Ramblings and Thoughts of a Mommy, Wife and Everything in between

A Weekend!

2010-11-21T08:21:00.000-08:00

I love it when I have the weekends off! I feel like I can get so much done. Yesterday I made a Autumn Pumpkin Loaf (yum!) and my new recipe from my Christmas Cooking Class Lemon Poppy seed Loaf!

Today I am going to make another one (Lemon Poppy Seed) and for dinner I am going to make Lesson #4...Hamburgers and Sweet Potatoes Fries with Homemade BBQ sauce!

2010-11-19T14:04:00.001-08:00

Can there please be another day in the week?!? I need one day to just get caught up! Then maybe I would not fell like I was always a couple steps behind.

So yesterday I worked and then Greg and I went to our first parent-teacher. That was really good. Cassidy is doing great in school. There are a couple of things that she needs to work on but all in all the teacher says she is right on track and is having no issues. You always worry about your kids no matter what so it was good to hear that everything is going good. After that Greg and I grabbed a quick Subway lunch and I went back home and did another 1 ½ hours of work while Emily took a nap. After she got up I took both the girls out to the Supermall to get their haircuts for the picture that we are having taken tomorrow. Then we went on the carousal (Cassidy on the Zebra and Emily on the Horse). Whenever we go to the Supermall we have to do this so they were VERY excited about it. We had some dinner with Chocolate Shakes (it was a special girl’s night out!) and then HOME! After that I was pooped and so were the girls so we got PJ’s on and got them to bed. Then hubby and I watched a little TV and went to bed.
I am working today so not much getting done at home.
Saturday at 10am we have a woman from Greg’s work coming over to take our pictures at 10am and then the rest of the day and weekend is FREE!

Well not that we do not have things we WANT to do but nothing else we NEED to do.
We want to:

-Get the Christmas decorations down and see what we need
-Bake! Lemon Poppy seed Cake and Autumn Pumpkin Bread
-Go over Thanksgiving and the menu
-Clean the house and do other chores

2010-11-17T10:30:00.001-08:00

Week (so far) in review ………

Monday- I worked until 7:30pm. When I got home the girls were in bed. That always is a little sad to me that I did not get to give them a goodnight kiss BUT it’s also nice that I do not have to go through the whole bedtime routine when I get home. So it’s a mixture of emotions. Hubby heated me up some dinner and then Cassidy got up and said she wanted to see me J how can you tell her to go to bed after that??? When I was done eating I tucked her in bed again. Then hubby and I vegged on the couch! We were having a bit of a wind storm outside and sure enough…we lost out power! Now in our care that is not good since Emily needs her light on to sleep. Greg snuck in Cassidy’s room to get the light she uses to read with and put it on and in Emily’s room. That worked for about 1 hour and then, just as we were going to bed, she got up and was freaked out because her light was off. So she came in our bed and we all went to sleep. Then about another hour later Cassidy got up too so since our bed was full Greg took her to the couch and slept with her out there. She loved it! She kept telling me she camped out with Daddy J
Oh and the power came on sometime in the middle of the night.

Tuesday- I worked and then had to go to my 2 hour dentist appointment. I have not been in about 8 years so I need a lot of work done. L I then had to go to a Endodontic appointment later that afternoon to have him check on a pervious root canal. All is good with that (Thank God). Then back home, out to pick up Cassidy from the bus stop and back home for good (finally!) The rest of the night was the usual dinner, PJ’s and bed for the girls. Then some time for Greg and I to have some time together and bedtime!

Today I am working. Tomorrow I have Cassidy’s 1st Parent Teacher Conference! Then back home to get some more work in and the house clean. We need to get the girls haircut sometime before Saturday because we are having family pictures taken! That should be fun!!

2010-11-15T11:05:00.001-08:00

Well the weekend went by FAST!

I worked on Saturday so that day was pretty much gone. When I got home (around 4:30pm) I found that hubby and his dad had built another long shelf in our carport and put up the racks for the wood that we need to get. They say it’s going to be a Cold and Snowy winter so we need to get ready! Hubby also had the studded tires put on his car and mine is getting them on (plus a full checkup) this coming Saturday. After all that work the guys were TIRED and so was my mother in law due to the fact that she had to watch the girls while this all went on. So Chinese food was ordered and gotten. YUM!

Sunday was another busy day. After getting up and doing things around the house we all finally got showers and got ready to go to Costco! Too bad that Emily was tired because she got up at 5:30AM. So she went on the couch and fell asleep. Thank God for my In laws. They got home from church (we so need to get our butts back to going) and watched Cassidy for us (Emily was sleeping) and we finally got out to Costco at about 11:30. After a almost $200 trip (we did get some xmas presents for the girls) it was back home, lunch and off to do more stuff around the house. I made shortbread (cappuccino to be exact- from my Veggie Club website) and then we figured out dinner, made it, ate it and got the kids to bed. I was so tired that hubby and I just vegged out on the couch until bedtime.

This week is going to be CRAZY busy and I think that is why I am in a total FUNK today. I have too much to do and not enough time to do it. I just keep thinking of everything that needs to get done versus what I know will get done (not much) and what I want to do.

Monday- Work
Tuesday- Dentist, Endodontic appt, plus I need to get in about 2.5 hours of work at home
Wednesday- Work
Thursday- Work (at home), Cassidy’s parent-teacher conference.
Friday- Work
Saturday- Haircuts for the kids (?), pictures, Car in for checkup and tires.
Sunday- NOTHING. My brain will be mush by this point!

2010-11-13T11:47:00.000-08:00

Well today I am at work and decided to write a post before I went to lunch.

So after I get home today not much else is going to get done...I get up at 4:30am on Saturdays when I work so by about 7pm I am pooped! I will spend time with hubby and the girls, eat dinner and then get the kidos to bed. I will then most likely CRASH!

Tomorrow is going to be busy because we want to get all our christmas stuff down from the attic and check the lights. I also need to make a Costco run for Cocoa's food (that girl can EAT) and what ever else I see I need (not want or I could buy out the store!)

I made a quiche recipe from my Back to Basics cooking class...

Hubby and I agree that the recipe from her Freezer Class was better. This one was a little too salty.

2010-11-12T06:50:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post before I go to work today.

I was really busy yesterday with work, all the stuff to do around the house and a doctors appointment. Then I got home and made a quiche from my Back to Basics cooking class. It was a bit to salty for our taste (we like the recipe that she posted for her freezer class for quiche better).
I did get my workout in(a hard and long one!) so I guess it was a productive day.

Today is going to be filled with work and then home for dinner and a little family time before bed.

2010-11-10T16:00:00.001-08:00

I am going to try and write a entry everyday for this blog. With my crazy schedule it’s not always easy but if I do not do it everyday then I will get lazy and this blog will end up like all the others…old and dusty!

So I am taking multiple classes from Shelley at One Roast Vegetable and I love them! I know I listed them in another post (I still need to register for the Kitchen Klutter one).

The Freezer one is great (and FREE). I am learning so much from this one. I can freezer milk! Now look out Costco here I come! (Hubby is REALLY happy about this). I am freezing left over’s from cans of pumpkin, tomatoes, bananas and a quiche recipe that is FABULOUS! I cannot wait for every new video just to see what Shelley is doing next…I also want to make her Ginger Tea.

So after I watched her first couple of video in the free freezer class I signed up for her Back to Basics cooking class. Its 14 weeks and I am in Week #3- Quiche. I plan to make that recipe Thursday for dinner. I really like the tips I am learning from this class too. I was measuring flour wrong all these years!

Another class I am in is the One Pound at a Time Weight loss Club. You get the first 4 weeks free and then the next 2 months are charged. I am learning some really good habits to get used to doing. Like a fruit or veggie with every meal/snack. I am getting so much more good food into my diet that way. So if I want to eat that cookie or piece of candy I can but first I will have a carrot/celery or apple/banana. Plus you get a buddy and that is also very helpful!

I just signed up for the Best Every Christmas Baking Class and I am really excited about that one. It is only 4 weeks and the lessons will start next week!

Now I need to sign up for the Kitchen Klutter class. I cannot do the normal one due to family obligations (aka I have no time for a 1 ½ hour call every Sunday- I wish I did). But I am going to do the audio-only version. It’s 6 weeks and with this version you just listen to the phone calls and do the homework!

So those are my classes and I love it! I really like cooking and trying out new things to make. I just need to keep making the time because when I do I find myself more at peace.

5:20 wakeup call?!?

2010-11-09T06:47:00.000-08:00

What do you do when a 2 year old wakes you up at 5:20am? Well after I stumbed out of bed, fed the dog, let her out and got Miss Emily (aka the early riser) settled with her yogurt I got my workout in. I am doing ones that target different body parts everyday. Yesterday was Upper Body and today is Lower Body.

So now I have a quiche in the oven (new recipe from the freezer class I am taking-and it's SOOOO Good) and am *trying* to get some other things done but with both the girls up now it's not easy. I am either a referee or a chef. :)

One Roast Vegetable Classes

2010-11-08T11:30:00.000-08:00

I thought I would list the classes I am taking (or intend to) from this site.

2010-11-08T09:46:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how much exercise just makes me have a better day! When I get my workout in I feel accomplished and make better food choices. When I don't I am grumpy and just feel lazy!

So today is a GOOD DAY! Even better because my two girls were doing the workout with me and it was a hoot to see! :)

2010-11-08T06:38:00.000-08:00

The weekend went to fast (as usual) but we got alot done.

I put up new shelves in my pantry to get some more space (thank you Ikea), got the snow tires down and ready to be put on the cars...since they say the winter in the Pacific Northwest will be COLD and SNOWY! (I am a little excited about that!) and just did alot of other odds and ends.

I also finally made Fiber One Cookies and let me tell you they are YUMMY! I am going to have to go out and get more ingredients because these are going FAST!

So for this week I am finally going to make the Sausage Lasagna from One Roast Veggie and freezer it.

Monday- Soup and Grill Cheese

Tuesday- Dijon Chicken with veggies

Wednesday- Pot Roast Crockpot

Thursday-Quiche (from my Back to Basics Cooking Class)

Friday- Fish Fry

Off to go and workout and start the week!

2010-11-05T06:12:00.000-07:00

So Halloween was a blast. We got dressed up with the kids and all went out with friends. They got loads of candy that I am *trying* to ration out at small intervals. I cannot believe that we are now in the middle of the Holiday Season! I love this time of the year!!

I made another recipe from the "Veggie Club" I belong to and it was so yummy!

Sausage Minestrone Soup

I am not sure what I am going to make next...I think maybe the Sausage Lasagna.

I listened to a call from the women who owns the site that I am taking the cooking class from and it was about Kitchen Klutter. Boy would that be a good class. The call was definitely informative! I cleaned out my top shelf in my pantry and it was so nice to get off my butt and actually do it!

So I am off this weekend and hopefully I can do some dekluttering and just catch up on my chores. :)

Why do I feel like I get nothing done??!!

2010-10-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

Sometimes at the end of the day when the girls are in bed and hubby and I are on the couch watching something on TV I look around at the mess and think "What did I get done today?" I often feel like it's not enough.

Some people say a Messy house is a Happy house...My house then she be ecstatic :)

So what did I do yesterday??

-Laundry
-Dishes
-Workout
-Cleaned the Carpet
-Worked
-Picked up the house- Just to let it get dirty again. I swear they follow right behind me :)

So I really did get something done...I just have to remember that.

Now today it will be a repeat of yesterday... Wish me LUCK!

2010-10-27T08:51:00.000-07:00

I am just trying out my new signature. This took me way to long to do and I should be working! Oh well...I like how it looks.

Another Day Another workout!

2010-10-26T16:53:00.000-07:00

Well 2 days in a row and I am so happy! I just need to remember how working out makes me feel. VERY GOOD! After I am done and all sweaty I feel so accomplished!

I signed up for another class from One Roast Vegetable One Pound at a Time.

http://oneroastvegetable.com/onepound.signup.htm

The first 30 days are free (Love That) but that is not why I signed up. I really like the women Shelley MacDonald Beaulieu
who runs this site. I mean she calls herself the Head Tomatoe! Love that! She is funny and real and I am learning so much!

Ok other than that my day was good. Crazy but good. With a 2 and 6 year old it's never boring...

Anastasia

Getting Back on the Wagon

2010-10-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

In Jan. 2009 made the decision to get healthy and lose some weight. I was 178lbs (5'6") when I started and in a size 14-16 pants. I am now 146lbs and in a size 10-12. I have slacked off in the recent months. With Cassidy starting Kindergarten and how full my days are it was just so hard to try and fit working out in. However, I am getting a little snug in my pants so I need to make time and stop this slide! I really like Chris Freytag and she has come out with a new workout video "Walk and Sculpt" that I downloaded yesterday and did! It was great just like all her others and I was sweating buckets by the end of the video (40 min). So today I am sore a little and happy to be back on the wagon!

Anastasia

Site

2010-10-25T21:36:00.000-07:00

BTW this is the site for the Free class and you can learn more about her other ones too!

http://www.FreshFromTheFreezer.com

I highly recommend it!

Anastasia

Online Cooking Class! Back to Basics

2010-10-25T21:03:00.000-07:00

Well I heard about a Free "Fresh from the Freezer" Class and decided to check it out. I love it! The women who is teaching it is great! So much so that I decided to sign up for her Back to Basics Cooking Class.

So far (and I am off to a fast start!) I have made these dishes...

Guacamole with Chick Peas

This was so yummy! I was sampling it as I heated up the potatoes and I loved the lime flavor!

Veggie Tacos

These were very good- at least the 2 bites I got. My 2 year old stole it from me and ate the rest! The flour tortilla turned out great! I never even thought to put it in the oven over the rack!

Homemade Chicken Noodle SoupThis was so good. We had a rain store move in Sunday so it was a perfect day for this. So was so easy to make and I was getting compliments from my 2 toughest critics…my girls! I did add some salt to the end since there was not much seasonings added to it.

Banana Bread**I will try this for breakfast tomorrow!**

Chicken Stock- All Done

This was my first time making stock and boy was it easy! It made the house smell heavenly Sunday morning and I loved the rich color. It really makes you wonder about the store bought ones.

Chicken Stock

Tinfoil CarrotsWhat a great flavor combination with the thyme and carrots. It was a easy recipe to make and even easier to eat! :)

Saturday Night Dinner

Roasted Chicken, Carrots and Potatoes

YUM! I was unsure how these would work with the whole garlic cloves and butter in the pot but viola…they came out perfect and just the right amount of crispiness. I am going to use the leftovers in the Veggie Tacos later in the week.

Roasted Chicken with Rosemary

This was a very easy recipe to prep for and the result was delicious! Even my 6 year old fussy eater ate all of it that I out on her plate :)

Autumn Pumpkin Bread
This smelled wonderful and was perfect for the fall-like (rainy) day we had. I liked that the sweetness of the apples and raisins balanced out the spice. My 2 year had 2 pieces of this for breakfast the next day so it was a kid approved HIT! I was also very happy to have learned that I can freeze the pumpkin I had left over for another recipe or to make this one next weekend!

Like I said they were all very good!

The Chicken Soup needed some more seasoning so I added in some salt and it was better. Before it was just a little bland.

Anastasia

New Home, New Start!

2009-11-21T09:58:00.000-08:00

Well we have finally moved! YEAH! We have to much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving...

We sold our house and my in-laws house and all got one big house together with a MIL area in it.

They have their own bedroom (2), kitchen, family room with fireplace, bathroom and laudry plus a seperate entrance and a garage.

We have a family room with fireplace, dining room, kitchen, living toom, 3 bedroom ,2 bathrooms and a laundry room plus a 3 car carport.

I think we all have enough space!

So now that I am in my home (I hating renting!) I need to get organized!

So...

I want to start menu planning (I did this once or twice and it's so helpful).
Declutter the house
Try and keep on a schedule of cleaning so nothing ever "piles" up!

Wish me Luck!!

2009-08-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

I am Anastasia. 33 years old (or young..depends on the day). I have been married to Greg (also 33) since June 12th 1999.We are the pround and tired parents of two gorgeous, bright, funny, wacky, bratty and sassy girls.

Cassidy born October 10th 2004

Emily born March 4th 2008

This Blog/Journal is going to about various thing.... Being a Mom, Selling our house and Moving,Weightloss and Getting Healthy and just being me...when I have time for that! Enjoy!