Light has been shed!

Having a blog has made me realize two things about myself.....

1) I am really inconsistent with things like this (blogging)....along with photo albums, baby books..... are you tracking with me? (I haven't blogged in 3 months, there is a theme)

2) I am funnier when I am in crisis (for proof see the blogs when Jackson was first born)

That is all. 

Hopefully I will saddle up again.....there are some serious updates to be had.

Stay-At-Home-Mommy-Syndrome (SAHMS) Episode #2

Well my friends. just as I suspected in this post, I experienced another case of Stay-At-Home-Mommy-Syndrome.  This time involved a 'could not miss' opportunity and one day my son will surely shake his head at this event.

Definition
SAHMS : A non-treatable condition in which stay at home mommies crack and do whatever it takes to liven up their days.

Symptoms: can be but are not limited to:

Shamelessly grabbing the video camera to record your screaming baby while he is (safely but madly) stuck in a box.  He crawled into a box while I was in the washroom and could not find his way out.  Who knows, maybe this is our $500,000 winning video for America's Funniest Home Videos one day.  (RELAX PEOPLE, it is only a 10 second video and you know you would do it too)

Treatments: Giving into your urges as long as they are fun and you and your little one(s)are safe

Stayed tuned.....there are future episodes to be had.

Downton Abbey

Every so often there is a movie or TV series that sucks you in to the point of emotional involvment.  It sounds crazy but think about it.  How many people do you know that think they are a part of Carrie Bradshaws life?  Or talks about Noah and Allie from The Notebook when making a reference to true love.  For me, I cried everytime one of the soldiers died in Band of Brothers; I felt a loss. 

I have been sucked in yet again but this time it is in the sophisticated world of Downton Abbey.

 
It is set in Yorkshire, England during the early 1900's.  When I watch this, I get INVOLVED.  As soon as I hear the opening song on the show I am all of a sudden English.  My thoughts have an English accent and I instantly steep some tea.  Season 2 has just ended but you can catch episodes from Season 1 and 2 here.

My favorite character is Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham

And I covet the clothes of Lady Mary Crawley

Watch! Love! And let me know when your thoughts start to have an English accent.

It appears Punxsutawney Phil was wrong!

A few weeks back that little fortune telling groundhog told the world there were 6 more weeks of winter left.  Um, either he was wrong or the Central Valley did not get the memo.  I am loving this upper 60's lower 70's thing that has set its sights on our little Valley.  I am ok with the spring like weather we have had this February.  It has quicken the post-winter revival that usually happens in my house and soul when the sun starts shining.

The thick jackets have been stashed away
The blinds are being dusted (slowly but surly - I hate blinds)
I have been outside with the baby detoxing from living room floor
Pandora is on more than the TV
My flip flops are sitting by the front door
I have been exercising - oh lawl have mercy
And the best part of this revival are these gorgeous little beauties that I think make my whole neighborhood happy

________It's What's For Dinner

I am constantly in need of new ideas for dinner.  I also need to find ways to encourage me to cook.  That is what prompted me to post recipes to the blog.  Don't get too excited.  This is not becoming a food blog.  I count on people like Gina at Skinnytaste for things like that.  I just thought if you had a good recipe you could post it for me to feed my family with.  We will thank you in advance!

Turkey Meatloaf
*this is a mix of my grandpa's recipe and other things I thought would taste good*

You will need:
1 1/2  ground turkey meat
1 egg
3/4 to 1 cup of seasoned bread crumbs
3/4 diced white onion
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

Mix all of this in a bowl together (with your hands)

Put into a 9X5 loaf pan.  Spread some ketchup on top to add a glaze.  Cook at 350 degrees for 1 hour 15 min

On the side, we ate these Garlic Mashed Potatoes from Skinnytaste soooooooooo good!

The corn is cooked with 'I can't believe its not Butter' and Garlic Salt.

Enjoy!  WHAT ARE YOU MAKING FOR DINNER?

Nice Baby Bangs

There are so many things that change when we have babies.  Some things are WAY too personal to publish on the blog and fellow mommies, you know what those are.  Others are blog appropriate.... like hair.  I wrote about my extensive hair loss in this post.  It was 5 months of tragedy for me and for my vacuum.  At 8 months, postpartum, I finally stopped losing my do!! YAY *clap clap clap*

~wait, hold the applause~

I am now in the re-growth stage. 

My first thought was, 'finally, my hair will replenish itself'. 

Now that it is happening, I look in the mirror at the short, wispy, wiry, untamable mini hairs of re-growth and think, 'ugh, why don't you just fall out'. 

Do you know of these rebellious hairs?? In some spots mine stick straight up submitting to NO product.  In other spots there are so many I think, 'wow, I was truly bald there'.  And to top off those woes, my hair is naturally curly so these new little guys look like they have been hit with the humidity of the deep south and you can't straighten them because the heat will fry these fragile babes leaving them worse off than they already are.  (hmmm was that a run on sentence??  Maybe but all the information in it was pertinent - so I am leaving it).

OH THE MADDENING WORLD OF BABY BANGS!

________________ Its What's for Dinner!!

A while ago, I came to the realization that, for the rest of my adult life, I will ask myself the dreaded question 'what are we going to have for dinner?'

*This is a life sentence people.* 

If you are a wife and/or mom THIS IS your lot!!  If my man was contributing to this post he would probably be happy to tell you that I have re-surfaced from the 'new baby' tidal wave that knock me over 8 months ago.  People, what has my poor husband been eating for 8 months?

Because I hate the question of, what's for dinner?, I thought maybe we could share recipes?   Or at least I would tell you what I am cooking, that way if you are stuck maybe something we eat will sound good to you.  If you would like to share, please do, my tummy will thank you!! Link up or post the recipe in the comments.

Chicken Tacos
Cooking my chicken, I used this recipe from The Pioneer Woman blog as my guide.

Jarrod's plate...mmmm

In a big skillet cook up the following:
-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts diced into small chunks
-1 can of diced green chillies
-1/2 white onion
-1/2 tsp cumin
-1/2 tsp chili powder
-1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (did I mention these were spicy)

Tacos need toppings.  Our favorite topping for tacos is a yummy cabbage recipe from my friend Ally.

You will need:
1 head of Cabbage
1 red onion
2-3 limes
1 bushel of cilantro
salt/pepper

Picture is missing the onion

Chop cabbage into small shreds, dice onion, chop cilantro (mix all three of these in a bowl)
Squeeze the lime juice into the cabbage, onion, cilantro mix to taste
Salt and pepper to taste

Add other toppings as desired, we used tomatoes and cheese

We ate the tacos on corn tortillas.  Yum o Yum.

Can you tell I don't type out recipes....ever.  This could be a recipe bloggers nightmare! HA!