Food Finds

I'm not going to turn into Hungry Girl... don't worry! But I have found some great food finds / recipes lately (most of you know it's my biggest, latest craze), and as I am sitting here enjoying 2 of them for lunch, I thought I'd clue you all in...

1. Serving Size Hummus!! That's right people - already packaged in a serving size - great to take on the go, and especially great to not sit down and eat half a tub before you know it! April and I found it at Costco. It's really yummy (a bit of a lemon flavor) and a nice creamy texture. I'm loving it with tuscan herb pita chips. Mmmm - just had to stop typing to eat one.

2. Recipe: Greek Chicken (if you're not a greek fan, hang on... I changed it up a little bit for Trey and April and they loved it too).

Ingredients:
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1 can italian style dice tomato (garlic, oregano, basil)
- 1 tablespoon bottled minced garlic
- little bit of olive oil (i think it was 1 teaspoon - not completely sure since i don't have the recipe in front of me - it wasn't much - just enough to cook chicken a little)
- feta cheese (don't remember the amount, but it's just a sprinkling at the end)

* Heat nonstick skillet over med-high heat, add olive oil, add chicken breasts
* Cook chicken about 3 minutes each on both sides (until browned)
* Those of you who know me know how I LOVE to season, so I actually sprinkled a tiny (and I do mean TINY) bit of seasoning on the chicken while it browned - I think if you don't have any seasoning when it's first cooking it lacks season at the end). I actually used my moroccan rub that I just got from pampered chef. (Side note: I was soooooooooo excited when I found on my doorstep on Saturday a big box with my Pampered Chef stuff in it. As only my mom will truly understand, the disappointment was when I opened the box, pulled out all my goodies, and said... that's all I got! Guess I'll have to do another order!
* Reduce heat to medium
* Add can diced tomato, minced garlic
* Cover and cook aprox 11 minutes until chicken is done
* Serve with feta cheese sprinkled on top
* For Trey and April, we substituted mozzarella cheese and they both loved it - gave it more of an italian than greek flavor. I used the feta and loved it too. In fact, I just had the leftovers for lunch and it was yummy all over again!
* We served over brown rice, and with a side of roasted asparagus - Mmmm Mmmm Good!
** For those of you WW points counters, I think the chicken with cheese was 6 points

3. Recipe: BBQ Chicken Cheddar Wrap Ups
This is a recipe I got from the Kraft Magazine (it's also on their website). I actually took 2 recipes and combined them.

Ingredients:
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 green pepper
- 1/2 onion
- little olive oil (same as above - I think I used the tiniest amount and then Pam olive oil spray)
- 1/4 cup BBQ Sauce
- Tortillas
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese

* Heat nonstick skillet or wok over med heat, with olive oil
* Add chicken and cook about 5 minutes until lightly browned
* Add peppers, onions and cook aprox 7-8 minutes until peppers softened little, onions translucent, and chicken just about done
* Add BBQ Sauce and cook 3 minutes
**This is where the BBQ Chicken recipe ends. I mixed with another recipe to serve in warmed low carb tortillas with a little shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese and turned it into a wrap

YUMMY, EASY, GREAT LEFTOVERS!!!!

So there you have it. I have a great new shrimp pasta recipe too if anyone is interested, I may post it later.

I got all caught up on Army Wives, and it was soooo good. I watched 19 episodes in 5 days. Phew... I was tired. Especially since I cry at almost every episode. It's so weird to think about how all of the events progressed in a manner of days - I kept having to remind myself that most people would have been watching over 4 1/2 months, not 5 days! Sunday was the season 3 premier and it was great. I am telling you - if you don't watch this show, you are missing out!

Friday was great - April and I went to the gym in the morning and then headed to Austin for Kingsley's graduation party. It was a bit of a long drive, especially since other drivers just weren't cooperating and wouldn't get out of our way. But we got there with time to spare so we made a quick stop in Round Rock at the outlet. We drive past it all the time and never stop, so we decided - what the heck. As it turned out, I found a few great sweaters at a super cheap price at Ann Taylor so I was glad we stopped. We got to Kingley's party and it so great to see everyone, and Kingsley was so happy that we made it. Kelly was touched that we made the trip just for that. All in all, we had a great time, and we were so glad to be there.

We headed back to Dallas after the party - what a long drive. It's not that it's really long, but in the dark when your eyes just really want to shut - it's hard! April drove the entire way, although I offered several times, but she was just fine. I-Pod turned high and a little chit chat to keep us going and we were cruising. Although I do admit that on the way home I "rested my eyelids" just a few times...

Saturday was busy and fun, followed by Sunday which was busy and fun. Trey was working all weekend, although we did have a great dinner out Saturday.

Madelyn is loving San Diego. Last night she asked Trey to ask Rarah if I get to have In and Out Burger when I'm in California! She loved it. They spent time at Seaworld, the San Diego Zoo, and swimming. She is having a great time!!

So that's it for now, I guess... The summer has officially started - it's HOT outside. We went to get coffee yesterday and were sweating by the time we made it back! I can't wait to be on vacation in less than 2 weeks... countdown has begun!

Today is MY Friday!

I'm so excited that today is my Friday. I'm finding that I definitely have summer fever lately. Maybe it's because these last 2 weeks have been a little slower than usual, or maybe it's because it's so bright and sunny and warm outside. Whatever it is, I am so ready for summer vacation! The countdown has begun, and I have only 2 weeks until I am on vacation for a week with the princess. I need to start working on some things we can do that won't be too expensive, but entertain us both. Definitely one day will be devoted to camp shopping. It amazes me how much stuff she needs for just 10 days away from home... sheets, towels, toothbrush, hair accessories, sunblock, water bottle, hats, clothes, more panties, more socks, sandals and tennis and shabbat attire, and lions and tigers and bears - oh my! Madelyn is so excited - she is ready to go to camp. Tomorrow she leaves for San Diego for a trip with her mom and stepdad, and then she only has a few weeks until camp. After camp, she'll have a couple weeks back with her mom and stepdad, and then a week with Grammy and Grandad, a week with daddy, and the finale of summer vacation is a family trip to San Antonio with Bubbe, Aunt Megan, Uncle Allan, Mia and us! It's going to be so busy, but I'm sure it will also go by so fast.

Today is my Friday, because I am off tomorrow - woohoo!! April and I are going to Austin for the day to celebrate Kingsley's (our niece) high school graduation. The actual graduation is tonight, but tomorrow night is a party at the house to celebrate. We're so excited for her as she starts such a fun time in her life. She's off to Texas State in San Marcos to start school a little early in summer... not time to waste!

So last night I watched more Army Wives. It is so good - I am completely addicted. April called this morning to see if I thought it was out to rent so I could watch it in the car on the way to Austin... silly April... I plan to be done by then! I've watched 15 episodes in 4 days. I've stayed up until around 1:00 am watching it every night. I look at the clock and think - I have to go to bed, and then I just can't help but watch 1 more episode. Only 4 more to go and then I will have seen all of season 2, and I'll be ready for season 3 to start on Sunday.

I took the plunge last night and tried a cycling class at the gym. I was nervous. I'm so not a cycler, and it looks so hard. People always come out of that class dripping in sweat. They cycle for the entire hour not stopping. HELLO - not even 1 break! But Alex talked me into giving it a try. She's done a few of them, and said it is the best workout she'd ever done. The instructor helped me setup my bike, and I talked to several people in the class beforehand who were so nice. After the class was over they all told me how well I did. I sure didn't feel like it! But I was dripping so that must be good. I'm going to have to keep it up - now that I know what to expect, I can start working on building the resistance and pushing myself further. Oy vey...

Tonight Trey starts his summer bowling league. I'm SUPER excited for him. It's been since we lived in Austin that he's been on one, and he really enjoyed it then. I'm really glad he is going to have an outlet for something he enjoys that is NOT work. Hopefully he'll make some new friends, and just have a good time. I'm even going to go watch him some like I used to - it'll be fun. But not this week, because...

I have to get more episodes of Army Wives in before season 3 starts on Sunday. I've been watching season 2 online - they just released it this past weekend, and I only have a week to get all 19 episodes in. It's so good - it's not that hard to do. I've watched 2 -3 episodes each night this week. I'm so tired, though. I've been up until at least 1:00 am every night watching! But I can't stop.

Madelyn's 1st Grade Awards

I'm sure you all are wondering, yet again, where I have been. All I can say is that I've just been busy. I know - no excuse. But I just simply let time slip away. I'm really going to try to stay more on top of this. I start to feel like too much time has gone by and I have so much to say, so I wait until I have time to sit down and really write a lot, but that time never comes! So instead, I'm going to really try to write more often - even if they are small posts.

Today was a neat day. Madelyn had her 1st grade award ceremony this morning. She was so excited in anticipation. The last day of school is tomorrow and she is itching to get her summer vacation started. This morning I woke up really (REALLY) early so that I could be at her school in time for the ceremony. It was a long drive, but let me tell you when I saw the look on her face and how excited she was, it was totally worth it. They gave awards for perfect attendance, all A's for the year, and Honor Roll A's and B's. Not every child received an award, but I am so proud to say that our girl did! She got an award for Honor Roll - all A's and B's. I couldn't be more proud of her! Jennifer took pictures and will send them to me - I'll post her beaming face as soon as I get them.

It just breaks my heart to be so far away from her. As Trey and I were trying to work out the details to be there (and it killed him to not be there), it just made me so sad that we can't be more involved and be there for every thing she does. She is so lucky to have such a loving, committed family on ALL sides, and I know that she feels supported and loved, but it's still hard to not be RIGHT there.

Here we go... just look at that smile!

My Meemaw

This weekend marked 2 years since Meemaw passed away.  I can't believe it has been 2 years.  It has flown by, and gone so slow all at the same time.  So much has happened in the past 2 years, and yet it seems  like just yesterday that she was sitting at the table doing a crossword puzzle, or making us all laugh so hard I thought we'd pee in out pants.

Regardless of how much time goes by, some things will always stay the same.  Like the smile I get on my face when I remember our girls trips, or weekends together as a family.  Or the laughter that erupts when someone says or does something that makes me think - that is sooo Meemaw (and let me tell you there are plenty of people that are saying and doing so many things just like her)!  

It makes me incredibly sad to think that I wish I'd had more time with her, or made the time we had together more meaningful and more frequent.  It makes me sad when I think that I'll never again have the opportunity to call her, and then roll my eyes as I sit on the other end of the phone saying... uh huh, yeah, i know ... while she goes on and on.  It makes me sad that I'll never again see the smile on her face when she is watching our family just be together.

It makes me incredibly happy to remember the great times we did have together, and to know that she knew just how much we all loved and respected her (even if we didn't show it all the time).  And it makes me happy to know that in each of our every day lives, we strive to live up to her memory, and her very high expectations of all of us, and that most of the time, I think we do.  And it makes me very happy to think of her, somewhere, somehow, smiling down on all of us and the strong, united family we remain, the family that she cherished.  

So, 2 years later, I hope I am achieving my goal... to make her proud and live up to her example.

I love you Meemaw, and miss you tremendously!

Accomplishments

This week and weekend is the time for accomplishments.  Not for me, mind you... but for others!  

Mom had her sleep test Thursday night.  It didn't go well (read her blog for details), and she is not happy.  But in a way, it did go well, because the end result is that they said she does have a severe sleeping problem.  The good thing is that maybe, just maybe (fingers crossed) this is the reason for her not feeling well lately.  So if determining the problem is the hardest part, then she is on her way to feeling better.  And she so needs that!  I know the last few months have been very trying on her, and I am so proud of her.  At the end of the day, I know she will get through it all just fine.  But in the meantime, I know it doesn't it always feel that way.  

Trey left last night and headed to Blanco for a weekend of building.  He and Grandad (and as it turns out Grammy too - what a trooper) are building Madelyn's bunkbed this weekend.  When I talked to Trey at 4:30 this afternoon, they'd already gotten all of the materials, cut and framed the top bunk, the desk, and were working on the steps.  WOW - I am super impressed at their progress in one day.  Trey never ceases to amaze and wow me...  I can't wait to see the finished product.  Don't worry - I'll take lots of pictures and post them for all to see.  

On his way to Blanco, Trey stopped off and got to take Madelyn to dinner, and see her new house.  They had a wonderful time... went to Luby's (Madelyn's choice - since she and Trey love it, and I DO NOT), went to see Madelyn's new school (where she'll be next year - very close to their house), played on the playground a little bit, and just got to spend some good Daddy - Puds time.  They both loved it, and I am a little jealous that I missed it!!

Work this week was crazy busy, but it's the weekend now, and I am so looking forward to hanging out and not doing much.  Although the cleaning supplies in our house are calling my name - I'm just not sure I'm going to answer.  Man, I wish I could find a housekeeper that could come once every 2 weeks or once a month...  I would even consider giving up some of my starbucks to pay for it!