7 days and counting menu

Ah, I can hear the tumbling waves already, feel the sand in between my toes, smell the salt and fish, and taste that all too fabulous Mai Tai.
Yes, it's true... there is a heaven on earth and that place is Maui!

Today was the first day I began planning meals around getting rid of the fridge food. So my menu for the weeks is:

1. Turkey Sandwiches

2. Asparagus Spagetti

3. Eggs... still not sure what I'm gonna put with it, but they gotta go.

4. Philli Cheese Steak

5. Hot Dogs (sorry, but its easy)

6. Barbecue Chicken Salad

7. who cares... I'll be on the plane!!!!

What A HYPE!!!

If you've ever been to a basketball game, you know what I'm talking about.
As you walk through the door, you're immediately handed a foam finger and a sports bottle. Once you get to your seat, it's all about the nachos and beer ads that flash across the huge screen in the center of the stadium. Not to mention, the blaring music, cheerleaders, pep squad, nearest high school dance teams, and 12 different animal suited mascots. It then takes another twenty minutes to introduce the players, and boo the opponents.
Okay... so now its go time, right? Wrong! The players play for about three minutes and you get another round of cheerleaders, mascots, and miniature blimps that shoot out t-shirts.

Now, the next time you wonder how exactly the American public would actually vote for Obama. You can take this little scenario and think "What A HYPE!!!"

Shirley Ate It

I am so proud of myself! First ever dinner made by...hmmm, well that might work and why not's.
So as Luke was finishing it up he asked, "Hey, can we have that again?" and then he looks at me and goes "Oh! You probably couldn't make it again if you tried, huh."
So I figure, if I write it down, maybe I'll remember what I put in it and in what order... though I'm not sure it would matter too much.

(Keep in mind I cook in mega-quantities because of my family size)
First I cooked up two packages of chicken in a LARGE pan
then
added some oregano and red wine vinaigrette dressing until the chicken was coated in it.
Opened up the fridge and wondered what to go with the chicken.
I added a forth a stick of butter and a package of fresh, chopped mushrooms, chopped zucchini, chopped onion, two large tomatoes chopped, and a package of spinach. *okay, so I went a little chop happy*
Fearing I had added a lot more veggies than spice... I threw some salt, pepper, oregano, parsley, and basil into it.
Then I let it simmer until the juices had evaporated into a nice sauce.
And wah-lah!
Who knew it would work? When in doubt.. just add whatever you got. It probably would have gone well with some rice... but I didn't think of that until now.

Ummm....

Anna-Claire - "I want a kitty for my birthday, momma."
(Begins bouncing up and down and chanting "I want a kitty")

Momma - after thinking long and hard over a way to get out of this conversation says "You can't have a kitty because Emmett would eat it."

Anna-Claire -stops and thinks "Could I have a monkey?"

Murray House Pancakes

I've been making these pancakes for so long, I practically do it in my sleep. They're fabulous and so worth the effort!

BOWL 1 (combine together)

2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp baking soda
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon

BOWL 2 (combine ingredients)

2 cups milk
6 tbsp brown sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup butter (melted)
1 tsp vanilla

Add both bowls together and pour onto a skillet. You can add blueberries or chocolate chips(birthday special), whatever you like. Makes 24 odd shapes.

Great Advice

Over the past few months, I've had a lot of advice given, passed down, or pushed onto me whether I asked for it or not.
Several things were so beneficial, I figured I share with you where I am.

(Make "me time" ... no,seriously!!!)

(Don't give in to stupid moments of weakness.)

(You'll always know the right thing when it comes along.)

(Don't forget where you are with God and that He deserves time too.)

(There's no excuse for bad behavior.)

(There's always someone there for you, praying for you, and loving you...whether your aware of it or not.)

Thank you! To all the friends and family that have been such a big help, a shoulder to cry on, a phone call to lose my mind on, and the prayers that I so desperately needed.
Kimberly

Book Update

Hey everyone, I'm still really busy at work, writing this book. But I figured I would give you all a idea of where I'm at.
*A typical book has about 60,000 to 70,000 words.
*My book is about halfway, more or less and I'm at 45,000 words.
I will say, I have really easy days and then days that I stare at the screen and nothing comes out.
Today was one of those squealing in delight, so thrilled I can barely contain myself, everything is coming together kind of days. I have an entire outline in my head from start to finish and it's just the tricky stuff of getting it out on paper that's going to take a little bit longer.
I'm going to compile a list of Titles and let you all vote on your favorite,(that should be fun).
Till then...