Hmmm

I've have felt in a bit of a slump lately. I've thought it was just that I was tired or uninspired, but I'm starting to think that it is just plain laziness. Just make a decision already! The main question that I've struggled with is what to do professionally when I grow up, oh wait, thats passed already...ok, when I'm done rearing children. It has been a constant thought running in the back of my brain.

I've never had a huge passion to become a, fill in the blank here, but I have had a few things that have been stuck in my brain for most of my adult life. No. 1: study history and do what with it, I don't know. No. 2: become a high school counselor so that I can help kids set goals up for themselves once they graduate. No. 3: become a small business owner...coffee shop, bakery?? I don't know.

Now, it is not at all lost on me that I should have started working towards one of these three options long before the ripe old age of 31. However, that is where I am and there's nothing to be done about it now. I just have to decide and do it.

Hmmm...

The Great Escape!

Sydney's plan was apparently to back up slowly out of the living room on her stomach. Since she refuses to spend much of her time on her stomach to work on crawling, this was a slow process...

Morning Walks

Sydney now enjoys morning laps around our ottoman. She is getting quite good at it too! We might have an early walker on our hands. I guess it's time for those baby gates.

Btw, her hair is always like that in the morning now too. Time for some product to tame that beast (some plaster perhaps)?!?! Nah, I like the crazy too much :)

New Treasures

Syd clutching a packet of Forget-Me-Not seeds. I can only assume that once she starts popping those seeds, I will open her diaper to find a beautiful bouquet of blue flowers, right??

Good morning my Sunshine.

Playing with my sweet girl on a cold and rainy Monday.

Bon Appétit!

I have a couple of new recipes to add to the blog this week.  We tried several new recipes these last two weeks, but we really enjoyed the Marinated Portobello "Burger" and the Panko Crusted Chicken Stuffed with Ricotta, Spinach, Tomatoes and Basil.

Both recipes were fairly easy, but the Marinated Portobello "Burger" was a nice quick meal with minimal mess to clean up!  I've always loved portobello mushrooms, but I've never cooked with them because I thought it might be too tricky to match some of the awesome "burgers" I've enjoyed at restaurants.  The marinade in this recipe is so simple and it was perfect!  It really made the meal.  The only thing that I would do differently is the bun.  I could not find ciabatta bread at my local grocery store so I just used some other bun that was available.  Big mistake.  I think a ciabatta bun would maximize this sandwich's flavor because the soft, sponge-like bread would soak up the marinade and the pesto while the crusty outside would give it a great crunch!

Marinated Portobello "Burger"

Moving on to the Chicken dish, this recipe did take a little longer, but it was much easier than I originally thought it might be.  The "stuffing" is just a simple, quick mix and it adds a nice change up for your standard chicken dish.  I did think that the tomato flavor was lost a bit in the ricotta though.  Next time I think I will use sun-dried tomatoes instead.  It won't take many of those guys and it will add a nice punch of sweetness to counter the ricotta!  Bon Appétit!

Panko Crusted Chicken Stuffed with Ricotta, Spinach, Tomatoes & Basil

Exhale.

It seems as though things around here have been in constant motion during the last couple weeks.  To name a few:  house and yard work, getting the RV running so my dad can get it back to MI, keeping up with the house and keeping the baby, who may or may not be teething, happy.  Well, last night I was feeling very cranky and I realized that I need to just stop...

Breathe in, breathe out

There are things that I have to do during my day (i.e. baby related things), but there are also things that I don't have to do during my day: leaning, laundry, working out.  I am starting to feel as though I am constantly trying to get something done around the house.  How is it still always a mess?...

Breathing, breathing, breathing

I realize that I am my own worst critic when it comes to how the house looks, but I'm not sure that I have enough energy or time to keep up that inner monologue where I'm listing off things that I need to do.  As far as running, I always feel better when I get a run in while Syd is sleeping, but I need to find some balance there too because I am lacking energy and motivation currently.

Even as I am writing this, I am feeling overwhelmed with stress about getting stuff done and worrying that I'm missing important things while stressing about the other stuff...

Breathe in

My dad took off today with what will hopefully be a successful trip back home, the house isn't going to go anywhere for a day and the library books that are due back today will just have to wait...

Breathe out

Changing out of my pajamas or not changing out of my pajamas today...

Deep breathe

Looking forward to be being a couch potato with my best friend tonight...

Getting better...breathing


Counting my blessings and trying to live in the moment...

Exhale