Weekly Bliss

New Boots!

New Babies.

New Friends.

New Games.

New Day.

New Fort
(Reading books under the blanket with a flashlight and giggling...not like we had the lights off or anything haha!)

New Words.

I feel so blessed.

Tuesday's Tid Bits

1. I was snooping on Black Friday ads that were leaked online and there are quite a few toys I'd like to get my hands on...and there are a few things that I wish I had an extra $1,000 for haha! I'm a little worried about BF this year though because of the economy and the craziness of people in the last year.
2. I sat with B on the computer and looked through tons of toys and as much as I wish I could get her everything she asked for, it's so unrealistic because of the space! We literally cannot add anything else to the playroom at this time other than getting more of the same toy (ex: LEGO Friends, My Little Pony, etc) that can fill up the bin. But we will need to go through anyways and get rid of some, so we'll see.
3. Speaking of the playroom, I'd really like to paint it, put down new carpet (or hardwood floors) and get new furniture for organization. Perhaps that stuff should be on my Christmas list just so it can get done!
4. Ever since Daylight Saving Time Ended I have been so lazy! The week before that scrapbooking wore me out...but man this getting dark early is really getting to me! I don't want to do anything except snuggle up in bed and sleep...the cold doesn't help either!
5. Tomorrow I have an appointment with my doctor to address something that has been bothering me throughout the miscarriage. I'm hoping for resolution - it's dragging out way too long!
6. Also, tomorrow I have an appointment to get my hair done :) Going to try something a little different but I'm excited! Now if it would just flippin grow...
7. Sometimes I look at the clock and wonder what the hell I did for the last four hours...does that happen to anybody else?
8. My TD List is huge for this month, so I'm attempting to cut some of that down by having a small weekly list. Top of it: painting my nails (heehee!), getting a chore chart done, and making pierogies for my grandpa for this weekend. That's stuff I'd like to tackle by Thursday...along with a scrap page or two and a couple runs on the treadmill.
9. Coming up with 10 things is especially hard this week. Am I that boring?
10. Is it Friday yet?

Weekly Bliss

Gotta love it.

But this smile is even better :)

Tuesday: Yep, I voted. Nope, don't want to talk about it.

She's so focused on looking at herself on the screen bahaha!

Saw it on Pinterest and at our Let's Dish - Housewife Edition one of the girls reminded me of it so now I am growing my own green onions! Is it weird that this excites me?

Bookworm, just like her mama! Thanks to a friendly coworker for passing on all these great books that you can no longer get your hands on - B loves them! (and so does her baby!)

Celebrating R's first birthday - my lil buddy is getting so big!

And B is so proud to be a big cousin to him - she was right there helping him the whole time hahaha!

B is quite the artist - Spongebob and Gary :)

B always makes me laugh. Yesterday she was making faces at me but she didn't think I was looking and it was so hilarious to watch her go through all of her "looks" trying to figure out which one she wanted to stick with. This girl loves to make me laugh, and knows just how to do it!

Beef Manicotti

Let me start out by saying that beef manicotti is one of my daughter and hubby's favorite dinners. They both request it frequently, and to be honest, I make it different every time! However, there are a few "staples" that I use each time so I thought I would share.

First, I boil a half box of manicotti, about 7 noodles. If you have a larger number of people to fill, use the whole box but for us it makes sense to split the meal throughout the month. I cook al dente, about 6 minutes, and drain. However, I just discovered that you don't need to cook them ahead of time - all preference!

Brown your meat (1lb if you're using the whole box, I use .5lb) - I season with salt, pepper, basil, Italian seasoning, onion and garlic powder, and oregano (that I can think of, but usually I just open my spice cupboard and pull whatever smells good out). In the meantime, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

I like to add a bit of cream cheese, probably 4 oz or so for making half the box.

Oh, here's my favorite tip with browning meat - use foil to line a small bowl and drain your grease in there! Then once it's hard (can freeze to speed that up) it's easy to ball up and throw out - plus nothing to scrub!

Coat the bottom of your dish with some spaghetti sauce.

Add mozzarella cheese - I never pay attention to how much, but I'd guess I use maybe a cup?

Usually I also add Parmesan cheese and a spoonful of spaghetti sauce.

Fill your manicotti noodles with the mixture and line 'em up in your dish.

Add spaghetti sauce, cheese, and some mushrooms on top! After finding out I don't have to pre-cook the noodles, I use a lot more spaghetti sauce in the pan so it's up to you what your family would prefer. Mine enjoy it either way.

Bake for about 45 mins to an hour or until heated through. Serve with salad and breadsticks! YUM!

Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

This is Amazing...

I have no idea why this hit me suddenly, but do you remember the post about my dream home? The one that I posted back in December 2011 before we had even been looking for a home?

To refresh your memory, here's the front of the home that I had deemed worthy:

I loved the 3 car garage, the two story layout, the front porch...

Months later, here is the home that we moved into:

photo courtesy of themlsonline.com (no longer available)

SERIOUSLY?! And we have plans for a covered porch in the future...I cannot believe my luck! Do you know what that makes me feel like? I'll give you a hint:

{via}

I cannot wait to compare the floorplans - but first I will have to draw some up of how our home is laid out just to give a visual. Excited!

Tuesday's Tid Bits

1. Tomorrow B has pictures at school - I can't wait to see them! I promised to dig my old ones out and show her how they turned out. Hers are definitely cuter than mine...
2. I only have about 80% of my stuff unpacked from scrapping at Cattails. This weekend I will finish then share my room, minus wall decor because I still haven't decided what I want yet.
3. My freezer meal plan is complete; the "housewives" and I got together for the last time last weekend until January...my December dinners are in the freezer and all set to go! All in all, I spent an average of $450/month since August and not only did that include breakfast, lunch, and dinner for that current month, but meals for December as well. I couldn't be happier and am excited to sit back and relax for a month!
4. J picked a treadmill up for me and I am determined to get into shape! I was doing well for a few days, but went on my mini-vacation and hit a slump mentally so I'm digging myself out to hop back on it!
5. Work is stressful lately. I don't know what it is. The weather? Ha!
6. B was so excited for Halloween this year...we ran out of candy after about an hour and it took about that long to go around the neighborhood. She was a witch, as you can see from the pics yesterday :)
7. My newest obsession is the 90s Pop Station on Pandora. I listen to it all. the. time. So many of the songs I forgot about, but the second they come on I know every word! Whatever happened to good music anyway?
8. Sounds like J and I might be hosting Thanksgiving this year...eep! I love hosting (like you couldn't tell with all the get togethers I have!) and don't mind it at all but I'm nervous about roasting a turkey - never done it before! Good thing one of my BFFs sells roasters and is cutting me a pretty sweet deal!
9. Can you believe the holidays are coming up? I've already been "bugged" for Christmas gift ideas.
10. Corie and I began a scrapbook challenge - 3 pages a week. Will post pics!

Weekly Bliss

Playing in dresses

Dancing with Ellen

Stealing my phone!

Halloween - digging through candy

Just playing

So cute - first friend sleepover. Look at the dog...B had a hard time with leaving that dog that's for sure.

Working on my fitness

Cutie patootie!

She's so funny hahaha!

Beautiful autumn day!

I said "Say cheese" and E literally showed me the cheese that was in her mouth haha!

BFFs.

Such a snuggle bug! Love it!

Daddy's turn...

Goofballs!

Reading in bed...two monkeys on my lap :)

Rainy morning sunrise...

Love me some texts from Dad...

Slurping her cupcake?

Seriously, I am so lucky to have such wonderful girls!

Last beautiful day!