azmom
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Post by azmom on Aug 3, 2011 14:16:50 GMT -5
Oh-Thanks guys: Honey: No restrictions-we love onions and mushrooms. Well they really don't know what exactly they are eating but they eat that combo often Shannen: MMM sounds good. DH loves Asian food. Mango curry sounds yummy. We have been looking for a tasty peanut sauce. We have bought several bottled brands and they were not so good. SS: Thanks I will go check that out-sounds very yummy. Great ideas ladies THANK YOU and if I don't use them for this dinner I will keep them on reserve for a normal family dinner
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on Aug 3, 2011 14:51:00 GMT -5
azmom: just make sure the peanut butter you use is the plain kind - the one where the ingredients are peanuts, salt (and maybe whatever it is they add so you don't have to stir). I wouldn't recommend using any of ones that have a longer ingredient list. As for the mango curry, this is pretty much what DH does allrecipes.com/Recipe/spicy-indian-chicken-and-mango-curry/detail.aspx, except we don't use the cucumber and we buy frozen mango (trying to slice ripe mangos is a pita.) You do want a yellow curry for this. DH loves the kind we get at Safeway, not so much the CostCo kind. I'll double check brand name when I get home.
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reeneejune
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Post by reeneejune on Aug 3, 2011 14:52:45 GMT -5
Mizbear – I giggled a little when I read about your hot cocoa craving. Last Christmas my boss didn't know what to get me, so she read the secret santa gift exchange form (she wasn't my secret santa, apparently management exchanges gifts among themselves as well as doing the exchange) anyway, and out of all the ideas I mentioned, she latched onto the fact that I enjoy hot cocoa and gave me a gift bag full of premium hot cocoa packets! And not a small gift bag either, it was about 7” by 9” by 3”. I still have a drawer full! Maybe I should share the love and send you some! Shan – I think you mentioned the possibility of a Portland meet-up in late September. I'm interested, I just need to know what day to request off! Start – Try spraying the counter down with bleach water to temporarily stop the ant invasion. It seems to break up their scent trails. Then you can (slightly) more comfortably get in their to stop their entrance. Azmom – I just got a yummy Rosemary and Ranch Chicken Skewers recipe that's super easy and very, very tasty. Quick to make too. I don't have it on me, but I'll get it posted later tonight.
My sister brought me a surprise. I had mentioned that with the fire last summer, I lost my personal recipe collection, and one of the recipes was a Mississippi mud cake that my high school math teacher would make if a class all got A's on a test. I figured I'd never get that one again. Turns out that same math teacher brings her pets to the vet my sister works for, and she was kind enough to copy the recipe for me. Sometimes being from a small town is really awesome.
Oh, and I'm at 0 NSDs so far. I'm tracking, and that's what counts right now.
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Honeylioness
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Post by Honeylioness on Aug 3, 2011 14:59:35 GMT -5
azmom - okay, good to know your kids are open to all types of food.
I have a few recipes that are really not much more effort than an "ordinary" day meal - but seem more special for some reason - that you might consider.
Baked Chicken with Apples and Barley
1 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 1 medium tart green apple, chopped 1-2 tablespoons curry powder 1 cup pearl barley 2-1/2 cups chicken broth 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt 3 tablespoons orange marmalade or apricot jam
Heat oil in large skillet; sauté onion, bell peppers and garlic 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add chopped apple and curry powder; sauté 4 minutes longer. Stir in barley and chicken broth; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes. Pour barley mixture into large baking dish or casserole. Arrange chicken breasts over barley and season with garlic salt. Cover and bake in 375º F oven for 45 minutes. Remove cover; brush chicken with marmalade. Continue to bake, uncovered, 15 minutes longer. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Makes 4 servings.
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Caramel Apple Pork Chops
Ingredients
* 4 (3/4 inch) thick pork chops * 1 teaspoon vegetable oil * 2 tablespoons brown sugar * salt and pepper to taste * 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon * 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg * 2 tablespoons unsalted butter * 2 tart apples - peeled, cored and sliced * 3 tablespoons pecans (optional)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 175 degrees F (80 degrees C). Place a medium dish in the oven to warm. 2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brush chops lightly with oil and place in hot pan. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, turning occasionally, or until done. Transfer to the warm dish, and keep warm in the preheated oven. 3. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, salt and pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add butter to skillet, and stir in brown sugar mixture and apples. Cover and cook until apples are just tender. Remove apples with a slotted spoon and arrange on top of chops. Keep warm in the preheated oven. 4. Continue cooking sauce uncovered in skillet, until thickened slightly. Spoon sauce over apples and chops. Sprinkle with pecans.
Yield 4 servings
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Beef in Beer
Ingredients
* 2.5 pounds round, rump or chuck steak approx 1" thick * 2 Tbsp oil * 2 Tbsp butter * 2 Tbsp flour * 2 large onions thinly sliced * 1 bottle good beer (12 oz) * Beef stock
Directions
* Cut beef into cubes about 1.25" square. Season with salt and pepper. * Brown meat pieces on all sides in heated oil before transferring to a casserole dish or stove top dutch oven. * Add butter to pan and gently saute onions until they are soft. * Sprinkle onions with flour. Stir well to coat and slightly brown the flour before adding the onions to the beef. * Use some of the beer to de-glaze the saute pan and capture all the drippings and flavors. Add to the beef mixture. * Pour the remaining beer over the beef mixture and add just enough stock to cover. * Cover the casserole and simmer in a slow oven for at least two hours at 275o F
OR
* Simmer on the stove top in a covered dutch oven, or a counter top crock pot, on low heat most of the day.
Serve over egg noodles or rice
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Chicken Piccata
Ingredients:
• 6 to 8 chicken breast halves, boneless, no skin • 1/2 cup flour • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper • 1/2 teaspoon paprika, or to taste • 3 tablespoons butter • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 1/4 cup chicken broth or water • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice • 6 to 8 thin slices of lemon • 3 tablespoons capers (optional)
Preparation:
Put chicken breasts between 2 sheets of waxed paper or plastic wrap; pound to flatten to about 1/4-inch. In a shallow bowl, combine flour, salt, pepper and paprika; dredge chicken breasts to coat well.
Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet. Sauté chicken breasts in batches, about 3 minutes on each side.
Drain off all but 2 tablespoons of fat. Stir in chicken broth, scraping to loosen browned bits. Add lemon juice and heat through. Return chicken to the skillet with the lemon slices; heat until sauce thickens. Add capers, if using. Serve with your favorite pasta and a green vegetable.
Serves 6 to 8.
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dakota4600
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Post by dakota4600 on Aug 3, 2011 15:07:18 GMT -5
1NS, 1CS, 2 NEO. Honey- You are making me hungry!!! The caramel apple pork chops sound awesome, but DH doesn't like the sweet & meat combo. By the way thanks for your recommendation about the brown sugar bear. He is going in the oven with the pizza tonight. AZmom- Here are a couple suggestions for dealing with practice nights. Casseroles, soups, something in the crockpot, then people can eat when they have time (a lot those taste better the 2nd day). Maybe try lasagna or mexican lasagne, you could even freeze it in individual portions for the nights Mr C works late. Also I'd stock up on apples, bananas, PB & whole wheat bread for quick snacks after practice and games instead of a 2nd full dinner.
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MittenKitten
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Post by MittenKitten on Aug 3, 2011 15:59:02 GMT -5
I will add Honey's recipes to the blog (controlled-nospend.blogspot.com) later.
Have a sick child (DD) and am exhausted. Of course it happened on DF's first day. Oh and DBIL's company got off their butts and want him to start tomorrow. Hmmm $40 an hour temp with a chance to work for them more/be hired on vs $11.60 an hour at a different temp job.... yeah no contest!
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ses
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Post by ses on Aug 3, 2011 16:01:50 GMT -5
My hot weather "fancy" meal go to meal is steak in mushroom sauce. Super easy, (and cool with a crock pot), round steak (trimmed to portion size) one can cream of mushroom soup, undilluted, one can of Golden Mushroom soup, undiluted, and a can of sliced mushrooms, undrained. I like to mix the two soups and the mushrooms together and spread a little on the bottom of the crock pot, put in the steaks and add the rest of the soup mix. Cover and cook on low for about 6-8 hours. (Or do the same thing in a casserole and bake for about an hour at 350*. Better and more tender in a crock pot). Serve with mashed potatoes or noodles to take advantage of the delish gravy.
I have been known to serve any leftover gravy with meatballs simmered in it at another meal.
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mizbear
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Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
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Post by mizbear on Aug 3, 2011 16:21:24 GMT -5
Lately around here, fancy is anything that my DM doesn't order out.
I make a chicken alfredo. If you don't like making sauce from scratch, use your favorite and add some extra onion, garlic and cheese. (I like Classico 4 cheese). You can use leftover or fresh cooked chicken, add veggies- do whatever to make it your own. I serve right out of te pot. (I use whatever whole wheat noodle I have on hand)
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startsmart
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Post by startsmart on Aug 3, 2011 17:58:41 GMT -5
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mizbear
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Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
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Post by mizbear on Aug 3, 2011 21:20:04 GMT -5
Friday the nieces and I are going to attempt to make blue cheese stuffed burgers with a blue cheese sauce (I haven't told them the sauce is gonna be that bottle of Roka in the pantry ;D). This should be interesting. And that is also the night of DN1's drama camp's performance. Ex-SIL and DB are both bringing their SOs who are both dingbats. I'm bringing my Nikes and my inhaler- I can manage to run home from the theater.
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3catslady
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Post by 3catslady on Aug 3, 2011 21:50:53 GMT -5
3 NSD/CSD, 0 EOD and 0 SD. I got a few groceries, i.e. strawberry cream cheese, meat and cheese and bagels. I am all set for the rest of the week. reeneejune; What my cat has will probably not show up for another 2 or 3 years so I will let the vet give the shots. That goes for the other cat as well. If I can't save $80 in 2 years for the vet bill, I didn't learn anything here. If it would be a lot more than that, I would probably think about learning to give the shot myself and keep the meds on hand. These cats have never had to take pills or anything like that until this year. This seems to be the year for trouble. Startsmart; hugs and good juju going out to your friend. All those recipes are making me wish I had a kitchen to make everything posted. And I had a ham and cheese sandwich, applesauce, chips and a serving of mousse for my meal tonight.
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startsmart
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Post by startsmart on Aug 3, 2011 22:29:31 GMT -5
the funeral for Laura's son is tomorrow - she's finally posted a few details and asked for prayer. Also his third birthday would have been next week - it's definitely a rough time for their family.
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mizbear
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Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
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Post by mizbear on Aug 4, 2011 7:49:55 GMT -5
startsmart- Karma to you for sticking by your friend. A lot of people walked away when my BFF's step grandson drowned. They "didn't want to get involved" or they "didn't know what to say"- I would like to slap each one of them, get a buck for it and give it to his family. Today will be a CS. Have to pick up the Bleu Cheese to stuff the burgers and something to go with it.
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kcgal
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Post by kcgal on Aug 4, 2011 8:26:11 GMT -5
Yummm each of those recipes sounds so good. I want them all. Sounds like a new recipe a week for me.
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mrslynch
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Post by mrslynch on Aug 4, 2011 9:41:34 GMT -5
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singlemomky
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Post by singlemomky on Aug 4, 2011 11:06:39 GMT -5
mrslynch: You are the best! I'm loving the new blog and follow every post!
Karma to you!
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startsmart
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Post by startsmart on Aug 4, 2011 11:17:00 GMT -5
WIR publicity- yesterday I had the chance to talk with a gal I've known for about a year now, Manisha Thakor, who writes personal finance for women. She's phenomenal! Not only is she going to be putting together some articles on her blog and extensive network to bring more attention to our little group but she's asked for my help developing the concept and stories for her new book.
As part of our strategy I'm going to start a thread about the most important lesson you've learned from WIR on the main board and I would so appreciate everyone's input! Should be up later today.
I also may reach out to a few of you for stories, 3cats and ses, mrslynch I'd love to send her your blog post if you don't mind.
I've also suggested Manisha post some of her articles here so we can have some source of learning and a place for discussion since MP, Liz PW and Donna don't post here now (I know Donna posts in SS sometimes).
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azmom
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Post by azmom on Aug 4, 2011 11:48:02 GMT -5
YOU GALS ARE AMAZING!!! Thank you so much for all of the suggestions. I will go through them all later today with DH and get it all figured out but I will absolutely be added some new recipes to my menu planning over the next few weeks!
Yesterday was a CS. I spent $31 at the grocery store for four complete meals!!
Today we are getting two desperately needed tires.
~Happy No Spending~
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financialpeace
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Post by financialpeace on Aug 4, 2011 12:31:26 GMT -5
Quick Update: 2/15 NSD, 2/20 NEO, and 2/20 MOANs.
I leave tomorrow for my vacation. I will update when I get back next Thursday although I doubt my numbers will have changed.
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mizbear
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Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
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Post by mizbear on Aug 4, 2011 14:02:21 GMT -5
mrs.lynch- That rocks!
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Aug 4, 2011 16:10:32 GMT -5
Hmmm, I'm realizing I probably won't get everything done tonight I need to. I was planning on cooking something for supper. I was hoping on making my casserole last night so I would have left overs, but DH was cooking mac and cheese and hot dogs for all of us when I got home (I know not super healthy, but it did melt my heart). ANyway, I have eaten out all week at work (I did get something i knew I would have leftovers for on Tuesday for Wednesday and we hit the double lunch punch places Monday and Today which didn't do me any good to save me money for today but now I am to my free meal at one place and a little closer at the other) because we have no leftovers in the house or frozen dinners. DH has a meeting, so I though I would get on my elliptical traniner and now it is looking like I also need to take some work home. DS goes to bed between 7 and 7:30. I've been getting home at 5:45. I go to bed at 10. Something isn't going to get done.
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mrslynch
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Post by mrslynch on Aug 4, 2011 17:28:05 GMT -5
smokey/mizbear--thanks! startsmart--please feel absolutely free to send her the link to my blog! if you need anything else from me, you know how to find me!
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mizbear
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Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
Joined: Jan 2, 2011 13:12:46 GMT -5
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Post by mizbear on Aug 4, 2011 19:38:55 GMT -5
2NS/1S/1CS
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startsmart
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Post by startsmart on Aug 5, 2011 1:45:09 GMT -5
1 NSD 1 CSD 2 SD
*
Tonight I picked up some things at Home Depot I needed for the weekend, I'm hoping I can make tomorrow a NSD.
My Dad comes up tomorrow night and we plan on working on the air conditioner, getting the back yard sprinklers hooked up, installing new towel bars in both bathrooms and hopefully some caulking work in the bathroom.
I'll be painting doors over the weekend. Joy. Gotta keep the dogs out of the house while it's drying otherwise white doors with black fur.
*
Tonight was productive thanks to a HUGE coffee from my buddy at the coffee shop. I cleaned for Dad's visit, including wiping down the microwave. For some reason if it's dirty he gets cranky!
It's nearly midnight and I'm still working on customer service while the dogs snooze. I should be taking Fridays off but tomorrow is a full day.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Aug 5, 2011 7:45:00 GMT -5
Last night, I didn't cook since I thought it wasn't fair to my family to only get leftovers. I didn't work as I decided to come in early this morning. I didn't work out on the ellipitical because it was only 90 outside and decided to run up the driveway a few times for a work out instead.
DS's 18 month check up is today!! I am so excited. I want to see how big he is. Actually I don't think he weighs that much, but I am interested in how tall he is. We did not have a 15 month check up so it has been more than 6 months since we took him to the doctor (he caught a cold at his 9 month and 12 month check ups, so DH and I decided a 15 month check up wasn't worth it since DS was hitting all his milestones).
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Aug 5, 2011 7:47:51 GMT -5
Oh, Question, did gas prices for everyone else drop a quarter yesterday? I'm not sure exactly how much gas was when I went to work yesterday. It had been at 3.59 all week at the truck stop by my house ... on my way home it was 3.35!!!!
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dakota4600
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Post by dakota4600 on Aug 5, 2011 9:01:55 GMT -5
We are off to a good start. 3 NS, 1 CS and 4NEO. Today will be a spend and EO. I'm supposed to go to lunch with someone and then DH and I are going to go out to dinner before going to my DB & SIL's play.
My husband is so sweet. After we saw HP on Monday, I told him that I wanted to re-read the books. And asked the next time he went to the storage locker to look around and find them for me. On Tuesday he went over and found them for me. Now I just have to get this stuff for the audit at work done so I can start reading them.
Muttley- I didn't notice this AM what they were, but I noticed that I had paid 3.57 at Costco on Tuesday and on Wed it was 3.56 at a little place by our house. (Usually it is 10 cents higher by our house because of state taxes.)
Yeah for the 18month checkup
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on Aug 5, 2011 9:26:26 GMT -5
Update: 3NS + 1 CS = 4 of 26 The only day I've spent money so far this month was Wed, when we went to the grocery store. I spent just over $20. Of course, I forgot to grab the rice a roni spanish rice I had intended to go with the tacos, which means that tacos only lasted one night for dinner, instead of two. (Plus I fed a 4th person tacos, as DH's BFF came over to help me with the tvs/cable boxes.) Last night I made a casserole. There is plenty of it left over, so it will be dinner again tonight. I currently have 3 teenagers (well, one of them might be 20). DC, DC's BFF, and one of the other kids from DC's dorm is visiting. He thought he had a place lined up to stay and it fell through, so he's on our couch. If I'm ever a parent, my goal is for our home to be a place the kids want to hang out, so I guess this good practice for that. I took all the cable boxes back to Comcast yesterday, so cable bill is now down $100/month. Of course, I forgot that Junebug had eaten the TV and DVD remotes for the TV and DVD in our bedroom, and I'd been using the Comcast remote as a universal. So now I do need to go get a new universal remote. I'm hoping to do the little shopping I need to do tonight while the kids are home and then spend most of tomorrow hanging out with my dogs before we head down to a friend's house for game night in the later afternoon.
startsmart: Thank you for working on getting publicity for WIR. I promise to post in your thread. I just want to post something somewhat well written, so I'm still mulling it over.
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startsmart
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Post by startsmart on Aug 5, 2011 10:28:24 GMT -5
Lesson Learned - do not ask coffee dude to "make me something strong" at 7pm or I'll be up until 3am! Honestly my brain would not stop talking to me so there I was, tired, writing copy for my website, designing my business cards and creating my Friday schedule. I think I slept about 3 hours. Maybe I'll aim for an afternoon nap before Dad arrives.
It's times like these I am so thankful I work from home. I haven't even gotten dressed but I'm sitting on the couch working, Nixon is lying on the arm of the couch behind me and I can take a break and cook breakfast. Awesome sauce.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Aug 5, 2011 11:01:13 GMT -5
DS's 18 month check up went great. He was very charming and cute to the doctor and nurses (all woman). He is in the 50% for weight, height and head circumferance. I was surprised that he was weight wasn't lower (although he probably hadn't pooped today and it was his first time getting weighed with shoes and socks) and his height wasn't higher. I thought he had grown more than that (first time being measured standing up). He only cried a bit for his shots and DH got to hold him for shots (the previous nurse made us put him on the exam table). He's on the low side for words that he says, but he stacks 10 blocks (well cups) together and the sheet asks if they stack 3 or 4. LOL. Yep, he's my little engineer in training.
Dakota - Enjoy your HP books.
So, the boss is on vacation until the 16th!! I have a lot of things to do on my to do list, but a lot of it is going to meetings while he is gone. I have my big hydrology project to work on and we are suppose to get the go ahead on a site plan today. Keep your fingers crossed that it comes through.
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