Motivated to keep going

It's Monday!  I'd say "Happy Monday," but that would be stretching it because...well, let's face it....Mondays are kind of a drag, but that's why we need motivation.  And that's why I'm here writing this post.  So how does it work?  Just write a post about what is motivating you this week - any topic whatsoever - to work out that one extra day, to floss your teeth every night, to sit through one entire episode of "Minute to Win It," whatever it is...write about it, and comment on this post, leaving a link to your post in the comment.  And I'll link you up.  And if you can't think of one Monday...do it Tuesday, or Wednesday....pretty much any day until next Monday.


Alright, to my motivation...still on the workout wagon and eating right.  Last week I brought two items of fruit with me to snack on - one orange at mid-morning and a kiwi in the afternoon.  Those were my snacks so I didn't reach for the sweets.  It worked out pretty well...in fact, the oranges were pretty damn good for something sweet and tangy.  So I'm motivated to keep it up.


How'd I do on the working out thing last week?  I managed to do five days out of seven.  Not as good as I'd like, so my goal is to do six days this week.  And cardio, too.  My doctor has told me to lay off the weights a bit for now, so I do those for about one day a week with my trainer.  This upcoming Saturday we are doing the mini-marathon training race, a 10K this time around.  (That's 6.2 miles for those of you who are like me and willfully ignore the metric system...)  I've done one 10K before, but that was a couple years ago, so here goes nothing!  And the last training race is 15K the second weekend of April, just one month shy of the mini-marathon.  So my motivation is to keep up on it...keep walking and add the distance and time.  I'll be there to 13.1 miles before you know it!


So what about you?  What's motivating you this week?  Leave a link to your post in the comments, and I'll link you up!  Have a good Monday!

Kristen @ This, Than and then Some (First time participant!)
Amber @ Amber LaShell Rants
The Coffeeqween @ A Coffeeqween's Life (First time participant!)
Chloe @ My New Life as a Housewife
Robin @ Find Good In Every Day



Random Nain on a Snowy Friday

TGIF everyone!  I don't know about all of you, but this has been one hell of a long week.  With work, snow, and heart tests, I'm ready for the weekend.  That being said, with all of the aforementioned events occurring this week, I'm feeling a little random today.  So...you get random Nain today with your Friday post...enjoy!

 

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Yesterday was one of those long work days.   I started off at 8:30, working on grant writing most of the day and then ended it with an out-of-county annual meeting for one of our donors, United Way.  That lasted until about 6:00 or so, and it meant an hour drive back in the rain and wind.  So to keep my attention during the ride home, I listened to the radio.  And by radio, I mean crappy pop music because that's the only way to truly keep me at full attention.  And I am not afraid to admit that I listened to "Party in the USA" on three different radio stations.  And I'm not afraid to admit that I enjoyed it somewhat, but now I am suffering the consequences this morning as I keep singing about moving my hips like yeah, and dancing to a Jay-z song.  Damn you, Miley Cyrus.

 

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It snowed.  Again.  And I know that the theory behind relying on a woodland creature and his ability to see his shadow doesn't exactly add up to much when determining when the winter season is over, but come on...I thought he said spring would be here soon.  What gives, groundhog?  Seriously?

 

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T and I have decided that with everything that has gone on this last month, we need to go on a date and just have fun for once.  Too much serious stuff going on, we need to laugh.  So we're thinking about seeing that movie "Hall Pass."  Has anyone seen it?  Is it worth the $8.50 to see? 

 

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For those of you who were wondering, I did undergo a heart test on Tuesday due to the condition I was born with as a child.  We won't know the results or anything until my cardiologist appointment on March 10th, so think positive thoughts.  T and I need them.

 

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That being said, I may or may not have yelled at the receptionist at my family doctor's office when she wouldn't send my records to this new cardiologist.  I cannot confirm or deny that the word incompetent was used.  She's lucky that's all I used.  Don't test me, lady, I'm not to be pushed around.

 

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I miss the show "Hoarding:  Buried Alive."  Watching other people's messed up lives makes me feel happy and warm inside.  Note to TLC:  Please bring back my show.  I miss it. 

 

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I really really really would love some Motivation Monday support next week!  Let's make it a good one next week so be thinking of your motivational posts! 

 

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

My Life Through Picutres

So I was tagged by Erin at Life of Ann James with a fun little game...showing a little collage of me through pictures, mainly in the younger years.  Of course, I'm not technologically savvy by any means, so getting these pictures on my blogger account has been quite an event, resulting in me downloading Google Chrome in order to get them to actually upload.  But here they are!  (Yay!)


So this is me as a baby...when we lived in our first home in Alabama.  I was a curious little kiddo, and I liked to play in the kitchen even back then....

I was also quite the fashion pioneer.  Note the brown hat and black belt combo.  Quite fierce, isn't it?  Though I am rethinking the pink shirt/red pants pair-up.

I was (and still am) a good little Catholic girl.  Here I am so proud of my First Communion dress.  If memory serves me, that veil thing was kind of digging into my head and wasn't feeling so great after awhile, but I was so proud of my dress!

At the young age of 8, I fell in love for the first time.  With Joey from New Kids on the Block.  Oh how I wish I still had this button.  Don't I look so happy to be getting it as a birthday present?

Of course, what would a photo montage be without that awkward picture from middle school?  I think this was 7th grade, and this was post the phase where I would gel my bangs, but this was after I got my super hot huge glasses.  And vests were SO in back then, too.

And lastly, we have me as a senior in high school.  I managed to get through that awkward phase eventually....somewhere around middle of junior year.  And I'm proud to say that this picture isn't one of those pictures that I'm going to look back on and say "oh my God, what was I thinking?"  Hopefully my children won't say the same thing :-)

Wasn't that fun?  Now I get to tag 5 people to do the same thing...so here are the lucky folks!

Megan at Best of Fates

Robin at Find Good in Every Day

Chloe at My New Life as a Housewife

Amber at Amber Lashell Rants

Chantel at My Thoughts and Treasures

 

Wordless Wednesday

T....my strength....

 I don't know where I would be without his love. 

Success is a treasure

One day down, four more to go!  It's Tuesday, so that means it's Small Treasure Tuesday time with Chantel over at My Thoughts and Treasures.  My Small Treasure Today is the success I had this last weekend with my side business with Mary Kay.  I had an appointment with a client on Saturday and then an Open House on Sunday afternoon.  I wasn't sure how well I'd do in terms of sales at either, and I walked away with quite a profit, which made me really happy. 


I was so worried when I started doing Mary Kay that I would be wasting my money and wouldn't do very well at it.  I'm not exactly the sales-type person, but I'm learning, which is a good thing.  And it's given me a lot of confidence.  And the one thing I was worried wouldn't happen is happening...I'm really starting to enjoy myself with it.  Exciting, no? 


So I say having the extra money to help us with bills and the extra boost in confidence is a big blessing!  What other blessings/treasures do you have in your life?  Check out Chantel's blog and see what other treasures people are sharing this week.

Motivation Monday!

Hi everyone!  It's Monday again...the weekend went by WAY too quickly, but alas, here we are.  So what better way than to start off the week with a little motivation?  Here's how it works...write up a post about what's motivating you this week.  It can be anything - exercise, work, writing, eating chocolate, anything. 
Write a post and comment on this post with that link, and I'll link you up!  Hope you all can join in!

So, my motivation this week is just finding some motivation.  As I said last Friday, I'm seriously lacking in that department.  We have a lot going on in personal life (a.k.a. medical drama) so I've kind of let everything fall to the wayside.  And that includes my diet and exercising.  Last week, I let the snooze bar talk me into staying in bed way too many times, and this last weekend, though we had a great time catching up with friends, we ate out Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.  Not good.  So this week I'm getting back to it, and I'm not letting my inner laziness talk me out of it. 

I am proud to say that I woke myself up this morning at 5:15, got up and walked on the treadmill for 45 minutes and ate a healthy breakfast of oatmeal and yogurt before leaving for work.  Tomorrow morning I have no choice but to get my lazy butt out of bed because I have scheduled a personal training appointment first thing in the morning at 5:30.  I figure with the medical test I have looming that afternoon I could use the exercise to at least burn off some nervous energy.

And the sweets this week?  Just saying no.  I don't want the last week to sidetrack me from my ultimate goal.  So that's my motivation this week.  And my mantra?  "I think I can. I think I can..." 

What about you?  What's motivating you this week?

 Chloe at My New Life as a Housewife Chantel at My Thoughts and Treasures  

I'm still here...

I am here, guys.  Still alive and kicking.  Sorry for the lack of posts...it's been due to a number of factors:  busy at work, overwhelmed with personal issues, and a lack of motivation.  (I have kept true to my Motivation Monday post, I will note)  I promise next week I'll be back with posts every day.  For now, here's a rundown of what this week has brought Nain and T: 

 

 

Our house is moving along nicely.  We have a roof with shingles and everything now, and the brick has been delivered.  We're hoping that means it'll be put up today or this weekend.  Next week we have a mid-construction meeting to approve everything before they start putting up dry wall.  Every time I see our house I wish it were ready and we were able to come home to it now.  I'm not a patient girl, but I just can't wait to move in finally. 

 

 

The new job is still treating me really well.  I don't have a "how-to" manual since the person before me kind of left abruptly, so I'm learning as  I go along.  I was able to complete a huge project this week without much guidance at all, so that's quite an accomplishment.  I do really enjoy what I'm doing, and I look forward to seeing what else I can do to help this agency.

 

 

Next week I'm having a test done for my heart.  I won't go into details, but suffice it to say that is one of the biggest reasons why I've been so distracted lately.  It's next Tuesday so be thinking lots of really positive thoughts for me.  I really appreciate it....

 

 

And more positive thoughts are needed this weekend - I'm having my very first Mary Kay Open House, and I'm not sure how well it will go.  I've tried to get the word out there, but I think many people are busy this weekend.  So any attendance at all will be a good thing in my mind.  So think positive thoughts there, too!

 

 

Have a great weekend everyone, and I promise...more posts next week!

 



Treasuring the warmer weather

Happy Small Treasure Tuesdays with Chantel!    My small treasure this week is the weather.  Here in Indiana we've had a pretty crappy winter so far this year (and I'm afraid mother nature may not be done with us), so I'm really stoked  that this week we're getting temperatures in the 50s.  I mean, that's balmy compared to the negative degree windchills we had last week.  Dare I say I might just wear a jacket to work and not a huge coat? 


On Sunday, T and I actually ventured outside to walk on the path by our house, with a sweatshirt and no coat no less!).  It was mostly clear, though some of was covered in ice.  We did get a couple inches of ice under the snow so it's only natural it's going to take some time.  But I'm really excited that we're finally going to get rid of all the white stuff and clear shiny stuff that makes my car dirty and makes me slip on my way into work.  (I'm not a fan of winter, if you can't tell...)


The nice weather is giving us the light at the end of the tunnel and getting me excited for spring.  I love spring - flowers blooming, green grass, blue skies, Easter, my birthday, and...we'll be moving into our house in April or May!  All this optimism steming from a little temperature change?  This totally isn't like me at all.


What are you excited about this week?  See what other small treasures people have to share at Chantel's blog!

Motivation Monday - Valentine's Day Edition

It's Motivation Monday, and it's Valentine's Day...normally, I wouldn't be one to make a big deal out of Valentine's Day, as it isn't one of my favorite holidays, but...I'm feeling a little sentimental lately, so why not?


Before I start with my motivation this week, I'll explain how it works.  Just write a post about what is motivating you this week, adding the cute little button you'll find to the write of your screen.  Comment on this post with your link to your motivational post, and I'll link you up.  It's as easy as pie!  Well, making pie isn't always easy, but it's easy.  And you can link up any time this week...doesn't have to be Monday. 


So my motivation this week is my husband.


 

I have alluded to the fact that we've had something going on lately and it hasn't been easy.   Well, that something has to do with me and my health.  That's all I'll say about that, but it hasn't been easy.  In my past, with past boyfriends, I've essentially had to deal with things like this alone.  But T has been amazing throughout the whole process.  Sure, we've each had our breaking points, as most normal people would.  But he's been there, and I truly appreciate it more than he knows. 

In the middle of all of this crap, there have been days where I've just been down.  And I don't always tell him how much I do appreciate him or show it.  I know he understands, but my motivation this week (and to carry on past this week) is to truly make an effort to show/tell him how much I appreciate him.  Because I know it's not easy for him to be that pillar of strength constantly.  And I do appreciate it.  More than he'll ever know. 

And since it's Valentine's Day...what better day than to say thank you?  Thank you, T, for everything.  You're my best friend, and I love you so much.  Thank you for being there.

So what is motivating you this week? 

Chantel @ My Thoughts and Treasures

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!



Little blessings

Today is a special day.  I know I've shared many many times that I'm extremely proud of my nieces and nephews, but I can't help but say it again today.  Today is the birthday for my twin niece and nephew Erin and Griffin (otherwise known as the "gruesome twosome") 


 

Eight years ago today was a very scary one for my family.  My sister-in-law was only 26 weeks along in her pregnancy with twins and was due sometime in May, so we weren't expecting any arrivals in mid-February.  However, I got a phone call while I was at school at IU that despite their efforts to hold off labor, she was giving birth, and without any hesitation, I packed my bags.  Honestly, I didn't know what or how to pack.  I hate to admit this, but I did pack black.  Because I feared the worst deep down in my heart, and it killed me. 

I had a test that day in one of my classes, but I left anyway.  I drove straight up to St. Vincent hospital, meeting my brother outside when I arrived.  Poor guy, he looked so worried, so tired.  The twins were already born at that point and had been immediately taken to the neonatal intensive care unit. 


 

First we had Griffin.  He weight only 2 lbs and 2 oz.  He was on an oscillating ventilator for the first few weeks of his life and his lungs weren't fully developed.

Then we had Erin (otherwise known as Erin Lou).  This little thing weight only 1 lb and 10 oz.  You can see in this picture, she's practically the size of her mommy's hand.

 

The twins were at the NICU for three months.  Griffin was released first, as he was the bigger of the two and progressed the quickest, but Erin Lou wasn't too far behind.  I couldn't even imagine the pain and worry my brother and sister-in-law went through.  Their babies were in incubators for months, and each day was a new concern, a new worry.  We prayed for them constantly.  I wasn't able to finally hold them for about a month, and when I finally did, I was afraid to move, afraid I'd break them.  They were so tiny, so delicate. 


 

I remember coming home to help my brother and sister-in-law out every now and then, and feeding them was one of the duties I got.  They were either eating, napping or pooping.  The big concern was that when you were feeding them, they would get so relaxed that they would stop breathing.  And that would kick off their monitors.  The first time this happened while feeding Griffin, and he started to turn blue, I freaked out. 


My brother took him like it was no worry and gently tapped him on the back, waking him back up, and the monitor stopped.  That was daily life for them.

It's hard to believe that here we are 8 years later.  Erin and Griffin are normal children, in second grade, playing sports, both in scouts, both in karate.  They have the most amazing personalities, and they are such blessings.  Those two little babies you see up there, are these special kids right here (well the two on the right, of course.  Roo is on the right and is just as special.):


 

 If you look to the right of my screen, you will see a bar for the March of Dimes.  On April 30th my family will be walking a 2 mile walk/run to raise money for children who are born prematurely.  We'll be walking for my niece and nephew, as well as all of the other little miracles out there.  My fundraising goal is to raise $500 before the raise.  If you should feel so inclined, we would love it if you could donate any amount, even $1.00.  If you can't, please look into the March of Dimes walks in your area. 


Happy Birthday, Erin and Griffin.  I love you so very much.

 

Buy something for yourself

So T and I are going through some personal crises that is kind of hard right now, and I've been super down.  So last night, when T was heading to his guitar lesson, he suggested I go to Target and buy something for myself. 

So I go, "Oh, yeah, we need to get your brother and sister-in-law an anniversary card.  Oh and my Grandpa's birthday, too."

"No, that's not something for yourself."

"Well we need some candles for the house?"

"That's great," T says.  "But that's not something for yourself."

"I know...I can get some of our groceries we need."

"That's not something for yourself.   Buy something.  Like a CD or shirt or something."

So I go and walk around Target.  I get my cards, candles, some shampoo on sale in bulk for T (I heart Target), some new running socks for me and tights for when I do Mary Kay meetings.  Both of these are on clearance (whoo-hoo!)  I walk around the clothing section, and a few things I like are like $20 which I think is too much.  I settle on a cute argyle sweater for $5.00 (clearance!)  And then, of course, groceries and some brownies for my employees on Valentine's Day. 

We get home and are unloading our stuff.  I show T what I got and he jokes with me that even when I "buy something for myself" it has to have either 1) practical purpose like socks or 2) needs to be on clearance. 

But what can I say?  Five bucks for a sweater is one hell of a deal! 

I love Target....

Hamburger Soup

I promised to share another recipe with all of you each week, and this week, I'm sharing T's Mom's special recipe for hamburger soup.  We had this on Super Bowl Sunday, and it makes the perfect comfort food for the winter.  Plus, it's a crock pot recipe, so you don't have to fuss over it too much.

What you need:

1 lb hamburger

2 cans of reduced sodium tomato soup

1 packet of onion soup

3 cups of boiling water

1 tsp of basil

1 tsp of pepper

1 cup of elbow noodles

It's really easy.  All you need to do is combine all ingredients, minus the noodles in the crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours.  You'll need to break up the ground beef before you add the noodles, but when you are ready to serve, add the 1 cup of cooked noodles and serve with a sprinkle of parmesean cheese. 

It's delicious!  I highly recommend it...but I am partial...what can I say?

  

Small Treasure Tuesdays: House update!

It's Small Treasure Tuesdays with Chantel!  I have a nice treasure to share with all of you this week.  See, last week, our wood was delivered to our lot, and then the area was hit with an ice storm, so that kind of put things on hold.  We didn't really think that much progress would be made when we drove by our lot this weekend, but this greeted us upon our arrival:

Damn!  That's like most of a house!  The first and second floors are all laid out!  Now we have to wait on the roof, and it'll be a complete stick house.  But it's exciting!  We toured it, being careful, of course, with the snow and ice, and T even talked me into going upstairs.  He went into the basement, but I'm just not that crazy. 


This week they'll be putting in the windows and doing all the inside electrical-type stuff.  But our house is really coming along, and it's getting both of us super excited.  Only a few more months left, and we'll be able to move in!


So that's my small treasure for today.  Stop by Chantel's blog and see what other treasures people have to share!

Motivation Monday!

So, since linkytools.com is now charging to use their sites, we're going to be playing Motivation Monday a little differently.  To participate, just write a post about is motivating you this week, and then comment on my original post, leaving a link to your motivational post.  I'll then add it to my post, ala the way Sprite's Keeper used to do the Spin Cycle.  Because I'm too cheap to pay for a service like linkytools.  I just can't justify it. (Though I will look into these other free sites for next week)


So now that I've ranted about that...let's get to the motivating...


This last week, I wrote a post about the self doubt I constantly have going through my mind.  It's annoying, but it's there.  It's like a Ke$ha soung...once you get it in your mind...it's there forever, and it'll drive you crazy.


Anyway, I need to work on that.  That's going to be a hard feat, too, because T and I got some news that kind of set us back on Friday and reinforced the already there negative thinking.  So now I'm fighting those negative voices even more so in my mind, but I need to do something about it.  And quickly or I may just go crazy.



So, Lillian from Thinking Out Loud came up with a great idea.  (If you want to read her comment in full, here's the original post.  What she suggested was something she saw on Oprah (gotta love Oprah)...she  suggested a gratitude journal.  And while I'm not sure I'll be able to write things down on a daily basis, I want to take time every night with T and go over the things that I am grateful for that day, the small accomplishments, the blessings that happened.  Sure, those bad things will still be there, and I'd like to rely more on the power of prayer to help me those tough times.  You know, they always say to give it to God.  Maybe I need to do more of that no matter how hard it will be. 


So positive thinking...that's what I'll be doing this week.  What's motivating you?  Just comment on this post with the link, and I'll link you up myself!  Happy Monday everyone!


Here are some other motivating posts!

Chloe at My New Life as a Housewife
Erika @ Studio E Designs
Amber @ Amber La Shell Rants

Are you ready for this?

Happy Super Bowl Sunday, everyone!  While you're watching the big game, why not do a little blogging?  Maybe write a little motivational monday post?  Come on...you know you want to!


Just a heads up - this week's  Motivation Monday deal is different.  Linkytools.com is charging to use their service, so I'm playing it old school.  When you write your post tomorrow, comment on this post or tomorrow's Motivation Monday post, and I'll link it up myself.  I'm fighting the man, man!  (Singing Twister Sister's "We're not gonna take it" in my head as I say this.)


Have a great Sunday, everyone! 

Oh, Amy Winehouse....

Moment when you know you've lost it:


T and I come back from the gym, and when I was working out with my personal trainer, they were playing Amy Winehouse's "Rehab," so the song was in my mind.  I kept singing "try to make me go to rehab, and I said, no, no, no..."  Then I decided to change it to "try to make me go to rehab and I said f*#k you mother-effers!  T looks at me and goes, what?  To which I start laughing hysterically because, well, I crack myself up.   So I kept singing it.  Over and over again. 


I think at some point he just ignored me or was staring at me thinking I lost my freaking mind as I would sing a verse and start laughing hysterically.  I managed to calm myself down and start heating up dinner (leftovers...go us!)


I calm myself down, but then I decided to explain myself.  So I turn to T and go "so this thing with Amy Winehouse..."  He starts laughing, but I go on, "you know, if someone was trying to make me go to rehab, I wouldn't just say "hey...no, no, no..."  I'd actually fight back, you know?" 


"I mean, I'd at least be more like Lindsay Lohan and fight it.  If I were a true crack whore, I wouldn't take that 'advice' so lightly." 


I then started going on variations on the song with other expletives that I would say if someone tried to make me go to rehab. 


Later that night, I entertained T with my rendition of "Hold on" by Wilson Phillips. 



I think I need a break or something.  Nain's officially cracked.  TGIF!

  

That nagging self doubt

I am the queen of self doubt.  I really am.  I know it drives T absolutely crazy, but I constantly doubt myself.  Or critique myself.  It's ingrained in me, and I can't help it.  I am my worse critic.

It's the constant voice in my head saying "you can't do it...you're not going to be good enough."  It's like the "it's a small world" song in my head.  I can't turn it off.  It's always there.  With my job, I may appear as confident as can be, but I'm thinking "what if I don't win this trial?  What if I mess up?"  When I took the bar exam, I had myself convinced for months that I had failed it before I saw the evidence that I passed. 

Sadly, the self doubt is following me into my new ventures.  With my new job, I put on the hat of "boss."  I have to make the tough decisions, and the buck stops with me.  And I would be lying if I don't hear my inner voice constantly saying "do you know what you're doing?  What if you can't crack it as boss?"

And the Mary Kay, I'm constantly thinking "well, what if people don't buy from me?  What if I just lose a bunch of money?"  I'm only 3 months into this venture, and I have myself convinced I'm going to fail.

The same goes with writing.  I sat down yesterday and got back to my manuscript, but in the back of my mind I'm asking "what if this is crap?  What if no one reads this?" 

And it's not the big things either - just ask T.  I'll make a meal and as we sit there eating, I go, "is it good?  Are you sure you like it, or are you really just saying that to make me happy?"

Some people call that being a pessimist.  Some people call it being hard on myself.  I call it being Nain. 

But no seriously....how do you shut that voice out?  Back in college, after a rather rough break-up, my cousin, Emily, tried to keep me strong and positive by making a series of signs she made with paper and bright marker listing each reason why I didn't need to get back together with the jerk who dumped me.  (I did end up getting back with him and then broke up again, but...not the point here...)  They were there as constant reminders to strengthen me and keep me centered.   Because I would have those moments of weakness where I'd want to go back to my old habits and give him a call, but I'd look at those signs and go "oh yeah, that's why I don't want to." (Editorial note:  Those signs were no longer there in my new dorm room when I did get back with the jerk.  That could be why I faltered.)

So maybe I need signs around my house.  "You can do it, Nain!"  "You're a good writer, Nain!"  "Your meals don't taste like ass at all, Nain!" 

Or maybe I need to go all Stuart Smally on this and sit in front of a mirror going "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and gosh darn it, people like me!"

Regardless, something has to give...any suggestions?  Am I the only one here who has this issue?

  

Apple pork chops

Whenever I'm experimenting in the kitchen, I like to brag about it a little bit on Twitter...just because :-)  I'm not normally a bragging type of person, but sometimes you have to toot your own horn.  Anyway, I've been asked to share a few of my recipes, so I will...they're not anything fancy by any means, but they're pretty damn tasty, if I do say so myself...and like my previous post, I'd love to show you pictures, but Blogger hates me or something.  So here's one of our favorites, apple pork chops (goes great with homemade hot apples, but that'll be another day)

\Apple Pork chops

What you need:

Two (or more, depending on your family) boneless pork chops

Apple juice

Mrs. Dash original seasoning

Garlic powder

Pepper

onions

1 Granny Smith apple

1.  Warm up margarine in a skillet and brown pork chops on each side, seasoning them before turning them.  (I like to season them a lot, but that's just me)

2.  Once the pork chops are browned, place them in a casserole dish with diced onions

3.  Pour somewhere between 1-2 cups of apple juice over the pork chops, just enough to make sure are covered.

4.  Add a dollop of margarine to each pork chop

5.  Peel and slice the Granny Smith apple, placing the slices in the dish.

6.  Cover and cook for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees.

I like to make these with roasted potatoes and some apple sauce.  It's great comfort food, and good for you because the Mrs. Dash is salt-free, which helps with T and my blood pressure issues.  Sorry I have no pictures for you...I'll be back with more recipes next week!  

 

The Man Cave

 One of the things I'll probably never understand is the need for a man cave.  It's something I've heard about over and over again from T, and I feel truly bad because he has never had that since we've lived together.  Sure, we have a den, where we things like his guitar, his desk, but this place also houses my desk and all of my Mary Kay inventory.  So let's be honest, it's not much of a man cave.

 

 

But in our new house, we will have a basement.  This is the first time I've ever lived in a house with a basement, but it isn't for T.  And with the construction of our new home, the first step is to dig the hole for the basement.  So right now, we have a hole.  A cemented hole, but a hole nonetheless.  And it has T as giddy as a child on Christmas morning.  He'll finally have his man cave.

 

 

Of course, the idea of hanging out in a cold basement full of bugs and dirt and just...who knows what, does not sound fun to me at all.  But it does to T.  All I've heard him talk about throughout the house building process is what he plans to do in his man cave, his plans to construct a work bench, what he plans to hang up down there, etc. etc. 

 

 

I am so happy that he will finally have his dream - his own little world of his own and somewhere for me to send him when he drives me crazy.  I'd post a picture of his own little man space here, but unfortunately blogger is acting up.  Suffice it to say, he couldn't be prouder of his man cave, and I couldn't be happier for him.

 

Small Treasure Tuesday

Happy Small Treasure Tuesdays with Chantel!  So my small treasure today?   Snow days!  Yes, T and I are holed up at home today and possibly tomorrow.  Indiana got hit was a pretty bad ice storm last night, and we're now waiting for phase two of the fun to begin.  So what does that mean?  Staying home! 


So I'm going to look at this like a blessing because these past two weeks, T and I have both been so insanely busy so it'll be nice to just stay in.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the power stay on during this ice storm (knocks on wood), and I hope everyone who does have to be out there stays safe.


On a side note, it was really weird being the one at the office who had the responsibility to call it a snow day today.  It's like, wait, I need to make this decision?  But I'd rather people be safe than sorry. 


Tomorrow is Ground hog's Day, but with the way the winter is going, I'm not sure if whatever Mr. Groundhog decides to do will matter.  But despite that, I'm focusing on small blessings...and having the day with T and no one else is a treasure, that's for sure!