Uggghhhh.....Life has been crazy!

First I want to thank you for the comments left and I'm sorry if I worried anyone, I haven't been feeling well, pretty much the whole household is sick, with the exception of Jasmine.

I haven't gotten much sleep at all the past few days, I'm up with Nicholas all night and then this morning I finally closed my eyes and dozed off only to wake up at 7am. My alarm clock didn't go off but it's still on, how the heck did that happen???
I'm thinking I might have set it for 6 pm instead of am....just shows you how out of it I've been feeling lately.

I am feeling better today, just a little headache, but nothing major and honestly it's not that I've had a cold or something, it's just that I haven't had SLEEP. We all know that no rest makes for a cranky mommy doesn't it???

I'm SO looking forward to thanksgiving, the kids have thursday and friday off so it will be nice to just sit back, eat like a pig and sleep the day away. I for one am extremely excited about the sleeping part. LOL

I haven't even sent out my Christmas cards yet, got them all ready and definitely need to get them out, guess I'll do that when I run to the store later today. Been trying to put that off too but I need to make sure I have everything needed for the Thanksgiving Feast.

It's sad that it's always just the four of us, but you know we have so much to be thankful for in our lives and so many blessings, and honestly, we've gotten used to it being just us, no pressure to make the perfect meal or worry about guests and enough food etc. This is why we also end up having leftovers for a couple days after......hey, I'M.NOT.COMPLAINING. about having Turkey for a few days. :)

I would love to sit here and talk for a while more, but my head is pounding, my eyes hurt from staring at the screen AND I'm sure from the lack of sleep, and my little one is crying on the couch "I'm sick mommy I don't no feel good".....so I just wanted to pop in and say hi and let everyone know that I'm still alive and kicking.

Will come back tomorrow and do a nicer bigger post. Hope you're all having a great day and getting ready for Thanksgiving and if you don't get a chance to stop by before then, Have a WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING.

God bless,

Five Senses Saturday!!!

Good morning fellow bloggers, family, friends and members of congress *snort*

It's actually a pretty morning here, there's sunshine outside, something I haven't seen in, oh, two weeks or so. It's crazy, it's been cold and rainy and just plain blah around here.

We went to the Bowling Alley last night, Jasmine had a birthday party and we figured that me and hubby and Nic would grab some dinner and maybe play a game or two of bowling while we waited for the party to end. Ummmm.....didn't quite go the way we planned. I think the kids and I are getting a little cold, and we all know how a 3 year old deals with feeling yucky. WHINING GALORE!!!

I tried to get us a lane, only to be told that there were none available because they had some Bowling League coming in to play. OHKAY....well now I have to explain this to the little one who's been excited to bowl all day long. I'm sure I don't have to tell you the reaction I got, I'm sure over in Japan they heard the screams and cries "I want to bowl please".....*sigh*
Hubby brought me and Nic home and then went back to the party to wait for Jasmine.

I actually didn't mind, really, I wasn't in the mood to be out and after not being able to bowl I was bummed out too, I wanted to stomp my feet and cry like Nicholas, but somehow I think that would not be acceptable...something about being an adult and looking bad if I pout or throw a tantrum. Whatever!!! LOL

So I got to come home and give him a bath and he went straight to sleep, poor baby. Then it was time for me to watch some tv....found NOTHING interesting on, I guess yesterday was "disappoint Sandra day", I just didn't know it.
I did manage to go to sleep early and this morning hubby was still up (because he works midshift), so he took the kids and let me sleep in until 8am. THAT is sleeping in for me, that's like 2 extra hours of what I usually get.

Here I am, bright eyed and happy, though I did take a look at my laundry begging to be washed and my first reaction was to run away. I can't though, I'll be strong and push through it, I'm sure I'll succeed.

Anyway, it's time for Five Senses Saturday....enjoy :)



::Hear::



- Chris Cox "Whatever it Takes"
- Pugs barking
- Cartoons on the tv
- Dishwasher running
- Thunder and rain outside my windows


::See::



- Bowling Alley Lights
- Luke and Laura Wedding on TV
- The smiles on my family's faces when I made Monterey Chicken
- Puddles left by the constant rain
- Snow in the mountains


::touch::



- My kids forehead feeling warm
- Knife handle slicing through the onions and garlic
- Warm scarves being wrapped around the kids
- The soft blanket draped on my legs
- Hubby's kiss on my cheek


::taste::



- Cheeseburger and Curly Fries
- Apple Spice Tea
- Portuguese Rice Pudding
- Toast with butter and Strawberry Jelly
- Diet Squirt...my new favorite LOL


::smell::




- Sugar Cookie Scented Candle
- Smothered Steak cooking in the crockpot
- The smell of rain
- Laundry fresh out of the dryer
- Gingerbread cookies in the oven

LISTEN UP EVERYONE!!!

You can't just keep putting out tons of posts, really, you need to stop. I turned on my computer this morning to 130 new posts in my Bloglines. Ummmm....someone been busy busy typing away??? LOL

I can't keep up with you all, I try so hard but you guys are way faster than I. So, I tell you what, you slow down and let me catch up and I'll make you dinner??? Does that sound fair???

After talking to the Housing People yesterday, they decided to put a stop on the moving until after the holidays, seems a lot of people were not interested in dealing with all the moving during Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's FINE BY ME!!!

I'm such a sentimental fool though because we've been at this house for 8 years and both my kids were born here....I mean not IN the house....but I was pregnant with them here and brought them home to this house....you know what I mean, I think I'm getting myself all CONFUSSED and you guys are probably sitting there laughing because you knew what I meant all along LOL

I'm so glad it's friday, I'm ready for some much needed rest. I haven't gotten much sleep at all this past week, it's either one or both the kids whining and crying. I've had it, I have been cried on, peed on and that's IT....I'm ready for some sleep, on a clean non peed upon bed. Is that too much to ask???

To add to all this loveliness in my home, I'm still the Designated Willy Shaker. How, how did my life get to this point??? LOL I don't recall signing up for some of these things, then again I think these are the kind of things that get omitted from the Parenthood Memo so as not to scare away potential breeders LOL

After all the laundry I've done, and ashamedly I admit that I still have two baskets of clean laundry to put away *hang head*, I am yet again faced with Mt Laundry. I'm thinking I should make some uniforms for my house, come up with something fun and spunky and everytime you are home you have to wear the House Uniform. Maybe it will cut down on laundry???

But yeah, I have tons of laundry to do, a kitchen floor to mop because apparently there are some mysterious sticky blobs that were done by NO ONE in this house. If you ever want to see everyone scramble, ask how a mess got on something. It's actually quite funny watching the reaction and the replies.

Oh I wasn't even there today

It wasn't me, I didn't eat anything

I think it was the pugs, I'm not sure, but just saying

Very amusing!!! So, mopping and laundry and bathrooms *shudder*
That is the one place in the house that if I could get away with not EVER cleaning, I would. That toilet is just the pits for me, and now I know why long ago they had holes, NO.SCRUBBING.TOILETS back then. LOL

Jasmine has a birthday party tonight at the Bowling Alley, she's all excited about it, so hubby and I decided that we're just going along and while she's at the party, us two and Nicholas will have some dinner and do some bowling ourselves, will be nice to go out and do something fun. We really don't get to go out that much, especially once the weather starts getting cooler, I'm such a homebody, I just want to be in my house, under some warm covers and reading a good book. Why go face the rain and the cold???

Now that you all know I'm not moving within the next week or two, you don't have to worry about me grabbing you and making you be a guest blogger....not yet at least, but come January or whenever we move, you really will be brought over, I hope. Will ya???

I have some Portuguese Rice Pudding on the stove right now, so I better skidaddle on out of here. If you are in the mood for some, go on over and check the recipe, it's really easy to make and it's my greatgrandma's recipe....boy does it bring back memories of birthday's and Christmas time. I miss her so much :)

I'm going to try and catch up with everyone, in between laundry and cleaning and all that fun stuff. Have a wonderful friday :)

Oh I almost forgot, before I leave, my wonderful friend Sarah is talking about Feminine Friday and ways to make ourselves feel more feminine in the middle of these crazy days. So she asked what we are doing today to bring out the feminine side.....you want to see what I did??? Are you ready for it???
I went out wearing these....let me tell you, there is NOTHING like a woman in tall stilleto boots, I got a LOT of looks from the guys, and when hubby saw me I think he was panting (just kidding) LOL

Will be at the Bowling Alley for dinner, so I'm thinking a Cheeseburger and Curly fries...YUMMY or maybe some Steak Fingers, or even some Chili Fries....aarrgghhh now I'm hungry. LOL




Rachael Ray

Morgan Freeman, Brooke Shields, Tim Allen … Rachael’s mystery tasters have been big stars and this one’s no let-down! Plus, makeup tips for people on the go, better-than-nothing decorating ideas, and how to save money this holiday season.

General Hospital

Jason, Sam and Spinelli try to escape from Alcazar's men.

Laundry
Cleaning
Mopping

How does a week without Me sound?!?!?

Are you up for it? Does that make you giddy with excitement??? LOL

Seriously, as if my life wasn't crazy and hectic enough, we got an email from Housing yesterday. My neighborhood is being moved to the new housing, YAY, that's great, but here's the catch....we have to be out of our house by the 28th. UH, SAY WHAT?!?!?!?

So yeah, instead of having a great Thanksgiving, eating way too much (as usual), and then sitting around waiting for the added pounds to dissolve, we will be living out of boxes and driving back and forth between houses, not exactly how I would choose to spend the holidays but at least we'll be in a new house by Christmas. That's gotta count for something right????

I have to tell you that I panicked at first "how am I going to have thanksgiving and move at the same time?", but you know I prefer it this way, so that I don't have to be moving when the snow starts falling. Did I ever mention that I absolutely HATE driving in the snow???
I'm the annoying driver in front of you, going about 5 miles an hour so as not to spin. Hubby on the other hand develops this whole other crazy personality when the snow comes in....he's out there driving and making donuts (mmmmm donuts).

But anyway, depending on how long I'll be without internet, I may have my hubby posting from work, or I'll probably have some guest hosters. I've never done that before, that would rock, here's the catch though, you have to be funny, you can't just come in here and be boring, that's NOT allowed in Casa Sandra LOL Just Joking....no pressure, whoever I ask to do this can talk about anything as long as they keep it family friendly and clean. :)

So I'm all giddy and set for General Hospital today, not only do we have a remarriage of Luke and Laura, come on, who doesn't KNOW Luke and Laura???
We also have some wonderful loving from my favorite couple Jason and Sam. Again, just because the enemy likes annoying me, school is out earlier today, SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF GENERAL HOSPITAL.....now don't you wish you were me, you're life would be so interesting LOL

I realized this morning that my kids are very morbid at times, and I don't know where they get it from because hubby and I are not like that. They were playing yesterday and they have this habit of taking rides on our computer chairs. One sits down and the other pushes and then they switch. And NO, no matter how much I yell at them to knock it off and how it's not acceptable and they could get hurt and all that bribery threatening stuff that parents do....*yeah you in the back there, don't try to hide, you know you do it too lol*.....they still continue.

I'm in the kitchen fixing dinner and I hear this:

Nicholas - I'm dead *makes weird BLEH sound to make it more believable*
Jasmine - Ok get on here and I'll take you the cemetery.
Nicholas - Ok, but you have to bury me ok?
Jasmine - be quiet, you're dead.

What the?!?!?! The cemetery???? I should be happy that they know how things work, I mean that does make them intelligent right??? But seriously, they couldn't get any more morbid if I asked them to.

Are you hungry? Because if you are I have the perfect recipe for you to try....it's posted just below in my Slow Cooking Thursday. How does Smothered Steak sound? It's really really good, and I usually make it the longer way, but there's a slow cooker way and that's what is cooking right now, it smells divine and I'm sitting here salivating. I can't wait for dinner.
If you would rather have something else, I'm sure one of the other recipes will grab your attention, I tell you, these ladies have the BEST Slow Cooking Recipes around....

Anyway, I'm outta here, have to go say hi to you all and email my friend Veronica, I feel bad that I haven't actually talked to her on the phone in forever, but I'm either out when she calls or in the middle of something and by the time I remember to call back it's too late where she lives. *sigh*
Veronica, if you're reading this, I haven't forgotten you, just have been nuts lately.

So yeah, going to email her and then start moving plans, there's lists and boxes and things to pack and all that other fun stuff that comes with moving.

Have a wonderful thursday everyone, I'll see ya in the morning :)

God Bless,


Wonderful Smothered Steak cooking in the crockpot...will serve it with some mashed potatoes and for dessert, some Portuguese Rice Pudding.



Rachael Ray

Stuck in a fashion rut? Cojo is back with the one thing you need to shake up your wardrobe! Then, Oscar-winner Tim Robbins is chatting about his romance with Susan Sarandon, and Rachael’s cooking up a storm for potluck Thursday.

General Hospital

Luke and Laura remarry on their 25th wedding anniversary;
Helena arrives to cast a shadow over the celebration;
Robin realizes Laura's memory is starting to fade;
Maxie crashes the wedding;
Sam sees a new side of Jason;
Ric and Alcazar set a trap.

Ugly Betty

Martha Stewart has a cameo as the Mode staff marks Thanksgiving in different ways, including Daniel's ulterior motive for attending his parents' brunch and Wilhelmina's first attempt at cooking a turkey.

Grey's Anatomy

George's ailing father (George Dzundza) needs heart surgery; Meredith is determined to have a more positive outlook on life; Derek and Addison try to be civil to each other; and Richard endeavors to reunite with Adele (Loretta Devine).

ER

Abby and Luka clash over a possible case of domestic abuse; Neela and Gates treat a group of homeless kids who are experiencing odd symptoms; Weaver makes a heroic rescue while filming a TV segment.

Laundry
Cleaning
Moving Plans

Slow Cooking Thursday

Welcome to my weekly Crockpot Recipes Exchance. It's such a great way to share your favorite dishes or to learn some new ones to make for your family.

What do you think??? Do You have some great recipes to share, or perhaps you're looking for some delicious ones to give you a reason to pull out the ol' crockpot???

Time to pull out those crockpots and put them to good use. If you want to join in, just grab the banner and add your name to Mr Linky :)

Today's recipe is for what I have in my crockpot right now. Smothered Steaks....how good does THAT sound huh???

I've made them before using the traditional way, but you can make them in the slow cooker too and since I'm tired and don't want to deal with dinner later, THAT'S the way I'm going.

SMOTHERED STEAK
Serves: 4

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 eye-of-round steaks (about 4 ounces each), all visible fat discarded
2 teaspoons canola or corn oil
8 ounces sliced button mushrooms
1/2 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 cup fat-free, no-salt-added beef broth
2 tablespoons imitation bacon bits
2 teaspoons soy sauce (lowest sodium available)
1 teaspoon molasses
1 cup frozen green beans

In a shallow bowl or plate, stir together the flour and pepper. Coat the steaks on both sides with the mixture, shaking off the excess.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil and swirl to coat the bottom. Cook the steaks for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until browned. Transfer to a plate.

In the same skillet, cook the mushrooms and onion for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the onion is tender-crisp, scraping to dislodge any browned bits and stirring occasionally.

Put the steaks and onions and mushrooms and remaining ingredients except the green beans in a slow cooker. Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours, adding the green beans for the last hour of cooking, or on high for 2 to 3 hours, adding the green beans for the last 30 minutes of cooking.

ENJOY!!!