Everyone has some type of hidden talent...photographer, baker, some people have a good eye for decorating and are creative...
The latest debate in the house is about me going back to work once the twins get here. Me-definitely, it will get me out of the house a couple days a week for a few hours, keep me connected to the adult world! Him-no, I think you should stay home and raise the kids. You can go back to work when they get older.
I get his point and I would love to be a stay at home mom but I need something that's mine, that I can do and lose myself in for a few hours...a hobby! But a hobby that makes money would be even better. I love all the above mentioned things...baking, taking pics, being creative and decorating. I need to pick 1 and get really, really good at it and take advantage of the fact that I'm good at it and make some money! Ive always wanted to open my own bar (but I dont think now is the right time nor do I have the money)...I've always wanted to be an interior decorator (dont you need a degree for that??)...I would love to be a party planner (1st party you book is 1/2 off, haha)...Im pretty crafty (I'll make you something)...
So, I'm now taking any and all suggestions of how to be a stay at home mom AND be able to work at the same time....to keep me sane, to keep me....ME!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
A big pot of Chili!
Last night we had some great friends over for dinner. I made a big pot of chili and some homemade cornbread. Just what the Dr. ordered for a cold, rainy day! I didn't take pictures as I created this masterpiece but I figured I would still share the recipe anyway. It's really easy but I can't take all the credit...it is my mother-in-laws recipe!
3 lbs ground beef (I've used ground turkey too)
2 large onions-chopped
10 cloves garlic or a head if garlic-chopped
1 bell pepper-chopped
2 cups chopped celery
2 packages of Chili seasoning mix
1 small can Las Palmas Red Chile Sauce-medium
3 - 40oz cans pinto beans
4 - 15oz cans tomato sauce (approximately 60 oz of tomato sauce)
1 tsp chili powder
Pepper
Salt
In large pot, over low heat, pour just enough oil to coat bottom of pot. Brown onions and garlic. Add salt & pepper. Once onions & garlic are transparent, add ground beef. Part way through browning ground beef, add bell peppers and chili powder. Stir. Once meat is completely brown, drain off any fat. Add 2 packages of chili seasoning mix, mixing well. Add can of Las Palmas Chili Sauce. Cook on low heat, stirring so everything mixes. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add all cans of tomato sauce and approx. 20oz of warm water.(add water a little at a time. You don't want it to be too watery) stir well and simmer on low to medium heat. Cook for 1 hour. After a hour, add drained & rinsed pinto beans. Continue to simmer for another hour. Stir occasionally to make sure there is enough liquid. It should have a soupy consistency. Add chopped celery and simmer for 1 more hour. Based on your preference you can add more Chile Sauce,tomato sauce, chili powder or water. It usually takes 3-4 hours to cook.
Enjoy!
3 lbs ground beef (I've used ground turkey too)
2 large onions-chopped
10 cloves garlic or a head if garlic-chopped
1 bell pepper-chopped
2 cups chopped celery
2 packages of Chili seasoning mix
1 small can Las Palmas Red Chile Sauce-medium
3 - 40oz cans pinto beans
4 - 15oz cans tomato sauce (approximately 60 oz of tomato sauce)
1 tsp chili powder
Pepper
Salt
In large pot, over low heat, pour just enough oil to coat bottom of pot. Brown onions and garlic. Add salt & pepper. Once onions & garlic are transparent, add ground beef. Part way through browning ground beef, add bell peppers and chili powder. Stir. Once meat is completely brown, drain off any fat. Add 2 packages of chili seasoning mix, mixing well. Add can of Las Palmas Chili Sauce. Cook on low heat, stirring so everything mixes. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add all cans of tomato sauce and approx. 20oz of warm water.(add water a little at a time. You don't want it to be too watery) stir well and simmer on low to medium heat. Cook for 1 hour. After a hour, add drained & rinsed pinto beans. Continue to simmer for another hour. Stir occasionally to make sure there is enough liquid. It should have a soupy consistency. Add chopped celery and simmer for 1 more hour. Based on your preference you can add more Chile Sauce,tomato sauce, chili powder or water. It usually takes 3-4 hours to cook.
Enjoy!
Friday, January 20, 2012
Getting Organized... Part 1
A Few Things to Do....
1) Name the babies
2) Finish the registry
3) Clean Reeds room to get it ready for him & Eric
4) Clean Erics room to get it ready to be the nursery
5) Clean my room to make room for the cradles for the babies
6) Plan a night away with my husband...just me & him
7) Plan a day trip for me & him and the boys...1 last time as a family of 4
I consider myself a pretty organized person (you wouldnt know it right now because Im always too tired to do anything!) but I need to get MORE organized. Make a plan, put that plan into place, stick to my plan! I found some really cool organizational charts on Pinterest...which days to clean which room/part of the house, when to grocery shop, when to do the laundry...just something to help me keep it together when I have 4 kids, a husband and a house to take care of!
1) Name the babies
2) Finish the registry
3) Clean Reeds room to get it ready for him & Eric
4) Clean Erics room to get it ready to be the nursery
5) Clean my room to make room for the cradles for the babies
6) Plan a night away with my husband...just me & him
7) Plan a day trip for me & him and the boys...1 last time as a family of 4
I consider myself a pretty organized person (you wouldnt know it right now because Im always too tired to do anything!) but I need to get MORE organized. Make a plan, put that plan into place, stick to my plan! I found some really cool organizational charts on Pinterest...which days to clean which room/part of the house, when to grocery shop, when to do the laundry...just something to help me keep it together when I have 4 kids, a husband and a house to take care of!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
9 weeks to go
March 21, 2012...the big day, the final hoorah, the grand finale...the day the twins will be born! As I sit and write this I have many mixed emotions:
Nervousness: Can I really handle twins? 4 kids all under the age of 4? Can we adjust our lifestyle to fit a family of 6?
Sadness: This is it...on March 21st my last 2 babies will be born. No more pregancys, no more babies, no longer the option to have the option to try again!
Excitment: We finally get to meet our FINAL creations, to complete our family that we have always dreamed & talked about!
When we started the "talk" after Eric was born to have more kids, it was a huge discussion..me - "2 more kids, I love being pregnant" and him - "1 more pregnancy, I dont want to start ALL over again" Never in my wildest dreams did I think about twins...1 at a time, thats the way I do it! Not this time, God had other plans I guess. In the end we each got what we wanted, me - 2 more babies and him - 1 more pregnancy...its funny how things work out I guess!
So...here we go, the final countdown to "THE BIG DAY"! Follow me, as I take you on our journey from a family of 4 to a family of 6....JUST LIKE THAT!!
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