Sunburn, Dancing, and Chicken Taco Joes

Ok so this weekend was slightly uneventful, even though I should have been finishing up all the things for the baby shower on the 5th! Ahhh! I know mom, don't hate me! I'll get it all done!

Saturday I awoke to the not so quiet sounds of the hubbs getting ready for work. I love him, but sometimes he sounds like an elephant tap dancing! Dropping things in the bathroom, turning on lights, opening and closing the door several times.....sometimes Shelby looks at me like "C'mon! It's SATURDAY!" Lol anyways, I got up ate breakfast and tooled around on the computer for a bit, then decided to get ready to lay out and get some sun on my oh so pale skin! I guess I'll never learn! Even after 2 layers of 15 SPF (I know I know!) I thought I was doing good! I got home after 3 hours and took a shower. Still didn't feel bad, finished getting myself ready and BAM! Aloe Vera time! The backs of my legs and my shins were burning! I sucked it up because I was heading out to the local high school with my M.I.L. (Mother-In-Law) for a dance show.

I arrived at her house, we packed up had a yummy salad dinner at CPK and some Mai-Tai's! (They fit in with my sunburn!) Once into the gym at the school, I tracked down my friend Mr. L who is the coach and choreographer of the team to let him know we were there, said hello to his entire family, my other family, and then found a spot on the bleachers. Now under any normal circumstance, sitting on bleachers for three and a half hours is uncomfortable. Add in sunburn, no A.C. and 500 people and I was roasting and hurting by hour two! It was a great show, and the girls did so good, but I couldn't concentrate! I HURT! As soon as I got home, I slathered on more Aloe and plopped myself in front of a oscillating fan until the heat went down.

Sunday I awoke and was a little sore so the plan of laying out got cancelled and I just lounged around with my pup. Worked out for 45 minutes, yay BodyRock!. When D got home from work I decided to go through our recipe book and figure out something we haven't tried yet. Then I went onto Pinterest and remembered this recipe for Taco Joes. Like Sloppy Joes, but with taco seasoning. Since we had some frozen chicken breasts I decided to make shredded chicken instead of ground beef to make it a little leaner.

Shredded Chicken Taco Joes

Forgive my blurry photo

Ingredients:
(2) Skinless Boneless Chicken Breasts
(1) Package Taco Seasoning (I used Ortega Jalapeno & Onion and it was nice and spicy!)
(1) 8oz can Tomato Sauce
Splash of water
Whole Wheat Buns
Cheese (if you desire)

First I cooked my chicken fully in a little olive oil and shredded it. I placed it back in the pan with the taco seasoning and the tomato sauce. Mixed it together on med heat for 2 minutes. It was at this point I needed a little extra "saucyness" and added in a little splash of water. Spoon onto buns and serve!

It was a perfect hot day meal and so easy. Under 30 minutes and 1 pan! My kind of meal! This one is going in the rotation!

Irks and Quirks 4/23/12

Ok, so since the other page is still under construction; i.e. - I have yet to find the time or the energy to come up with a header and figure out the scheme so that I may launch it, I will still be posting here on occasion so that I can get things off my chest. Here is my first random post of April, and I think the new year, under the title of Irks and Quirks.

Quirk - So last week was my first full week of working out hard. I did Insanity's and BodyRocked and even over the weekend at my folks we pulled weeds, walking a lot and generally sweated our butts off in the heat. So today was the weigh in....wah wah wah. Needless to say that scale almost took a flight into the public pool. I know I know....results don't happen overnight, but its hard to get a little anxious when you have been working SO HARD! Sigh......I will continue to push myself onto bigger and better things. Fitness isn't a quick fix, but a lifetime process.

Irk - There are (2) regarding one topic. Last week we received a Save the Date to a wedding in the summer.....first of all I pulled it out of the mailbox and it looked like somebody had let their dog chew on it for a bit. It was torn and wrinkled and almost unreadable. Great job USPS! You really got a handle on things over there! Carefully I opened the envelope to receive the mail. I perused over it and right in the middle of the description....miss spelled words! Gah! A person spent all this time and energy to make it perfect and didn't spell check before sending it out to print! That's a pet peeve of mine. Poor spelling/using the wrong word.

Quirk - The family quilt's have been an irk of mine as of recent because some of us....about 6...actually get the blocks done within a reasonable amount of time. However that's neither here nor there. My mom and I are making a quilt for a wedding that is using the same pattern as one she just finished putting together. We're taking the leftover fabric and combining it with 4 other prints to make a whole new look. Unfortunately with 100 blocks in the main body of the quilt alone, its gonna take sometime. Like we did with the last wedding gift we made jointly....I will be taking half the blocks home and sewing them. Need to get that fabric cut and ready to assemble! Lots of work ahead.

Irk - The weather. What is up California? It was almost 100 degrees over the weekend and come today (Monday) just 24 hours later its in the 60s and raining. I know its spring, but I wish it would make up it's mind so I can at least dress appropriately for work!

Quirk - Things have been much better with me on the emotion front. If you didn't know, I was on a slow downward spiral into depression and it was going out of control. Days of extreme sadness and not wanting to get out of bed. It started in late October of last year, gradually got worse through the holidays and continued through January. It wasn't until February that I finally  realized what was going on and decided to take a stance against the wallowing. I took a deep look into myself and decided that I needed to focus on myself, my marriage and my family. I had neglected all of those and they needed repair. Once I pinpointed my issues; which a lot circled around the death of my father, my grief, and other things, I decided to step back and really view my actions and how they may or may not be perceived. Facebook, while a great tool for reconnecting with family and old friends, had turned into a source of major stress. I majorly stepped back from it and have reveled in the break. Granted I still go on and post, but not nearly as much as I used to. Frankly, I know that most people don't care...so I go to keep up with family and close friends but that's about it. I also tried to step back from blogging a little to. With the exception of my 10 year anniversary posts for D and I. All of these things helped me to gain a little perspective and take a breather. Focus on myself and my healing. The anniversary was last weekend, and although the day was very hard; I find that as time passes it does get easier to deal with. As long as I have my support (D and my family) I can do anything! Since I survived that first major hurdle of the first anniversary, I feel like things get lighter and lighter on my shoulders. I am taking the time to do little things for myself and for D, and also spending time and getting acquainted with old friends and new. JP, TL and AM have been instrumental in getting my head back to where it belongs, and I owe them a great deal of credit as well.

That's whats been rolling around in this big ole noggin. Stay tuned for the next installment of Irks and Quirks!

BodyRock Challenge

Ok....so I have been desperately trying to get back into shape. We have a gym membership, and we try to go at least 3-times a week, but sometimes life gets in the way and we can't get there. We'll enough is enough. We are going to Las Vegas in 30 days and I am determined to not look super flabby whilst hanging around the pool @ the Mandalay Bay or going out in my club wear. So here it is, my own 30 day challenge. To supplement my gym and Insanity workouts, I decided to use BodyRock.tv and their 30 day, free work-out at home challenge. I have already done day 2, I started there because I have been working out all week, and have taken my before photo's. I will not post them yet as I want to do a before and after shot. So there it is. Wish me luck!

On to bigger better things, a healthier lifestyle and a happy happy Diane!

Maliboomer?!

So since I have the opportunity to take a day during the week I decided that I would take today off and be with the hubbs. He and I slept in a little, watched some recorded TV and then decided to take a long walk to our local Target store. If you know where we live, you know that its a hike to the store. About a 3 mile total walk with a pretty steep hill. We took the trek and a little sweat equity and made it home safely and a little wiped out. So tonight while we were making our chicken salad dinner and a load of wash in the machine I decided to reward myself with a cocktail and a relaxing view from our porch with the breeze blowing through the palm trees.

I went in the fridge and decided to make something from what we had in there. I took equal parts Malibu Rum, Diet Cranberry Juice and Diet 7-Up in a high ball with some ice and stirred with a straw. I know this has probably already been done but I named it the Maliboomer for my own memory. Perfect way to end a perfect spring/summer day!

Happy Wednesday!

The Door

This week has been hard for me. It is the culmination of the hardest year I have had to face in my entire life. I have had to re-examine my priorities and dig deep into my soul. I will post another about all that, but this post has a specific context. My step mom challenged us to do many things on this anniversary, the anniversary of my dad's death. To listen to his cd that he wrote and produced. To lift a glass in his honor and to share a memory with those that knew him and those that didn't. There are so many memories that I could share, and have shared already in previous posts. I decided to share one of D's favorites. He knew him the shortest, but they formed a bond instantly. My dad respected him, and loved him dearly.

In 2008 we went to visit Florida. The trip was to be a full one, with Thanksgiving being that week and plans to do many things. On the agenda; Disney World, The Club, The Abbey, Thanksgiving dinner, horseback riding and many chores around the property. Our trip to Disney World was a blast. After being there a short 12 hours, we packed up smaller overnight bags and jumped in the car to make the hour and a half drive into Orlando. We checked into our hotel and made little inside jokes about the hot rock spa treatment that they had pictured everywhere. It was pretty funny that every time my dad found a loose rock, he placed it on his back and made a serene and relaxed face, to show how well rocks can make you relaxed. We put down our luggage, and took a tour of the property. Then we went to buy our tickets for the park the next day and get ready for dinner, after a few cocktails of course. We went to a wonderful dinner and had some amazing conversation. The next day we took the shuttle into Epcot. I enjoyed the park, but we were there too early to drink the beers of every country. We went onto a couple of rides learned some things and took some pictures. Mission to Mars was the ride of the day, not because it was particularly the best, but the funniest story. We were in line and we came to a point that was a warning and you had to decide which intensity of the ride you were going to choose. Well me being a chicken I immediately went into the tame side, with my dad right behind me. D looked at us and said, "I wanna go in the intense side." My stepmom, being adventurous said that she would go with him. Since our chicken side was shorter, dad and I got on and off the ride pretty quickly so we had to wait. When they finally came off, Daryl look green. She told D that she would only go on that for him, but that she probably would never go on it again. Soon after we parted ways and D and I took the monorail into The Magic Kingdom (I.E. Disneyland of Florida) which, to those that go to the original all the time, it wasn't worth it, but it was an experience that we shared.
 

Once back to the house we did many things. Hikes around the property, went and had the best chicken wings on the earth at The Abbey, had dinner with the neighbors Jeff and Stacy at the club, Thanksgiving dinner at Lady and Ashleigh's home and of course D's first riding lesson. He had been on trail rides before, but let's be serious, those horses are trained to follow the butt in front. So we put him in the saddle and Daryl told him how to use the reigns and him legs to control speed and direction. I rode around a bit, but was super rusty. We wandered around the property, chain-sawing dead trees, picking up sticks and mowing the property getting ready for a burn pile. D's favorite thing is the burn pile. Big giant bonfire in the middle of the property.  

The thing that D remembers the most is going into the garage with my dad and him showing how he makes furniture. He taught him how to use all the machines and together they made a door. Not very big, maybe 18" x 24." But my dad showed him how to miter corners, how to plane, sand and stain it. He walked in proud of himself and said that we were bringing it home. I thought to myself "how on earth are we bringing that home." Well I am glad we did, because now D has a memory and a piece of him always.

So there you have it, a memory to keep with us always. The year has been hard. Emotionally I have been a wreck and have tried to get back on track. I am working my way there. All I can do is keep him always in my heart. When I listen to music or play an instrument, remember who gave me the love. Laugh when I can, cry when I need. Just remember that he is looking down upon me smiling.

R.O.S     I.L.Y.T.B!



Note: I want to thank everyone who has stuck by my this year. To my husband and my parents, you are my rock and support that I stand on. My sounding board, my smile, and my mirror. Everything good I owe to you. You show me who I am, and who I can become. I am not perfect, nobody is, and all I can do is look forward and grow.  

To my friends. Thank you for those who have stuck by my side. Life isn't easy, and sometimes we get lost trying to manage. The lighthouse of friendships has made my journey easier as I navigate my way through the murkiness. These people I speak to you have blessed me with your support and understanding and I thank you always for that! 

Love you all!

Oldie but a Goodie - You're So Vain

Ok, so this one is far before my time, but it is still one of the classics. D and I have been watching the Nip/Tuck series and it has some great music. One episode had this song in it and it reminded me of one of my favorite movies How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.

Andie - 'Ben Barry, you're so vain. So, so vain. You probably think this song is about you. Don't you? Don't you?'
Thatcher - 'Tone deaf and drunk is not a good combination.'
Andie - 'No, you-you fooled me to win a bet...'
Ben - 'Look, you took me to a goddamn Celine Dion concert.You made me miss the big game!'
Andie - 'Oh, smart guy's a rhymer.'

Anywoo....here is it. Carly Simon in her prime!

You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht
Your hat strategically dipped below one eye
Your scarf it was apricot
You had one eye in the mirror as you watched yourself gavotte
And all the girls dreamed that they'd be your partner
They'd be your partner, and....

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you
You're so vain, I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't you?

You had me several years ago when I was still quite naive
Well you said that we made such a pretty pair
and that you would never leave

But you gave away the things you loved and one of them was me
I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee, clouds in my coffee and....

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you.....

Well I hear you went up to Saratoga and your horse naturally won
Then you flew your Lear jet up to Nova Scotia to see the total eclipse of the sun
Well, you're where you should be all of the time
And when you're not you're with
Some underworld spy or the wife of a close friend
Wife of a close friend, and....

You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you.....

S'more Croissants

Ok so like most husbands, D love's S'mores. They are his ultimate dessert. I even went to the extreme one year for Christmas and bought him a S'more Kit from Target. So when I saw this recipe today I thought to myself "Hmmm. D will LOVE that!" So I went to the store and got all the stuff for quickie spaghetti and S'more Croissants!

What you need:
1 package croissant dough
Mini Marshmallows
Milk Chocolate Chips

Put the chips and mallows in the opened dough, roll loosely and bake according to package directions! They came out warm, fluffy and light. A perfect rainy night dessert! See link for source recipe!

http://www.northerncottage.net/2011/07/smore-croissants.html

Fit for a Princess

Ok, so I actually made these onesies before the other post, but was waiting until the baby shower to actually post them. However they have been sitting on my dining table screaming "BLOG ME!" And since I have decided to switch everything over for a new fresh look, I figured I would go through and post all of my drafts so that the transition is easy. 

Yes I know. More baby showers! My mom and I just can't get enough party planning. She hand made the invitations! I will do a post with all the cute details and creative things that we did along the way for that. So thanks to Pinterest I found a TON of cute baby outfit ideas. So of course I had to try them! I did some applique, some needlepoint, and tea dying. I had a lot of fun and hopefully the mom and baby will love them! Will post the links below each photo.

Applique

Embroidery

Applique

Applique

Fabric Doily

Below are some in-process shots:

Peel off paper back

Attach with Iron and damp wash cloth

Hand sew around edges, for a more permanent attachment

Sew CUTE!

Applique for a Birthday!

I have come to that age where all of my friends are getting married and having kids. Strike that all of my married friends are having babies. Two of my dear friend's children had their first birthday's within a week of each other. So in addition to a toy, I decided to hand make some onesies for them to have a little piece of me. Thanks to Pinterest for this cute idea and the many hours of joy it provided me.  All you need is a template, Wonder Under or any type of iron on transfer, and some embroidery thread to permanently attach the cutout to the garment (you can use a machine, but there is something to be said for hand sewing.)

Note: I purchase my onesies at the dollar store, and mom said that they run a little small so perhaps if you are to do this check the size first. It may say 12-18, but check to make sure it will fit, or go up a size.

James got an elephant with a button eye, a frog with a button, and a starfish.

For Alyssa, I made some crochet flowers, a giraffe with a rhinestone eye, and a tee shirt with a fox and birds on it. I found the tutorial for the crochet flowers here.

Note: again, because I purchased these from the dollar store, I realized (after I washed them of course) that one of the onesies was missing the snaps. So I cut off the flap and made it into a tee. Ahhhh experimentation at its finest.