Top Ten Tuesday - Television

Do you think the TV you watch tells people something about who you are?  I am unsure of the answer to this, but thought it would be fun to let everyone take a look at the things that would be seen in my DVR.  You be the judge I guess!

 {source}

Top 10 TV Shows I am currently watch

10. Anything Kardashians, it is like a train wreck you can't turn away from.  I can't believe I am admitting I watch it. 

9. Up All Night

8. Mike and Molly

7. Dancing with the Stars, The Voice....these are the only 2 competition shows I watch

6. Parenthood, I started watching it first episode, and have loved it ever since.

5. Last Man Standing, The new Tim Allen show...I think it is so funny!

4. Modern Family, love it.

3. Big Bang Theory...I love the comedy shows.

2. Pan Am, I really love this show, and really any show from the time period...but I heard it is going to be cancelled.

1.  Days of Our Lives, my mom used to watch it when I was a kid, and I DVR it everyday and watch at naptime.

We also watch a lot of sports. 

I try to not commit myself to too many shows because then I just get anxiety over my DVR being too full.  I also try to not watch too much reality tv.  Luckily we don't get Bravo, so I don't even have the option to watch the Housewives (they are so addicting!).  I also try not to watch very many dramas, because I get too caught up in it, and then it no longer is entertainment (in our household this is called the Criminal Minds rule, I used to love that show, but it became so depressing to me, and I would sit on the couch and Sob.) 

Some shows that aren't in season now that I love are Army Wives, Big Brother, and The Amazing Race.

Anyone have any must see tv for me???

 

Facing A Ridiculous Fear.

....but more about the fear in a minute.

So no Menu Plan for me this week, it is just the kids and I, and that is so boring!

 Since it is just the 3 of us, I decided I wanted to start off our 2 weeks with something fun.  So after nap time we were off to the Air and Space Museum (Udvar-Hazy Center).  The kids love watching the airplanes leaving and landing at IAD, and I love that it is so close to home, and not a trip into the city. 

It was so nice out, and the views of the late afternoon sun going into the mountains were so great.

In the observation tower looking out at the airport for planes.

A look at Dulles International

A look out to the east. Tyson's is off in the distance, and my 4 year old thought I was crazy when I said that there is where Daddy works!

 

Lilly looking for our car. Ha!

Standing next to a very large fighter jet.

Matthew's favorite part, the Space Shuttle.

It really is such a great museum, so much for the kids to look at, and lots of room to roam around, I can't ever imagine feeling crowded there.

You would this that the ridiculous fear would be going up into the observation tower, or taking 2 kids to a museum by myself....but no, my fear is so much crazier than that!



It is silly really, but I have always gotten really nervous thinking about taking both kids to Mass by myself.  So....I have never done it.  My husband travels a lot for his job, so there have been many opportunities for the kids and I to go to church when he is unavailable to go with us, and we have NEVER done it.  I hang my head, because as I type this I know how ridiculous it sounds.  I mean they are 4 and 2.  It shouldn't be that difficult.  We go places by ourselves literally everyday.  So yesterday....

We. Did. It.!

....and it wasn't that bad.

I may have forgotten to wipe my son's mouth after breakfast.

I may have forgotten the offering envelope.

I may have forgotten their blankeys, which are a necessity at church every week.

And I may have actually left like 8 minutes early (not realizing it until we were in the church parking lot), giving me plenty of time to remember those things.

But we did it, and I am planning on attempt #2 next week.  Maybe I should be like a new mom and pack the bag the night before!

Project Pinterest - S'more Dip

 Happy Friday everyone!  It isn't such a happy Friday for me because that just means my 2 weeks of crazy is starting.  2 weeks, 2 kids, no help, no break.....sounds fantastic right?  Anyway.  This weeks Project Pinterest is for the sweet tooth!  Enjoy!

I knew when I saw this on Pinterest (oh and if you aren't already you can follow me Here) it would be a big hit. S'mores are so good, but so messy. This is a great way to get that taste in a dip.


The Original Pin:

                                                                            Source: tastebook.com via Samantha on Pinterest

And my creation.  I have actually made it twice already.  The first attempt was tested on my wonderful mama friends at game night. 

{The bottom photo was taken by my friend Julie, and she has a great blog as well!}

Here is the recipe which is from Tastebook.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)
1/2 cup marshmallow creme
1 box (13 oz) graham cracker honey sticks


Directions
1 In small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and condensed milk on High 1 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chips are melted. Stir to mix well. Pour into 9-inch glass pie pan, spreading evenly.

2 Drop marshmallow creme by tablespoonfuls randomly over chocolate mixture. Microwave on High about 30 seconds or until marshmallow creme is softened. Immediately with knife, make several small swirls through marshmallow and chocolate, creating a marbled appearance.

3 Serve immediately {I didn't serve immediately and it was still tasty!} with graham sticks for dipping.

Feed Me Friday - Featured Blogger

I was very excited to learn I was going to be the featured blogger on the Feed Me Friday Blog Hop! "Hopping" is such a great way to get the word out about your blog, and gain new readers. So be sure to take a minute and link up!


  <center><a href="http://naptimeismytime.com/category/feed-me-friday"><img src="http://naptimeismytime.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/FeedMeFriday.jpg" /></a></center> Welcome to Feed Me Friday Blog Hop, hosted by Oh So Savvy Mom and Nap Time is My Time! Feed Me Friday is a Blog Hop to help you meet new bloggers and build your e-mail subscription.  Want to be a part of Feed Me Friday?  Just follow these simple rules:

- Add your blog link to the linky

- Subscribe by email and follow via GFC the two hostesses (Oh So Savvy Mom and Nap Time is My Time and the Featured Blog of the Week.  Make sure to leave us a comment and we will return the favor.  Visit as many blogs on the list as you can.  If you like the blog subscribe to their email (feel free to follow on GFC too, if you want)

- Leave them a comment with your blog link so they know you are subscribing from Feed Me Friday.  Be sure to confirm your subscription!  Subscribing back is not mandatory, but it is recommended.  It is a great way to build blogging relationships.

Since this is an email subscription blog hop, your blog must have a place for people to subscribe to your email.  If there isn’t an email subscribe option, your link will be removed from the linky. Every Friday we will put up a new Feed Me Friday linky, so be sure to stop by and add your blog.  Each week we will choose one participant from the previous week’s blog hop to be the Featured Blog of the Week. Please be sure to check your spam folders, you don't want to miss out! This week's featured blogger is...


Follow along with Samantha through her every day encounters as she experiences all of life's challenges, annoyances and rewards as a happy housewife and stay-at-home mother of two.  

Lasagna Roll Ups

Lasagna Roll Ups

 Ingredients:

1 Small Onion

2 Cloves of Garlic

 1lb Ground Beef or Turkey

Lasagna Noodles

Pasta Sauce of your choice

 Mozzarella Cheese

Parmesan Cheese

1. Start off with some olive oil in a pan and saute the chopped onion and chopped (I grate mine) garlic. 

2.  Once you get the onion and garlic softened (be careful not to burn the garlic!) add in the ground meat that you choose and brown it up.  Once fully cooked stir in about 1/2 a jar of pasta sauce (I wanted to use sauce with mushrooms in it, but didn't have any).  Also while doing this process cook the lasagna noodles according to the package - I leave mine a little under cooked so they don't become soggy in the oven.

3.  Not even gonna lie, the next phase is MESSY!  I started taking pics, but quickly realized it wasn't gonna happen, Matt would have been Pissed, if I got pasta sauce and cheese in my camera!  Anyway, drain the noodles and stack em up on a cutting board.  Then one at a time, add the meat mixture onto the noodles and top with some shredded mozzarella cheese.  Then roll it up.

4.  Once rolled place seam side down in a baking dish.  I put a thin layer of pasta sauce down in the bottom of the baking dish as well.  This recipe makes more than the 9 roll ups, I didn't want to bake up more than 9 for dinner, so I froze them, I will let you know if they hold up frozen.

5.  I then top with some of the meat mixture and more shredded mozzarella. Bake in a 350* oven for 30 to 40 minute.

ENJOY!

Linking Up:

Delightfully Inspiring Thursday

A Glimpse Inside

It's A Keeper Thursday

Strut Your Stuff

Tasty Thursday 

{Semi} Wordless Wednesday.

My {Semi} Wordless thoughts on Motherhood. 

                                                                             Source: momaroo.com via Cathy on Pinterest

                                                                           Source: llhdesignsblog.com via Samantha on Pinterest

Lately with the cold weather and germs we have had, the kids and I have spent a lot of time at home.  It has been stressful not getting out or going to play dates, but it has also been a bit of a blessing.  It has been nice getting to spend so much time with my kiddos, just playing.  I completely, truly believe I was put on this earth to be a mother.  I can't imagine doing anything else, and am so lucky that my husband can support us, and also believes me being home is best for our family.   

A photo from a day of painting (the kids favorite activity) at home.

                                                                       Source: iheartnaptime.net via Samantha on Pinterest

                                                                          Source: google.com via Samantha on Pinterest

There are so many days where motherhood is so tough, but so rewarding.  I am not ready for these days with my little ones to end, so I am going to try to find a blessing in each day with them.

Linking Up:

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Welcome Wednesday

Follow Me Wednesday

Semi Wordless Wednesday

Over the door shoe organizers, love em or hate em?

 One of my biggest pet peeves in life is clutter.  I can't stand it.  If I am somewhere that has a lot of clutter I instantly come home and feel I have to declutter even more (which I really don't because there are very few areas that are cluttered in my home, it would drive me crazy)  So it should come to no surprise that I LOVE organizing things, and finding new organizational methods to make life easier.

One thing I see people organize with is over the door shoe organizers.  I, me, personally cannot stand them.  And it has gone even further and they are now being used to organize more than just shoes.

Instead of this:

                                                                           Source: shop.thefoundary.com via Terri on Pinterest

I would prefer going with this:

                                                                                   Source: bhg.com via Cassie on Pinterest

This just looks so cluttered to me:

                                                                       Source: hotcouponworld.com via Tiffany on Pinterest

I prefer something more like this for pantry storage:

                                                                Source: grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com via Samantha on Pinterest

And for craft supplies, this just looks like a mess to me:

                                                                         Source: icanteachmychild.com via Serena on Pinterest

I would/have done something similar to this:

                                                                    Source: delightfulorder.blogspot.com via Sara on Pinterest

And lastly, cleaning supplies:

                                                                 Source: beforeispendit.blogspot.com via Samantha on Pinterest

Above is actually not that bad, but I prefer this (of course to do this I would need a much larger laundry room! I do this on a smaller scale with an old end table, I don't like to have a lot of different cleaning supplies, anyway):

                                                               Source: iheartorganizing.blogspot.com via Melanie on Pinterest

Maybe I am the only one, maybe the little plastic bags all in a row hanging over a door are actually a magical thing I am missing out on? 

Linking Up:

Twitter Hop Tuesday

Tuesday Twitter Hop
Pin it Tuesday 

 

Menu Plan Monday 1/23

Last week was hectic with all the sickness in our house, then we had a fully scheduled weekend as well.  I am ready for the start to a new week, with everyone healthy again. With everyone being under the weather, it has made it easy to eat at home and not go out, which is a big goal for us this year.  I am hoping I can continue this during my husbands upcoming work trip which will leave me home with the kids for 2 weeks.  That is a lot of meals to prep, cook and clean up myself! 

Anyway, here is what our family will be eating this week.....

Monday -Flank Steak (recipe below!) / Mashed Potatoes / Mixed Veggies

Tuesday - Parmesan Crusted Tilapia / Noodles / Green Beans

Wednesday - Spaghetti with homemade Meatballs / Simple Salad / Garlic Bread

Thursday - Chicken Stuffed Shells / Corn / Rolls

Friday - Pepperoni Pizza Puffs / Rigatoni

Saturday -Crock Pot Night - Pot Roast

Sunday - Make Your Own Pizza Night with the little ones!

Family Flank Steak

Ingredients: 

1 Beef Flank Steak

1 Tablespoon Canola Oil

¼ Cup of Beef Broth

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce 

½ Teaspoon Dry Basil

MUSHROOM SAUCE

1 Cup Sliced Fresh Mushrooms

1 Cup Beef Broth

¼ Cup Chopped Green Onions

2 Tablespoons Butter

1 Teaspoon Pepper

2 Tablespoons Flour

 

1. In a large skillet, brown steak in oil. Stir in the beef broth Worcestershire sauce and basil. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered until meat reaches desired doneness. Remove steak and keep warm. Cut steak into thin strips to serve.

 

2. To the skillet, add the mushrooms, saute until softened. In one corner add butter and flour, wisk to make roux then add broth, onions and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

Enjoy!

Linking Up:

Homemaker Monday

Better Mom Mondays

Mingle Monday