30 Day Challenege ~ Day 2

Day 2 ~ Meaning Behind your Blog Name

I've talked about this one a loooong time ago during one of my Q&A sessions, but it's been awhile so I'll refresh all your memories!

Back when my husband and I were first dating I was being impatient about something. Me? Impatient? I know it's pretty hard to believe. I honestly don't even remember exactly what it was, but my husband wrote me an email about it and at the end wrote "The juice is worth the squeeze." Basically telling me to cool my jets, that in the end it's worth the wait. After that it just kinda stuck and became our "thing." We even have it engraved in our wedding bands. Mine says "The juice is...." and his says ".....worth the squeeze."

Pretty cute right?

Well the funny part of this entire little sappy story is that my husband got this phrase from a movie called The Girl Next Door....which is about a kid....who falls in love with a porn star. Real romantic huh? If you've never seen it, there's a part where the kid is giving a speech about moral fiber and it goes a little something like this:

(I've ad libbed a bit to make it more about us and less about a porn star:)

I think life is about finding that one person you really care about. That one person that means more to you than anything else in the world. And when you find them, you fight for them. You risk it all, you put them in front of everything, your future, your life, all of it. Because in your heart you know, that the juice is worth the squeeze. That's what life's all about.

Tasty Tuesday ~ Taco Rice Bowl

So I got this recipe out of the weekly Hy-Vee grocery ad of all places. Apparently they do this every week and I've just never noticed! I'll have to keep an eye out for more cause this one was a winner at our house! Taco meat? Good. Rice? Good. Salsa? Good. Thrown them all together? Gooood!

(I didn't take a picture...oops. But it kinda looked like this, minus the black beans....though that could be a good addition, I'll have to try it next time!)

Taco Rice Bowl

1 pound ground beef (or turkey)

1 green pepper (chopped)

1 c brown rice (cooked)

1 c frozen corn (thawed)

1 c salsa

1 T chili powder (I also threw in some taco seasoning)

Brown beef and green pepper. Drain grease. Reduce heat. Stir in prepared rice, corn, salsa, chili powder. Heat Through. Top with cheese and sour cream if you really want to make it good!

Bon Appetite!

30 Day Challenge! Day 1

So since I've failed miserably at the 30 Day Shred a la Killian, I mean Jillian Michaels, I thought I'd find a 30 day challenge I could actually survive. Truth be told the Shred DVD is still in the wrapper. Oops. Anyways....when Katie over at Katie's Journey announced this I thought what better way to help me through my wretched blog funk!

If you want to play along, check it out here!

HERE WE GO!!

Day 1: introduce, recent picture, and 15 interesting facts

1. My best friend since 3rd grade is having her first baby as we speak! I'm so excited for her and her hubby and can't wait to meet their little girl, Isla Rose!


2. For the past 3 generations the woman in my family have had daughters...in June...for their 30th bday. My grandma was born 6-14-21, my mom 6-7-51 and me 6-6-81. It's been a running family joke that I have to continue this "tradition" which means I need to get pregnant this month. Yeah. Sorry guys. NOT gonna happen.


3. I went to 3 high schools in 3 years. The first one wasn't a good fit for me so I transferred my Sophomore year. Then my Junior year we moved to Kansas City. Needless to say I wasn't too fond of my high school years.


4. Barenaked Ladies are my all time favorite band. I've seen them in concert more times than I can count. I have all their autographs and my picture with Ed. I'm kind of bummed they've fallen off the radar.


5. I have an irrational fear of getting stuck in an elevator.


6. I blog in advance...a lot...and stock pile them for days I have nothing. I do my best brainstorming in the car


7. I worked at Old Navy for 6 years. And yes, we talked about the customers on those ridiculous headsets.


8. I have night terrors. Like jump out of bed and pull off the sheets to get all the "spiders" off kinda night terrors. My husband finds this hilarious.


9. My DVR lineup rivals that of a preteen girl. One Tree Hill, 90210, Make it or Break it, Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl, the embarrassing list goes on and on.


10. My family owns a wine distribution. I love to got wine "shopping" in the warehouse.


11. We still have some boxes in our house....6 months later. Until we get some furniture in the family room I don't really care.


12. My mom and I were in the same sorority.


13. I'm a people pleaser.


14. I bite my nails.


15. I'm in a book club for the girls, gossip and wine. I don't actually read the books....most of the time.

10-9-10 ~ 2 months

Dear Jamie,

Two months. Wow. How did that happen?! It seems like only yesterday we were driving you home from the hospital and now here you are a completely different little person! You're becoming more and more baby and less and less newborn everyday. And while I'm a little sad to pack away your itty bitty newborn clothes I'd be lying to say I won't really miss the sleepless nights. Yes that's right little man, you are officially sleeping through the night and have been for two weeks now! You're even putting yourself to sleep most nights which means the countless hours in our favorite chair are less and less, though sometimes we rock and snuggle anyways cause mama enjoys it so much and I know you do too. Every night about 9 we start your bath which you love! We've had to graduate from the bathroom sink to the kitchen cause you're loooong legs didn't fit all the way in anymore. You get your last bottle and are down for the count by 10 or 10:30. It's wonderful. I dare say I will even miss it when you start going to bed earlier cause it will just mean less time together when I get home from work. You're still eating 3-4 ounces every 2-3 hours with no signs of wanting more. It would be nice to have a little longer between feedings (hint hint) but I won't complain. Today we go to the doctor to get your official stats (and some shots, not sure who's going to cry more...you or me) and I'm guessing you weigh 12 pounds already. Your little legs are starting to pudge up, I love it! You're wearing mostly 0-3 month clothes, but are in a few 3-6 already because you're so darn tall! We're still going strong with cloth diapers and loving it, so HA! to all those nay sayers who said I wouldn't last 2 weeks! Your eyes are getting bluer everyday and your hair is getting blonder and blonder. Mama thinks you're gonna break some hearts with that face one day! Though you're still sporting a bit of a baby mullet....grandma DD says you need to take a trip to Great Clips! You're a pretty happy guy most of the time making lots of silly faces for us. You've also perfected the pouty lip...dad says you get that from me. Hmph. You LOVE your play mat and mobile and will lay there and "talk" and bat at all the toys forever. It's so funny to hear you babbling away in your crib every morning on the monitor before I come get you up for the day. And just yesterday while laying on the mat, arms and legs just flailing away.....you actually brought your arm up and grabbed a toy like it was exactly what you wanted to do. I can't even describe how amazing it is to watch you explore and discover your little world and I can't wait to continue to watch you grow.

Happy 2 Months!!
Love you boo boo!

Mom

Tasty Tuesday -- Chicken Broccoli Alfredo

Well I've finally returned to the kitchen and tried three, yes three new recipes in the last week...so you're all in luck that Tasty Tuesday may actually be here to stay. Yeah I know, I say that EVERY time I bring it back, but this time I'm feeling pretty confident about it!

So...on to the first recipe!

I made this one just last night and it was okay. I feel like something was missing, a side dish...perhaps some pasta or a salad? I got it out of Family Circle magazine and they pictured it all on it's own so that's how I made it, next time I may try a few other things to kick it up a notch. (yeah I know, Family Circle = lame, don't judge, even my mom made fun of me when she saw it sitting on the counter, I got the subscription for free so whatever.)

Try it out and let me know what you think...maybe some of your mad culinary skills can help me decide what's missing!

Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts cut into 1 inch pieces
1 large onion, chopped
4 cups broccoli florets
1 can (14.5 ounces) petite diced tomatoes, drained
1/4 reduced fat scallion and chive cream cheese (I used the whole tub otherwise it would have been crazy dry)
Olive Oil
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1 T flour
1/2 t dried thyme

Heat 1 T oil in a pan. Cool chicken until browned. Remove from skillet.

Reduce heat to medium. Add 1t oil, onion and 1/4 t of salt and pepper, cook until softened. Add flour, cook 1 minute, stirring. Add broccoli, thyme and 1/2 cup water to skillet. Cover; cook for 4 minutes or until broccoli is crisp/tender.

Remove cover and add chicken, remaining 1/4 t salt, tomatoes and cream cheese to pan; stir until well blended.

Bon Appetite!

Evolution of a weekend...

.....in the words faces of Jamie.....

Yay it's Saturday! I get to spend the whole day with mom and dad!

Sunday's cool....but it's the last day of the weekend so it gets the stink eye

Noooo....not Monday already! Monday definitely deserves the pouty face.

Is it Friday yet? Somebody's gotta case of the Mondays.....

Thank god the week is done...I feel like a zombie goin' back to life

(back to life)

I don't know about you, but I've never been so glad it's Friday! So glad in fact I found it only appropriate to give a nod to my boy Usher. Wud up Friday!

A friend sent me these today and while I don't usually bombard people's inboxes with fwds...these really are funny. Enjoy! And happy Friday!!

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

19. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

22. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

23. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

24. The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974.That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important. Ladies....Quit Laughing.