thrifty tip Tuesday...

Haven't shared any good deals in awhile so I thought I'd give you a list of the things I've found...

Free value size Onion Rings at Burger King February 4th and 5th

$10 off $10 purchase at Shutterfly using code HAIR10 at check out (expires tomorrow, Feb 1!!!)
*This doesn't included tax and shipping but could still make for an inexpensive personalized gift!

2 Free Leather friendship bracelets from Sneakpeeq (see this post from Deal Seeking Mom for details)

$2 breakfast sandwich or wrap with beverage purchase at Starbucks (through Feb 4th)

Free sample of Purex Triple Action laundry detergent

Free card at cardstore.com with the coupon code MCSFREE112   (expires today!!)

what we're eating this week...

Man, January has kicked my butt! Ever since we got home from traveling (on the 1st) one of us has been sick with a cold or sinus infection and I'm very slowly recovering from round two of it. Now, tomorrow being the last day of January, I think it's only fair that we have a fresh, healthy start to that month so NO more sickness please!!

So, with the great hopes that I will be feeling better and feeling up to cooking this week, here is what we will be eating.....

Monday: Slow Cooker Chicken Curry over Jasmine Rice  (from the freezer)
Tuesday: Slow Cooker Sloppy Joe's (recipe below)
Wednesday: Crescent Wrapped Lasagna
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: French Dip Sandwiches  (recipe below)
Saturday/Sunday: Ritzy Chicken Casserole, Leftovers, and Pizza :)



Crock Pot Sloppy Joes (I took a recipe from a cookbook and made it my own and they are YUMMY!)
-1 lb ground beef or turkey
-1 sm Green Bell Pepper chopped
-1 Sm Vidalia Onion
-2-4 cloves garlic minced or through garlic press
-1 cup ketchup
-1 Tbsp + 1 tsp mustard
-1 Tbsp + 1 tsp vinegar
-1 Tbsp + 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
-1 Tbsp + 1 rounded tsp brown sugar
-1 tsp chili powder
-salt and pepper to taste
Brown meat with onions and garlic. Mix all other ingredients in Crock Pot. Add meat/onion mixture to Crock Pot (if it looks to thick add up to 1/4 cup water, too thin add up to 1/4 cup more ketchup) Cook on Low for 5-6 hrs or High for 3. Makes about 4 servings

French Dip Sandwich:I just cook a small Beef Roast in a Crock Pot (w/o vegetables) any way you would typically do a pot roast. Here is what I put in it....
-small Chuck Roast
-Med Vidalia Onion, sliced
-2-4 cloves garlic, minced
-1 can Beef Broth or Stock
-1tsp Worcestershire sauce
-salt and pepper to taste
Slice meat and put on Hoagie bun and top with provolone cheese. Put sandwiches on cookie sheet and place in oven (at 300 degrees) for about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Ladle out some of the juice from the Crock Pot into small bowls for your Au Jus dipping sauce!

i've got nesting fever!

Wow, do I feel pregnant...physically, emotionally, mentally. We've got less than 8 weeks to go but for some reason my prego brain thinks he's coming next week and I have had a ridiculous need to get his room and things ready, like right now :). SO, we've spent the last couple weekends slowly getting things together, buying clothes we didn't have, starting to stock up on diapers and such, and trying to make his room a home! I do have to say, it made things very real for us seeing all the baby stuff out....he'll be here before we know it and we are so excited!!

we tried to add some color to the walls since we can't paint

I liked this idea so this is my version :)

and I also found this idea and adapted it. the flags
will say his name once we decide which one he will have :)

and I found this idea and thought it would be a fun thing
to add to the baby's room...there is a small star sticker at
the city of each of our birth places :)

and here's a little update on the growing belly....

what we're eating this week....

Here's what's on our menu this week....what's on yours?

Monday: Pork Tenderloin with Apricot preserves
Tuesday: Mini Meatloaf w/ stuffing
Wednesday: Caramelized Chicken Legs
Thursday: Good ol' Spaghetti
Friday: Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops
Saturday/Sunday: Leftovers, Breakfast for dinner and/or Pizza :)  (aka, a cooking break for this mama!)

a belated birthday post...

Since we were traveling over Sydney's birthday I haven't had a chance to sit and reflect (on here anyway) on the fact that she is now four years old. Honestly, it just blows my mind...where does time go??

I have to say that I have really enjoyed this year with Sydney. Of course it had it's challenges of gaps in communication/understanding, testing boundaries, and the like. But maybe because this was my first year of being a stay at home mom, as I look back it was good year :). I love being able to watch Sydney learn and grow each day and am blessed to be able to be at home with her.

Now...on to the four year old...Sydney is just precious. She really is! She has such a tender heart. She shows genuine concern when someone is hurting. She wants to be helpful. She cares about what is going on around her. She is hilarious and says and does things that have us laughing constantly. She remembers the smallest details of the strangest things. She has a wild imagination and is always coming up with something to play that is so elaborate and creative. She loves music and can pretty much memorize a melody and lyrics after hearing something only a couple times. She loves to draw and color. She is SO shy (which we're working on) and avoids even eye contact with strangers which can make meeting anyone new a HUGE challenge. She loves her family and talks about everyone often. I have no doubt she will be an amazing big sister to her little brother. She is patient and flexible which I know is not typical of a 4 year old, but is a quality I cherish, praise her for, and thank the Lord for. She is full of love, tells Josh and I that she loves us several times a day....and I will never get sick of hearing that nor will I take it for granted because I know she won't always say it so often. And my favorite quality of our little girl is that she knows Jesus loves her, and she loves him....and she believes that he actually lives inside her heart (literally in her chest) which I think is such a beautiful example of faith like a child :)
I cannot imagine life without you, Sydney. You are such a wonderful daughter with a beautiful heart and I cannot wait to see what God does in and through your life. We are so lucky to have you.

getting back into the swing of things...

We had a great time seeing family and celebrating the holidays and are slowly adjusting to being home. The trip definitely took it's toll on this pregnant lady and poor Sydney came down with a cold and fever almost immediately when we got home. So, the week has been spent seeing doctors (chiropractor, my regular check up, and for Syd) and slowly unpacking and hopefully soon some undecorating of the Christmas tree :) On the pregnancy front, the baby is doing well, growth and heart rate were right on target and his growth is definitely slowing my pace! Just over 9 weeks to go...how is that possible?? it's going so fast!!
Below are some pics of our time. Unfortunately, my camera was having flash issues or something in PA so I don't have very many pics there :(

Christmas at Grandpa Jeff and Grandma Di's on Christmas Eve

and birthday celebration (with Grandpa and Great Grandma)

with cousins on Christmas Eve

Christmas morning at Gigi's...she got a barbie car :)

uncle PC's finger puppet

chillin with Aunt Holly

with Uncle Shaun and Aunt Holly

Sydney and her Nana made the gingerbread house from Uncle Rich

No trip to Gigi's house is complete without a
dance party with uncle PC (aka Nick) in the kitchen

of all the choices at a party store, Sydney wanted a "Cars"
birthday cake :)

hard to believe our little girl is 4!!



opening gifts at Grandma and Papa's in PA

playing dress up with cousin Quinten