Yummy!

I must admit that I was a little nervous about the Chicken Lettuce Wrap recipe that was on the menu for last night. I had tried another recipe a couple of years ago, and they did not turn out like PF Chang's famous appetizer recipe.
Tita, as Daniel calls Kristina, sent me this recipe, and it turned out fabulously. Gracias, Tita. It is not exactly the same, but it was stinking close enough to become a regular staple in our household. I will aslo double the recipe next time and try to freeze some. This also includes the recipe for PF Chang's special sauce that they mix at your table. It is also a pretty close facsimile. It does make a lot of the sauce so it is still sitting in my fridge for whoever may want to drop by with Chinese take out for lunch. I want fried rice, please.
Nikki, you are more than welcome to try this recipe (I can't believe that I am actually passing it on prior to a visit), but just know that it will be served the next time you are in town. :) Lalu!

Clean and Work out Too

I don't love to clean house. For those of you who know me, I know that is a huge shocker, but it is true. I do enjoy a clean (or at least a tidy) house though. I also never seem to be able to find the time (okay make the time) to work out more than once or twice a week.

So, here is what works for me...

When I do get down to the nitty gritty of cleaning, I try to clean as ineffeciently as possible. Not neccesarily taking extra time to clean but making sure that I am taking extra steps to clean. Clean one upstairs bathroom, and then go downstairs to clean a bathroom, then back upstairs for another bathroom. Get the idea. I read somewhere once that house cleaning is actually a good calorie burning workout, so use it to your advantage. Next time you clean, maybe you won't hate it so badly because you'll be killing two birds with one stone. Of course for anyone who doesn't like to clean or work out, this could create bigger issues...

That is what works for me. Head on over to Rocks in My Dryer for more Works for Me Wednesday tips.

Mondya, Monday

• Monday- Feta Chicken Bake, Green beans, salad, and bread
• Tuesday- Spaghetti, salad, and bread
• Wednesday- dovers
• Thursday- Chicken lettuce wraps (PF Changs style)- I have tried to make these in the past, and the recipe that I used did not even come close to PF Changs' yummy appetizer. I am trying a new recipe, so I will let you all know how they turn out.
• Friday- date night, so The Man and I will eat out. The boys can have something kid friendly that I am sure will have no nutritional value.
• Saturday- Baked oatmeal for breakfast, Dovers for lunch, and Burgers for supper

Here is the recipe for Baked Oatmeal. This is so delicious!!!

Baked Oatmeal
· 3 cups oatmeal
· 3/4 cup brown sugar
· 1/2 cup margarine
· 2 eggs
· 2 cups milk
· 2 teaspoons baking powder
· 1 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix all ingredients together and pour into 13 x 9 inch buttered pan.
Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.
You may add dried fruits and nuts and pour into small ramekins for baking and serving individually. I may try layering apples on the bottom of the dishes before adding the oatmeal mixture.

Think vertically

This could be the title for a plethora of posts. I will start by saying that we need to first think vertically by checking ourselves with the word of God for everything that we do, but I am referring to a little more superficial vertical today. I know that our inner beauty is far more important than outer beauty, but we need to stay current with the times. "Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you, but a woman who respects the Lord should be praised." Although this is true, it is not to be misconstrued that we should not worry about our outward appearance at all. Our bodies are the temple of the holy spirit, and we need to take care of them and make sure that we are not frumping for lack of effort. Okay, sopabox over with. Here is the real "Thinking Vertically."

When we dress, we need to think in terms of vertical lines. Everyone has heard that horizontal stripes make even the smallest frame appear bigger. I don't know about you, but I do not have any friends, myself included, who want to look bigger. But I am not just talking about avoiding horizontal stripes when you go shopping. I am talking about adding vertical lines to any outfit after you are dressed. There are many trends that are very current to help women out in this area.

1. Think about adding an open jacket after you get dressed. Currently, trench coats are very fashionable, and they not only add vertical lines, but they also help to hide a "multitude of sins" (hips, bottoms, thighs). Check out this look from Ann Taylor. Even in the summer time, vertical lines can be added over a t-shirt by adding a light weight button up (left open).





2. Think about adding a long necklace. You can layer this or keep is simple by just leaving it long. This creates a vertical line and draws the eye to the center of the body as opposed to the edges. It also draws the attention to the neckline and the face so that the eyes are not drawn to the waistline and hips.





3. A Deep- V neckline can also create vertical lines. You can go here without being immodest by wearing the correct undergarmets and/ or wearing a lighter colered camisole underneath. This look from Lane Bryant not only utilizes the deep v neckline, but it also adds vertical lines in the seams for a slimming effect.
   

Have fun finding new ways to create vertical lines and lose weight without going on a diet. Now head on over to Ms. Fussypants for more Fight the Frump ideas.

Unclean! Unclean!

Stay away from our house. The funk has descended, and we can't shake it.

You know it's bad when this is your four year old at the dinner table. And notice the box of tissues on the table as well. Mmmmmmm.....

And, yes, he is asleep.

My other clue that things are not right in my household...

I haven't had to lock the pantry all weekend. Unheard of!!!

Fight the Frump

Andrea sent me a blog that I had never seen before, and Ms. Fussypants marched straight up my chart of lovable blogs. In an effort to 'Fight the Frump" today, I'm going to help her (and possibly you) out today....

Here are my tips...

**Don't fall prey to the maternity style shirts that happen to be in fashion right now. They are only okay when you are trying to look pregnant. And my guess is that most of us are not (unless you actually ARE prego). Even this size one mannequin looks pregnant.

**If you need to rush out of the house even if it is for the carpool line, there are four essentials:

1. A Hat- cover your hair


2. Lipstick- make it look like you put a little bit of effort into your face. It does not need to be bright lipstick- just a little color. Keep your favorite shade in your car so that you always have it available.


3. Sunglasses- Big ones. Cover up your eyes and face.


4. EARRINGS!!!!!! This is the finishing touch. The stain on your shirt will be much less noticable when everyone is mesmerized by your earrings. Also, keep a pair in your car (your "carpool" earrings) so that you can throw them on on the way.

And, check out other frump fighting ideas by clicking on the fussypants picture above.

Mourning

7:25am. It is time to leave for school, and here is my first clue that something is wrong. Is that Brodie fur? Isn't that too long for Brodie fur, and my that is the same color as Daniel's hair.......

This is what Daniel's hair looked like this past weekend. An admittedly too long bowl cut. Hence why I took him for a haircut Monday afternoon. It was precious. Unfortuately, I did not get a photo of that before Wedensday morning when I found the evidence.And this...I had to let him go to school like this- like he cared. And, at first, I thought it was kind of funny, but as the day went on, I got more and more upset about what I knew I had to do when he got home...
I may be smiling in this photo, but the glasses hide the tears very well. And, then I look at this and cry some more.

Don't call my house. I am in mourning. You may drop off casseroles and flowers on the front porch.

My Room

Jonah: "Mama, where are you?"

Me: "I'm in the laundry room."

Jonah: "Is that your room?"

You know, it sure does feel like it...

Girlie Movie Night

In honor of Heath Ledger's recent death, Kristina, Suzanna, and I had Girlie Movie Night and watched A Knight's Tale. It was the perfect mixture of Middle Ages, Boy Meets Girl, and current pop culture.

Here's the best part... We made Grits and Biscuits. Chris would call that "girlie" dinner too. These Grits were so yummy and easy.

Flying Biscuit Café: Creamy Dreamy White Cheddar Grits

6 cups water
2 cups half and half
3 tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp white pepper
2 cups quick grits
1 cup grated white cheddar
4 tbsp unsalted butter, cubed

Combine water, half and half, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Slowly pour grits into boiling water whisking the entire time. Reduce heat to low and continue to whisk often until thick and completely smooth, about ten min.
Add cheese and stir gently until cheese melts. Whisk again to combine. Turn heat off and allow grits to stand five minutes. Add butter and stir until completely smooth.

And here is the easiest biscuit recipe in the world. These are a dinner staple at our house:

Mix 2 cups of bisquick with 1 stick of melted butter and 8oz of sour cream. Divide into 12 muffin tins and bake at 350 for 12 minutes. They melt in your mouth. I LOVE them with honey. No extra butter necessary...

So round up your girlfriends and pay tribute to girlie movies and grits!!!

The "New" Stone Mountain

We drove by the Barrow County landfill this weekend, and we pointed it out to J and D as the place where all of our trash goes and the build the ground up on top of it.
To which Jonah replied, "Are they building the new Stone Mountain?"