So I not only had to give Baby Girl a bath tonight, but also a certain Mr. Snuffleupagus who resides in our household. He was getting pretty nasty. After getting a nice towel rub down, he ran into a worthy opponent. Mini Winnie the Pooh and Snuffy had some mad beef.
That's 30 Rock in the background.
This video brought to you by Flip video.
No stuffed animals were harmed during the filming of this video.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Sunday, December 06, 2009
snowy Sunday and turkey chili
Last night was the first significant snowfall of the season. We got a few inches, just enough to make the world look like a Winter Wonderland. And I made my turkey chili today, so it's officially winter. I make a really good turkey chili - it's a Weight Watchers recipe, but you wouldn't know it. It has a lot of flavor and you can easily add or subtract ingredients so anyone will like it. We don't add the chili flakes, and we put 3 times as much garlic as it needs. Yummy. Here it is - I'm telling you, it's easy to make, it makes at least 6 servings so it's great for leftovers and lunch, and it's a guaranteed crowd please. You'll thank me.
1tsp canola oil
1 large onion (chopped)
2 medium garlic cloves, minced (I buy jars of pre-minced garlic. It's worth it)
2 medium carrots, thinly sliced into rounds
1 pound lean ground turkey
2 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp ground red pepper flakes (I leave this one out, and add more garlic instead)
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 cup canned tomato sauce
1 cup fat free chicken broth (okay, I will admit it. I don't use fat free)
1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 cup cooked kidney beans, rinsed and drained (I just use the whole can, I don't know it that's 1.5 cups or not)
1 medium bell pepper, chopped)
1/2 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
heat a lard pot coated with cooking spray, over medium heat. Add oil and onion; saute onion until soft. Add garlic and carrots and cook until garlic is softened. Add ground turkey and brown meat, about 5 minutes. Stir to break up lumps.
Add chili powder, paprika, cumin, and red pepper flakes, tomatoes and tomato sauce, broth and vinegar. Bring mixture to a boil and reduce heat. Cover and simmer until meat is tender, 30 to 45 minutes.
Add beans and pepper. Simmer, uncovered, until peppers are done, about 10 minutes. Season to taste. Yields about 1 cup per serving
I'm not currently following weight watchers, but if you are, this is a Core recipe, or 4 Points per serving.
1tsp canola oil
1 large onion (chopped)
2 medium garlic cloves, minced (I buy jars of pre-minced garlic. It's worth it)
2 medium carrots, thinly sliced into rounds
1 pound lean ground turkey
2 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp ground red pepper flakes (I leave this one out, and add more garlic instead)
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 cup canned tomato sauce
1 cup fat free chicken broth (okay, I will admit it. I don't use fat free)
1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 cup cooked kidney beans, rinsed and drained (I just use the whole can, I don't know it that's 1.5 cups or not)
1 medium bell pepper, chopped)
1/2 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
heat a lard pot coated with cooking spray, over medium heat. Add oil and onion; saute onion until soft. Add garlic and carrots and cook until garlic is softened. Add ground turkey and brown meat, about 5 minutes. Stir to break up lumps.
Add chili powder, paprika, cumin, and red pepper flakes, tomatoes and tomato sauce, broth and vinegar. Bring mixture to a boil and reduce heat. Cover and simmer until meat is tender, 30 to 45 minutes.
Add beans and pepper. Simmer, uncovered, until peppers are done, about 10 minutes. Season to taste. Yields about 1 cup per serving
I'm not currently following weight watchers, but if you are, this is a Core recipe, or 4 Points per serving.
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Christmas
Last night Andrew and I put up the Christmas tree and lights. It was a harrowing experience - you would think that getting up a fake pre-lighted tree would be easy. But, no, it's actually pretty hard to get it straight. And fluff out the branches. And put on the second string of colored lights (because I hate white lights). And then put the lights up around the window without knocking down the curtains. But it's done, and the Ugliest Tree In America is up.
I hate fake trees. I try to not hate them, but I do. Maybe if we had a really nice one that looked real, I wouldn't hate it so much. I want a real tree that permeates the smell of pine through my entire 881 SF of living space. We got a real tree the first two years we were married, but last year we gave up and just got the fake one. We'll probably have it until we move - if it makes it that long. One branch is already broken. Nothing says class like an elastic band holding up your tree branches.
While we were hanging up the ornaments Andrew was hanging an old homemade ornament with his baby picture on it, and I grabbed it out of my hand. I knew Baby Girl looked him, of course. But seeing that picture threw me for a loop. You put longer hair on baby Andrew and you've got Baby Girl. There is no mistaking whose child that is. Unless of course you look at me, then you might wonder where she came from. But, as I was hanging my own ornaments of me as a baby, I saw one of me taken when I was right around my niece's age. Though she has blond hair and I had brown hair, we could be twins. At least someone looks like me. Granted, my own child and I don't share any resemblances. Le sigh. Maybe the next one will have SOMETHING of mine!
Speaking of Baby Girl, when she woke up this morning (and after I so rudely changed her diaper - she was greatly offended by that) she and I went out to the living room and it was still dark. I have to work on teaching her that the weekends are for sleeping in. So I knew she'd be fascinated by the tree the the lights, so I plugged them in. To say she was enthralled was an understatement. I thought she was going to back flip out of my arms to get a better look at everything. She was staring at the lights and reaching out to touch the tree. She would look back at me and then stare at the lights again. She just couldn't take it all in fast enough. It can't wait until she knows what Santa is all about!
I hate fake trees. I try to not hate them, but I do. Maybe if we had a really nice one that looked real, I wouldn't hate it so much. I want a real tree that permeates the smell of pine through my entire 881 SF of living space. We got a real tree the first two years we were married, but last year we gave up and just got the fake one. We'll probably have it until we move - if it makes it that long. One branch is already broken. Nothing says class like an elastic band holding up your tree branches.
While we were hanging up the ornaments Andrew was hanging an old homemade ornament with his baby picture on it, and I grabbed it out of my hand. I knew Baby Girl looked him, of course. But seeing that picture threw me for a loop. You put longer hair on baby Andrew and you've got Baby Girl. There is no mistaking whose child that is. Unless of course you look at me, then you might wonder where she came from. But, as I was hanging my own ornaments of me as a baby, I saw one of me taken when I was right around my niece's age. Though she has blond hair and I had brown hair, we could be twins. At least someone looks like me. Granted, my own child and I don't share any resemblances. Le sigh. Maybe the next one will have SOMETHING of mine!
Speaking of Baby Girl, when she woke up this morning (and after I so rudely changed her diaper - she was greatly offended by that) she and I went out to the living room and it was still dark. I have to work on teaching her that the weekends are for sleeping in. So I knew she'd be fascinated by the tree the the lights, so I plugged them in. To say she was enthralled was an understatement. I thought she was going to back flip out of my arms to get a better look at everything. She was staring at the lights and reaching out to touch the tree. She would look back at me and then stare at the lights again. She just couldn't take it all in fast enough. It can't wait until she knows what Santa is all about!
Friday, December 04, 2009
Friday Confessions
okay, you can give me the Worst Mother of the Year award for this one.
I had to go a parent teacher conference last night. For my 5 month old.
Yup, for my 5 month old. And we talk to her teacher twice a day. There is nothing going on that we don't know about. But off to that stupid conference I went. I thought it was lame and I did much complaining about it to anyone who would listen. And when I was there, I had to stop myself from just smirking the entire time. And I may have lost my battle with my smirk when I had to sign her progress report.
DID I MENTION BABY GIRL IS 5 MONTHS OLD?
now for some random updates
* I really like Table for Twelve on TLC. I hope it doesn't turn into another Jon and Kate.
* Tiger Woods has joined Lance Armstrong on my list of Most Hated Athletes. That actually makes me sad
* Baby Girl had no pants that fit her, until we made an emergency run to Wal-Mart to get some Granimals to get her through until Christmas. Yup. My child wears Wal-Mart clothes.
I had to go a parent teacher conference last night. For my 5 month old.
Yup, for my 5 month old. And we talk to her teacher twice a day. There is nothing going on that we don't know about. But off to that stupid conference I went. I thought it was lame and I did much complaining about it to anyone who would listen. And when I was there, I had to stop myself from just smirking the entire time. And I may have lost my battle with my smirk when I had to sign her progress report.
DID I MENTION BABY GIRL IS 5 MONTHS OLD?
now for some random updates
* I really like Table for Twelve on TLC. I hope it doesn't turn into another Jon and Kate.
* Tiger Woods has joined Lance Armstrong on my list of Most Hated Athletes. That actually makes me sad
* Baby Girl had no pants that fit her, until we made an emergency run to Wal-Mart to get some Granimals to get her through until Christmas. Yup. My child wears Wal-Mart clothes.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
open letter
Dear Vineyard Vines,
While I enjoy your Saint Anselm ties, I would very much appreciate it if you also made a Mini Tote in the pattern. I understand you would make zero money on it, but you are guaranteed at least one sale.
Also, please make your children's clothes in baby sizes. I would essentially just turn my paycheck over to you if you did that.
Love
MKO
While I enjoy your Saint Anselm ties, I would very much appreciate it if you also made a Mini Tote in the pattern. I understand you would make zero money on it, but you are guaranteed at least one sale.
Also, please make your children's clothes in baby sizes. I would essentially just turn my paycheck over to you if you did that.
Love
MKO
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
damn you NPR!
I drive on 3 major highways on my epic commute, the last being I-95 North. That last part is important. I-95 NORTH. It's my last leg of the trip, after I've been in the car for about 40 minutes. I'm tired and bored by that time. Today I was listening to someone blabber on about Special Ops, the Green Beret, and a documentary (and I lurve me some documentaries!). So when I was semi paying attention and saw a sign for 95, my car almost drove itself onto the on ramp. And then I realized I was on 95 south. On my way to Providence. I don't live near Providence. I don't live in the same state as Providence.
DAMN YOU NPR AND MAKING ME TAKE THE HIGHWAY IN THE WRONG DIRECTION!!
But I totally want to watch that documentary.
DAMN YOU NPR AND MAKING ME TAKE THE HIGHWAY IN THE WRONG DIRECTION!!
But I totally want to watch that documentary.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
December photo
well I did it. A new picture for every month of the year. I'm kicking myself because I didn't save each picture, I would have liked to see all 12 at the end of the year. That will be my goal for 2010. 12 more pictures and save all of them.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Tis the Season!
Well Thanksgiving has come and gone. We had a good Thanksgiving this year. But, yes, the pork stuffing was on the table. I will NEVER understand that. My in-laws make a really good Thanksgiving dinner, despite the pork stuffing, so all is forgiven. And my mother saved me some REAL stuffing.
Baby girl was better than we expected her to be. She really doesn't like her routine to be changed and the poor kid has had no semblance of routine since last Tuesday. She's a trouper though, and made it through with an acceptable amount of fussing. She's teething now, so she's been a grumpalump for a few days. I don't understand why evolution has not taken care of the ridiculous way humans get teeth.
I didn't get to Friday confessions this week, but it was a holiday week. I'm busy!
I'm really proud of myself with Christmas shopping this year. I have my niece, sister-in-law, and father done. Well, I haven't purchased my father's gift yet, but we know exactly what it is going to be. Santa Claus has finished putting together Baby Girl's presents too. So we have a few more people to buy for, but we're doing well for November 29th!
Speaking of November 29th, today is my half birthday. Just so you know.
My 10 year reunion was last night. It was.... interesting. No one has changed. And talking to people that I haven't talked to in 10 years was strange because I really felt like I haven't left high school. We'll see how the 20 year one is.
Baby girl was better than we expected her to be. She really doesn't like her routine to be changed and the poor kid has had no semblance of routine since last Tuesday. She's a trouper though, and made it through with an acceptable amount of fussing. She's teething now, so she's been a grumpalump for a few days. I don't understand why evolution has not taken care of the ridiculous way humans get teeth.
I didn't get to Friday confessions this week, but it was a holiday week. I'm busy!
I'm really proud of myself with Christmas shopping this year. I have my niece, sister-in-law, and father done. Well, I haven't purchased my father's gift yet, but we know exactly what it is going to be. Santa Claus has finished putting together Baby Girl's presents too. So we have a few more people to buy for, but we're doing well for November 29th!
Speaking of November 29th, today is my half birthday. Just so you know.
My 10 year reunion was last night. It was.... interesting. No one has changed. And talking to people that I haven't talked to in 10 years was strange because I really felt like I haven't left high school. We'll see how the 20 year one is.
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