Well, My Husband Loves Me Again!

Okay, so he never actually stopped loving me, but let's just say that there was a source of contention in our marriage.  Any guesses?  Nope, not money.  We don't have any of that to fight over.  Not the kids, unless we happened to be fussing on whose turn it is to brush their teeth (I hate to brush teeth).  Nope, our fight always involved this:

Nice, huh?  Okay, so it wasn't really a fight, but more of a minor annoyance.  Hubby HATES it when I hang my plastic grocery bags on the pantry door.  It drives him NUTS!  So, HE decided to put them in the laundry room.

Ummmmmm, nope!  That's annoying to ME!  I can't even get to my dryer buttons and I have more bags piled on top of my dryer.  UGH!  Okay, so something HAD to be done.  I've been telling Hubby I'd get one of those grocery bag storage hanging thingees (yes, that is the official name), but I kept forgetting to look for one when I went to the store.  BUT, I knew I could make one anyway.  I just haven't had time to get to it, until today.

I kind of winged it with mine using scrap fabric from my stash, but I did find a great tutorial here if you want to make your own. 

So, I didn't really have a problem with hanging the bags on the pantry door, but I must admit that it is much easier to open and close the door now.  I'm just glad Hubby is happy.  You know what they say, "If Papa is happy, maybe he'll give mama a night off from brushing the kids teeth".  That's how the saying goes, right?  No?  Y'all don't say that?  Okay.  Maybe it's just me. 

Shrimp Quesadillas With Tomato Avocado Salsa

As I may have mentioned before, I need to lose a few pounds.  Yep.  I'm a Haus (again, Bonanza reference for you young 'uns).  Anyway, I was recently searching for some low-cal recipes that didn't sound like, well, baked cardboard.  When I came across this recipe at Skinny Taste, I knew it was right up my alley. 

Shrimp Quesadillas with Tomato Avocado Salsa

Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings:

4

• Serving Size:

1 quesadilla •

Old WW Points:

7 pts •

WW Points:

8 pts

Calories: 307.3 • Fat: 16.0 g • Protein: 29.6 g • Carb: 27.3 g • Fiber: 17.8 g


Tomato Avocado Salsa:

• 1 medium tomato, diced
• 1 hass avocado, diced
• 1 lime, juice of
  1 tbsp cilantro, chopped
• 1 tbsp red onion, finely minced
• 16 large shrimp, cleaned and deviened
• cumin
• garlic powder
• salt and fresh pepper
• cooking spray
• 4 scallions, chopped
• 6 oz Cabot's 75% Light Vermont Cheddar, shredded
• 8 (6") low carb whole wheat flour tortillas (I used La Tortilla Factory) 

In a medium bowl, combine tomatores, avocado, red onion, lime juice, cilantro, salt and pepper. 

Season

shrimp with salt, pepper, cumin, and garlic powder. Lightly spray hot skillet on medium heat with cooking spray.  Add shrimp and scallions.  Cook 2-3 minutes on each side until shrimp is cooked through.   Removed from heat and cut shrimp in half lengthwise and set aside.

skillet on medium heat and lightly spray with oil.  Heat skillet on medium heat and lightly spray with oil  Add tortilla, stop with 1.5 oz. cheese, 8 shrimp halves and tomato avocado salsa. 

When the cheese is melted and the bottom of the tortilla is golden brown, place the other tortilla on top.    Put a plate on top of the quesadilla to flip in over onto the plate.  Then slide the other side onto the skillet.  Cook another minute and remove with a spatula.  Cute into wedges and serve immediately.

Okay, so this is usually the part of my post where I apologize profusely for how horrible my photos turned out.  BUT, the above photo turned out pretty well if I do say so myself and I didn't steal it or anything.  Okay, so I won't be a food photographer anytime soon, but it's better than usual, right? 

So, I highly recomment this recipe y'all.  It was crazy good!!!  Check out Skinny Taste for more of Gina's recipes.  She always included calories, Weight Watchers Points, etc.  Gina rocks!

Barbie and Her Big 'Ole Forehead

As you know, silhouettes are popping up everywhere lately.  I've seen art, pillows, cards and many other fabulous things adorned with silhouettes.  Because I needed to add a few things with sleeves to E's school wardrobe, I thought I'd do a t-shirt with a silhouette appliqued on.  Then I thought, how about a Barbie silhouette?  So, I searched google.com for a Barbie silhouette and found this:

Isn't that cute and vintage looking?  I thought she was adorable so I bought a pink t-shirt and went to work.  I got it all finished.  Wanna see?

Ummmmm, does that look funny to anyone else?  It looks like Barbie ran into a door.  Look at that forehead!  My gracious!  She must've been so exausted from her busy day as a veterinarian, nurse and firefighter and moonlighting as an astronaut and dance teacher, that she simply fell over her own feet after changing into her ballgown for a fancy date with Ken, when she turned suddenly after painting on her three eyelashes and ran into the bathroom door.  Yep.  I'm pretty sure that's what happened.  Poor Barbie. 

Okay, so maybe what actually happened is that I forgot to cut out her bangs.  Oops!  Oh well.  Barbie is such a perfectionist.  I guess I don't really feel that bad about knocking her down a peg or two. 

By the way, I did not make E wear the Barbie with a big ole forehead shirt.  I made another one.  It's a few bucks wasted, but at least she won't look like a dork. 

Ah, that's better, right?

First Day of School (Photo heavy)

It seems like just yesterday I was dropping off my teenager at the Kindergarten building.  Yesterday, I dropped off my youngest.  To tell the truth, I've had mixed feeling about school starting.  I was ready for my oldest three to get back in their school routine, especially L (an autistic kid out of his routine is NOT a good thing), but I wasn't quite ready to let go of my last baby.  It seems like just yesterday she looked like this:

Today, she looked like this:

She was pretty excited.  This is the dress she WANTED to wear for the first day, but she had PE Monday which meant she had to wear tennis shoes.  So, we had to change clothes for the next pictures.

She seems pretty happy, right?  I wish that were true for the rest of my little ones.

Getting back in his routine!  WOO HOO!

He's sooooo NOT excited about school!

She just did not have time for all this picture nonsense! 

I'm happy to report that I did not cry (in front of E).  I did cry Sunday night.....a lot.  You can probably tell from the above photo.  Swollen eyes make for a lovely picture.  HA!  Also, E had a GREAT day and loves school, which makes it a whole lot easier on me.  It also helps that my SIL works at their elementary school and kept me updated all day.  E did cry a little this morning when I dropped her off, but was fine before I left the school.  AND, Hubby has the morning off.  WOO HOO!  A few hours of alone time sounds GREAT to me!

Have a great Tuesday!!

First Haircut and I Didn't Cry

So, as I mentioned, school starts Monday.  This was the week to get everything done.  I've been meaning to cut E's hair all summer.  She's never had a haircut before.  She was NOT excited.  I was not excited. But considering she's got just enough natural curl to tangle easily combined with the fact that she rolls around on the floor with the dog and the boys, I knew it HAD to be done.  If not, I would've had to spend 30 minutes a night combing out this child's hair after a sweaty day on the playground at school.  No thanks!  It was time.

See?  Not happy. 

After

It's a little shorter than I had in mind, but we had to do it quickly before she made a run for it.  It makes her look so much older.  Now that it's over, I want to cry a little.  So long pretty little curls.  Hello big girl.  Next stop, kindergarten.  I love C's shorter hair though.  Are y'all's girls sporting the feathers too?

Have a great weekend!

CRAZY WEEK!

Well, it's the week before school, which means it is crazy up in this house.  I've been so busy that this is the first time I've had to even pick up the computer in a few days.  I've spent some of my time shopping and sorting through this:

This is for the youngest three.  My oldest already got most of hers sorted.

Also, our school updated their dress code.  I totally forgot that E, who is starting Kindergarten, can't go sleeveless.  SO, I'm having to start over in the wardrobe department for her.  I bought a few things and I've added appliqued tees to her collection of capris that I had paired with halter tops.  UGH! 

Last night was open house at school.  E, who has been begging for over a year to go to school, got really nervous when we got to the school.  She was NOT excited to be there.

So, I'll be spending as much time as possible with my little ones this week.  I only have five days left with my babies before school starts.  So, I may not be around much.  I've got lots of important things to do, like playing games, getting haircuts and painting toenails.

ALSO, I want to wish my mom a very Happy Birthday!  I'm so blessed God chose you to be my mom!!!  Hope you have a great day!!!  Love you Mom!!!

Getting To Know You Thursday.....Free Time!

So, school starts in eleven days.  While I am very excited about things getting back to "normal" around here, I have mixed feelings about my youngest starting school.  I'm excited because I love watching her grow up, but it breaks my heart that she's not gonna be home with me every day.  The thought of dropping her little sweet/sassy self off at that big ole school is just killing me! 

Hope she doesn't try this pouty look on her teacher. 

Another problem, what in the world am I gonna do all by myself all day?  It's gonna take some getting used to.  I will be working a few days a week, but that leaves several days a week all by my lonesome. 

One thing I'm hoping to do with my alone time, is to get my house somewhat organized and cleaned up.  I'm no June Cleaver.  My house isn't spotless at all times (the people who know me in real life are cracking up right now).  Let's just be honest, shall we?  My house is a PIT right now.  It' AWFUL!  I have so much STUFF.  When you have six people living in 1500 square feet, organization is a must.  I didn't get that organization gene from my mom and the thought of organizing it all is a little overwhelming to me at times.  I'm an EXCELLENT procrastinator which makes the organization even more necessary.  I mean, why go through the mail EVERY day when you can do it once a week and let it pile up on the kitchen counter, right?  Okay, I gotta get a handle on that!  Once I get oganized, I need to clean.  So, I have a date with this guy:

I kind of have a thing for bald guys!

Speaking of dates with bald guys (or balding), I am extremely excited about sharing some of my "alone time" wih Hubby.  My Hubby has to work on the weekends at least twice a month, therefore, he sometimes has days off during the week.  We can get up and get the kids ready, drop them off at school and have date day.  We can go to lunch and hit the early movie or just hang out together all day.  Sounds FABULOUS!  We'll be able to have an entire conversation without stopping forty-seven times in the middle.  WOO HOO!  I can't wait!

I haven't had much time to work out lately either.  L has been out of summer school and I can't take him to the gym nursery so the only workout I've had was helping my BIL and SIL move the other night.  I've GOT to get back to the gym or I'm never gonna look like this:

Okay, I'll never look like Fergie unless there is plastic surgery involved, but you get what I am saying, right? 

The other thing I need to do is work on the projects I've got planned around the house.  I've got to work on the redoing the girls' room.  I've had the fabric for the girls' bedskirts for a month and haven't sewn them up yet.  Gotta get on that!

So, what I wonder is, what do you do with your alone time?  Do you work and get projects done?  Do you hit the spa?  Do you stay at home and relax?  What do you do?

Sew Easy Infinity Scarf Tutorial

So, are you into the whole scarf trend?  I love a cute scarf.  I'm a big fan.  Wanna know why?  Well, I'm not much of a jewelry girl.  I like jewelry, but I'm not good at knowing what goes with what as far as length, etc.  Not to mention that I'm kind of a klutz and tend to break stuff a lot, including jewelry.  BUT, I really need something to draw the eye up - and away from the excess junk in my trunk.  A cute scarf is the perfect solution.  I am especially loving the new infinity scarves.  So cute!

Express

So, I thought I would try and recreate the look and make my own.  My SIL and I made a trip to Joann's the other day.  They had knit fabric on for 40% off.  So, one and a half yards cost $6.48 plus tax and I got two scarves out of that yard and a half.  That's much better than the $29.90 price tag on the scarf pictured above. 

My fabric was 52 inches in width.  I cute four pieces at 12 inches by 54 inches (the yard and a half length). 

Pin the short sides of the fabric together and sew using about 1/2" seam allowance.  If your fabric has a right and wrong side, pin right sides together and sew.  Press the seams out.

Now fold the long sides together - right sides together and pin.

Stitch using about 1/2 inch seam allowance.  Remove pins.  This will leave you with a long tube.  Turn the tube inside out.  This is where it gets a little confusing.  It's not hard to do, just hard to explain.  Take the ends of your long tube and match up your seams.

Now put some pins in from the seam to about half way around the tube.

Now, begin to sew the sides together on the inside of your tube. 

You can tell from the picture that you're kind of flipping the inside out just long enough to sew.  It doesn't have to be perfect since it'll be on the inside.  Sew almost all the way around, leaving about an inch opening to push the seams inside.  You'll be left with this:

Now just blind stitch that opening closed.  All finished!  You can wrap it several times.  The below picture is wrapped three times.

Okay, so I don't look like a fashion model, but you get the idea, right?  Now, I just need to get some more knit fabric.  I'm pretty sure I need one in every color, except yellow.  I look horrible in yellow.  ICK! 

Wanna closer look?

Have a great day!!!

Linking to Amaze Me Monday at Dittle Dattle, Hooking Up with HOH at House of Hepworths, 'Lil Luna Linky Party and Weekend Bloggy Reading at Serenity Now (I apologize that some of the linky buttons are not working)