Finished it!

Now all I have to do is wait for fall. I am so done with Summer. 

Dang, I look good. :)

3 things...

I am great at scheduling things.
I am very punctual.
My new Jeans look amazing on me.

Zucchini Boats

Ingredients

• 1 large zucchini, cut in half lengthwise
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef sirloin
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 
• 1/4 cup grated carrot
• 1/2 cup low fat mozzarella cheese
• 1 (26.5 ounce) can spaghetti sauce, divided

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Scoop out and discard zucchini seeds, leaving the hollowed-out shells. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, and cook the onion and garlic until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. add ground beef, Italian seasoning, basil and 1/2 the red sauce.
3. Stuff the zucchini halves with the meat mixture, and place them into a baking dish. Allow sauce to drip down the sides of the zucchini boats. Cover dish with tinfoil.
4. Bake in the preheated oven until the zucchini are tender, about 30 minutes. Remove foil then sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the zucchini, and return to oven until the cheese melts, about 5 more minutes. Heat the remaining spaghetti sauce in a small saucepan over medium heat while the zucchini boats are cooking. Serve the zucchini boats with the additional sauce on the side.

PROJECTS!! :D

It seems like right before school starts I force myself to finish the unfinished projects that are stashed away and I start some new ones because I know I won't have any time to do it later.

After completely failing at an attempt for a skirt, I started THIS project because I am good at crocheting, and hey I think it's cute.

Sure I might look like a dork in it, but i twill keep my head warm and I am sure SOMEONE out there will think it's cute. :)

I have also started gathering the pieces for the children's Halloween costumes. I will have an Ash Ketchum this year. Simple enough.  No real "costume" needed just a red trucker hat and a blue vest with some jeans. I am also making some felt Pokeballs :) Yeah. He's going to rock.

AND Little miss wants to be Strawberry shortcake. A little more complicated than the Pokemon trainer, but still not exactly a "costume" I found a pink striped shirt at Old Navy that I think will be just perfect, and a couple of ribbons with a straw hat that was free (YAY!) She will look so cute.

I have found that having projects helps me to stay busy and happy. Being bored can lead to some self-destructive things.... for instance remember my blog about OREOS?!?! Well I haven't done that in a while and I think it's because I've been busy!! YAY!!

School shopping 

Trips to IKEA

family day

Halloween costumes

silly hat beanie

failed skirt 

angry birds project

Weight Watchers

sister visiting

Girls Night In party

Yeah, I would say that is a pretty satisfying list of "to dos" I mean honestly when school starts I highly doubt I will have time for much more than my sweet sweet children.  Hopefully I don't lose sight of my self-worth in the madness of it all :)

Family DAY

Today is going to be a family day!!
We're taking the kids out to lunch and to a movie (Kung-Fu Panda II).
It should be interesting.

Service

One good way to feel good about yourself is to get off your derriere and do something for someone else. Not the regular make dinner, do dishes, vacuum rooms, stuff that mom's always get to do. That can  sometimes feel like slave work not service (even though it is...). 

This week I my neighbor had her baby! YAY!! A little bit too early, he wasn't quite done cooking. So between trips back and forth to the hospital we were able to provide a bit of service for her cute family!

Tonight I am hosting a "Girls Night In" where we will be doing our nails and eating tasty treats! What a great service it is to get together with friends and have conversations with adults!

I also found this WONDERFUL blog The Dating Divas and have remembered how important it is to serve the people we love the most! I have plans to make THIS for my sweet husband and it makes me feel really good just thinking about all of the things I love about him. 

There are all sorts of things we can do for other people! I'm sure you've heard that sometimes people put others people down to make them feel better about themselves, but what about doing the opposite!? Do something AMAZING and NICE for someone else to make you feel better about YOURSELF. Doing a bit of service is good for the soul. 

GO AND SERVE!!! :)

3 things...

It has been a long time since I have done a "3 things..." post and I can tell you that I have been slacking about doing it everyday. It really does make a difference to say nice things about myself (even if it is embarrassing).

I am a good mom.  (the new chore charts are a dream)
I have said this before, but I have some really amazing hair.
I am good at doing laundry (and I LIKE it :)

The One

Dear world,

I am done with summer.

Black Bean and Corn Casadilla

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped onion
• 1 (15.5 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (10 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
• 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/4 cup salsa
• 8 (8 inch) Wheat flour tortillas
• 1 1/2 cups low fat cheddar cheese 

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in onion, and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in beans and corn, then add sugar and, salsa. Mix well. Cook until heated through, about 3 minutes.
2.  Place a tortilla on grill, sprinkle evenly with cheese, then top with some of the bean mixture. Place another tortilla on top, cook until golden, then flip and cook on the other side. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling.

WW

Ok. So. I started up Weight Watchers again. My main goal is to get my blood sugars to be amazing, not really to lose weight. But in order to have one, the other one will also happen. 

So far so good.

I just hope I don’t spiral into self-destruction like I did last time I was on WW.  I think constantly reminding myself of my self-worth will help out a lot.   :)