Not so lost...but still so lost!

Ok, turns out I DID pack my phone charger - I just forgot I'd used it my first night here. So the charger is not lost and my marbles are not lost in that sense, BUT I did forget I'd used it. I'm just a mess I guess.

Lost...Lost...

I don't know what has happened to my brain, but my already precious brain power seems to be slipping ever further away - visible and yet somehow out of reach. I could give about 20 moments where my brain has not been up to par just this morning, but the current frustration is that I let my cell phone die last night only to discover I hadn't packed my cell phone charger (I'm currently in WA for a last visit). Normally I would pass it off as a forgotten item, BUT I remember so vividly telling myself not to forget it, actually carrying it in my hand and I swear I put it in my suitcase, and I don't know how many times Dan told me to make sure I had it. I just don't know how I could possibly forget it or what I did with it - it is making me so mad at myself! I guess I've lost my marbles!

I Made It Monday: Hawaiian Chili

This recipe is super easy and really VERY tasty! It's been in my recipe book since on of my bridal showers where people brought family favorite recipes - this was from Kate Epperson. I've been wanting to try it forever, but always thought it sounded just a little odd. But now that we've tried it we will definitely have it again.

Hawaiian Chili
1 lb Hamburger (we used ground Turkey)
3 cans chili style beans (I only had 2 so I used kidney beans for the 3rd)
2 cans stewed tomatoes
1/2 cup BBQ sauce (We used honey BBQ sauce)
Cooked Rice

~ Brown Hamburger and drain.
~ Add beans, tomatoes and BBQ sauce.
~ Simmer 10 minutes
~ Serve over rice and sprinkle with brown sugar on top if desired (this did add to the dish)

T-O-D-A-Y in a nutshell...

T- is for the Time I spent planning and starting on some home-made Christmas gifts - I need to start while I have the motivation and energy to do it I think. Besides, I'm really enjoying it.
O- is for an Odd nights sleep last night. I often try to sleep on my left(if comfortable enough) because I have read more nutrients are delivered to baby that way, but every time I'd lay on my left last night the baby would kick and twirl and jump until I moved to my right, upon which she would immediately stop moving. But if I tried to go back to my left we would have a repeat, but she just would not stop until I switched to my right. Do I have an amazingly stubborn one on the way?
D- is for Dan who loves me so much and I love him. He is the best! He makes every today so much better!
A- is for the cooler Air outside today. Finally a little relief from the heat and humidity which really helped with...
Y- is for the Yard work that the awesome sister missionaries helped with this morning. They helped me clear out a a garden area with a tree/bush with crazy strong roots for our hopeful winter garden. Then they stayed for lunch - great fun and got a lot done!

Free Nursing Cover - shipping only

For those of you who are nursing or expecting to you can Go to http://www.uddercovers.com/ and get a free nursing cover. Go to SHOP NOW, pick out a $32.00 nursing cover. Type in the PROMO CODE: "1free" and apply it to your order. All you have to pay is the $8.95 shipping. I was going to make one, but buy the time I buy the material I want and clip or fastener AND figure out how to sew the thing I figured I might as well just pay the $8.95 and get a nicely made one with the rigid upper part thingy...

100 Days on the Ticker!

100 days left of the pregnancy if D-day is truly what it is said to be. Getting excited and prepared...I think.

Dan Made It Monday: Banana Boat

Me: I need something...
Dan: What do you need?
Me: I'm not sure...
Dan: Like what...food?
Me: I think so...something yummy...refreshing, but sweet...I think
Dan: Ok (and off to the kitchen he goes to make a wonderfully delightful treat!)

It was DELICIOSO!!! And don't you love Dan's plate presentation? You really could use a variety of things to make this treat fun or more fitted to your preferences. I thought you could use caramel or fruit syrups, graham crackers broken up, marshmallows, fruit, really anything your creative mind and taste buds can come up with! The only unfortunate thing about the dish is that although I loved every bite of it I payed for it later. I'm still not really able to do much chocolate so I was a little uncomfortable AND felt a little crazy/out of control - why does chocolate only NOW do this to me?

Dan's Banana Boat
1 Banana (our was slightly green because that is how I like my bananas)
chocolate syrup
white chocolate chips
whip cream

~ Leaving the banana in the peel, cut down the center and halfway through the banana and slightly loosen banana from sides of peel.
~ Add toppings as desired - we drizzled just a little chocolate syrup into the cut of the banana then topped with some white chocolate chips we had.
~ Wrap in aluminum foil and place in oven on broil
~ Check periodically, but it really doesn't take long for chocolate to melt and the edge of the banana peel to start burning so be attentive.
~ Unwrap and Enjoy! We put whip cream on top and it kind of melted into the mix - SO YUMMY!!!

Some funny things...

- "If Looks Could Kill". This was the name of the salon I where I recently got my haircut. I thought it was a funny and creative name so I thought I'd give them a try. Its not a terrible cut, but I'm not in love with it. I haven't had my hair layered for some time because it kind of naturally does it on its own since different areas of my hair are curlier than others. But the hairdresser insisted it would be best. So I need to figure it out. Maybe its not so funny...

- Monday night for FHE Dan and I went to a drive through frozen custard stand for dessert (I LOVE frozen custard!!!) Anyway, while waiting there we noticed this huge SUV zip into the parking lot and pull to the corner lot. A man got out and acting so nonchalantly and casual (which is actually what grabbed our attention - because who zips into the corner most lot and acts like nothing is going on) wandered to the other side of his open car door and proceeded to urinate. The only reason we knew that is what he was doing was because although he was concealed from the line of cars from the drive through, he failed to notice the street light near by (in combination with the direction he was standing) that cast the perfect shadow on the cement wall next to him of EVERYTHING going on behind his his car door. The shadow was really pretty perfect and visible to every car in the line. We got quite the kick out of it after I got over the initial grossness of peeing in a public parking lot. I guess when you gotta go you gotta go!

24 Week Update

The pregnancy is going very well! I'm at a great point where I have the perfect amount of energy and though my belly is definitely noticeable and unmistakably pregnant (people will comment about the pregnancy or ask when I am due when I enter a room now instead of waiting for me to bring it up) it doesn't seem to be causing any problems or discomfort yet. Sometimes I even forget it is there and am actually surprised by the size of it some mornings. Sleep is a little complicated, but that is the story of my life so nothing has changed there.

I had a doctors appointment a little over a week ago and baby has a strong heart-beat and everything is looking great! We signed up for a birthing class for end of October to November - some people say it is too early, but it is the only time we KNOW Dan or I won't be out of town or busy. We're not too worried about it since for my birthday Dan got me this childbirth skills computer/video/audio course called The Pink Kit. I had done a lot of research on different courses available and decided this was the one I wanted to try. I've only had it a few days and haven't gotten too far into it, but I really like it so far. I'll let you know how I am liking it later on and if it did any good after D-Day.

The doctor told us not to worry if there are days I can't feel the baby move. She said the baby is still so small and periods of time can go by without feeling movement. However, the opposite is taking place. I feel her ALL the time. Maybe a few hours will go by that I don't notice her, but without fail she is moving again - and a lot! Should my worry be feeling her too much? :O) The funnest thing that has recently been happening is that at times we can identify her head. Dan and I were watching her move the other night and we could tell where her head and feet were. Then all of a sudden her head did a little circle by my belly button - it looked like a mouse moving under a rug - that's the only way I can describe it! We both laughed and kept watching, just amazed by all the movement. Another new development is that I think she likes to hear Dan sing. One night she was moving and moving and Dan got up close and started singing. She totally stopped moving for a little bit, like she was listening or something, then moved a ton when he finished. He started singing again and she stopped again. It was kind of neat. He is going to be a great Dad!

Well, we are as excited as ever and we are getting more settled into the house everyday. I'll have to do another virtual tour one of these days. Our little growing family are all happy and healthy and we hope you are too!

I Made it Monday: Quick 'n' Tangy Beef Stir-fry

This was an OH-SO-YUMMY and OH-SO-EASY dish that no matter what kind of stir fry you decide to do - the sauce is SOOOO good! I cooked this in the WOK which was SUPER fast, but you could do it in a regular skillet as well. The only veggies in the original recipe were 3 Cups of sliced bell peppers but their price had doubled over this last week so I thought I'd wait until they went on sale. HOWEVER, I decided that a stir fry with only one kind of veggie is boring, AND I wanted to try the recipe THAT night since I got off work early, so I used my back up plan.

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(Every so often I buy a whole bunch of veggies (such as bok choi, spinach, broccoli, bell peppers, cucumbers, mushrooms, green onions and other veggies that may be on sale) then I take them home - spend a good amount of time doing a LOT of chopping - then I divide them all into 1 meal stir-fry sized freezer bags to have and instant stir-fry mix at the ready for nights where chopping and freshness are not an option. (I try and put the veggies that need longer cooking - like broccoli - separate from the others - like spinach - in another bag within the stirfry bag. It may not be as good as the real fresh thing. BUT it is still good and saves a LOT of time on crazy nights where you need something refreshing.)

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Quick 'n' Tangy Beef Stir-Fry
Sauce:
1/2 Cup Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 Cup water
2 Tbs Sugar
2 tsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Stir-Fry:
1 lb thinly sliced beef (I used these beef stew chunks I bought on sale - but my guess is you could use a variety of meat types)
3 Cups sliced bell peppers (Or like I did - a whole array of stir-fry veggies pre-prepared OR Fresh!)

~ Combine ingredients for sauce. Marinate beef in sauce 5 minutes.
~ Heat 1 Tbs oil in large skillet or wok over high heat. Stir beef in batches (5 minutes or until browned).
~ Add peppers (veggies) and cook 2 minutes (or as long as veggies require which may be more or less). Stir-Fry.
~ Serve over rice or ramen noodles, if desired.