Wonderful Wednesday

Well, here we are at "Wonderful Wednesday" again!  Ha!  I am still not completely in love with this day's title.  Anyways, I do have two new wonderful ideas to tell you all about. Neither one of them I thought of, but I sure wish I would have!  I'm just spreading the word on these....


1. One of my friends had this brilliant idea that is getting us out of cooking one night a week.  What we are doing (we just started this week) is doubling our batch of whatever we make for Tuesday night's dinner.  Then when we see each other on Wednesday morning at our usual mom/kid get together, we swap the meals, so no cooking on Wednesday night!  It's just a reheat and voila!  Sweet, huh?  I'll admit at first I was slightly hesitant because I have to put a little more thought into whatever we eat on Tuesday.  In other words, something that is good reheated and hopefully tastes good enough to give to a friend.  So far so good!  We decided to put them in coolers since we weren't going immediately back home.  We will then just rotate coolers each week.  The arranged dinner deal went down this morning and I now don't have to cook tonight!  Woo hoo!  Hopefully, you may know of a friend or coworker that you could go in with and also give this a try!


2. Crock Pot Girls.  Have you heard of them yet?!  This idea has such an eye-catching name and has literally become an overnight sensation. These three women in Texas started a Facebook page only around 10 days ago and they already have over 750,000 likes!  Crazy!  They have also started a website as well, www.crockpotgirls.com, and on both sites people can post their favorite crock pot recipes.  I'm all excited to get my crock pot out and give some of those recipes a whirl.  I see there are other crock pot pages as well on Facebook, but these ladies hit the jackpot with their catchy name I think. The jackpot of crock pot ideas. Hmmm. I just can't help but wonder, why didn't I think of that?!  I'm sure they are having a lot of fun with it and may even have some advertisers in line for their site.  Too cool.  Check it out!


Have a Wonderful Wednesday everyone!:)

Tasty Tuesday

Today's recipe is so easy that everyone might already know this one.  You may in fact turn your nose up at it and say "come'on Tasha, why don't you just tell us how to make a frozen pizza?"  I debated whether or not to throw this one out there because it is embarrassingly easy.  One of the very first things I learned how to make. Before I met Chad, I really did not cook at all.  In fact, I lived with three other girls who witnessed me live with them for a year and probably not use the kitchen ever....other than to maybe see what they were eating or to pour myself a bowl of cereal.  While in Bloomington, IL, I ate either Panera or Lucca Grill (love that place) almost every night!

When I did start to cook, once I was with Chad, I remember calling my past roommates practically in tears from the grocery store.  I was completely overwhelmed and asking them what I should make for dinner.  Now I can breeze through shopping and load up a cart with a toddler during toilet-training, but that's another story.

Anyways, I decided to go ahead and post it because maybe someone reading this is doing the same thing I once was.  Maybe they are in a different stage of their life and that is working for them, but they could use a recipe.  It could be a possibility too that someone really great in the kitchen just needs another easy go-to meal.  So here it is....the beloved pizza casserole recipe.

Pizza Casserole
Ingredients:
1 lb of ground beef or ground turkey
1 can of 14.5oz diced tomatoes
1 pkg of Pillsbury refrigerated pizza crust
1 pkg of shredded mozzarella cheese 
Throw in any or all of these add-ins: 
  Mushrooms
  Olives
  Onion
  Peppers
  Pepperoni slices

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Spray a casserole dish with cooking spray, and spread out your pizza crust bringing it up on the sides.
3. Brown the ground meat or turkey. Then throw in all your extra...tomatoes, olives, mushrooms, etc.  
4. Pour the meat and topping mixture on top or the crust. Do NOT add cheese yet. 
5. Bake it for 12 minutes.
6. Take it out and top with cheese.
7. Bake it for another 5 minutes.

Easy Pizza Casserole. 

Hey, I never said I'm Giada.  It's just a recipe worth sharing on this Tasty Tuesday.  Enjoy!:)

On A Mission Monday

The Baby Book...Part One.

In case you are unfamiliar with my "On a Mission Mondays",  I pick one little project to complete by the next Monday and then I share it on here.  So last Monday, my "little" project was to get caught up on my daughter's baby book.  She's two.  Yep, I had fallen quite behind.  Lots of memos saved, pictures to be put in...I have it all...just not in the book.  Well, this week I'd say my mission was 90% completed.  I had two choices on this one..... fess up and admit that I did not complete it, or lie and act like I did.  I was a little tempted to do the second, but not really.  That would defeat the purpose of my Monday blog.  I feel less guilty by just telling the truth too. Believe me, I already have enough mom guilt that I have put the whole thing off for this long.

It is taking me "Baby Steps" to complete this book!

The good thing is that I did jump in and it will be done this week.  Without a doubt, this week I will be able to close it and say it is up-to-date.  The baby book I purchased was one I chose before I had an actual baby.  I wanted one that was fairly plain so I could decorate it and do as I wanted with it.  Make it unique, I thought.  Well, again it was before baby.  I don't think I realized how much time and energy a child requires.  Most of the first year I was sleep deprived and not able to do all that I wanted with her book.  Lesson learned.  Although, with (hopefully) our next child I will want to do the same.  So the major lesson learned is to keep up with milestones as they occur.  This way I won't be blogging excuses for why I am behind!:)

One thing I added that I love is this collage of all of Blake's favorite books over the past couple of years.  It is front and back.  I was able to fit about 15 or so on each side, and I may just add more books in or add another page.  All of these books make me smile when I think of how she reacted to each one.  I smile when I think of how she learned to turn the pages, what she called certain characters as she began to talk, her pointing and saying "what's that?", and how they often saved my sanity while in the car or on a shopping trip.  I scanned each one into our computer then just adjusted their sizes.

Selections from our little bookworm's library.  Memories for a lifetime.

So I need an extension on this one!  This is a good mission for this week though anyways because we have family coming to visit for the weekend.  This will give me today, Tuesday, and Wednesday to finish.  I can prep for visitors Thursday and then just enjoy the weekend.  So stayed tuned please!  To be continued!  I didn't realize this would be a two part edition for my Monday blog, but it is.  Better go now, so I can get back to the book!

Family Fridays

What We've Been Up to Lately...


I'd say this week went by quickly for us.  I feel like I just wrote last Friday's post and here we are again.  We had our basic routines of work and play.  Sometimes play can still feel like work though. At least it sure did for me this morning at a bounce house full of toddlers.  Mommy was more worn out than Blake without question.  All that bouncing, chasing, and disciplining makes me question who really needs that afternoon nap more!


Anyways, last Sunday we had our pictures taken by professional photographer so that was something new.  This was a first for us.  We take lots of pictures ourselves that we like, but we've never actually paid anyone to take any (except one time at The Picture People when they were having a deal). I see lots of great photos that families have taken. I just never have been dying to spend the money or time getting them done.  


Well, it was actually a lot of fun and I'm glad we did it.  We'll see how they turn out.  We were in an outside setting near some horse stables.  It was still kind of hot out being 91 degrees, and it's not easy getting a two year old to always follow direction, but we did it!  I originally did not want to be all in the same color, because when are we ever?  However, after unsuccessfully putting together a mix of outfits, I settled on all white after all.  This particular photographer does "lifestyle shots", not really posed, just us hanging out.  Hopefully soon we'll get to see our shots, and I'll share them on here.  It will be us in our all white shirts, just hanging out by the horse stables, like most days. ;)


This pic is one I snapped on my phone when we were all done. It's a little fuzzy, and by no means professional looking.  However, I find it to be "the real lifestyle shot".   It's a little more of our real day to day. Monitoring what is going in, and when it is coming out...... :)

Thoughts for Thursday

Deep thoughts, random thoughts...just some thoughts for Thursday.

Random thoughts today.  I had been reflecting on how fun it has been to start blogging again.  I named my blog when I started it last year.  "Daily Cup of T" just came to mind because I was playing around with different ideas... and my name is Tasha....and it starts with a T...my cup of T.....no....Daily Cup of T....and that was it.  It works.  Am I a tea drinker?  No.  I am highly addicted to coffee.  Only pregnancy can get me to cut down my intake and even then I still switch to decaf just so I can drink more of it. Anyways, I have always thought that maybe drinking tea is the healthier thing to do.  So I looked into it....

Some benefits to drinking tea as found on eatdrinkbetter.com: 

1. Contains antioxidants. 
2. Can lower stress hormone levels.
3. Fights cavities and reduces plaque. 
4. Keeps you hydrated. 
5. May reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack. 
6. Can help lower blood pressure. 
7. Aids your body in digestion.
8. May help prevent diabetes.
9. Can help beat bacteria. 
10. Aids your immune defenses. 

Some benefits to drinking coffee as found in an article here on HubPages:

1. Antioxidant Rich
2. Magnesium Rich
3. Anti Bacterial and Anti Adhesive Qualities 
4. Promotes Digestion
5. Improves Athletic Endurance and Performance 
6. Decreases Depression
7. Decreases Your Chance of Developing Parkinson's Disease
8. Decreases you Risk of Developing Colon Cancer
9. Offsets the Damaging Effects of Smoking
10. Treats Asthma and Headaches
11. Reduces Your Risks of Liver Disease

Seriously, these are just two sources of a bazillion sites out there either boasting of reasons to drink tea or coffee. Team Tea has reasons against Team Coffee, and vice versa.  At the site, The Color of Tea.com, they compare both and at least conclude it can just come down to preference.  


I think I am just relieved that coffee isn't all that worse than tea.  I did learn from most sites that there are four basic types of tea and that I have always pronounced one wrong.  There's white, green, oolong (which is wu long), and black.  So where does Earl Grey fit in?  I have had my fill on researching tea for the day.  Maybe I will pick up some tea the next time I'm at the store and give'em a try.  Right now I'm going to wrap up this post and go refill my coffee. :)

Wonderful Wednesday

So I kind of felt like "The Wednesday Write-Up" sounded boring.  I am stumped for a hump day title, but that's okay.  This week I thought I'd go with Wonderful Wednesday because while I write about something new I find of interest...whether it's a book, movie, website, whatever...I realized I probably will only pick something I like.  Something I find to be a little bit wonderful possibly.  Next week I may change my mind on this, but let's just go with it.


I was recently told by a friend that I must check out this website that has this awesome system for photo organization. Something that is suppose to simplify and take away the guilt we feel when we are behind with pictures, etc.

A system that is less involved than scrapbooking (or, ahem, say a baby book)....

Guilty.

yet more involved than simply letting your photos stay in your computer or in your camera.....

Guilty again.

What is this wonderful system or website you ask?  It's called "Project Life", and it can be found at beckyhiggins.com.  It looks awesome!!!  Check out the video and site for a more in depth explanation.  I can't tell you my honest opinion on it all yet, because I do not yet have it.  My mission for next Monday is to have Blake's baby book up to date.  Shortly after that though, I am looking into getting Project Life. It looks pretty wonderful to me!

Tasty Tuesday

Happy Tuesday everyone!  Here is another recipe that our family gives two thumbs up.  I found it on this awesome blog called Oh She Glows.  There are a ton of other delicious recipes on there as well, so it is worth checking out.  All that I did that was slightly different was add ground turkey seasoned with some salt, pepper, cumin, and coriander.  Just a little bit of each to flavor.  I think the next time I may put it over some rice or pasta, but it was great just how we had it.  Chad LOVES cilantro and he's a lime lover so I knew this would be a hit.  He said it was so good he wanted to just rub his face in it.  Haha!  Sorry honey, but you did.  Hey, it gives an accurate picture of just how much we loved it!

Not too many ingredients and quick to make.

My pic does NOT do it justice. It's so good though!

Okay, now here's the recipe....

Cilantro Lime Chickpea Salad

Find the original recipe (and a way better pic) by clicking here.... Oh She Glows.

Ingredients:

• One 15-oz can chickpeas (2 cups cooked), drained and rinsed
• 2 cups spinach
• 1/4 cup sweet onion, chopped finely
• Juice from 1.5 limes
• 3/4 cup fresh Cilantro
• 1/2 tsp sugar (or to taste)
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt + ground pepper
• ( 1 - 1.5lb ground turkey if you'd like)

Directions:
(I started to brown and season the turkey first before beginning and then just added it to the mix when all finished)

1. In a food processor, add the spinach and pulse a few times until chopped very small. Add the processed spinach, drained chickpeas, and chopped onion into a large bowl.

2. In the food processor (no need to rinse the bowl!), add the lime juice, cilantro, mustard, sugar, garlic, cumin, and oil. Process until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

3. Pour the dressing on top of the spinach chickpea mixture and stir well. Add salt and pepper to taste. Let stand for about 10 minutes to let the flavours develop (optional- I didn’t!). Serve over a bed of grains, like brown rice. Serves 1-2.

Hope you love it too...maybe even as much as Chad! ;)

On A Mission Monday

The  Kitchen Desk.
A.K.A. Former Disaster Zone.

What have I gotten myself into?  This was probably one of my first thoughts as I rolled out of bed this morning.  That's right.  This morning I got up to clean out and reorganize the kitchen desk that I said I would have done by today.  Well, procrastinator I may be, but "Monday Mission" accomplished!  Never would I have ever thought the random stuff that I have shoved into these cabinets would be viewed on the freaking Internet, nor that I would be the one posting them.  Yet, here they are...before and after shots of my messy kitchen desk/storage area......

What it typically looks like.  It gets worse....

Chaos.

So I threw out what was just random junk...receipts, expired coupons, things I kept for some reason that I will never need, etc.  I made the drawer that our daughter can open to now be free of scissors, eyeball poking pens, dangerous screwdrivers.  We were soooo toddler proofed.  The drawer still has a place for coins and keys, but all weapons have been removed.  Mainly there are just some coloring books in there now and stuff to keep her busy while I am cooking dinner.  The top cabinets no longer give me a headache when I open them.  Ahh, yes, this is so much better.....

How can I throw out so much, and still have so much? 

New memory board added as a catch for
business cards, coupons, etc. ($7.64 at Kohl's)

It may not look like much, but believe me, it is a major improvement.
D-O-N-E.

New Monday Mission.....Okay so for this week, maybe I can start it before it's due date.  One thing that has been put off time and time again is updating Blake's baby book.  I need to turn empty pages into memories preserved.  I have many milestones jotted down on scraps of paper and in my phone, but they need to get in the book!  I keep waiting for who knows what.  Creative energy.  A big slot of time.  Well, I saw something recently that it so true.... "Finished is Better than Perfect".  Baby book here I come!:)

Family Friday

What We've Been Up to Lately...

We started potty training with Blake about a month ago.  She has been doing great overall.  We've found it's not always an easy process.  I wouldn't say we have it down all the way yet, but we are showing major improvement.  One thing is for sure, she LOVES to wash her hands.  So much that this is what happens when we stop....

Awww! I want to wash my haaaaannnnds!  Sniffle, sniffle.... :)

 When Chad is not at work or working on his car, he is checking on the fruit trees out back.  Blake loves this too.  She often says  "I want to go see the trees, daddy!"

 

 I am usually the picture taker, but Chad snapped this one of me last Sunday.  I did alright until they kicked up the speed.  Kind of scary in the moment when you have no clue how you're going to land.  No broken bones though!  So I guess I did better at this than the last time I went rollerskating!

Sierra has been a good girl lately too, so I thought I'd include her on our little family update.  Yesterday I was trying to take a picture of this sign I recently bought, and she kept jumping in the shot.  Thought she looked cute posing for me.  

Not any major events, but we've been enjoying just taking it easy!
Have a great weekend everyone!

Thoughts for Thursday

Deep thoughts, random thoughts...just some thoughts for Thursday.

This year has been pretty crazy for our family. For the most part, an outsider looking in would think we've got everything working for us. However, this just hasn't been the case. Overall, we are well and we have battled the storms, but we are looking forward to the hard parts of 2011 being behind us. Hmm...battled the storms. So I guess today's "Thoughts for Thursday" is leaning more towards deep thoughts. On another Thursday, I am sure you will find me dishing about the Kardashians or something, but today I can't help but want to touch upon heavier subjects.


So many of our friends have been so kind and supportive through many of the downs of this year.  The major downfalls have been the passing of Chad's father, Chad dealing with vestibular issues affecting his own health and work, us experiencing a miscarriage, and the health problems I had that were involved in that experience.  There have been smaller issues too, but those were the big ones. I do not like to complain, and I get annoyed when people play the "I've got it harder" card. All I mean by this, is that I know we all have problems and hard issues, so I by no means think we are the only ones with problems.


Anyways, we are hanging in there and things are looking up. All the sad stuff was really completely out of our control. I feel that what we could control was our attitudes, and thankfully they are in check. It's hard for me to put into words some of my thoughts on all these events. I can say that my health is completely back, and Chad is doing better too.


I won't bore you with a ton of details, but I have had a lot of people ask if I am feeling better. I most definitely am.  Both physically...which pretty much came back after my last IV was taken out...and emotionally, although I can still have my moments. I have found that not a lot of people talk about having a miscarriage, but a lot of people have experienced them.  I now know how difficult they can be and how different everyone copes with them. I was looking for a reason as to "why" it occurred even though I know that cannot be answered.  I know the miscarriage occurred due to an infection caused by a virus. I know I was sick due to bacteria in my bloodstream from the infection. Yet, I felt there was a deeper reason of "why" this happened to me and I wanted to know what it was.


Along with losing our son, my health was drastically threatened as well. My body was in bad shape. My organs were all swollen to where I couldn't move, and I had pneumonia in both lungs so I was put on oxygen to help me breathe. Before they figured out what was going on with me, I was told by two doctors that what I had may be fatal. That is something that grabs your attention and gets you reflecting about things. At least for me, that was the aftermath thought process.  In the moment, I was more focused on the fact they said it just may be fatal, not that it was fatal.  So while I was thankful to be alive after the whole ordeal, I was trying to figure out how I was suppose to grieve and how I should now see my life. I was looking for answers and a good friend told me that "it's just life". She did not say it in an insensitive manner at all, but just plain spoken with some sympathy added in. I think those three words summed it up a lot, but I still can't just brush things off. What we went through was major for us, and it was very real.


My deep thoughts are rambling now and I am wondering if I will actually post this.  I did write up my experience in more detail once and decided against sharing it. This all just happened two months ago. Mainly... I have just taken time to heal. I've allowed every emotion and just taken it day by day. I have felt sorry for myself, and felt extremely grateful to be alive. I have cried my eyes out, and looked at my husband and daughter through tears of happiness. I have hugged my family members and friends, and I even snapped at a good friend for no good reason. I traveled to see family, and had family come to visit. I have spent time with others, and I have spent time alone. I have read books, watched movies, gone on walks, and tried new things. I recently painted, took a zumba class, rode a mechanical bull, and now just spilled my thoughts on a blog I started back up.  Basically, I have just been living......it is just life, and thankfully life is good.

The Wednesday Write-Up

Click here to read a couple pages

I'll just go ahead and say it...I am a Bethenny Frankel fan.  I had seen her here and there before, but I didn't really follow any one thing of hers.  I watched a couple episodes of The Real Housewives of New York, and thought she stood out from the other wives, but it's not like I tuned in regularly or saw every episode.  I only mention this show really because I think it's what most people recognize Bethenny Frankel from.  You may have seen her on Martha Stewart: Apprentice, Bethenny's Getting Married?, or Bethenny Ever After, Skating with the Stars, or read any of her three books, or magazine health columns, or know her as the creator of the Skinnygirl cocktails.  Pretty sure she was just on the cover of Forbe's magazine too.  Anyways, these are just a few of the things she's done in the public eye.  She also was an event planner for major movie premieres before becoming famous and ran her own baked goods line called BethennyBakes.  She is way more than any one accomplishment she has done though. Not your stereotypical television housewife of New York that is for sure...not that she was even married while on the show.

Anyways, A Place of Yes was, in my opinion, a terrific read.  I believe I needed to read this book at this point in my life, and I am sure I will pick it up again from time to time.  It may sound like a self help book that is just going to be all about being positive, and you may honestly think "aw, who has time for that crap".  It's not just about being positive or becoming a "yes man" though.  A place of yes is an "it-will-happen-because-I'll-make-it-happen" kind of attitude.  

She talks of 10 rules for getting everything you want out of life, and a lot about her own life.  I found her to be very easy to relate to, brutally honest, and admirable.  I agree with her when she speaks about the timing of life and how you have to roll with it and work at it to make it work for you.  I have felt a difference in my outlook on some things that had me down recently, and I'm sure reading this book had something to do with that.  Thank you Bethenny Frankel!  I'll stop there, but I highly recommend this book. :)  

Tasty Tuesday

Alright, my first Tasty Tuesday!  Here is a recipe that I just LOVE!  It's super easy and you can make it in no time.  I found this one through an awesome meal planning service I have used, Kate's Thoughts for Food.  I'll post more on why I love this site below.  Here is the delicious recipe for you!

Honey and Spice Glazed Pork Chops
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Cooking spray
4 4-ounce Pork Chops (about 1/2 thick, boneless center-cut)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper


1. Combine first 5 ingredients in a bowl.
2.  Heat a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat.  Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper; cook 2 minutes on each side or until browned.  Reduce heat to medium-low; add honey mixture.  Cook 10 minutes or until done, turning once.              

Obviously, I am not a food photographer.  Here they are though.  We had these last night with broccoli mixed with shallots and golden raisins.  I used pork rib chops (instead of boneless) and they were fantastic! Made a couple extra for lunch leftovers.  I dare you to not lick every drip of the honey mixture. It's so good!

I hope you try this, and that you check out the site Kate's Thoughts for Food.  It is awesome!  For only $5 you can get a week's worth of recipes with their standard meal plan.  They do custom plans too. Mainly, the service takes the guesswork out of what's for dinner that week.  You get emailed recipes for main dishes, plus sides, and an itemized grocery list for the entire week's worth of dinner ingredients. It is not overwhelming at all.  I love it!  It even has the nutritional information attached.  Basically, whenever I am in a slump for dinners, I order another month's worth.  So for $20, I get 20 new complete dinners.  Each week I have a list to take to the store that moves me through the produce, dairy, frozen section, etc.  Man, do I sound like their spokesperson or what?!  I just love it though. 

I even print out the plans and put them in a binder with plastic sleeves and just grab the list before that week.  Makes my life easier! What you see is just the title page on the right. A list on the left.  Recipes for each individual dinner are on the pages that follow.  I blurred it out on purpose...just wanted to give you an idea.  You'll have to get your own plan if you want to put together a cool binder like mine. ;)

Have a great Tuesday everyone!

On Wednesdays I'm doing a Mid-Week Media Review (need a much cooler title though I think).  Figured I'd gab about something I have found of interest ...whether it's a book, movie, website, app, etc. (maybe it'll be the Wednesday Write Up, or the Wednesday We-View.  Haha!  We'll see.)