My hair

I am done with this haircut.  I don't like it anymore.  It is too shaggy for me.  I like lots of curls or straight edges...  But I have to hang in there until next pay day.  I want to grow my hair out, but I just cannot stand my hair being like this any longer.  Maybe I can shave my head...  no I would worry that I have too many bumps and moles all over my head.  I should get extensions.  My sister has amazingly beautiful long hair.  I want my hair to be like that right now.  I don't know what the girl did when she cut my hair, but my curl is gone.  She thinned out my hair a lot...  a lot, a lot.  It has never been this thin ever.  I am wondering if that cut all my curl out.  Will it grow back?  How long will it take?  Maybe I should just start being a hat person.  I would need to buy hats, though.  That would defeat my whole, not spend money goal...  Right now, I want to get a puppy.  My mom's friend breeds Shih Tzu's and is having a litter in February.  I want one of those dogs.  I have wanted a dog for a long time, but we never knew if we would be moving or having more kids, or whatever.  So now that we are done having kids and done moving (at least staying in this town,) I want a dog.  Justin is opposed to this idea.  But has said that if I pay off this blasted computer...  Then I can get it...  they would be ready in April.  So I am going to do it.  That means, no hats.  My hair feels like straw.  I want to have soft, pretty hair again... 

Jambalaya

 We had jambalaya for dinner tonight that I made in the crockpot and it was really good, and really easy!  I substituted Tony Cacheries for the salt, cayenne and hot sauce...  I just like the cajun flavor it gives.

 

Ingredients

• 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) beef or chicken broth
• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
• 2 medium green peppers, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 celery ribs, chopped
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 1-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1-1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 pound smoked sausage, halved and cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 1/2 pound uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• Hot cooked rice

Directions

• In a 5-qt. slow cooker, combine the tomatoes, broth and tomato paste. Stir in the green peppers, onion, celery, garlic and seasonings. Stir in chicken and sausage.
• Cover and cook on low for 4 hours or until chicken is tender. Stir in shrimp. Cover and cook 15-30 minutes longer or until shrimp turn pink. Serve with rice. Yield: 11 servings.

What was I thinking?

Yesterday was a horrible day of teaching.  I felt completely inadequate.  The students made me feel stupid and I just wanted to get out of there as fast as I possibly could.  They had to do a performance.  And it started out with them asking how to pronounce a word.  I told them how to pronounce it, but this one girl said, "but it is scored like this..."  I said yes, but it is pronounced just like it is scored, it just sounds a little differently.  Well, this started a whole cascade of how do you say this and that and why is it scored like this and that.  It was a disaster and I wanted to just cry.  But I didn't.  I just finished my lecture and let them go early.  I had had enough.  When I got to Justin's office I called him and balled and lamented and complained.  He listened and gave me advice and was very good at making me feel better.  But today I still feel crummy about it and am wondering why I ever thought I could possibly be qualified to teach a college course.  And now I have committed to teaching it in the summer too and what was I thinking????  But I am sure things will get better.  I am sure that I will get through this rough patch.  It just feels a little overwhelming today.  And I wish that I were not having to worry about what I have to teach tomorrow.

Menu ideas

We have been eating Hawaiian haystacks for the past 3 days.  The kids are kind of burned out.  But I wanted to use all that up.  I didn't want it to go to waste.  Now I need to make a menu for next week so when we go shopping on Saturday, I will know what to buy.  We are trying to stay on a budget and that means no last minute running to the grocery store to buy things.  What usually happens when we do that is that we spend at least $20 more than we had planned.  I would like some casseroles that I can make.  Any ideas?  No pasta.  I do that a lot, because it is MY favorite, but noone else seems to like it as much as me...  the olive oil in the blood must have thinned to much to reach my kids.  I think I am going to get a ham from Sam's Club.  That can last a long time.  Lots of great recipes for that.  I do have a chuck roast...  I need a good crock pot recipe for that.  Also, ground beef recipes would be nice.  I bought a lot of ground beef and froze it a couple of weeks ago and I need some new ideas besides sloppy joes and goulash...  Any easy dessert recipes would be greatly appreciated.  While I am not indulging, I do like to make a dessert on Sunday.  Justin restricts himself all week (He has lost 25 lbs) and likes something indulgent on Sun.  I made Lemon Nut bread this week and it was delicious!  I did have a small taste.  But everyone really liked it.  It is light and moist and would be great in the summer time.  So...  if you have any ideas, please let me know.  Direct me to your favorite website with recipes...  or just write one down for me!  Please!!!!

Just 2 more weeks!!!

Image credit: Bob D'Amico/ABC

I just cannot wait for Lost!!! 

 

Week 3 Begins

I lost the two pounds this week that I gained over the Holidays.  Thank goodness!!!  So I am back on track.  I tried to add the next level of my workout today, you are supposed to do that after 2 weeks, and I just couldn't do it.  I almost passed out.  If I had Jillian or Bob beside me, with a team of doctors ready to do CPR if I die, then I might have kept going.  But since I am by myself with a 2 year old climbing on my back when I do push-ups, I am just going to try it again tomorrow. 

I wish I felt a little less overwhelmed this week than I did last week, but this is not the case.  I still have tons of stuff to do.  But I feel a lot better when I watch 24 and realize Jack Bauer has it worse than me.  Here, he thought he was all retired.  He was going to move to LA with his daughter and granddaughter and go to the zoo on the weekends.  And then he gets pulled into a mess!  Granted, it will only be one day long... but what a day!  So, at least I get to sleep tonight, right?

Too Busy

Right now I should be exercising.  And then I have so much Primary stuff to do, that it isn't even funny.  I am avoiding doing it.  I know as soon as I finish exercising I need to get started on the Primary stuff.  And it just seems to be an overwhelming task right now.  I would rather just sit on the couch all day and read a book.  But I also have to volunteer in Hilton's class today.  I am feeling a little like I might have over-extended myself by teaching this class.  It is going very well, but the preparation time is a lot more than I had anticipated.  And the Chair just asked if I might be willing to teach again in the Spring.  I said, yes because it would take some burden from Justin so he can work on other things... but wow...  But the kids will be out of school so maybe it won't be so bad.  Plus I will have all of the lesson plans already done.   We shall see how it goes.  Right now I just feel like everything is too much.  Being the Primary Secretary at the beginning of the year is daunting.  We just got 4 new kids in the primary alone this past Sunday.  That does not include the nursery. Our ward grow exponentially weekly.  I may just take today off.  I may not be able to accomplish everything I want to.  It has been so long since I was able to finish a book!  I am used to reading several a week.  I have not completed one book in weeks.  I am reading a book that I really enjoy, but I just don't have time to read it.  Plus I have 4 others in a pile that I need to get to!!!  2 are library books that are going to need to go back, one is book group book for this month, and another is one a friend gave me that I just haven't gotten to yet, and I feel terrible about it.  It is her favorite book, and I know she wants to talk about it with me!!!  So I am going to get off of this computer, put on an exercising bra, and start my day...  I don't know what I will do first...  oh, I have to make a meal for someone tonight too and go to Bunco...  man, I have even more than I thought!  Okay, here I go.  I am going to take it one thing at a time...

My new Haircut

For my mom who doesn't have Facebook, this is my new haircut.  I even did my hair today because I had to teach.

Resolutions: Update

I have been so busy doing Primary stuff and stuff for my class and working out, that blogging is kind of one of the last things on my mind.  Yes, I have been working out this week.  I am doing videos.  It is nice to be able to do it in the comfort of my own home.  I am doing the Biggest Loser Boot Camp.  It is really good because you start up really slow and just add what you want as you get stronger.  I started out doing the 20 minutes and thought I was going to die!!!  Now, just 5 days later I have added 10 more minutes and it feels great.  I cannot believe the difference it makes in my day when I exercise.  I have so much energy!!!  It feels really good.  It always has.  I have always known this, but somehow, the idea of actually taking the time to do it has seemed daunting.  I just need to keep it up and remember that it is going to be worth it in the long run.  I am not going to profess that I am perfect.  I am probably not eating as well as I should.  I am working on it.  But I think the fact that I am exercising everyday is a big lifestyle change and will help me to be healthy. Not that I have been eating badly.  No...  I have a deal with my friend that I will eat healthy.  I am just not sure if I am eating the right amount of calories and stuff.  But that is going to come next once I get into the grove of exercising.  I want to start one habit at a time.  Another little hindrance is that I think I may be sick again.  Sore throat, cough, you know the drill.  At any rate, I am very proud of myself.  For an entire week I have worked out.  My goal was to do 3 days a week.  I am going to do it tomorrow too because I think it will be easier to keep it up if I keep going.  But I will not have time to do it in the morning before church on Sunday.  So maybe I will take Sunday off.  It is a day of rest, after all.  Today, I have to do the bulletin board for Primary.  I cut out 80 hearts yesterday...  Then, I think I will reward myself with an all-day reading fest of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.  (Which is proving to live up to the good hype!)

Now, I am not expecting to lose 20 lbs in a week like they did on the Biggest Loser!  (What was THAT about?!?!)  Although, that would be nice.  But I would like to see a difference.  I am feeling it in my legs so I know something is working!  As far as the other goals...  the kids fighting thing has not even gotten off of the ground.  The scripture thing... not so much.  We are doing great as a family...  So I will keep on trying.  I have a whole year!  I think I am doing pretty well!

Christmas

Christmas Eve the kids are opening their jammies.    This is a tradition in our family.

This is the kids in front of the tree in their new jammies on Christmas Eve.  It was a very low key evening and we had a nice one.  Hilton was so excited!

This is the loot on Christmas morning.  Santa always leaves his presents unwrapped.  The big kids got the Wii and Lorelai got the doll stuff.  You can see our old computer in the background...  poor soul.

This was Lorelai after she put on Grandma and Grandpa Shuck's cool present.  The Dora boots are her favorite.  She always does this pose and says, "Tada!"  She also got a shopping cart that she likes to tote things around in.  Cute little Maggie is beside her taking in all of the fun festivities.  We love Maggie!