So Not Cool!

Miss me? I seem to say that a lot lately and I hate it. This will be short and to the point.

I hate a mess. Period. My house is clutter free and every room is picked up and "looks nice" before I go to bed every night. I have to wake up to the look of clean. Period. The girl's rooms are the one exception. They're kids. They are good at picking up...but luckily, I can just shut their doors and not see clutter.

My project of the mancave has turned into a disaster. Plain and simple. I am miserable when I walk past it and there are no doors to close to not see it! Until it's done...I will not be in a good mood and every morning will start off all wrong because I have to see it as I walk down the hall! UGH!

I painted yesterday. The color is exactly what Jason wanted and I think it's perfect! I love it!

But today, I started putting together the new furniture for it...and a piece of the TV console is broken. The leg, to be exact! I am NOT one to leave a project unfinished and it SUCKS! Yes, I ordered a replacement...but how am I supposed to wait for it to get here with a mess that looks like this! I'm going to go insane having to see this mess everyday! UGH!

I was so looking forward to my next blog being the finished product...the beautiful...OK, "manly" mancave! Now, who knows when it will be done because of a stupid, broken leg!

At least the paint looks good, right?

Starting My List Of Projects!

I'm trying to decide if I want to start off with my "whoa is me" story. It really is a story that will make you feel sorry for me...not to sound like I need pity...but this story deserves pity. Is pity even the right word to describe it. Now I wish I had one of my made up words to describe it. OK, since I can't find the right word, I'll add my "whoa is me" story at the end.

Do you know what next week is? Yes, April Fool's Day. I have a good prank to play on someone. Sorry Shannon, you are probably going to be my victim. You are warned. But, 2 things happen next week. April 1st is our ONE year anniversary of closing on our house and moving in! I have lived here the whole year, Jason on the other hand, since he was away training in Oklahoma when we bought the house, did not get to participate in that fun. So technically with him being gone then and now the deployment...he's only lived here 5 months out of the 12. Wow, that sounds like a "whoa is me" story, but I promise it's not! I've had a relatively good time making this a home all on my own.

Second big deal for next week...we will OFFICIALLY be able to say JASON WILL BE HOME NEXT MONTH! I know I am jumping ahead of myself because it is still March! But not for long! If my blinds were not open right now, I would be jumping up and down on the couch!

Now, this leads me into my next talking point. ha. Since Jason has been gone, I have been making a list of projects I want to get done before he gets home. I intentionally did not do them so that I had something to fill the last 2 months of the deployment. My first project on the list, redo the man cave for Jason. It is the only room in the house that really has never been touched. The bookshelves were the cheapest wal-mart ones, he does not have a computer desk nor a TV stand. He used to sit in his recliner and pull up a little white table with his computer on it. If you wanted to walk into the man cave, you had to jump over all the cords. I can't tell you how many times Layla couldn't get her leg up high enough and the computer monitor came crashing down! Along with Layla.

And to be honest, the girls have taken it over since Jason has been gone. So, I want to make it into a nice area for him. I can't believe I'm going to add pictures of it in the condition it's in...but I need help. For the life of me, I can't figure out how to rearrange it or even how to put a desk and TV console. Also, I need ideas on where to get those. Everyone keeps saying Ikea...but to me, the drive isn't worth it. And to ship their items costs up to wazoo! I want to mount his surfboards as well, so that they aren't just sitting in a corner. Obviously, he will be using them when he comes home...so I need some kind of Hooks? or shelving? See, I need help!

The view to the left as you walk in. The cheap futon has turned into a trampoline.

And the view to the right. See how ridiculous this looks!

And the view towards the hallway...

The girls snuck their their way in! There are no doors...it's supposed to be an office. I want to do french doors, but obviously, I can not do that myself! I don't think Jason could either. But I would rather not hire a contractor while I am alone!

The color I am going to paint. Jason picked it out before he left. It's the middle color, Pacific Coast. Fitting!

I'm not going to have such a tough time painting, as I am taping! The ceilings are 14ft!

So, ideas on a desk and TV console would be great! The futon will be going into the garage, the elliptical is going to have to stay, so I need to figure out where that fits as well. I for sure see this project taking up the entire 2 weeks Ava has for spring break!

Guess what! I or should I say, we, cooked dinner tonight! YAY. This past week was just crazy with Nat and Matt here and me being sick. It was nice to make a meal again! It's a cloudy, cold, dreary day...so we made Baked Potato Soup.

I didn't think the girls would be able to help that much since it was soup, but surprisingly, I found quite a bit for them to do!

CAUGHT! Eating a piece of bacon!

Now they have to work to earn the piece of bacon they stole! Scooping potato out of the baked potato. That doesn't sound politically correct!

And then Ava decided she would much rather eat the scraps of potato on the counter than help!

Then they got upset that I wouldn't let them have more bacon after working so hard. Ha.

So then I let them at least touch the bacon! They helped break it into pieces and added it to the soup.

Then Ava got mad because I gave the last piece to Stella and not her! That kid and bacon, I swear!

I let them both add a spoonful of sour cream...

Then, Ava "called" adding the cheese!

Dinner! Yum!

Now, for my "whoa is me" story.


A month ago, Jason mailed me a letter with a memory card in it so the girls and I could see him! This was before we got to see him on Skype. So we have literally been racing to the mailbox everyday to see if it was here. It came yesterday. With a tiny slit in the side and the memory card was gone. Not like it accidentally got ripped and the memory card fell out. This was a clean slit on the side of the envelope, just big enough for the memory card to be taken out.

It broke my heart. When I saw the envelope, I knew it was finally here. And then to take it out of the mailbox and realize it had been stolen...I cried then and there. So, so not fair. The girls have even been expecting it and ask all the time if I have gotten the pictures Daddy sent yet.

So yes, pity is the word I was looking for, I am having a pity party for myself because of this. It does help that we have been able to see him on Skype twice now. But, if this would have happened and we hadn't seen him on Skype...I don't even want to think about how much more upset I would be. So, yes, I am so thankful that we have gotten to see him for the first time in the last week. It makes up a little for that thing being stolen. And yes, both Jason and I are positive it was stolen.

All Around...UGH!

Whatever this head cold is...it can exit stage left...like yesterday. I am miserable! I have gone through 2 boxes of Kleenex today alone! Add to it the girls are not rooting for me. They want me to stay sick so they can keep watching TV. Yes, the TV has been my babysitter the last two days while I have been a huge snot ball. 

So, since I'm sick and layed up on the couch, what else is there to do other than shop! I did warn Jason...he told me to shop for him. He said he needs a new summer wardrobe. Fun. I'm glad he trusts me so much, especially after the pink shirt I bought him the last time he was deployed! He laughed and told me he would never wear it. Well, correction, he wore it ONCE for a picture and never again. It went to goodwill soon after. Maybe this time he would like a purple shirt...Layla's favorite color!

That is Jason BEFORE his grey's started coming in by the millions. I love you, honey.

Well, as I wrote this. I heard Ava yelling at Cali. I am officially taking volunteers to take Cali away from me. She is on my SH** LIST in the worst way!

Apparently, I need to start shopping for a new lamp. This is what I found. And yes, it was plugged in.

Needless to say, I need an escape from this sickness and an escape from Cali. 2 more months, 2 more months, 2 more months. Ugh, can it be tomorrow!?

Happenings.

You have missed me...haven't you! We have been busy bees since Saturday. If you want me to bore you with the details, proceed to read the next paragraph. But, if you want to skip the "bore", pick back up at paragraph. 3. ha ha!

The highlight of my Saturday...cleaning every inch of carpet in this house, all 2100 sq ft of it...with my new carpet cleaner. I had a blast. I am not being sarcastic. I think it might have been therapeutic. My carpets look amazing, better than brand new. Every stain came out (the stains are a product of Stella and Ava's weak stomach, along with Cali's blow outs on Friday!) I'm pretty sure I even toned my arms a bit pushing around that 26 pound magical piece of equipment for 4 hours. So, if you need a carpet cleaner, splurge on the one I got.

Now the fun part, if you don't enjoy reading about carpet cleaning! Saturday night we met up with great friends for dinner! The girls and I had a great time. I even went out of my "element" (beer and wine) and ordered a "different" drink...a champagne mojito! Yum! Well, at the beginning it was yum, the longer it sat, the more it tasted like the original Smirnoff cooler drink. That was not yum! We really need to get together more often with our Ritter Ct peeps! Thank goodness summer is right around the corner!

Here comes another boring part, beware. Sunday I cleaned my tooshie off before my BFF and my BFF husband got here. First off, Natalie and I have been BFF's since we were 3 or 4...depending on who you ask...we a have a few month's difference in our age. Second, it's the first time I have had a FRIEND come and visit from Texas! (I really hope this statement is true. I am trying to rack my brain on who all has come to visit and I'm pretty sure I'm right. But, if I'm wrong and someone else has been out here, I'm sorry.)

Turns out...they like our house, thank goodnes. They love our kids. They even love our dogs...well visitors can only take about 5 minutes of Cali at a time. So she's aloud out of her kennel is doses. Stella on the other hand, she fell in love with Matt. I think Stella has found her official first boyfriend. So sweet.

We did not do much during their visit. Basically, we stayed in jammies until about 10:30...that's HUGE for me! Our only interesting feat...braving the winery in pouring down rain!

I feel bad they didn't get to experience the whole effect of it. Not being able to walk around or sit down outside stunk! We could only look out the window and wish we were outside!

Layla, I believe, has her first crush. She was attached to Matt. Although she rarely called him Matt. She just called him "him". ha ha.

From the time Nat and Matt got here, the girls had nothing to do with me. I was not allowed in their rooms to play, nor to hear Ava read to Natalie or Natalie read to the girls. But hey, that's really not much different than everyday here. ha.

Luckily, they are coming back on Thursday to stay the night, they even left luggage and pretty dresses. Too bad I don't have anywhere to go or anything to do, otherwise I would "borrow" Natalie's dresses. I did though, give her back two pairs of lounge pants that I have "borrowed" when I go home to Texas. Hey, atleast I returned them, maybe a year late! When Ava got home from school, she immediatly saw the luggage and asked why they left it. I said they are coming back to get it. She said "good, so Natalie left her jewelry too." Yeah, Ava LOVED Natalie's jewelry, she wanted to try on ALL of it. Thank goodness she didn't leave it here, Ava has already searched for it thinking I was lying!

There was even more excitement in our house this morning, and this really should be at the top! We got to Skype Jason for almost an hour this morning. Unfortunetly, he doesn't have speakers, so we have to type, but we get to see him...and the connection on his end was amazing! Layla actually had to go wake up Ava so that she could see him! We ended up running so late because of it that Ava only had a cold poptart for breakfast, but it was well worth it to be able to see this!

So, that was our fun since the last time you have heard from me! All my fun, from cleaning the carpets, to a great dinner with friends to Natalie and Matt visiting...it was worth the break from blogging the last few days. ha. Sorry. Well, plus I have a head cold and really couldn't concentrate long enough to type and add pictures.

A Day For The Record Books.

Obviously, today has been less than stellar. First of all, the morning started off all wrong...if I'm not ready by the time Ava leaves for school...my day is shot. I end up lagging. Today was one of those days!

Second, I did a good deed last night and spoiled the dogs with "wet food". Let's just say, Cali's belly did not take well to it. What is the saying...? No good deed goes unpunished...well with THIS good deed...I was punished.

Because of it...my $270 purchase...

I am failing to see the positive in this!

But, to counteract my frustration with that situation...I had a good play session with Stella today! Yes, she is a 5 year old Great Dane with the coordination of a puppy! We've given up with teaching her "tricks"! A video for your enjoyment!

But, not to be outdone by Cali...the girls! Today, when I was getting ready, I PRETENDED to put mascara on Layla. Well, when Ava got home from school, what was the first thing she told her..."Mommy put mascara on me." So, what then do I find in my bathroom and all over the floor and carpet? You guessed it, again, mascara. Ava tried putting it on herself because Layla THOUGHT she had some on. Lesson learned...no pretending with makeup...PERIOD!

Well, I guess that Carpet cleaner really is going to come in handy! And Natalie, are you really sure y'all want to come stay 2 days with us! At least my carpets will be clean!

And finally, you guessed it, yet again, there will be no cooking in this house tonight. ha! I think a can of Ravioli will suffice. Hey, they claim there is a full serving of veggies in it...which to me...has totally changed the taste of it! And not for the better!

A Twist on Green Eggs and Ham

I have been holding off on this recipe until today...St. Patrick's Day. Green Eggs and Ham.

But, it's totally not what you expect! Ava had green eggs and ham on Dr. Seuss day at school...so she was really anxious to see how this different recipe turned out!

Ava said she was making her "mean face". Really? Looks cute to me!

The girls helped with the spinach again. The recipe called for frozen, but, I had fresh. Frozen or fresh? Is that really a choice?

Stella was keeping a very close eye on us tonight. I'm pretty sure she could smell the Prosciutto before I even opened the package!

Cooking the spinach down with shallots and heavy cream.

While that was cooking, the girls lined a muffin pan with the Proscuitto.

And then once the spinach mix was done (5 minutes), the girls added that on top of the Proscuitto.

Please excuse my ugly muffin pan. Obviously, it has gotten a lot of use in the past 6 years. Maybe I will splurge on a new one. They can't be that much...right?

Now, I added an egg to each "muffin". The whole twist on it being green eggs and ham is the spinach being the "green". But, just for the girls, I added green dye to their eggs. I was trying to be festive for them!

And then it was in the oven for about 20 minutes...until there was no "runniness" in the eggs. I don't like "runniness"! Yes, I know "runniness" is not a word. I like to make up words. Eventually, I will start a whole new page with my made up words and their meanings!

And walaa...dinner!

I always cut the corn off my cob...veneers and corn on the cob do not go hand in hand!

And what the girl's green eggs looked like.

From the start of dinner, eating and cleaning up after eating...it took less than an hour! Quick, easy and delicious! Also, it's a great way to disguise spinach. Luckily, my girls like spinach...I don't make them eat canned spinach like my mom made us growing up. That's just ick!

And we have two left over...I see green eggs and ham for breakfast tomorrow!

And then...desert. Cookie sandwiches! With green icing of course!

Let's talk about Stella for a minute. She looks like...well, I'm not sure. I think she's yawning. At least, I hope she's yawning. Maybe I should go check the carpet right there.

I love how the girls are checking out each other's icing job! I'm sure Ava was making sure that Layla didn't have more icing than her!

And our St. Patrick's Day cookies!

I'll put the Green Eggs and Ham recipe on the recipe page. I really recommend this one!