RT 4: Grading

Shooot.  Happy Halloween.  Here's something to scare you!

A new roof you see.  You also see the new foundation fun!  The brunt should be completed by dark today.

Out with the old.

A few days ago:

Today:

Now the "front" of the house looks weird! I have visions of landscaping dancing in my head this Halloween day.

The side view of the front.

Throwback picture from earlier in the week.

Internally:

You'll see it next time.

3 Things Tuesday

Hey ya'll - I had a second and a working computer and here I am.

Had to do a 3TT!

1.  New paint - yes I have walls to paint guys!  Woo hoo!  I am also super happy to announce I have my paint PICKED OUT!  I opted for bold colors and I am so gosh darn excited.

2.  Water is my blood.  So yeah how about no water for 24 hours?  Um sucked.  I love that stuff!  Drinking it, bathing, flushing a toilet, washing my hands, diluting juice, making coffee.....give me water or give me the crazy house!  

3.  Vodka and cranberry.  Do I need to say more?

FYI Precious Readers

No Monday May I today.

Today I'm writing to let you guys know the blog will be down for a while.  There will be posts here and there but not every day since my time is going towards some other things going on!

I will have some posts when I can get time to churn them out.

See ya'll later!

What's For Dinner: Halloween Week Edition

Cooking has seized where I live but according to one of my readers:  "Just because your kitchen is down doesn't mean mine is" - So here's your regularly scheduled Saturday post!

In honor of Halloween I am posting things that are pumpkin, orange, black, brown and sound good.

From the blog:  {Slice of Southern} here's a delicious dinner idea:

Pork & Pumpkin Stew

This recipe may take you away from the easier items I have posted in the past but it sounds like it is well worth it.

Here's one the kids will love from {Epicurious}:

Yummy Mummy Meatloaf

Totally easy guys!  You must do this.

This {pin} from Parents Magazine is an easy way to celebrate the holiday.  Use a cookie cutter and some cheese to make soups, stews, and chili have a festive look!

Last up a Trick or Treat Goulash from simplyrealmoms.com

So there are some ideas for you this week.  Here's the deal if you try them give me feed back because I may just have to make some of these when I have a kitchen again!

Happy eating!

Brownie

Five on Friday!

Dude it is Friday!  Let us do this thang with the girls!

Christina

Natasha

Liz

Darci

1.

It goes without saying - ya know all the praise to the bean called java.  Lately, I have existed off like 137 cups a day.  I hope that whole coffee-makes-you-healthy thing is right LOL!

2.  (This)

Did y'all know you are my refuge when I am to my wit's end?  I mean hello did you not read any of that post on on Wednesday?  I swear if I couldn't vent it out to Ashley on the phone or vomit the words onto the keyboard on this blog I would be in a bad place.  

3.  Saturday Appointments

Last weekend the tiny one had Hand Foot Mouth and that shit is horrid.  Luckily, his doctor's office offers Saturday and Sunday appointments.  Score!  He got a good check and a very confident feeling mommy when we left.  He totally was over it by Monday.

4.  Finding out I'm not the mom I planned to be

I became the mother I said I never would be.  My child, at six years old, decided to throw her first invasive, embarrassing hissy fit in Walmart on Monday.  I was so embarrassed - like turning twelve shades of magenta.  Contrary to how I pictured mothering to be... I turned into the mother from hell.  Let us not even mention that I was wearing my a la trailer park clothing - worn yoga pants, muddy shoes, and an old A&F sweatshirt.  I took her to the corner and gave her a verbal scolding - insert demonic voice here - so help me God if you do not straighten up and act right I will tear your rear end up in front of every person in this Walmart.  I have vowed to never take her on a grocery, underwear, or any trip to a store ever, ever, ever again.

5.  Not wanting that genie in a bottle look

Damn Christina - my fear! LOL

Since the second year of the thirtieth decade of my life is approaching and since my stress load is equivalent to oh I don't know a DOT Super Dump Truck load I decided I needed to put something on my face to protect it from going from 31-91 in a matter of weeks.  Once again I have purchased Olay Regenerist.  I hope that crap can kick in.  So very glad I got the hair fixed a few weeks ago - seriously ya'll between the grey and the potential non botoxed face I could be a true witch for Halloween!  Or Betty White!

Have a good weekend!!!

RT 2

So here's what we're surgically fixing.  Yes...it is an intensive super duper botox shot to multiple layers of the structure.  You can tell one chimney was removed (two now total) from the front of the home if you look at the roof).  Speaking of the roof that bad boy is getting replaced!

Because some of you are all about the back side....here is what we've been looking at from the back yard.  There will be some changes!

Remember the laundry room?  

Here's the current state of it!

On Friday Brad came out and took down this massive chimney.  It took him a while.  That early 1900's construction is some tough stuff.  He also removed a window that will be replaced with wall.

The hubby got to work in this bathroom which will be the first room to be completed.

Ya'll know the kitchen is my baby....so on Sunday we started some destruction!

Coming up:  Foundation/Basement!

See ya'll next week.

Giving Up

The experience of my life right now have been eating me.  I have tried to remain peppy and upbeat and be the cheerleader of myself and my husband.

I hit my breaking point the other night.

So many things have been up in the air and suddenly we have hit over drive without wanting or expecting it happen.  Life does indeed throw us curve balls.  They always seem to curve to the right and be sailing straight to our heads.

Things always pop up when you least expect them and in cases such as mine things pop up when you are expecting them too.  However, I did get an unexpected glitch in my system last week and it has been eating my gut and nerves for days now.

Doesn't it say in a popular book that nothing is made to be easy?  I believe it does.  

So the other night when I had time to myself to sit alone and stare out into the wild blue yonder I did something I haven't done in a long time.

I gave it up.

All the stress

All the fear

All the worry

I gave it up to the big guy in the sky.  I told him I didn't want it and I didn't need it.  I asked him to strip it and deal with it.  

My frustrations came out like the water when a dam breaks.  There it flooded in my front yard out of me and evaporated up to Him.  Gone.

Though I am human and I will continue to harbor some worry and angst and fear I can honestly say I do not feel that burden so heavily on my shoulders any more.  It has eased.

I am only human and I can only do so much....let the Big Man take the brunt and watch the rain end and colors appear.

Three Things Tuesday

You were always on my mind....

1.  Will I keep my sanity?

Its all the house's fault.  The good book tells us not to worry about anything but pray about everything and if I can keep that drilled in my human skull then I will be fine.

2.  Will I keep my checkbook?

I'm not cooking as much as I want to to save money due to some slight issues at hand.  Eating out is expensive and unnecessary.  Getting ready to fire up the crock pot at mama's.

3.  Will my stress accumulate in my gut?

Trying to resist over indulging in carbs.  I guess I'm switching to Bud Select again.

Monday, May I?

Linking up with Blooming Belles

May I tell you what I accomplished?

Last week I said:

1.  I would take the stuff to Goodwill.  - I did -

2.  I would call my bank about my MIA checks -Happening today- I decided to give them those extra days they said they may need...smh.

3.  I would get a book for myself.  - I did - Rebecca thank you for reminding me about Mary Kay Andrews because that actually led to me remember things I had read in my past and link up all those great authors.  I actually picked up Ex Debutante by Linda Francis Lee.  She wrote a book I truly loved called The Devil In the Junior League.  Check it out!

This week I want to:

1.  Make our Halloween costumes.
We're going very basic this year.  My little girl is going to be a puppy for Letterland Day (Oct. 30) at her preschool which is perfect-o!  She can be the same for Halloween.  She has decided to be a Boston Terrier.  I'm going to be a bee so me and the baby can match.

2.  Pre plan ALL our outfits for the week.
Its just necessary people.  I always do the Diva's but not mine or the baby's.  Changing that.

3.  Re-plan the living room lay out.
 Turns out some things will need to change.....yeah that's for a whole other blog post.

Like Seriously....(1)

Like seriously.....there's a bathroom in my car.

I am not kidding!

Ok you need clarification?  You didn't know the 2007 Kia Optima came equipped with a bathroom?  Um where have you been living?

Alright maybe it isn't a functioning bathroom but over the weekend we took my car to Lowe's Home Improvement and purchased the new bathroom....minus the walls and shower.

Yes, that is correct folks, I had a sink, cabinet, tile flooring, and light system all in my little ride.  

Here's a peek:

So excited for this room to be complete!

See ya later!

What's For Dinner: Lazy Edition

I wasn't going to use the word lazy considering we aren't very lazy around here these days.  However, I felt lazy was a good word to use when it comes to cooking in this house right now.  There can't be too much in depth prep going on and ingredients need to be simple.  Thinking about that this is one of those times of year lazy cooking is a good idea.  Our calendars are filling up quickly with meetings, fundraisers, bazaars, Christmas program practice, etc so we need easy fast meals.

Ya'll know the crock pot is involved too right?

I don't have really any links this week but I do have ideas for what I'll be throwing together so read on!

1.  Fall = Chicken Stew

Its pretty popular around these parts to have a good ole chicken stew in the fall.  Traditionally, all your friends and family gather around a big black pot that is outside over a fire.  You all sit in yard chairs, gabbing, with your bowl and spoon in hand.  You wash it all down with sweet tea or beer.

We have two chicken stew invitations just this weekend.  Unfortunately, due to a little sickness in the house we won't be able to attend either.  

So we don't all feel left out here's a quick and easy recipe for chicken stew at home.

You can make this in the crock pot:

One package of boneless, skinless chicken breast, thawed and cut.  Traditional chicken stew is shredded chicken.  However, I choose to cut it into really small pieces for this recipe.

2 cups of milk (don't do skim for this go up to 2%)

1 large container Chicken Broth (go ahead and go healthy here and get low sodium)

One stick of butter

Salt and pepper to your liking

1/4c all purpose flour

Place everything except the flour in the pot.  Turn on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4.

When you get home from work or thirty minutes before eating time pour in your flour and stir for about five minutes (not stopping or you'll have chicken and dumplings).

Pretty dang easy.  I like mine with Texas Pete.

2.  Beef Roast

Ok this translates to a great multitude of t depending on where you live. 

I generally get a chuck roast and plop it in the crock pot, cover it in carrots/potatoes/celery/onions (all chopped) and then pour in some A1 (because life is better with A1) and black pepper.  

Crock pot low 8-9 hours crock pot high 4-5 hours.

It is a one pot meal ya'll.

3.  Mac n Cheese with Vegetables on the side.

I'm not a connoisseur of mac n cheese.  I actually don't like it.  However, I will have a spoonful of homemade mac n cheese to be nice.  My husband and children love it and it happens to be a main course so why not?  Since mac and cheese is filled with fat and carbs its best to serve it up with an action packed veggie side like roasted vegetables (broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, etc) or some good ole cooked cabbage!

Oh and I'm not talking boxed mac n cheese.....real stuff.  Find a recipe on Pinterest or Yummly.com

4.  Go ahead and buy a pre-made lasagna.  Back in the day when I worked in public health and met with people who had weight issues (generally due to 17 trips to fast food a day, not kidding) we would discuss cooking at home.  That Stouffer's lasagna is way better for you than the mystery meat in between the buns.  Just don't eat it every night.

And my last little addition is this:

It is fall and fall means great donut and muffin selections at Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts.  Why don't you surprise the family with some for Sunday morning munchies.  Try the pumpkin spice donuts at both places - they are divine!

So there's some lazy ideas for you.  Have a fun, fall weekend!

5OF

I'm so getting into fall ya'll.  Here's my five in that flavor.



1.  Woodchuck Hard Cider Fall Edition

I'm not normally a fan of flavored beer but I'll be a squirrel's tail if I said I didn't fall in love with this one!  It is incredibly sweet so I can only do one.

2.  Pumpkin Cookies

As in sugar cookies that look like pumpkins.  I purchased a roll of this dough at Aldi last week.  The Diva and I made them after school - hot cookies in six minutes, yes please!  They were so good and really cute!

3.  Carving the jacks!

Every year we spend one night carving our pumpkins.  Normally we do the basic face this year we went all out.  I doubt we'll get any calls to do carving art for anyone but it was fun!

4.  My brother

Gah this is so weird to post him on my five.  So he's a lot younger than me and I've always questioned his intelligence and drive for anything but weightlifting.  Well how about home dude now has two jobs.  I'm pretty proud of him wanting to make some money to try to start paying his way more - in this day and age that is seemingly unheard of for a teenager.

5.  A great work week

I must say this week was the first week I really, truly, enjoyed my job.  It was just a happy, comfortable week even though some of the kids were less than amusing.  It happens.

RT 1

If you noticed last week {at the tail end of the Demented Thursday post} I put a little note that I would not be continuing Demented Thursday for a while.  Instead I wanted to use Thursdays to post what is driving me to the point of craziness....our home renovation.

There are so many of us who are prepping, in it, or just finishing this same process it that I had to share our remodel with all of you.  Besides we adore some drastic home changes don't we?

So without further ado I bring you the first edition of Renovation Thursday (RT)!

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This is where we begin.  The side yard which will be more of the front yard after everything is complete.  Last week there was a deck off that brown door that now leads to a broken leg.  Over the weekend my husband and brother removed the deck that the door once led to.

If you will look at the roof line you will see two chimneys.  The house has a total of four chimneys.  Of the four all four will be taken down.  They aren't used and we're getting a new roof so toodles chimneys!

The short one that you can see very well was removed on Monday night.

This is my laundry room prior to the chimney removal.  It took up a lot of needed space.  While you're looking at that picture you see the notes as to what is changing.  The walls are changing!  Not just color folks - but how far they come out (so my bathroom will gain space).

The floors are going to tile.

The appliances are moving against the opposing wall.

So here's the final look for this week.  The chimney is gone and the deck is gone.  Yes, that is an old GMC in the place of the deck - high class ya'll!

The chimney was probably 80 years old - needless to say it came down pretty easy!

A final look at my terribly messy laundry room.  The chimney is gone and the door still leads to broken leg land but its all good.  I cannot wait to show you more changes to this VITAL room!

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