Update-35 before I'm 36

35 before I'm 36-or a way to get around having resolutions
1. Go on a family picnic (done Mar09)
2. Go to the beach
3. Teach Monkeyface to ride a tricycle
4. Pay off $5,000 in debt
5. Lose 60 lbs
6. Print and put Monkeyface's photos in an album
7. Rent a park for Monkeyface's birthday party(done april 09)
8. Go to a movie alone
9. Send 3 friends gifts for no reason
10. Sell clothes on ebay (see debt elimination above)
11. Walk a 5k
12. Get rid of 3 pairs of shoes
13. Buy new sheets (done april09)
14. Buy a new duvet cover (done april09)
15. Save $1,000 in an emergency fund (done 2/12/09)
16. Learn to fold an orgami t-shirt
17. Take Monkeyface to the art museum for an outdoor movie
18. Take Monkeyface to the art museum for a hike
19. Make a sugar body scrub
20. Plan a monthly budget as of Jan 2009
21. This entry is private
22. Walk on the treadmill at my house (done March09)
23. Take Monkeyface out on a walk while he rides his tricycle
24. Read Obama's book-the audacity of hope
25. Read book 4 of twilight series
26. Read 5 random books
27. Potty train Monkeyface
28. Move picnic table down to back yard
29. Have a yard sale OR donate all items to charity
30. Plant something in my yard
31. Grow an herb garden
32. This entry is private
33. Wear a dress(done April 25, 2009)
34. Own a pair of black boots
35. Go to the spa

I bigger now-Cooking with my kid

My little one is 2 (almost 3) and has been helping me cook as long as he could stand.

He's bigger now, after all:

He drains cans for me and dumps them into whatever I am cooking
he washes veggies for me
runs the food processor or blender as I’m standing nearby
he uses the immersion blender with my help
he hands me dishes so that I can put them away
he cuts with the butter knife
he stirs and pours with his new kid sized utensils
mashes bananas or potatoes
scoops out avacados
closes and opens the microwave/refrigerator doors
sweeps the floor with a tiny little broom and dustpan
he throws things in the trash or recycling for me

He's also allowed to get his own snacks and pour his own juice.
And he loves to mow grass and help with the laundry. How long does this phase last? I'm loving it.

What I'm loving...

I swear that I've been blogging since 2001 and have kept a written journal since I could write. There's just something about making it all public that I can't do. I can ramble for hours and hours but put it in writing and publish it for the world to see and I can't do it. I used to document Monkeyface's every move which I really miss doing so I may pick that back up. For now, here are some things I'm loving.

1-my new bedroom (still a work in progress) It does include this peony pillow which I obsessed over before buying. I love it and actually make my bed daily now. I took before pictures and when it's all done I'll post them along with the after pics.

2-This rhino which I am going to love and pet and call him Sylvester. He's going in the new bedroom and I swear he is going to make me smile.

3-Banana Oat Bread that Monkeyface baked with me this weekend. It was fun and he actually did most of the mixing and pouring.

4-I love that my kid loves to help me do everything. Sure it takes longer to get things done but if he insists on helping then I insist on letting him. This includes an obsession with mowing grass. He asks me everyday if the grass is "bigger now" so that he can make it smaller again.

5-Sugar Free Italian Ices! YES! YES! YES!

6-Dreams of a day spent leaned up against a tree reading a book. (secret mother's day wish). Dreams of a clean car (out loud mother's day wish)

7-Creating something for somebody

8-I love cooking. I really do. I love turning nothing into something and watching people enjoy themselves.

9-This was on my Facebook, but I really like that the other night Hubby runs in with Monkeyface on his shoulder and Hubby goes "ARRRGH!!" and Monkeyface goes "Squawk! Polly wants a cracker! Squawk!"

10-Even though kiddo is sick now he is still making funny faces at me trying to make me laugh. He won't do it when anyone else is looking and will only do them for me.

Ground Beef Gyros

I totally forgot about this recipe until last week. I love these and lest I forget to post this later, I'm posting it now. Enjoy!

Ground Beef Gyros
Serves 6

3/4 pound extra lean ground beef -- cooked and drained
3/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1/4 cup cucumber -- finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon dill weed (I add more b/c I'm crazy like that)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 medium onions -- sliced into rings
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
6 whole wheat pita breads -- warmed
1 small tomato -- chopped

Combine yogurt, cucumber and dill weed. Cover and refrigerate. Heat
oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat 2 minutes. Add
onions; cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add beef, garlic
powder and oregano; cook 4 minutes or until heated through, stirring
occasionally.

Stuff beef mixture in warmed pita breads and serve with yogurt sauce.

Giveaway winner

Make sure you enter those giveaways out there b/c you just never know when you might win!

Go Team Clean!

Rathskeller's Black Bean and Rice Salsa

2 tbs olive oil
1.5 cups cooked brown rice
1 tsp minced garlic
1.5 cups cooked and drained black beans
1 cup chopped red onion
1 cup diced green chiles
1/2 cup diced red pepper
1/4 cup Dagwood sauce(recipe follows)
1/2 cup diced green pepper
1 cup diced Roma tomato
salt and pepper, to taste

In a large saute pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat & add garlic, onion & peppers. Saute, being careful not to burn garlic, 2 to 3 minutes, just until vegetables are soft. Remove from heat and toss gently with rice, beans, chiles, and 1/4 cup Dagwood Sauce.
Adjust seasoning to taste with salt & pepper & chill. Serve over grilled tofu as an entree, or alone as a side dish. *

Dagwood Sauce
1/2 tsp ground marjoram
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 tsp onion powder
1 cup vegetable oil
1/4 tsp granulated garlic
1/2 tsp lemon juice
2 tsp Tabasco sauce
3/4 tsp dry mustard
3/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp pepper

Mix togther all ingredients until well-combined. Cover and store in Refrigerator. **


*We eat this as a meal b/c it makes a ton of food*
**You will have Dagwood Sauce leftover which makes a fantastic stew beef**

For more great recipes, check out Grocery Cart Challenge's Recipe Swap!

never boring

My hubby just ran in here going "ARRGH!" My child was perched on his shoulder going "Need a Cracker! Squawk! Squawk!"