#55

This is so disgusting, I am SOOOOO completely embarrassed of posting this....cleaning out the INSIDE of my oven!!! My mom told me about (well gave me the rest of her can) of EASY OFF Oven Cleaner...and boy does it work! I sprayed it on and let it sit (it said for 2 hours, or over night) for about 5 hours and then wiped it down. The only this I wish is that I had a scouring pad or steel wool or something for the spots that a sponge wouldn't scrub off. Oh well, next time. This is def. a better start than what my oven was...like I said DISGUSTING!!! We have lived here 4 years and I have never cleaned the oven...WHOOPS! That is never on my cleaning list...I guess it needs to be at least twice a year!!! View at your OWN risk!

BEFORE

BEFORE: door

After....like I said, I need a scouring pad to get some stuff that is REALLY stuck on there!

Much better though

Big improvement!

Facebook Recovery

So I just reset my email address but have to wait 24 hours to help protect my account...DUMB!

No Facebook for 45 days straight!

WHOOHOO! I did it! I stayed off FB for 45 days straight...the problem now is I forget my password :( and my account is linked to my old Western Oregon email address. Now this could become a problem :)

#43

L.O.V.E.D. it...

Makes me want to improve our eating habits OH SO BADLY!! One step at a time I am sure going to try!!

#89

Tonight my palate was wanting spaghetti w/ meatballs. So I decided to make my own since every time I have ever bought them (VERY RARE) I have thought they tasted too fatty and basically melt in my mouth (which in my opinion meat SHOULD NOT do that). So Brynn and I were at Trader Joe's and I decided to buy ground turkey. When we got home, I took out my handy dandy recipe finder aka google and searched for baked turkey meatballs and this is the easy recipe I found.

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground turkey

1 egg lightly beaten

1/4 cup bread crumbs

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. oregano

1 tsp basil

1 1/2 tsp. parsley

1 tsp. garlic powder

cooking spray

foil

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

2.) Combine all ingredients in bowl (besides cooking spray & foil) :) Mix well.

3.) Line baking sheet with foil and spray w/ cooking spray

4.) Shape and roll meatballs into about 1 1/2" balls and bake 20-25 minutes or until down in the middle.

Katy's Alterations:

Of Course I NEVER have everything a recipe calls for because I never look at the recipe before deciding to go to the store to make it. So I didn't have all the individual spices so I used an italian seasoning mix instead. I also didn't having garlic powder, but had garlic salt so I used that instead of the garlic powder and reg. salt.

I would def. make these again. It is kinda gross seeing the fat that comes out of them when they cook...however, I guess it's better that way :)

Here they are all ready to go in the oven...the BEST part was the recommendation to cover the pan w/ foil. This made for SUCH easy clean up :)

One little meatball :)

Here they are after about 25 minutes in the oven...see what I mean about a little gross...they tasty delicious though!

Plated w/ the rest of dinner...

Brynn and mommy having a little dinner date cause Daddy wasn't home from work yet...

<3 this girl food in teeth and all!

#97

Kale

From Trader Joe's

Sauted in a tad of olive oil & water w/ salt & pepper to taste.

I wasn't real sure how long to cook it...I steamed it for a bit then the package said to let it cook w/o the lid, so I did. I thought it was okay. I didn't think Jer would like it but I made him try it anyways and he said it was alright. I was pumping him w/ how good it is for you :) (probably before I cook it) Maybe next time I can hide it in a smoothy or something...:) Brynn even had some...she had to before having dessert :)

#94

I am VERY embarrassed to even be posting this however it is part of my journey I guess....

Here is my candle cupboard when I opened it to begin my organizing....the sad part is, it used to be very organized. Then one day I needed something out of there that was near the bottom and a pile crashed over and at the time I didn't have time to clean it up...and it was a DOWN HILL spiral from there!!

So this is where I start...EEEEK!

My first task...to take everything out. (and of course I had a helper). I just realized I didn't take a pic of it completely empty. Oh well. It has carpet in the inside so I vacuumed it out cause there were little dirt pieces near the edge.

Here is the remaining stuff that came out...

In the process of cleaning out, I realized I needed storage containers so it didn't end up a jumble again. So Brynn and I took a walk to the Dollar Tree and bought 3 new small baskets.

Here is how it ended up. Yes I know, I still have a candle holder filled with odds 'n' ends votives and tealights...however, I figured at least they are all in one place since none of them have boxes :)

Near the back are some larger hurricanes and such that get brought out sometimes...My most favorite part is the way I have organized the boxes of tealights...now I can see what the names are and just pull out the box without all the others tumbling down around it :)

Here is the pile of stuff i am getting rid of! YEAH! I was able to PURGE!!!!

What I have realized is...I need to throw another Partylite Party in order to renew my supply :) He he

#89

Tonight on my drive home from work I was thinking about what I was going to make for dinner. I knew we had pork chops in the freezer and a box of scallop potatoes in the cupboard...and that seemed to be okay. Then I remembered last night I had made homemade baked french fries and had peeled 2 potatoes too many so I had put them in the fridge to use later. So instead of pulling out the box of scallop potatoes I decided to make my own! Just like anytime I need a recipe, I pulled out my computer and google search scalloped potato recipes and this is what I found...

A basic scalloped potatoes recipe baked in the oven.

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Yield: Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients:

• 4 cups thinly sliced potatoes, about 6 to 8 medium potatoes
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups scalded milk
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Preparation:

In a buttered 2-quart baking dish, place a layer of about 1/3 of the potatoes. In a cup or small bowl, combine flour with salt and pepper. Sprinkle about half of the flour mixture over the potatoes; repeat with another layer of potatoes and the flour mixture and top with remaining potato slices. Dot with butter then pour hot milk over potatoes. Cover and bake at 375° for 45 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle cheese over the top. Return to the oven and bake, uncovered, for an additional 15 minutes, or until scalloped potatoes are tender and cheese has melted. Scalloped potatoes serves 6 to 8.

Here is the link: http://southernfood.about.com/od/scallopedpotatoes/r/bl30129v.htm

I wasn't real sure how big a 2 quart pan was so I just used my 8x8 glass dish. And just like always, I didn't measure the amount of potatoes I used. I think I used 6 or so small/med. ones peeled. Here it is ready to go into the oven (minus the foil)

I set the timer and off to prep the pork chops I went. When I put the pork chops in, the oven was beginning to smell delicious, but once the timer went off after 45 min. I realized the milk had boiled over and made a complete burnt mess inside the oven and all over the edge of the pan...bummer. But I kept going. I added the cheese and stuck it back in the oven for 15 additional minutes.

(I forgot to take a pic before putting it back in the oven)

Here it is after 15 more minutes:

(notice the burnt edges)

Overall I think these were a hit. I thought they were delicious! I think next time I will add some garlic though!!! P.S. it was SUPER easy...besides the 2 year old I was having to walk around while cooking...here are a few pics of her "cooking" like mommy :)

#2

13 weeks

Due April 6th, 2012

Lines through my items

For some reason near the end of my 101 list I realized there are slashes through a lot of items that I have not completed...I am afraid to get rid of it cause I don't want them to disappear. I think I have blogged about all items I have completed so I guess that is how I can really see what is done and what I still need to do :)

#12

Giving up Facebook for 45 days straight. Day I decided to do it...October 2nd. So my official first day will be October 3rd. :) I am hoping to be more productive...maybe read some of the books on my list and maybe get my house back in shape. I find FB takes over my down time sometimes. I am always so curious what others are up to, that I get lost in FB looking at pictures and such. I am excited to do this...and yes I will want to get on and see what people are doing, but know it is an addiction I need to get rid of :) Maybe after the 45 days I will realize I don't really need it anyways :) I am sure now that I won't be posting on FB. I will write more on my blogs...I do have 2...this one and then my regular blog...anyhoo...here goes nothing. Now what am I going to do with myself today?!?! It is rainy out, Brynn is still sleeping and Jerret is working.....

#87

For our anniversary Jerret and I went golfing. We went to Sandalee (sp. not so sure). I was OH SO NERVOUS as I hadn't played in years and years! But after the first hole or 2 I felt a lot less nervous and actually didn't play too horrendous! (except the VERY last hole)

the very first hole...my 2nd or 3rd shot and Jerret's 1st shot :(

In the middle...my first shot and there is the green!

Same shot...Jerret's 1st shot...mine was FURTHER!! WHOO HOO!!!

Thanks MOM for letting me borrow your clubs!

annual anniversary shot :)

Our scores...I think I shot a 68 though...but really when it is this high what does it really matter :)

#58 (from waaaaay back in March)

I am not sure why I never blogged this one...but on Saturday, March 19th, I planned a play date for our house. I invited some of my friends who have kids around Brynn's age. The guests who came included: Auntie Kelly (she helped me set up everything), Auntie Anna, Gabby & Miles, Kellie, Kaden & Karter, Chrissy, Evan & Drew, Michelle & Josie and Katie & Kamryn. It was fun to get some moms together and even more fun to get the kids together. I had some snacks for the kids, an easter painting activity and then of course toys. It lasted about an hour and half or so which was plenty of time. I think it was good for Brynn to have to share her toys with other kids:) Here are just a couple pics from that day...

well I can't seem to find the pics right now...so it will have to wait :)

#97

Parsnip

I first tried it at my moms house. She sauteed it with mushrooms, zucchini and onions. It is VERY delicious. It is sweet like a sweet potato (I think). I have eaten it 2 more times since the first time I tried it about 2 weeks ago. I think it is YUMMY!!!

#58

Today Brynn and I went to Michelle & Josie's house. The girls loved playing the water together. Both of them are only children and almost every time one of them had something the other wanted all you could hear was "mine" "mine" "mine" Michelle commented how it sounded like the seagulls on Finding Nemo. Too funny :) Here are a few pics of the girls playing.

Pool with a slide...

Slip 'n' Slide....

Swing :)

#77

Today Jerret vacuumed the Yaris while I wiped down everything inside! It feels so good to have a clean car again!! Jerret is going to take it up to the $5.00 carwash up the road so it can sparkle on the outside like it does in the inside :)

Jerret vacuuming the back...

the front, part way done...the shadows are really weird though...

Hopefully I will keep this up for the next 5 months!!! :)