Tuesday, January 31, 2012

my morning...

uno - do not pay attention to the nail color out of the lines; I forgot to take it off this morning.
dos - I love a tumbler with a top and a straw; bonus pts for being Starbucks.  YAH!

This morning, Big Steven put the little one in our bed before he left because he was up and ready to go.  After pleading/whining/fake crying for me to put on Cars for about 10+ minutes, he finally fell back asleep...just in time for my alarm to go off.
Naturally, I hit the snooze and didn't really roll out of bed until about 6:15.
And by 6:15, I really mean 6:30.

I woke Stevie up to take him out to the car (that I had warming up for us because we are NOT cold weather people) and realized that he'd 'leaked' so to speak.

During his changing, he loudly demanded his "CAMOS" to which I pathetically obliged.
[sidenote - his camos are his camouflage jammies he got from Papa.]
After getting his camos on, he said, "thank you, Papa, I LOVE it!"

Then he threw his arms around me and screamed,
"I LOVE MY MAMA."

Best morning ever.

Monday, January 30, 2012

10 reasons why stevie rules.

10.  He looks really adorable in everything.
9.  He laughs at me all the time.
8.  He saves me some trouble at times and puts himself in time out.
7.  He likes giving kisses.
6.  He says "Stevie fix it" when I am upset (okay, he only did that once and it was yesterday, but it still rules.).
5.  He is still tiny enough to call a baby.
4.  He is very enthusiastic about food he likes.
3.  Everything new is fun to him.
2.  He's a dancing machine.
1.  He says "I hold you, Mama" which to him means "Hold me, Mama" but has no idea that he truly is holding me - and always when I need it the most.

Please, please, please don't ever change.

Friday, January 27, 2012

bella.

Just snugglin' on the couch with my girly.
Now going to enjoy Stevie's nap time with a nap of my own.
It's the best day!
Happy Weekending :)

Thursday, January 26, 2012

things you should know about me if we're gonna be friends...


1.  My clothes are random.  I just throw things together, find pieces that I really like (like the above shirt with fringe), and I call that 'my style.'

2.  In fact, everything about me rando.  I will do really weird stuff to get a reaction.  REALLY WEIRD STUFF - providing it doesn't totally compromise my morals and embarrass my children in the future (though, I have a feeling I'll get a lot of joy out of embarrassing them some day).

3.  Relating to the above, I have an attention problem.  I won't fake a disease or lie about anything to get attention, but I will not hesitate to do up a little dance for ya.  In public.  Where people can see me.

4.  I wear leggings as pants.  Sorry.

5.  I can KICK YOUR BUTT in a dance off.  I might not have the technical moves, but I just got 'it.'

6.  My pet peeves include (but are not limited to):
- the toilet paper being under.  ew.
- 'money saving sites' that constantly use that little link to get you to spend money you don't have so they can earn more.  defeating the purpose?  i think so.
- constantly being connected to some sort of device (likely a smart phone) while in social settings.  communicate with the people actually in the room.
disclaimer: i now have  smart phone, so if i become one of these people, SMACK ME.

7.  Chuck Norris jokes make me laugh.  Every time.  So do Mitch Hedberg's, my brother's, and my dad's.  E V E R Y T I M E!

8.  In reality, I laugh a lot.  At myself, at you, with you, whatevs.  I laugh.

9.  I am quite a country music lover, but I frequently get down with the following outcasts:
- Backstreet Boys, NKOTB, and any other boy band that ever existed
- Korn
- classic rock in ALL forms
- Demon Hunter, Haste the Day, Flyleaf, Seventh Seal and other bands that fall under the category of 'Christ Metal'
- and, if my sister is around, Ludacris

10.  I am an encourager/complimenter (not a word).  It was one of my changes I made a few years back when I decided I wanted to be a nicer gal.

11.  I understand people.  When people are upset, I know when they need me to be ultra there for them and I know when they need me to be quirky and show that I'm there in a different way.  This is thanks to my sisters who deal with pain and accept sympathy in extraordinarily different ways.

12.  When I read books to Little Steve at night, I sometimes get REALLY animated because it's super fun.  Also, I like to pretend that I'm reading to an audience of toddlers and am being critiqued on how 'into it' I am.

13.  I am not as dumb as I sometimes sound.  I don't actually think people from Brazil are called 'Brazillards' like I asked my sister, but it gave her a good laugh - a big LOL, actually.

14.  Aaaaaand sometimes I am, indeed, as dumb as I sound.  Por ejemplo:
- I thought Cheetos were called Cheese Toes for a really large portion of my life.  Like until 4 years ago.
- My brother convinced me at a young age that Angus beef was made from cow butt.  I embarrassed myself once.
- Also for a significant portion of my life, I thought the Pledge of Allegiance ended "one nation, under God, individual, with liberty and justice for all."
In all cases, my thinking was completely rational.

Stay tuned.  There are many more things you should know.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

BBQ Chicken Empanadas.

Welcome back to my blog, food.

If you didn't notice my new, white, gorgeous plates - please look again.
Thank you.

BBQ Chicken Empanadas

1 lb Chicken; sliced and diced (I cheated and used Perdue Short Cuts)
1.5 cups Suzie's BBQ Sauce (see below)
1 cup Shredded Cheddar
1 can Refrigerated Biscuits (10ct)

Preheat oven to 400.

In a huge bowl, combine the Chicken, BBQ Sauce (recipe down there), and Cheddar

Roll out (or use your fingers like I did) all of your biscuitstops.  Place 5 flat biscuits on a baking sheet.  Scoop Chicken mixture onto each biscuit and top with remaining 5 biscuits.  Pinch the sides to enclose the mixture and bake for 15 minutes - or until golden and deliciously browned.

Suzie's BBQ Sauce
makes more than you need :)

1.5 cups Ketchup
1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
3/4 cup Worcester Sauce
2-3 tbps Brown Sugar
1 tbsp Chili Powder

Mix these all up!

Saturday, January 21, 2012

"working out is not a luxury, it's a necessity."
-Marisa Miller
In case you're unaware, here is how hot Marisa Miller is:

 My doppelganger.
If I lost about 20lbs and increased my bust size by 90%.

Based on looks alone, I have stolen her mantra and am running with it.
Literally.
I shaved off 5 minutes from my 2 mile run today.
BOOYA.

Friday, January 20, 2012

another one bites the dust.

Yeah, I realize I'm a little late with this one.
Matthew McConaughey and baby mama, Camila Alves, got engaged on Christmas.
In her defense, she does have 2 children with the man, so really, it's about dang time.
Maybe that's the trick to the ring - 2 babies?
Interesting.  Very interesting.

RIP bachelor McConaughey.
A man who runs around half nude, has a hot country accent, and loves the Redskins.
::sigh::

Thursday, January 19, 2012

blog niches.

LOOK HOW STRAIGHT MY TEETH ARE!
Because I started this blog as an outlet that led to cooking/baking which led to couponing, which led to pictures, which led to other things, I have never really had a blog niche.

Seriously, it's like high school all over again; I don't fit in with any of the groups in totality.  And, just like high school, I actually don't really care.

Why I don't fit in:

Coupon blogs:
I am a serious cheapskate. 
I don't like spending money that doesn't need to be spent and I don't have much money to spend in the first place, so I fit in there.
I clip coupons, rarely go to the grocery without them, and get extremely excited when I snag good deals.
However...I suck at remembering where I got coupons, when they expire, and sharing all that valuable info with you all. 
I have no problem answering emails with coupon questions or helping people out, but I'm not so good at the details.
I don't scold people for 'clearing the shelves' and I don't participate in convo about coupon scandals because I don't really care that much.
I don't fit in there.

Mom blogs:
I am a mom, so I fit the criteria.
I also talk about my Little Steven frequently, so I'm pretty close to fitting in.
BUT...I don't believe my son poops roses.
He is the bomb and he makes me laugh so much.  I love him more than anything and I think he's the smartest toddler alive (like every other mom thinks), but he also makes me extremely crazy.
Being a mom is not easy.  It's not rainbows and infinite energy all the time.  Sometimes it's so hard and sometimes I pull my hair out...literally.
In fact, when I read blogs that are predominately about being a mom, I feel extremely inadequate.  What the heck am I doing wrong?  Why isn't my toddler voluntarily going to bed and reading full sentences yet?
I am ALL about focusing on the positive, but I never want to make anyone else feel like my life is the best and it's all so easy for me.
Mom bloggers everywhere are shaking their heads.
And I don't fit in.

Cooking blogs:
Okay, I love to cook and bake and if I were any niche, I am closest to this one.
I can make a balanced meal with very little in my pantry and I can make it taste good (most of the time).  I LOVE cooking shows, I love learning new dishes, and you all know I love eating.
The problem is...I suck with measuring.  Most of the time, my measurements are really guesstimates.  The recipes will work if you cook them and they will taste like heaven or I wouldn't share them, but when I'm in the kitchen, I'm in the zone.  I am putting a dash of this, a little more of that, etc., etc., etc.
So...I don't really fit there either.

Fashion blogs:
Do we really have to go here?  I mean, I like clothes, but I love simplicity. 
I can be seen wearing many a legging and yoga pant with a plain shirt and some sort of hair I come up with in the morning. 
I do try to look presentable and I think my 'style' is actually something people try to mimic now, but I am the less put together vers.
To be honest, I don't try hard enough and, again, I'm cheap so you won't see me buying the latest and greatest clothes.
I don't fit in here.  And this could be one of the reasons I didn't fit in in high school, but we're over that.  Clearly.

Fitness/Health blogs:
These guys hate me the most. 
I love to work out, my relationship with running is more love than hate now, and I eat pretty well most of the time.
But I love me some cookies and days where I sit on my butt playing spades online with other people who cuss at me for sucking at that, too.
I don't really fit in here.

Photography blogs:
Ummm, I do love pictures.  Like a lot.
But...I have a cell phone from 1910, a camera that's officially broken.
Sorry 'bout that.

So, I've concluded that I'm a Sorta Fit, Kinda Fashion Forward, Money Saving Mom Who Takes Pictures and Cooks Sometimes blogger. 
I talk about what I feel like talking about and I'm always surprised at the people who find me interesting. 
Most days, I bore the crap out of myself.
But I really love doing it.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

i am the worst bff.

Sorry, Zooey.
HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Yes, I am aware that Zooey and I have never actually met. 
HOWEVER, if we had when we do, we will be BFFs.
And she'll always remember that time I forgot to wish her a happy birthday on my blog.

three whole days.

We got to meet the newest addition to our family over the weekend and he was every bit as adorable as I imagined he would be.

But first was first: I made us some chocolate chip pancakes that took NO time with the griddle I got for Christmas.  They were nommy and I am officially in love with my griddle; her name is Topanga - named after the one and only.


Then we went off to meet Brandon.  He and Stevie are instant BFFs and will cause many years of headaches and worry for their mamas.  I just can't wait.


Having been born into a family of Redskins loving maniacs, these boys will also enjoy endure the pain that is to be a fan.  And I'm sorry...

Then Little Steven had a culinary breakthrough!


That's right, ladies and gentelmen, Stevie ate a sandwich.  But not just any sandwich - a PB&J!

Incase you have not yet grasped the adorableness that is my new baby nephew:


Three whole days of pure goodness.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

addition.

Welcome to the world, new nephew.
I love you so much and I haven't even met you!
Since your Aunt Kelly was there, I realize I have a lot of 'splainin' to do.
She will just have to be your favorite until I can buy you a Disney vacation to win you over.

Happy Birthday, Brandon Lee Thomas!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

women who ruin lives...

When I found out that Justin Timberlake - JT, as I call him - was getting married, I had exactly two thoughts:

1.  WHY?!
2.  Jessica Biel is a jerk.

These thoughts caused other thoughts about women who ruin lives.
So here goes...

Jessica Biel
Is it not enough for you to have the hottest body in the world? 
 I mean, literally, your body is so hot, I thought about proposing myself. 
Now you have to take my man and run away with him?  So wrong.

Kate Middleton
Yeah, I went there. 
How many girls/teens/women have dreamt of being a princess?  All of them? 
And do you have any idea how many magazines my sister collected in the sake of having Prince William somewhere in our house? 
Two words for you - life ruiner.

Kelly Kapowski
Head cheerleader, great hair, awesome smile, Zack Morris stealer.
I do not feel bad that you didn't have money to go to prom. 
I feel bad that hot Zack Morris missed his prom to come see you in that sexy off the shoulder sweatshirt (totes back, btw). 
Why couldn't you just stick with A.C.? 
Much less women would hate you.

Courtney Cox
For the love of God, WHY would you let David Arquette back in the dating field? 
WHY?! 
We all knew you were way out of his league, but now some other poor woman has to end up with him. 
Just selfish, Courtney.

Rochelle DeAnna Karidis
I thought about being mad at you because I do, afterall, love the Backstreet Boys.
Then I saw this picture....
So, I'm not mad. 
I will be the one wearing white at my wedding. 
In fact, if anyone even shows up to the ceremony or reception in white, they will be asked to leave.
In addition, if my husband-to-be wears nail polish, the wedding is off.
How dare you, delicious A.J. McLean, steal her thunder.
You deserve each other.

Ugh.  I think it's safe to say I'm just not over JT.
Give me a few months years.

Monday, January 9, 2012

start.


I don't mind Mondays.
It's the waking up part that I dislike, which is characteristic of every other day of the week; naturally, Mondays are no exception to this.
I used to have serious motivation to wake up a couple times a week to work out when Big Steven headed off to work (5:30ish), but I lost it.
Somewhere along the lines I decided sleep was much more favorable.

I decided to aim for 2 mornings a week to run at least a mile - with some inspiration from Mandy.
After a minute of ponder, I decided that Mondays should be my consistent day every week; the way I work out and eat on a Monday seems to foreshadow how I work out/eat for the rest of the week.

I started today and it sucked...at first.
I'm still tired because I could seriously sleep forever and I will always prefer to sleep over working out, but I feel good about myself - accomplished.

It's a start, right?  A good one, too!

Vision without action is a daydream.  Action without vision is a nightmare.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

TGIMF.

Thank God It's My Friday.
That's right.  When that accron. catches on, you heard it here first.

This is what I dealt with this morning:


Yup, kissing some serious bumpers this morning on my commute to work.
Cold & very little sunshine.

Then I got this bit of goodness/future blackmail:


That's my boy.  Wearing a 'Hello, Kitty' necklace.
What of it?

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Gem.

A Few Winners!

Green tea and stuff to actually do this morning.  YEAH!

Now, to announce a few winners from my recent giveaway:

The winner of the journey to Brazil shirt is:




The winner of the Shine shirt is:

bhovik

The winner of the $25 Starbucks giftcard is:



Please shoot me an email at daniels.susane@gmail.com with your addresses and shirt sizes for those of you who won shirts.

Thanks SO much for your support and I am so happy to have new readers.  I will be checking each of your blogs out today and look forward to supporting your dreams!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Channeling the Emotions + Adding More Goals.

So, you know how 2012 is supposed to be a year of all goodness?  Well, it's only the third day and I'm off the wagon.

There are things I don't share with the general public - i.e. why i'm off the wagon and what happened - but I do want to add a new resolution to the list:

Channel my emotions into something different.
When I get into a slump, I really get into it.  I stop working out, I eat like crap, I cry, etc. etc.  While a good cry makes me feel better sometimes, the rest is pretty unhealthy.
So, even though I wanted this year to be just perfect....it won't.  And I need to be prepared for it.

The good news is, I thought someone had thrown away my Starbucks reusable cup that I love and was ready to burst out in tears, but I found her in the dishwasher:


All is well.

Another new resolution/goal I have made for this year is inspired by Meredith:  I will not buy clothing for myself this year.  There...I said it.  I don't need clothes.  I have plenty that fit and even more that I can shrink into.

That's all for now. 
Keep me in your heart, please?

Sunday, January 1, 2012

High Fives w/ Both Hands!

This was mine and Big Steven's first NYE out of the house in few years.
It was wonderful, enchanting, delicious, and ultra fun.
It was a great night!
PLUS, I slept in until nearly 11 and I am sitting here on my couch about to allow myself another nap while Little Steven is napping.
It's going to be a great year.
2012 - I already heart you.
(heart you being another famous Mandy phrase I have stolen)






my fella.

the infamous helen.
my NYE persona - dorky hipster.  i like her.
it's all about the twinjamins, baby.
mandy girl, me, & jeni babe.
yes.  just YES!
4/6 siblings!
We brought it home with some fantastic dancing!
Oh, 2012, we are best friends!