Tackle It Tuesday

Today's tackle involves general deep cleaning of the house. I plan on sweeping and mopping the floor, dusting the living room and bedroom, and doing a quick wipedown of the bathrooms (my deep cleaning for that is Friday). We have a ton of laundry to finish and be put away as well.

Somewhere in here I need to run to the bank!

Christmas

There is so much to catch up on, so here is a brief synopsis in pictures. We started Christmas Eve at Chuck's aunt and uncle's for the gift exchange and dinner. I got a gift card to Kohl's! Here is C and me at his aunt's (and clearly, I am fat):
After dinner, we met the ex to swap the girls. After some quick showering and changing, the girls and I were ready to head to Christmas midnight mass to meet my parents, brothers and sister-in-law:

Lex totally fell asleep in church on my shoulder and Jamie was definitely nodding off. Poor kids. I tucked them both in when we got home and C and I played Santa:

Big smiles on Christmas morning after opening gifts:

My family came over around 10 for brunch. Here is my table set-up (with the croquembouche protected under foil!):And here is the doughnut-hole croquembouche (thanks, Katie, for the idea!):

Me with Alexys and Jamie before Christmas dinner at my in-laws:
Again with the double-chin...ew...

Then we went to my aunt and uncle's for dessert and a rousing game of Taboo. My sister-in-law and I lost to my cousin and brother. We were NOT happy campers.

I felt extremely blessed this Christmas to be able to spend the time with my friends and family. We were so lucky to have both kids with us and I am so thankful we were able to give them a wonderful Christmas.

Upcoming Events

Chuck and I were married on February 23, 2008. Which means I have less than two months to look semi-non-chubby for our anniversary dinner at Shinto on February 21 (since our anniversary is on a Monday). I am attempting to lose 10 lbs by then, and this starts tomorrow. The last of the baked goods is going with Chuck to work (or I am throwing them out!) and I have my workout gear all ready for the morning. I would love to buy a new dress to wear out with the love of my life amd actually feel beautiful!

Incidentally, I know what I am getting him...it is going to be a HUGE surprise!

Menu Plan Monday: Weight Watchers Friendly!

So, since I am attempting to get back on track for Weight Watchers, I have attempted to plan a menu full of healthy ideas for the week. The last few weeks I have attempted to plan and then have gone away from my original plan, so once again, you may see the repeats that have NOT been made when they were supposed to be!

Sunday, 12/28: Birthday party. If we are home for dinner, which we should be, I will make pork tenderloin, roasted potatoes, and green beans.
Monday, 12/29: Chicken stroganoff (5 points plus points for rice/noodles)
Tuesday, 12/30: Boca chicken patties (3) with a salad for me and french fries for the family
Wednesday, 12/31: Our New Year's tradition of Chinese food. We always have this other couple over and since we have the kids this year, it is going to be low-key and we are staying cheap and easy (food-wise!). We will be having simple snacks of homemade Chex mix and a veggie tray with low-fat dip.
Thursday, 1/1: Probably celebrating the New Year with my family for dinner
Friday, 1/2: Homemade pizza and salad

Weekends are hard to plan, so I will post our menu as soon as I figure out what the heck our plans are this weekend! Be sure to visit the other Menu Planners at orgjunkie's blog!

Resolution

Before I discuss our marvelous Christmas with both kids and both sides of the family, I want to discuss something...

My original reason for beginning this blog was to track and discuss my weight loss efforts. Since beginning, way back over 100 posts ago, I have been on and off track (mostly off, to be honest) and my blog has gone from discussing my weight loss to being an outlet for me to vent about my everyday life as a teacher, newlywed, stepmother, and grad student, among other things. I think it is time to go back to our original plan...A Life in Progress needs to become what it was meant to be.

On Christmas Day, we went to my aunt's house after being at my in-laws'. My brother and sister-in-law had their wedding proofs. Now, do not get me wrong, I know that I have put on weight since our wedding (approx. 15 lbs in a year), but when I saw those pictures, I was shocked and appalled. How on EARTH have I let this happen to myself? It was awful. After we looked at the pictures and before our gift exchange, I walked into the kitchen and just cried. My mom followed me and asked what was wrong. I was just so disappointed in myself.

So, it is time for me to take a step back and take a good, long look at myself (if I can tolerate my image for a moment). There are many reasons for me to need to lose weight, beyond just WANTING it. I want to safely be able to carry a baby, I want to live a long and healthy life, and I do not want to be miserable ANY MORE. So, I will be rejoining Weight Watchers this week, after New Year's. I know it is so typical, but it will give me a few days to readjust my eating and rid my fridge and house of all my terrible food.

I can do this. I want to feel like me again.

Christmas cleaning, continued

So I was really accomplished today and finished most of my to-do list for the day. I ended up sleeping until 11:45 (EEK!) and then got up and cleaned.

I started at the furthest end of our apartment with our bedroom. I cleaned that from top to bottom and then Chuck's bathroom (he is the only one who showers in it because J and I both hate shower doors). I vacuumed and dusted and even washed the bathroom floor! I did a few loads of laundry and put away the MOUNTAIN of clean clothes that were mine and in a ginormous pile in front of my dresser.

I moved on to the bathroom off the main hallway and scrubbed that as well, along with washing the floors. I was vacuuming the hall as I went along, and just have to finish up tomorrow.

Chuck got home from work and we decided to run some errands and head to Chipotle for dinner (YUM!). I got another stupid dozen eggs and some stuff to make a doughnut croquembouche. Except I decided to BUY the doughnuts and I am going to use chocolate to attach the candies instead of royal icing, because I am out of meringue powder (which I need to pick up on Friday). We came home and I rearrangd the furniture to set up for Christmas and give us a smidge more room.

Here is the disaster this morning:And here it is post-clean up and post-furniture move:

This is the view of our dining area; the table is extended and now I just have to set the table!

Here are my china dishes and the smaller accent Christmas plates I bought from Kohl's:


Aren't they the cutest!?


I threw together the batch of cranberry pistachio biscotti which is currently in the oven, I have another load of clothes drying, and I am going to toss one more in.

Tomorrow, I need to:

• Assemble croquembouche
• Make dough and prep scones (which includes cooking bacon)
  
• Assemble breakfast casseroles (which includes browning sausage)
• Vacuum
• Put together cookie trays for my uncle's house (just in case we go)
• Paint toenails!
• Get myself prettied up for Christmas Eve!
  

Tackle It Tuesday: Christmas Cleaning

In the last few days, I have been super-productive. I actually finished all of my Christmas cookies on Saturday and Sunday and plated them up to take to our parents' houses and for C to take to work. I finished ALL of my wrapping tonight (actually, about 2 minutes ago). Everything for our families is under the tree

The kids' stuff is bagged and ready to hide again before Christmas Eve:


So now that I have all my baking done and the wrapping is done, I need to do a major cleaning on the apartment in preparation for Thursday's brunch. Here is what is on the agenda tomorrow:

• Dust/vacuum bedroom DONE
  
• Dust/vacuum living room (and overall cleaning of it!) Dusting DONE
  
• Bake cranberry pistachio biscotti and give the chocolate hazelnut ones another whirl (my first attempt was a miserable failure) DONE (and I gave up on the chocolate one)
  
• Litter box DONE
  
• Run to Salvation Army to drop off some stuff Totally forgot about it
  
• Run to in-laws to drop off cookies (then to my parents' house to drop off more because their dog ate half the tray!) Taking on Christmas Day instead
  

Menu Plan Monday: Christmas Edition!

Busy week this week, but I was super-productive this weekend, so I should have some time to relax and enjoy a portion of my Christmas break! Here is what is on the menu for this week (amongst all the crazy Christmas brunch prep!)

Monday: Turkey cutlets served with cranberry-pear chutney; green beans; cous cous
Tuesday:
Wednesday: Christmas Eve! We will be heading to C's aunt and uncle's for dinner around 6, then we have to meet to pick up the girls around 8. From there I will head to my uncle's house and then midnight mass with my parents and brothers and sister-in-law.
Thursday: Christmas! I am hosting Christmas brunch, which will include the following (I will be posting recipes later this week)

• Sausage breakfast casserole
• Breakfast scones
• Orange sweet rolls (you know, the Pillsbury kind), which is our family tradition
• Fruit plate
• Assorted biscotti and cookies (made by me!)
• Tangy pepper and pecan brie with toasted baguettes

We will then go to my in-laws for dinner and then to my aunt's for dessert!

Friday: My brother and sister-in-law are coming over for dinner! I will be posting my menu later this week, but it will involve a yummy pasta dish!
Saturday: I am fairly certain I will be on strike. So I am going to make C cook and it will be tacos.
Sunday: Birthday party so no cooking for me!

Have I mentioned...

how dang cute our kitties are? This is Lola. I adopted her when I was single and lonely. I used to hate cats, but I love her to pieces. She is snoozing between C's legs and feet.And this is Gabby. C had her when I moved in. She is sleeping on the side of his lap...while Lola was at his feet.

They are best friends.

Weekend Plans

Tonight we had a Christmas gathering with the women I used to work with. We get together a few times a year and we usually do a Christmas gift exchange. I got a cute hot chocolate set that I can not WAIT to try! It has marshmallows, french vanilla hot cocoa, and a sugar topping. YUMMY!

After getting home, around 11:30, C was sleeping peacefully and I decided to make my sugar cookie dough and my gingerbread cookie dough, that way they could chill overnight. I have some big plans for tomorrow, so here is my game plan for Saturday:

• Roll-out, cut and bake sugar cookies
• Roll-out, cut and bake gingerbread cookies
• Vacuum living room
• Clean bedroom
• Vacuum and dust bedroom
• Make dough for Do-Do's and chill
• Birthday party followed by Christmas party

Sunday:

• Church at 10 AM
  
• Bake Do-Do's
• Make peppermint bark
• Make peanut butter blossoms
• Decorate sugar cookies
• Finish wrapping presents!
  

Of course, this could all change...because I plan on sleeping in tomorrow AND Sunday! We do not have the girls until Christmas (it is already quiet without Jamie here) and C has a Browns game on Sunday, so he will be gone all day and I can be super-productive!

On Monday I have plans with a few teachers to get lunch and then see Twilight (again, for me!). Very excited!

Busy Days Ahead

I have been attempting to make a schedule of all the things/baking/cleaning/prepping that I need to do before Christmas brunch (as well as a dinner gathering with my brother and sister-in-law on Friday, December 26).  Here is my tentative schedule:

Wednesday: Eye appointments for me and J

Thursday: Make dinner, laundry, clean up around house

Peppermint bark

Friday: Christmas party with ladies from my old part-time job

Make dough for sugar cookies

Saturday: Roll out, cut and bake sugar cookies

Make dough for Do-Do's (who the hell  knows what these are really called?  Grandma's recipe)

Birthday party @ 7 PM followed by a Christmas party

Sunday: Wrap presents

Decorate sugar cookies

Gingerbread snowflakes

Bake Do-Do's

Clean bedroom (dust, put away clothes, vacuum)

Monday: Frost Do-Do's

Frost gingerbread snowflakes

Thumbprints

Peanut butter blossoms

Tuesday: Biscotti

Candy cane cookies

Vacuum and dust living room and dining room

Arrange furniture for Christmas brunch

Now for the main events...

Wednesday (Christmas Eve):

Clean bathrooms

Sweep and mop kitchen floor

Make batter for scones

Prepare sausage casseroles

Prepare brie

Set table

Thursday (Christmas!):  My parents, brothers and sister-in-law will be over at 10 AM to open our gifts and to celebrate with a fabulous brunch!  That morning, all I will have to do is:

Bake casseroles

Slice baguette and bake

Bake brie

Bake orange sweet rolls

We are having my brother and sister-in-law over on Friday for dinner, but I will get to that menu later this week!

Tackle It Tuesday

Otherwise known as: What I Did NOT Accomplish Over the Weekend

Here is my big agenda for Tuesday afternoon/evening:

1. Vacuum living room and hallway
2. Sweep and mop kitchen floor
3. Dust and vacuum bedroom
4. Laundry

I will let you know how productive I actually am.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Leftover Potato and Leek Soup
Tuesday: Boca Chik'n Patties (regular chicken nuggets for J) and tater tots. Some sort of veggie
Wednesday: Chicken stroganoff
Thursday: Shepherd's Pie (hubby's favorite!)
Friday: Christmas party with friends
Saturday: TWO birthday parties, so eating out or a really light dinner
Sunday: Fending for myself because hubby will be at the Browns game. Perhaps a yummy pasta dish. Or I will go mooch off my parents.

Need some more menu ideas? Check out OrgJunkie's list of menu planners at Menu Planning Monday!

Things I Learned This Weekend:

Filberts=Shelled hazelnuts

1 tsp instant espresso-2 tsp instant coffee.

I am annoyed and relieved.  Back to the damn grocery store tomorrow.

Recipes: Potato Soup and Baked Apples with Vanilla Sauce

It was a chilly, rainy day in Cleveland today. No snow, but the perfect day for some comforting soup. My friend Holly made this awesome potato soup the other day for our department's 14 days of Christmas lunches, and I stole her recipe (although I attempted to lighten it up a bit)

Holly's Fab Tater Soup

-6 leeks, chopped (white and light green parts)

-2 Spanish onions, chopped (I only used one)

-Saute leeks and onions in one stick of butter until onions are transparent (I used half a stick of butter and some EVOO instead).

-Add approx. 12 potatoes, cut up. Cover with chicken broth and cook on medium-high until potatoes are tender (Holly uses Yukon Gold, I used regular old Idaho because they were on sale).

-When taters are cooked, mash with a hand masher

-Add approx. 3 cups heavy cream (I used fat free half and half) and simmer for an additional 15 minutes.

-Serve with sourdough bread

Seriously, it was awesome. I made it early in the afternoon and then reheated it after we got home from the choir concert at school. It was SUPER thick by the time we ate, so when we eat the leftovers tomorrow, I plan on adding a smidge more chicken broth to thin it out a bit. I chunked up the sourdough (as directed by Holly) and we used them as croutons.

I wanted something sweet later on, so whipped up this recipe from Weight Watchers, Baked Apples with Vanilla Sauce.

Ingredients:

4 apples, cored

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/4 C Splenda

1/4 C water

2 T fresh lemon juice

1/4 oz (about 2 T) sugar-free fat-free instant vanilla pudding mix

3/4 C fat free milk (I definitely needed to add more milk, because it was WAY thick)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using a peeler, peel a 1/2 inch horizontal strip[ around apples to help release juices during baking. Place apples in a baking dish. In a small bowl, combine cinnamon, ginger, and Splenda. Place 1 T of cinnamon mixture in cored-out center of each apple; sprinkle remaining cinnamon mixture over apples. C ombine water and lemon juice and pour around apples. Bake until apples are soft when pierced with a fork, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven an d let cool. Pour pudding mix into a bowl and whisk with milk . Drizzle over apples and serve.

Busy Weekend

-Church at 10:30 on Sunday
-Christmas concert at 3 on Sunday
-Make yummy potato soup for dinner on Sunday/Tuesday (leftovers!)
-Finish grading tests
-Hang curtains in bedroom
-Rehang painting and hang sconces in dining area
-Begin wrapping
-Menu plan for the next two weeks, Christmas brunch, English department lunch, cookie making
-Plan out next two weeks (cleaning and cookie-making)
-Bank drive-thru

Throwdown

So the other day I posted about my BBQ pulled pork and how amazing it is.

In my department, we have the 14 Days of Christmas Lunches, and everyone signs up for a day and supplies lunch for everyone. I planned on bringing pulled pork.

So did Nate, the teacher following me on Wednesday.

He came in and challenged me to a "throwdown" of sorts; we are each making our pulled pork and the department is voting on it.

He is going DOWN.

Christmas Brunch Menu

-Sausage Breakfast Casserole (I need 2 and will be posting my recipe when I make them)

-Savory breakfast scones

-Orange sweet rolls (Pillsbury...my dad's favorite!)

-Plate of Christmas cookies/biscotti (homemade by myself)
-Tangy Pepper-Pecan Brie and crostini

-Fresh fruit platter with cream cheese dip (Thank you, Mom!)

-Coffee station

-OJ/mimosas

*I took off the french toast casserole and added the breakfast scones

BBQ pork

So, I had planned on making Sloppy Joe's sometime this week, but instead decided to give BBQ pulled pork a whirl.
I will be honest, I had no idea what I was done. I pulled up some random recipe online (which I can not find anymore) and dumped some stuff in the crock pot. Here is what I put in:
Pork tenderloin
Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce
Ketchup
Worcestershire sauce
Some brown sugar
Chili powder
Onion powder
Salt and pepper

I let it cook on low for about 6 1/2 hours, came home, shredded it and served it with some waffle fries and green beans.
Oh. My. Goodness.

Jamie took one bite and said, "Oh my gosh, this is AMAZING!"

Needless to say, I was proud. And I am making this on Tuesday for my day to bring in Christmas lunch for my department at school!

More Christmas Cheer

Here are some more Christmas decor pictures:

This is the ornament we bought last year. Yes, the picture is kind of blurry. I am working on my photography skills

My favorite ornament: Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, my favorite movie (next to Gone with the Wind)

My new Christmas placemats, napkins, and napkin rings. Plus the hurricane glass I got from hosting a Partylite party. I am waiting for the pillar to get here (which I ordered from my friend's party):
My (old) Christmas handtowels and snowman spoon rest:

Our Christmas cards! They are finally done and going out this weekend!:

*Heavy sigh*

Today has been a day. Actually, this week has been rough (and yes, it is only Wednesday).

It is one of those weeks in which I count down to the weekend and am extremely grateful when Friday afternoon rolls around. I need a day to myself. A time to sleep in and get all the stuff done that I have been putting off. A little bit of me time.

We are not supposed to have the kids this weekend, so C and I are planning on having a stay-in date night (which are pretty much my favorite types of date nights). Saturday we are supposed to go to C's friend's house for a party, but I am tempted to spend the evening at home, alone, with a bottle of wine, wrapping my Christmas presents and relaxing.

What do you think? A night full of drunken debauchery (remember, this girl does not drink) with a bunch of tailgaters OR a nice bottle of wine and some DVRd shows?

Tackle it Tuesday (Educational Law)

I am the worst student ever. Seriously. The biggest procrastinator and easily distracted. I have a million other things I want to be doing (finishing our Christmas cards, starting my baking, napping, watching 90210 reruns...), but I have 2 papers due tomorrow (not to mention my final exam) for Educational Law.

Being a grad student sucks.

If I have time later, I am going to put up pictures of our tree skirt, stockings, and Christmas cards. I also added more lights to our tree!

Menu Planning Monday

*I ended up not cooking much last week, so some of what I was going to make is being recycled this week.

Monday, 12/8: Spaghetti and salad (J has a band concert, so we are going to have to eat and run)

Tuesday, 12/9: Not sure yet...C and J might be on their own, because I have a huge final to study for and 2 papers to write before 5 PM Wednesday.

Wednesday, 12/10: Sloppy Joe's and tater tots

Thursday, 12/11: Turkey cutlets with cranberry pear chutney

Friday, 12/12: Orecchiette with broccoli rabe and turkey sausage; homemade focaccia; baked apples (at-home date night)

Saturday, 12/13: Dinner out

Sunday, 12/14: Homemade soup

Feeling Festive

We spent Saturday night with both J and A decorating our artificial Christmas tree. As much as I would love a tree with white lights and only silver, red and green ornaments, it is jut not possible when you have two kids at home and only one tree. We have to put their memories up, and I am perfectly OK with that.


Here is Alexys, fluffing the branches of the fake tree (we all can't wait until we can have a real one!)Here are the girls putting up their ornaments. They always pick out their own first, and then move on the the family ones.
Alexys, giving me a smile, with Jamie concentrating REALLY hard on hanging ornaments.
And C, putting up our star (I want a new one!). This is his big contribution. Notice his leprechaun hat...he said, "At least it is green."
The girls, after completing the decorating!
Our tree :)
After decorating and making a batch of pizelles, we headed to Blossom Music Center to see the Festival of Lights. This is in the car on the way there.
It was late and both girls were really tired but once we got there, they had a blast. It was two miles of lights and scenes and we stopped for a cup of hot chocolate (overflowing with marshmallows, of course). After leaving, both kiddos fell asleep in the backseat and it was a literal whiteout once we got near home. Both kids crashed as soon as their heads hit the pillow.

I am so glad we waited until we had both kids to set up the tree. Since Alexys does not live with us, it is super important that we involve her as much as possible in the family events over the weekends she is here.

Now I am REALLY in the Christmas spirit!

Saturday's Game Plan

1. Complete flashcards for Ed Law
2. Kids laundry
3. Load of towels
4. Dust/vacuum living room/dining room
5. Sweep and Swiffer wet mop kitchen
6. Batch of pizelles (with the kiddos)
7. Plan cookie making/grocery list of ingredients
8. Create menu for Christmas brunch/grocery list for brunch
9. Clean big bathroom
10. Put away clothes in bedroom
11. Get Christmas decorations from garage
12. Re-bin odds and ends in garage
13. Decorate!

Planning for the Weekend

I am feeling stressed to the max. Here is what is coming up this weekend:

-Progress reports are due at 8 AM on Tuesday. I have literally a box of things to grade.

-I have two papers due for my educational law class on Wednesday at 5 PM

-My educational law FINAL is on Wednesday, and I have yet to do anything in the way of memorizing the terms for the exam (which is matching, so *hopefully* will be easy)

-Have to get started on stuff for my internship! ugh!

Not to mention baking for Christmas, wrapping, and all that stuff.

We have both girls this weekend, so we are putting up our tree and decorating on Saturday night. I am also hoping to either go downtown or to a local light festival with them. I want to get started on some baking prep, even if it is just making my list of cookies and ingredients. I have been picking some up as I go along.

New bathroom!

Yes! They came and retiled our main bathroom floor today because it was rotting and the tiles were breaking. The floor looks so much nicer now! Tomorrow I am putting in my brand new shower curtain, so I will post pics of that too!

Pizelles

I often wish I was able to be a room mom for my stepdaughter's school. Because I can't, I volunteer to bake or bring things in for all of their parties. This week, J sprung it on me that they were doing some sort of ethnic food fair, where they could bring in something that was a part of their heritage to share with the class. I told her I would make pizelles.

Stupid.

I have not made pizelles in a REALLY long time, but from what I recalled, Grandma's recipe made a HUGE amount of batter and it took for-ev-er to finish, because you only do two at a time in the iron. I went to my mom's, scrounged around in the basement until I found Grandma's pizelle iron, and brought it home and got to work.

The batter amount was not as large as I remembered, nor did it take as long. Thank goodness, because I am feeling overwhelmed with the amount of work I have to accomplish by the middle of next week (but more on that in another post).

By the end of the batter, I still was not getting the hang of the correct amount of batter to put in the iron. I was either adding too much or too little, but they were still yummy and looked festive! They have always reminded me of snowflakes and Grandma.

Random sidenote: I also am playing around with my camera and trying to take pictures of just about everything. This blog seems to have been reinvented, and now no longer just focuses on my weight, but about my attempt to regain control of all aspects of my life.

Tackle It Tuesday

This is my first Tackle It Tuesday, hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom.  Unfortunately, I did not tackle much today, as I had grad class and was exhausted.  I did "tackle" a few things today...

• Picked up the cleaning supplies to scrub down C's shower stall and bathroom.  They are redoing the tile in my and Jamie's bathroom tomorrow, so it will be out of commission for the next two days.  And I refuse to shower in his shower until I have scrubbed it until it shines.
• Printed all of my flashcards for my School Law final, which is next week.  Now I have to study.
• Did a load of laundry in between getting home from my work day at school until I left for grad class.

I am going to scrub away tomorrow after school, so will update with some pictures!

Interested in seeing how other bloggers tackled it today?  Click here!