Menu Monday

Weekend for the weekend?  Yes please!  So much fun crammed into two days leaves a mom and dad pooped.  However, watching the kids' excitement for each event was worth it.  Bags under my eyes...kids happiness...eh...kids win out.  Who am I kidding?  I've had bags since Chubby Cheekers popped out.

Speaking of Chubby Cheekers.  He's turning ONE on Saturday!

I have so much to share with you this week.  From Little Man's first girly birthday party to our annual Valentine's dates with our kids, I want to share it all.  I even want to share what it's like to prepare for your last child's first birthday party.  Excuse me while I bawl my eyes out.  Seriously, I'm tearing up.  Better get to the menu...

Monday-Pizza Bread and Salad
Tuesday-Key West Grilled Chicken, Black Bean Corn Salsa, The Bread
Wednesday-Fried Pork Chops, Baked Potatoes, Corn
Thursday-Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole and Buttered Bread
Friday-BBQ Chicken, Green Beans, Garlic Knots
Saturday-Dinner Out for Chubby Cheekers' B-Day
Sunday-Sweet and Sour Chicken and Asian Noodles

Granola

WARNING:  If you have a squeamish stomach DO NOT click on the link.  

A few months back my friend, Erica and I were running.  She was talking about something (I really can't remember as I'm sure I was sucking wind) and mentioned someone being 'granola'.  Uh what?  Granola?  What the heck is that?

Since I'm not one to pretend to know what's going on when I don't, I stopped her.

What the heck is granola?

After she finished laughing at me she said, "You know, someone earthy.  Whole Foods-ie.  Granola."

Gotcha.

Fast forward a month or so and we were headed to some nutrition talk for marathon runners.  I was attending for Steven's sake, and she was there because she's, well, crazy.  Anyway, one of my favorite passed times is shocking people with news.  I mentioned to her that I read on Facebook about a friend of a friend who did a home birth and buried her placenta in the backyard.  

Then I paused to watch her face.  It was awesome.  She was grossed out and shocked and then starting thinking about people she knew who did home births and whether or not they buried their placentas.  She was going to ask them.

Then I said, "Hey, let me know.  Maybe they even ate it."

Then she said, "Oh my gosh.  That is so gross.  Who does that?"

Then I said, "People do.  Apparently it's full of nutrients."

That totally grossed her out.  I watched her face.  It was majorly contorted.  It was even awesomer than the first 'shocked' face. My day was complete.

Long story short, every time I hear the word 'granola', I can't help but think of that conversation of people eating their placentas.  So much so that when Erica mentioned on Facebook that buying part of a grass fed, no-antibiotic cow made her feel 'granola', I couldn't help but ask if she was going to eat her next placenta.

Yeah, probably not the best place to joke about that.  Who am I kidding?  That's totally the best place to joke about that!  I am pretty ornery.  Erica, however, did not want to gross out all of her personal clients, as the thread was on her private business page, so she clarified that I was joking...and nasty (I can't argue with that one).

Since I was outed, I had to go one step further.  For the record, I called Erica after posting the link to be sure we're still friends.  She hasn't gotten back to me yet.  I don't know why.  I only posted this...

Placenta Recipes

And what's a blog post without pics, right?

No, my friends, that is NOT a meatball sub.  Yeah, I just upchucked too.  Gets me every time!

Would it be wrong to say, "Happy Cooking" at the end of this post?

NEW Winner!

The $10 Rhea Lana Spending Cash went unclaimed. The new winner chosen at random is...

ALICE!!!

Alice, please email me at wispclips@hotmail.com by noon tomorrow (Thursday, February 7th) to claim your prize!!!

An Easy Dinner...Southwestern Chopped Chicken Salad

I'm not sure if I've ever announced my undying love for Pinterest.  Have you ever heard me talk of Pinterest?  Oh, right.  You have.  Well, here's another goody.

I would like to introduce you to the Southwestern Chopped Chicken Salad.

{Pic via Pearls, Handcuffs, and Happy Hour}

Besides the fresh flavors bursting out on your taste buds, the salad is super easy to put together.  I chopped everything and tossed it in a bowl, and made the dressing 4 hours prior to dinner time.  It was liberating.  Since it's been in the upper 60's 'round these parts, I was able to play with the kids outside.  When dinner time rolled around, all I had to do was mix in the dressing and crunch in the chips.  Viola!  Dinner served (aside from the fresh fruit salad I had to throw together).  

The kids initially turned their noses up because it doesn't look too appealing, but one bite had them shoveling the salad into their pie holes at speeds I rather not discuss.  I'm still trying to recover from that visual.  What was even better was Chubby Cheekers was able to snack on the black beans, corn, and chicken while we ate.  I'm also trying to recover from what I discovered in his diaper this morning.  Let's just say, corn and the shells of the black beans DO NOT digest well...and they smell gross.  The end.

I bet you are really going to enjoy this salad now!!!  You're welcome ;)

Happy Cooking!!!

If you are feeling rather ambitious, use THIS recipe to make your own taco and ranch seasoning.  You more than likely have all the ingredients on hand and it takes just a minute to throw it together.

Giveaway Winner and Hookers

I'm sure most of you didn't show up at Torres Tidbits to read about hookers, but that's what you are going to get AFTER I announce the winner of Rhea Lana of South Tulsa's $10 Spending Cash.

Drumroll Please....

Nicole Turrel Hardenburgh

Congratulations, Nicole!!!  Please email me at WispClips@hotmail.com by noon tomorrow (Wednesday, February 6th), and I will tell you how to claim your prize.  If for some reason the prize goes unclaimed, I will randomly choose another winner Wednesday late afternoon.

Now onto hookers.  My story really has less to do with this...

...and more to do with this...

So yesterday I went to the dentist first thing in the morning.  Let's not discuss the act of Congress it takes for me to actually make an appointment, let alone get there.  That's a whole other day and a whole other topic.  

I digress.

At my dentist appointment, I get a few texts coordinating where I'll meet my sis-in-law to pick up the boys for the day.  We decided to meet at Steven's office since that's where I was going to pick up Little Miss and Chubby Cheekers.  After Steven and I trade vehicles and I get the nephews loaded up, we head home.

I'm just driving when Chunkey Monkey strikes up an unusual conversation.

CM:  Hey Aunt Amanda?

Me:  Yes, honey?

CM: I'm going to get me a hooker.

Stop here. For the life of me, I have not a clue where this came from.  I'm thinking maybe my BIL was discussing a case (he's a police officer) and he overheard something.

Me:  A what?

CM:  I'm going to get a hooker so I can climb that mountain over there.

Me:  Ohhhhh, right.  That's great, honey.

CM:  Little Miss, I'm gonna buy you a hooker too.

Now I lived through the year that Little Man referred to his scooter as his cooter, but this is a whole new realm of embarrassment.  I'm just very thankful this time the conversation occurred within the safety of my car.  If for some reason hookers come up again, say in about 15 years, I'll have some serious concerns.  Until then, we'll keeping working on the vocabulary...and laugh at the mix-ups.

Menu Monday

~Rhea Lana of South Tulsa Giveaway ends tonight!!! Be sure to enter HERE.~

A few hiccups from last week's menu.  Friday night rolled around and I didn't have it in me to cook.  I needed to go to the store.  It was basketball practice night.  Time seemed to fly by at lightning speed.  Mazzio's was calling my name.  Not to mention the coupon sitting in my binder.  Pizza it was.

All of this to say, you'll see some repeats from last week.  I'm okay with that.  Less planning for this week.  Yeah buddy!

Monday-Southwestern Chopped Chicken Salad and Fresh Fruit
Tuesday-Creamed Chicken and Biscuits, Green Beans
Wednesday-Sloppy Joe Hashbrowns and Broccoli and Cheese Casserole
Thursday-Mexican Lasagna and Guacamole
Friday-Hamburgers, Potato Crispers, Salad
Saturday-Dijon Crumb Coated Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans
Sunday-Dinner at Mom's

Rhea Lana of South Tulsa: GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Rhea Lana of South Tulsa

February 10th-16th

Hard to believe, but February is here!  The month of love, and I LOVE Rhea Lana.  I love consigning and checking out the good deals.  It's not to late for you either.  You still have time to gather your items, tag them, and enter them in the database before the February 8th and 9th Drop Off Dates.  I know I have already told you how my two hours of work paid out, but I have another reason for you to consign at Rhea Lana of South Tulsa.  If you tag your items in store, they are INSURED!!!  If an unsold item is not able to be found after the sale, you will be paid for the lost item.  Just read the experience of one consignor...

Last Fall, I consigned with Rhea Lana of South Tulsa.  I tagged my items in-store and therefore was guaranteed money if an item got lost or stolen.  When I went to pick up my items, my somewhat expensive item was unable to be located.  She took time to search all over, but couldn't find it.  She paid me cash for the item before I left.  She did not make me feel bad about it and apologized for not being able to locate the item.  Amazing customer service!  You don't get that guarantee with other sales in town.

~Dawn Chesser, Rhea Lana of South Tulsa Consignor

Here's the deal. Lost and/or stolen items are a rarity at Rhea Lana of South Tulsa.  The women work diligently to care for your items.  However, isn't it nice to know you are taken care of with a high level of customer service in the incident something slips away?  I just love that!

As for shopping, well, I shouldn't need to to convince you to go.  Just go.  You'll thank me!  Great items, great prices.  Need I say more?  

Don't forget you can get an early shopper pass for volunteering and in some instances you can have your consignor fee waived.  Check it out HERE.

BUT, I'm not here to really discuss consigning or volunteering.  Those are just simple reminders.  Today I'm here to GIVEAWAY some CASH courtesy of the Rhea Lana of South Tulsa owners!  A free TEN DOLLARS...$10.00...TEN DOLLARS to spend at Rhea Lana of South Tulsa's Spring Sale!  I love free.

So here's how you enter...

• Be sure to 'LIKE' Rhea Lana of South Tulsa on Facebook.
• Leave a comment on THIS blog post.  Tell me if you're consigning.  Tell me if you're shopping.  Tell me anything.  Just comment.*
• All entries will be accepted through Monday, February 5th @ 8:00pm.  Winner will be announced Tuesday, February 6th @ 6:30am.

*If you have difficulties leaving a comment please try typing your comment and your name in the comment box, then click the 'Anonymous' button.  Sometimes comments take a while to appear.  You may also leave your comment on the link that posted on the Rhea Lana of South Tulsa Facebook page.

Good LUCK!  

I sure wish I could win this prize.