Currently.

My Doodlebug turned 1 last Sunday, y'all. I don't like it one bit. He's not supposed to grow. I still owe you a post for that. Next week, I promise.

Also, I'm going to apologize in advance for there being spotty posts for the next couple of weeks. I'm not sure what is going on with me but I don't feel well. And for me to admit that means I really don't feel well. After the hubs business trip, in a couple of weeks, I'm scheduling an appointment with a doctor. Other than while pregnant, I haven't been to a doctor since I was probably 16. And before any of my family gets any ideas; No I am NOT pregnant! :) But hopefully a doctor can either help me or point me in the right direction. 

Tonight (Friday) is usually date night so I was going to try to cook a real meal for us, which hasn't been happening much lately. But now he's working late, so we are having these, swapping the blue cheese for mozzarella. Unlike me, the husband HATES blue cheese. We've had them before and wow, I mean WOW, why didn't I think of this? (Also, I'm writing this the night before posting it so I'm not crazy I do know what day it is, usually.)

I've been window shopping the internets for a couch for a bit, we won't be buying for a long while, but ours has seen better days and since it was an impulse buy that has not lasted nearly long enough, I'm prepping before we dive into another. But I kind of really want this dude. Its so impractical and I'm sure, won't be around when we get around to it but, I love it! Plus he doesn't match my color scheme at all. I would have to redo the whole living room and hope the boys didn't ruin it. Guess I'll keep searching and find something a little less in your face.

While I'm sitting here typing this I get a text from Bob, she's my cousin, yes SHE, but that's another story for another time, yeah so back to the point, she sends me a text saying she thought of me because she and her Mister were making ham and couldn't decide if it was country ham or city ham. Back earlier in the summer we, along with my bestie, went to see NKOTB and Boyz II Men, your totes jeally right? (I apologize for the end of that sentence, I am definitely not hip/cool/not awkward enough to pull that off!) So, you're saying what do they have to do with ham? Wellllll, give me a minute, I'm getting there. So we stopped at an awful waffle, which I LOVE by the way, and although we had all eaten there a trillion times we had never seen this before, there was an option for country ham and city ham. We, being the county bumpkins we are, had no clue what that meant started snorting with laughter and Googling this phenomenon. Guess it not really a phenomenon but whatever. We were all shocked that there was such a thing a "city ham" although we had all eaten it throughout or lives we just called it ham! It also made me start singing this spicy little tidbit Monkey watched over and over on my phone. You should also watch the Grandma's Special Pants video. Makes me think of my Granny. Shhhhh... Don't tell her, she's mean, y'all.

Judging by my last paragraph I think I'm sleep deprived. I blame the one year old, he's got teeth coming in like CRAZY!

Here are a few of my favorite recipes that I'm dying to try from this week.

This handy little number is on the menu for the week the Daddy Monsster is out of town and the munchkins need some cheering up. I love anything s'mores but frozen s'more pops! Whaaaatttt!?!!? This one isn't from this week but this ice cream needs to be in my mouth pronto! This cake is on the to make list.

And if you want a totally obnoxious amount of recipes and party pins follow me here.

I made this to hang over the boys play kitchen, which is going to be making its way into my kitchen so they can get the chef on while I get my domestic goddess on.

Currently.

This Saturday my Mom is having another epic family cookout. I may have made a tropical menu compilation.  I'm headed to the store tonight to get the ingredients for the flavored syrups and salsas and maybe a few things for that s'mores bar! Oh yeah! To be continued...

Jesse and The Ripper's on Jimmy Fallon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My inner 10 year old is doing cartwheels in my mind! You should know that my cousin and I both used Forever in our weddings. She used their version, cause she's hardcore Full House FOREVER! I used an acoustic mash-up original arrangement of their's and Beach Boys' version. Luckily, even at 11 my little cousin was a musical genius and worked it out like a pro. 

I am obsessed with Olio Board. I have re designed half my house already. When I run out of rooms I may start redesigning other people's homes! Family and friends you have been warned!

A couple of years ago the hubby and I decided to cancel our cable to save  money since I was cutting back hours at work. Luckily we have every newish gaming system so we can stream Netflix and Hulu through them. Its actually been a great way of monitoring how much tv we watch since we have to seek out what shows we see instead of mindlessly flipping channels. But the down side, other than not having all of our favorite shows available on the tv,  is that I have the tendency to watch that show and only that show until I have watched everything possible. I did that recently with Fringe, Drop Dead Diva and CSI NY. But, my newest obsession is Sherlock! I watched all three episodes from season two while Lee was at work in one day! That was nine hours in his 10.5 hour work day. I feel ashamed of my weakness, but I neeeeeeeeeeed season three to be available! I am SHERLOCKED! If you don't get the reference you should watch it. Seriously!

Rememeber the sneak of the Mickey Mouse party signs I was working on. I have now gone one step farther into crazy and bought me, the hubby and both boys matching Mickey shirts. I have crossed the line into THAT Mom.

My Caleb has been OBSESSED with the song Thrift Shop by Macklemore since it came out. (Don't worry he's only heard the edited versions) He has been running around singing "I got tenty in my pockets, come on, come, yeah, yeah" for months! It is adorable! He has recently moved on to Mirrors  by Justin Timberlake, which I'm totally ok with. That is my jam! Everyday he will randomly steal my phone and I will hear the song blaring from another room and when I walk in he will be doing a "white boy" dance to it. He cracks me up when choosing his music prefrences. He's never really been one for "children's songs" he has always liked regular music. I think that is why he loved Imagination Movers. When he was 18 months to 2 he always asking for the "magi eeee me" song (Magic by B.o.B. featuring Rivers Cuomo.) Liam's music choices seem to be more of a normal baby. He likes "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Skidamarick." He also really likes the Spider-Man song too. Maybe he isn't really that typical.

I've been on a crazy salad kick lately. I think it may have to do with that hunk I am married to learning to love lettuce. Be prepared for my next few posts to include several salads. I'll even try to keep them healthy too, but I don't make promises. 

I am on a crazy organizing, sorting and tossing out of crap kick too. It is to the point I'm barely interested in anything else. My brain is sort, sort, toss, Mickey Mouse, Cookout, sort, sort, toss, oh maybe I should eat, sort, etc... You get the point. Be prepared for more on that too.

And last but not least, actually the best part, my Mother in law called me today to tell me we are down to 75 days. 75 days until my Brother in law is back in the states for good!!! No more of this deployment crap!!! We are all very excited but I can tell you no one more than my Sister in law. I haven't told Caleb yet but I'm sure there will be much rejoicing.

So, what is new with you? 

Mickey Party Planning

Since my boys' birthdays are so close together (1 month and 11 days) we are combining our party this year. Choosing a theme that satisfied my almost 4 year old and a 1 year old was hard. Originally it was Dr. Suess but even though Caleb loves the books he did not approve of the theme. We also kicked around Scooby Doo but I really wanted something fairly classic for Liam's first birthday but was still fun for Caleb as well. Caleb really wanted a "Plants Vs Zombies" party and I would have done it had it been just his party. Instead we are having a mini party for him on his birthday. We already get together with family for dinner on his birthday and this way both boys can have a day all about just them but we can celebrate both boys together will all of our friends and family. As for the theme, I finally nailed it! We are doing Mickey Mouse.

The Menu:

The Dessert Menu:

The Drink Menu:

This is for the treat bags.

For the photobooth:

Clubhouse poster for the bounce house: 

That is it so far. I have a longggggg list of projects to get started on. You know me I love a good DIY party. This year it will be a little more detailed because last year Liam was a newborn last year I made it pretty simple for myself. This year I just couldn't help myself I was inspired. 

*** UPDATE: for more info on the party look here, here and here. ***

Currently...

1. My bestie, who is honestly like my sister and my cousin who is my other bestie and also more like a sister and I went to see NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK and BOYZ II MEN and it was AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGG!!! oh and 98° was there too, they were good but I never really got into them. We actually started screaming like 12 year old girls and dancing. We looked like idiots but then again so did every other woamn there. 'Cause you know, we were some of the younger people there. hahaha!!!!  We stayed out way passed out bed time and realized we are, in fact, old. You can tell how excited we were just to be out of the house in this picture.
(include them with my actual sisters and I have a lot of them... hmmmmm.... That's pretty awesome. Yep.)

2. Speaking of boy band awesomeness, the bestie made a NKOTB station on Pandora and told me I must. I may have made one on Pandora and iheartradio, you know, just to be thorough and stuff. Yeah, so... I've been dancing around the house to music I should be ashamed of liking . Even worse I know every single word. Don't judge. Fine, judge me. I don't care, I deserve it.

3. Speaking of amazing Pandora stations. My other new favorite station is a mixture of, Ben Harper, Prince, Bob Marley, Mumford and Sons, Bruno Mars, Jack Johnson and Weezer. Weird right? WRONG! Best. Station. Ever. Created.

4. I'm obsessed with Maxi Skirts right now. I foresee this being my first sewing project in years!

5. How cute is this project Monkey and I collaborated on for his Daddy??? I should point out I interviewed Caleb while he was in the bath (it is literally the only time I could get him to sit still) so that should explain the "My Daddy is best at..." section.

6. I may stop watching SNL now that Bill Hader has left. I mean, how can I carry on without my beloved Stefon??? 

7. I am dying to try this. Seriously honeysuckle syrup, people!!! That is a game changer!!! It's like my childhood in a jar y'all. So, can I come to your house and pick your honey suckle blossoms? I promise not to share my syrup. 

8. Also this is me in a color scheme. True story.

9. I've been planning a Dr. Seuss birthday party for the boys and I cannot stop looking up quotes! 

10. I see these in my future and this. This too. 

11. "Promote what you love instead of bashing what you hate." That is my new motto. I have no clue who said it and I have tried multiple times to find out. No matter who said it first and no matter what their thoughts and beliefs are that may be the same as mine, or different, there is something so simple yet so important in this thought. This is an idea that seems foreign to us, all of us, today where everyone is scrutinizing everyone else's thoughts, beliefs, outfits, choices, blah, blah, blah. Off my soap box. Have a beautiful weekend!!! 

What's for dinner??? And other random stuff...

Some of these things aren't actually dinner, but whatever, who cares, I don't. Do you? Good, besides we ate them and they were delicious. These are things that I am either still tweaking the recipes or won't be blogging for one reason or another. I post these because often time I'll look at a recipe and don't follow it, I tweak things and put my own spin on it so, I post these pictures as a jumping off point for other people to get ideas. I also like to look back at them and get ideas for myself. 

California Chicken Burger
a chicken burger with teriyaki mushrooms, bacon, avocado, spinach and horseradish.
Sooooooo good!!!!

BBQ Chicken Nachos 

tortilla chips covered in shredded BBQ chicken, colby cheese, monterey jack cheese, jalapenos and sour cream. Not great for the diet but great for a pig out night in front of the TV with the honey.  

Chicken Tikka Masala

My old favorite, it's regular repeat around here.

Fish Tacos 

grilled tilapia with cumin and lime and friend in a taco shell served with honey lime slaw fresh mango and guacamole. I will post the recipe for this one day but I've yet to make them the same way twice. Once I master it I'll be sharing it. We eat these weekly in the summer. 

Homemade Tomato Soup and Gruyere and Mozzarella Grilled Cheese

Fudgy Chocolate Doughnut with Salted Caramel Glaze

Tweaking this recipe as well. These are wonderful but I'm nit quite satisfied.

Mango Oatmeal with Local Honey

Twisted Chicken and Waffles 

blueberry wholewheat waffles with coconut chicken and blueberry coconut syrup and candies bacon.

Sounds weird but was really very good.

Summer Salad 

mixed lettuce with turkey, white cheddar, mango and avocado and citrus vinaigrette  

Coconut Fudge Cupcakes

coconut cupcakes with fudge frosting and fresh coconut

Texas Sheet Cake

Now on to the other happening around here aka picture of my kids....

 My Monkey playing in the yard just before Spring.

 Bathtime snuggles with the Doodlebug

 Someone stole his brother's cracker and since has been eating table food only.

No more baby mush for this guy. 

My Hydrangea is blooming!!!!

Monkey has really been enjoying gardening with me aka digging for worms . He has been having conversations with them too. He can't seem to understand why they are scared of him.

Also gardening with a 3 year means dirt fights. I had bugs in my hair. Gross! Boys are gross! 

Father's Day Sneak Peak

I've just started working on the hubby's Father's Day surprise. The past two years Father's Day has been ignored slightly. Two years ago we did just what he wanted stayed home all day but I had NOTHING planned. I may have been subconsciously been paying him back for making me move into the new house on Mother's Day. I don't hold a grudge though, as you can tell. Then last year I was sick sick sick being pregnant and all. I made him brunch and almost passed out in the process so I was planted on my butt for the remainder of the day by the Mr's orders. This year I have things planned but still figure it will be a day we stay in. We have an agreement he takes me out for Mother's Day and I make sure we can stay in on Father's Day. I still have to plan a day of yummy food. Then we have the gifts. This is what I have so far.

To make a copy just right click and select Save As. 

The plan is to frame this (it is a 5x7) and let the boys paint the frame. He can set it by his bed side or on his desk at work. I found this one on Pinterest but it was geared more to a father of girls and I was wasn't keen on lying to my son on what it said. I don't think at three he's ready for S***.

I'm also working a questionnaire for Monkey to answer about his Dad. Doodlebug is a little too young to talk much less answer just yet. For other ideas check out my Father's Day Board on Pinterest.

Currently...

I can not get enough of this song!!!! Its in my head 24/7. I think its my new work out anthem. 

I need a set of these jars in my life! Not sure what I'm going to do with them, but it has been brought to my attention I am hoarder of mason jars. 

I'm dreaming of s'mores. As always, I am addicted to Pinterest and have been finding amazing s'more pins. I've been planning a cookout with my Mom and I am totally and completely beyond excited to try a s'more bar. Seriously, click this link!  Best summer party idea ever! Oh and check out this list of s'more variations! I cannot wait!!!

I want, no, I NEED this bedding. I am trying to re-do our bedroom for the cheap and was planning on reusing our black and and cream curtains that have been in our bedroom for the past 4 years. I came across this bedding and I can't stop looking at it. I found a less expensive version from Target that I will most likely end up with since I'm doing this on a shoe string budget. The plan was black and teal with touches of magenta but clearly that has changed. Not sure what direction I'm going now but I see a frustrated husband in my future. He always wants to bang his head against a wall when I start down a decorating path!

And I want this shirt more than anything right about now. Since I still have yet to shed the baby weight almost a year later I have to say that I am very happy loose fitting tops are in at the moment. I'm working on it everyday but a little camouflage makes the in between time much better. I have always had a love of a good denim shirt and this one is coming to live with me. I plan on paring it with my black maxi skirt and a neon or pastel tank. 

Can I tell you something? I really hate this about my self... I can get totally immersed in a TV show and will not stop watching episode after episode until there is nothing left to watch and then I am lost and must boycott television for a few days until I can clear my head and realize I don't actually know these people and they are not real. I told you I was odd. I used to do this when I read all the time and I have stopped reading anything but magazines now for fear my children would starve! So my current addiction is Fringe. I just finished it, I watched all 5 season in less than 2 weeks, I have a problem. Now I cannot find another show other than my normal weekly shows.The husband has convinced me to give Torchwood a go. I like it and it is an obvious choice for me seeing that we are major Dr. Who lovers. Not sure how I really feel about it just yet.

Saturday we start to move my Granny into an apartment in a retirement home. I could write a book about my feelings there but I don't really want to go into that now, it has been a rough couple of years when it comes to our grandparents. But the reason I even bring it up is because she was heart broken about leaving her flowers so several of us inheriting them and I am very happy about that. I am finally going to have a pretty yard. I've asked for her Iris, Peonies and Hydrangeas. I know between everybody I may not get all of them but I really hope I can beautify my yard. 

Remember these Blood Orange Bars? Well, I have a dilemma,  for the life of me I cannot figure out how to safely ship them them across the world. My brother-in-law is currently deployed and wants some but I have no clue how to get them to him and them still be safe to eat. I'm planning some other cookies and bars for him but I can't come up with anything even in the same ball park that will ship. I'm thinking of making him peanut butter bacon bars and maybe some strawberry blondies (recipe in the works for both) but otherwise I'm lost and taking suggestions!

I have two major time sucks right now, Candy Crush and Plants Vs Zombies. They are ruining my life!!!! Candy Crush has caught my husband too. I know he's playing because he gets very quiet and makes his concentration face then suddenly starts yelling garbled nonsensical sentences. I find Plants Vs Zombies to be the more infuriating of the two and Monkey is totally in love with it. He wants to play it alllll the time. Of course he doesn't really grasp the concept but the thinks he totally rocks at it. 

It seems my boys inherited our allergies, which means no cleaning, chores or project are getting done when all four of us are feeling like poop. I have one who wants to be held all the time and fights sleep like nobody's business and another who is so frustrated by being slowed down that he is breaking out into crying fits for almost no reason. One minute they are both fine and the next they are on the floor pitching a fit and I want to join them. Hoping this pollen count drops soon. I neeeeed a break! Right now I'm just looking forward to my Sunday lunch date with the bestie! It has been way way way too long! I'm going to leave you with something I made to hang in my dining room/craft room eventually. My Grandpa used to sing it to us all the time. I may have it framed for Granny's new place if she wants it. If you like it right click and save it feel free to hang it somewhere. 

Homemade Strawberry Syrup

While any kind of syrup in milk is not the healthiest thing to give my boy sometimes as a mom I have to get inventive to get good things in him. My oldest doesn't really like plain milk, he'll drink it sometimes, but rarely.

Can I just point out how adorable my Monkey is!!!

 And I know he sounds like any normal kid that prefers chocolate milk but I hate hate hate the taste of plain milk, in fact the only time I drink it is with a huge piece of chocolate cake or a brownie and then I rarely finish the glass. The only milk I drink untouched is Almond Coconut Milk. So when  Monkey tells me he can't drink it I don't push too hard. To get his some calcium I add a little chocolate or strawberry syrup. But lately I've realized how much junk goes into our foods so I try to make as much homemade as possible. This syrup is the same recipe I use for Italian Sodas as well. It's pretty versatile and easy.

basically toss everything in your pot then puree 

 strain

some seeds may sneak through

pour into your jar

let cool

then drink

Strawberry Syrup

2 16 oz containers of fresh strawberries

1 cup water

1/3 cup raw sugar*

Place all ingredients into a pot over medium high heat and bring to a boil. Boil 5 minutes, stirring regularly  making sure nothing burns to the bottom. Puree (I used an immersion blender) and return to a medium heat. Simmer for 5 minutes. Strain into a bowl. Let cool and pour into your jar. and refrigerate. Keeps around two weeks.

*Use whatever type of sweetener you prefer. I used raw sugar because I had it on hand. Truly I planned on using Agave Nectar but was totally out. Just remember to change measurement accordingly  Also these strawberries were fairly tart but you can lower or raise the amount for your taste.

What's For Dinner

It's been awhile since I've done one of these posts. You know a post that's not a real post...

Some of the things we have been eating around these parts lately are

Carrot, Sweet Potato and Pumpkin Curry Soup

Taco Soup

Lime Chicken Quesadillas

Babaganoush and pita chips

My Dad grilled out and my Step Mom and sister made sides

we had Boneless Pork Ribs

Balasamic Chicken

Grilled potatos

Grilled Zucchini

Grilled Pablano Peppers

Garlic Mashed Potatos

Squash Casserole

And Salad

WOW that was alot of food but it was goooooood!

Coconut crusted Chicken with Orance coconut dipping sauce

Bruleed Orange sweet potatos

Roased brussel sprouts

Oh and I made pink waffles for Valentine's Day. That was the last thing we ate that day due to a stomach virus being shared between us. Because of the stomach virus I had to postpone my plans of a family picnic in the living room floor with finger foods and a Monkey and Doodle Bug friendly movie. Instead we slept and drank Gatorade and ate Saltines.

 I finally made our feast this past week and I made waaaaaay too much food so we had leftovers for  days. We had baked mini eggs rolls, crab rangoon, baked buffalo cauliflower and hummus and pita chips.

Also, I didn't cook this but we had the most amazing pizzas at Mellow Mushroom. I had the Thai Dye and Lee had the Holy Shiitake, there are no words to describe how much we loved them. 

In other news...

Fun mornings.

My grandmother sent me a bunch of recipes, including some of her handwritten favorites! Jackpot!

Best Friends and Thirty.

It's embarrassing how much I neon right now. 

Beautiful days.

I mustache you a question. 

But I'll shave it for later.