This is off the top of my head, I hope I get it all! This is one of Anthony's favorite recipes that I make. I found the recipe a few years ago when I was living alone, but I have changed it a lot. See what you think.
Artichoke Chicken
Ingredients:
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 can artichoke hearts, marinated or not, chopped
2/3 cup mayo (I use light mayo, to be healthier)
2/3 cup sour cream (I use reduced fat, sometimes fat free. All work fine.)
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, plus 1/2 cup more
1/4 cup shredded or grated parmesan cheese, plus 1 tbsp more
2 cloves garlic, chopped (optional, if you like garlic. I love it!)
salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 350. Rinse and pat dry chicken, and place in bottom of a casserole dish. In a medium bowl, mix chopped artichokes, sour cream and mayo (you only have to use as much as you want, if you like less, use less. As long as you have enough of the mixture to cover the chicken in the pan, it will be fine. I promise!), 1/2 c mozzarella and 1/4 c parmesan cheeses, garlic and salt and pepper. Spread the mix over the chicken. Bake, covered, in the oven for 20 minutes, then uncover and sprinkle the rest of the cheeses on top and bake for another 25 minutes, or until chicken juices run clear.
I usually serve this with couscous. If you don't know what that is, look for it near the pastas. My box says to mix (for 2 people) 2/3 cup couscous with 1 cup water. I usually add a little bit of bouillon for more flavor, but you could just use broth instead. It is excellent with the sauce form the chicken.
Mmm. I hope you enjoy this, let me know if you try it!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Saturday, November 1, 2008
New house
Right now, I am sitting in my new living room, watching a DVD and relaxing. It is a neat house, it was remodeled 6 years ago, so it seems practically new to me. Expecially compared to my old house, which seemed so old and dingy. The carpets were just washed today, too. I still need to do some cleaning, and I need to put everything away. Nothing is really set up, we're just hanging out for now. We have 3 bedrooms upstairs, and an unfinished basement that is about half as big as the main floor. It is really cool though, because I have so much more storage space. It is a lot bigger, and everything will feel better. Neils won't have to crawl around on hard wood floors, and I know the floor is really clean, and I will try really hard to keep it clean. I am happy about our new place :)
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Whoah...that's scary!
There is this website called babysteals.com where they have a new time every day for 50-70% off (I think that is right...) but, I have been looking at it every day, and today it really caught my eye!
This lady's belly really scares me! Look at how weird those muscles are! That freaks me out!
I know there is never any way my belly would look anything similar to that, ever. I can't work that long and that hard, and afford the tummy tuck it would take to get my skin that tight and take all the stretch marks out. Plus, I don't even think it is attractive. I think that much muscle definition is just yuck. I like softer definition, especially on girls. It just looks better. Weird.
This lady's belly really scares me! Look at how weird those muscles are! That freaks me out!
I know there is never any way my belly would look anything similar to that, ever. I can't work that long and that hard, and afford the tummy tuck it would take to get my skin that tight and take all the stretch marks out. Plus, I don't even think it is attractive. I think that much muscle definition is just yuck. I like softer definition, especially on girls. It just looks better. Weird.
Costumes...and more
It ends up that I am making/arranging costumes for...Me, Neils, Anthony, Chris, Marlee, Rose, TJ, Luke, and helping my mom. That is 9 people needing my help for Halloween costumes! It is overwhelming, but I love it. I love to do things like this, to create something that someone is exctied about. Yay. But, I don't have anything really completed, except the baby's.
Neils is being Winnie the Pooh, so Anthony is being Christopher Robin, and I am being Piglet. Neils's costume is already made, though, so maybe I shouldn't count him above...
So, this is what I have left to do today and early tomorrow.
For Anthony, I have to cut a pair of pants into shorts, and make the collar and cuffs of his shirt white.
For me, I have to make my dress...which is piglet's body...and that's it, I think...
For Chris, I have to spray paint a jacket silver, make a wig of mossy/seaweed-y hair. and make a hot pink tutu (he is being this character called "Old Greg." You can find him on YouTube, but I really don't suggest it. Don't do it. It is kind of gross, and you probably won't get the humor (I don't, really, but I can see how some would).
For Marlee, I have to make a Swiss Maid outfit...a top, skirt with suspenders, and an apron.
For Rose, I have to find a flapper-style dress and accessories (I offered my old flapper costume to my sister, but she already had a costume, and Rose said she'd wear mine,but she is too big for it...so she said I should come up with one)
For TJ, something to go with Rose's outfit. I'll find a tux-style shirt or just find a vest to go over a white button up shirt so he looks like a man from the 20's or so.
For Luke...I need to make a stretchy white belt to go aroudn the waist of his nurse's outfit, because he is beign the Joker in the new Batman movie, where he is the nurse talking to Harvey Dent.
For my mom, I need to make a necklace with baby stuff on it, like pacifiers, bottle nipples, othersmall baby items. She is a being a "Fairy Grandmother." She thought of it herself, how tricky.
Yep.
And, I'm in charge of the Halloween party, too, so I have to make some more things for the party. I have to make some bones of skeletons for the kids skeleton game...it is a relay race where they run to one side of the room, grab a body part from a dish, run back, and they build a skeleton of the parts.
The second thing I need to do is make tombstones for the musical tombstones (like musical chairs) game.
And...I need to make the dip and the frozen juice hands (grape kool aid ice hands to go in the orange soda) when I get to my sister's house tomorrow. Actually, I won't have time for the ice hands there, will I? Geez...I better make them today then.
Ahh...some days I have nothing but Neils, some days I have so so much to do...
Neils is being Winnie the Pooh, so Anthony is being Christopher Robin, and I am being Piglet. Neils's costume is already made, though, so maybe I shouldn't count him above...
So, this is what I have left to do today and early tomorrow.
For Anthony, I have to cut a pair of pants into shorts, and make the collar and cuffs of his shirt white.
For me, I have to make my dress...which is piglet's body...and that's it, I think...
For Chris, I have to spray paint a jacket silver, make a wig of mossy/seaweed-y hair. and make a hot pink tutu (he is being this character called "Old Greg." You can find him on YouTube, but I really don't suggest it. Don't do it. It is kind of gross, and you probably won't get the humor (I don't, really, but I can see how some would).
For Marlee, I have to make a Swiss Maid outfit...a top, skirt with suspenders, and an apron.
For Rose, I have to find a flapper-style dress and accessories (I offered my old flapper costume to my sister, but she already had a costume, and Rose said she'd wear mine,but she is too big for it...so she said I should come up with one)
For TJ, something to go with Rose's outfit. I'll find a tux-style shirt or just find a vest to go over a white button up shirt so he looks like a man from the 20's or so.
For Luke...I need to make a stretchy white belt to go aroudn the waist of his nurse's outfit, because he is beign the Joker in the new Batman movie, where he is the nurse talking to Harvey Dent.
For my mom, I need to make a necklace with baby stuff on it, like pacifiers, bottle nipples, othersmall baby items. She is a being a "Fairy Grandmother." She thought of it herself, how tricky.
Yep.
And, I'm in charge of the Halloween party, too, so I have to make some more things for the party. I have to make some bones of skeletons for the kids skeleton game...it is a relay race where they run to one side of the room, grab a body part from a dish, run back, and they build a skeleton of the parts.
The second thing I need to do is make tombstones for the musical tombstones (like musical chairs) game.
And...I need to make the dip and the frozen juice hands (grape kool aid ice hands to go in the orange soda) when I get to my sister's house tomorrow. Actually, I won't have time for the ice hands there, will I? Geez...I better make them today then.
Ahh...some days I have nothing but Neils, some days I have so so much to do...
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Blogger bucket list
The Blogger BUCKET LIST.
You are supposed to put a star(*) next to everything that you have ever done, next to the things you would never do put a (-) And add a (#) next to things you would love to do.
1. Touched an iceberg #
2. Slept under the stars *
3. Been a part of a hockey fight-
4. Changed a baby's diaper *
5. Watched a meteor shower *
6. Given more than you can afford to charity *
7. Swam with wild dolphins #
8. Climbed a mountain #
9. Held a tarantula*
10. Said "I love you" and meant it*
11. Bungee jumped#
12. Visited Paris#
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea#
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise *
15. Seen the Northern Lights #
16. Gone to a huge sports game *
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty#
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables*
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope*
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment*
21. Had a pillow fight*
22. Bet on a winning horse-
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill*
24. Built a snow fort*
25. Held a lamb#
26. Gone skinny dipping*
27. Taken an ice cold bath-
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar-
29. Seen a total eclipse*
30. Ridden a roller coaster*
31. Hit a home run#
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking*
33. Adopted an accent for fun*
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors#
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment*
36. Loved your job 90% of the time*
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied*
38. Watched wild whales#
39. Gone rock climbing#
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach#
41. Gone sky diving##
42. Visited Ireland#
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant-
44. Visited India#
45. Bench-pressed your own weight #
46. Milked a cow-
47. Alphabetized your personal files*
48. Ever worn a superhero costume*
49. Sung karaoke*
50. Lounged around in bed all day*
51. Gone scuba diving#
52. Kissed in the rain*
53. Played in the mud*
54. Gone to a drive-in theater*
55. Done something you should regret, but don't*
56. Visited the Great Wall of China#
57. Started a business##
58. Taken a martial arts class#
59. Been in a movie*
60. Gone without food for 3 days-
61. Made cookies from scratch*
62. Won first prize in a costume contest#
63. Got flowers for no reason*
64. Been in a combat zone-
65. Spoken more than one language fluently*
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone*
67. Bounced a check*
68. Read - and understood - your credit report#
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy#
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did#
71. Called or written your Congress person*
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over?? not sure if i want to
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge#
74. Helped an animal give birth-
75. Been fired or laid off from a job-
76. Won money*
77. Broken a bone-
78. Ridden a motorcycle#
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph#
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon#
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing-
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days#
83. Eaten sushi***
84. Had your picture in the newspaper*
85. Read The Bible cover to cover -
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about*
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions-
88. Gone back to school*
89. Changed your name*
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands-
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes#
92. Read The Iliad#
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch*
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating-
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt*
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language*
97. Been elected to public office-
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream#
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care-
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you*# it's my life :)
101. Had a booth at a street fair* yes yes
102. Dyed your hair*
103. Been a DJ#
104. Rocked a baby to sleep*
105. Dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours-
106. Raked your carpet-
107. Brought out the best in people*
108. Brought out the worst in people*
109. Worn a mood ring*
110. Ridden a horse# I was so young, it doesn't count
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap-
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe#
113. Buried a child-
114. Gone to a Broadway# I went to a Queen show in Vegas...
115. Been inside the pyramids#
116. Shot a basketball into a basket*
117. Danced at a disco-
118. Played in a band-
119. Shot a bird-
120. Gone to an arboretum#
121. Tutored someone*
122. Ridden a train#
123. Brought an old fad back into style#
124. Eaten caviar#
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need*
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant#
127. Published a book#
128. Pieced a quilt*
129. Lived in an historic place*
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage*
131. Asked for a raise-
132. Made a hole-in-one#
133. Gone deep sea fishing#
134. Gone roller skating*
135. Run a marathon###
136. Learned to surf#
137. Invented something*
138. Flown first class#
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite#
140. Flown in a helicopter#
141. Visited Africa#
142. Sang a solo-
143. Gone spelunking#
144. Learned how to take a compliment*
145. Written a love-story* :)
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David#
147. Had your portrait painted*
148. Written a fan letter*
149. Spent the night in something haunted-
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane-
151. Ran away-
152. Learned to juggle#
153. Been a boss#
154. Sat on a jury-
155. Lied about your weight*
156. Gone on a diet*
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget*
158. Written a poem*
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox*
160. Gotten food poisoning*
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission#
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon#
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks*
164. Gone to the opera*
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous*
166. Worn knickers*
167. Ridden in a limousine#
168. Attended the Olympics#
169. Can hula or waltz#
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books-
171. Been stuck in an elevator-
172. Had a revelatory dream*
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane-
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert*
175. Saved someone’s life#
176. Eaten raw whale-
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint*
178. Laughed till your side hurt*
179. Straddled the equator#
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing*
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival*
182. Sent a message in a bottle#
183. Spent the night in a hostel-
184. Been a cashier*
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt#
186. Joined a union ?? not sure
187. Donated blood or plasma#
188. Built a campfire*
189. Kept a blog*
190. Had hives-
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots#
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation*
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course-
194. Served at a soup kitchen-
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube#
196. Know CPR#
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible*
198. Found a long lost friend*
199. Helped solve a crime#
You are supposed to put a star(*) next to everything that you have ever done, next to the things you would never do put a (-) And add a (#) next to things you would love to do.
1. Touched an iceberg #
2. Slept under the stars *
3. Been a part of a hockey fight-
4. Changed a baby's diaper *
5. Watched a meteor shower *
6. Given more than you can afford to charity *
7. Swam with wild dolphins #
8. Climbed a mountain #
9. Held a tarantula*
10. Said "I love you" and meant it*
11. Bungee jumped#
12. Visited Paris#
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea#
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise *
15. Seen the Northern Lights #
16. Gone to a huge sports game *
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty#
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables*
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope*
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment*
21. Had a pillow fight*
22. Bet on a winning horse-
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill*
24. Built a snow fort*
25. Held a lamb#
26. Gone skinny dipping*
27. Taken an ice cold bath-
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar-
29. Seen a total eclipse*
30. Ridden a roller coaster*
31. Hit a home run#
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking*
33. Adopted an accent for fun*
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors#
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment*
36. Loved your job 90% of the time*
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied*
38. Watched wild whales#
39. Gone rock climbing#
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach#
41. Gone sky diving##
42. Visited Ireland#
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant-
44. Visited India#
45. Bench-pressed your own weight #
46. Milked a cow-
47. Alphabetized your personal files*
48. Ever worn a superhero costume*
49. Sung karaoke*
50. Lounged around in bed all day*
51. Gone scuba diving#
52. Kissed in the rain*
53. Played in the mud*
54. Gone to a drive-in theater*
55. Done something you should regret, but don't*
56. Visited the Great Wall of China#
57. Started a business##
58. Taken a martial arts class#
59. Been in a movie*
60. Gone without food for 3 days-
61. Made cookies from scratch*
62. Won first prize in a costume contest#
63. Got flowers for no reason*
64. Been in a combat zone-
65. Spoken more than one language fluently*
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone*
67. Bounced a check*
68. Read - and understood - your credit report#
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy#
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did#
71. Called or written your Congress person*
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over?? not sure if i want to
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge#
74. Helped an animal give birth-
75. Been fired or laid off from a job-
76. Won money*
77. Broken a bone-
78. Ridden a motorcycle#
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph#
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon#
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing-
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days#
83. Eaten sushi***
84. Had your picture in the newspaper*
85. Read The Bible cover to cover -
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about*
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions-
88. Gone back to school*
89. Changed your name*
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands-
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes#
92. Read The Iliad#
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch*
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating-
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt*
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language*
97. Been elected to public office-
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream#
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care-
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you*# it's my life :)
101. Had a booth at a street fair* yes yes
102. Dyed your hair*
103. Been a DJ#
104. Rocked a baby to sleep*
105. Dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours-
106. Raked your carpet-
107. Brought out the best in people*
108. Brought out the worst in people*
109. Worn a mood ring*
110. Ridden a horse# I was so young, it doesn't count
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap-
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe#
113. Buried a child-
114. Gone to a Broadway# I went to a Queen show in Vegas...
115. Been inside the pyramids#
116. Shot a basketball into a basket*
117. Danced at a disco-
118. Played in a band-
119. Shot a bird-
120. Gone to an arboretum#
121. Tutored someone*
122. Ridden a train#
123. Brought an old fad back into style#
124. Eaten caviar#
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need*
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant#
127. Published a book#
128. Pieced a quilt*
129. Lived in an historic place*
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage*
131. Asked for a raise-
132. Made a hole-in-one#
133. Gone deep sea fishing#
134. Gone roller skating*
135. Run a marathon###
136. Learned to surf#
137. Invented something*
138. Flown first class#
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite#
140. Flown in a helicopter#
141. Visited Africa#
142. Sang a solo-
143. Gone spelunking#
144. Learned how to take a compliment*
145. Written a love-story* :)
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David#
147. Had your portrait painted*
148. Written a fan letter*
149. Spent the night in something haunted-
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane-
151. Ran away-
152. Learned to juggle#
153. Been a boss#
154. Sat on a jury-
155. Lied about your weight*
156. Gone on a diet*
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget*
158. Written a poem*
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox*
160. Gotten food poisoning*
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission#
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon#
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks*
164. Gone to the opera*
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous*
166. Worn knickers*
167. Ridden in a limousine#
168. Attended the Olympics#
169. Can hula or waltz#
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books-
171. Been stuck in an elevator-
172. Had a revelatory dream*
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane-
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert*
175. Saved someone’s life#
176. Eaten raw whale-
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint*
178. Laughed till your side hurt*
179. Straddled the equator#
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing*
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival*
182. Sent a message in a bottle#
183. Spent the night in a hostel-
184. Been a cashier*
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt#
186. Joined a union ?? not sure
187. Donated blood or plasma#
188. Built a campfire*
189. Kept a blog*
190. Had hives-
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots#
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation*
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course-
194. Served at a soup kitchen-
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube#
196. Know CPR#
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible*
198. Found a long lost friend*
199. Helped solve a crime#
Friday, October 24, 2008
Oh, the things he says
Sierra: We should go to the DI to look for Halloween costume stuff.
Anthony: Okay. But you have to change Neils's diaper first. That's my only stipulation......what's a stipulation?
Anthony: Okay. But you have to change Neils's diaper first. That's my only stipulation......what's a stipulation?
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Photos from the weekend
For some reason some of these pictures uploaded with weird colors.
Isabelle, Ryan, Hope and Meg
Katrina and Travis
Katrina, Me, Neils and Travis
Sleeping in a chair with Neils
He really enjoys the back of the car for some reason
Isabelle and Hope playing with Luke...he was trying to make it say 867 5309
Neils loved this kitchen!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! When my mom saw this picture she asked me who it was...
Reading to Isabelle and Hope
Poor kid was fussing so much
Isn't he funny
Hope was swiping the placemat back and forth, and Neils thought it was hilarious. you shoudl have heard them giggling
Playing with blocks. Isabelle keps saying "baby, baby..." and hugging him and trying to kiss him and he was getting kind of angry
Isabelle, Ryan, Hope and Meg
Katrina and Travis
Katrina, Me, Neils and Travis
Sleeping in a chair with Neils
He really enjoys the back of the car for some reason
Isabelle and Hope playing with Luke...he was trying to make it say 867 5309
Neils loved this kitchen!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! When my mom saw this picture she asked me who it was...
Reading to Isabelle and Hope
Poor kid was fussing so much
Isn't he funny
Hope was swiping the placemat back and forth, and Neils thought it was hilarious. you shoudl have heard them giggling
Playing with blocks. Isabelle keps saying "baby, baby..." and hugging him and trying to kiss him and he was getting kind of angry
Yay :)
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