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Buffalo Chicken Taco Salad

Jun 25, 2012 In Daily Ramblings, Food Porn

 

Sometimes I just need my buffalo and bleu cheese cravings satisfied immediately. That’s when I make this. It’s ready in 20 minutes or less and is so stinkin’ yummy, you’ll kick yourself for not thinking of it before I did. Suckas! The fact that there are actual veggies cooked into the meat is an added bonus, especially if you hide them well enough to fool your little ones.

FYI: I fudged the measurements below. I don’t really measure things when I cook, but these look about right. So, um…good luck, ok?

Buffalo Chicken Taco Salad

Cook time: 20 minutes

Servings: 4-6

  • 2 pounds ground chicken
  • 1/2 cup chopped carrots
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery
  • 1/2 cup buffalo sauce
  • 1/2 cup water
  • tortilla chips
  • shredded lettuce
  • ranch or bleu cheese dressing

Cook the ground chicken, carrots and celery in a skillet until the chicken is done. Drain the chicken, then add buffalo sauce and water. Stir and let simmer until the mixture is the consistency of seasoned taco meat.

To serve, spoon the buffalo chicken mixture on top of crushed tortilla chips and top with lettuce and dressing, and even some more raw carrots and celery, if you prefer. Enjoy!

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Awkward and Awesome Moments

Jun 22, 2012 In Awkward and Awesome, Daily Ramblings, Pregnancy, The Hubs

Awkward:

  • Having two people in one day look at my belly and say, “That baby’s not making it to August.” Gee, thanks for your input, DOCTOR!
  • Crying at the girly doctor’s office because I’m just tired and ill. That just wasn’t right at all.
  • Any type of bending over whatsoever.
  • Washing dishes. That’s tricky when the sink is farther away than usual, thanks to my gloriously round belly.
  • Accidentally letting it slip at dinner with the in-laws that I sleep in the nude these days. I’ll take Alex Trebek for $500 please.
  • Seeing the book above and almost buying it…because I really do need to know how NOT to kill my baby.

Awesome:

  • Random strangers saying “Congratulations!” or “You’re absolutely glowing!” while passing by. It’s like I’m a freakin’ parade in public places. People look and stare, and the nice ones shout compliments. I like it.
  • Wearing my pre-pregnancy jeans. So awesome.
  • Being so lazy I’m ashamed of myself, but allowing it because my life is about to change forever.
  • The Lost finale. I mean, really.
  • Drew proclaiming his admiration for the Biebs. I can’t even.
  • Eating a whole cake because I lost some weight. I gained it back, justsoyaknow.
  • Fresh cherries. And pineapple. (Still haven’t figured the mangos out.)
  • Going on summer evening walks with my little family.
  • The unconditional love and support I get from Drew about natural childbirth. He believes in me 100% and will do whatever it takes to help me accomplish my goal. Love that man.

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So we’re boring.

Jun 21, 2012 In Daily Ramblings, The Hubs

As we sat down to dinner last Friday night (on the couch, because that’s where classy people have meals), Drew turned to me and said, “We’re so boring. But I hate going out.” I agreed, and mentioned that we have way more fun at home, catching up on our DVR’ed episodes of Jimmy Fallon and The Big C. This is our life, people. Plain. Simple. Boring. And we like it.

To be completely honest, one tiny reason I’m excited about having a baby is the fact that we actually have a legit excuse for staying home when invited out. Although, that doesn’t matter these days because we are never invited out. I’m guessing saying “we’re tired” over and over again has won us a ticket straight out of fun invites forever. And you know what? Totally cool with it. There’s no place better than my couch with my love. And soon? There’ll be a baby on that couch too. Awesome.

Just had to add this screenshot from when I was uploading the photo above (from a Friday night, of course). I labeled the photo “boring” and WordPress just drove home that concept, y’all.

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Dear Baby

Jun 19, 2012 In Daily Ramblings, Dear Baby, Pregnancy

6.19.2012

Dear Westley,

We need to have a talk. It seems that you don’t like me lately. There will be days that this is absolutely true, like when you’re grounded or I didn’t buy you that transformer you begged for in the store. But right now? I’m just trying to share my body with you and you keep beating me up. It hurts, little guy. Last week was much worse than this week, so I appreciate you taking a break from torturing mommy for a while.

I’ve been spending most of my time on the couch, enjoying the last lazy days I’ll probably ever have. It won’t be long before my days consist of nursing and cleaning poop and doing laundry and trying to figure out why the heck you’re crying. But for now, I’m lazy.

Less than 9 weeks. I can’t wait to meet you!

Love,

Mom

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I was THAT woman.

Jun 15, 2012 In Daily Ramblings, Pregnancy, The Hubs

There I was. In a restaurant. Almost 8 months pregnant with 3 kids in tow.

It started out great. We ordered cheese dip and guacamole. Drew indulged in a margarita (jealous). The toddler was enjoying the cheese dip. All was well.

And then the communication issues set in. The little one obviously wanted something on the table. She wanted SOMETHING, but I just couldn’t figure out what it was. She was headed for a full-blown meltdown, and I was right there with her.

That’s when I turned into THAT woman. I barked out orders to the waitress, grabbed the tiny one, and frantically headed outside. I was not about to let those other nice, quiet patrons be disturbed one minute longer. Not on my watch.

When the tiny quesadilla was ready, we went back in and, like magic, all was well again. She sat there quietly, enjoying her cheesy dinner. It was a miracle, I tell ya.

When we got up to leave, I looked like one hot mess. There was cheese dip all over my black dress from tiny hands. My hair was wild. I was still recovering from my own meltdown. I’m pretty sure Drew was in shock from my reaction as well. I thought that surely I could not handle a toddler. What madness that would be!

And then this happened the next morning during cartoon time:

And I was reminded that I could totally handle it. As long as Drew is with me and we work together, and cherish these small precious moments, we could do it. We CAN do it.

 

 

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Dear Baby

Jun 8, 2012 In Daily Ramblings, Dear Baby, Pregnancy

6.08.2012

Dear Westley,

We’re only 10 weeks away from meeting you, as long as you aren’t stubborn and decide to stay in there a little longer. If you are anything like me, you’ll do whatever you want and nobody will change your mind. It’s a fun way to live, buddy. Just make sure you’re nice to people even when you are hard-headed. People tend to like nice people, despite their difficulties. Trust me on this one.

I feel like we are in this “getting to know each other” phase. I’m figuring out what makes you kick and squirm and you’re figuring out what my voice sounds like. You love it when I rub your back…I fear I’m spoiling you already with those back rubs.

Your nursery is just about ready, but we have all of the essentials. We are ready for you to make your arrival! Just keep cooking for now. I can’t wait to look into your beautiful eyes and tell you that I love you. Face to face.

Love,

Mom

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The weekend of baby showers.

Jun 4, 2012 In Daily Ramblings, Pregnancy

I thought I was only having one shower this weekend, but my amazing coworkers completely surprised me with a very special one on Friday. I cried, y’all. And I’m an ugly cryer.

But I scored some seriously amazing onesies for my future science nerd.

Sunday brought another sweet shower with it. It feels so amazing to know how loved Westley is already. He’s going to have a pretty huge support group, just like his mama and daddy have always had.

My sister and I finally got a recent picture together. How beautiful is that mother of 3?!?

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Another Drew Update

Jun 2, 2012 In Daily Ramblings, Pregnancy, The Hubs

To understand this post better, you can read this and then this.

—–

First, I want to thank you all for your support during Drew’s surgeries and during our quest to figure out exactly what to do. We love you!

After a $2000 genetic analysis, we’ve learned that Drew does in fact have the classical and most common form of genetic mutation that causes homocystinuria. This is good news and bad news.

The good news: this form of the disease typically responds well to vitamin therapy, without any major diet changes.

The bad news: Drew’s protein levels are way up, even with vitamins, meaning they aren’t really doing what they need to do for him.

So what’s the next step? Well, now we need to go see a doctor that specializes in metabolic disorders like homocystinuria. From there, we will hopefully figure out the right vitamin dosages and diet needs for Drew.When Drew can maintain normal protein levels, that should eliminate or greatly reduce his likelihood of having more eye problems and any blood clots associated with this disease.

As for little baby Westley, we are still confident that he will be perfectly healthy, although Drew insists that he is not allowed to date tall skinny girls (a common sign of homocystinuria) because Westley (and all of our children) will always be a carrier of the mutation, which means that he can pass this disease on to his little ones. We will know at birth if Westley has homocystinuria, so that’s at least a huge plus. But we’re going to have to educate our son, which y’all know I have NO problem with, as the know-it-all gene is definitely expressed in me (a little genetics humor – forgive me for that).

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