No, I'm not pregnant, although I wish I could say that I were. :o) But, that's another story for another time. The great news is that a sweet friend of mine is. I love being a part of the pregnancy of each friend that I've been blessed to watch their children come into this world. Babies are so sweet, and they truly are a joy to watch grow.
I've been knocking around ideas for the baby shower, and I can't wait to chronicle all of the crafting projects we'll be doing for that as well.
We will know the baby's gender in just a little over 12 short days, at L's gender reveal party. I won't brag, but I'll get to know FIRST! :-) I'm wrapping up Hershey bars and all of L's friends will unwrap the surprise at the same time.
I'm still thinking boy...
Monday, March 17, 2014
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Italian Sausage Tortellini Bake
If you know anything about me, at all, it's that if I'm going to cook dinner or anything really, the recipe must be easy. :-)
Alex gets a daily e-mail from AllRecipes.com, and forwards me the ones he thinks look appetizing so that we can add them to our rotation of meals.
He sent me this italian sausage tortellini bake recipe. Easy enough.
Italian Sausage Tortellini Bake - allrecipes.com
Of course, I had to make my own adaptions to the recipe, so here's my version.
1 pound hot Italian sausage
1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
1 (14 oz) can Italian-sytle diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 (20 ounce) package frozen cheese-filled tortellini
2 cups shreeded mozzarella cheese
Heat a large pot over medium heat. Crumble sausage into the saucepan; add onion and green bell pepper. Cook and stir the sausage mixture until the sausage is completely browned, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain grease.
Pour marinara sauce and diced tomatoes over the sausage mixture; season with garlic powder and stir. Bring the mixture to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook at a simmer until the diced tomatoes break down into the sauce, 30 to 45 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
*** Because I didn't buy frozen tortellini, I was able to skip the step of cooking them. I bought them in the deli section of my local Target. ***
Gently fold the cooked tortellini into the simmering sauce; cook together another 5 minutes. Pour tortellini and sauce into a 13x9-inch baking dish; top with mozzarella cheese.
Bake in preheated oven until cheese is golden brown, 20 to 30 minutes.
Alex gets a daily e-mail from AllRecipes.com, and forwards me the ones he thinks look appetizing so that we can add them to our rotation of meals.
He sent me this italian sausage tortellini bake recipe. Easy enough.
Italian Sausage Tortellini Bake - allrecipes.com
Of course, I had to make my own adaptions to the recipe, so here's my version.
1 pound hot Italian sausage
1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
1 (14 oz) can Italian-sytle diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 (20 ounce) package frozen cheese-filled tortellini
2 cups shreeded mozzarella cheese
Heat a large pot over medium heat. Crumble sausage into the saucepan; add onion and green bell pepper. Cook and stir the sausage mixture until the sausage is completely browned, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain grease.
Pour marinara sauce and diced tomatoes over the sausage mixture; season with garlic powder and stir. Bring the mixture to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook at a simmer until the diced tomatoes break down into the sauce, 30 to 45 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
*** Because I didn't buy frozen tortellini, I was able to skip the step of cooking them. I bought them in the deli section of my local Target. ***
Gently fold the cooked tortellini into the simmering sauce; cook together another 5 minutes. Pour tortellini and sauce into a 13x9-inch baking dish; top with mozzarella cheese.
Bake in preheated oven until cheese is golden brown, 20 to 30 minutes.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
101 Things To Do In 1001 Days
Have any of you ever done this before? I've had a list going for a year or so now, but in looking at the tasks & the direction my life is heading, I decided to adjust the list and essentially start over. :-) I removed all the items that had already been completed, and replaced them with new ones.
This "project" of sorts was created by the Day Zero Project.
Here's the idea behind it...
The Challenge:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part.)
Start Date: March 15th, 2014
End Date: December 10th, 2016
Black - Tasks to be completed
This "project" of sorts was created by the Day Zero Project.
Here's the idea behind it...
The Challenge:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part.)
Start Date: March 15th, 2014
End Date: December 10th, 2016
Black - Tasks to be completed
Blue - Tasks in progress
Red - Completed tasks
I divided mine into sections. You know, for organizational purposes, and all.
Family:
1. Create an Excel spreadsheet with family birthdays. Send cards to everyone.
2. Take my mom on a mother/daughter trip.
3. Write my mom a letter.
Friends:
4. Create an Excel spreadsheet with friends birthdays. Send cards to everyone.
5. Make a list of the top 5 influential people in my life. Let them know.
Personal Growth:
6. Plan a road trip.
7. Have professional head shots taken.
8. Take boudoir pictures - just for me.
9. Make a list of 25 things I like about myself.
Finances:
10. Pay off divorce.
11. Attend Financial Peace University @ church.
12. Financial Peace University - Step 1 - $1,000 emergency fund
13. Financial Peace University - Step 2 - Pay off debt w/ snowball
14. Financial Peace University - Step 3 - 3 - 6 months expenses in savings
15. Meet with mortgage broker to start the home buying process.
Career/Education:
16. Begin developing a business plan (complete with marketing materials).
17. Pass CPA exam.
18. Graduate with Masters in Accounting.
19. Graduate with GPA of 3.5 - 4.0
20. Get a promotion.
Personal Goals:
21. Read all the books that I already own.
22. Write a letter to my future children.
23. Go without Facebook for a week.
24. Spend a rainy day, in my PJs, watching movies all day.
25. Buy myself flowers, just because.
Health & Fitness:
26. Reach weight of 170.
27. Reach weight of 160.
28. Reach goal weight of 150.
29. Go back to Zumba.
30. Start taking yoga classes.
31. Get a massage, once a month, for 6 months. (0/6)
32. Get a facial.
33. Find out my blood type.
34. Run a 5K.
35. Run a 10K.
36. Run a half marathon.
Home:
37. Build a piece of furniture, or a frame, or something.
38. Learn how to use power tools.
39. Completely finish decorating our bedroom w/ nightstands, pictures, etc.
Food:
41. Make 3 "from scratch" desserts.
42. Take a cooking class.
43. Learn how to make jam.
44. Grow something (even if it's in a pot).
45. Cook my way through a cookbook.
Travel:
46. Visit a new state.
47. Go on a cruise.
48. Take a vacation.
Faith:
49. Attend & become involved in a women's bible study group.
50. Set aside 10 minutes a day for quiet time, reflection for 30 days. (0/30)
51. Use the 30 days to write in a journal. (0/30)
52. Find a counselor, and start going to see him/her.
53. Answer the "50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind." Link to my answers.
54. Complete the "I Am Content" challenge.
Relationship:
55. Get married.
56. Buy a house with Alex.
57. Have a baby. Or at least start infertility treatments.
Entertainment (Books/Movies):
58. Donate books during the "get teens to read" drive.
59. Leave an inspirational note inside a library book.
60. Ask 5 people to recommend their favorite book, and read them all. (0/5)
61. Re-read a book I read in high school that I didn't fully appreciate.
Fun Activities:
62. Go to the zoo.
63. Go to the aquarium.
64. Go to Canton's First Monday.
65. Go to a pumpkin patch.
66. Go to Highland Park, in a carriage, and look at Christmas lights.
67. Go to a sporting event.
68. Go to a haunted house/haunted hayride.
69. Go to an art museum.
70. Go to the planetarium.
71. Go see a play, or a musical.
72. Fly a kite.
73. Go to a concert.
74. Go antiquing.
Holidays:
75. Decorate for all the holidays. Big & small.
76. Carve a pumpkin.
77. Host a cookie exchange party for Christmas.
Random Acts of Kindness:
78. Donate a significant amount of money to a charity.
79. Adopt an angel for Christmas.
80. Volunteer for 20+ hours.
81. Send 6 "random" thinking of you cards to friends/family.
82. Start posting operationbeautiful.com notes.
83. Randomly pay for a person behind me in line.
Creativity:
84. Take a picture every day for a year.
85. Journal/create a photobook for the pictures. See Project Life - Project 365. I have some catching up to do.
85. Journal/create a photobook for the pictures. See Project Life - Project 365. I have some catching up to do.
86. Make an iPod playlist of my 101 favorite songs.
87. Find an inspiring quotes & work it into a piece of art.
88. Complete a coloring book.
89. Take a photography class.
90. Make 5 sewing projects pinned on Pinterest.
91. Make homemade Christmas gifts for 5 people.
92. Make the "pass it forward" gifts from Facebook.
93. Finish quilt for charity.
Purchases:
94. Buy one piece of David Yurman jewelry.
95. Buy a Movado watch.
96. Buy something from Etsy.
97. Buy a new lens for my camera. Or two.
98. Buy a little black dress.
99. Purchase class black Louboutin's.
Misc.
100. Blog about my progress.
101. Create a new 101 things list.
March Goals (In Progress)
So I did something this month that I don't normally do... I re-looked at my goals today, about half way through the month. With that being said, I ended up tweaking the goal dates a bit, but I wanted to give a quick update of the in progress stuff... :-)
HEALTH
1. Create a work out plan. Goal date: 3/15/2014
2. Water, water, water. 80 ounces per day. Track! Goal date: EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
3. Log the fruits/veggies challenge @ work. Goal date: EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
HOME
1. Hem curtains for living room. Goal date: 3/15/2014
2. Hang curtain rod & curtains for living room. Goal date: 3/16/2014
PERSONAL
1. Update, re-create, start over, etc. on the 101 Things to do list. Find new focus. Erase the past, and start over fresh. Goal date: 3/15/2014 DONE! See the list here... 101 Things.
2. Achieve three items on 101 things list. Goal date: 3/31/2014
For the 3 things I'm going to accomplish before the end of March...
1.) I'm going to do one of the sewing projects pinned on my Pinterest board. I'm hoping to even get *TWO* done. ::gasp::
2.) I'm going to go to yoga on March 22nd with Teresa.
3.) I'm going to buy myself flowers, just because. :-)
3. Mail CPA Intent Application to state board. Goal date: 3/7/2014 DONE! DONE! AND DONE! I can't even begin to express how freeing it was (and nerve-wracking) to finally mail my letter of intent to the state board. After all these years of school and knowledge crammed into my little brain, it'll all come down to one last test.
4. Register for Becker CPA review. Audit review in April. Goal date: 3/15/2014 DONE! I'm registered for ALL parts of the CPA review. Audit starts April 7th. If I have the approval from the board in time, I'll take my first test towards the end of May. Wish me luck!
HEALTH
1. Create a work out plan. Goal date: 3/15/2014
2. Water, water, water. 80 ounces per day. Track! Goal date: EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
3. Log the fruits/veggies challenge @ work. Goal date: EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
HOME
1. Hem curtains for living room. Goal date: 3/15/2014
2. Hang curtain rod & curtains for living room. Goal date: 3/16/2014
PERSONAL
2. Achieve three items on 101 things list. Goal date: 3/31/2014
For the 3 things I'm going to accomplish before the end of March...
1.) I'm going to do one of the sewing projects pinned on my Pinterest board. I'm hoping to even get *TWO* done. ::gasp::
2.) I'm going to go to yoga on March 22nd with Teresa.
3.) I'm going to buy myself flowers, just because. :-)
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
March Goals
The last week in February, I attended a quick one hour class at work that talks directly about setting goals as well as identifying and eliminating self-defeating habits. Setting SMART goals was something I really need to focus on, because my goals tend to be lofty without any real measurement to them. I'm going to try this in March, and see how I do.
Just for your info:
S - Specific
M - Measurable
A - Attainable
R - Relevant
T - Time-Bound
HEALTH
1. Create a work out plan. Goal date: 3/15/2014
2. Water, water, water. 80 ounces per day. Track! Goal date: EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
3. Log the fruits/veggies challenge @ work. Goal date: EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
HOME
1. Hem curtains for living room. Goal date: 3/15/2014
2. Hang curtain rod & curtains for living room. Goal date: 3/16/2014
PERSONAL
1. Update, re-create, start over, etc. on the 101 Things to do list. Find new focus. Erase the past, and start over fresh. Goal date: 3/15/2014
2. Achieve three items on 101 things list. Goal date: 3/31/2014
3. Mail CPA Intent Application to state board. Goal date: 3/7/2014
4. Register for Becker CPA review. Audit review in April. Goal date: 3/15/2014
Just for your info:
S - Specific
M - Measurable
A - Attainable
R - Relevant
T - Time-Bound
HEALTH
1. Create a work out plan. Goal date: 3/15/2014
2. Water, water, water. 80 ounces per day. Track! Goal date: EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
3. Log the fruits/veggies challenge @ work. Goal date: EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
HOME
1. Hem curtains for living room. Goal date: 3/15/2014
2. Hang curtain rod & curtains for living room. Goal date: 3/16/2014
PERSONAL
1. Update, re-create, start over, etc. on the 101 Things to do list. Find new focus. Erase the past, and start over fresh. Goal date: 3/15/2014
2. Achieve three items on 101 things list. Goal date: 3/31/2014
3. Mail CPA Intent Application to state board. Goal date: 3/7/2014
4. Register for Becker CPA review. Audit review in April. Goal date: 3/15/2014
February Goals (Recap)
I haven't focused much on the health aspect of life in February. Work hit me like a ton of bricks this month, coupled with school. I made progress on other aspects of my life, like getting the move behind us, decorating and organizing the new place, etc. I wouldn't say February was a total loss.
HEALTH
1. Now that the move in behind us, find a fitness routine that works for me.
2. Go to at least one of Teresa's yoga classes in the month of February.
3. Research PCOS more, and the impact that food has on it. Focus on switching to a more "clean" lifestyle. I did order books to start research on this, but that's as far as I got.
4. Record body measurements on February 1st and again on February 28th. Take pictures too.
HOME
1.Hang the bedroom curtains and hem/hang the living room & dining room curtains. We got the bedroom curtains hung. We'll be working on the living room this weekend.
2. Organize the pantry,bathroom, and dresser drawers. We need to find some storage options for the pantry as our new pantry has really wide shelves, and it's not the easiest to reach the top.
3. Finish unpacking the boxes in the garage. I'd say we made it about 85% through this one.
PERSONAL
1. Update, re-create, start over, etc. on the 101 Things to do list. Find new focus. Erase the past, and start over fresh. Goal date: 2/14/2014. Yeah, didn't happen.
2.Learn meditation, breathing tricks to overcome the anxiety and panic. I really struggle with this one, but I'm doing better. When I originally posted this list of February goals, I was having a really bad day. But after talking to some friends, figuring out more of my trigger points, and how to overcome them, it was the only bad day I had in February.
3. Successfully mark off 3 - 5 "items" on the 101 Things list.
HEALTH
1. Now that the move in behind us, find a fitness routine that works for me.
2. Go to at least one of Teresa's yoga classes in the month of February.
3. Research PCOS more, and the impact that food has on it. Focus on switching to a more "clean" lifestyle. I did order books to start research on this, but that's as far as I got.
4. Record body measurements on February 1st and again on February 28th. Take pictures too.
HOME
1.
2. Organize the pantry,
3. Finish unpacking the boxes in the garage. I'd say we made it about 85% through this one.
PERSONAL
1. Update, re-create, start over, etc. on the 101 Things to do list. Find new focus. Erase the past, and start over fresh. Goal date: 2/14/2014. Yeah, didn't happen.
2.
3. Successfully mark off 3 - 5 "items" on the 101 Things list.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Anxiety.
Today is just one of those days where the anxiety is overwhelming. I've tried breathing, walking, thinking about other things, meditation, etc and nothing seems to make a difference. I hate this. I hate that on certain days, I'm fine, and nothing seems to phase me. I hate that on others, it's like a ton of bricks is sitting on my chest.
Today is a brick kind of day.
Today is a brick kind of day.
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