1. Finding out we're having a baby girl! Seeing her bee-bop around in there and watching in amazement as the ultrasound tech scanned her. She's got everything in a little 10" 7oz body.
2. My fantastic co-workers. They bought two balloons and two onesies. One for a girl and one for a boy. They had me pop the "wrong" balloon leaving the one that would tell them what we are having. They are so sweet to be so involved.
3. Traveling to Richmond, spending the day with my sweet friend from high school and her family. Seeing the Nutcracker and being reminded of so many childhood Christmases in Richmond.
4. Making 7 batches (32 cups!) of peanut brittle to put in our Christmas gift boxes for our friends and family.
5. Packing a large suitcase full of presents for all of the good little boys and girls waiting for us in Chicago. So excited for Christmas with the Meitls.
December 20, 2010
December 13, 2010
Five Things to be Happy About: 12/7 - 12/13
1. Company Holiday Parties. Especially when you get to attend your spouse's.
2. Christmas shopping for kids! Not a ton of children in my family, but there are quite a few in Matt's, and I had such a great time shopping for them all.
3. White elephant gift exchanges. Who would have expected a pirate pinata to change hands five times? One guy, due to an exchange that he did not have control over, ended up with the tacky Christmas sweater he was responsible for bringing. The person that brought 36 rolls of toilet paper ended up with a game of toilet golf, and the person that brought the toilet golf ended up with the toilet paper! I ended up with one of three snuggies, I'm happy enough with that.
4. A pastor that quotes Brian Regan, references Glee, sites youtube videos (a double rainbow, what does it meeeean?!) and says, "some of you need to repent of your white-ness." Love the way some of his statements sound out of context. :p
5. The sound of our new wind chimes from the Bahamas, made from coconut. Makes the howl of the winter wind sound light and friendly.
2. Christmas shopping for kids! Not a ton of children in my family, but there are quite a few in Matt's, and I had such a great time shopping for them all.
3. White elephant gift exchanges. Who would have expected a pirate pinata to change hands five times? One guy, due to an exchange that he did not have control over, ended up with the tacky Christmas sweater he was responsible for bringing. The person that brought 36 rolls of toilet paper ended up with a game of toilet golf, and the person that brought the toilet golf ended up with the toilet paper! I ended up with one of three snuggies, I'm happy enough with that.
4. A pastor that quotes Brian Regan, references Glee, sites youtube videos (a double rainbow, what does it meeeean?!) and says, "some of you need to repent of your white-ness." Love the way some of his statements sound out of context. :p
5. The sound of our new wind chimes from the Bahamas, made from coconut. Makes the howl of the winter wind sound light and friendly.
December 12, 2010
Broccoli Casserole
I don't have a ton of recipes I can call my own, but this is one that I can. Love it, it's "light" in terms of your typical casserole and I just love it.
2 12 oz bags frozen broccoli cuts (thawed)
1 1/4 cups freshly grated cheddar
1/2 cup sour cream
1 can cream of celery soup
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
dry stuffing mix for topping
2 tbsp melted butter
Preheat oven to 350. Mix the first nine ingredients in a 9x13 (or so) pyrex. Top with stuffing and pour melted butter over top. Bake uncovered for 35 minutes. That's it! No picture, but it's a broccoli casserole, use your imagination ;)
2 12 oz bags frozen broccoli cuts (thawed)
1 1/4 cups freshly grated cheddar
1/2 cup sour cream
1 can cream of celery soup
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
dry stuffing mix for topping
2 tbsp melted butter
Preheat oven to 350. Mix the first nine ingredients in a 9x13 (or so) pyrex. Top with stuffing and pour melted butter over top. Bake uncovered for 35 minutes. That's it! No picture, but it's a broccoli casserole, use your imagination ;)
December 6, 2010
Five Things to be Happy About 11/30-12/6
1. Outback "to go" and a movie (Date Night - hiliarous) on the couch on a cold Friday night.
2. Working on home-made Christmas gifts in the kitchen with the hubs.
3. Snow!!! Started Saturday night and we woke up Sunday to a thin little blanket on the ground and rooftops, pretty :]
4. Shopping for 9-year-old Jennifer from the Salvation Army Angel Tree. I took 9-year-old Oliva with me, and she was so so good the entire time. Even in the toy section she stayed focused on the task at hand and seemed very pleased to be buying nice things for someone who is less fortunate than she is. I dropped the gifts off in the designated area at work this morning and was blown away by all of the bags of presents... all of that generosity. One 9-year-old girl had asked for a skateboard and her Angel got it for her. How happy is she going to be on Christmas morning?! I just love the love, it makes me so happy.
5. Hearing Willie Nelson sing Frosty the Snowman
2. Working on home-made Christmas gifts in the kitchen with the hubs.
3. Snow!!! Started Saturday night and we woke up Sunday to a thin little blanket on the ground and rooftops, pretty :]
4. Shopping for 9-year-old Jennifer from the Salvation Army Angel Tree. I took 9-year-old Oliva with me, and she was so so good the entire time. Even in the toy section she stayed focused on the task at hand and seemed very pleased to be buying nice things for someone who is less fortunate than she is. I dropped the gifts off in the designated area at work this morning and was blown away by all of the bags of presents... all of that generosity. One 9-year-old girl had asked for a skateboard and her Angel got it for her. How happy is she going to be on Christmas morning?! I just love the love, it makes me so happy.
5. Hearing Willie Nelson sing Frosty the Snowman
November 30, 2010
Five Things to be Happy About: 11/23-11/29
1. Fantastic Co-workers. Since there were not many of us here the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, we grabbed our laptops, headed down for breakfast and camped out in the cafeteria chatting and getting work done until our batteries died and people began rolling in for lunch. A nice change of pace from sitting at or desks all day.
2. I started reading a new book. Loving Frank... about Frank Lloyd Wright and his love affair. Fiction, but based on truths. Pretty great so far, a little over halfway through it.
3. Matt and I were seriously tested in a very "parental" way. Without going into too much detail, our niece had a hard time leaving her grannie Annie and grandpa Lenny and was a bit of a challenge on the four hour car ride home. The good news is, Matt and I were pleased with our composure throughout the entire thing.
4. One of my favorite 15 minutes meals: Cover one side of salmon with sesame seeds, cook for 3 minutes in a skillet with olive oil on medium heat then put the skillet right in the oven 10 minutes at 350, done. Orzo on the stove takes 9 minutes... add cherry tomatoes. and fresh steamed broccoli. Yum.
5. Mama gave me a sewing lesson while we were in TN for Thanksgiving and for my first project I made stockings. I'm so proud of them, and I finally feel a little more comfortable using the machine.
2. I started reading a new book. Loving Frank... about Frank Lloyd Wright and his love affair. Fiction, but based on truths. Pretty great so far, a little over halfway through it.
3. Matt and I were seriously tested in a very "parental" way. Without going into too much detail, our niece had a hard time leaving her grannie Annie and grandpa Lenny and was a bit of a challenge on the four hour car ride home. The good news is, Matt and I were pleased with our composure throughout the entire thing.
4. One of my favorite 15 minutes meals: Cover one side of salmon with sesame seeds, cook for 3 minutes in a skillet with olive oil on medium heat then put the skillet right in the oven 10 minutes at 350, done. Orzo on the stove takes 9 minutes... add cherry tomatoes. and fresh steamed broccoli. Yum.
5. Mama gave me a sewing lesson while we were in TN for Thanksgiving and for my first project I made stockings. I'm so proud of them, and I finally feel a little more comfortable using the machine.
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