Do you remember your first apartment? Not a dorm room, but an actual apartment? Single, roommate, married. . .whatever it be? Do you remember the freedom of being able to state "This is my apartment?" I know I will never forget my first apartment! I had decided during the spring/summer before my 5th year at Ball State that I needed OUT of my parents place! I was tired of driving back and forth every day. . . I wanted a smidgen of freedom -- that I did not have to carry a calling card (as cell phones were not that popular yet) with me and let my mother know I was going to be late that night. . . I wanted to live like a majority of the other students either in apartments or in dorms. . . I wanted to see what it was like, know that it was MY place and I could jam the music however loud I wanted! I didn't have to wash the dishes as soon as dinner was over, my laundry would be done when I needed clean underwear, etc. . .
So, in the summer of 1997 I set off to find myself an apartment! If I had to have a roommate, best be a stranger to get to know I guess! I thought of that darn Single White Female movie a lot while looking for my apartment. I looked at four or five and the last was it. . .
705 West Charles Street, Apartment 3 in Muncie. Oh, should I mention now it was in the historical area of Muncie? The downtown area? The area that isn't always the best? The apartment that was located to the east of my apartment had a murder happen in it right after I moved out. . . Yeah, it was affordable because of the area, but I felt safe, so who cared right?
The apartment was $210 a month! That was darn cheap rent for a 1 bedroom apartment with HUGE rooms, all wood floor (minus the kitchen), heat, water and garbage included! I had figured my bills over and over and I knew I could do it! My electricity bill was on budget for a whopping $17 a month (man, I wish I could do that again), my cable bill was $35 and my phone bill. . . .who knows :) I loved the freedom right away, just saying "I'm moving into MY apartment on August 2nd. . . "
So, on August 2nd my lil sister and her friend Yolanda helped me move my stuff from my parents house to my first apartment! Oh, I probably forgot to mention it was on the second floor of a revamped house :) However, Amber and YoYo didn't complain one bit about having to help me! Bless their lil ol hearts! :) I think I bought 'em pizza or something for dinner that night! They scoped out the guy that lived downstairs (ha ha -- no idea what his name is now, but his loozy tune ol lady was Melissa), and of course Amber flirted with him right away. . . Yo, she was Yo and was more into the Ablert Einstien poster on my neighbors door than flirting!
Ahhhh, yes ol Albert! The guy that was renting the apartment beside me, I never saw! I was glad when he moved out and the other guy moved in though! I asked the other guy to leave up Albert though -- let me explain Albert! It was a full poster the size of the window for the front door (it was a door that was 1/2 glass and 1/2 wood) -- HOWEVER, his eyes were cut out so they were peepholes! It was totally awesome! So, Albert stayed up the entire time I rented! And EVERYONE always commented on Albert! :)
The only real downfall to the apartment was the bathroom! Now, before anyone makes a comment about "Oh was it just so small you didn't have any room?" No! It was a nice size -- and it was heated! It is not the fact that it had that harvest gold and poop green horizontal striped wallpaper from the 70's (heck, it might have been before the 70's) that made ya wanna heave your guts up as you walked up the stair ( it was at the top of the stairs-- WORSE!!!! It did NOT have a shower! Yes, folks, you read that correctly -- no shower! It had this super old, claw foot tub! Yes, a TUB for crying out loud! I tried to rig a shower up, but to no avail! I was stuck with a darn bathtub! It was just lovely!
Of course, Eluides wasn't worried about the bathtub, nooooo. . .he was more worried about people trying to peak in at me in the bathroom that was facing a window! Sheeze! Freak show galore if that had happened!
So, I dealt with the darn bathtub. My kitchen was big enough to have a table. . . .but I was too poor paying rent to buy a table! LOL I think I had MORE counter space in that apartment than I have in this house! Now that's bad!!
My livingroom -- I ended up getting furniture from a family I babysat for. Ahhh the country blue sofa and a coffee table, along with the TV my mom gave me. . . and a cordless phone. It was a cute living room. Once again, nice sized for an apartment! Oh and the walk in closet in the living room was great! Held all my crap I didn't set out! HAHA!
The bedroom was a wonderful size! Full size bed, dresser, junky TV that at least had cable hookup, desk, and still a buttload of more space! I wish I had that size of a bedroom now! And another walk in closet! Totally awesome!
I had a little deck space outside my kitchen, but I didn't use it. It faced the ally. WHoopie!
The laundry facility was next-door in the other house/apartment. I just ended up taking most of my laundry to the laundromat. . . Same price and more than one washer and one dryer! LOL
Yes, folks, I loved the independence! It was totally great! I wouldn't trade it for anything. Yeah, I worked full-time and went to school full-time, but it was totally awesome!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Drift Off To Deam
Well, I took a mini break from blogging because I had to think of what to blog about and if I wanted to continue blogging, as no one ever comments on them (maybe that is because I have it set -- Liz LMK if you can comment on this one OK). . . . but I thought, What the heck, it's just words, and if people don't want to comment, OH WELL! So, I started a list of things I want to yack about :) So, today it's Drift Off To Dream.
For those that know me, you know I'm a book worm! I used to read ONLY romance novels! Trashy romance! Ya know, the ones where sex is usually involved within the first 50 pages! I remember Frau Lightle turning my books over every day in class because she didn't like the covers! "Does your father know you read those books?" (her husband works with my Daddy-o). Does he know! C'mon! I'm READING a book for crying out loud! Be glad, as I'm certain 80% of the class did not read novels for the enjoyment! YES! My father knew, and yes he had his opinion. . . .and this particular blog has a little about that opinion! You know when you hear something and you just don't want to believe it, because you KNOW it's not true, but you would rather stay in your own little dream world? Well, that was me! I remember my dad telling me over and over "Stacey, it's a fairy tale world! It's make believe. People don't fall in love that easily in real life Stacey! It just doesn't happen! Don't expect some man to do all the stuff that you read about!" Well, guess what? He's right! It is a fairy tale world, but one I enjoyed living in because I just could not face the real world then!
When I started college I was hooked on one particular song - Drift Off To Dream by Travis Tritt. The lyrics are as follows (and there will be more written after it:)
I sit here surrounded by people and lights
Alone with my drink at the bar
You've been here forever, so clear in my mind
I just don't know where you are
I know I'll find you but girl 'til I do
This is my love song for you
Let's hold hands on the porch swing, under the moon
While the wind through the willows plays us a tune
We can lie on a blanket, out back in the yard
And wish for our future on a faraway star
You'll feel the passion as time after time
I press your sweet lips to mine
Then we'll dance to the radio, right up 'til dawn
'Til you drift off to dream in my arms
You might be hundreds or more miles away
Or you might be just down the street
But there'll be a hunger deep in your eyes
That I'll recognize when we meet
It might take hours or it might take years
But this is the song you will hear
Let's hold hands on the porch swing, under the moon
While the wind through the willows plays us a tune
We can lie on a blanket, out back in the yard
And wish for our future on a faraway star
You'll feel the passion as time after time
I press your sweet lips to mine
Then we'll dance to the radio, right up 'til dawn
'Til you drift off to dream in my arms
I would play this song over and over and over as I was CERTAIN that the love of my life would find me and we would do these romantic things! What girl has not dreamed of being whisked off her feet by the love of her life? C'mon, I really believe it is only natural for a female to feel this way. Look at how we are raised on Cinderella, Snow White, Ariel. . . .They ALL found their one true love in the end, so why was it so cotton-pickin' hard for ME to? I was so anxious to find the one that was going to sit on my porch at home and 'snog' with me! All I wanted to lay on the blanket with him and wish on those stars! I wanted to feel his lips upon mine! And darn it, I wanted to drift off to dream in those arms! I wanted it so badly that I jumped into a relationships, just to see if I could find that!
After a few failed relationships in which those romantic things did NOT happen, I started to realize that my Daddy-o was right! Those romance books were a load of crap and that I had been living in a damn fairy tale world! It's not true that one falls head over heels in love, that love at first site exist, that the one you love is going to be a total romantic in all the ways you have dreamed about! How's come teenagers and young adults do not listen to their parents? Geeze, most of the time they are right!
Yeah, I'll admit I wish my husband was a bit more romantic -- OK maybe a lot more romantic (and I know he's reading this :), but I am glad that he has a small romantic side to him. Men and women are so very different when it comes to romance, or maybe it is just me in my make believe world that I need to leave behind. . . but sometimes, when life is treating me like crap (and ladies, let's admit it, we all go thru it once a month when PMS hits us in the stomach like Mike Tyson punching a punching bag) I like to read about women who are being swept off their feet by the love of their life. . . because make believe is not just for kids ya know!
For those that know me, you know I'm a book worm! I used to read ONLY romance novels! Trashy romance! Ya know, the ones where sex is usually involved within the first 50 pages! I remember Frau Lightle turning my books over every day in class because she didn't like the covers! "Does your father know you read those books?" (her husband works with my Daddy-o). Does he know! C'mon! I'm READING a book for crying out loud! Be glad, as I'm certain 80% of the class did not read novels for the enjoyment! YES! My father knew, and yes he had his opinion. . . .and this particular blog has a little about that opinion! You know when you hear something and you just don't want to believe it, because you KNOW it's not true, but you would rather stay in your own little dream world? Well, that was me! I remember my dad telling me over and over "Stacey, it's a fairy tale world! It's make believe. People don't fall in love that easily in real life Stacey! It just doesn't happen! Don't expect some man to do all the stuff that you read about!" Well, guess what? He's right! It is a fairy tale world, but one I enjoyed living in because I just could not face the real world then!
When I started college I was hooked on one particular song - Drift Off To Dream by Travis Tritt. The lyrics are as follows (and there will be more written after it:)
I sit here surrounded by people and lights
Alone with my drink at the bar
You've been here forever, so clear in my mind
I just don't know where you are
I know I'll find you but girl 'til I do
This is my love song for you
Let's hold hands on the porch swing, under the moon
While the wind through the willows plays us a tune
We can lie on a blanket, out back in the yard
And wish for our future on a faraway star
You'll feel the passion as time after time
I press your sweet lips to mine
Then we'll dance to the radio, right up 'til dawn
'Til you drift off to dream in my arms
You might be hundreds or more miles away
Or you might be just down the street
But there'll be a hunger deep in your eyes
That I'll recognize when we meet
It might take hours or it might take years
But this is the song you will hear
Let's hold hands on the porch swing, under the moon
While the wind through the willows plays us a tune
We can lie on a blanket, out back in the yard
And wish for our future on a faraway star
You'll feel the passion as time after time
I press your sweet lips to mine
Then we'll dance to the radio, right up 'til dawn
'Til you drift off to dream in my arms
I would play this song over and over and over as I was CERTAIN that the love of my life would find me and we would do these romantic things! What girl has not dreamed of being whisked off her feet by the love of her life? C'mon, I really believe it is only natural for a female to feel this way. Look at how we are raised on Cinderella, Snow White, Ariel. . . .They ALL found their one true love in the end, so why was it so cotton-pickin' hard for ME to? I was so anxious to find the one that was going to sit on my porch at home and 'snog' with me! All I wanted to lay on the blanket with him and wish on those stars! I wanted to feel his lips upon mine! And darn it, I wanted to drift off to dream in those arms! I wanted it so badly that I jumped into a relationships, just to see if I could find that!
After a few failed relationships in which those romantic things did NOT happen, I started to realize that my Daddy-o was right! Those romance books were a load of crap and that I had been living in a damn fairy tale world! It's not true that one falls head over heels in love, that love at first site exist, that the one you love is going to be a total romantic in all the ways you have dreamed about! How's come teenagers and young adults do not listen to their parents? Geeze, most of the time they are right!
Yeah, I'll admit I wish my husband was a bit more romantic -- OK maybe a lot more romantic (and I know he's reading this :), but I am glad that he has a small romantic side to him. Men and women are so very different when it comes to romance, or maybe it is just me in my make believe world that I need to leave behind. . . but sometimes, when life is treating me like crap (and ladies, let's admit it, we all go thru it once a month when PMS hits us in the stomach like Mike Tyson punching a punching bag) I like to read about women who are being swept off their feet by the love of their life. . . because make believe is not just for kids ya know!
Monday, July 20, 2009
I'm still looking for a job.
Last week I put in my application with Lake Station schools for subbing. I guess if the mother does not return her children today at least I have that to fall back on, as it pays $50 per day, and Eluides is under the assumption that I will probably be able to work almost every day within the school corp. . . which depresses the hell out of me! Not that I would be working, but rather that I would be subbing! I went to school from 93 - 00 to become a teacher, get the degree and cannot pass the stupid state test to obtain my license! I mean, seriously, how pathetic is that? I took the test five times. The first time I obtained a 149. One must have a 153 to pass. The next FOUR times I get a 151! Yes, folks, two peasly points away -- and FOUR times! It was hard at first when people would say "Why not just get a teaching job? That is what you want to school for, right?" I would hmmm-hawl around and avoid telling them that I was a failure when it comes to bubble tests! Now, I just state, "I do not have a license." It's much easier than saying "Yes World! I, Stacey Lynn Modricker-Pagan, am a failure!"
So, going into the schools again is going to be really hard! I had such dreams of being able to run my own classroom, change so many young kids' minds, help them prepare for the big, bad, scary world! It's not bad enough that I help Eluides a lot with his homework grading and cleaning his ungodly cluttered classroom. . . . (It never fails, I always leave in a pissy mood because I realize how much I want to be in the classroom), but I may be going back. . . I mean, seriously, do I love to torture myself? I guess so. . .
I'm seriously becoming lower and lower in regards to this job routine! I've never in my life had such difficulty finding a job! The first time I lived up here in NWI it was a wee bit difficult, but the Radisson pulled through and gave me two years of experience. Right now, yeah, I know the economy is sucking the life out of people, but geeze! I've had a couple good interviews that I had hoped I'd get a job with them, yet they fell through. . . and it's been a while since I've had an interview. How else am I to market myself? I'm extremely dependable, loyal, hard working, a team player, a solo player, truthful, I don't miss a lot of work (c'mon, I took ONE week off after having a 10 pound baby and returned to work!) What else can I tell these people that are interviewing me? I so love a challenge and I am not going to stop until I find the answer (hmmm, maybe I should reflect upon that in regards to this darn job hunting!)
I have had a few people ask me "Stacey, WHY do you want to return to the job market? You have a great job at home!" Firstly, I was NOT made to stay at home. Yes, I have been so blessed to be able to stay at home with my two boys, raise them, and not have to shell out bucks for child care. . .however, they are both in school full-time now and Stacey needs something to do! There is only so much cleaning (OK, shut up) one can do. And, let's face it, my student loan companies are barking at the door. . . . there's only so much time I can put 'em off! I've worked on one year, so now I only have two more to keep them at bay! I wish I could find a way to forgive those loans! UGH! Two degrees, a LOT of moola later, and I"m unemployed! They keep stating how education will take you everywhere! EVERYWHERE? Oh that must be my house, because clearly it is not taken me anywhere!
OK, enough complaining. . . . I need to go scour the job boards!
Last week I put in my application with Lake Station schools for subbing. I guess if the mother does not return her children today at least I have that to fall back on, as it pays $50 per day, and Eluides is under the assumption that I will probably be able to work almost every day within the school corp. . . which depresses the hell out of me! Not that I would be working, but rather that I would be subbing! I went to school from 93 - 00 to become a teacher, get the degree and cannot pass the stupid state test to obtain my license! I mean, seriously, how pathetic is that? I took the test five times. The first time I obtained a 149. One must have a 153 to pass. The next FOUR times I get a 151! Yes, folks, two peasly points away -- and FOUR times! It was hard at first when people would say "Why not just get a teaching job? That is what you want to school for, right?" I would hmmm-hawl around and avoid telling them that I was a failure when it comes to bubble tests! Now, I just state, "I do not have a license." It's much easier than saying "Yes World! I, Stacey Lynn Modricker-Pagan, am a failure!"
So, going into the schools again is going to be really hard! I had such dreams of being able to run my own classroom, change so many young kids' minds, help them prepare for the big, bad, scary world! It's not bad enough that I help Eluides a lot with his homework grading and cleaning his ungodly cluttered classroom. . . . (It never fails, I always leave in a pissy mood because I realize how much I want to be in the classroom), but I may be going back. . . I mean, seriously, do I love to torture myself? I guess so. . .
I'm seriously becoming lower and lower in regards to this job routine! I've never in my life had such difficulty finding a job! The first time I lived up here in NWI it was a wee bit difficult, but the Radisson pulled through and gave me two years of experience. Right now, yeah, I know the economy is sucking the life out of people, but geeze! I've had a couple good interviews that I had hoped I'd get a job with them, yet they fell through. . . and it's been a while since I've had an interview. How else am I to market myself? I'm extremely dependable, loyal, hard working, a team player, a solo player, truthful, I don't miss a lot of work (c'mon, I took ONE week off after having a 10 pound baby and returned to work!) What else can I tell these people that are interviewing me? I so love a challenge and I am not going to stop until I find the answer (hmmm, maybe I should reflect upon that in regards to this darn job hunting!)
I have had a few people ask me "Stacey, WHY do you want to return to the job market? You have a great job at home!" Firstly, I was NOT made to stay at home. Yes, I have been so blessed to be able to stay at home with my two boys, raise them, and not have to shell out bucks for child care. . .however, they are both in school full-time now and Stacey needs something to do! There is only so much cleaning (OK, shut up) one can do. And, let's face it, my student loan companies are barking at the door. . . . there's only so much time I can put 'em off! I've worked on one year, so now I only have two more to keep them at bay! I wish I could find a way to forgive those loans! UGH! Two degrees, a LOT of moola later, and I"m unemployed! They keep stating how education will take you everywhere! EVERYWHERE? Oh that must be my house, because clearly it is not taken me anywhere!
OK, enough complaining. . . . I need to go scour the job boards!
Saturday, July 18, 2009
The Smell of Money
So, Thomas was to stay with my parents for 2 weeks! He was all super-excited to see them last Friday! He woke up one day last week and told me "Mommy, is today the day LJ comes home?" I thought it was because he was missing his big brother and replied with "Not today, TomTom, but tomorrow. Why, do you miss him?" I laughed at his reply, "Naw, I just wanna go home with Nanny and Papaw for two months!" Two months is the same as two weeks, two days, two years, two minutes and two seconds to a four year old! So, I chuckled, gave him a smooch and told him "Soon, TomTom, soon."
Well, Nanny and Papaw arrived on Friday evening and he was all "I'm staying at your house for TWO YEARS" Of course, Dad played that one up "Two years! WOW! We can do a lot in TWO years" I, of course, just shook my head!
So, off they go on Saturday afternoon for his TWO YEARS with Nanny and Papaw and his 'friends (aka cousins). . . LJ was home from his 2 WEEKS with them, and we were enjoying our time together with just him, as we had enjoyed our time together with just Thomas (sometimes it is good to spoil 'em that way:)
Well, Tom called on Tuesday evening, all sad and almost in tears, "Mommy, I want you to come get me right now! I wanna go home now!" Now, he has stayed with my parents before, for up to 6 days at at time, and he'd only been there for 3 nights! I was kind of shocked! Well, ok I was actually floored. So I tried reasoning with him that we'd come get him this weekend and he just was not having anything to do with it! So, I'm glad I was off this week, as well as Eluides. We packed up the backpack and headed down to ol Hartford City. . . .
There is always something about the drive into town that I enjoy. . . My roots callin' me home or something. . . as we were getting closer, someone was burning wood of some sort (maybe it was leaves) and, of course, like any insane person, I enjoy the smell of a wood fire burning. Maybe it reminds me of roasting marshmallows or something, but I like it. . . So, we were in the car with my husband and oldest asleep, and I was belting out some country tunes, and I was sniffing the air remembering childhood days . . . and I guess I sniffed TOO hard because the next thing I know, I am no longer sniffing a fire, but good ol country air! Also know in this family as "the smell of money" Yeah, yeah, it was the smell of manure! So, I stopped sniffing so hard and smiled. . . Oh yeah, I was going home! Just like the smell of wood fire, the smell of pig pooppoop brings back memories from childhood. It's not that I LIKE the smell of manure, but growing up in a country area, well, you get used to it! I'll never forget the time that my husband was teaching at my old high school -- a few miles away is a large pig farm! LOL He, being a city boy, was not used to the smell on a good, warm, humid day! It was rather funny :)
It's odd how scents can just slam me back into time. . . And generally, I love those trips back!
Well, Nanny and Papaw arrived on Friday evening and he was all "I'm staying at your house for TWO YEARS" Of course, Dad played that one up "Two years! WOW! We can do a lot in TWO years" I, of course, just shook my head!
So, off they go on Saturday afternoon for his TWO YEARS with Nanny and Papaw and his 'friends (aka cousins). . . LJ was home from his 2 WEEKS with them, and we were enjoying our time together with just him, as we had enjoyed our time together with just Thomas (sometimes it is good to spoil 'em that way:)
Well, Tom called on Tuesday evening, all sad and almost in tears, "Mommy, I want you to come get me right now! I wanna go home now!" Now, he has stayed with my parents before, for up to 6 days at at time, and he'd only been there for 3 nights! I was kind of shocked! Well, ok I was actually floored. So I tried reasoning with him that we'd come get him this weekend and he just was not having anything to do with it! So, I'm glad I was off this week, as well as Eluides. We packed up the backpack and headed down to ol Hartford City. . . .
There is always something about the drive into town that I enjoy. . . My roots callin' me home or something. . . as we were getting closer, someone was burning wood of some sort (maybe it was leaves) and, of course, like any insane person, I enjoy the smell of a wood fire burning. Maybe it reminds me of roasting marshmallows or something, but I like it. . . So, we were in the car with my husband and oldest asleep, and I was belting out some country tunes, and I was sniffing the air remembering childhood days . . . and I guess I sniffed TOO hard because the next thing I know, I am no longer sniffing a fire, but good ol country air! Also know in this family as "the smell of money" Yeah, yeah, it was the smell of manure! So, I stopped sniffing so hard and smiled. . . Oh yeah, I was going home! Just like the smell of wood fire, the smell of pig pooppoop brings back memories from childhood. It's not that I LIKE the smell of manure, but growing up in a country area, well, you get used to it! I'll never forget the time that my husband was teaching at my old high school -- a few miles away is a large pig farm! LOL He, being a city boy, was not used to the smell on a good, warm, humid day! It was rather funny :)
It's odd how scents can just slam me back into time. . . And generally, I love those trips back!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Family
Well, my LJ came home yesterday! It was so good to get a big ol hug from him! His hair has gotten shaggy, and is in need of a haircut, but he did well for the two weeks he was gone! This was the first time he has been gone for this long (normally it is only one week at a time); I was told he did not want to return! What can I say, the little stinker loves my parents!
I packed Thomas off in their SUV this evening for his two weeks. It's like I've only had one child for the past 2 weeks, and then again for the next. I love the fact that my two boys enjoy their one on one time with my parents, and it makes my heart full to know my parents enjoy their time with my boys. Because we live those three hours away, they only get to see my family (typically) once a month and that is only for really one full 24 hours. During that short time we have to shovel all our family time into it! So normally we don't go to bed until after 2am on Friday's and the same for Saturday's! It is hard, but I love visiting with family and friends when I go home, so I don't mind. I do hate the return trip though!!
So, today my dad redid my 'sidewalk' to the front of the house. Eluides had originally laid down some patio blocks, but did not have enough the first time around. So, my dad had told me he'd come up and help re-do it. This weekend he finally made it up to help me! And I should NOT say help me, because he mainly did it by himself! And it looks SOOOOO nice now! Eluides and I have to fill the sides with some sand, but the walk way looks great now! Thanks Daddy-o!
So, one must realize how lucky we are when our family is willing to help us so much! Although we are not always lucky enough to see our family and friends as often as we would like, those times that we do get to visit with them are cherished!
So, I hope Thomas enjoys his time with Nanny and Papaw this weekend as much as LJ did!
I packed Thomas off in their SUV this evening for his two weeks. It's like I've only had one child for the past 2 weeks, and then again for the next. I love the fact that my two boys enjoy their one on one time with my parents, and it makes my heart full to know my parents enjoy their time with my boys. Because we live those three hours away, they only get to see my family (typically) once a month and that is only for really one full 24 hours. During that short time we have to shovel all our family time into it! So normally we don't go to bed until after 2am on Friday's and the same for Saturday's! It is hard, but I love visiting with family and friends when I go home, so I don't mind. I do hate the return trip though!!
So, today my dad redid my 'sidewalk' to the front of the house. Eluides had originally laid down some patio blocks, but did not have enough the first time around. So, my dad had told me he'd come up and help re-do it. This weekend he finally made it up to help me! And I should NOT say help me, because he mainly did it by himself! And it looks SOOOOO nice now! Eluides and I have to fill the sides with some sand, but the walk way looks great now! Thanks Daddy-o!
So, one must realize how lucky we are when our family is willing to help us so much! Although we are not always lucky enough to see our family and friends as often as we would like, those times that we do get to visit with them are cherished!
So, I hope Thomas enjoys his time with Nanny and Papaw this weekend as much as LJ did!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Cookie Cutters & Egg Drop Soup
Ok, so it is Sunday and I'm needing to figure something out for dinner for my family, but I have no motivation to cook. I've cleaned the lower level (or maybe I should say ATTEMPTED). I'm trying to gather all my crap and make sure it is in one place, and not letting it creep into my husbands comic area. Seriously, I try hard. Maybe I just have too much crap?! Wait! Is it possible for a scrapbooker and rubber stamper to have TOO much stuff? NEVER! :) Anyhow, I bought a plastic shelf in hopes of being able to gather it in a tidier fashion and maybe declutter some other areas (trust me, the Lord knows I could use a mega decluttering session or two). So, I've been a busy worker bee! :)
So, today's topic is cookie cutters and egg drop soup. We love egg drop soup here, so I'm going going to try the recipe later this week, since it looks super easy :)
Keep various cookie cutters or clean scissors handy to make food fun! Cut designs out of cheese slices, cold cuts, sandwiches & Jell-o!
I LOVE cookie cutting the boys' sandwiches. They get such a kick out of it. During Halloween they get ghost, pumpkins, witches, etc. During Easter they get Easter eggs and jelly beans (don't ask), Christmas time they get all sorts of things like presents, angels, trees, bells, etc. Valentines they get hearts. They love the shaped sandwiches, as not only do they get a shape there is NO CRUST on the sandwiches! Oh how a 4 and 7 year old love crustless bread! :) If you have not tried using cookie cutters to spruce up some of your kiddies foods, you should really try it! I'm certain you will one of those 'priceless' moments when they see it! Oh and you can use others during non-holidays like the Wilton flower that is out there, as well as others. I use the Wilton cutters b/c they are large and use up almost an entire slice of bread :0)
Here is your Ramen Noodle recipe for today.
Egg Drop Soup
2 c water
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 c diced onion
1/4 c diced celery
12/4 c diced green pepper
1 pkg chicken ramen noodles, with seasoning packet
In a sauce pan, bring water to boiling and add season packet, eggs and veggies. Stir constantly until eggs look done. Simmer 5 minutes. Add noodles and cook 3 - 5 minutes, or until noodles are tender. Serves 2.
Oh and just a reminder, Ramen Noodles will soon be dirt cheap (yes, cheaper than they normally are) because the stores will stare prepping for the return of college students, so if you see them on sale, STOCK UP!
PS: Ice Age 3 is awesome :)
So, today's topic is cookie cutters and egg drop soup. We love egg drop soup here, so I'm going going to try the recipe later this week, since it looks super easy :)
Keep various cookie cutters or clean scissors handy to make food fun! Cut designs out of cheese slices, cold cuts, sandwiches & Jell-o!
I LOVE cookie cutting the boys' sandwiches. They get such a kick out of it. During Halloween they get ghost, pumpkins, witches, etc. During Easter they get Easter eggs and jelly beans (don't ask), Christmas time they get all sorts of things like presents, angels, trees, bells, etc. Valentines they get hearts. They love the shaped sandwiches, as not only do they get a shape there is NO CRUST on the sandwiches! Oh how a 4 and 7 year old love crustless bread! :) If you have not tried using cookie cutters to spruce up some of your kiddies foods, you should really try it! I'm certain you will one of those 'priceless' moments when they see it! Oh and you can use others during non-holidays like the Wilton flower that is out there, as well as others. I use the Wilton cutters b/c they are large and use up almost an entire slice of bread :0)
Here is your Ramen Noodle recipe for today.
Egg Drop Soup
2 c water
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 c diced onion
1/4 c diced celery
12/4 c diced green pepper
1 pkg chicken ramen noodles, with seasoning packet
In a sauce pan, bring water to boiling and add season packet, eggs and veggies. Stir constantly until eggs look done. Simmer 5 minutes. Add noodles and cook 3 - 5 minutes, or until noodles are tender. Serves 2.
Oh and just a reminder, Ramen Noodles will soon be dirt cheap (yes, cheaper than they normally are) because the stores will stare prepping for the return of college students, so if you see them on sale, STOCK UP!
PS: Ice Age 3 is awesome :)
Friday, July 3, 2009
T-Shirts & Minestrone
OK, today for Mommyhood & Ramen Noodles we have:
Wear a T-shirt with your child's name on it.
This is something I have NEVER done! However, maybe this fall I'll do it when the boys are in Fall soccer. I'll make me a shirt that states Super Soccer Mom of LJ and Tom. Kind of nice tone to it. Kind of dorky too! HAHA! Maybe I could do one that states Pagan's Mom HA HA! I wonder how many people would look at me like I'm the spawn of the devil? Hmmm. . . Maybe better scratch that one (and for all of you out there reading this -- there is an accent mark over the second a to make it sound like this pa-gone). So, who knows, maybe I'll get one of those shirts this year. . . or maybe I'll wait a few years :o)
And now, for your special Ramen Noodle recipe :)
Minestrone
1 pkg rame noodles, any flavor
1 can (10.75 oz) tomato soup, condensed
8 oz. spicey smoked sausage, thinly sliced
1/4 c cooked sliced celery
1/4 c cooked slicd carrots
1/4 c peas
1/2 c green beans
1/2 c canned kidney beans, rinsed and drained
salt and pepper, to taste
Cook noodles in water according to directions. Do not drain. Add soup, sausage, and veggies. Simmer 5 - 10 minutes or until veggies are tender. Add more water by tablespoons in soup is too thick. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Make 2 servings.
There you have it, an easy soup to make! YUM! :)
Wear a T-shirt with your child's name on it.
This is something I have NEVER done! However, maybe this fall I'll do it when the boys are in Fall soccer. I'll make me a shirt that states Super Soccer Mom of LJ and Tom. Kind of nice tone to it. Kind of dorky too! HAHA! Maybe I could do one that states Pagan's Mom HA HA! I wonder how many people would look at me like I'm the spawn of the devil? Hmmm. . . Maybe better scratch that one (and for all of you out there reading this -- there is an accent mark over the second a to make it sound like this pa-gone). So, who knows, maybe I'll get one of those shirts this year. . . or maybe I'll wait a few years :o)
And now, for your special Ramen Noodle recipe :)
Minestrone
1 pkg rame noodles, any flavor
1 can (10.75 oz) tomato soup, condensed
8 oz. spicey smoked sausage, thinly sliced
1/4 c cooked sliced celery
1/4 c cooked slicd carrots
1/4 c peas
1/2 c green beans
1/2 c canned kidney beans, rinsed and drained
salt and pepper, to taste
Cook noodles in water according to directions. Do not drain. Add soup, sausage, and veggies. Simmer 5 - 10 minutes or until veggies are tender. Add more water by tablespoons in soup is too thick. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Make 2 servings.
There you have it, an easy soup to make! YUM! :)
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Be A Special Mom & Ramen Noodles
So, I've been sitting here thinking about WHAT exactly I should blog about. It's been suggested to blog about my unemployment status -- but let's face it, it gets boring reading the same thing every day. I applied for X job, didn't get an interview; had an interview today, two days later I didn't get the job, etc. So I scratched that idea. Then it was suggested to blog on Mommy-hood -- so I am going to give it a shot at that! :) I have this book here that I probably bought for myself (my husband has never ever bought me anything that states things like World's Greatest Mom photo frames, etc outside of the regular Mother's Day and Birthday cards, so I know this book never came from him - sorry EP) - it is called 101 Ways to Be a Special Mom, written by Vicki Lansky (OK, English degree comin' out there).
Anyhow, here is the first one and I'll insert a little info about it in regards to MY Mommyhood now :) AND, to go along with it, we all know that raising kids is not exactly the CHEAPEST thing in the world to do! So, I'll include a recipe every day for RAMEN noodles! YES! Who hasn't lived off of those things at least once? This one is a written by Toni Patrick. SO enjoy :)
#1 Kiss all owies
After seven years of kissing owies, it's gotten to the point that 'shake it off' doesn't work! I mean, c'mon, if YOU were to fall of the swing set and had a ginormous gooseeggg on the noggin, do you really think "shake it off' would work for YOU! Heck no! You'd probably curse and apply some ice bag or something! If Eluides were to kiss my ankles every time I twisted them he'd be doing pretty often! So, I have twisted the kissing owies into more! If it is something minor like a small scratch, yeah, mommy will kiss it and make it all better. HOWEVER, if it is more than a small scratch and my boys are carrying on like they are gonna die over it, I play it up!
"OH MY GOD! C'mon, Daddy, grab the keys! We gotta take LJ to the emergency room! He's bleeding!" and I'll rush around like I've lost my mind (Ok, let's face it -- one must HAVE a mind to loose a mind). The silliness will lead to "Noooooo. . . I'm not going to the hospital" and big smiles in between tears! To me, it takes away from the smarting that they must be feeling in the knees or palms, bloody noses, etc. and makes them smile and laugh - and isn't that what it's all about.
So, bring on the scrapes and bruises! We'll pretend whenever necessary and seriously, I don't look forward to the time I REALLY have to go to the ER! However, as long as I don't pass out like my Daddy-o did when I was five I think I'll be OK! :)
Here is your Ramen Noodle recipe! I have not tried this, but it looks different! Enjoy - and if you try it out, please post a comment and let me know how it taste!!!
Tomato Noodle Soup
1 pkg ramen noodle soup, any flavor
1 can (10.75 oz) tomato soup, condensed
Cook your noodles according to package (that would be 2 cups of water and 3 minutes boiling -- you should know that by now I would hope) DO NOT DRAIN! Add soup. Simmer for 5 minutes and stir it every once in a while. This will make enough to serve 2.
Anyhow, here is the first one and I'll insert a little info about it in regards to MY Mommyhood now :) AND, to go along with it, we all know that raising kids is not exactly the CHEAPEST thing in the world to do! So, I'll include a recipe every day for RAMEN noodles! YES! Who hasn't lived off of those things at least once? This one is a written by Toni Patrick. SO enjoy :)
#1 Kiss all owies
After seven years of kissing owies, it's gotten to the point that 'shake it off' doesn't work! I mean, c'mon, if YOU were to fall of the swing set and had a ginormous gooseeggg on the noggin, do you really think "shake it off' would work for YOU! Heck no! You'd probably curse and apply some ice bag or something! If Eluides were to kiss my ankles every time I twisted them he'd be doing pretty often! So, I have twisted the kissing owies into more! If it is something minor like a small scratch, yeah, mommy will kiss it and make it all better. HOWEVER, if it is more than a small scratch and my boys are carrying on like they are gonna die over it, I play it up!
"OH MY GOD! C'mon, Daddy, grab the keys! We gotta take LJ to the emergency room! He's bleeding!" and I'll rush around like I've lost my mind (Ok, let's face it -- one must HAVE a mind to loose a mind). The silliness will lead to "Noooooo. . . I'm not going to the hospital" and big smiles in between tears! To me, it takes away from the smarting that they must be feeling in the knees or palms, bloody noses, etc. and makes them smile and laugh - and isn't that what it's all about.
So, bring on the scrapes and bruises! We'll pretend whenever necessary and seriously, I don't look forward to the time I REALLY have to go to the ER! However, as long as I don't pass out like my Daddy-o did when I was five I think I'll be OK! :)
Here is your Ramen Noodle recipe! I have not tried this, but it looks different! Enjoy - and if you try it out, please post a comment and let me know how it taste!!!
Tomato Noodle Soup
1 pkg ramen noodle soup, any flavor
1 can (10.75 oz) tomato soup, condensed
Cook your noodles according to package (that would be 2 cups of water and 3 minutes boiling -- you should know that by now I would hope) DO NOT DRAIN! Add soup. Simmer for 5 minutes and stir it every once in a while. This will make enough to serve 2.
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