SPRING HAPPENINGS

Spring you say? Why yes, me say.  I feel like to do this little journal/blog/diary of mine it's due justice is document all the things that I have missed these last six or seven months.  Thing is, I have a really bad memory and a chronic sufferer of CRS so I really need to get better at this whole experience the experience then write about it the next day.  Then I wouldn't have to rely on my memories, I can rely on my words of my experience.  As Quinn says, "BAM", break through.

Anyways, here are some pictures from the spring.

Sister and brother in law came to play



Went to the park quite a few times.



Took my niece and Quinn to the Children's Museum in Bettendorf, Subway for lunch and the park for dessert.



 


I just love a good black and white picture...don't you?

RECIPE: BBQ MEATBALLS

I've been looking for easier recipes to whip up that will appease the taste buds of a two year old and fill the stomach of a hungry man and I think I hit the jackpot.  This was my first time making meatballs and it won't be my last.  I'm not a huge fan of just a big ball of meat (TWSS) but even I really dig these.

The process of throwing all the ingredients together, while simple enough, is pretty disgusting.  I hate touching meat (especially beef) and to mix these up, you really have to work your hands and give the meat a nice little massage to incorporate the ingredients.  I'm sure there is some handy little tool out there to get the job done but I found that using my hands saved me a bit of time and that's something I'm always looking for.


Ingredients:

1 1/2 lb. ground beef
3/4 C. quick oatmeal
1 egg
1/2 C. barbecue sauce
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 C. ketchup
1/2 C. brown sugar
1 T. Worcestershire sauce.

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix together beef, egg, oatmeal, barbecue sauce, and salt and pepper.  From into 1 inch balls (hint: use a cookie scoop!) and set side by side in a 9x13 inch pan.  Mix together ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and pour over meatballs.  Bake for 45 minutes.

A couple things I've realized following recipes is that I hate when they put the oven temperature as the last step.  There has been more than one occasion where I get things thrown together, getting ready to throw it in the oven and giving myself a high-five, only to realize the damn oven isn't on.  Nothing kills your baking/cooking high like a cold oven.  Serious pet peeve.  Put it as the first direction.  Another is complicated recipes involving long directions or more than 10 ingredients.  Chances are I'm not going to take the time to read through either.  Also, the word barbecue or is it barbeque?  One is what you go to the other is what you eat.  Get it right people.

Bonus: double the recipe and freeze half.  I did and I have one freezer meal ready to go for the winter.


I straightened my child's hair to prove a point

and that point is to never, ever do it again.

Quinn's hair has grown a least fourteen times longer since last summer.  I wanted to see exactly how long it was and what she would look with straight hair so I took care of it with my flat iron.  She was so good through the whole thing and was very still.  You should know before looking at these pictures that Quinn loves seefood.






It just doesn't do anything for her.  I mean she is still super cute but the curls are definitely her style.  Also, I wish I could look that good as a blonde.  Girl has some pretty spectacular locks.  Don't worry, the curls are back in full force and the heat did nothing to mess with them.


When Life Gets The Best of You...

I never want to be one of those people who complain about how busy I am or how I have no extra time for anything but sadly, I'm starting to see it.  The bitching and moaning is usually directed at my husband because I would never let anyone know about that vulnerability (well, until now).

The reason for it, I'm spreading myself way to thin, not prioritizing and not utilizing the hours of time after work and weekends that I do have. 

Busy is: being a mom, wife, Lia Sophia Stylist, cook, laundry do-er, maid, employee, blogger, friend, support system, volunteer, being in shape, dealing with anxiety and so on.  There are so many things that I need to do and want to do that I just don't have the time for. 

But you want to know the real reason I don't have time is because most days, I'm lazy.  Most days, I want to walk into my house and sit my ass on my couch for the rest of the night and do nothing.  But reality is, I have a husband and a toddler to make meals for and a mountain of laundry that never seems to decrease in size always waiting for me.  Dishes constantly in the sink and dust bunnies hovering in corners waiting to be swept up. 

On top of that, I pressure myself to work out a few times a week, because guess what, I've gained weight over the last four or five months.  Let's blame it on Mexican Friday's.  It's not terribly noticeable but I feel it.

Last night, I waited until about nine to get all my Junior Achievement crap together for a lesson with my fifth graders today, plus I had to get invites printed and addressed for a LS party in a couple of weeks.  I had to enlist my husband to help because there was so much prep work for both which inevitably took out my workout that I was going to do as well.  See lack of priority and busyness. 

The point is that everyday life is so busy that it's getting the best of me.  I feel like I spend the majority of my time thinking about the things I want to do (sewing even though I don't have a working machine, doing more LS shows, blogging consistently multiple times a week, working out 6 days a week, keeping a clean house all the time, running more often and getting to 7 min or less miles, etc.) and not enough time on the things that need to be done that I'm out of balance and failing.

I feel like I'm on my way to drowning, just barely treading water.

I'm a mom of one and can't keep shit together, how the hell am I ever going to do it with two (not that I'm pregnant or thinking about number two anytime soon)?  Does anyone else feel this way and how do you balance all your wants and needs, while keeping everything else in check?



I Spent Friday Night With THE Mr. Levine

My brother-in-law gave my sister Maroon 5 tickets for her birthday and of course she asked me to go with her (as if she had any other choice).  This past weekend was the concert and to say it was great would be the understatement of the century. 
 
 
I don't know who people were more excited to see, Adam Levine or Maroon 5.  What's great about this show is obviously the music but then you get hit twice with awesomeness of the eye candy that is Adam.  God really hit the mark when he created him.  I mean, let's just be honest.
 
 
 
During their encore, Mr. Levine was literally 20 feet away from us.  When this happened, it's like every single woman around us turned into a 15 year old, Justin Beiber fan.  I mean my inner 15 year for sure came out and there might have been a high pitch scream to go along with it.  Just, maybe though. 
 
 
 
Maroon 5 brought along Neon Trees and Owl City (Owl who?!).  Neon Trees were surprisingly great...their lead singer has a pretty amazing voice.  I didn't know that I would love their music that much.  We missed Owl City and were so devastated (said no one ever).
 




Random note: I share the same last name as Mr. Levine and jokingly, I put on Facebook that I married the wrong Levine.  I knew that someone in my husband's family would take that literally and not as a joke and sure enough they did.  I live most of my life through sarcasm and if you can't dig it well then I can't dig you.
 
Quinn and I spent Saturday hitching a ride with my mom and sister as they did a bit of shopping.  I figure, I could use the help and get my grocery shopping done at the same time.
 
Sunday was lazily spent coping with a headache (non-alcohol related), napping and sorting through sports cards.
 
 
 
 
How was your weekend?
 


I've got a hot date tonight....

....with this guy.
 
 
Yes, the other Mr. Levine. 
 
I know, I know you hate me a little now don't you?! 
Thanks to my sister for sharing her awesome birthday present!
 
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