7

I was just caught, red-handed, pulling out Andy's discarded Coke can and plastic bottle he tossed in the trash.  I wasn't digging, just grabbing what was on top.  When asked "what on earth I was doing," I wiped the sheepish grin off my face and told him "we need to recycle everything we can."  When he stated the recycling bin was overflowing(!), I told him "you can thank Jen Hatmaker for my renewed vigor in recycling.  We need to be stewards of the earth that God has given us." Andy just turned around and headed back into the den to keep plugging away at work (thank goodness April 15th is in sight).

Y'all... 7: An experimental mutiny against excess by Jen Hatmaker is life-changing, perspective-changing, makes you think.

Thanks to my friend Alicia for getting me hooked on this excellent read.  Even if you don't agree with everything Jen suggests, I highly suggest reading it.  Jen focuses on 7 areas of excess: clothes (have a baby, and it's easy to limit your post-baby wardrobe to 7 items), shopping (but much harder to limit shopping for said cute baby), food (I'm not even there yet; justification: I can't fast because I'm supplying nourishment to my infant.  But in all seriousness, I will consider fasting when I am done breastfeeding); possessions (I've been in a purging state, but this takes it to a whole new level); media (you'll have to discuss this with my husband...TV is our 5th family member these days.  I might consider a Facebook fast in the near future); and stress (I haven't gotten to this chapter yet).

Back to recycling...I have always been conservative when it comes to conserving energy, recycling, budgeting, a semi "save the earth" nut.  Shocker.  Type A firstborn rule follower to the T.

I turn off the water when I'm brushing my teeth.  I turn off lights when I leave a room.  I keep the air at the levels the "experts" recommend.  I budget and coupon to be a steward of what God has provided for us (although there's always room for self-improvement there).

True confession, never before breathed to a soul...Barney got me hooked on recycling.  Yes, the big, super smiley purple dinosaur.  And no, I'm not that young to have watched Barney.  I would "watch" Barney with my little sister, 5 years younger, when I was in the third grade, and then laugh it off that I was watching my kid sister's show. A surreptitious, closet Barney Watcher.   But...I do have to say, Barney talked about recycling, shutting the fridge door when you get out the milk, turning off lights, turning off water.  I'm sure he even sang some rhyming song about this.  Anyways...thank you creators of Barney for stimulating my little mold-able mind, for bringing out the guilt trip in me, for making me conscious of the things I so take for granted in my privileged world...running water, immediate electricity, a cold fridge, a freezing freezer, hot heat, cold a/c, etc etc.

So...enough of rambling, and if you've made it this far in my wordy post with little to no pics of cute smiling baby faces, then I have a feeling you're going to check this book out.  No, I'm not going to buy a flex fuel car that she recommends, b/c A) thankfully our two cars are running great; and B) we don't have ethanol fueling stations here.  I mean, come on guys, Birmingham is a great city with adorable villages, fantastic public schools, James Beard winning chefs... but it's Birmingham, about 10 years behind the times and severely in debt (thank you former Mayor Langford for putting our county in severe debt.  You and Obama must have had a picnic to discuss the glee of making your peons suffer.)  But Jen has me thinking.  Thinking that I need to cook food in the slight hoarding tendencies I have in my gigantic panty.  I will spare you a pic of my 18 boxes of cake mix.  My family makes fun of me.  (But I buy on sale, b/c when I make a cake as a surprise treat for a friend, last minute, I don't want to pay full price.  I want the BOGO sale with a coupon at Publix.  Steward of our budgeting...right? But since I'm being so honest with the world in this post, I really am justifying making the Cake Mix Cookie Bars...I have a sweet craving...but I will give 1/2 the pan to my friend with sick child. There, confession.)  So the past 2 weeks I've been depleting our pantry, only going to the grocery store for fresh produce.  And it.feels.good.  I'm liking this.  Living with less.  Thank you Jen.

Ellie 3 Months

My Ellie girl is HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY.  (Gotta love Duck Dynasty)

She is still nursing every 3-4 hours, and just last week she started making longer stretches during the night (anywhere from 6 hours to 11 hours).  She has not slept quite as long the past few nights because of a mild case of croup.  But despite being sick, she sure is one happy, smiley baby!  And she weighs 14 lbs 7 oz :)

Jackson LOVES his sis-turh, and he is usually pointing at her outfit, saying "CUTE!"  Love it.  He is really sweet with her.

Blurry pic but I had to show my organizational child. I will find trains lined up around the house, and it just makes me smile to find it.

Playdate with Thomas Menendez

I survived 9 days on my own while Andy was working in NYC!  Thanks to my parents for keeping Jackson overnight one night, and for playing with my kids!

Thumb sucker like her mama

 First time...guess it was gonna happen one day!

I go to heat up lunch and come back to find this.  Love!

Disclaimer...Jackson is pant-less because he smushed his strawberry Nutrigrain bar into his corduroys. So after I got back from the McWane center, I stripped them off so he didn't leave lovely red smudges all over the house. And yes, I did take both to McWane by myself for a playdate with Anna Kate and Campbell!

Rachel Cowherd got Jackson the Potty Book about a year ago, and I figured it was about time to bring it out and read it.  The "mess" on this page really bothers Jackson, and he keeps pointing to it saying, "Uh OH, Oh NO! Mess mess!"  This boy has major OCD tendencies, as in, he doesn't like messes, doesn't like mess on his hands, doesn't like his food to touch, etc etc.  Classic OCD, but I find it endearing.  I guess he got it from me?!  :)

Trip to our new Target. Kinda crazy, since Jackson wants me to carry him in the parking lot. Envision, harried mother, carrying a heavy car seat in left arm, heavy toddler in right arm. Yes, I got some odd stares.  But I sure do love our new Target right by our house.

Meet and greet with Lisa Spears and Tina Bryan. Fun lunch at Chez FonFon

 Jackson with his great grandparents

 And we are THRILLED to welcome yet another nephew into the York/Ozier/Watkins clan.  Allison and Wade are now the proud parents of a healthy 9 lb boy named Stephen Michael Watkins.  We love y'all and are so excited for y'all!  (And I know YaYa is thrilled to now have 9 grandchildren, ages 8 to newborn.)

Yum

Pioneer Woman's Sour Cream Noodle Bake

(but I'm renaming it Pioneer Woman Pasta)

Picture courtesy of Pioneer Woman

Recipe here.

Nutella Cupcakes

 Not my pic either

Recipe here.

Southern Living's Classic Chicken Tetrazzini

Thank you Southern Living

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 (8-oz.) packages vermicelli
• 1/2 cup butter 
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 cups milk 
• 1/2 cup dry white wine 
• 2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules
• 1 teaspoon seasoned pepper
• 2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided
• 4 cups diced cooked chicken 
• 1 (6-oz.) jar sliced mushrooms, drained (I used fresh and sauteed them in butter)
• 3/4 cup slivered almonds

Preparation

Total: 55 Minutes

1. 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare pasta according to package directions.
2. 2. Meanwhile, melt butter in a Dutch oven over low heat; whisk in flour until smooth. Cook 1 minute, whisking constantly. Gradually whisk in milk and wine; cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, 8 to 10 minutes or until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Whisk in bouillon granules, seasoned pepper, and 1 cup Parmesan cheese.
3. 3. Remove from heat; stir in diced cooked chicken, sliced mushrooms, and hot cooked pasta.
4. 4. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish; sprinkle with slivered almonds and remaining 1 cup Parmesan cheese.
5. 5. Bake at 350° for 35 minutes or until bubbly.

Southern Living
September 2010

Homemade Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Recipe here.

Absolutely amazing.  Very rich.  Keep PB cups in freezer, as they taste best when you pull them out and eat cold.


Cake Mix Cookie Bars

Recipe here.


Broccoli Bites

Recipe here.


Vegetarian Quinoa Chili

Recipe here.


No Bake Energy Bites

 Recipe here.


Parmesan Orzo with Asparagus

Recipe here.

Spring Break Reading

No, this mama doesn't get spring break, but I've had several friends ask for book recommendations for their fun and relaxing vacations.  Not that I'm envious or anything.  :)  So here are some suggestions. 

 above, possibly out of print. I borrowed from a friend

 above, also out of print, and I borrowed

Nursing in Public

Just had to share this article, after an awkward comment from an elderly male employee in a store (and no, I was not nursing Ellie, yet...long story that I won't go into).

Ignore the language.  The rest of the article is hysterical and spot-on.

You can read the article here.