Brown baggin it!

Today is the 45Th brown bag lunch I have eaten, with the exception of a few networking and lunch meetings (they were free and mandatory).
On April 6 I deiced that I was no longer going to go out for lunch. My main goal was to control the quality of food I was eating and an added benefit was saving a little money. My brown bag lunch program was not bad at all, I actually prefer it. I ended up saving about $120 a month (@ approx 3 meals a week), but the bad news I gained a few pounds. errrrrr... I guess my cooking is just that good. LOL My original goal was achieved, I did improve the quality of food; however, with the limited grease/ fat intake; you would think loosing a few lbs would be easy?? Guess not. Any who its something I will continue, because I do feel better. Now I vow to increase the intensity of my exercise program.

June Gloom

I spent most of the day in the house wearing a sweater due to June gloom..... I wish it would rain already.. "shit or get off the pot" as my Grandma would say. (wonder where I get it from???)
I did mange to make a healthy but tasty pot of Potato cheese soup. If you are looking for a heavy creamy flavor this is not the soup for you, but for 185 calories per serving not bad.

• 3 med potatoes (about 1 lb.) peeled and quartered
• 1 small onion finely minced
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 cups fat free milk
• 2 Tbsp. tub-style margarine
• 2 Tbsp. flour
• 2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, minced
• 1/8 tsp. white pepper (I used black pepper, too lazy to go to the store)
• 3/4 cup of shredded cheese

1. Bring potatoes, onion water and salt to a boil in a med sauce pan.
2. Reduce heat cover and simmer until potatoes are tender. Do not drain.
3. Mash slightly, stir in milk.
4. In a small bowl blend butter, flour, parsley and pepper. Stir into potato mixture.
5. Cook and stir over a med heat until mixture becomes bubbly and thickened.
6. Remove from heat add cheese.

I added thinly sliced mushrooms and additional salt because I'm a rebel. It was filling lunch on a cloudy day.

*Recipe courtesy of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Cookbook

X-Mas Eve 2007

This a pic of Riley playing on Xmas eve 9:00pm. We just got home from my Grandmas house and finished unwrapping Riley's Dad's new air compressor, that Santa left him. Look at that flawless face. Brett and were reading her a story in her room and talking about the presents Santa was going to leave her in the morning. I was so excited because this was the first year she would was really excited about Xmas. Then it happened the dogs got into a fight right there in her room, I pulled them apart and assumed it was done. Riley walked towards me and at that very second one of the dogs lunged at the other and got Riley right in the face. I have never been so scared in my life. Her face was cut so deep that it didn't even bleed. With an ice pack in hand we raced to Kaiser Fontana.



My mom meet us there and its a good thing because I got a little woozy watching the Surgeon clean and stitch up her face. It took about 100 stitches and she was on her way home. I am so grateful for the Cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Kiran who interrupted his night to help with us.



Needless to say Xmas was ruined and had to be postponed a few days. This pic was 2 days after. Scary Huh? I was (still am) upset with myself for letting the dogs in her room that night. I felt like a failure as a parent, that I couldn't protect her from my own dogs.


Below: 6 months post. Dr. Kiran meet with us every 3 months for the first year and advised me to use silicone patches over scar to lessen its appearance. At 6 months it really started to bubble-up and the patches seemed to help.

Here is 1 1/2 later and I am beyond impressed with the progress. I thank Dr. Kiran every time I see him. At about 4 1/2 we will go back and decide weather to leave it be, or cut it out and start over with a much thinner straight line. In hopes that it will completely fade as she grows.

(Today)

I wanted to post this because even the friendliest dog can end up biting a child. Roxy was always so aware of Riley and would never intentionally hurt her. Accidents happen but that doesn't make me feel any better about the situation. I still feel guilty when she mentions the scar or the incident and when other people notice it. (happens less and less now)

Free Bunnies... Going going gone!

I put a "FREE Bunnies" sign out front in hopes of getting rid of a few of the 8 little bunnies, who have been torturing my yard. I also found a home for the adult male, last week, so we wont have any more accidents.
My mail carrier of all people was the first knock at the door, he took two. (Yeah Me) Then I went to the grocery store, which took longer than expected...... but by the time I got back, my Bro-in-law found all the bunnies new homes. Hey Omar if being a fire fighter isn't rewarding anymore, I think bunny salesman pusher might be your gig.

Perfect the bunnies are gone that's one less thing I have to worry about, since my 4 year old has been acting more like a two year old all day. She is truly making me question my parenting abilities. Why does she follow directions, eat her dinner, clean up her room and not talk back to her dad? I ask/tell her the exact same things and she turns into an unruly little snot! Ehhhhh. The house is disgustingly dirty and I have lost my motivation to finish cleaning it. I feel so guilty saying this, but today I don't enjoy being a Mommy!

Oh would you look at the time.... Just one more hour until Sassy's bedtime. Come 8:30 I will be dancing like I won the freakin Lotery. (Sassy what we called Riley, when she was in my womb. That kid has been high maintenance since conception.)

Flashback Saturday

Riley (age 2) trying to be just like Daddy.

Its Friday...

This is my little angel at age 6mo and 1 year old, helping me in the office. For those of you who didn't know, Riley went to work with me everyday for her first 2 years of life. For the most part she was very helpful; I taught her to send faxes (pre-programed #'s) She would hand me papers out of the printer (with minor damage). We frequented some of the nicest restaurants in Riverside and they all knew her by name. Everyone in the building loved her being there, even if she ran down the halls screaming. I got to use the carpool lane there and back! I miss having her around but boy do I get allot of work done with out her. I am so thankful my boss was gracious enough to let me do this, because of him I never had to worry about who was watching my sunshine.

More pets.....

This is the newest addition to our farm, oops I mean family. His name is Wilbert and he is a dwarf winter white hamster. I despise rodent type animals as mentioned in my previous post.
Brett admits that he purchased "Wilbert" for 2 reasons:
#1 Riley enjoyed watching them at pet smart
#2 Mommy hates them....
What an evil man. Any who Wilbert is my new responsibility. YEAH Its hard to believe this is the same man that put me on pet "lock down" when we found out we were expecting the ultimate pet (RILEY). Let me define "pet lock down" I was prohibited from bringing home animals of any type, weather they were gifts, purchases or strays..
I know a special someone who is now going to be prohibited from pet store outings...Brett Patrick....


This is Wilbert's Pink Palace.


And this big guy just turned 7 years old! I remember the night I picked him up; he was covered in fleas, his ears were packed full of wax and he weighed 45 lbs full grown @ 1-yr old. His previous owner kept him thin like a Boxer. Big Mike's first night in his new home, he slept in the garage with his dad because of the flea issue. Every night since he has spent snoring on his pillow next to my bed. Big Mike requested pork loin for his birthday dinner, so that's what her got with gravy.... By the way I have managed to plump him up to 80 lbs, don't know how that happened lol...

Ohh no it's Monday!

No, Not ME:

• I wouldn't let my little angel stay up an hour and a half after her bed time, with the hope that she would sleep in... The plan back fired, she woke up an hour and a half earlier (that's 6AM people) OH no Not Me
• I certainly did not let that same kid have a cookie at 6:30 AM because I was too lazy to drag my ass out of bed, Not Me.
• I would never ever dream of calling her dad a few "not nice" names under my breath as I cleaned out her hamster cage. The hamster that he got her.. I know what your thinking, with all the animals she has why is she bitching about this one? Well because you bring a pet in this house you take care of it and I despise rodent type animals. They serve no purpose, just my opinion.
• I am in no way shape or form bitter that no one noticed I cooked dinner 6 nights last week. In case you were wondering I am getting in touch with my domestic side. P.S. dinners were yummy.
• I wouldn't dare have 2 glasses of wine at my BFF's BBQ on Sunday and refuse to teeter-totter with my Daughter due to the possible occurrence of "motion sickness" because I'm not much of a drinker. P.S. the wine was much needed & yummy too.
• No no, not me; I did not have a rabbit gender mix up while putting them in their pens for the night, which reminds me I have FREE bunnies ready to go to good homes. Just say you will consider it..... Please.

I have brown ones with black stripes and blue eyes,
brown and white patches
and all white with pink eyes.

The flashbacks continue...

Lynn and I celebrated our 21st birthdays with Elvis in Vegas. I don't know why he is making that face, looks like he has gas! In case you were wondering turning 21 in Vegas wasn't lucky for me, I came home a big looooooser!

L-to-R: Me, Sara, Elvis & Lynn

Mother's Day weekend @ Havasu

The Fam & I went to Havasu for the weekend. The weather was sooooo nice, in the high 90's and the water was some what tolerable. Riley spent all day Sat. in the water, later that evening she asked why her toes were wrinkled? The next morning she pointed out to me that her toes were normal again... too cute. This is a picture of "Crabby McCraberton" AKA Riley being grumpy about going back to the house. In case you didn't notice, she got a new life jacket for the boat; guess she want to get the most out of it. lol

I discovered the art of Quilling. Basically, shaping strips of paper to form an object. The possibilities are endless. I have family in Germany that make their own cards (way to crafty for me) but I try to keep up and send something new every holiday.

So below are the Mothers day cards