30 Things, Day 7

What is your dream job, and why?

Something that makes me happy & don't mind doing. It would have to be something part time so I can spend more time with my kids.

When i was pregnant being a SAHM was my dream job and until C was around 1 I was PISSED at the world I couldn't stay home. But I see what daycare has done for her and I love it plus so does she.

Menu 7/30-8/3

Monday- Leftover Zesty BBQ Chicken

Tuesday- Baked chicken & pesto spaghetti squash

Wednesday- Ranch Chicken & mixed veggies (yes this is it's 3rd time on the menu, I really plan on making it)

Thuesday- Salads, oatmeal, eggs, anything easy! Gymnastics plus Big Brother ;)

Friday- Tacos

Last weeks food (plus lots of pictures)

I again went off track with my menu, but hey I'm a mom things change by the second :)

Spaghetti squash with chicken sausage & veggies. It was DELISH, the hub liked it a lot more than I expected.

Meatloaf for meatloaf haters. Dont be fooled by the way it looks, it was really good & that comes from someone who absolutly hates meatloaf.

Wednesday night C's Deeka came and took her out on a date

       One night we had YoCool (okay 3 nights but who's counting?)

           

Sunday night we had pulled zesty bbq chicken

I started off my day today with a Green Machine Smoothie

30 Things, Day 5

What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now

Wow. Only 5.

.Family.

.Friends.

.Date Nights With My Hub.

.Coffee, Cupcakes, Coladas.

{^is that cheating? They all start with C}

.Air Conditioning.

30 Things, Day 6

What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?

For some reason this is a really tough question for me! I have experience a lot of hard/painful things in my life; heartbreak, death, miscarriage, threat of foreclosure, drug addiction within my family & the list go on. If I had to choose one thing it would have to be being a mom. Being a mom puts you in a lot of tough situations with tough choices that can effect your child forever.

One of my hardest choices so far was picking a daycare! The person that was going to watch her had to be PERFECT, they have such an impact on your childs future it's crazy. I started looking when I was around 3 months pregnant and interviewed tons of people, I had become a daycare nazi. By the time I should have been going back to work I still hadn't found anyone so C spend a few days/weeks at work with me. I finally found someone I thought was perfect, a sahm who was willing to let rock C to sleep instead of making her "cry it out". After a few months I realized this lady really wasn't who I thought she was & did a few things that I just didn't approve of (nothing to ever harm C) so one Friday when i went to pick her up & told her that would be her last day. Again I was stuck and bringing her to work with me. I knew I wanted to put her in a learning center at 18 months, knew the center & had her name on the list with a down payment. But they had no open infant spots. I got a call from my step daughters mom that she had an opening and I quickly took it. I knew C would be loved, taught, taken care of & she got to see her sissy everyday.

She has now been in that learning center since April 2010 and I have no plan on switching. I am hoping for early kindergarten enrollment next year & she will be getting on and off the bus there. I have already put my name on the list for an infant space & no I'm not pregnant but with the time frame I was looking at they suggested it!

Friday's Letters

 

Self,
Get your shit together! You have an amazing life with wonderful people in it, enjoy it & stop stressing so much. You are where your are supposed to be in life.

Work,
I am glad to have you but I still hate waking up to you everyday.

C,
I never knew I could love someone so much until you came along, I will forever be your biggest cheerleader.  You have taught me so much about life in 3 short years. Keep being you baby, you will conquer the world.

Hubby,
I love you gazillions & appreciate you, even though I know I don't always show it. I push you because I know you need it & wish you would stand up for yourself more. I can't wait to spend the next 100 years driving you CRAZY!

Weekend,
I beg you, please go slowly! For once I have no plans & really want to enjoy it.

30 Things, Day 4

List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could

Lets be honest here, no matter what anyone told my 16 year old self, I wasn't going to listen!!

1. Slow down, life's not a race & being grown up isn't all that you think it is.
2. Don't try to impress people! If they need impressing they won't be in your life long enough to make it worth it.
3. Trust in yourself and your decisions.
4. Look past peoples appearance for the good in them.
5. Study more.
6. Save your money.
7. Enjoy school it will give you life long memories
8. Don't put red highlights in your hair, it won't turn out well
9. Don't hang on to a boyfriend that doesn't apprciate you. You can & will do better
10. You can't change people, they are who they are. Either accept them or move on.

And of course a few pictures of my 15-19 year old self

30 Things, Day 3

Describe your relationship with your parents

I am lucky enough to have 4 parents, all of which love me very much & I love them. I had challenges with them all at some point through my life but who hasn't. It has taken me being a grown-up and a parent to see the truth about them all good and bad.

 My dad always got the short end of stick while I was growing up, I always talked to him poorly. Who knows why, probably because he let me but looking back all I can do is shake my head. I can see HIM now, a wonderful father & Deeka. He has always been there for me for anything at all. Even things he doesn't always like, he supports me and loves me through it. My niece who is 11 is starting with him now & I wish there was something I could do to make her see him like I do & to appreciate him.

My step mom is such a good person & I am lucky to have had her growing up! I could always talk to her when I has having a tough time with anything, she was there! Not to judge me or tell me what to do, just to be there as someone to listen. She taught to me to try and find the good in people & love them through their faults because everyone has them. My life wouldn't be the same without her.

My mom is my best friend, through the good and the bad! I talk to her every day but we don't really TALK about important things, it just isn't who she is. She hides a lot of who she is and lets people talk her down and take a way her confidence & it pisses me off. It takes away from the amazing mom, grand mom & person she is. I can always count on her, though my 7 L&D trips when I was having C, the 2am ER visits & everything she is there and won't take no for answer. She loves me more than life itself I know this!

My step dad, growing up there were days he was my hero & others I hated him because he truly was the school/homework nazi!! He taught me a lot though, how to have confidence & stand up for myself & what I believed in, I thank him for that. As a grown up I have seen more of who he is now & to be honest I hate it. He either isn't the man I used to know or he isn't the man I always saw. He does love me and my family & would do anything he could, I'm sure but he isn't the role model I thought he was.

I love all 4 of these people with my whole heart, they made me the person I am today! They were there with me through the difficult times in my life ALL OF THEM and they all helped me in different ways. My kids are so blessed to have these people in their lives, they just have no idea.

Growing up with divorced parents and step parents was tough at times. Growing up I remember wanting to stay at which ever parents house when it was time for me to go to the other, due to plans with friends and stuff. Having to call the other parent and tell them I wasn't coming was hard for me because I felt like I was hurting their feelings. Now of course I know that was not the case but that stuff is hard on a kid. Being a step child has taught me so much now being a step parent. I know that I'm not a step parent, I'm a MOM and I love M just the same as I love C ... that will never change. I was never a step daughter or step sister I was a daughter and a sister & I love it that way. In my opinion a lot of people have it wrong which is why anything with the word "step" seems so difficult, it really isn't.

Peanut Butter

I have always heard of people making peanut butter and seen it a lot lately on Pinterest but it's not a big staple in our house! However C has been on a real peanut butter kick, she wants it in her lunch, for breakfast on blueberry bagel thins, on celery, on a spoon {now that I'm done trying to be Dr. Seuss} so I decided it was time to make some. C loved thought it was "super cool & fun" and now she wants to eat even more of it ha! And it was so easy ... peanuts, a food processor & a mason jar! Some of the recipes I saw said to add some salt, I didn't think it needed that. I used Honey Dry Roasted.

So What Wednesday

• That my house is a crazy mess & has been for over a week. Plus I spent all of yesterday home in my pj's.
• I realized after getting to work that my underwear are on inside out & I'm to lazy to fix it.
• That I go in the bathroom and pretend to be going only to eat a yogurt and play on my phone without "help"
• We never took our Christmas lights down because they were such a pain in the ass to get up. Now thanks to the windstorms and rain this year they are hanging off.
• I have tons of work to do but I'm doing this instead
• I have a 5K mud run in about a month and haven't even put on real shoes in over 3 months, let alone running shoes
• I am looking forward to the weekend only to wear my pj's all day & watch 90210 reruns
• I look at tons of houses all over and swear to just to pick up an go SOON
• I probably won't wash my hair again until Friday night

Happy Hump Day!!

30 Things, Day 2

 Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears

1. Something happening to one of my children or something happening to me where I can't watch them grow up. It crosses my mind often about how Cheyenne's life would change without me in it & it breaks my heart. Please Lord keep me around for a long long time, amen!
2. Caner- it's crazy how this disease can take over your entire body & sometimes you have no clue at all, your out having a good time while your insides are being taken over. The big C has hit close to home many times for me throughout my family & if I don't have to hear about it again for a awhile, I'm good!
3. I have actually always had a fear of the movie theater late at night, ours isn't the best which doesn't help. But think about it; there is no form of security to get in, you go to sit in a dark room full of people & really no one can see you, plus there is an emergency exit right in the front... sounds pretty ideal for a psycho if you ask me. On our date nights we usually do dinner & a movie, as soon as the 1st person decides they are going to the bathroom or needs a snack I miss a good 3 minutes of the movie watching their every move like I'm Nancy Drew or something. Needless to say watching the news on July 20th, my heart dropped! I pray for those families and hope they can find peace, one of the victims was only 7 years old.

30 Things, Day 1

 List 20 random facts about yourself

1. I have never broken a bone
2. I am obsessed with underwear & always have been, I think I have 150 pairs
3. The gym is a huge stress reliever for me but after working all day I feel awful leaving Chey again
4. I often want to sell my house and move into a pet free apartment
5. I love Mexican food but italian is a close 2nd.
6. I want to go back to school and finish one of the 4 degrees I started
7. I do my hair from my bed or my bedroom floor
8. I could stay in my pajamas and watch junk tv all day
9. I am addicted to shopping, even grocery shopping
10. I say extremly to many curse words
11. I start my day with coffee and end it with wine
12. I suck at spelling
13. I have boxes full of everything C has ever made, including coloring pages she brings home
14. I'm not a huge fan of cookies but LOVE cookie dough
15. I could wear flip flops everyday all year
16. I love Targets clearance aisles for kids & look though them everytime I go
17. I'm not into politics even though I know it effects me
18. Nothing makes me as mad as people who don't take care of their children, I seriously want to shake them.
19. That horrible 3 minute long humane society commercial makes me cry every time, I have to turn it off or leave the room
20. My family is no where near perfect, but it's mine and I love everything about it.

30 Things about ME

Heather over at the Best of Both Worlds is hosting her 1st ever link up!!! I plan on doing this however ... I am really bad at keeping up :X

1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misunderstand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for

You can post each day or once a week. But please link up so I can read along and we can all get to know eachother alittle more : ) It will be fun! I know for me I can't promise a post everyday and have failed most challanges but I'm really looking forward to this and having other bloggers do it along with me! Link will be open for 30 days so spread the word!

Last weeks food ... nommm

I made a few yummy things last week that I will just jumble here with some pictures! Most of these don't need directions because they are so simple, perfect for weeknight dinners.

Grilled Hawaiian Kabobs

• chicken
• onion
• squash
• zucchini
• mushrooms (full)
• bell peppers
• pineapple
• teriyaki sauce

1. Cut your chicken into "bite sized" pieces and soak in pineapple juice for about 30 minutes.
2. Cut all of your veggies and put on skewers with chicken & pineapple.
3. Grill until done
4. Right before you take from the grill, pour teriyaki sauce all over them!

They were SO good & much better than I expected. I served with red potatoes (which I cut in half, "shook" with olive oil and Trader Joes 21 Season Salute, then baked)

Veggie Quesadillas

• mushrooms
• mozzarella cheese (shredded)
• whole wheat tortillas
• bell pepper
• onion
• squash

1. Saute all veggies
2. Put on a tortilla & cook

Can't get much easier than that right?!

I cooked mine on the George Foreman grill out of laziness & served them with spanish rice.

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My daughters teacher is leaving to have knee surgery, so school had a "boo-boo" party for her & as normal I was on cupcake duty but I wanted to try something new. I have seen similar things floating around Pinterest, all of those I have seen used Reece Cups. I saw that Kaley over at rogue poags used oreos, which made more sense with a group of 3/4 year olds.

They were gooood I do need to figure out a better baking time though, I couldn't seem to get it just right.

Sunday I made crock pot buffalo chicken, so easy and absolutely delicious. A friend posted a picture on Instagram last week & I knew I had to try it. It's funny as I was cleaning out my pinterest boards last night I actually pinned this recipe 9 months ago & I don't remember ever seeing it.

• chicken breasts
• Franks Red Hot Buffalo Sauce
• ranch (I used fat free)

1. Put chicken in the crock pot, cover with buffalo sauce and about 1/2 as much ranch.
2. Cover & leave on low for a few hours.

I cooked mine on low for about 3.5 hours, shredded the chicken with a fork, and lets simmer on keep warm for about 2 hours & served as a sandwich. This will definitely be on my menu again.