Tasty Tuesday ~ Baked Ziti with Turkey Sausage

Since starting Weight Watchers I've definitely gotten my mojo back in the kitchen.
Thank goodness.  Feels so good to be back!

So far all the new recipes I've tried have been good, but this one definitely takes the cake as a new staple in the EyeCanSee household!  The hubs was still talking about it 2 days later.  Plus it's a pretty big serving and very filling, and the leftovers were just as good.

And at my meeting on Saturday I picked up a new WW cookbook, so it's safe to say there will be more where this came from!  Enjoy!

Baked Ziti with Turkey Sausage

what you need:

3/4 lb raw, spicy turkey sausage casing removed {I couldn't find turkey so substituted for an Italian Chicken sausage.  It was always fully cooked so I just diced it up}

1 medium onion, chopped

1 medium green pepper, chopped

28 oz canned diced tomatoes

10 oz frozen green peas, thawed {I thought this was kinda weird, but went with it.  You don't really even taste/notice them and it was a good way to sneak in an extra veggie.  They could be omitted no problem though}

2 Tbsp canned tomato paste

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp fennel seed

1/2 tsp table salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

{I just did 3 tsp of Italian seasoning and threw in some extra garlic...cause who doesn't love garlic!}

12 oz uncooked Whole Wheat Ziti, cooked according to package {I couldn't find whole wheat ziti, so used a penne instead}

6 oz shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

what you do:

Preheat oven to 350

Crumble the sausage meat into a large saucepan and brown over medium heat, stirring often, about 4 minutes

Drain off any fat, then add the onion and bell pepper.  Cook until softened, about 3 minutes.

Stir in tomatoes, peas, tomato paste, and all seasonings.  Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook uncovered 5 minutes, stirring often.

Stir in the cooked pasta and half the cheese.  Spread evenly into a 9x13 inch baking pan. 

Top evenly with remaining cheese.

Bake until cheese has melted and the casserole is bubbling, about 20 minutes.

Let stand 10 minutes before slicing into 8 pieces.

Serves 8.  WW: 8 points plus per serving

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Bon Appetite!

Just go with

No offense Rachael McAdams,

but I'm pretty sure if I woke up in hospital

and Channing Tatum was claming to be MY husband....

I wouldn't be asking any questions.

Just Sayin'

One more reason I'll be dragging the hubs to see The Vow!
Happy Friday Peeps!

{Almost} Wordless Wednesday

Perfecting his "duck face" since 2010

Happy Hump Day Friends!

Project MILF Returns

So now that I'm trying to bring the skinnies back,

I thought it only appropriate to revive Project MILF.

Not sure if it's going to be a weekly thing,

or just from time to time to check in, let you all keep me accountable

and of course to share some of the BIG milestones!

 I've officially completed my first week on Weight Watchers.

It may not win me any awards, but they always say the first week is the hardest and I passed with flying colors!

Down 6.2 pounds!

Yep, got my first 5 pound gold star.  The first of many to come!

Woo hoo!

It's always nice to put up some big numbers that first week.

I can honestly say it's been pretty easy so far.

I never feel hungry or like I'm not getting enough.

You know how you're usually starving at first on a diet?

I didn't have that.  I started getting nervous I was doing something wrong, or eating too much even though I was supposedly within my daily points.

I think my crutch was knowing I could always have fruits or veggies if I needed it.  But you know what?  I didn't need it.  I made sure to make smart choices with my meals so I would stay fuller longer.  And it worked!

I know this long journey is going to have lots of ups and downs, plenty of road blocks and challenges....but I feel like I'm off to a solid start and I'm feeling more confident everyday that I can {and will} do this!

 



Messy Mom Monday

Last week two of my favorite ladies, Jess and Brittany, decided to team up together and bring the blogging world something awesome.

Yep.

A chance for us moms to show our messy homes on the Interwebs for all to see.

I can't think of a better way to make myself feel more human than to know I'm not alone in this battle.

That I'm not the only one whose house is a mess isn't perfect.

And if you've been reading long enough, you know I'm no stranger to showing off my less than stellar housekeeping skills.  Remember this Saturday Morning Scene?

What can I say...I like airing out my dirty laundry for all the world to see.

Literally.

So without further adieu...I share with you what my house looked like Sunday morning.

First off, the stairs.  Which is apparently where my son likes to store his socks and random collection of balls.  {Balls.  Hehe}  Cause this isn't an accident waiting to happen.  Nope.

Moving on.

 Ah.  The family room.  AKA where it constantly looks like a toy store vomited.

Now at first glance, this giant mess appears to all be Jamie's fault.  {aren't they all}

But don't you worry, upon further examiniation you will noticed the highligthed areas.

The random {empty} target bag on the floor.

The hubs coffee mug.

Some clean diapers chilling on the couch that desperately needed to be folded and put away. {3 days ago}

Coupons.  Cause keeping them on the couch ensures you may actually use them. {fat chance}

And of course not one but TWO pairs of my shoes.  Oops.

So see, the adult people of this house are just as much to blame as the little person.

Oh, and don't mind the hooded man.  He apparently wanted no part in sharing our clutter with the world.

The kitchen island.

Not gonna lie.  This lovely piece of furniture that I had to have has never once been actually used to cut and prep food as I had oh so intended.  Instead it's where things go to die.

That brown grocery sack?  It's been there since I went to the store....last week.

Those 2 stacks of bills/tax crap?  Been there since 2011.

See that Target bag with the mysterious black box popping out?  That's a mail organizer I bought over a week ago so the aforementioned stacks of crap would stop piling up on my island.  {Yeah....so that's really been put to good use}

Let's see....what else.  Oh, one of Jamie's art projects.  Gotta love macaroni art.

Some thank you notes I still haven't written....from Christmas. {Better late than never right?}

And 2 random glasses...and a towel.

PS  All of this years (and lasts years) Christmas cards are also in this picture, conveniently blocked by the grocery bag.

 The guest room.  Which actually looks pretty presentable...until you look against the far wall where you will see FIVE bags overflowing with clothes my child no longer fits into.  I keep saying I'm going to go through them and decide what I really want to save.  Donate/give away the rest.  But let's be honest, it will probably all still be there just in time to welcome baby #2. {circa 2013ish}  Let's hope it's a boy!

And last but not least.  Our bedroom.

Thank god we have a sleigh bed, otherwise we may actually have to hang up all those clean clothes....in the closet.  {Overrated}

Hey! At least they made it out of the basket!

So there you have it.  Can we still be friends?
Please go link up too so I feel like less of slob!
Happy {messy} Monday!

He Said....She Said

He Said:  Ohhh, let's go put on comfy clothes
and watch Vampire Diaries!

She Said: {Gives hubs the side eye}
Ummm....only if we can gossip

and braid each others hair first....

He Said:  Shut up. 
You know you love it.

She Said:  True story.

I love my husband and his fabulous taste in crappy chic tv!
Happy Friday Friends!

No day like today

I've seen a few people talking about their one word for 2012.

I didn't even have to think twice before I immediately knew what mine was.

Me.

That probably sounds kind of selfish to some, but to be a better mom, a better wife, a better friend....I have to be a better "me" first.

So on Saturday I finally took the first step.

I attended my first Weight Watchers meeting.

I know myself and something that was online only wasn't going to work for me.

I need that accountability.  That motivation.  And I can't think of a better way to achieve success, than knowing once a week I have to step my fat ass on a scale in front of someone else.

I was tempted to take the "fast and easy" route like I'd done in the past.

Some extreme diet where you practically starve yourself or cut out entire food groups just to get results.

Well I've been there done that.  And while they work in the short term, they obviously don't last.

Otherwise I wouldn't be sitting here, weighing the most I've ever weighed, not counting pregnancy.

I'm tired all the time.  I get winded going up a few flights of stairs.  And I just feel gross.

It's time to make a permanent change, even if it means slower results.

I don't want to go on a "diet."  I want to fix the unhealthy relationship I have with food.

I eat with I'm bored.  Sad.  Angry.  Happy.  Depressed.

Food is pretty much my answer to everything and I don't want to teach those habits to my child(ren).

I also don't want to be overweight and pregnant again.

Some people might not understand why anyone would want to work hard to lose weight, only to turn around and get pregnant....but I'd rather not carry around unnecessary pounds for another year or so to then just add on top of it.  It's just not healthy.

So here goes nothing!

One step closer to a new {healthier} me and it feels great.

I'm actually excited about this and finally have the spark that's been missing for so long.

Just a few days in and I already have more energy.

I feel satisfied after I eat instead of being so full I almost feel sick.

And it's amazing once you start paying attention to what you eat, how much you realize you were overindulging before.  It's a wonder I didn't weigh 300 pounds!

I have a long road ahead of me, but I hope at the end it's the last time I have to take this journey!

Thank you Global Warming

This winter has been weird.

Like constant temps in the 60s weird.

I'll take it!

Last week we had a brief cold snap and for the first time I actually had to pull out my winter coat.

Jamie wasn't so sure what to think of the snow.

What little bit we got that is.

Then just FOUR days later, the snow is gone and we're at the park in jeans and t-shirts?

I'm by NO means complaining....just makes me nervous for when it finally decides to show up.

Unless mother nature has finally answered my prayers that winter sucks and we can just go ahead and skip it.

Doubtful.

In fact now I'm pretty sure that just when I'm really itching for spring we're probably going to get some massive blizzard.

But until then, I'm going to enjoy!



Happy Tuesday Friends!!

I'm a big boy now!

Jamie turned 17 months old yesterday.  Pretty soon we're going to be counting down to 2 which is way to hard for this mama to believe!  Did you hear that time?  Slow down!  And contrary to my husband's beliefs he's not throwing up gang signs.  We've been working on counting, so now when you say one....he says "TWO!" and tries to hold up his fingers.  He seems to favor his thumb and pointer finger....just like my mom.  What a goof!  Here's what else we've been up too this month.

And just when I thought he couldn't act any more grown up....yesterday he walked into the bathroom, tugging at his pants and pointing at the toilet saying "poo-poo mama, poo-poo!"  I about died.  Just to see what would happen, we actually sat him up on the potty.  Nothing happened, not that I'm surprised, but the fact that he's even shown any interest or understanding at all has this mama excited!  So just for fun we busted out the ole potty and set it up so he could get used to seeing it around. 

I'm not pulling out the big boy undies anytime soon, but what the heck, might as well get the ball rolling!

I think it's safe to say I no longer have a baby.

*sigh*

 

By the numbers

In the past 18 days....

We've taken 3 trips.

We've travelled 2722 miles through 7 states for a total of 45 hours in the car.

We've spent 10 nights away from home and slept in 3 different beds.

(Plus our fair share of naps in the car)

We've celebrated 2 holidays

...and 1 anniversary.

I've read all 3 books in the Hunger Games Trilogy thanks to my Christmas gift from Santa.

(aka my inlaws :)

We went to 1 college bowl game where we watched our K-State Wildcats admit defeat against the Arkansas Razorbacks.

(PS  They sure do lose that pig a lot.  If I ever have to here them "call the hogs" again it will be too soon!!)

And we did it all with our savvy little traveller in tow!

So if you're wondering where I've been.

Now ya know.

It's so good to be HOME!

Looking forward

2011 has come and gone.

Another 365 days behind me.

I can't say I'm too sad to see it go.

It wasn't that it was a horrible year, but there wasn't anything extraordinary that happened.

It was dull.  Lackluster.  Like living on autopilot.

I feel like an entire year has passed me by.

I want more for 2012.

I want to actually live it.

Make changes.  Improve relationships.  Most importantly improve myself.

After my mom died I feel like anything I had planned got put on the back burner.

I went into survival mode, burying myself in the mundane tasks of everyday life to avoid having to feel anything.  I've walked around in a bit of a fog, a smile on my face to get by, but that's about all I've done. 

Got by.  

Everything basically gets the bare minimum because it's all I have to give.

But I deserve better.

My family deserves better.

My mom would want better for me.

 I'm not usually one for New Year's resolutions, but I couldn't think of a better time for change.

Or a better time to stop avoiding life.

The time is now and I'm looking forward.

A New Year.  A fresh start.