Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Orzo w/Feta & Tomatoes

3 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved (I just chopped up Roma tomatoes)
1/2 cup chopped dill (this would be yummy but I left it out because I didn't have it on hand)
1 tsp grated lemon zest (I used lemon juice instead)
1 cup orzo (I used angel hair)
1 1/2 cups crumbled feta (6oz)

Toss together oil, tomatoes, dill, zest and 1/2 tsp of salt & pepper each in a large serving bowl. Let stand at least ten minutes.

Meanwhile, cook orzo in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (1 1/2 Tbs salt for 4 quarts water) until al dente.

Drain orzo and toss with tomato mixture. Add feta and toss again.

The tomatoes in this photo are from this recipe.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Hair Straightener + ironing =

Making my life simpler!

Some smaller items such as childrens' clothes can be more difficult to iron. Yes, I iron my girls clothes. Not all of them but there are a couple dresses that I prefer the ties to be flat or the front flips up which drives me crazy. I have recently discovered a great way to get the job done without having to break out the ironing board and iron every time. Use a hair straightener! This has made my ironing SO much more simple and fast!

I still use the big iron for the few shirts and skirts that need ironing between Ty and I but I break out the straightener for the girls clothes and use it to get in-between the buttons on any button up shirt.

Hope this helps some of you obsessive ironers the same way it helped me!

Monday, April 5, 2010

H.E.Y!!!!

A "HEY" snack or meal is a Healthy, Easy, Yummy snack/meal....everyones favorite combination! :)


Broiled Tomatoes w/feta cheese

Cut desired number of roma tomatoes in half lengthwise. Season each half with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and crumbled Feta cheese. Drizzle with Fat Free Catalina Dressing. Last, top it with dried or fresh basil. Broil it 3 in from the bottom for 3 minutes or until cheese starts to brown. Remove and let stand for 1-2 minutes and ENJOY!!!!!

Other items you can use to top tomatoes: bacon bits, diced cucumber, black olives, fresh cilantro, whatever your heart desires!!!!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

i am a mother. i am me.

i just finished watching Julie & Julia. i cried at the end. ok, truth be told i got choked up several times throughout the movie, although the few glistening tears weren't shed until the end.

so many thoughts are going through my head, some that contradict the next, that i can hardly keep them straight.

i love being a mother. the book "i am a mother" is a favorite of mine. i read it often and it always helps remind me how blessed i am. i wouldn't trade it for the world....but there are moments when i wish i was more than just a mother. i wish when the girls were tucked away in their beds that i could turn into someone else for a bit. a wonderful writer, a phenomenal cook, an excellent blogger, a brilliant seamstress, etc. what is stopping me really? i certainly have the support from my AMAZING husband. i have the ability to learn a talent and begin to perfect it but i suppose it is the determination i lack. or the fear of failure. yes, i think that is it more than anything else. why is it that fear can be so paralyzing? stopping you in your tracks from accomplishing something worth your while?

i like to blame not accomplishing things on lack of time, that seems to be my choice of excuse, but in all actuality i suppose it is fear far more than time. i could make the time. i will make the time.

first, i must organize myself. there is nothing i hate more than feeling unorganized. i have a hard time working or enjoying myself in a messy environment. (this may come as a shock to some who have seen my house, but none the less, it is true) :)

yes, i will focus on organization for awhile. and continue to blog. whether people are reading or not is not relevant, what is important is that i feel accomplished. i have an escape from reality for a bit. and that i feel i am not ONLY a mother. but oh so much more. i'm still....me.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Quote

You can tell more about a person by what he says about others
than you can by what others say about him.
~Leo Aikman

a kind act

send a text message to 3 people complimenting them. enjoy the gratification it gives you knowing you just brightened someone's day!

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Modest Bathing Suits

this will be my first summer in THREE years that I will have "my body" back. The last three years I have either been pregnant or recently had a baby. Ty said I could get a new bathing suit or two since my body has changed in the last three years. (boy is that an understatement!) :) anyway, i started doing my research so i could make sure i found a modest swim suit that i loved rather than settle for and i came across this website....

these are THE CUTEST modest bathing suits!!!! <3 i'm in love <3

i picked two. and i couldn't be happier!

i dare you to not want to buy one. :) enjoy!