Weekend Wrap Wednesday ~ Spring Concert, Home Improvements and Easter

Wow it's been a heck of week, I've learned I NEED to go the gym to get some stress out! Feeling much better! LOL I've been completely blessed by my amazing work family and I can't say Thank you enough for how much they care and made me feel special.

So with Rick not working full time we get projects done around the house ... lol. We got the last of the doors up in the hallway my bedroom and the bathroom. I couldn't believe how much a door could change the look of the house. It really made it look more updated! Fingers crossed when I try to refinance here in a few months it goes well!!! Rick's buddy and his brother came over to help ... they had to have me take a picture of them hugging him. Rick not pleased ... lol. I couldn't believe how nice it was to get into my room with out the door. We have a LARGE bed so it's hard with the door open to get in and out. ALMOST told him to keep it off .. lol

Also this week we had Cole's Spring Concert, this is the first year it was close to Easter which was perfect timing. He goes to a great small Christian School and they sang so beautiful. Cole and 4 of his buddies even had a special song! My dad came and helped with Caden, I love my dad he always helps so much! This is the first one Rick made it too (another nice thing about no job) and he was able to video tape it for me. Afterwards dad treated us to dinner! I don't know what I would do with out him. He's the best dad ever!

Saturday after work I got the table set up for eggs. I picked up a dino and monkey kit for the boys! Boy that went fast! They loved it and even liked the hard boil eggs, who would have guessed that?

We had a Egg Hunt at Church but we arrived a little late and it was open to all so all the neighbors showed for the hunt not church and had BAGS full of eggs. Sharing was not in their vocab. Poor Cole was so sad :(, but I promised we'd do a hunt at home!

While waiting for dinner we played a little Wii! Cole showed GG (my grandmother) how to play Wii Bowling! LOL look at her go, 81 and rocking the Wii!

Cole's party is in a few weeks, we're going with a Super Hero Theme. So if the kids want to dress up and come they can, that way all Super Hero's are welcomed. My mom bless her heart made a T-shirt for Cole from Felt I bought at the dollar store. For their Birthday Cards I love to put a picture of them. A few pictures of Cole in his costume, and of course Caden and had to get into it. By the end you have the disheveled Cole Super Hero picture ... lol. P.S. no that is not the middle finger it's the #1 I promise! I had to zoom and double check!

Phew that was one heck of a weekend! It was a slower weekend at work but it was nice to get to the gym too! Thanks for stopping by, hope you all have a wonderful day!

TMTT & CPW ~ Holiday Meals and Left Over Ham Meal

Ok I'm over loaded with recipes so here we go a full packed holiday recipes, take your pick! ;)

First off I have to share our Corned Beef & Cabbage. I tried out a new recipe and LOVED it! Still using dad's beer that he left here ... lol :)

Slow Cooker Corned Beef, Cabbage and Vegetables

Slow Cooker Corned Beef, Cabbage and Vegetables

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 9 hours

3	pound corned beef brisket with spice packet
16	ounces boiling onions, peeled
6	carrots , peeled and quartered
1	pound new potatoes
2	bay leaf
8	ounces Irish Amber Beer
2	tablespoons Dijon mustard
3	tablespoons molasses
2	teaspoons garlic, minced
1/2	head cabbage, cut into 4 wedges

[1] Place onions, carrots, potatoes and bay leaves in slow cooker. Place corned beef on top of vegetables.

[2] In a medium bowl combine beer, spice packet, Dijon, molasses and garlic, whisk until molasses is combined. Pour over corned beef. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours on low. Add cabbage and cook for 1 hour longer.

[3] Remove corned beef from slow cooker, thinly slice and serve with vegetables. Drizzle with cooking juices and additional Dijon, if desired.

ALEXIS NOTE: I used regular potatoes , we didn't have molasses so I used some brown sugar and whatever beer dad left here :)

For Easter I tried out a new Scalloped Potato recipe, yummy!!!

Supreme Scalloped Potatoes

Supreme Scalloped Potatoes

Ingredients

• 8 medium potatoes, peeled
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
• 1/3 cup chopped onion
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
• 1 cup sour cream
• 3/4 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions

1. In a Dutch oven or large kettle, cook potatoes in boiling salted water until tender. Cool completely; shred and place in a large bowl. Add 1 cup cheese and onion. Combine remaining ingredients; pour over potato mixture.
2. Transfer to a greased 2-1/2-qt. baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 35-40 minutes or until bubbly.

ALEXIS NOTE: I of course did the easy way out and didn't boil the potatoes and shred them. I just sliced them thin with my slicer. It did take a little longer to cook but they were delish!!

This recipe you've seen, but I snuck in our healthy version of Mac and Cheese .. lol know one knew. For that recipe head to this post: Welcome to the Jungle (AKA Gym)

Then I did the famous Ham glaze, that is now requested every time I do ham. My Grandmother LOVED this, first words when she walked in "Did you make the Glaze?". For that recipe check out this post: MSM ~ Thanksgiving Day Goodies!

And then you ask what do I do with my left over ham? Well you take some of it, don't worry more left over ham recipes to come! :) My first left over ham is Ham & Cheese Ziti.

Ham and Cheese Ziti

Ham and Cheese Ziti

Macaroni-and-cheese lovers, take notice! This one has fun tube-shaped pasta, ham and cheese and is certain to be a favorite.

Prep Time: 15 min
Total Time: 40 min
Makes: 6 servings

2 1/2	cups uncooked ziti pasta (9 ounces)
1/4	cup butter or margarine
1	garlic clove, finely chopped
1/4	cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1/2	teaspoon salt
2	cups milk
1/2	teaspoon Dijon mustard
2	cups shredded Colby cheese (8 ounces)
4	ounces sliced cooked deli ham, cut into thin strips
1/3	cup grated Parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 350ºF. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.

While pasta is cooking, melt butter in 3-quart saucepan over low heat. Cook garlic in butter 30 seconds, stirring frequently. Stir in flour and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Gradually stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in mustard and Colby cheese. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cheese is melted.

Stir pasta and ham into cheese sauce. Pour into ungreased 2-quart casserole. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake uncovered 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly.

Hope you enjoy and find one or recipes you like!

Make Something Monday ... Pillsbury Ground Beef Pot Pie

I had to break into my reserve of already wrote up recipes, this weekend has been nuts and with Easter I was a little less on time! Hope you enjoy this one!

Looking for a yummy easy meal for the family, this is it! Another one I made a while back when my favorite little book came, that has become a favorite of the house. Plus check it out I can sneak in carrots and no one knows!! So no veggie eaters here, and sadly that includes me sometimes too!

Ingredients:

Crust
1	box Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box
Filling
1	lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1	medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1	teaspoon garlic salt
1/2	teaspoon pepper
3	tablespoons cornstarch
3	cups frozen southern-style diced hash brown potatoes (from 32-oz bag), thawed
3	medium carrots, sliced (1 1/2 cups)
1	jar (12 oz) beef gravy

DIRECTIONS

1.	Heat oven to 450°F. Make pie crusts as directed on box for Two-Crust Pie, using 9-inch glass pie plate. In 12-inch skillet, cook beef, onion, garlic salt and pepper over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain.
2.	Stir cornstarch into beef mixture until mixed. Stir in potatoes, carrots and gravy. Cook 5 to 6 minutes over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until hot. Spoon into crust-lined pie plate. Top with second crust; seal edge and flute. Cut slits in several places in top crust; cover edge of crust with foil.
3.	Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

I'm not worthy ...

Some days do you just not feel worthy? I must say thank you everyone I was having a down day yesterday when I wrote the post yesterday. You ever just have a day and you want to scream? Yup I reached it, and then things that I could have never dreamed came along and helped me out once more! Before I go there I have to say something :)

Rick for all his faults is a good husband, yes morning time not his best time of the day. His mom who is a lovely woman you don't call before 4pm yes PM she stays up late and sleeps all day, guess where he gets it! Now helping totally not his strongest suit with the kids but I do have to give him some props, I've cooled down and have decided better give some. Not perfect but helping .. lol. The days he hasn't been working thankfully about 30 hours last week he took Cole to school and picked him up. Did the yard work and let Cole play out there while he did and put in 3 new doors in the house. He thankfully has had 2 interviews and one of them turned into a 2nd interview!! And I'm on him like a hawk so he's been putting out resumes like crazy. So I thinking clear now ... LOL I was a little overwhelmed yesterday as always he offered to help someone a 2 hour project turned into 8 hours and when he wasn't able to pick Cole up it messed up the day. I was working and had calls that I wanted to get done so Cole had to go to daycare in the meantime. So needsless to say I was upset about having to pay that, having him home all the time really sucks when I work from home it's to much together time (I'm realistic people we're not perfect couple that can spend every waking minute together) and just crap happening with his car (that's another post!). Phew ok I feel better ... like I said NOT perfect, drives me nuts and needs to help more but not a total loser :).

NOW ONTO my "I'm Not Worthy Moment". Ok this probably has to do with the chubby kid who had a hard time fitting in to the "fluffy" adult that sometimes doesn't feel that comfortable either. Heck it may be the "egg donor" aka bio mom leaving while I was young and never returning but hey let's just say I have issues of feeling worthy. My dad always taught me to do my best, give to everyone and work is work you do over and beyond and some day it may come back if it doesn't it only matters to you because you know that you did more then the expected. My work has always just been that but never really saw more from my previous employers, but it was never expected.

So today I had this moment ... ok well not exactly this moment but this one makes me laugh!

You know I've said it many times but my employers are just amazing, they really just make me feel so loved and overjoyed! They really just go over and beyond, I'm not sure what I did to deserve such carrying people that do so much for me and my family. Today they actually made me cry and ask myself again how do I deserve such amazing people! They actually offered to pick up our medical cost until Rick goes back to work! I never really thought about how much a family of 4 could cost! It's just nuts, sadly I probably was going to have to just get coverage for the boys and let Rick and myself maybe go with out and pray we stayed healthy. Then they gave me this amazing gift. I never really thought there was people in the world like this! God has sent me Angels that are lifting the world weight of my shoulder. Really taking care of your employee is over and beyond, they are just Angels. Thank you Lord for bring me such amazing family to my life I consider them my family and will go to the ends of the earth for them! As I told them today they are stuck with me until they tell me to leave, I hope that is when I'm old and grey!

Then the topper on the cake, Caden was going to daycare 2 days a week since I started working from home just to get him out of the house. Then with Rick loosing the main job we cut back to no days. Poor Caden was loosing and so was mommy :). So this last generous gift made me cry like a baby. They offered to pick up daycare until Rick goes back to work. Not only 2 days a week but the WHOLE week! Yes not only have they offered to pick up health care for the family but daycare! I still can't get over my new family that is taking such good care of me. Family may not always be the ones we are given at birth but the ones we choose later on in life. My new extended family has made me cry in a good way. I was so overwhelmed with thinking of all these items and with out asking they just swooped in and offered to help. I so need to pay it forward, it's going to be baking time this weekend cookies for the church. I hope I can touch someone's life like mine was touched today!

Thank you so much for thinking of me and my family and showing me I am worthy. God Bless you!

Can I get off this Roller Coaster?

LOL it's been a crazy 2 weeks, I would love to jump off this roller coaster but for some reason it's not slowing down. I guess I better strap in and hold on :). Thought it would be fun to post so funny what the heck moments in my life!

It's a little stressful hear tense run high, LOL love my husband but he needs to find a full time job. He's working part time and that helps but our one on one time is stretches us thin ... lol. Can you tell I've worked 19 days straight with out a day off. Sorry it's a vent day! ;)

Make it a Movie Night - DVD Review by Alexis Part II

Last week seemed to be a hit so why not do it again, I'm still behind between Cole's program and the kids and oh yeah get this Rick's car is acting up. They want $110 just to look at it, and where I can get that money who knows! UGH so on to a positive, movies :). Here's a few to check out or maybe not. And no Blockbuster has not given me anything for this it's my own thoughts and I pay for the service. Just don't contact their customer service you won't like it!

The Blind Side

Based on the true story of Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy who take in a homeless teenage African-American, Michael "Big Mike" Oher. Michael has no idea who is father is and his mother is a crack head. Michael has had little formal education and few skills to help him learn. Leigh Anne soon takes charge however, as is her nature, ensuring that the young man has every opportunity to succeed. When he expresses an interest in football, she goes all out to help him, including giving the coach a few ideas on how best to use Michael's skills. They not only provide him with a loving home, but hire a tutor to help him improve his grades to the point where he would qualify for an NCAA Division I athletic scholarship. Michael Oher was the first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2009 NFL draft. Written by garykmcd

ALEXIS REVIEW: We LOVED this movie Target had it on sale for $14.99 so I picked it up. We've already watched it a few times. Sandra rocked that role and ok I'm not a country fan so I so didn't know that was Tim McGraw. As you know I'm a sucker for a true story and Rick use to play football for San Diego State so he's all about football. Cole of course loved it too, he's like daddy and loves football. I say not only buy this movie buy it! Yes that if 4 stars ++ it's that good!

The Box (2009)

Norma and Arthur Lewis, a suburban couple with a young child, receive a simple wooden box as a gift, which bears fatal and irrevocable consequences. A mysterious stranger, delivers the message that the box promises to bestow upon its owner $1 million with the press of a button. But, pressing this button will simultaneously cause the death of another human being somewhere in the world; someone they don't know. With just 24 hours to have the box in their possession, Norma and Arthur find themselves in the cross-hairs of a startling moral dilemma and must face the true nature of their humanity. Written byWarner Bros. Pictures

ALEXIS REVIEW: Sorry guys I love Cameron Diaz but she has to stick to a funny role she rocks it. This movie was just plain crazy, but I guess it shows you what greed will do! In the end it will always come back in bite you! 2 Stars and that is being nice :).

The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)

What Blockbuster says:

A Chicago librarian suffers from a rare genetic disorder that sends him hurtling through time whenever he is under extreme duress; despite the fact that he vanishes at inordinately frequent and lengthy intervals, he attempts to build a stable future with the beautiful young heiress he loves. Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams star in this dramatic fantasy, which is directed by Robert Schwentke and based on the best-selling book by author Audrey Niffenegger. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

ALEXIS REVIEW: I so wanted to love this movie I've heard such amazing things about the book that I just had to have a good review for the movie right? Sorry I found it boring and a little silly, I could not even sit threw it I ended up walking around and doing house stuff. 2 1/2 stars just because it had a good bases just someone didn't get it right on the screen.

Whip It! (2009)

What Blockbuster says:

Drew Barrymore makes her directorial debut with Whip It!, the story of an ex-beauty pageant contestant named Bliss (played by Juno's Ellen Page) who leaves her crowns behind after joining a roller-derby team. While her mother would prefer that Bliss unlace her skates and step back before the judges, the rebellious teen instead seeks the wisdom of rowdy mentor Malice in Wonderland (Kristen Wiig) in learning the tricks of the circuit track. The Mandate Pictures production was written by roller derby star-turned-screenwriter Shauna Cross. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide

ALEXIS REVIEW: So loved this movie as you know I love Drew Barrymore and I think she did a kick butt job at directing! Ellen page did a great job in this role, I loved how it was such a positive role that she can be anything she wants and her daddy made me cry too! Juliette Lewis made the role of an old age skater to the right point! Jimmy Fallon was great in his role too, it's a fun movie you wold love it! It's a one time watch for me, but it was worth it!!

Hope you all have a wonderful Thursday! Love to know if you like any of yours or if you plan on seeing any of them!