Random Thoughts...

... I'm so tired.  I really shouldn't be though.

... I really don't like being told "You have broad shoulders like your mother".  REPEATEDLY!

...I really want to re-decorate our bedroom!

...I'm so proud of Michael.  He's doing great at this whole school thing.

...I have nothing fun to blog about.

...I hope no one is disappointed by such a boring post

...I cannot believe it's the last day of June.  Where did half a year go?

...What will the next six months hold?  Will they go just as fast?

...My hips hurt far more than a 30 year old's hips should hurt.

...Dinner was yummy.  Dessert would be great right about now.  Darn being "good"

...Yep.  Still very tired.

...Why doesn't this blog thing have spell check?

These are my thoughts from last night.  Writing a blog every day is so much fun for me, but also a lot of work and sometimes a good amount of (self inflicted) pressure.  Sometimes... it just needs to be simple, boring, and real.

"So Let It Grow"

I came across an interesting writing this week and the verse that was used kind of just hit me where I was at.  I'm not going to write some deep post or get all introspective and emotional.  I just wanted to share the verses.  I think it might be what some of you need to hear as well.

James 1:2-4 (The Message)

 ^2-4Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

James 1:2-4 (New Living Translation)

Faith and Endurance

 ² Dear brothers and sisters,^[a] when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³ For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

James 1:2-4 (New International Version)

 ²Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

 So here I am... trying to 'let it grow'.  Happy Sunday everyone!

Bubble Up Enchilada

About a year ago I signed up to do Weight Watchers online.  It went alright until the holidays hit (last year).  It was all downhill from there.  But while I was a part of the online group, I gathered many recipes to help me.  Some I made and some I just stashed away.  Cuz that's what I do.  Hoard recipes.  Anyway... I came across a recipe called Bubble Up Pizza that everyone was raving about.  I made it and thought it was alright.  Then I started seeing many variations of this meal.  One of those variations is the Bubble Up Enchilada.  I hoarded sent myself an email with the recipe, but that's as far as I got.  Recently I came across a site that had posted the Bubble Up Enchilada recipe again.  I figured it was time to give it a try.

So here you go...

You will need:

1 pound extra lean ground beef

1 (10 oz) can enchilada sauce

1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce

1 (4 oz) can sliced black olives, drained

1 can reduced fat refrigerator BISCUITS

(notice mine are cresent rolls--more on that in a bit)

1 1/4 cups Shredded Weight Watchers Mexican Cheese

NOTES: Ok, so I went to the store and I needed both reduced fat biscuits AND reduced fat crescent rolls.  Unfortunately, the store I went to do not have the reduced fat biscuits.  I figured I'd just pick up the biscuits at another store, another time.  Later in the week I went to make this recipe and didn't even think about the fact that I needed the biscuits.  I started taking pictures...crescent rolls and all.  It wasn't until I was half way through that I realized I had the wrong thing.  Oh well.  That's life right?  Some things don't turn out.  Some things turn out better.  Some things people quickly hide under the rug for no one to see.  Well, you know me.  I'm a keep it real kind of girl.  So here I am... posting on my blog for all the world to see... that I messed up the recipe.  It turned out OK though. :)

Also, I just used reduced fat Sargento cheese instead of WW cheese.  I also added onions.  You can add or take away whatever you want.

The steps:

Preheat the oven to 350*.

Brown the ground beef (drain if needed).

Mix in a can of enchilada sauce, tomato sauce, and can of black olives.  (Plus onions if you choose)

Cut the biscuits into fourths and stir them into the meat mixture.

Here's where I noticed I had a problem.  Because crescent rolls don't "cut into fourths", I just cut them and then rolled them up a little to resemble the size of a biscuit fourth.  You do what you gotta do! :)

They will start to get a little gooey, so don't keep them in there that long.  Just long enough to be covered by the sauce.

Then you just dump it all in a greased casserole dish and bake for 25 minutes.

Take the casserole out of the oven and sprinkle with the cheese.  Obviously if you are not concerned about the calories or "points" you could use the entire 2 cup bag of cheese instead of 1 1/4 cups.

Bake an additional 10 minutes to let the cheese melt.

Let stand for 5 minutes and serve.

It is 8 servings at 6 points a serving.  However, men (or women not so concerned about weight) could eat at least 2 pieces as one serving.  It reheats well and I've even heard it freezes well.

I didn't think it tasted too far off from the Bubble Up Pizza.  I also didn't think it tasted too much like an "enchilada".  I don't know if tomato sauce was used instead of more enchilada sauce to help keep the points low or what.  I may consider putting more enchilada sauce in next time.  Either way, it was still good.  I served it with a salad and sugar free jello.  The true test is whether or not Michael liked it, and he asked for seconds!

An open letter to the concerned

Dear Concerned,

Thank you for your heartfelt love and concern for me.  I do appreciate you wanting what is best for me.  However, you do not need to tell me, every time you see me, how I need to jump on the baby train.  You also do not need to remind me of all the medical issues other women in our family have faced.  You also do not need to remind me how close I am to 30 (40 days to be exact).  Also, I'm not sure it's really necessary for you to let me know that I am "no spring chicken".  I get it.  Trust me.

As much as I would love to have a child, we are not at that point yet.  Yes, I know.  No one is ever financially ready for a child.  I get that as well.  It has always been my desire to stay home with my child if and when I have one.  At this point, I would not be able to do that.  Also, we live in a ONE BEDROOM condo.  As much as you would like to tell me that we could have a baby here, I disagree.

All that to say---I'm here to make a deal.  I see it as a win-win situation.  You will be happy that I am having a baby, and I will be happy to be having a baby.  Here it is...  if you would like to pay off all of my student loans, I will start trying to get pregnant tomorrow.  Isn't that great?  I mean, I could potentially have a baby in my arms by next fall.  What do you say?  Are you in?  It's just a mere $30,000.

If you are not willing to pay off said student loans, can we make another deal?  How about you let my husband and I make the best decision possible for us and our future family?  Please?  Please.

Sincerely,
Your "not so spring" spring chicken

I don't get it #2

Ok, so this "I don't get it" is going to be a little more controversial than the last.  I know.  I understand it's not popular opinion, but it IS my opinion.

I don't get these....

Who decided that a bag with a bunch of "C"s on it was cool?  I know that it's Coach, but how did Coach become so desirable?  Because they charge $200 PLUS for a purse?  I think most of their purses are ugly.  I don't want a bunch of "C"s on my bag.... Or B's or F's or any other letter for that matter.

What I REALLY can't stand are these...

Again, why?  Why do you want a bunch of "C"s on your shoes?  Really?  Is status that important to you?!

Like I said, I know this isn't the popular opinion, but I don't get it.

Let's keep it real...

If you know me, then you know I'm all about keeping it real.  So that's what I'm going to do....

I've already told you how much I love organization.  I've already told you how my pastor's wife raved about my closet.  It's true.  My house is pretty organized.  My classroom was ridiculously organized.  However.

However.

There's one room in my house that has issues.  We are pretty short on storage around here.  We have a small laundry/storage/utility room.  We both love organization so it always starts out good.  Unfortunately, every six months we have to revisit the room and do a total revamp. It's so annoying.  Like I said, we start out good.   But there is just not enough space to keep it that way.  When I need art supplies, I pull them out and then have trouble getting it back to the right place.  We collect more things.  We rearrange things around the house and then other things need to be stored.  It's crazy.  I think we now might have it under control.

 But before I can show you the "new and improved" storage room, I am going to "keep it real" and show you how bad it got.

BEFORE:

Ok, so you see that huge photo collage looking thing?  I picked it up at a thrift/antique sale for $10.  I have grand plans for it--in my head!--but have no space to do the re-do.

 

I actually use most of the stuff on this shelf often, but there isn't room in our kitchen for it.  Oh, see that tray??  It's another project yet to be worked on.

Well, here's a little "leftover" organization from the last time we got it in order.  Also, a shovel, an old vacuum, an old lamp and some folding chairs and table.

 Oh dear--here's under our stairs.  All sorts of junk.  Plus, an exercise ball that I should be using.  Yeah.

 

Oh yes, we have an exersaucer.  No.  We don't have a child.  No.  I'm not pregnant.  We just collect random kids stuff for future children.  This picture is looking down.  You couldn't even see the floor.  Out. of. control!

 How about some Hooked on Phonics for that kid we don't have yet?

 UGH!  So we emptied the entire room--if you can call it a room--and got to work.  One of the first things we did is hang a shelf that we were storing.  I don't know why we didn't think of this earlier.

 

Thanks love!

 AFTER:

 

We couldn't even open the door before.  The coat tree was behind it.  Remember how I put those hooks up?  Well, we have too many coats so I had to still use the coat tree.  It got relocated and works much better.

I didn't really take any "before" pictures of this area.  The shelf was a mess and the dryer was stacked with children's books.  Now the shelf is orderly.  The tub on the dryer is for our fall decorations.  Once I take them down, it will be returned to my mother in laws basement.

 The folding chairs and table got relocated to the small area next to the furnace.  The stuff that was there either got thrown away or taken to my mother in laws.  Thank goodness for her basement!  We took a whole car load over.  Not to mention that my entire classroom is in totes in her basement.

 

You know you love it!:)

 

 This is the area behind the stairs.  Before you couldn't get to anything.  Now it's easily accessable.

 

This is the tools, cleaning supply, and outdoor stuff shelf.

 

 There's that shelf we hung.  The vase with the brown stuff will go back to it's place after fall decorations are down.

 

 Oops--I forgot my folder with my labels in it.  Even so you can see how great it is.

 

 

 

 The black bags are my scrapbook/craft stuff.  Someone gave me them.  They are nice, but I would really like a craft room instead.

 

Here's another view of under the stairs.

 

 If you move the step ladder away, it looks like this.

 

If you roll that white wire cart away, this is what you see.

Pure beauty!