It's Not Fair

Earlier this week I mentioned we were going on vacation in the near future.  It really wasn't fair that I didn't tell you where we were going, and I only left you with one pic of where weren't going.  Since I hate being unfair I thought I'd give you a few more clues.  Next week I'll give you the big reveal. Yes, I'm going to make you wait that long.  I love the suspense of it all.  For all you know I could be going to the next town down the road, OR I could be going somewhere exotic.  The fact of the matter is I am going somewhere with my little family and I am excited, but here are a few places you can rule out as our vacation destination. 

We are not going here...

I've never been to France, but I'd like to go.  Someday.  Someday. Someday, but not this day.  We are also not going to be here...

I can't really say that I've dreamed about going to China, but if someone offered to send me I'd go in a heartbeat.  Somehow traveling to China doesn't sound fun with a four and two year old.  This next place would be fun with my little chitlins, but we're not going here either...

This will probably be our next big vacation.  I'll have to start saving my pennies for this trip.  We'll want to cram in as much as possible, and as much as possible isn't free.  However, I'm confident I won't pay an arm and a leg to do it.  Too frugal.  Speaking of frugal, I did get a good deal on this trip.  No, I'm still not telling you where we're going.  Not until next week.  I may even post pics of our drive.  There's a clue for you...we are within driving distance.

I also have some other exciting news for you.  Since I plan on not taking my computer, I do have a list of upcoming posts for you.  You will want to check them out.  Here's what's on the schedule...

• A DIY, decorating guest post from Jesse @ Good Girl Gone Glad
• A giveaway from Banana Papers (this is pretty exclusive because Jamie of Banana Papers has closed her store indefinitely, but handed over one of her very last items)
• G-Dawg, who introduced us all to G-Dawg's Stuffed Burritos, has another recipe up her sleeve
• A giveaway from F.I.T Boot Camp
• AND, the big reveal of our vacation location!  I know, contain your excitement folks.

As for tomorrow, I'll be dishin' out a few more vacation clues!  If you guess our location, I'll give you a million dollars.  If you actually believe that, then I'll give you 2 million dollars.  If you actually believe that, then you are super duper gullible.  I will not be handing out any cash!

Finding My Balance

Somedays I'm like this...

I'm not just balancing my day well, but I'm holding my own.  I'm marking things off my to-do list, keeping the kids busy with learning activities, and my house is immaculately clean.  I get my workout in, and I have my own quiet time.  On days like these, I feel accomplished, successful, and jealous. Jealous of my own awesomeness. 

Then I have days like this...

Days where I haven't completely fallen out of balance, but I'm close.  My to-do list is pretty long, but I'm getting some things done.  The kids are playing well, but I'm not teaching them.  I haven't worked out, but I've had my quiet time.  My house is not totally clean, but it's not filthy.  Overall it's a ho-hum day, but it feels like I could fall off the edge of sanity at any moment.  These kind of days used to drive me crazy, but now I'm used to them.  Used to them because I never had experienced days like this...

Days when I've completely fallen off.  My house is a mess, I'm not as patient with the kids as I should be, I haven't worked out, I haven't had my quiet time, and I haven't been the person I know I should have been.  Before kids I never knew I could have days like this.  Now, I've come very familiar with them.  Until now.  I'm changing up my routine.

Last week this little ball of dynamite started a running group for our neighborhood.  Erica, creator of F.I.T Boot Camp, has me getting up at 5:45am to run 3 miles on Tuesdays and Thursday mornings.  I am not a morning person, but I have to say getting up early with a run gets my day started out right.  I'm way more productive because I have time to accomplish tasks before the kids even wake up.  Before the kids were my alarm clock.  I used to think getting up earlier would leave me exhausted the rest of the day, but it's the complete opposite.  I have the energy to make it through successfully.

So here's to waking up early and tackling that to-do list.  Here's to staying on track.  Here's to keeping my balance and looking great while doing it. See, now that I've written this little pep talk out, I have to live it.  I just have one question for you...

How's your balance?  Seriously.  I want to know!

I Heart Summer

I'm not sure if it's the teacher in me, but we do some major relaxing in the summertime.  Normally the kids are in the bath by 8 and asleep by 9, but numerous times this week the kids have been in the bath by 9 and bed by 10.  Yikes.  However, when they're running around with the neighbor kids in and out of sprinklers, I just can't make 'em come in.  They're just too cute in their little swimsuits. 

Over the weekend our neighbor brought over an extra slip-n-slide.  Little Man remembers doing the slip-n-slide down the big hill at my mom's, so he was stoked.  Little Miss was excited because her brother was excited.  She didn't know what is going on.  Fortunately, she's a smart cookie.  Once the hose came out she knew what was coming next.  That little thang ran inside and got her swimsuit.  I just love her.

Anyway, it was a few degrees shy of 90 at about 9:30am yesterday.  That classifies the day as A Stinkin' Hot Day, which in turns allows for the slip-n-slide to come out in the morning.  The 3 rugrats had a blast.  Here's a snap shot of their day. 

 

If you're wondering where the pics are of me, well I'm fairly certain you would become permanently blind to the second degree if you caught a glimpse of me in my swimsuit.  The first degree would come from the sheer shock of me in a 2 pc, and the second degree would be seeing all this whiteness.  Man, it sure would be nice to be a Rican!

Menu Monday

It's been a wonderful weekend.  We are so blessed to have most of our family 25 miles of our driveway.  Since we all live so close, the kids got to see almost all of their grandparents.  Plus, Steven detailed my car.  Wash, wax, vacuum, he even took out both car seats. 

We're getting ready to embark on a very long road trip.  The kids are mini rock stars on road trips so we're actually looking forward to it.  Next week, I'll share where in the world we will be, but in the meantime I have half a week's worth of menu items.   I'm trying to wean you off my elaborate menus (insert sarcasm) 'caue next week, you're on your own.  Don't say I didn't warn you. 

If you're having a mini-panic attack, don't.  I have two solutions for you.  Solution #1: Click on the previous weekly menus under the 'Labels' tab.  There is almost 52 weeks worth of menus.  Hard to believe I've posted what we eat for almost a year.  Even harder to believe that most of you check in on Mondays to see. One of these days, I'm going to throw you for a loop and put something disgusting on there...like a Poo-Poo Platter. OR, you can do Solution #2:  Visit my future BFF's recipe page.  If I were you I'd visit PW's page, but you don't have to worry about that right now.  You have half of a week's menu right here.

Monday-Oven Roasted Chicken and Potatoes, and Parker Rolls with Garlic Butter
Tuesday-Grilled Drumsticks, Garden Salad, and Peas
Wednesday-BBQ Meatballs, Mashed Potatoes, and Cream Corn
Thursday-Turkey Melt Sandwiches with Homemade Fries and Mac-N-Cheese
Friday-No cook-y for me
Saturday-No cook-y for me
Sunday-I'll be cooking, but you don't know where!!!  Okay, I'll give you a hint.  It's not here...

It's somewhere else!

I think I may have given it away.

The Cost

If I had a dollar for everytime I heard someone say, "I wish my husband made more money so I could stay at home like you," or "You don't understand.  We just don't make the money your family does," I'd be loaded!  These comments crack me up every time, because I'm fairly certain these people would hide in a hole if they knew our monthly bring home total.  Don't get me wrong.  We are blessed.  For most people in this world, we are considered rich.  Heck, if you live in a home with running water, you are considered rich.

I really laugh at these comments, because even though I didn't say them out loud, I had those same thoughts before I stayed at home.  I specifically remember asking my SAHM friends how they did it.  When they'd tell me all their different ways, I'd still think, "Yeah, but their husbands must bring home bank."  Now I'm on the other side.  So today I want to talk about the cost to our lifestyle.  I realize some of you may or may not be interested in taking the measures we do, but it works for us.  If anything, I hope you realize that there is a cost to everything whether through sacrifice or money.  Things cost. So here's a little secret to our financial life...

• We eat out about 3 times a month.  Before we used to eat out at least 10 times a month.  At about $20/meal we save $140 a month.
• I scrutinize my grocery/household goods list each week to keep it around $75-85.  Before I spent around $150/week.  That's a savings of about $300/month.  Couponing is not for everyone, but a few hours a week (if that) of my time is worth a $300 monthly savings.
• Every purchase we make is researched for the best price.  For example, we just purchased tires for my car.  If I had accepted the first price I was given, I would have lost money without even knowing it.  Instead, Steven called around for prices of other tire stores in our area.  Once he found the best price, he then called back the place we wanted to do the job and asked if they would match the price.  They did.  $150 saved.  We do this for everything.
• Up until last weekend, we didn't have data plans on our phones {Gasp}.  Steven does now, but I don't. $20/month saved.
• We don't have extra movie channels or DVR {another gasp}.  Another $20/month.
• We both drive older cars.  Steven's truck is a 2004 and I drive a 2006.  We plan on driving them until the wheels fall off or we need a bigger car. No car payments=BIG SAVINGS.
• About every 6 months I review our bills to make sure we are getting the current deals and savings.  Sometimes our bills remain the same, but other times I find a way to get it lowered.

I realize some of you would never want to do what we have done.  I totally understand that.  Others of you make even bigger sacrifices to make your ends meet.  I salute you.  I wish I could completely drop cable, but I just can't.  Even though we watch very little TV, I still like the option to surf through channels.  I do not like to watch shows online.  I will, but prefer not to.  The cost of cable is worth it to us.  However, the cost of DVR is not.  It's all about what conveniences you are willing to pay and what you're not. 

I am SUPER curious to know what you find crazy about my list and what things you do without that ARE on my list.  Other people's lives fascinate me, so tell, tell, tell, and then tell some more! What can I say?  I'm nosy.

Dijon Crumb Coated Chicken and Green Beans

Dijon Crumb Coated Chicken is fairly similar to Parmesan Pork Chops, except it's chicken and the base is different.  When an excess of Dijon mustard showed up in my pantry and no Puerto Rican steaks (the coveted pork chop) in the freezer, this recipe was born.  It turned out delicious, but when is frying something not delicious?  It's a wonder that I'm not 500 lbs given the way I like to eat.  So if you also enjoy all things fried, be sure to try out this little recipe...

Dijon Crumb Coated Chicken
2 eggs
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup instant garlic mashed potatoes
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1-1/2 tsp onion powder
4 chicken breasted
3-4 Tbsp of cooking oil

• In a small bowl, beat together eggs and dijon mustard. 
• In a separate small bowl combing bread crumbs, instant potatoes, parmesan, and onion powder.
• Flatten chicken breasts to 1/4 inch thickness.
• Dip in egg, then bread crumb mixture.
• Place each breast in hot cooking oil for about 8 minutes per side or until juices run clear.

And since you already have out the Dijon mustard, you might as well make the green beans in the picture.  Here's the recipe for those little guys...

Dijon Green Beans
4 cups fresh green beans
2 tsp lemon juice
2 tsp olive oil
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dill weed
1/2 tsp pepper.

• Boil green beans to your desired tenderness. Drain.
• Add remaining ingredients, and simmer on low for 5 minutes.

That's it.  Two recipes in one day.  I'm exhausted. Be sure to check out the Cheesy Biscuits to round out this meal.  Again, it's amazing I'm not 500 lbs. 

Happy Cooking!!!

It's Finished!

Back in February, my wonderful mom, Little Miss, and I took some much needed time girl time and went antiquing.  I purchased an old baby blue window pane for $12.  It was a steal.  I couldn't pass it up.  Even when I tried to pass, it called to me. 

Amanda.  Amanda.  You want me.  Pick me up.  Hold me.  Cuddle me. 

I cannot promise those were his exact words, but it was something along those lines.  The weird part was my mom did not hear anything.  I'm seeking professional help about the voices.  You don't think it's a problem do you?  

Nope.

Did you hear that?  No? 

Okay, definitely seeking help.  While I'm dialing my therapist, you can check out my awesomely hot husband sanding the talking window pane.  He did a good job.  I sat around and drank strawberry lemonade with a little umbrella straw.  It was hard work sucking all that down. 

And here is the finished product...

Now, I have a little quiz for you.  Are you ready?

1. When did I purchase this window pane? 
2. What month is it now?
3. How long did it take me to finish?
4. Should Amanda ever attempt a DIY project ever again?

If you answered "Yes" to question #4, message me 'cause you're gonna need the digits to my therapist!

As you can see a DIY project that takes longer than 5 minutes starts out strong and then fizzles out.  However, I do love it.  It is what I had in mind, and I now know I hate stenciling.  Just sayin'.  On a positive note, I do have another item on my wall.  So maybe now we're down to just 5 additional years before my house is fully decorated.  That's totally doable!