Andrew again

I rejected him having yet another snack! I always have sad pictures of him. I need some happy ones!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Andrew and Trucks

So Ryan bought a new pickup truck (so I could have the SUV) and this was like the best day of Andrew's little life!!! Like two days later Ryan had to go on a road trip to Idaho to work on an organ there and he was taking the new truck. These are pictures of the morning Ryan left and Andrew watching him get ready. They are kind of sad!! Andrew is wondering why daddy has to take the new truck without him! Kind of funny too.

30 Day challenge

So I saw the movie Julie & Julia in theaters with my hubby and got really inspired! I really like what she did with Julia Child's book and thought that maybe I would like to do something like that. I didn't want to the exact challenge, per say, but i really liked the idea. So the last couple of days I have been pondering on what I could do. I played with the idea that i could do the exact thing that Julie did - cook her way through Julia Child's cookbook. So i went to the bookstore with the intent on buying Julia's book - but then I looked through it. I decided I didn't really like cooking that much. Sure cooking can be fun, but not THAT fun!! So I started looking at other ideas - since I was at the bookstore already and this is what I came up with.

Ever since I had Jacob I have struggled with my weight. I have tried everything - and I mean everything...pills, dieting with friends, working out with friends, at least 3 different diet programs...and I just couldn't hack it. It's probably down to motivation and I just didn't have it (besides the fact that I have issues with finishing things!!!). So I found a book at the bookstore - The Biggest Loser 30-Day Jump Start. This book looks fool proof - and motivationless (is that a word?). The book has meals and snacks for 30 days, along with exercise to do for everyday.

My Challenge is simple...follow this book ALL THE WAY THROUGH!!! No quitting half way through...no "cheating" PERIOD. I figure I can do anything for 30 days...especially something that is fool proof!!

The purpose of posting this on my blog is so that everyone knows so that i will feel even that much more motivated to finish! If I did it privately...I could quit and the only person I would have to answer to is myself. This gives me my reputation as motivation. I don't want to look like a quitter to anyone...

So there it is!! Wish me luck!!

Monday, August 31, 2009

Dinner Tonight

So I made a new sauce for spaghetti tonight(which I am sure most of you have done this before) but it was really yummy and economical (especially if you grow you're own tomatoes!!). So here is the recipe:

Puttanesca Sauce

2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced or chopped
3 tsp anchovy paste
1/2 cup Kalamata olives
28 oz can crushed tomatoes
2 tbsp capers
2 tsp snipped fresh chives (optional I had some on hand from garden)
Italian seasoning
salt and pepper (remember capers and olives are salty so go light on the salt)

saute onion and garlic in oil until softened, add the anchovy paste and let cook for a couple minutes. Then add the rest of the ingredients except the olives. Add the olives at last minute. Let sauce cook until heated through or until ready to put on spaghetti.

Serve with garlic bread and salad!

YUMMY!!!!!!

Friday, August 28, 2009

New Discoveries

So in doing some research in preparation for....possibly.... increasing our family size to 8, I came across a book called "The Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family". It was written by a woman who has four natural children and then adopted six other children. So for those who are too tired to do the math that's 10 kids. What?!?! And she only spends about $600 a month on food. The book is amazing so far even if you don't plan on having a ton of kids. She gives some really creative and good advice on how to be more frugal. They live in a 3,000 sq foot home, don't have any debt except their house, and have savings for a rainy day. She stays home with the kids and her husband doesn't make millions, he has an average job. She's got it worked out to where they only spend just under $3000 per child a year! That's amazing!

So the purpose of telling you all this is because she has a blog. It has a lot of useful information on it - money saving tips, gardening tips, recipes, etc. Thought you might be interested. It is www.owlhaven.net. I have only just scratched the surface of this lady's ideas, but so far I am loving them!!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009