Photo Website Update

Hey all

Just wanted to give you a heads up if you check my photo website often. I am going to be updating and making some changes. I am not sure if I can take it offline or not so if it looks all messed up or you cannot access it, don't worry it will be back up and running normally soon!

Also, look for some new photos soon. I have a session tomorrow.

Also considering a photo blog... we shall see.

One of my sweet boys...

I was setting up the studio lights and backdrop for a portait session that is scheduled for tomorrow. Well, one my cats, Jack, wandered in and wanted to be a model!

So here are a few pictures of Jack. They are not really edited, just adjusted the lighting. Enjoy!

$201.00?????

~Insert shocked look on my face as the cashier told me my total~

Ok seriously.... why has it gotten SO EXPENSIVE to grocery shop? That is only for 2 people! Now granted, I am trying a few new recipes, had to restock my flour and sugar stock and D begged me to buy him a new XBox 360 game which are so overpriced (wait for the review later) but STILL.

Meat is soooo expensive. That will teach me to run out before I get to Costco to restock. I just didn't have it in me to drive the extra distance to Costco, buy meat in bulk and then spend 2 days dividing it and repackaging. Call me lazy but I just wasn't feeling it.

I even used coupons but only saved $4.00. I know... $4 is $4 but I would love to be one of those women who can get $100 worth of groceries for $20 or less.

Good thing I also restocked on some cream soups, canned tomatoes and tomato soup. I have a feeling I will be digging a little deeper into the creative recesses of my brain to come up with dinner.

I have next weeks menu all planned out so watch for a Menu Planning Monday post on Monday!

No . . . I haven't disappeared.

Sorry I haven't posted anything lately. It's not that I have forgotten about the blog. I actually think about it all the time. Life seems to be going by faster and faster as each month passes us by. I can not BELIEVE its nearly November. Less than 2 months until Christmas! Oh and yes, I have started my Christmas shopping. . . actually I am FINISHED! That feels good! Now if I could get a start on my Christmas cards. But, I digress.

Menu planning has been lacking lately. We are starting to run out of our meat reserves in our chest freezer. Before going to Costco to stock up again, I am trying to plan meals BEFORE I go so I don't buy a lot of what I don't need. Who wants to buy a ton of meat, then come home and seperate and repackage something you might not use? A waste of money AND time.

I am trying to kick my rear in gear and blog more. But at the moment I am trying to find my way out of the piles of paper that creep in around me and my desk. I swear they mate and reproduce at a rate that would put rabbits to shame.

Until next time..... M

D's newest game addiction

Its been a little while since I have blogged about video games. Which is funny, since Video Games is a MAJOR part of this blog (umm... it IS in the title!). I cannot remember if I shared this or not, but D bought a subscription to GameFly. Its basically a game rental service like Netflix. He requests game in an online queue and then he gets them sent to him 1 at a time. He has tried out a few, some were bombs and some are actually fun. This is his latest GameFly rental and I think it looks really fun (I even want to take the controller away from him haha!):

Now I know it looks kinda questionable, but really it looks like a lot of fun and its HILARIOUS! Basically you play as the "Overlord" who is the big guy in the middle of the picture. You control your minions - the gremlin looking guys (DON'T GET WET! haha... remember that movie??) and the gremlins are SOOOO FUNNY! They bring you treasure, they kill the enemy characters for you and provide the must hilarious sound bites. And even the enemy bosses are HILARIOUS! Seriously... this game is one of those games when you can actually have fun watching someone else play.

This boss guy is crazy. He is an evil king who WON'T STOP EATING! You know how he fights you? By rolling over you and then trying to sit on you! Watching D play this really made me LOL.

Ahhh......ahhhh.......

That is all I seem to be doing this morning. I can't stop! Normally sneezing wouldn't bother me that much.... but when I am already feeling ill on TOP of non-stop sneezing. Well, then I get a little irritated. It seems like I have been nothing but SICK the past few weeks. I also suffer (and yes, SUFFER is the correct word) from a more severe form of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) actually referred to as IBD (Inflamed Bowel Disease). Its NO FUN. Especially when you have a flare up. Don't worry, I am not going to elaborate on that. Just use your imagination.

I am thinking of doing a bathroom remodel... since with my IBS I spend a lot of time in there (its sad really... there are somedays I cannot even leave the house and sometimes even the bathroom). What do you think of adding something like this?

Hopefully soon I can get back to "normal" blogging . . . but then again nothing about our lives IS normal!!

Menu Planning Monday

Here we are practically in mid-October. I can hardly believe it! Christmas will be here before we know it. Good thing I have started my Christmas shopping! I am actually almost finished!

Menu planning is going to be interesting for awhile. D and I decided that he will start taking leftovers for his lunches at work. We are also trying to trim our budget up and one area being trimmed is groceries. So things may be looking a little "blah" until I get into the swing of things.

Monday: Chicken Caesar Salads with dinner roll

Tuesday: "Breakfast for Dinner" French Toast made with fresh, homemade bread

Wednesday: Chicken Alfredo (from Costco... we LOVE that stuff and it makes lots of leftovers!)

Thursday: Beef Enchilada's

Friday: Pizza

Saturday: Grandma's 80th Birthday Party

Sunday: Tuna or Egg Salad sandwiches

As always, head over to Laura's blog to get more ideas for your menu planning Monday.

Have a GREAT weekend!

Sorry for the lack of posts this week... seemed like the days flew by. And now that the weekend is upon us its time to travel! We will be away for a few days to attend a friends wedding. Hopefully I will have lots of pictures to share when I return!

Menu Planning Monday

Another week is already upon us. I can hardly believe we are already 6 days into October! Here in Minnesota, we are keeping our eyes on the skies. Never know when that first snow of the season will hit.

This week is a short one for us. A very dear friend is taking us out to eat on Thursday (destination unknown so far) and then Friday we are leaving to attend a wedding in Iowa. Its our "treat" weekend as we will be staying in a hotel and eating out for nearly every meal (except for breakfasts and the wedding reception). I am so looking forward to it!

So here is our shortened week:

Monday: Goulash (my FAVORITE!!) and dinner rolls (if I can get them thawed in time...)

Tuesday: Campbell's One Dish Chicken & Rice Bake

Wednesday: Chicken & mozzarella stuffed ravioli with red sauce and garlic bread

That's it for our short week! I will try and get a recipe up for my goulash. I am absolutely in LOVE with that dish. Check out Laura's website for many more Menu Planning Monday ideas!

2 Days of no Caffeine!

And no headaches! I have been a little more tired than usual but its also been kinda dreary weather here. Now I need to up my water intake. Also, my goal next week is to work out at the gym at LEAST 3 days. Hoping to hit 4. We are going away this coming weekend so have to get it done in the early part of the week.

Stay tuned.. Menu Planning Monday is tomorrow!

Yesterday....

Was day 1 of no caffeine!

I am tired.........

Going to take a nap.

Just a few more days...

And this will be out of my diet completely...



Well at least the caffeine version. I am cutting out caffeine from my diet. Its gonna be difficult but not too terribly difficult. I don't rely on it too much, but I am expecting a few headaches.

I am hoping this will help me cut out soda as well. I have tried and tried to give up soda but keep going back. Thats actually why I am drinking Mt Dew now! I gave up Coca-Cola for awhile and then I started craving Mt Dew really bad!

I will post an update when the Mt Dew is out of the house (only a few cans left) so you can all help keep me accountable.