Why I Love,...

For some reason I'm in a foul mood and I don't really love anyone right now. I'm a woman, what can I say. Grant told me to write this to explain the absent why I love for last week. To clarify, I love those whom I'm required to love, but I don't feel like gushing. haha All I can say is I'm glad it's Thanksgiving because Grant is off school this week, and that makes life a little easier.
It gets tough towards the end of every semester, and we were both sick this week, plus Mags was sick last week, and we haven't gotten much rest. I think everyone should comment one thing they are thankful for, and who ever makes me laugh the most, I'll make you a pie. Seriously. Make me laugh and my next Why I Love post will be about you, and I'll make you a pie, and I'll even ship it to you if you live out of state. If no one comments, I'm going to eat the pie all by myself. Win win I think.

What We're Eating

I did good this week and lost another 2 lbs. 16 total!

What are we eating tonight?

Rice Tamale Pie: 9 servings,  7 ww pts per serving


My sister in law introduced me to this recipe and in celebration of 1 pt dip that I love, I made a batch of this tonight, and we'll probably be eating it for a couple of days. I have modified the recipe a little to make it less pts.

16 oz ground beef or turkey (I use turkey, less pts)
1 taco seasoning packet (I use half to reduce sodium)
2 cups cooked rice
2 packs of Jiffy cornbread mix
2 eggs
1 1/3 cup skim milk
1 can or 1 1/12 cup of corn
Mexican Style grated cheese
1 jar Tositos Salsa Con Caso


Brown ground meat in a large skillet. Follow seasoning mix instructions, and combine with meet. Add corn and cooked rice. Put in a 9 by 13 inch casserole dish. Prepare both Jiffy mixes and spread on top. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 min. Eat with 2 tbs of caso and for those not on WW, add grated cheese.  

I love super easy recipes and this is one! You can put a cup of grated cheese in between the rice and cornbread, and it holds together a bit better, but I leave it out to eliminate pts.

Happy Eating!!!

Early Birthday!

   

      Grant ordered me a new bed set and bed this year for my birthday, and I'm in LOVE with it! You can never go wrong with a green color scheme with me, it's my favorite color:) I love my man so much, I'm a lucky girl.

ps I'm aware that the pic on the right makes the room look unbalanced, but its covering the breaker box.:(

My Fav Dip Is Only 1 pt!!!!

So I love Tostitos Salsa Con Queso dip sooo much, and I've been depriving myself of it since I started ww. I feel soooooo dumb now because it's only 1 pt for one serving and if I decide to double that serving? It goes up a whopping .5 pts. Glorious. I've been having a non great week, but now that I've figured this lovely gem out, it's looking up. Cheers.

The Sienna Show

Today was the Primary Program in our ward and it was basically the Sienna show because she is the only Primary age child in our ward. It makes me laugh because when we moved up here I kept thinking that she would be way less spoiled because she would be one of the masses. How wrong I was!!! She gave her very first talk,(with my help) and she sang a solo, I Belong To The Church Of Jesus Christ. I was sad that she didn't sing it really loud like she does at home because people would have gotten a kick out of the words she was singing. My favorite line that she sings is "I'll follow him some day!" It's classic, and did Grant and I try to correct her version at all? Def not, that's what we call classy parenting my friends. I even got a kick out of her picking her nose on the stand. I just kept thinking, that's my girl! I was honestly very proud of my little baby today.

Why I Love,...

There are so many people that I can choose! This has become one of my favorite times of the week because it reminds me of my favorite moments with people and I feel all good after writing. So I'm so excited for the holidays this year, it's going to be mine and Grant's first one away from family and I'm so excited to start some of our own traditions! I'm also so excited because our little sister, Morgan, is coming for two weeks!!!! So I have been thinking a lot about Morgan and this is why I love her so,...

I love Morgan because she was the reason I kept on dating Grant. We had a REALLY awkward first date and I honestly was totally done. The man insisted that we watch a movie at his house and I tried everything I could to get out of it, but alas it was in vain. When I got there I met Morgan and I instantly had the feeling she was meant to be my sister. Grant's lucky he has her, haha.

I love Morgan because she is so stinkin pretty! So tiny, beautiful coloring (that Maggie has), and  the best smile.

I love Morgan because she's fun to be around. She laughs at my dumbness and can be plenty dumb herself! She always gives me looks like, you think your cool, but I just tolerate you, and Maggie gives me those same looks. It cracks me up.

I love Morgan because she's the best aunt ever. Sienna has always adored her. She still begs for her Aunt Morgan, it makes me sad when we can't deliver.

I love Morgan because she handles tough situations well. Life hasn't been easy lately, but she takes it all with a smile. And when it gets to rough, she calls, and I love that she loves her brother enough to depend on him.

I love Morgan because she uber talented. She is drum major this year, and I've heard that she's rockin it! She works hard at everything that she does, and it pays off because she's good at everything.

I love Morgan Barney style.

I love her because she is Morgan, what more can I say?!

She tested the set before Sienna took pics, I love the bear. haha

Diet/Life Update!

So I didn't diet during Halloween and the move. On weight watchers they teach you how to maintain the current weight you are and that's what I did. I didn't gain any weight and this week I started the losing process again. That's about it there.:)

Now to the life part, life is awesome right now! I love the new apartment, noisy neighbors and all! It's the perfect size for me to maintain, and I'm on the tail end of unpacking. It took longer than expected because I have been doing mostly everything by myself. Grant has helped when he can, but he's so busy with work and school so that hasn't been much.

Maggie is six months old today and I'm super excited because she can really start on food! I love being able to put her in her high chair and put some rice puffs on there for her to eat. It entertains her for so long, I can get so much more done!!! I also started making her baby food. She likes it so much more than the regular baby food, and it's soooo much cheaper! Today I made her pureed spaghetti squash and pureed bananas. She couldn't get enough! I love this age that she's at! She gives us sweet smiles and babbles all day long. Just precious!

Sienna is just fabulous and so stinkin smart! Today I told her that it was time for a nap and she said, "I knew that was coming!" She just seems so much older now that I have Maggie. She is definitely not a baby any more. I can't believe that in two months she'll be 5! Just thinking about it makes me want to cry. I love the age she's at also because she's so independent and can do and help so much, but she still needs me. She loves school, and has made so many new friends. Her teachers told me that she's always wants to be in charge, and usually most of the kids follow her lead. I'm scared of what she is teaching them, haha. I'm proud that she's such a confident child. I love that lil bossy kid!!!

Grant is just truckin along. He has started investing some of our money and is doing a really good job! Our IRA right now is getting 20%! Insane!!! He is so good with that kind of stuff. He is still doing phenomenal  in school, he went to the economics summit and was the overall debate winner. It looks like this is going to be another straight A semester! I'm a proud wife!

This is what we're eating tonight. If your not an asparagus fan then you won't like it, but I love it!!!

Cream of Asparagus Soup - 1 pt

Cream of Asparagus Soup
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 6 • Size: 10 oz • Time: 30 minutes • Points: less than 1 ww point

• 2 lbs asparagus (2 bunches)
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• 6 cups fat free chicken broth
• 2 tbsp low fat sour cream
• salt and fresh pepper to taste

In a large pot, melt better on low heat. Add onion and sauté on low for about 2-3 minutes.

Snap the tough ends off the asparagus and discard. Chop the asparagus into 2 inch pieces. Add to the pot with the onions. Add chicken broth, salt and pepper. Cover and cook about 20-25 minutes or until asparagus is very tender. Remove from heat, add sour cream and using your hand held blender, puree until smooth.

I love this recipe because it's perfect for the colder weather! Speaking of cold we got the first real snow of the season yesterday and I'm getting geared up for the holidays. I have the girls presents picked out, and I'm refining all my holiday menus. I love this time of year so much! This is also my birthday month and Grant ordered me my birthday present, a new comforter set and bed! We have already gotten the bed, it was just a frame, but after a year of sleeping on mattress on the floor, this is the BEST present ever. We are having our good friend Scott make us a headboard, but that might be in January. AHHHH I love the holidays so much!

Random Thought For the Day.

I wonder if the people that live above us jump instead of walk. That's what it sounds like. That's my random thought for the day.

Why I Love,...

It's been a rough week. I don't like to complain about life, I'm so incredibly blessed, but moving with Grant working so much, and with the kids going crazy has been really tough! I owe a big thank-you to all my friends who offered to watch or watched the kiddos this week! So I looked at my blog yesterday and found a wonderful comment left by my awesome relief society pres, and it made my burden a little lighter. So I was going to blog about her, and I definitely will soon because I love her so, but tonight I really love Relief Society.

Why do I love it so,...

I love Relief Society because no matter where I live I have sisters to come to my rescue. I have moved a lot in the past couple of years and everywhere I have lived, I have instant family. Sisters that are willing to share in happiness and pain.

I love Relief Society because of the spirit felt there every Sunday. When I'm happy I get added joy, and when I'm sad, I get the lift I need. I love that sweet women take time out of their busy lives and prepare wonderful lessons. I love feeling the spirits of those women.

I love Relief Society because of inspired Relief Society Presidents. During the lowest times in my life they have always been there. Not all of them have been perfect, but I know each one cared and loved me. I remember one coming to visit me at work to make sure I was okay, just because she thought she should. I really needed to know that the Lord was listening to my prayers and she was the answer for me that day.

I love Relief Society because of the service that we do there. The way to make any day better is to serve, and in Relief Society we def do that! I get to be the Lord's tool anytime I do a service project, or serve one of my sisters. It's a wonderful feeling.

I love Relief Society because it is an organization that God has put on this earth for women. Most of answered prayers and blessings the Lord brings about in our lives are through his children listening to promptings and serving each other. I have been so blessed and have had many prayers answered because of Relief Society, and I'm eternally grateful for it!