Thursday, January 26, 2006

Just another day in paradise

Hmmmm...what did I do today? I made a yummy soup for the girls in my office. It is actually a recipe of one of the other girls I work with, but I happened to have all the ingredients in my kitchen. It was deeeee-lish! Here's the recipe:

1 large package frozen, shredded hashbrowns
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 container (16 oz?) sour cream
1 package shredded cheddar cheese
1 stick butter or margarine, melted
1 bunch greeen onions, chopped
milk

Combine everything but milk in crockpot. Add milk to your liking-more for soupier soup, less for thicker soup. Cook on high 4-5 hours or on low all day. Top with real bacon bits and additonal sour cream if desired.

I've added a second bag of hashbrowns to stretch for a crowd, and it's still good. You can also cook on the stovetop until heated through for a speedier dinner.


After lunch I ran errands on campus, including getting keys to my new classroom, (which I was locked out of last Thursday night) and checking out some books for my class at the library. Apparently, Child Life in Hospitals is not at the top of the university's spending list. I had trouble finding books published after I was born. I'll be 30 in April. Sad, but true (on both counts!) So, I read a book to my students tonight that had pictures of nurses who, quite literally, closely resembled the flying nun. Huge hats. Little white uniforms, and pantyhose. It was good for a laugh if nothing else.

I have one guy in my class this semester, which adds a whole new dynamic. I'm still getting used to it. He seems pretty easygoing given he's the only source of testosterone in a room of 25 women. We like to give him crap for being a "general studies" major. I may sway him to the world of child development before the end of the semester. We definitely need more men in the field.

Bible study is going great. I have a wonderfully diverse group of ladies to "lead", and I am learning so much from all of them.

For a change, we have NO PLANS this weekend! Hallelujah! I hope it stays that way. Have a fantastic Friday and share a recipe with me if you have a chance. My budget needs us to eat at home.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Recipe Challenge!

A challenge from Heather D White's blog:

Post your never-fail-simple-most-popular dinner recipe on your blog today. I challenge each of you to do the same!

Crock Pot Kettle Beef (for those of you not from Southeast Missouri, I think you call this beef and gravy or roast beef-kind of.) Kettle beef is served at most area wedding receptions along with chicken and dumplings, green beans, corn, mashed potatoes and homemade rolls. Can you tell we're very rural?!?! Yum!

2 pounds beef stew meat
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 envelope Lipton Onion Soup mix
water

Place beef in crockpot. Combine soup mix, mushroom soup, and 1 cup water. Pour over meat. Add water to cover meat mixture and allow for evaporation during the day. Cook on low for 7-8 hours. Serve with mashed potatoes.

Another one:

Cheesy Vegetables

2 packages California blend vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, carrots)
1/2 block Velveeta, cubed
1 can cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup milk
1 sleeve Ritz crackers
1 stick butter, melted

Cook vegetable in microwave until cooked, but crisp. Combine vegetables, soup, milk and Velveeta. Place in a greased 9x13 pan. Combine crackers and butter. Crumble on top of vegetables. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes until cheese melts.


On a yucky note, my family was struck with a nasty bout of the stomach flu this week. Caron got sick late Sunday, Greg on Monday and I felt terrible yesterday morning. We're all back at work and school today and feeling much better. tonight is Bible study, tomorrow is class, and Friday begins our weekend of no plans! We haven't had a free weekend in a long time. Enjoy the recipes and have a great week!

Sunday, January 22, 2006

Tagged!

Dawn tagged me!


The rules for this particular tagging are as follows: Remove the blog name in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add yourself to the bottom slot.


Traci
April
Andie
Dawn
Amy

Then you get to select five people to pass the love on to.
Bob and Brooke (that's a twofer)
Becky
Sorr! I need more blogging friends!


What were you doing 10 years ago?


Let's see...January 22, 1996. I was a sophmore in college. I was either working at the hospital as a phlebotomist or as a cashier at Rhodes convenience store, I can't remember. It was t-minus 5 months until I met Greg. I was dating no one in particular.

What were you doing 1 year ago?

working very part-time and loving it. I miss being at home.

Five snacks you enjoy (in no particular order, as all snacks are created equal):

1. Chips and french onion dip
2. chocolate
3. cheezits
4. cheese
5. apples-crispy, Gala only-I'm on a mushy apple boycott

Five songs to which you KNOW all the lyrics:

1. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
2. You are my Sunshine
3. When the Sun Goes Down by Kenny Chesney-the theme song of our cruise DVD slide show
4. Me and You by Kenny Chesney-our first dance song
5. All Songs on most Mark Schultz CDs

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:

1. have no more debt at all
2. set up a trust fund for Carson
3. open a chain of high-quality child care centers that accept kids with special needs at no cost to their parents
4. buy a house in the Caribbean
5. make a lot of deserving people happy

Five bad habits:

1. procrastination at work-I hate report writing and I have tons of it to do
2. saying whatever is on my mind, even when the truth hurts, I should probably shut up once in a while
3. wanting more than what I've got
4. intending to scrapbook...and then getting distracted
5. obsessing about food-it's my "crack" I think about what to eat or not eat way too much

Five things you like doing:

1. relaxing at home
2. shopping by myself
3. going to Disney World-maybe another trip next year
4. watching As the World Turns on TIVO-much faster w/out commercials
5. going out to eat

Five things you would never wear, buy, or get again:

1. fat free butter-tastes like Crisco on toast
2. cheap shoes-they make my feet hurt too bad
3. a room in dowtown St Louis on New Years's Eve-way too loud
4. a tank swimsuit- not too many people really look good in a basic tank
5. non-underwire bras-have you seen a pic of me? Enough said.

Five favorite toys:

1. Computer-I'm addicted to blogs, recipe sites, scrapbooking sites, Ebay.....
2. Cell phone
3. TIVO- I love not having to watch commercials
4. My new scapbook tool tote from All My Memories
5. My scrapbook backpack for crops

First time you got kissed: How was it?
I honestly don't remember, so it must not have been too great. My first kiss with Greg was rather unexpected and totally out of character for him, but great!

First time you drove a car: What kind of car?
My mom's huge white boat, on our gravel road, the night before my first driver's ed class, so I wouldn't be the only one who had never driven a car

First time you scrapbooked: When you look at your page do you love it?
Um, no. Who ever thought it would be a great idea to cut pics with deco scissors?!?!

First time you went on a date: Where did you go and with who?
First date with Greg was to see "The Rock" and to eat at the Pasta House on 06/07/96.

First time you fell in love: How did you know?
It was gradual. I'm not a love at first site kind of girl.

First time you cooked for someone: Was it yummy? What did you make?
I have no idea. My Grandma Mungle always let me help cook and I cooked for my family all the time growing up.

First time you got on a plane: Where did you go? Were you scared?
05/24/1999 from St Louis to Chicago and Chicago to Honolulu. I was excited, not scared, but very sick.

First time you shaved your legs: Did you cut yourself?
I have no idea. I cut myself last week!

First time you put on make up: Looking back how did you do? Did you look good or like a clown?
I have no clue.

First time you moved out of your home: Was it an apartment, house, etc?
I moved in with one of my best friends from high school our freshman yearof college. We had a raunchy, tiny apartment near campus where you could hear what everyone in the building was doing at all times. She and I no longer speak due to our horrible experience living together.I moved back home after 3 months and stayed until I got married.

Monday, January 16, 2006

Weigh Day Update and Misc Ramblings

I am one tired mama.It's 12:30am and I am finally finished with my course outline and requirements for the ever-so-popular course "Child Life in Hospital Settings." It starts this Thursday. This is the first time I'll be teaching graduate students along with undergrads. Big change of pace from the freshman course I've been teaching. Don't tell the students, but I still feel like one of them! A student addressed me as "Prefessor Franklin" in an email tonight and I literally cracked up. I'm only 29! (For a few more months ;) Oh my, this is going to be a challenge.

I had 12 ladies join my Bible study, "The Frazzled Female: Finding Peace in the Midst of Daily Life," last Wednesday. I'll see how many come back this Wednesday. There was a good mix of ages and backgrounds, so it should be a great study. I'm definitely frazzled these days!

I lost 2.6 pounds at the big weigh-in today. Not bad for attending 2 birthday dinners this weekend. I'm looking more like a goddess every day. I think a vacation will be in order to celebrate my efforts come December. Somewhere warm and sandy. We're kicking around some ideas.

The Mazda is home and running great and all for under $50. I'll say goodbye to the white bomb in the morning. It was actualy very nice to have an extra car to drive. I'll shut up now. Nighty-night!

Tagged by the Four of Clubbs

I was tagged by Brooke, so here goes:



4 Jobs You Have Had in Your Life:
1. Cashier/Skate Attendant at the now defunct "The Ice" in Cape Girardeau
2. Phlebotomist at Southeast Missouri Hospital
3. Autism Technician at The Southeast Missouri Autism Project
4. Inclusion Specialist and part-time instructor at SEMO University

4 Movies You Could Watch Over and Over:
1. Dirty Dancing
2. The Sound of Music ( I played Marta in 3rd grade :)
3. Anything Disney
4. Napoleon Dynamite (I know, I know, it's stupidity at it's finest, but it almost makes me pee my pants)


4 Places You Have Lived:
1. Jackson, MO
2. Cape Girardeau, MO
3. Burfordville, MO
4. St Louis, MO
( How boring. I really need to check into that early childhood position in Italy)

4 TV Shows You Love to Watch:
1. CSI: Miami (the first episode aired when we were in our room at Disney World and we've been hooked ever since)
2. As the World Turns-(I grew up watching this with my Grandpa-I periodically took breaks from it, but now I have TIVO!!!!)
3. Paula's Home Cooking-yum! yum! yum! I don't even want to think about how many Weight Watcher points Paula's meals would devour.
4. Good Eats. Alton Brown is a funny guy.

4 Places You Have Been on Vacation:
1. Disney World
2. Hawaii
3. Mexico
4. Pensacola, FL -I'll be back there in June for cousin Christy's wedding. I love the beach!!!

4 websites you visit daily:
1. Crazy Croppers-a scrapbooking group I started about 3 years ago
2. twopeasinabucket.com
3. weightwatchers.com
4. A private MSN scrapbooking group that I have made a New Year's Resolution to be a bigger part of. So far, so good!

4 of your favorite foods:
1. biscuits and gravy
2. tortilla chips and cheese dip
3. apple pie with ice cream
4. chicken and dumplings

All of which are horrible temptations when trying to lose weight!

4 places you would rather be right now:
1. Disney World
2. On a cruise ship in the Caribbean
3. Upstairs watching a movie with all of the chores and paperwork completed that I have to get done today
4. El Torero (see favorite foods list)

4 Bloggers You are Tagging:
I only know 4 bloggers that haven't already done this!
1. Becky
2. Dottie
3. Dawn
4. Heather D. White

I'm really not sure they even ready my blog! If any of my readers have blogs, please post a reply and let me know. I'd love to read'em! -Amy

Sunday, January 15, 2006

weigh day

Tomorrow is the moment of truth. After a full week completely on program, I will weigh in at 9:30 am. I stayed exactly the same last week. At first I was surprised not to have a loss, but when I was really honest with myself, I had cheated several times. That last Franklin family Christmas on the 9th was really tough on the scale. (Dang, Cheryl's potato rolls are good!) My home scale is showing a decent loss, but I've been fooled before, so we'll see what happens in the morning.

In other news, God continues to humble me when I need to be knocked off my pedestal. I was daydreaming of a new minivan a few days ago. I was actually picking a color and fantasizing about Carson sitting ever-so-quietly in the backseat watching the flip down TV screen as we drive to Florida in June. Then came the inevitable. Yesterday morning my car wouldn't start. I have one payment to go and it will be paid for. It is currently in residence at Roy's Tire and Auto awaiting a check-up on Monday morning. Luckily for me (insert heavy sarcasm here), my in-laws just purchased an "extra" car for times like these. I am now the proud borrower of a 1990 white Toyota Camry in not-so-pretty condition. I was leary of being seen in the white bomb at first, but it's CD player works great, which is a switch from my Mazda, and it actually drives decent for being 16 years old. So much for my minivan dreams. My car can be fixed and I will enjoy not having a payment for a year or three. :)
I will be spending tomorrow afternoon re-working the course requirements for my night class. I was informed late last week that I will have 5 independent study students in addition to the 25 students enrolled on Thursday nights. This means a ton more work and a little more money for me. I hope it's worth it, but I guess it doesn't really matter since I have no choice! The extra money will be nice since we're headed to Florida in June. I'll quit complaining now.
We'll be leaving for Texas Roadhouse in a few minutes to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday. Happy Birthday Betsy! I'd better go wrap those presents!
Wish me luck at the scale tomorrow! Have a great MLK Day.

Friday, January 06, 2006

The rear is in gear

I am back at Weight Watchers and have honestly journaled every morsel that went into my mouth this week. I worked out Wednesday, took yesterday off due to intense heel pain from working out Wednesday, and I'm getting ready to go upstairs to Walk Away the Pounds in a few minutes. My goal is to look great next New Year's Eve. I've changed my goal from "I will lose X number of pounds" to "I will have the body of a Goddess." I can live with that. I don't care to ever look athletic, just healthy with a lot of curves. That's doable. In accordance with my resolution to become debt-free, I will be showcasing my Godessesque physique in something sparkly and slinky while basking in my new found financial freedom next New Year's Eve. There will be a party involved. You may be invited.

I am journaling this to keep myself on track when the going gets tough, as I know it will. When I want to spend $20 on a dinner out that will ultimately cause me to gain weight, I hope I remember to reread this post and remember that Goddess body and feeling of freedom as I walk to the fridge to prepare a healthy and budget conscious dinner. I may need reminding, so feel free to refer me back to the 01/06/05 blog post!

I'm off today and planning to attend a crop tonight with several friends. I am so looking forward to the time to scrapbook something for myself. I also need to go to David's Bridal to order a bridesmaid's dress. That April 8 date is looming and I am looking forward to needing alterations in late March as I head toward that new body. I'm of to work on that physique now! Have a fantastic weekend! I have one last Christmas party to attend!