Weekend Review

This weekend did not go according to plan.

Any plan.

At all.

That's what I get for thinking I am in charge and forgetting that HE is.

Friday morning I had an appointment with my podiatrist to go over my MRI results from last Friday.

The MRI confirmed that I did tear Deltoid ligament and the posterior talo-fibular ligament.

It also confirmed that I DO NOT have a high ankle sprain and there is no damage to my Achilles (thank the Lord!)

He said I would be looking at a 3-6 month recovery.  

Well... I am at 10 weeks, and still can't walk normally, so I imagine it will be awhile.

After my appointment I was supposed to go out-of-town for a girls weekend.

That was cancelled due to a very unfortunate event that occurred with one of my friends.

So... I stayed in DC and Ben gave me a "free weekend" at home.

Here is what we did:

Late Friday morning, Elizabeth and I made a chocolate dump cake:

This is the easiest dessert I have ever made.  Ever.

One box chocolate cake mix, one box instant chocolate jello pudding, 1 3/4 cup milk.

Combine all that and dump into a 9x13 pan.

Sprinkle with chocolate chips (I had white chocolate chips so I used those).

Bake 25-30 minutes.

It had the consistency of a brownie and was sooooo good!

Friday afternoon I had physical therapy and then went home and picked up my family so we could head over to our friends' house for dinner.

We took the chocolate dump cake for dessert.

We had such a great time and I completely forgot to take any pictures.

Saturday, Ben let me sleep in and he got up with the kids.

I even got breakfast in bed!

 I requested bacon and special k bars :)

After I got up, showered and dressed, I headed out to do some coupon shopping.

 I went to dollar tree where I got the paper towels for 80 cents each, 

the tissues for 75 cents, and the cascade was FREE!

After dollar tree, I went to CVS to get our liquid dish soap.

These were on sale 99 cents and I had 25 cents off coupons.

So each was 74 cents (normally $1.99)  woot!

 I came home to find Ben and Elizabeth playing mario cart on the Wii

Well... Ben playing and Elizabeth thinking she is playing

 I wanted a family photo.

Don't both of my girls look super happy about that?

Sunday morning we hung around the house while Ben went to Church.

The girls all got up late because of the time change and we didn't have time to get everyone ready for Church.  This is the picture I put on Facebook.  I asked Elizabeth to smile at the camera.

Once Ben got home, I ran to Harris Teeter and CVS to get our supplies for the week.

 At HT, I spent $45.65 and saved $25.37

This week was full of random purchases because we have almost everything we need for the week.

At CVS, I spent $28 and got back $10 in extra care bucks.

In the afternoon, Elizabeth and I went to the new Aldi to check it out.  We picked up some strawberries and apples because the price was fantastic.  I had never been to Aldi and it was an interesting experience.  Their price on milk and produce was fantastic.  I will have to go back by myself to check out the rest of the store.

Our meal plan for the week:

Sunday- Leftovers (pasta)

Monday- Baked chicken tenders, green beans, biscuits

Tuesday- Tacos

Wednesday- Skillet frozen dinner

Thursday- Breakfast (waffles and scrambled eggs)

Friday- Pizza

Saturday- Pasta with meatballs

In the afternoon, I was supposed to meet my friend Shelley for a movie.

Well... her car got stuck in her garage and so she had no way of getting to the movie.

So...

I ran out to the mall by myself.

I had to make some returns at Nordstrom and Old Navy and pick up soap from Bath and Body works.

Then I did something I probably haven't done in a decade.

I went to the movies by myself.

And you know what?  It. was. nice!

Now it's not something I would want to do all the time.

But it was nice to sit and relax and laugh and enjoy a little me time.

I got home in time for dinner and I even fed Caroline some baby apples.

She inhaled almost the whole container!

I guess apples taste better than sweet potatoes.  :)

We had a nice weekend around here and I have to say a big THANK YOU to Ben for allowing me the "me time" that I desperately needed.  It was nice to take some time for myself to help me refocus and re-energize. 

Happy Monday!

Snow Day (hopefully our last)

We had five inches of snow yesterday.

We made it outside once Ben was done with work and the snow had slowed down.

 Ben and Elizabeth playing in the snow

 Elizabeth loved making snow balls

 I'm trying to stay warm

Elizabeth enjoying the snow

 The street next to our street

 The walking trail in our neighborhood

Life Lately

We have been enjoying a lot of family time around here with all of the cold weather and snow.  It continues today as we are supposed to get 6-8" of snow by this evening.

Saturday I got a pedicure.  

I didn't let the very nice lady do anything to my right foot except gently cut my nails and then apply polish.  She kept asking me if I wanted a massage and all the other stuff and I kept telling her no because my ankle hurts.  She probably thought I was crazy, but I did come in in an ankle brace.  :)

The color is called shorts story by OPI

 I love OPI!  I think it's the best quality and I always use it on my nails.
I am also soooo ready for spring,  that's why I picked a bright pink to help me usher in the warmth
(I hope!)

I have also been doing some online shopping.  The Mix and Match Mama has influenced me to step out of my comfort zone and try a few things that I have never even thought about wearing before.

 I got these converse in dolphin grey.

I order them here.

I have been looking for some casual shoes to wear that are not sneakers, 

I feel like this is a good compromise to my normal choice.

After a text survey with my neighbors, it was decided that they should be worn with low socks, so I picked some up at target yesterday- I will update you on how this works out.

I have also been looking for outfit ideas on pinterest.

These are some outfits I have seen that I liked:

So...

This is what I am wearing today.

Mix and Match Mama also influenced this shirt purchase.

I order two shirts from Nordstrom- this grey and pink (no longer available) and this purple and grey one.  The purple and grey one was really long even though they are both petite smalls.  

The jeans are new from Old Navy.  Sweetheart cut skinny jeans.

 All week this one has been dressing up in her new princess dresses that she got for her birthday.

We always have lots of coloring around here.

And the day would not be complete without coloring Mickey and Minnie.

 I am making chili today.

First you brown 2 pounds of ground beef, add one diced onion and one diced green pepper.

 Combine in a separate bowl:

2 cans (15oz) red kidney beans, undrained

2 packages (1.25oz) chili seasoning mix

1 can (15oz) tomato sauce

1 can (10oz) diced tomatoes and green chiles

 Add meat mixture to crockpot, then add bean mixture.

Cook on high 2 hours, then low for 1 hour.

Enjoy!

 This princess doesn't like to smile for the camera.

I make funny faces to try to get her to laugh.

It didn't work.  :)

 This baby LOVES to have her picture taken (for now).  :)

Happy Thursday!

Rocky Road Bars

Yesterday I made Rocky Road Bars.

They were super easy, super yummy, and wonderful to share!

(They are also really filling)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups finely crushed thing pretzels or pretzel sticks

3/4 cup butter, melted

1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)

1 3/4 cups (10oz package) Hershey's mini kisses milk chocolates

3 cups miniature marshmallows

1 1/3 cups coarsely chopped pecans or pecan pieces

How to make:

Step 1: Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease bottom and sides of 13x9x2-inch baking pan.

Step 2: Chop pretzels until they are finely crushed

 Step 3: Combine pretzels and melted butter in small ball

 Step 4: Press evenly onto bottom of prepared pan

Step 5: Load toddler and infant into car.  Drive to store.  

Purchase sweetened condensed milk because all you have is evaporated milk.

 Step 6: Spread sweetened condensded milk evenly over pretzel layer;

layer evenly with chocolates, marshmallows, and pecans, in order.

 Step 7: Press down firmly on pecns.

Step 8: Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned.

Cool completely in pan on wire rack.  Cut into bars.

* I baked 20 minutes

* After 1 1/2 hours cooling they were not completely cooled, 

I placed in refrigerator for 20 minutes to help them harden up before I cut them.

Cut into bars, placed on cute platter.  :)

I hope you enjoy these as much as we did.

Happy Tuesday!

Caroline's First Meal (and a video!)

On Saturday, we introduced Caroline to the fine dining that is baby food.  She was super lucky and her first meal was sweet potatoes.  Ooooh the cuisine we serve up is sure to delight the finest palettes.

 Getting ready for her first bite!

 Giving the sweet potatoes a little taste.

Ben took a little video of her first few bites.

I'm sure her thought was something like:  "Uh, I don't think so guys."

 Dad giving Caroline a little taste of the sweet potatoes

This is her #notimpressed face

Happy Monday!

Weekend Review

We have had a very busy weekend around here. 

Friday morning started with me getting up very early and driving about 35 minutes out to Reston to get an MRI on my right ankle.  I don't get the results until the end of this week, but my orthopedic wants to rule out a high ankle sprain and damage to my Achilles tendon. 

Friday afternoon I had my second physical therapy session.  I did about 25 minutes of physical therapy (lots of eversion/inversion and dorsiflexion exercises and then some walking and balancing exercises) and then had 15 minutes of stim and ice.

Getting my stim and ice.

Friday night we watched the first episode of House of Cards and caught up with some shows on our DVR.  

On Saturday, we were all up early and then Ben left and went to his dentist appointment.

Once Ben got home, I went over to the grocery store for some coupon shopping.

I spent $25 and saved $46.

Free frozen vegetables, 3 boxes of free pasta, and 3 jars of free pasta sauce.

Saturday afternoon, our friends Adam and Shelley came over with their daughter, Fiamma.  Fiamma turned one-month-old yesterday and we were excited to host her for a little visit!

 Shelley and Adam even let me feed her!

She is such a sweet baby!

Look at those beautiful eyes!  :)

*Love!*

 Fiamma, 1 month

Caroline, 5 months

Elizabeth, 3 years

 (I have no idea what Elizabeth is doing here)

These girls are so cute!

On Sunday, we had snow and ice in the morning, but I still headed out to the butcher and grocery store.  

In the afternoon we hung around the house, then we had Jessica and Noah over for dinner.  Ben made a whole chicken and I made garlic mashed potatoes.  Jessica and Noah brought salad and homemade lemon and blueberry cupcakes.  *YUM!*

We have had a very blessed weekend around here and we hope you have had one too.

Happy Sunday!