Accomplishments

Today was a great day, and I got a lot accomplished!! I went boy baby shopping, using lots and lots of coupons.  One of my purchases consisted of this:

and a few other NB onesies and pants and sleepers which I didn't receive at my shower.  The key to today's shopping trip is I scored everything for just $1.00 a piece!! woot woot!

I then met my husband for lunch, since he no longer has classes he had a lunch that was longer than 40 minutes, so we met at a buffet. 

My two plates mostly consisted of safe sushi... mostly California rolls... and seaweed salad (love!!).  I love sushi, it is so super duper amazing!! The best part about today's lunch?

Seriously.  We don't even eat Subway that cheap!! Next came quality time with my lil Mikayla... we played Kerplunk, ate watermelon, and laughed at the puppies!

"I like Mrs Williams because she is nice to me".  I'm not quite sure why her S's are backwards, we will need to work on that.  I was actually alone for dinner, so I made some Brushetta which actually seemed more like salsa to me (I will post this).  I made two pita pizzas smothered in Brushetta and fresh mozzarella cheese, but was still hungry after that so I mixed it with leftover taco salad and chips.

Now I'm off to watch Glee for the rest of the night.  I worked my butt off re-arranging my bedroom for the baby, and I feel pretty accomplished for today!  I leave you with a photo of my after-breakfast snack.. (so good, yet so bad)...

King Size baby.

Taco Night with a side of Ice Cream

Last night after a yummy dinner the family and I went our for some ice cream.  We pretty much hit up all the ice cream spots by us... including Snowmans, Guptils, Toll Gate, the drive-ins one, Poppys, and last night.. Curry Freeze.  I have been eating a lot of soft ice cream, and vanilla ice cream; however, this place had a soft PB and choc twist, which Pete and I both ordered.  I have been eating the gigantic waffle cones dipped in chocolate and smothered in sprinkles as well... so so good!

Dinner last night was low-key but lots of dishes... another night of make your own tacos.  I made these chips again but this time I sprinkled on chili powder and taco seasoning, and broiled them for about 5 minutes on each side, they came out crunchy and fantastic.

I made a taco salad (x's 2) and ate it with the homemade chips.

Taco night consisted of lettuce, chips, tortillas, rice, homemade re fried black beans, chicken thighs, corn, salsa and sour cream.  I have also been eating a lot of these babies:

That's right.  Its a reverse Boston cream from DD's.  Its so good and I know I will never have the guts to eat it again after the pregnancy, so I'm totally enjoying them now.  I went to the doctors today.... 0 pounds from last week!! Woot woot!! Still, nothing exciting, I'm still pregnant and he still thinks I'm going to deliver around my due date, so I suppose I should find something else to do besides sit around and wait!!

Almost Summer Vacation!!

This weekend we braved the rain, drove up to Lake George, and put our Great Escape season passes to good use.  After the first hour it began to drizzle, and then it began to pour!!

Big Girl Coaster!!

We tried to push through, because the rain didn't seem to bother Mikayla, but as we were waiting for a ride it began to pour, and they shut down the ride we were waiting for.  We decided to go and find some shelter and eat the mega lunch that I packed for us... luckily there was one free table when we walked inside!

Great Escape apparently does not let you pack lunches and bring them inside the park anymore.  We were able to bring ours in because I walked right behind the security guard who I saw searching bags... if we cant pack a lunch its just going to be such a pain.  I refuse to purchase food for my family of 3... it would honestly be more than $30 for lunch!! (A PB&J with a cheese stick and juice for Mikayla is OVER $8!!!) Outrageous!! I will need to get creative and pack some food anyway, and try to sneak it in.  Good life lesson I'm about to be teaching my child. 

On the way home we passed this mini... and I just had to snap a photo because it was the smallest thing I have ever seen, especially in this "super-size-me" country.

Saturday Peter and I enjoyed a nice, relaxing dinner at Buca di Beppo, an italian restaurant in Albany that serves their meals family style.  We like this place because you can get a ton of food and they always have $10 off coupons... score! First, they always bring you out some bread and dipping oil

and we ordered the chopped antipasto... "Diced pepperoni, red onions, pepperoncini peppers, cucumbers, provolone, feta and Gorgonzola cheeses, tossed with our fresh lettuce blend in our signature Italian vinaigrette"... with the pepperoni on the side due to my pregnancy.

For dinner we ordered Pasta Carbonara, which was SO filling yet delicious!! Tender chicken breast, prosciutto and peas with imported Italian spaghetti tossed in our creamy Alfredo sauce.  We also ordered a side of their pesto sauce, because it is amazing!

I wanted nothing more than to order dessert but the one I had my eye on served SIX!! No thanks.

Now I am just literally waiting for my water to break or my contractions to begin, which is driving me NUTS because I cant even sleep.  I just keep waiting.  Officially, there are two more weeks of school left... but I think as of today I'm throwing in the towel.  My body is exhausted and every position is just downright uncomfortable.  Pete's last day of classes are tomorrow (!!!) and Mikaylas last day got moved to next Thursday... so its almost summer vacation for all!  

What is this lil Pocket-Girl going to do when mama doesn't have her belly pillow anymore?!?!

Vegan Banana Walnut Muffins

Last night I was in the mood to cook AND bake... so Mikayla and I did both.  I credit this feeling to the cold, rainy, dreary day we had yesterday and just wanted some comfort food.  We made lasagna and banana muffins... delish!!

I'm kind of a bad baker because I try to only ever use one bowl, even though most recipes want you to use two... one for wet and one for dry.  I just never do that! I found a recipe for basic vegan banana muffins and decided to adapt the recipe to my liking.  I do realize, although I loooove baking vegan, I am not a vegan and love using regular, real chocolate chips in my recipes!!

First, I mashed up some naners in a big mixing bowl, then added some olive oil and sugar, white and brown.  Then I threw in the flour, using 1/2 white and 1/2 whole wheat, then added the baking soda. I decided to add cinnamon and nutmeg, because all recipes should use cinnamon and nutmeg. Then I let Mikayla pour and add the walnuts, white choc chips, and regular choc chips.  Somehow a few Macadamia nuts found their way in, but that just adds character.

I filled 16 cupcake tins about 2/3 the way full or less.  16 just seemed to fit on my pan, and it prob could have made a hearty 15, but I like to make as many as I can. Popped these babies into the oven for 20 mins... voila...

Bad photo, but delish!! We only have 3 left from yesterday! This is what my lil Mikay looked like after downing THREE of them....

She was impressed! I think Mikayla enjoys bread-y type things over cookies and cupcakes, because she definitely attacks them and wont touch the cupcakes and cookies that she makes.
Banana Walnut Muffins

• 3 very ripe bananas
• 1/4 cup oil
• 1 cup sugar (1/4 white, 1/2 brown)
• 2 cups flour (1 white, 1 whole wheat)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1 tspn nutmeg
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup choc chips
• 1/4 cup white choc chips

Mix everything together in a bowl... you're supposed to mash naners, and mix in oil and sugars.  In another bowl, mix flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Add dry ingredients to the wet ones, then add extras of your choice... I will use walnuts and choc chips again, not the white ones. Fill cupcake tins 2/3 the way full, bake on 350 for about 20 minutes.

Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays Tasty Tuesdays Sweet Tooth Friday Sweets This Week

Gym Coach?

Announcement from work:
Friday, June 10, 2011.....is an extremely busy day......Over 790 teachers have called in absences .....Please call the Help Desk if you are looking for work....it WILL be available!....... Thank You for your dedication to our students!

WOW! That's a lot of teacher absences! Today I was supposed to have a low-key day, and be able to leave school at 1:15 (instead of 2:50), but as soon as I arrived at work they told me they switched my job... from special education... to phys ed!! Holy cow, I wonder how I'm going to do this today! I'm exhausted and probably shouldn't have come into work today, even for a half day.  This morning I put Mikayla on the bus and crawled back into bed, with the puppies, from 8:30 until 10!! I just need to listen to my body more than ever, and its telling me I'm tired! I don't get much sleep during the night anymore, I feel like I wake up every 20 minutes and just never fall into a deep sleep.

My past few days in this heat wave, which would otherwise be amazing, is mostly spent like this:

goggle marks!

Spent in or beside a pool! It has just been so hot here lately, which never happens! I haven't been working these past few days, I think it would just be too much for me.  I have spent time nesting in my home, getting things ready and getting rid of a bunch of clutter. 

We have mostly been eating bbq too, because I just don't feel like cooking at all.  When I went grocery shopping the other day, all I really bought was fruit, because its easy to just chop up and leave in the fridge for a quick snack.  (And, Mikayla and Pete just loooove fruit!).

I have also been buying these bars, they aren't bad for you and are super amazing! You should prob try them! Now, I'm off to be a gym coach, maybe this helps me have the widdle babes!!!

Cranberry Pecan Quinoa

I bought and made quinoa for the first time.  As I was searching for recipes I came across a ton that had black beans and corn, and the hubby isn't the biggest fan of corn.  I decided if I was going to feed this to him I would need to get a little more creative, so I kept searching.  I came up with cranberry, pecan and celery quinoa salad.  

First, I boiled and cooked the quinoa according to the directions - I used 1 cup Quinoa and 2 cups of water.  It took longer to cook than my beloved Couscous, the Quinoa took about 20 minutes to simmer once it was added to the boiling water. While that was boiling I toasted the pecans in the oven. 

I threw it all in a bowl.... and then I just chopped up the celery nice and small, and added the celery and the cranberries to the rest of the mixture.  For a dressing I used olive oil and lemon juice.

First, it made a lot more than I thought it would make.  Second, it was awesome warm and freshly made, but I didn't enjoy it as much cold the next day.  The hubby didn't like it, I think I need to put meat or shrimp or something (any ideas?!) in it for him.  I think it would taste good as a type of stuffing for a meat, or possibly on top of a salad.



1 cup quinoa

2 cups water

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup dried cranberries

2 Stalks Celery, chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons lemon juice

This Weeks Cravings Delightfully Dowling Meatless Mondays

Relaxing Weekends

Lately... and, as in lately I mean the past two days... I have been.... (drum roll please)... cooking! (gasp!) It all began yesterday morning, and continued so far into tonight's dinner plans.  I even cooked myself lunch for tomorrow! Tonight's dinner, with the help of the hubster, was spicy saucy steak, Annie's mac n cheese, Parmesan couscous, and green beans.

I was so excited!! Its not much but it was delish! Breakfast this morning was leftover chicken sausage, peppers, onions and mushrooms, and I scrambled them with two eggs and melted some feta, then served it up with a ton of salsa. 

Last nights dinner I decided to make two pizzas while finishing up season 6 of Desperate Housewives, which became absolutely horrible, but how can we stop after watching more than 130 episodes?! I had to just finish it up, and then found out there is actually a season 7. sigh. One of the pizzas was made with vodka sauce, and cooked chicken sausage, onions, peppers and mushrooms, with some melted fresh mozzarella.  The second pizza was pesto sauce with spinach, anchovies, mushrooms, hot peppers, blobs of ricotta and fresh mozzarella.

When I served Pete this pizza he looked at me and said, "never in my life did I think I would be eating pizza with spinach, anchovy, hot pepper and pesto.".  What some people do for love, sheesh!

Besides being pregnant lately I have been doing as many comforting outdoor activities as humanly possible before the baby comes.  I have been walking the puppies every chance I get, and Friday we even went for a low-key hike around a lake.  It feels great to be outdoors.  Here are some photos from last weeks walk on the bike path

and from my parents gorgeous pond

There is nothing better than relaxing... the calm before the storm, as they say! Today Pete and I re-arranged our entire living room... purchasing sliders and all.  I even had him assemble the pack and play! We needed more room for the baby, which is just sometimes difficult when there is absolutely no storage in an apartment.  I cleared out this space on Friday, which took me a while because all of Pete's sporting/camping/outdoor gear was here

And all that will live here now is his bike, my stroller, and the infant car seat.  I love re-arranging my things, and organizing them. I leave you with this photo of Mikayla and Carol, because it just cracks me up

 So dramatic. Ohhh yeahhh, and here's one from Mikaylas school play... Goldie and the three Bears.  Mikayla is the yellow flower, second row, right next to the microphone.

And now I'm off to relax for the night because everyone has to be up early tomorrow for work and school.