We have an Announcement

So we have been busy little bees in our house hold. Visiting with family because my brother-in-law is getting married soon! Keeping up with a hectic schedule with a little one on the way. And now we are in the process of buying our first home! It's a crazy-busy life, but I love it and wouldn't trade it, no matter how much I fall asleep on the couch from exhaustion.

First the most awaited news that all my family has been waiting for. Hubby and I are expecting a little...GIRL!!!

(I admit I was waiting for the shoes to come in, they are so flippin' adorable.)

We are over the moon and can't wait for our little princess to come into the world at the end of the summer. More and more each day, Hubby is getting more and more excited about his little Princess. He is starting to prepare himself for the day Princess paints his nails, or worse goes prom dress shopping because the only acceptable thing will be a moo-moo. Or a denim dress that Willie on Duck Dynasty suggested for his own daughter.

So at the moment, if you wish to know, I am having more cravings and Princess is still fighting the salads. So I have come up with very creative ways to hide all the veggies and make sure she is getting her nutrients, no matter how much I would love a cup of Mocha Almond Fudge Ice Cream, thank God for Blue Bell and Texas.

Here are my top 5 cravings for those who wish to know, because I do get asked all the time:
1. Black Beans, dunno why, but I love to have them at least twice a week in some form or fashion.
2. Chick-Fil-A Waffle Fries. Need I say more, the end!
3. Steak, when I want it, I am R-E-L-E-N-T-L-E-S-S
4. Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt
5. String Cheese, Ollie loves this one too

Sorry if this is all rambles, but we are all caught up now! This mommy blogger is fighting a headache from being woken up every half hour because poor Ollie was in pain from his shot.

Recipe next time, till then, Live, Laugh, and Love!

The Millie's in our Lives

So yesterday I went to the restroom for the 100th time (one side affect of Wee Baby coming along, the bathroom has become my second office) I ran into a woman I shall call Millie. You see I personally don't know Millie, she works in an office on my floor but she a charming older woman that no matter what she has her hair done, her shoes match her outfit in color, and is the sweetest thing you have ever met. She never has an unkind word. So we always run into each other about once a week in the restroom and I always compliment her on her outfit. There are not that many people that can pull of a quilted coat or complete tangerine outfit, but hell Millie sure can!

And every time I see her and compliment her, she asks me how my day is and how darling I am. It makes me smile. I just love hanging out with all the Millies in the world, they have such interesting lives and can tell you so many stories. Millie even makes a point to walk by my office since I have a hallway window to make sure I am there that day. One day I was out and the next time she saw me she asked if I was alright. We don't even know each others names but she did wish me happy freaking birthday. I am pretty sure Millie has quilted a thousand quilts, made many apple pies for all her grandkids and no one has asked her about her former deep sea adventures (you never know).

A few months before I got married, my Great Aunt took me out to dinner to visit. She doesn't live far from where I work so I try to see her as often as our schedules allow, she is very much a social butterfly. Try calling her after 7 p.m. and you are screwed because her line will be busy for hours! On this one dinner occasion I asked her what she ever did for a living. Everyone in my family loves her but I don't ever recall someone telling me what she did for a profession. She could have been in a traveling circus, a clothing designer, or a professional nanny. You would never know if you didn't ask. In all honesty, every time I speak with her I get reminded of one of my favorite books, Lucia, Lucia. Really good book and the author is an Italian American.

She told me all about how she used to work at a large department store selling Satin Stockings when she was a teenager. Then stopped working for a short time when she got married. Due some circumstances, she found a job with a Shipping company for imports and exports. She started off as a secretary and eventually became the only woman in the Fleet office directing sailors where to go and even assisting families to relocate.

 She held that position and an HR position for so long. It truly touched me how much a like we are.

I love my Great Aunt, she is my personal Millie and how she always has her hair in place and does not like it when people see her without her "face" on. Anytime she has been in the hospital, she gets upset if she doesn't have make up on and how unrepresentable, but I think she is more beautiful than ever. I just love how independent she is and how much she cares about all her great nieces and nephews (all 70+ of us) and is completely over joyed about Wee Baby coming. She always calls me Elizabeth Taylor because I look a lot like her and tend to be reserve like her. I like to imagine she once sold panty hose to Elizabeth Taylor. She is the living example of Live, Laugh, Love.

 

So find you a Millie in your life and Live, Laugh, and Love!

Slight Food Fustration

So here we are, Hubby and I are ending week 18 of our pregnancy. Not gonna lie, I have had it pretty easy compared to others. I know of others who can't get out of bed due to morning sickness, bad cramps, and then those who have two year olds. Those people just look at me and ask if I am ready, and I figure if I can get the Diva of Diva's to say please and thank you and become America's Sweetheart in one short summer, I can handle my own kid, stay tuned.

My one complaint, is that I have become a slightly picky eater. I HATE that feeling. Trust me, I want to try it, I really really do, but I have had limitations. I love salads, and now I have to take them slow because they sound good but not always taste good. Cheese, certain cheeses just throw me off my game, luckily on valentine's day Hubby was all to kind to switch dishes with me when I made that mistake. (After working in restaurants for so long, I hate sending food back if it's not the waiter or the establishment's fault. I chose it, I need to suck it up.) What is even worse is coffee. My stomach does back flips when I smell it, which doesn't help with my new super power, Super Keen Smell. That's right, I can smell you from a mile away, so forget trying to attack or surprise me, I know you are coming. There was a magical week when I could drink it again, but then something happened over the weekend or the baby took the week off. One or the other.

So poor Hubby has been so patient with my limitations and super supportive. He worries, but don't worry I am not starving and my belly proves the baby is getting enough nutrients. But last night I just really wanted something with vegetables and I had to trick my belly/baby to accept these with out me suffering. So I thought, why not a chicken and broccoli casserole. Now my casserole has way more than those two things.

So for picky eaters, young and old a like, I hope you love this simple, quick and very yummy recipe.

Start off with:

• A cup of uncooked rice (go ahead and make to hearts desire)
• 2-3 three heads of fresh broccoli. Frozen is fine, but they come out to the same most of the times, so I usually go fresh.
• a handful of fresh spinach, again canned or frozen is fine, we try to eat as fresh as possible.
• 6 small mushrooms/4 large
• 2 yellow squash (optional, I just happened to have them)
• Chicken, we made some the night before but use 1-2 chicken breasts)
• 1 can of cream of mushroom

Ok so go ahead and start slicing and sauteing your chicken if it's not already cooked.  Then start on the rice. Remember 1 cup ends up being 3 cups, so you will have left overs.

Now with your chicken cooked, start adding your chopped veggies, I usually leave mushrooms and spinach last, because those cook so quickly in a pan. Broccoli & squash and as those soften then add the rest. You might want to pick a bigger pan than I did, because mine got full pretty quick. Baby needs those veggies!

When your rice is close to done, more than al dente but in that creamy stage, transfer it to your pan. Then add your can of cream of mushroom and a little water. Now mix all together. Your cream of mushroom is the glue to the casserole. Once it's all mixed thoroughly, you are done! If it's a little stiff, just a little water bit by bit.

No serve in a bowl and enjoy! I sure did!!!

As always, Live, Laugh, Love.