Wednesday, June 27, 2012

They don't love it either.

Justin refused to watch Sarah Palin's Alaska and now the puppies are refusing to watch Bristol Palin: Life's a Tripp. Sometimes I just don't know what to do with any of them.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Sidebar: A household MUST

The DustBuster. I gotta say... This little guy is a top 5 household cleaning must. Inexpensive (approximately $13) and so easy to use, store, and charge.

The top 5 (order of importance varies day to day):

•vacuum
•swifter dry
•DUSTBUSTER
•old rag
•scrub brush

Another great household cleaner...Clorox wipes.

Waiting takes a lot of effort

Over the past few days there has been a lot of waiting in this house. Well, the dogs haven't been doing much waiting, they (Penny specifically) can't hardly sit still for a picture. The proof is in the picture. Waiting means that I am virtually incapable of doing anything (i.e. being decisive about dinner). A  potential job has come my way and it has become the thing that currently fills my mind, time is spent waiting to hear back and wondering how well I will do at it if it's offered to me. Will I be disappointed if it is not?

How have I decided to distract myself? Alternating reading The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest and watching Nip/Tuck is a start. Deciding what to cook for dinner that is not one of our go-to meals is another. Mostly the go-to meal list consists of four very simply things with some alternatives thrown in during the winter months. Each of these meals is extremely simple to make and delicious.
 
The Go-To List:
  • tuna salad*
  • taco salad*
  • Shells and Cheese (or Mac and Cheese) and sliced, fried Spam
  • grilled cheese and tomato soup
  • chicken fried rice                                  *summer additions
  • lazy-day-lasagna**                               **winter additions
  • Mexican lasagna**
Tonight calls for something else. It is not a special occasion nor are we having company. However, I need to get my mind off of this potential job, and who doesn't love to spend time considering food. :)

(15 minute interlude for me to check my recipe stockpile and make a decision)

                                  Shrimp-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms (4 tops)

                                       Artichoke and Sun-Dried Tomato Tart 

 These are both courtesy of The Pampered Chef. If they are delicious, I will be sure to share the recipes.



Grocery store here I come....And I need to not forget the milk.
     

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Let's Get You Caught Up...

2011:
  • Aug. 6: Get married in VEGAS!!!!
  • Aug. 8: Drive the Budget truck to Fairfax, VA (nearly "killing" Justin along the way).
  • Diamond experiences an F5 tornado (in July), a 5.8 earthquake (in August), and  Hurricane Irene (also, in August).
 2012:

January:
  • Travel from Missouri back to DC via Memphis, TN; Colman, Alabama; Atlanta, GA; and Columbia, SC (after Christmas break).

February:
  •  Celebrate Valentines Day with Jasz and a heart shaped Domino's pizza (Justin was out of town).
  • Julianna won the Best Guesser Bowl (a family Superbowl winner/point-spread game) for the 8th time in 12 years.

March:
  • Travel to South Carolina to go house shopping. During this trip we visited Daron and Jessie (and Louise) complete with Cheddar Bay Biscuits and Chicken Parmesan. This has become one of our go-to meals. (A future post will consist of a list of our go-to meals.)
  • We spend a week in South Carolina fixing up the house we found and decided to rent. The story behind the renovation will probably also be a "future" (Back to the Future meets Ahead to the Past) blog.
  •  15th: Penny is born

April:
  •  Lots and lots of driving back and forth from DC to South Carolina.
  • Hoft's visit a few times 
May:
  •  1st: move to South Carolina
  • 5th: Diamond's 1st birthday
  • 23rd: randomly decide to get a second puppy (enter Penny)
  •  End of the month: Diamond is rough-housing a little too hard and acquires a limp for the week. She milked this injury anytime Penny was getting the slightest bit of attention.
June:
  • 8-9th: Hoft's and Merrill's visit (picture highlights to follow).