No Onion Ring for Me? :(

Yesterday afternoon we decided to have a little outing to a new store in town called Dirt Cheap. Basically it's a store that buys all the left over and defective items from other stores. They had a lot of stuff from Target but nothing we needed. It's a good place if you feel like really taking your time and digging for stuff but there's a lot of junk too. They actually had a tv that had a sign on it that said, "Shock hazard. Do not plug in!" Why in the world would someone buy that?!
Anyway, after we left the store we went to Sonic to get some supper. I got my favorite chicken strip dinner(which is only $3.99 with drink this month!). Said dinner comes with one onion ring. Usually hubby and I share the onion ring. Don't know why, but it's kind of become tradition. As soon as we got the food I got out the onion ring to eat my half. Hubby and I started talking about something and next thing I know I look over at him and he is giving me the pouty face...lip poked out and all. I realized I had just put the last part of the onion ring in my mouth. I hadn't chewed it yet so I pulled it out and said, "Sorry! Do you want this part?" He said, "No thanks." We had a good laugh. I guess I just got distracted by our conversation and forgot to share. Sorry, honey, next time I'll give you the whole onion ring. :)

Food, Fun, and Fellowship

So, we've been super busy lately! Thursday night was the football dinner and devo. We had the high school football team at the building. Justin did a devo for them and then we fed them barbecue, yum. It was a great night. The hope is that a door can be opened and there might be an opportunity to teach others through this.

The Devo

Serving the players.

Reagan's contribution: being cute.

Saturday night we had a Halloween party at the house. It was great! We had a lot of people here and had fun playing mafia and watching a movie. Almost everyone was dressed up. I was Cyndi Lauper. Almost no one knew who she is...I felt old. Justin was Kanye West. He ran around interrupting people like Kanye did Taylor Swift at the VMAs. If you don't know what I'm talking about you can look it up on youtube. It was pretty funny.

Food!

Cyndi and Kanye

Playing Mafia

It was a great week but now I'm ready for a break! We have the house to ourselves this week so we are planning on taking it easy and catching up on things we need to do. Don't get me wrong, we love our family and having them visit us, but it will be nice to have a weekend with just us. Hope you all have a great week!

It's Party Time!

First a little update. Monday we took Reagan to her 2 month check-up. She was 11 pounds and 23 inches long! She is getting so big! At her one month check-up she was in the 33rd percentile, now she is in the 55th. The doctor said she is perfect, but we knew that already. :) She also had to get her vaccines. :( Daddy was the one to hold her for all those because, as you may remember, I'm not so good with the needles. As soon as she just brought the shots in the room I started getting anxious and . She cried a little with the first shot, but when she got the other two she was screaming. She was not a happy camper. After all that excitement she took a looong nap when we got home. I am not looking forward to future shots.


I LOVE Halloween! Saturday night we are having a Halloween party at the house for the teens and 20 somethings. We had a party last year too. I thought I'd post some pictures of the food we had and a couple of recipes. The recipes I am posting are not my own. I found them on the internet.

Putrid Punch

Baked Monster Eyes

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

(used cookie cutters to cut the bread into halloween shapes.)

Oreo Balls and Spiders

(added stick pretzels to oreo balls to make them into spiders)

Dirt Cake

(decorated with nutter butters, peeps, and candy pumpkins)



Putrid Punch

1 .13oz package lemon lime Kool-Aid

1 cup sugar

8 cups water

1 can frozen orange juice concentrate

4 cups ginger ale

Worm cubes(ice cubes with gummy worms frozen inside)

3 scoops orange sherbet

Freeze worm cubes ahead of time.

Empty the Kool-Aid package into a punch bowl. Add the sugar, then the water, and stir until dissolved. Stir in the orange juice. Just before serving, add the ginger ale and worm cubes and float the scoops of sherbet on top. Before long, the punch will be green and in fested with worms. Serves 14.

Baked Monster Eyes

1 lb. lean ground beef

2 Tbsp. taco seasoning

2 Tbsp. ice water

1/2 cup fiesta blend shredded cheese

1 cup crushed tortilla chips

1 cup sour cream

32 black olive halves

taco sauce

Mix together the ground beef, taco seasoning, and ice water. Press into 32 mini tart (or muffin) tins. Press firmly into th bottome and up the sides of the pans.

Sprinkle the cheese and then the tortilla chips over the bottom and sides of teh beef mixture, gently pressing into the beefe if necessary to hold the mixture on the sides.

Spoon the sour cream into each meat cup. Top with a half olive, sut side up. Fill teh cavity in the olive with the taco sauce.

Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Serve hot.

Tips:Make sure you use lean ground beef. Last year I did not and they turned out a little weird because of all the grease. Since it's baking in a mini muffin pan it has no where to run off. I don't really like the taste of olives so I just use the little slices instead of halves. To put the taco sauce in the cavity I used a condiment bottle(the ones with the small tip that you can buy in the kitchen section at any grocery store).

Do you have any good Halloween treat recipes or ideas?

Marathon Month

This month has been pretty busy. So far we've had our cookout on the 3rd, my dad and step mom visited that same weekend, Mom visited last weekend, and this weekend Justin's dad, aunt, and cousin were here.
This week is a crazy week. Tomorrow is Reagan's 2 month check-up, Thursday we have a dinner and devo for the high school football team , Justin's mom and one of his sister's will be here next weekend, and Saturday night we are having a Halloween party at the house for the teens and 20 somethings.
The weekend of Halloween we actually don't have any visitors but there may be a big cook-out, hayride, general fall fun type of deal at a member from church's house. I'm tired just thinking about it all! Oh yeah, and somewhere in there I have to be a mom and a wife too! :)
Justin is excited for worship tonight because we have someone coming in to do a report on a work in Jamaica that the congregation supports so he actually gets to sit with Reagan and I through the whole service and just listen. He loves to be behind that pulpit but also enjoys just getting to listen every once in a while.
I guess I'd better go do some laundry before we run out of clothes! :)

Reagan is 2 months old today!

Okay...time has got to slow down! Has it really been another month already?! I can't believe my little girl is two months old! I'm sure I'll be saying the same thing every month and then every year, but I really can't believe it! She is just too cute in this picture. I tell her all the time she is too cute for her own good. :) I'm so not a morning person, but when I get up in the morning and go over to the pack'n'play she gives me this same sweet, huge smile. How can you not instantly be in a better mood? I love her so much!

She is growing sooo much! Her two month check up is Monday so we'll know all the numbers then, but I know she has grown a lot. She's already outgrown some of her 0-3 stuff because she is so long. She's getting pretty good at holding her head up too. I've been trying to do tummy time but she HATES it so she can't really push up. Any suggestions on that?
We have family in again this weekend. This time it's Justin's dad, Mark, and his aunt Brenda and cousin Jessica. This is the first time Jess and Aunt Bren have seen her so of course they are having lots of fun!

More pictures!

Her new favorite thing to do...sucking on her hand.

I love this cute fall outfit!

Happy Halloween!

I laugh every time I see this picture, that face is just too cute! Looks like she's going to have mommy's curls!

Spicy Turkey Chili

Yesterday I mentioned that I was cooking my spicy turkey chili for dinner. It is a healthy chili that tastes awesome(or at least Justin and I think so)! This came from a basic turkey chili recipe my mom gave me.  I added some things to make it just the way I like it. The great thing about recipes like this are that you can take out the things you don't like and add other things you do and it can be made to your spice tolerance. Justin and I like ours pretty spicy. I love eating chili in the fall and winter! As promised, here it is. I hope you like it!

Micah's Spicy Turkey Chili

1 med. onion, finely chopped 1 tsp. crumbled oregano
2 green bell peppers, seeded and diced 1 (4 oz) can chopped mild green chilies
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced 1 (6oz) can tomato paste
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 cup chicken broth
2 lb. ground turkey 2 (15.25 oz) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
6 Tbsp. chili powder 1 (15.25oz) can black beans
1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin 1/4 tsp. salt
Optional: hot sauce

Over medium heat, add a little extra virgin olive oil to the pan, cook onion, bell peppers, and garlic. Cook, stirring often, until onion is soft and transparent. Add turkey and cook, stirring and breaking up meat until meat changes color. Stir in chili powder, cumin, and oregano. Add chilies, tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken broth, beans and salt. Optional: Add a few shakes of hot sauce. Stir well to combine. Bring to boiling, Lower heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.

Tips: I use two pans to cook the veggies and meat because I don't have one large enough for all of it. I just split everything(veggies and meat) equally into the two pans so the meat gets the flavor of the veggies. When the meat is fully cooked, I put both pans into one large pot, then add the spices. My personal favorite for the hot sauce is Texas Pete's. I usually use around 10 shakes of the hot sauce, but as I said before we like it spicy. You may want to make it without hot sauce the first time around to see how much more spice suits your taste.

Body After Baby Challenge

Since I had Reagan I have lost a good amount of the extra weight, but I hit a plateau. I'm still about 15 pounds heavier than I was when I got pregnant plus another 10 to 15 pounds heavier than I really should be for my height. I had started walking and trying to eat somewhat healthier but have been motivated by the Body After Baby challenge that is happening over on Mama Notes. Thanks to Kristen for bringing it to my attention! Here is a link to the challenge.



I'm not officially in on the challenge because I came in too late, but I'm using it for inspiration. I'm following the challenges and trying to do them. I've been walking, doing weights, and doing some yoga. I've been drinking water and working on eating healthier(as I sit here eating rotel and blue corn chips...ha!). I'm obviously not eating completely healthy, but I'm making strides. I've been eating vegetables and dip instead of chips, fruit and dip instead of cookies. I figure every little bit helps. I know the dips aren't the best for me, but I figure it's better to have a little non-healthy with the healthy rather than just going all non-healthy. Besides, aren't we supposed to enjoy our food?! I'm trying to cook healthier things for dinner also. Tonight we're having my spicy turkey chili which is pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. I'll try to get the recipe posted tomorrow.
My official goal is to loose 10 pounds over 8 weeks. I been doing it for about a week and have lost 1 1/2 pounds! Yay! I would love to loose a total of 25-30 pounds, but I realize that kind of weight loss takes time. I've taken my measurements and a "before" picture. I'm not sure if I will share the "before" picture because it doesn't look so good. We'll see at the end how I feel about it. I will let you know at the end how many pounds and inches I loose. Wish me luck!

Shopping Day!

Mom came in this weekend(surprise, surprise :) ) and we went shopping Saturday. I haven't been shopping since before Reagan was born so I was VERY excited. Even if I can't get anything I always have fun looking at everything, but it's much more fun to be able to get stuff! :) Justin was so sweet to watch Reagan while we went out and had fun. Of course, he hates to go shopping with Mom and me. I can't imagine why! ;)

Mom bought my Christmas gift early. It's a 7 1/2 foot pre-lit Christmas tree! Yay! Trees were 40% off this week so Mom could get it as my gift this year. I told her as expensive as they are it could be for Christmas and my birthday!





I have a tree already, but I'm passing it down to Justin, Reagan, and any future kiddos to use as the "hodgepodge" tree as Justin calls it. You know, the fun, anything goes kind of tree with popcorn garlands, construction paper chains, homemade ornaments, and anything else we feel like putting on it. My pre-lit will be the "pretty" tree. Usually I do blues and silver on the pretty tree, but this year we're switching it up with red, bright gree, and gold ornaments. I love decorating for Christmas! I'm already getting excited and it's not even Halloween yet. We found a new store in Northport call Home Accents. It's kind of like Trees'n'Trends. Mom and I were very excited with our discovery. I'm sure Justin is just as thrilled that Mom found me a new place to want to spend money! :)





Justin also did some shuffling around of funds so that I could get myself some clothes that fit. It's really hard to feel good about yourself when you can't wear anything you feel you look good in. I'm so sick of wearing the same shirts over and over(most of which are maternity) because my belly and hips are too big to fit into my pre-preggo stuff yet. I'm not even sure they'll fit after I loose some weight because as long as I'm nursing Reagan there is a whole other issue all of you moms understand. ;) He issued me a limit of $40. I thought, "I can work with that." I chose Old Navy because they've been running some good sales and I can usually find stuff I like there. With my $40 I got 5 shirts!!! Technically they were $42.51 including tax. I was SO proud of myself! Three of them were $8 and the others were 2 for $15. They hide the belly so I'm not self-conscious and trying to suck in so much, because really, how comfortable is walking around trying to hold the belly perfectly sucked in? I think they're really cute! What do you think? Did I do good or did I do good? :)

What is He Thinking Now?

This is a poem Justin wrote. I think it is awesome and it makes you really think about what Jesus went through for you and me.

What is He Thinking Now?


What was my Lord thinking as He beheld the scene?
As Judas Iscariot came forth and the betrayer’s kiss was placed,
While soldiers watched by torches’ light, for they did not know His face?
What was He thinking as He was beat unmercifully?
A reed, a robe, a crown of thorns, they mocked the King of kings.
Release a murderer or an innocent, that is the choice that Pilate gave,
“Crucify Him, Crucify Him,” their decision had been made.
What was my Lord thinking as He beheld the scene?

What was my Lord thinking as He went to Calvary?
As the growing mob stared onward, His mangled body to behold,
When the cross became so heavy that He fell beneath the load?
As a man was bidden to help Him with the terrible weight,
When He gazed upon Golgotha and knew this was His fate?
What was He thinking as He was nailed onto that tree,
As people jeered, “Come down, and then we will believe,”
What was my Lord thinking as He went to Calvary?

What was my Lord thinking as He hung upon that tree?
As He stared into His scorners’ eyes; the hatred and disdain,
When every nerve in His body was set on fire by pain?
As His breathing grew more difficult with the passing time,
When soldiers knelt beneath Him, His garments to divide?
He said, “Son behold thy mother; mother behold thy son,”
And then He cried, “It’s Finished!” His work on earth was done.
What was my Lord thinking as He hung upon that tree?


Better yet,
What is my Lord thinking NOW when He thinks of ME?

-Justin Paschall

Did I Just Sleep For Eight Hours...IN A ROW!?!?!?

Last night I got to sleep somewhere around midnight. This morning I woke up to Reagan squirming around in her pack'n'play. "Wait a minute," I thought. "Is that daylight I see behind the curtains?" I rolled over and grabbed my cell to check the time. It was 8 o'clock in the morning! She(and I) had slept through the night! WHOO HOO!!! I could not believe it. I seriously sat there trying to remember if I had gotten up with her during the night or not. I thought maybe I was imagining that I had slept the whole night. :) It felt sooooo good to get a complete night's sleep. I actually felt somewhat energized! Who could have guessed I would get a full night when she was just 7 weeks old. I figure I'd better enjoy this day of being well rested because I don't know when I'll get another! :)

Update Time

Sorry it's taken me so long. We were really busy last week getting ready for our annual cookout. Saturday night we had 50 or so people at our house. While we munched on burgers and hot dogs, the mosquitoes munched on us! Honestly, I just counted 27 bites on my right foot and leg. The left leg isn't near as bad. My dad and step-mother also came to visit for the first time this weekend. They went home earlier today. It was a great weekend all around. Here are the pictures to prove the mosquito bite claim. Unfortunately, I was too busy playing hostess to take pictures at the cookout and Justin was manning the grill so we didn't get any. Also, here are some pictures from our Destin trip.