productivity!

Yes! The garage is getting there. I can get my car pulled in. I'd still like to purge some more things. We got a good start, and it looks good. Part of the time I just didn't have anything I could do. Jamie was a little touchy when I asked him if I could do something. For instance, I asked if I could empty three Cella wine boxes of the cassette tapes they held. I didn't get a very nice look, so I'm sure they're still out there.

Anyway, yesterday I pulled together some recipes to make ahead for future use. I stopped at the grocery store on the way home and spent nearly $150 on groceries. Yikes! I don't think I've done that much grocery shopping in a long time. Today I finished shopping for the meat and spent another $50. Since I couldn't help in the garage, I came inside and put the meals together. Two of the recipes were as easy as putting chicken breasts in a bag with a marinade I mixed up. The other chicken recipe was a Mexican casserole. I also made a Mexican beef casserole and a pizza pasta casserole which actually made two! I still have one more chicken marinade recipe to do, but we had to get one more package of chicken, and one more beef recipe. I am tired from all my hard work in the kitchen. Do you know how many dishes need to be done after a cooking marathon such as this? Too many! It will be nice to have a few things ready as the kids' schedules get busier.

I'm not sure what is on the agenda for productivity tomorrow, but I need to come up with something. For now, I rest :)

relax

I really wish I could relax. There are just too many things left undone in my house. I'm hoping that we can get something cleaned up this weekend. Even my 13 yr old is itching to get things into place.

Anyway, I really just want to say there is a Relax Riesling wine that is very good. I bought it for the cool looking bottle, and the fact that it said relax. Try it!

Also have to add the my dear 13 yr old's catchphrases are "It's ok." and "Relax" Have a relaxing Labor Day weekend. I'm hoping to work a lot and get a lot done.

What! No gwavy2...

Apparently called "Chow Hound," I found the episode in its entirety on youtube. Go figure!

What! No gwavy???

Do you remember that cartoon? I couldn't tell you which one it was, but it's always been a favorite line of mine. That one and the that goes something like, I love him and hug and....call him George. Maybe I'll have to research to see if I can figure these out.

So this morning I was having breakfast as usual and enjoying my biscuits and gravy. I've spent most of day thinking about just what I would blog about it. Thus, I came up with my witty title. Anyway, biscuits and gravy aren't my usual breakfast faire (is that how you spell it in this context?). I know it's not the healthiest breakfast I could eat...BUT I eat it with fondness now. My dad loved biscuits and spicy sausage gravy. His love grew, as far as I'm aware, more when he was getting radiation and chemo. He had radiation on his neck which affected his taste buds so B&G was still tasty to him. Surprisingly, it didn't make him sick either. Fortunately for him, he also needed to put on weight or keep on weight so this was perfect for him. I usually don't choose B&G for my breakfast, but now it's in honor of my dad. It's a great excuse don't you think! Luckily for me, I'm rarely in settings that have B&G ready to eat. I've tried making it at home, and it's never as good.

Another fond memory relating to B&G was the hamburger gravy we would eat. It basically was the same concept as B&G, but the gravy has hamburger and not sausage. We'd eat over toast or mashed potatoes. Really, I think it was one of those meals that was easy to stretch for our family of 6. It's funny how some of these penny-pinching meals are some of my fondest memories of my childhood. I'll have to ask my mom if she's made it for my kids. It's fun to watch them grow fond of my childhood favorites. I'll have to ask Jamie if he has any favorites like this from his childhood. Anyway, I think I can say that I eat biscuits and gravy for both my mom and dad. Now if only my backside and thighs will forgive me.

Lunch today was a southwestern turkey panini which was tasty and delish! Didn't want to disappoint anyone keeping track of my lunch outings. Tonight we are headed to Pei Wei again!! I can't wait, because I may never get to eat it again!

Lunch and books

You know eating out is really the highlight of travel. Sad but true. Don't get me wrong. I have seen some beautiful flowers and mountains. I just really enjoy eating at places different from home. Today we ate at Pier 49, San Francisco style pizza. I had the Sausalito.

SAUSALITO, Spicy grilled chicken on a
southwestern sauce, topped with green chiles,
green peppers, onions, fresh tomatoes and
fresh tortilla strips. Perfection with a kick!

It was very good but just a little lacking in flavor. Maybe my tastebuds are off. It was probably from the Thai Dynamite on Monday. LOL

I don't get a chance to read. If I read, it's at night before I go to sleep. Most nights I'm tired enough just to go to sleep. I have taken the time this week to read. I may start a second book for the week. That's highly unheard for me. Here's a blurb about the book I just finished.

Mommy Tracked by Whitney Gaskell

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
It's a fun read. I had to try and not laugh out loud while on a flight. There's just so much about it to like. Each of the characters had some trait or experience that to which I could relate.


View all my reviews.

Nothing witty to say...

I was lucky enough to spend this evening with Janalee and Walker. We grabbed some dinner, hit a scrapbook store and then walked around Temple Square. I was just so happy to get so be with them. Janalee was as sweet as ever and Walker was fun too.

Class is....hmmm first thing that comes to mind is kicking my butt. It's just a bit challenging. I haven't been able to use what I learn for all the years that I've been in my field (7 for those keeping track). I do a little bit of this and a little bit of that, but I don't get a chance to FOCUS on it long enough to become fluent (at least to my liking). Hey, Gina, can't we still have focus as our word of the year. I swear that I have work-induced ADD. Class has been going fast because I'm trying so hard to learn.

Nothing too exciting for lunch today -- a 1/2 albacore tuna sandwich, cup of creamy potato soup and a fudgy brownie. The brownie was truly disappointing. It was dry and hard. I never knew a brownie could be bad. The tuna was so-so, not very flavorful. The soup was good (in 90 degree weather?!?!) and reminded me of my mom's pea soup except there were no peas. Let's hope tomorrow's lunch will be better. A young man in class has offered to drive me to dinner with him as well since I don't have a rental car. I haven't been hungry in the evenings since I eat a good breakfast and lunch. Oh and did I mention that I think I'm becoming addicted to biscuits and gravy here. Oh they're so good!!

Better wind down for some sleep. TTFN!

Good stuff

Well, I'm getting a breather from my "normal" life. I am attending a class in Utah this week. It's weird to be in a spotless place and nothing to do except what I want to do. I trying hard to stay focused on enjoying every moment rather than focusing on those mommy sorts of things that we worry about.

I was pleasantly surprised when I went to class today. The instructor is one of my favorite consultants that has helped me out at work. He's very pleasant, funny, understanding and patient. Hey! I need the patience as I'm trying to soak up some computer stuff. I sometimes wonder what I'm doing in this field.

For lunch we went to Pei Wei for lunch. Actually a group of 8 of us from class. OMG! It was so fantastic. I had the Thai Dynamite Chicken with brown rice. I don't know that I've consciously ever had brown rice. There was lots of food and it was oh so good! There was lots of other stuff on their menu I'd like to try too.

One last good thing was I was reminded how good we have it in Iowa. Gas is expensive but not as bad as other places. Actually a bunch of stuff costs a lot less. What a nice thing to appreciate about now :)

Up too late

The Olympics keep sucking me in at night when I should be getting to bed and sleeping. It's so exciting! The kids managed to get to bed at good times tonight. I love school and how it wears them out!

Oh I just remembered we have a parents' meeting tomorrow night for B's fall softball league. I nearly forgot! Maybe I should go enter it on my calendar for good measure.

Next week I'll be in Utah for some training for work. Hopefully after that we can get into a routine in the mornings and evenings. Not much else going on right now.

First day of school

Wow! I can hardly believe how this year has flown by. My kiddos started school today. Officially, I have an 8th grader, 6th grader, 1st grader and preschooler. Preschool doesn't start up again until after Labor Day. Here are my ducklings on their first day.


And just in case you didn't notice in the photo above, we have big news here!



No more braces!!! This is just round 1. The orthodontist tried to sound like it maybe will happen, but I think he and I both know it will happen. Round 2 of braces will occur once all her baby teeth are out. If things go my way, she'll lose the rest of her baby teeth over the next year and half and won't get braces until the others are paid off.

Oh and I fixed up my header. I found a www.picnik.com to edit my photos and do fun things for FREE! You upload pictures and then fix 'em up and then save them back to your computer. Check it out!

Goofin' with my blog

I know I've been messing around with the template, but the important thing to take away from all this is the image in my title :) YEE HAW!!! It's been much too long, and I can hardly wait for a whole new adventure to share. Oh wait! I still have another adventure to blog about. I'll have to remember to write about that. Later! I have to go pick up our anniversary pizza. It's been 16 years of blissful marriage for DH and me, and a whopping 21 years together! Oh my! Oh and if you believe that blissful comment, you don't know me very well. I do love my DH and wouldn't trade him for the world. ta ta for now!