Guilty, very guilty

Okay so I went off today to meet friends for some fun frolic at a park. Going in a direction I’ve been before but still not familiar with. It was then out of the corner of my eye I saw it. MY TACO STAND!!!!
Oh no, there is one here too??? I’m out of my neighborhood and I find one??? How can it be??

So I avoided it. We to my play date as planned and yep, talked about it.
We laughed about it but still the green eyed monster was whispering in my ear ”Julie, come get a burrito”
So as I drove I thought to myself, keep driving.
*And I did, right to their drive up window!!!

Okay, so this place isn't one of a kind it 11 of its kind.
They have 11 of these burrito dealers circling me!! One that just opened in fact TODAY that isn't listed I was told. *sigh* Give me strength!!!

So, I have a challenge for those who are in my neck of the woods. I live in Washington State.
Try one of these Burritos and tell me you DID NOT want crave think about it no stop after wards….
I dare you, I double dog Dare you.

I tried to be good though. I am turning myself in. Although I did not have my burrito I love so dearly, I instead had two little chicken tacos. While they were very tasty I feel jipped for not having my beloved Chicken Burrito with guacamole and sour cream….. So good. Mmmmmmm.....

Addiction or Obsession

Okay, so here is a plug on my very very favorite Mexican Restaurant. It’s a corky little place with a drive thru. My first impression from the look of it was its heart burn waiting but we tried it and…
Oh MY GOD!! It is GOOODDDD!
So the name of the restaurant is and please don’t ask me to pronounce it LOL Que Sabroso Taqueria el Rinconsito in Renton. I can’t even find it in the listings so here is it’s address. If your near it’s well worth the drive. 4619 Sunset Blvd NE Renton WA Mmmmmmm….


So up for discussion is is it an Addiction I have to their burritos or an Obsession??

Because I can tell you honestly we go thru at least once a week. I’d go more but I am trying to be a good girl and lose weight. I could stand to get huge on this place. Whatever their secret ingredient is, I gotta have it and think about it all week long. The people there now are starting to recognize me because when I drive up they have a chuckle on their faces. Good stuff.

The definition of a Obsession is compulsion: an irrational motive for performing trivial or repetitive actions, even against your will. Now I could agree with this except I am very willing.
Addiction is defined as being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming ,an abnormally strong craving.

Okay this sounds more like the issue I am having.

This burrito has taken me over, I'm thinking Addicted. It is good good good.
Oh BTW Christa, It's 14 points. ;o)

Frustration from a very Sleep Deprived Mama

Please excuse this post. This comes from a worn down Mama.

I feel zero motivation. I barely feel motivated to do this post LOL!! My little sweet baby has for now the past 2 weeks been up screaming just about every half an hour. I don’t know what’s going on with him. It’s a change from his once an hour or so. He’s teething, growing, got gas, just grumpy and I’m sure he’s got his little mind going as well.

I’m only accustomed to getting no more than 4 hours of broken sleep a night. So I hold those few hours I do get very very important. The lack of it is wearing on me.

Any who, it’s making my brain mush. I hear all the time make sure you get a nap. Yeah right… I get right on that. There is No opportunity for me to nap. When morning hits the chance for sleep leaves with it. I have three small children. If you have only one sure, nap, take a shower, do the house work you need to. You can do a lot of stuff with only one child. I hear of Moms of one freaking out and go on about how stressful it is. You’re freaked now? You have NO idea what stress is till you add that second one in.

I look back at that time when it was only Johnpaul and laugh at myself now. I use to be almost in tears by the time John came home from work. Handing over Johnpaul and feeling so defeated from the stressful day LOL! You grow better tolerance and you evolve as your family grows.

I’ve been getting a lot of suggestions on what might be “wrong” with him. Well, this is kid #3 for me and they all do it. At least mine two older ones did. All kids are different and I guess I have this effect on them. They like me so much they have to wake all hours of the night just to be in my arms.

Christian is crawling now. So he is now constantly crawling after me, crying. It’s very sad. I feel bad for him. I wonder what is going through his little mind. Does this poor kid think I’m making a break for it LOL No baby just like your Brother’s thought, I’m Not going anywhere. You’re all stuck with me.

I hoped that his independence would give him just that. Nope. It’s just made a way for him to get to me if I do break away to do duties in the house. So my house is a mess. I have a sink full of dishes. That’s not new but my laundry is done from the Great Day of Laundry from last week. I NEED to clean my bathrooms. I’ll get it done..

So my fuse is short today. I’m dealing, I’ll live. Little bit of a rant, I’m better now. Sorry.

What’s cookin’ Monday

On to our second week and I feel like Mexican food tonight! Mexican cuisine is by far one of my favorite. Mmmmm I love it.

 So tonight on the menu is:

Mexican Lasagna!

Made with Turkey, a little bit Healthier spin on it!

Ingredients:

 1 lb Ground Turkey

Chopped fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)
Cooking spray
1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 can (4 ounces) mild chopped green chilies
½ cup red bell pepper chopped
1 can black beans- drained
1 sm can yellow corn or ½ cup frozen corn
Salt and ground pepper to taste
1 can (14 ounces) enchilada sauce
12 (6 inch) corn tortillas
1 package (8 ounces) shredded Mexican cheeses
Sour cream for garnish (optional but recommended)

 Instructions:

 1. Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Lightly coat with cooking spray a 9x9-inch baking dish; set aside.

 2. In a large nonstick skillet, over medium-high heat, heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil. Add ground turkey, onion, green chilies, red peppers, salt and pepper. Sauté about 10 minutes, until meat is no longer pink and the onions and peppers are tender. Then add in the black beans and corn stirring in well.

 3. Spoon a thin layer of enchilada sauce in the bottom of pan. Add a layer of 4 overlapping tortillas. Spoon one third of meat mixture over tortillas. Drizzle with enchilada sauce and sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese. Continue to layer in this manner until all ingredients are used, ending with a layer of cheese. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until hot and bubbly. Cut into squares.

 4. If desired, top each serving with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of cilantro. Serves 6

 Whalla!! I'll try to post a picture before we dig in! Please if you try, tell me what you think!!

Progress

So if you’ve read from time to time or if in fact you know me then you may know… that I’ve been struggling with my weight.

I’ve always been thin before having children and I never had to really try for it. I just was. I mean I went to gym, I worked out hard but I also smoked, drank and ate a lot of nasty fast food.

But as many of you know you change after becoming a Mother. Not just in who you are and how you think but really physically you are a different woman completely. As all of it is welcomed, the extra pounds that comes with it is NOT.

I’ve read that with each child comes an extra 5 permanent pounds. Wow, if this is true then my Three =15 lbs that will never be removed from my Aging Ever Tired body.

I think I’m going to fight this idea and try and beat the odds of excepting the extra weight. I don’t want to be a Mom that explains that I “just” had a baby when my child is 3. 

So I bit the bullet that I cannot make this change on my own. I cannot get to the gym, I can never seem to work out at home. So I did the one thing I feel I am capable of doing, I joined Weight Watchers online.

So far I’m rockin’ it. I weighed in and…. I lost 4 pounds!!!!
I started at 162 Wednesday April 21st and today I am 158!! Good Bye 160’s!! Never to be seen again. That’s 4 pounds towards my goal of 32 :o)

The List is Long

Now I know most Mamas feel this way, they must. The never ending tasks they do day in day out. I do the dishes after dinner and still I wake in the morning to a full sink. You do 6 loads of laundry and still there is nothing clean it seems. I could vacuum 6 times a day and the floors could still have bits and pieces. It is a never ending need to clean and organize. When did life get so messy??? Oh yes, I remember now when these three arrived.

In the beginning our house was somewhat organized and put together. In the beginning it was just Johnpaul and I. I had that new parent nervousness. Remember when you felt you couldn’t stand to let your sweet baby cry, not even for a moment to use the bath room. So there you sat with a happy coo-ing baby on your lap. Yeah, they learn how to train us quick. So hose work starts there going way side. Then the next little baby comes along. By then your house is a bit disorganized but still manageable. By the time the third showed up… well. This place is ripped apart. Now with number 3 he also wants me to sit with him or carry him along. *sigh* So I have a baby backpack. I should be buff by now and a twig but as things go this is not the case.

Back to my point. Just as I have trouble keeping my over flowing house chores under wraps it is also so of my mind. I am scattered brained and cluttered. So it is spring time and I am cleaning house (Of both sorts) I am writing my TO-Do list and it is over whelming!!! So I am starting Top to Bottom.….

Each week/weekend I will tackle an area and give it hell. Here is my List, sure to be revised:

This weekend is our Master bedroom
Then each weekend after the:
Master bedroom closet
Master bathroom
Master bedroom
Nathaniel’s bedroom
Nathaniel’s closet
Johnpauls bedroom
Johnpaul’s closet
Linen closet
Loft area- Go through and inspect toys *sigh*
Main bathroom (Husband’s Bathroom)
Sitting room
Stairway closet
Dining room
Downstairs bathroom
Living room
The Kitchen!
Pantry
Then the Big Kahuna- The Garage!!!!!

So if my math is correct I have 19 weeks of work….. while along the way dishes, laundry and chasing the kidlets. Crazy.

What’s cookin' Monday ….

Okay starting something new. It’s What’s cookin Monday. Every Monday I will post what ‘s on the menu for tonight as well as the recipe and a picture if I get one before my family attacks the dinner table :o)

On the menu for tonight is:

Chicken with mushrooms and sundried tomatoes!!

Here is the recipe that I use and have tweaked to be super yummy!

( It's a variation of Chicken Piccata but with mushrooms and sundried tomatoes)

• 
  
  2 skinless and boneless chicken breasts, butterflied and then cut in half
• 
  
  Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 
  
  All-purpose flour, for dredging
• 
  
  6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 
  
  5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 
  
  1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• 
  
  ½ – ¾ cup chicken stock
• 
  
  ¼ cup brined capers, rinsed
• 
  
  1/8 cup Julian sliced sundried tomatoes
• 
  
  10 med Crimini mushrooms, sliced
• 
  
  1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Now lets get cookin’!!

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess.

In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with 3 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add 2 pieces of chicken and cook for 3 minutes. When chicken is browned, flip and cook other side for 3 minutes. Remove and transfer to plate. Melt 2 more tablespoons butter and add another 2 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add the other 2 pieces of chicken and brown both sides in same manner. Remove pan from heat and add chicken to the plate.

Into the pan add the lemon juice, stock, mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes and capers. Return to stove and bring to boil, scraping up brown bits from the pan for extra flavor. Cook till mushrooms are tinder. Check for seasoning. Return all the chicken to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove chicken to platter. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to sauce and whisk vigorously. Pour sauce over chicken. Spoon over mushrooms and capers then garnish with parsley.

I like to serve this dish over with mashed potatoes and asparagus or over angel hair pasta with light cream. Mmmm . Both so good.

I hope you try it and please comment how yours turned out!!

See you next Monday for another yummy dinner! Bon Appétit!

One day I will Sit again

I remember those days when I’d wake up whenever, sleep longer if I felt like it and do nothing all day. Those days that when I got off work I had really nothing pressing to do. I felt so busy, so crazy.

Then… the year of 2004 I met a man, dated a man, got engaged to a man in the early part of 2005 married that same said man five months later found out that my days of sleeping in, eating whatever whenever I wanted, peeing pooping alone was…. OVER!!!!

Today was a fantastic reminder of the choices I made. I am tired, sore and cranky. I miss time alone, I miss time with friends. Most of all I really am still a newlywed only five years married and I miss my poor Husband!
It seems like we never ever get time together any more. And when we do we are so freakin frustrated we fight. Not duke it out fight but "bicker". Over nothing and that is the worst part, well not the worst but pretty darn near it.
I walk past our wedding picture every day thinking wow… I use to be thin, rested and have all my brains rolling around in my head.

Now these days I am so very lucky if I don’t sound like an idiot when talking to people in person. I use to never hear myself say “ummmm” ‘well” and my favorite ”you know, that thingy” What the hell is a “Thingy” any ways???

Oh well, it was a great trade for brains, beauty and a great body. Far well to my old self. I’ve moved on to a fuller life and soon I'll be in my Late 30’s…… crap I hate the sound of that.

Some days you just Earn it

So today was one of those days. I woke up in a rush, got ready in a rush. Rushed my kids to get ready and rush us all out the door. We were on our way to get pictures.

All morning long I kept thinking to myself “ Why do I do these things to myself?” Life with three boys all 4 years old and under is hard enough, then I do something crazy like make plans take them to the mall and get their pictures taken??? I guess I am just a Certifiable Lunatic or Gluten for Punishment.

We got there on time, we even got there early. Got a drink, got a snack and waited for the doors to open. Yep, Smart Mommy we were the first of the day.

All seemed to go well, got off the first pictures then… it happened. The wheels started to come off. Nate my two year old started running all over the place and getting into and onto everything, Christian 7 months old started screaming and crying and wanting to only be held. But at least Johnpaul, my 4 year old stuck to plan and hung in Thank God.

Painstakingly we made it through. *sigh* Yep I earned the Crazy Mom award today. We celebrated with (as my 2 year old calls it) “Chicken Bock Bock” and went on home. Tonight I see in my near future a big bowl of Schwan’s Peanut buttercup ice cream and a glass of red wine. I Earned it!

A Shout out for Creativity

I love creativity, I love seeing someone doing something they have worked hard at only to make it actually GO somewhere. It is a cool and exciting thing. So here is my effort I helping “fan” it a bit.

I have a pal named Angie. When I first met her just short of two years she was a nesting Mother in waiting. Throughout getting to know her better I found she had a knack for crochet and had since ran with it.
Angie is a Bow, Hat, Scarf, Booties and other cute crocheted stuff Master! She has started out small and since is making a name for herself on such sites as Esty, Facebook and also through her own personal Blog 20 Something….

I’d love for you to check it out and help out my Budding Entrepreneur Pal.  If you have a sweet little Girl, Boy or just want something for you!! lol She makes sweet hats, scarves and other neat goodies for us bigger kids.

It’s Contagious

Kindness. It’s funny how you can walk through one day from the moment your eyes pop in a mutilated moon. You just can’t get it right. You feel like screaming hiding and chopping off the heads of those you find dear. Wow get that Lady some coffee!!!


But then the smallest thing can happen, something you wouldn’t think would make a difference and Whalla! Good Mood times a coming. I personally try to be in good spirits. I try not to allow myself to be effected by the infectious lameness that is a lot of surly jaded people. Walking through life in their compartmentalized world. I’m not perfect, it happens.

But what I love is when you can make someone who you can tell by not even knowing them that you’ve changed their day. You by being nice made a difference. That is a gift to that otherwise upset person.

I was at Costco today and upon entering the line I noticed a Lady standing with one item in her hand. She looked bothered, hot, kinda POed. One thing that was really obviously annoying to her was my kids but haha (I’m there with her. They can be that.) So I thought I’ll throw her a bone and let her in front of us. Man !!! What a change! I might as well just told her she won a prize!! Needless to say she was happy and tried to tip me?! Strange because this isn’t the first time this has happened. I know it, weird….

A small act of kindness and she was all over the place with “Thank yous” and now my kids were SO cute… Good stuff.

I believe that it takes so much more effort, just as a frown takes more muscles to be sad than to be happy and kind. I love to make people smile. I love making someone happy. It’s great.

On her way out she had a different demeanor and a skip in her step. Love it.
Moral of this story is: Practice Random Kindness who knows who or what you could affect!!

Boobs are for Babies

Okay I just ran across this morning upon checking into a group I belong to on Cafemom. Babies born or Due in October 2009. Great group, very supportive. It was then I ran across a posting in support of one of our group Mamas. Her story goes in simple as this.
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=847605&catid=14
Bethany and her lovely family went out this past Easter morning to enjoy a meal at The Old Country Buffet. The meal went fine, they ate enjoyed it was then it happened. Her infant son who she is breastfeeding got hungry as babies and people do, so she discreetly draped him and he fed. As babies have habit of he kept kicking off the blanket. After moving back into place a few times it was the unfortunate mistake of a dumb waitress who walked up and said that she need to put the blanket on.

Okay people. They are boobs. Yes they have become an icon of sex but that is not their original purpose. They are for feeding children. This is not just my opinion it is fact. That is why that white milky substance comes out of them. It’s milk, for human babies. We are mammals!

Now I can see a bit if a woman is sitting naked with her boobs blazing out in public. That may not offend me or some, but it may make some feel very uncomfortable.  
So for that reason I only do this at home.

I support Mothers, I support babies, I support the right to feed your child when and where they need to be. Why would someone be so offended of something so amazing and beautiful as nourishing a sweet baby ? How is it then sexual?
Is it just ridiculous or immaturity? Both.

Bottom line is, I thought the restaurant was nasty before and I made every excuse not to go and eat a salad I wasn’t sure about anyways. lol Now I have real cause not to go. Good enough.
No Old Country Buffet for me or mine, Boycott.

Wow, You’ve got your hands Full

Okay I hate to rant and I’ve been venting here and there a bit more than I care to but this is just simply enough is enough.

Yes I have three children, Yes they are all boys and finally Yes they are close in age.
But where is it said that gives every single person who I come in contact to say the one phrase that just about every single person who approaches me has to say. They Can’t help themselves.. and worse thinks they are funny, cute or original. It’s said in several variations but with the same point across. “Wow you’ve sure got your hands full” or “You’ve got your hands full” and usually with raised eye brows a smile on their face and sharp inflection in their voice.

Okay I have to say I don’t believe every person is trying to be an ass. I don’t think they are trying to be rude but seriously!!! Do they think in any way shape or form this is the first second or fifth time I’ve heard this statement??? I hear it daily at least twice when we are all out together. I try to be kind in returing comment to thier statement but I gotta admit it... that kindness and understanding for the common Funny Man is running thin. I may not be held for my future statements. I want to say "Wow, you know what? I've never heard that , TODAY." or maybe worse "Huh? These aren't my kids."

Why is it a free statement for people to constantly speak to Mothers about their situation while out? Why do people feel so free to do this?

Any who… that’s my rant I’m done.