Monday, March 12, 2012

like a child.

Kuddos if my title made you sing the Backstreet Boys song.


Like the rest of the world, I love the weekends.
Weekends are awesome because it breaks me out of my normal weekday routine, which can be a ltitle exhausting.
My job is not demanding at all, but the commute plus the whole mom thing at the end of the day can be a little tough.
I don't have to drive all over the place on the weekends and that part I really love.
More than anything, I love relaxing with Stevie.
Watching him play, standing for 30 minutes while he runs back and forth with his cars through my legs over and over again, making breakfast, taking naps together (sometimes), etc.
Stevie time is the BEST time.



This weekend, I got to spend time with my nieces.
We ate sloppy joes, bacon cheddar home fries, and made cake batter bars.
I didn't count calories like I normally do and I really enjoyed watching the girls play with Stevie.
Alexis and Stevie are SO LOUD when they are together; they run around screaming for no reason at all.
I absolutely love it!
It's my favorite kind of loud.


When Stevie went to bed, we said goodnight to Big Steve (and gave him some super awesome goodnight hugs and kisses) and had girl time.
By girl time, I mean we watched the Justin Bieber movie in bed.
Say what you will, but that JB is one talented little sucker.
He gave me the fever all over again.

The whole time they were over, I just kept thinking how quickly we grow up.
When I first became 'involved' with the Schumann family, Alexis just turned 1! 
Now she is 6 and Ashley is on her way to being a teenager!

I miss being a kid.
Maybe that's why I refuse to give up my love of boy bands/pretty boys, girly nailpolish, and choreographing songs.
I keep wanting to tell Ashley to just be a kid, but I know she won't understand.
I remember a time when I just wanted to grow up and move out.
I never thought for a second that I'd want to go back to my sunflower bedroom that I shared with my sister, lay on the top bunk, and stare at my Backstreet Boys posters that covered my walls and ceiling.
I never thought that I'd miss my mom nagging me to clean or my sisters yelling at me for wearing their clothes.
But, boy do I miss it.

I made a pact with myself before Stevie was born that I would always let him just be a kid.
The same way my mom did.
Sure, we had chores, but we were really lucky kids.
My mom and step dad used to fight, but I remember distinctly that they hid it very well; until I got old enough realize what was going on, I thought they were the best couple ever.
My mom never laid her 'grown up problems' on us.
We knew we didn't have a lot of money growing up, but we never knew how hard it probably was on my mom.
I played with Barbies through middle school and believed in Santa until I was like 15.
It was the best!

So, I will let Stevie be a kid for as long as I possibly can.
He doesn't need to hear his mom and dad fight, he doesn't need to know that I've had a bad day.
He just needs to play and have fun.

As for me...


I will continue channeling my inner child by painting my nails pink with sparkles.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Cheesy Chicken, Bacon, & Corn Stuffed Baked Potatoes.


Chicken, Bacon, & Corn Stuffed Baked Potatoes

1 lb Chicken
2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup
8 slices Bacon
2 cups Corn
2 cups Cheddar Cheese
6 Medium Potatoes
Mesquite Seasoning (optional)

I used a Crockpot to shred my Chicken because it's disgustingly easy to do and was ready for me when I got home.  All you do is add your Chicken and Cream of Chicken soup to the Crockpot and let it cook on low for 6-8 hours.  When you come home, you can easily shred it with some forks. 

Clean your Potatoes, season with Salt and 'bake' them how you see fit.  I see it fit to 'bake' them in the microwave.  15 minute Potatoes - YES PLEASE!

I cooked up some Bacon in a frying pan, let the grease drain on some paper towels, cut it up, and threw it in the pot with the Chicken.  Add your Corn, Cheddar, and optional Seasoning and let it cook for 30ish minutes!

Serve the Chicken inside your Baked Potato!  SO YUM!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

wouldn't it be nice...


Wouldn't it be nice if we all looked as good as Sienna with dark roots?


Why is it considered to be a style in Hollywood, but a no-no in real life?

Wouldn't it be nice if we could be fit without working out so hard?
I mean, I have grown to actually - dare I say - like to work out.  But, what if we could just eat Girl Scout cookies and Pizza all the time and still be thin?

Wouldn't it be nice if every time we went to bed, we were guaranteed 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep?  OMG!

Wouldn't it be nice if we all gave $5 to charity instead of buying Starbucks for one day?
(Insert shout outs to Brittany and Angie)

Wouldn't it be nice if when we made more money, we stopped talking about how broke we are?
Ever noticed that?  No matter how much money people make, they're somehow always broke.

Wouldn't it be nice if we learned to live within our means and appreciate what we have instead of wanting more and more and more?

Wouldn't it be nice if we could all parade around like Christina Aguilera?


I literally have no idea what is on her head.
But, to be honest, I wish I had the guts to wear something so silly and feel hot and sassy.
[side note - Adam Levine is smokin' hot.]

Wouldn't it be nice if instead of pointing out someones flaws and bringing them down further than they probably already are, we decided we'd encourage them?

Wouldn't it be nice if traffic was non-existent?

Wouldn't it be nice if these dang braces didn't hurt?
Or if we had a magical way of fixing teeth instantly - Harry Potter style?

Wouldn't it be nice if kids were automatically potty trained at the age of 2?

Yeah.
All this stuff would be really nice.
But, wouldn't it be really nice if we all realized that life isn't so bad?
That some of these things are what make others extraordinary?
And that all of these things teach us something?

Wouldn't it be nice if we just learned the lesson?

Monday, March 5, 2012

potter party.

Yes I do mean Harry Potter.
nerrrrrrrrdddddddds.

I never finished the books (only got through 4) and only saw the first movie.
This is a little bit preposterous considering my love/obsession with Harry Potter in high school.

I got to spend the weekend with two of my siblings, which was so FUN!
My twin showed up to partake in the munchies and make fun of us, but I think he was totally into it.

Here are some of my favorite moments:

[30something, folks.  she was getting us excited for the partaay.]
[harry potter burrow breakfast - w/ glasses and tie!]


[stevie spent most of the time on top of uncle tyler.]

[when he wasn't on top of uncle tyler, he spent his time laying in a dog bed watchin Cars on the portable dvd player.]
[BUTTERBEER!!!!!!]
[typical Daniels reaction to a picture taking.]
[partaking!]
And there you have it, folks.
I spent a lot of time conflicted between liking J.K. Rowling and hating her because of certain events (RIP D-dore).
But, I have officially concluded that I love her and Harry Potter alike.

Still to come:
Twilight weekend
Star Wars weekend

NERDS UNITE!

Friday, March 2, 2012

skillet pork chops w/ pipette noodles & spinach.


Skillet Pork Chops w/ Pipette Noodles & Spinach

1ish lb Pork Chops
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
2 Chicken Bouillon Cubes (optional)
2 cups Frozen Spinach
1/2 box Pipette Noodles (or whatever)
1/2 cup White Cooking Wine w/ Lemon (also substitutable or optional)
EVOO
Salt & Pepper to taste

Heat your EVOO on medium heat.  While it's heating up, season your Pork Chops; I use Jane's Krazy Mixed Up Seasoning (the Original Salt) because it has SUCH great flavor.  Add the Pork to the skillet when it's nice and hot and add your Chicken Bouillon Cubes.  I used Chicken Bouillon for extra flavor; they're inexpensive and last a while and just make the quality of the meal so much better.  Cook Pork about 4 minutes on each side.

Meanwhile, cook your Pipette Noodles according to package instructions.  

Optional:  Transfer drained noodles into a skillet and add your Wine; allow to cook for only 2 minutes or so and remove from heat.

When the Pork has been cooked on both sides, remove it from the pan and add your Cream of Mushroom Soup.  Wisk the soup with the remaining juices and Bouillon from the Pork - he sure to scrape the pan a little to get all that yumminess and to avoid burning.   Once a gravy like consistency is formed, add the Pork back to the pan and cover; allow to simmer for about 5 minutes.

After the Pork is all good and covered with the 'gravy,' add your Pipette noodles and Spinach.  Cover and turn heat to low/medium.

The verdict: Delicious! (per Big Steve)

Thursday, March 1, 2012

colon cancer awareness month.

It's a two post kinda day.
Did you know that March is Colon Cancer Awareness month?
Neither did I until this morning.


This beauty here, Erica, was a friend of my sister's who unfortunately lost her battle with Colon Cancer last year.
She was 29.

My sister has made a bold decision to walk in her memory this year at the D.C. Scope It Out Run/Walk for Colon Cancer Awareness. 

Her goal is small - she wants to raise $1000 for the cause and I'm asking if you can help.
There truly is no dollar amount too small; I ask that you give what you are able to give if you are able to give it.

Donations can be made via the following link:



My blog in the last couple of days has been on fire.
I am almost at 1,000 page views today and it's not even 1!
If you make a donation - $5, $10, $15, whatever - I will advertise your blog for the entire month of March.
My only 'rule' is that you pass this information on to someone else.
We have the means to raise awareness, so let's do it!

sunshine!



It's currently almost 70 degrees outside!
My view here at work is awesome and I feel really warm right now.
On top of that, I got a surprise Chai Tea Latte from my coworker/boss' daughter this morning!
MADE MY DAY!


Now to the real point of this post...

HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY, JUSTIN!


Yes, I'm a grown woman.
Yes, I follow the Biebs on Instagram.
Yes, I am one of the 91,366 people who 'liked' this photo.
Yes, I will be making him cupcakes tonight.