Oh, Those Hot Summer Nights....

It is hot, hot, hot, here in central Kentucky.  We need rain terribly.  Yesterday, there was a decent shower that lasted less than 10 minutes, and didn't even leave the garden muddy.  We've been watering every morning and every evening, and are getting some produce.  I think the green beans are not going to make it, though.
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Last week, I raided my aunt's blackberry vines.  I made a cobbler, then froze 14 quarts for later use.  I've gotten about a half-gallon of blueberries from my own shrubs, and a handful of strawberries.  The farmer's market is getting a lot of business from us, we adore all the freshness of summer produce.
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Baby update:  It's a boy!  Xander will be here on November 2nd via C-section.  Everything is where it should be, and baby is growing like a weed.  I love feeling those sweet flutters and kicks.  I would enjoy it even more if this morning sickness would stop, and if I could sleep more than 4 hours at a time, though.

School's out, school's out!

Er, well, almost.  Classes officially ended last Friday, and this is Finals Week.  Profs love finals week.  It's the one week out of the semester when all students miraculously care about learning passing classes and turning in all assignments.  Who cares that the paper was due at mid-term, right?  It's finished now, so we profs should drop everything to grade that paper.  I joke, though.  I seriously love my job.  Graduation is Saturday morning, and that's my favorite part:  seeing those bright smiling faces with their newly minted degrees heading out to face the world head-on.  Some of them become friends, and some of them I will  really miss.

That explains a lot...

In my last post, many moons ago, I referred to my February blahs.  I could not understand why I was so run down and tired all the time.  My dad was diagnosed with cancer in early February, so I attributed most of the fatigue to stress.  In mid-March, my husband informs me that my "visitor" skipped in February, so we bought a test, and it was a big, fat POSITIVE.  We kept fairly quiet, because I've had two first trimester miscarriages in the last year and a half, but last week I went in for an ultrasound and saw the baby and heard the heartbeat! I'm currently 12 weeks, and  I'll be having a c-section on November 2nd, unless I go into labor on my own before then.
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On March 25, my dad lost his battle with cancer.  He was only 58, and it was not expected.  His first cancer diagnosis was is 1998, and he was given 6 months to live.  In February 2012, he was diagnosed with a different type of cancer, and lasted approximately 6 weeks.  He passed away in the hospital after surgery to remove the cancerous cells.  The doctor said there was no real explanation, but the surgery was just too much for him.  His heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver all shut down, and Dad had made it very clear that he did not want to live on life support.  My mom had made the decision to stop life support at 9 pm (to allow family time to get to the hospital), and his heart stopped around 8:30, with many family members in the room.  It's hard.  I miss him.

I'm a bad, bad blogger

So, I kinda sorta neglected my blog for the entire month of February.  I had the February blah's, and a complete lack of time to accomplish anything that wasn't totally necessary.  I completed another research course, so I have only 6 classes left until I'm officially Dr. Amanda.  I prepped students for a national sales competition, and traveled with them to Atlanta so they could compete.  We lost, but all three of them made some extremely valuable contacts, and one of them came back with a job offer!  The other 2 are still juniors, but next year they'll be ready. 
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This week is my Spring Break, and I'm on a deep cleaning and decluttering binge.  Unfortunately, this also turns into a "Let's rearrange all the furniture while we're at it" week-long event around here. So far, I've finished Jacob's room, started on decluttering the craft room, and moved a lot of stuff into the garage for a yard sale.  Today, I'm going to finish the craft room, and work on emptying out 2 large bookcases in the living room and consolidating to one small bookcase instead.  I'd also like to deep clean the living room while I'm at.  Tomorrow is bathroom and kitchen day.

Menu Plan Monday, January 9

Another Monday, another menu.

I've been reading about several bloggers who are doing pantry challenges this month, so I decided to limit my grocery shopping and see what we have that I can use up.  Everything this week is made from things I have on-hand.

Monday:  Porkchops, Fried Potatoes, Steamed snap peas, mac n cheese

Tuesday:  Tilapia, Twice Baked Potatoes, Steamed Carrots

Wednesday:  Fried Chicken, Corn on the Cob, Broccoli

Thursday:  Chicken pepperoni (from this recipe), green salad

Friday:  Steak with mushrooms and onions, baked potatoes, green beans

Saturday:  Homemade pizza

Sunday:  Leftover Love!!!

I'm linking up!

Busy as a Bee

The past two days, Steve and I have been working on cleaning out the basement, as part of my resolution to declutter this house from botton to top.  So far, we've hauled out 5 trashbags full of, well, trash, and taken one Equinox-sized load of stuff to Goodwill.  I have some things that are a bit nicer, and I'm setting those aside to take to consignment later this month.  I also have a few things I want to try to sell on Ebay. 
We managed to finish about a third of the basement, and I'm totally counting hauling all of that stuff up the stairs as a workout for today.
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I go back to work on Monday morning, so this weekend we're planning to take things fairly easy.  I have one paper to finish up, but other than that there are no plans. We'll probably hang out and possibly have a pj-Saturday with a movie marathon, or something else low-key.

Eliminating Time Wasters

For me, my biggest time waster is the Internet.  I'll go online to check just one thing, and before I know it, an hour (or two) has passed.  I've alloted myself three hours of internet time each day.  To some, this is a lot, and to others, not very much, but in addition to teaching several online classes, I am also finishing my DBA online.  I also like my social networking very much.  To keep myself from sitting and using all three hours at once, I divide my time into 6-30 minute increments, and set the timer on my microwave to keep me on track.
It generally goes something like this:
7 am:  email, online courses, FB, Twitter
11 am:  research for DBA
2:30 pm:  blogging, FB, email
5:00 pm:  online courses
7:00 pm:  email, research
9:00 pm:  FB, Twitter, DBA
Knowing what I'm doing when each time I'm online works for me!

Tuesday Tunes

Don't you just hate it when you get a song stuck in your head, and can't get rid of it?  I've been cleaning today, and I firmly believe the only way to effectively clean is to blast music and sing loudly off-key.  So here's what I've been listening to today, and the various lyrics that are running randomly through my mind.

• Taio Cruz, Dynamite.  "We gon' rock this club, we gon' go all night"
• Luke Bryan, Do I.  "Do I turn you on and on when I kiss you baby?  Does the sight of me wantin' you drive you crazy?"
• Alanis Morrissette, Ironic.  "It's like raaaaaiiiiiin on your wedding day."
• Skynard, Sweet Home Alabama.  Nuff said.
• Jason Aldean, Big Green Tractor.  "Climb up in my lap, and drive if ya want to."
• Backstreet Boys.  "Backstreet's back, alright!"
• Pussycat Dolls, Dontcha.  "Don'tcha wish your girlfried was hot like me?"
• Tim McGraw, Live Like You Were Dyin'.  "I went skyyyyyy divin, Rocky Mountain climin'"
• Poison, Unskinny Bob.  "Unskinny bop-bop-bop."

So, now you know my dirty little secret. I listen to country music and bad nineties music, and I LIKE it :)

What are you listening to right now?

Menu Plan Monday, January

Because one of my New Year's Resolutions is to only eat out three times each month, I decided to jump on the Menu Plan Monday bandwagon, graciously hosted each week by Org Junkie.  This week, I'm using up a lot of convenience foods, and not doing anything fancy, so no recipes this week.  Breakfasts are usually scrambled eggs and toast, freezer waffles, cereal, oatmeal, or yogurt with fruit.  Lunches are leftovers of sandwiches. 
Monday:  Homemade pepperoni pizza

Tuesday:  Baked Tilapia, Twice Baked Potatoes, Mixed Veggies

Wednesday:  Penne a la Vodka, breadsticks, steamed broccoli

Thursday:  Shake-n-Bake Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes, Applesauce, Green Beans

Friday:  Turkey Casserole (leftover mixed veggies from Tuesday night, frozen cooked turkey left from Christmas dinner, stovetop, and gravy)

Saturday:  Something with chicken.  Dunno what, just yet.

Sunday:  CORN (Clean Out Refrigerator Night).  Our trash pickup is on Monday morning, so this works out quite well.


For more great menu planning ideas, check out Org Junkie!

New Year's Resolutions

For 2011, my resolutions were to lose 43 lbs, spend more quality time with Steve and Jacob, and to finish my doctoral course work to the point of ABD (all but dissertation).  So, how did I do?  I lost 25 lbs, which was 10% of my body weight.  I increased the amount of family time, but there's definately room for improvement there.    And as of October 2011, I am ABD.  Overall, not too shabby!

For 2012, I have the following goals:

• Lose another 40 pounds.  This is less than one pound per week, and completely do-able.
• Spend at least 2 nights per month as family night, either watching movies together or playing games.
• Stop bickering with Steve about stupid things that don't even matter, and neither one of us can recall the next day.
• Pay off the remaining $2K debt, and save $5K this year.
• Continue to work on my dissertation.  The topic is "The impact of social media on the overall marketing efforts of non-profit organizations."
• Stop buying unneccessary crap.  We don't need it, and I have nowhere to store it.
• Declutter this entire house, top to bottom.  Our first home, in 2005, was less than 1000 square feet, and it was comfortable.  Our current house is greater than 3000 square feet, and I feel claustrophobic from all the stuff.
• Blog at least twice each week.
• Read at least one book per week, for pleasure only.  I have two shelves of real books, and several on my Nook, that are just itching to be read.  Non-pleasure reading comes in the form of articles that must be read for the elusive DBA.
• Sew one complete outfit for myself, and one quilt each for our bed and for Jacob's.
• Not buy anymore craft supplies (or makeup, or bath products) until I use what is already here.
• Work out for at least 15 minutes, 3 times per week.
• Only eat out 3 times each month.  Here lately, we've been busy and eating out 3 times each week.  Ugh, hard on the belly and the billfold.
• Manage my time more efficiently to get the most out of each day.

To hold myself accountable for this, I'll be posting goal updates each month.

Christmas, Christmas Time is Here!

I am such a kid at heart.  I love Christmas!  Celebrating the birth of my Savior, keeping secrets, wrapping presents, and spending time in the kitchen making things that are oh-so-bad for you but taste delicious.

This year, I made Mixed Berry Jam for my co-workers.  I like to give them gifts, but need something cost-effective because there are 18 people, excluding myself, in my department!  So, I used a mixture of blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries that I grew over the summer and froze, then filled a jelly jar for each person.  I used red and green ribbon to tie a red cardstock tag to each jar, and used one of the following verses on each tag:
"We wish you a berry Christmas!"
"Have yourself a berry little Christmas!"
"May your days be berry and bright!"

I've also been making Oreo truffles, chocolate covered Oreos, and Cheesecake truffles this year.

Oreo Truffles:
8oz. brick cream cheese, softened
1/2 package of Oreos, crushed (I used generic Kroger brand, and crushed them in a Ziploc with my wooden rolling pin-very therapeutic!)
1/2 brick chocolate almond bark
2 squares vanilla almond bark
Combine the softened cream cheese and crushed cookies until well mixed.  Roll into 1 inch balls and set on wax paper.
Melt the chocolate almond bark.  Dip each ball into the melted chocolate and return to the wax paper.  Melt the vanilla almond bark, and drizzle on top of the chocolate.  To do this, I dipped the tines of a fork into the vanilla, and just flicked it all over the place.  I tried using a cake decorating tip, but it just looked bad.

Chocolate covered Oreos were just dipped in the leftover chocolate almond bark, then drizzled with vanilla.

Cheesecake Truffles (Recipe from Taste of Home's Appetizers and Small Plates)
3 (8oz packages) cream cheese, softened
1 c. sugar
1 c. sour cream
1 t. vanilla extract
3 eggs, beaten
45 lollipop sticks (didn't use these, substituted toothpicks)
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
3 packages (10-12 oz each) vanilla or white chips
Toppings:  grated coconut, grated chocolate, sprinkles, or chopped nuts (didn't use this either)

Line the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan with parchment paper  (didn't use this, I don't have either one in my kitchen.  I used a deep dish pie pan).  Spray with cooking spray.  In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.  Beat in sour cream and vanilla.  Add the eggs, beat on low until just combined.  Pour into pan, bake at 350* for 45-50 minutees until center is almost set.  Cool.  Cover and freeze overnight.  (Ooops, should have read the entire recipe.  I froze for about 3 hours).

Remove from freezer and let stand about 30 minutes.   Place cracker crumbs in a shallow bowl.  Working quickly, scoop cheesecake into 1 inch balls (I knew that Pampered Chef cookie scoop would be useful!  I knew it!)  Roll each ball in crumbs, insert a lollipop stick (or toothpick).  Place on waxed paper lined baking sheets, freeze 1 hour or until firm.

Melt vanilla chips, stir until smooth.  If using topping, place them in shallow bowls. Dip pops in vanilla chips, let excess drip off.  Roll in toppings, place on waxed paper, let stand until set.  Serve with or without lollipop sticks, store in refrigerator.

Also made ham and pineapple kabobs.  My extended family is doing an appetizer/finger food in lieu of a formal dinner.  To make:  Bake a ham and cut into chunks that are roughly one inch.  Drain a can of pineapple chunks.  On each skewer, thread one ham chunk, then 2-3 pineapple chunks (depends on the size of your skewer).  Repeat layers, ending with one ham chunk. 

So, what's in your kitchen?

Elation and Heartbreak, or, A Typical October Week

Note:  I began this post in early November, but was unable to finish it until now.

Apparently, I am only capable of getting pregnant in the month of September.  Jacob, my nine year old, was concieved in September 2001.  In September 2010, my husband and I found out we were expecting our second child.On October 28, 2010, we went in for our first doctor's appointment, and found out that the pregnany had failed due to a blighted ovum.  We were completely devastated.  A year passed, and in early October 2011, we found out about pregnancy number 3.  Obviously, I was concerned, and the doctor ordered bloodwork to check my hcg levels every 48 hours.  The first two were doubling as was expected, and as is good, but the third had dropped.  The next day, the spotting began.  A fourth blood sample revealed even lower hcg levels.  This time, it was a chemical pregnancy.  Call it what you will, it just plain sucks. 

Some will insist that it was so early both times, neither pregnancy "counts" because a baby had not yet developed, and no heartbeat was heard.  This people can kiss my grits.   Both pregnancies, to me, were real.  They counted.  Yes, I am grieving.  Yes, I am angry at the world right now.  Yes, I continue to count my blessings, and am grateful for the child I do have.  But it is so unfair!  I really think I would rather be unable to concieve, than to be able to concieve, but not carry a viable pregnancy to term.

My husband and I had already discussed, after the first miscarriage, that if it happened again, we would look into adoption.  We have pretty much decided on domestic adoption through an agency.  We have talked to DFS about adopting through the foster care system, and possibly adopting an older child, but were told that with foster care, reuinification with the birth family is the ultimate goal (obviously, under certain circumstances, it isn't), and that we could have a child with us for a year or longer, then have that child retuned to the birth family.  For that reason, we decided to use an adoption agency and try for a newborn.

The One With the Introduction

Friends fans will recognize the style of the title.  I'm Amanda, married to Steve.  We have one child, Jacob, who is 9 years old.  Toss in a poodle named Patrick, and a cat named Mittens, and there you have our little family.  I'm obviously a fan of the show Friends, and I also enjoy watching Law and Order:  SVU. I watch TLC when I want to feel good about myself.   I'm a full-time workin' momma, teaching college students all about the joys of marketing.  I have an MBA in the subject, and God willing, will have my doctoral degree finished in about 2 more years.    I enjoy crochet, reading good books (your definition of a good book may be different than mine, I like the ones with smut and a plot ;)), and cooking.  I try to live a frugal lifestyle, but I like to splurge on mani-pedis as finances allow.  In our current state, Steve and I will be debt-free, with the exception of our mortgage, right about the time I become Dr. Amanda.  The mortgage will take about 5 more years, so seven total.  On top of all that, I do some freelance marketing consulting on the side.

In addition to the things above, I'll be posting about whatever crosses my mind.  It could include politics (rarely, but maybe.  In case you're wondering, I'm a fairly conservative Democrat), religion (I'm Christian), weight loss (I'm on Weight Watchers), cooking, not cleaning, and organization for the clutter-challenged folks like me.

To quote Porky Pig, "Th-th-th-that's all, folks!"