How do us busy moms do it? Honestly, I need some help here. The laundry and cleaning is getting out of control around here. Maybe that's because I don't like it? The cooking always seems to go just fine ... because I like to do it.
So, how do you do it? Give it to me straight! Do I need to create a cleaning and laundry schedule to stick to, just like my meal plan? How do I stick to it? I'm already pretty awful at sticking to other schedules, like my work out schedule. LOL!
Bonus points for those than can tell me how to motivate my hubby. He's great at helping when I ask, but I sometimes wish I had one of those husbands that loved to clean (I'm sure he wishes he had the same kind of wife).
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Crock pots make everything better
A few weeks ago FIL and MIL "treated" us to an expensive, over-cooked roast. It was a shame, but there were plenty of leftovers. Lucky us!
MIL suggested I make beef with noodles. Sounded good, if you know how to make something like that.
So, I found a recipe that looked good (read: easy) online and went to work. Threw the frozen roast in the crock pot, covered with Campbell's beefy mushroom soup (no dairy), one can of water, added a package of onion soup mix, and had the hubby slice up an onion that I'd picked up at the farmers market for pennies before they closed for the winter. Cooked for 4 hours, diced the roast up, added a can of mushrooms, let it sit overnight (last minute change of dinner plans) and served over whole wheat linguine.
We could actually chew the roast without having a bout of TMJ! It tasted pretty good, the hubby even liked it. And, I made some room in my freezer. Yay!
I actually think I may adopt this "sauce" for future roasts, as I have never really found a good crockpot roast recipe.
MIL suggested I make beef with noodles. Sounded good, if you know how to make something like that.
So, I found a recipe that looked good (read: easy) online and went to work. Threw the frozen roast in the crock pot, covered with Campbell's beefy mushroom soup (no dairy), one can of water, added a package of onion soup mix, and had the hubby slice up an onion that I'd picked up at the farmers market for pennies before they closed for the winter. Cooked for 4 hours, diced the roast up, added a can of mushrooms, let it sit overnight (last minute change of dinner plans) and served over whole wheat linguine.
We could actually chew the roast without having a bout of TMJ! It tasted pretty good, the hubby even liked it. And, I made some room in my freezer. Yay!
I actually think I may adopt this "sauce" for future roasts, as I have never really found a good crockpot roast recipe.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Worst Blogger Ever!
I will never have a career in blogging, that's for sure. Ce' la vie! Life is insane and I should probably just learn to accept that this is my "new normal." Oh, how I long for those days when the hubby and I could watch movies in bed all day.
No big updates on us. We've been back in our house since August, which has been really nice. Bug and BooBoo still ask if we're going to the "big house" or the apartment sometimes, which just breaks my heart. They're like elephants, I tell you, yet they can never remember the things I want them to. Funny how that works! Kids still can't have dairy, the Bug still survives mostly on air and BooBoo is still a great eater and has recently started to become a good sleeper again. Life is good!
I do have to say that I'm pretty geeked that I can find Duncan Hines Spice Cake mix dairy free, though. I make the kids pumpkin muffins with a can of pumpkin and 1 box of spice cake mix ... and nothing else (Bug and BooBoo even helped make it, which is why I'm glad these muffins are just for them - LOL!). Wish I could find some kind of organic cake mix to make it with, but who am I kidding, I don't have time to run from store to store to look for things anymore. I get up to Trade Joe's (BooBoo loves the turkey meatballs, by the way) every month or so for some staples and their pumpkin cake mix isn't dairy free.
I wish I had some new, awesome recipe to share, but we've kind of just been getting by with the old standbys lately. We do breakfast for dinner and sandwichs/soup/salad one time a week each, so that's kind of helped shorten the amount of time I'm in the kitchen and decrease the need for new recipes. It's such a relief, meal planning can be stressful!
Hope all are well and I hope to post again soon!
No big updates on us. We've been back in our house since August, which has been really nice. Bug and BooBoo still ask if we're going to the "big house" or the apartment sometimes, which just breaks my heart. They're like elephants, I tell you, yet they can never remember the things I want them to. Funny how that works! Kids still can't have dairy, the Bug still survives mostly on air and BooBoo is still a great eater and has recently started to become a good sleeper again. Life is good!
I do have to say that I'm pretty geeked that I can find Duncan Hines Spice Cake mix dairy free, though. I make the kids pumpkin muffins with a can of pumpkin and 1 box of spice cake mix ... and nothing else (Bug and BooBoo even helped make it, which is why I'm glad these muffins are just for them - LOL!). Wish I could find some kind of organic cake mix to make it with, but who am I kidding, I don't have time to run from store to store to look for things anymore. I get up to Trade Joe's (BooBoo loves the turkey meatballs, by the way) every month or so for some staples and their pumpkin cake mix isn't dairy free.
I wish I had some new, awesome recipe to share, but we've kind of just been getting by with the old standbys lately. We do breakfast for dinner and sandwichs/soup/salad one time a week each, so that's kind of helped shorten the amount of time I'm in the kitchen and decrease the need for new recipes. It's such a relief, meal planning can be stressful!
Hope all are well and I hope to post again soon!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
TGIF!
At least that's what I'll be saying tomorrow! The day we finally get to move into our house. (where's my little dancing banana emoticon when I need him?) Finally, we can get back to a somewhat normal life! The next couple weeks will be crazy with moving, our (5th) anniversary and the Bugs 4th birthday and party. But, we'll make it through this just like we make it through everything.
I cannot even imagine sleeping in my bed again, much less waking up in it in the morning! I am so eager to set up my furniture, fill my cupboards and put my decorations back out. I cannot wait! (again, dancing banana would be helpful).
The only thing that is taking my mind off of it is finally getting sucked into the Twilight series. I've read 2 of the 4 books in a week and I'm sure I'll be checking off another by the end of the weekend. Sorry kids, no dairy-free mini-muffins this week ... mom's too busy reading teenage vamipire books. LOL!
All good stuff to report. Hope to be back to scheduled programming soon - whatever that is!
I cannot even imagine sleeping in my bed again, much less waking up in it in the morning! I am so eager to set up my furniture, fill my cupboards and put my decorations back out. I cannot wait! (again, dancing banana would be helpful).
The only thing that is taking my mind off of it is finally getting sucked into the Twilight series. I've read 2 of the 4 books in a week and I'm sure I'll be checking off another by the end of the weekend. Sorry kids, no dairy-free mini-muffins this week ... mom's too busy reading teenage vamipire books. LOL!
All good stuff to report. Hope to be back to scheduled programming soon - whatever that is!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Where do I begin?
Where did I leave off?
The last few months have been crazy ... crazier than usual at least. With my new job came 2 new tests, as I had the wrong licenses to do my job. So, way back in April I planned to take my first test after a week of class. The Friday before the class started we had a good size flood in our house, which did a large amount of damage to our kitchen. A brass fitting in the cold water supply line to our master bathroom broke in half and water was gushing out of this high pressure line in the ceiling above our kitchen island for at least 2 hours before it was discovered. Usually I'm home on Fridays, but since I had a class starting the next week, I went into work. Fortunately, we had someone coming to power wash our deck that day otherwise I would have walked into the house hours later with 2 kids to find my ceiling on the floor.
We tried to stick it out, but by Tuesday we realized there was no way we could live there. So, in the middle of taking the class, trying to check in at work and studying for a huge test, we moved into a hotel room for 2 nights and then into a 2 bedroom apartment about 3 (congested) miles from our house. I took my test (and passed) and we tried to settle in, but it was not easy with the kids sharing a room and being so far away from their school and our house. So, we moved again at the beginning of June into a 3 bedroom apartment on the same major cross roads as our home. Things have been much better here!
So, here we are a good 14 weeks later, still not back in our house. We're getting close, but having been through construction I know that getting the contractors in the house is often the hardest part. That's why I never wanted to go through construction again. LOL!
Anyway, the kids are good. The Bug had a visit with the allergist just before all of this happened. The verdict after his blood test was that he is still off of dairy and peanuts. Ce la vie! We've lived this long, what is another year or two (hopefully that's it!). He has gotten a little more adventurous with food - he tried a cucumber and a noodle. Big news! LOL!
So, now I have a new focus in my life. Finally feathering our nest the way we want. All of this house stuff has re-energized me in the house decorating department. Now I just need to get in there and execute all of my ideas!
The last few months have been crazy ... crazier than usual at least. With my new job came 2 new tests, as I had the wrong licenses to do my job. So, way back in April I planned to take my first test after a week of class. The Friday before the class started we had a good size flood in our house, which did a large amount of damage to our kitchen. A brass fitting in the cold water supply line to our master bathroom broke in half and water was gushing out of this high pressure line in the ceiling above our kitchen island for at least 2 hours before it was discovered. Usually I'm home on Fridays, but since I had a class starting the next week, I went into work. Fortunately, we had someone coming to power wash our deck that day otherwise I would have walked into the house hours later with 2 kids to find my ceiling on the floor.
We tried to stick it out, but by Tuesday we realized there was no way we could live there. So, in the middle of taking the class, trying to check in at work and studying for a huge test, we moved into a hotel room for 2 nights and then into a 2 bedroom apartment about 3 (congested) miles from our house. I took my test (and passed) and we tried to settle in, but it was not easy with the kids sharing a room and being so far away from their school and our house. So, we moved again at the beginning of June into a 3 bedroom apartment on the same major cross roads as our home. Things have been much better here!
So, here we are a good 14 weeks later, still not back in our house. We're getting close, but having been through construction I know that getting the contractors in the house is often the hardest part. That's why I never wanted to go through construction again. LOL!
Anyway, the kids are good. The Bug had a visit with the allergist just before all of this happened. The verdict after his blood test was that he is still off of dairy and peanuts. Ce la vie! We've lived this long, what is another year or two (hopefully that's it!). He has gotten a little more adventurous with food - he tried a cucumber and a noodle. Big news! LOL!
So, now I have a new focus in my life. Finally feathering our nest the way we want. All of this house stuff has re-energized me in the house decorating department. Now I just need to get in there and execute all of my ideas!
Monday, February 16, 2009
One of our favorite breakfasts
Well, it's my favorite because they eat it and it's healthy. I decided that I needed to initiate "operation - no more pop tarts." They just filled with junk and the Bug was addicted to them. He asked for them every morning. I don't mind an occasional treat, but this was getting out of hand. So, I just didn't buy them at the store this week. I know that I'm a big ol' marshmallow mom and can't resist his pleas if they're in the house.
So, I was off work today so this morning I asked the Bug what he wanted for breakfast. I figured I could cook since I had no place to be. He still answered poptart. Ugh! I made our favorite banana pancakes and he did end up eating them without much fuss to boot. Yay!
I buy the Hodgson Mills buckwheat pancake mix. It is dairy free and relatively inexpensive (about $2.50/box at Walmart). I mix it with soy milk, egg, a drop of oil and a mashed banana.
They love this stuff! The Bug has managed to down 6 of them in one sitting once. The best part, they freeze pretty well. I love to make a big batch, freeze them and send the with the Bug to school once a week. They have 5 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber (I think), so they're pretty nutritious, which is important for my picky little bug.
So, I was off work today so this morning I asked the Bug what he wanted for breakfast. I figured I could cook since I had no place to be. He still answered poptart. Ugh! I made our favorite banana pancakes and he did end up eating them without much fuss to boot. Yay!
I buy the Hodgson Mills buckwheat pancake mix. It is dairy free and relatively inexpensive (about $2.50/box at Walmart). I mix it with soy milk, egg, a drop of oil and a mashed banana.
They love this stuff! The Bug has managed to down 6 of them in one sitting once. The best part, they freeze pretty well. I love to make a big batch, freeze them and send the with the Bug to school once a week. They have 5 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber (I think), so they're pretty nutritious, which is important for my picky little bug.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Life with a demanding job
This is all pretty new to me! My last job was NOT demanding. It had demanding moments, but I had done it so long, it was usually a breeze. I really like my new job, but OY! It wears me out some days. I haven't gone to bed this early since I was in law school. LOL!
So, part of my "take it a little easier" plan has included something not so budget-friendly ... a cleaning lady. We had our first cleaning lady come in over a year and it was SO nice! I'm really enjoying not having to run around like a crazy person this weekend fitting in chores whenever I can. I'm really, really enjoying my house being clean all at one. Can't say it's going to be a regular thing, but this week it really helped out.
I did do a couple budget friendly things to defray the cost. 1) I got my eyes examined at Costco! An eye exam there is $55 for glasses and $90 for contacts. Not bad for those of us without eye insurance. 2) I bought my glasses online!!!
Check out glassesusa.com. I ordered these glasses, I can't wait to see them!!! I'll let you know how that all works out. Buying glasses online, it's all new to me. But hey, why the heck not?! Hopefully they will help me at work, I read so much now and feel like I'm going blind from reading my computer monitor all day long.
So, I should run. I have 50 Valentines to write for preschool today. Lucky me! I also have to get to the store to buy said Valentines. Grrrrr!!!
I wish I could write more, I could use some advice on the Bug barely eating. But, that will have to wait until next time. Hopefully, by then, he'll be eating more than 1 meal a day. =(
So, part of my "take it a little easier" plan has included something not so budget-friendly ... a cleaning lady. We had our first cleaning lady come in over a year and it was SO nice! I'm really enjoying not having to run around like a crazy person this weekend fitting in chores whenever I can. I'm really, really enjoying my house being clean all at one. Can't say it's going to be a regular thing, but this week it really helped out.
I did do a couple budget friendly things to defray the cost. 1) I got my eyes examined at Costco! An eye exam there is $55 for glasses and $90 for contacts. Not bad for those of us without eye insurance. 2) I bought my glasses online!!!
Check out glassesusa.com. I ordered these glasses, I can't wait to see them!!! I'll let you know how that all works out. Buying glasses online, it's all new to me. But hey, why the heck not?! Hopefully they will help me at work, I read so much now and feel like I'm going blind from reading my computer monitor all day long.
So, I should run. I have 50 Valentines to write for preschool today. Lucky me! I also have to get to the store to buy said Valentines. Grrrrr!!!
I wish I could write more, I could use some advice on the Bug barely eating. But, that will have to wait until next time. Hopefully, by then, he'll be eating more than 1 meal a day. =(
Friday, January 23, 2009
Figures!
I've been back at work not even 2 weeks and I have a sick kid. BooBoo caught a cold last week, hasn't shaked it yet and has been super cranky the last few nights. The hubby and I were talking last night about how we thought she might have an ear infection and wouldn't you know, she woke up in the middle of the night with a fever and had trouble settling for the rest of the night. I'll be calling the pediatrician at 9 am promptly. Usually the hubby is really great about taking the kids to the peds for sick visits, but he has an important meeting this morning. Grrrr!
Fortunately, my work seems pretty cool about me working from home and I will probably go in over the weekend to take care of a few things I was hoping to get off my plate today. But, it's still frustrating! Ah, the joys of parenthood.
I have a few deals to pass on this week.
First, it's 20% off time at Big Lots!!!! Here is the coupon.
Also, if you shop at Meijer and you have a baby/toddler - check out the Beechnut Tummy Trays. At my Meijer they were on sale - 5 for $2 (that is $0.40 each!). The rice/beef version is dairy free and I love sending these to daycare when I have nothing else in the house for lunch.
Happy shopping!
Fortunately, my work seems pretty cool about me working from home and I will probably go in over the weekend to take care of a few things I was hoping to get off my plate today. But, it's still frustrating! Ah, the joys of parenthood.
I have a few deals to pass on this week.
First, it's 20% off time at Big Lots!!!! Here is the coupon.
Also, if you shop at Meijer and you have a baby/toddler - check out the Beechnut Tummy Trays. At my Meijer they were on sale - 5 for $2 (that is $0.40 each!). The rice/beef version is dairy free and I love sending these to daycare when I have nothing else in the house for lunch.
Happy shopping!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
I survived!
I survived my first week back at work ... barely! BooBoo came down with a cold within 3 days of being back at daycare. Figures! The Bug did great being back full time, so I am grateful for that. In fact, I think it helped a lot with his potty training issues. I had a feeling that all of the changes may have made him regress a little, but I guess I was hoping that me being home would make for positive change in his life. ;-)
Anyway, I was so tired after my first week that I was a vegetable yesterday. I slept in and took a nap! Gotta give props to the hubby for making that possible.
The new job is GREAT! My commute is awesome, which helps a lot. I'm feeling both like I have things under control and like I'm hanging on by a thread. I'm sure we'll get into the groove again soon.
Bug and BooBoo are still eating terribly. The Bug won't even eat chicken nuggets or yogurt anymore, which is beyond frustrating! BooBoo has her final canine coming in, so that should make things a little easier for her to eat now. Here is my menu of items that they will turn their nose up to this week!
Sunday:
Spaghetti and green beans - made with ground turkey (I had whole grain pasta, the hubby had angel hair and BooBoo had elbows ... sheesh!).
Monday:
Chili - kind of annoying that it's so spaghetti like, but what can you do! I'll have it on a baked potato. I'll put some on some elbows for BooBoo.
Tuesday:
Tuna mac casserole mixed with California blend veggies (we never ate it last week, the hubby had to pitch hit for dinner one night and couldn't find the macaroni & cheese. LOL!). BooBoo with have leftover, the Bug will exist on air as usual.
Wednesday:
Salmon patties & potatoes
Thursday:
Tuna melts & tomato soup
Friday:
Cranberry Chicken (8 oz. french dressing, 1 packet onion soup mix, 1 can cranberry sauce - can add some crushed pineapple if you're feeling dangerous), corn souffle (also didn't eat this last week) and rice (brown for me, YUM!).
Yeah, we're scraping the bottom of the barrel this week. This is my "only shop for veggies week," and I didn't do such a great job of grocery shopping last week since I was so focused on preparing for my new job and the kids going back to school. Amazingly, I have a whole weeks worth of food in the house still. That's reassuring!
Anyway, I was so tired after my first week that I was a vegetable yesterday. I slept in and took a nap! Gotta give props to the hubby for making that possible.
The new job is GREAT! My commute is awesome, which helps a lot. I'm feeling both like I have things under control and like I'm hanging on by a thread. I'm sure we'll get into the groove again soon.
Bug and BooBoo are still eating terribly. The Bug won't even eat chicken nuggets or yogurt anymore, which is beyond frustrating! BooBoo has her final canine coming in, so that should make things a little easier for her to eat now. Here is my menu of items that they will turn their nose up to this week!
Sunday:
Spaghetti and green beans - made with ground turkey (I had whole grain pasta, the hubby had angel hair and BooBoo had elbows ... sheesh!).
Monday:
Chili - kind of annoying that it's so spaghetti like, but what can you do! I'll have it on a baked potato. I'll put some on some elbows for BooBoo.
Tuesday:
Tuna mac casserole mixed with California blend veggies (we never ate it last week, the hubby had to pitch hit for dinner one night and couldn't find the macaroni & cheese. LOL!). BooBoo with have leftover, the Bug will exist on air as usual.
Wednesday:
Salmon patties & potatoes
Thursday:
Tuna melts & tomato soup
Friday:
Cranberry Chicken (8 oz. french dressing, 1 packet onion soup mix, 1 can cranberry sauce - can add some crushed pineapple if you're feeling dangerous), corn souffle (also didn't eat this last week) and rice (brown for me, YUM!).
Yeah, we're scraping the bottom of the barrel this week. This is my "only shop for veggies week," and I didn't do such a great job of grocery shopping last week since I was so focused on preparing for my new job and the kids going back to school. Amazingly, I have a whole weeks worth of food in the house still. That's reassuring!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Back to the grind
Good news! I have a new job and start back to work on Monday. Oy, Monday! I'm excited and terrified at the same time. So, now I'm back to meal planning, but with a twist. I'm involved in a fitness/weight loss challenge, so my meals not only have to be kid friendly, budget friendly and dairy free, but they have to be healthy! Oh, the horror!!!! I'm trying, but it isn't always easy. You will see some not-so-healthy items still on the menu. Everything in moderation, right? I try to jazz things up and add extra veggies where I can to make things healthier and stretch them out a bit. So, here is my menu for next week.
Sunday - Salsa chicken (2-3 chicken breast & 1 large jar of salsa (I like black bean and corn salsa, a big jar is $2 at Walmart) in the crockpot for 4 hours, shred it and serve over rice or in tortillas), with brown rice and salad. This is one of BooBoo's favorites, so I'll save her leftovers for later in the week.
Monday - tuna mac casserole (this would be one of the unhealthy dishes, I add a 1/2 package of frozen California veggie mix and will eat more salad than casserole). BooBoo will eat something else and the Bug will eat one of the few staples in his diet.
Tuesday - whole wheat pasta with veggies (I made a veggie stew last week that I'll use the leftovers to make) with cannelini beans and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese (on mine only).
Wednesday - Salmon, baked potatoes with fat free sour cream (on mine only) & salad. BooBoo loves salmon. Score!
Thursday - It's sandwich night! I'm too tired to make a real meal by Thursday. Grilled cheese and tomato basil soup (maybe I'll only make 1/2 for me). I might be able to get the Bug to eat some grilled Tofuti soy cheese or I might make them French toast to restock my freezer supply since I can cook those all at once.
Friday - chicken quarters, corn souffle (will post the recipe later), chicken soup with matzoh balls (BooBoo's favorite) and salad if there's any left.
Sunday - Salsa chicken (2-3 chicken breast & 1 large jar of salsa (I like black bean and corn salsa, a big jar is $2 at Walmart) in the crockpot for 4 hours, shred it and serve over rice or in tortillas), with brown rice and salad. This is one of BooBoo's favorites, so I'll save her leftovers for later in the week.
Monday - tuna mac casserole (this would be one of the unhealthy dishes, I add a 1/2 package of frozen California veggie mix and will eat more salad than casserole). BooBoo will eat something else and the Bug will eat one of the few staples in his diet.
Tuesday - whole wheat pasta with veggies (I made a veggie stew last week that I'll use the leftovers to make) with cannelini beans and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese (on mine only).
Wednesday - Salmon, baked potatoes with fat free sour cream (on mine only) & salad. BooBoo loves salmon. Score!
Thursday - It's sandwich night! I'm too tired to make a real meal by Thursday. Grilled cheese and tomato basil soup (maybe I'll only make 1/2 for me). I might be able to get the Bug to eat some grilled Tofuti soy cheese or I might make them French toast to restock my freezer supply since I can cook those all at once.
Friday - chicken quarters, corn souffle (will post the recipe later), chicken soup with matzoh balls (BooBoo's favorite) and salad if there's any left.
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