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!"