come and visit!!!). I needed a way to display my tags, so the hubby got to work on my idea for a tree made of dowels. After a long day at work, he accompanied me to Menard's, and then got right to work out in the cold garage (we live in the stone age, apparently, and our garage is not attached to our house. And it's a one stall. Okay, but at least there's electricity!)

By the time dinner was ready (homemade pea soup, yummmmmm!) it was almost complete, save for the swiveling base. That's right- it is going to rotate- when Greg makes something, he goes the whole nine yards! So, it still needs some finishing touches like routing the base, sanding and varnishing, which we hope to accomplish today.

So, my lovelies, look forward to pictures of my wonderful dowel tree, coming soon!

Thanks, Greg for what a wonderful husband you are, always helping me fulfill my dreams with your brains and brawn! xo

Never, EVER Make This Huge Mistake, People!

Warning: Rant coming.

Last weekend I had something happen to me that is the absolute worst! No, I'm not talking about running out of chocolate, having a fight with the spouse, or missing an episode of the Office.

Worse, people! (I know right now you are thinking, "What could be worse than running out of chocolate?" Trust me- read on.)

Here it is in all it's gory splendor-

I traveled 3 long hours (in a car with my mother, sister, aunt, AND husband driving- but that's not what was awful...I digress) in order to go to a Couple's Wedding Shower. Yeah, the hubby was thrilled about being dragged to that, let me tell you.

Anyhow, we get there just fine, say hello, bring our gifts, mingle, etc. I hadn't seen my family in a while and I've been doing the whole Weight Watchers thing- lost about 25 pounds, actually. (Go me!!!) So, you know I have dressed in a cute, flattering outfit, so that the compliments from my relatives who haven't seen me in months would just come rolling my way.

Wrong. Nothing. Absolutely no mention of how good I'm looking. Until.....


Relative: "Congratulations!!!" Well, it's about time people!

Me: "Thanks." Long Pause "Ummm...for what?"

"You're Pregnant!!!!"

"Uh, no."

"You're trying?"

"Nope, just fat." I don't have much tact, if you hadn't noticed.

"Oh....(trailing off)... I thought I heard you were pregnant.

And...cue the ego deflation.

Please, for the love of chocolate and all things holy, NEVER mention pregnancy to a person unless-
A.) They've told you flat out that they are pregnant.
or
B.) They're in labor.

Rant Over.

7 Degrees of Katrina

(Props to Melissa from Stretch Marks for this idea! Thanks! =)

Seven Things I Plan To Do Before I Die:

1. Have children! (At least 6 of them. Why are you laughing???)
2. Travel to Europe.
3. Missions work (God hasn't revealed just where or what yet...)
4. Get a facial in a really expensive spa, you know, with the works!
5. Learn to play an instrument well. No more dabbling!
6. Learn to make up my mind and stick with my decisions, without constant wavering.
7. Learn to drive a motorcycle. (Already have my permit and a few lessons under my belt!)

Seven Things I CAN Do:

1. Be silly.
2. Love my husband.
3. Forgive.
4. Sing.
5. Cry like nobody's business. (It doesn't take much!)
6. Kreate just about anything.
7. Cook like a pro.

Seven Things I CANNOT Do:

1. Be everything to everybody.
2. Kill spiders (not because I value their existence, just 'cause I'm terrified to!)
3. Sleep well without air conditioning.
4. Keep up with my laundry- it's ridiculous!
5. Stay within my grocery budget.
6. Remember how a car engine works.
7. Pass up chocolate of any kind.

Seven Things That Attract Me To My Spouse:

1. His gentle forehead kisses.
2. His biceps.
3. How he looks when he's doing the mechanic thing.
4. How smart he is.
5. His silly sense of humor.
6. His commitment to Godliness.
7. That face- that smile- that body! You're hot, Greg!

Seven Things I Say Most Often:

1. GRE-EG!
2. What do you want for dinner?
3. Whatever.
4. Geez-a-lou!
5. What do you want to do this weekend?
6. Are you done in there, yet?
7. You poop-steak/stick! (You know there's a story behind these!)


Seven People Who I Think Should Do This:

1. Trish
2. Greg
3. Shelly-Belly
4. Anita
5. Grandma/Grandpa Becker
6. Dad
7. YOU!