howdy!

Hope everyone is doing well this week. I haven't really had much going on other than work so I haven't really felt like I have had much to say.

Today is my day off this week and of course I am up at 7 am. Thanks animals!

I actually have a list of stuff I would like to do today. Plant some winter flowers out front and a few other little home improvement things inside. I am currently hoping it warms up from 40 degrees outside first.

My blood pressure is high this week. It has been in the 130's over 90's. I really hope I don't need to increase the Aldomet. Must EXERCISE!

FlyLady says I need throw away junk mail and magazines. She's right as usual.

Ok I'm starving, breakfast time. I am really resisting the urge to buy this Egg and Muffin toaster. ha!

Rock Band

Mat had bought the video game RockBand this week. Last night Kristi came over and we had a blast. (Even though I hate to admit I enjoyed a video game!) For those of you that don't know it comes with a guitar, drums and a microphone. Each person plays a different part of the song and as you advance it gets more challenging. Next thing we knew 4 hours had passed. They were both better than I was (boo!) but I do think the fact that they have both had musical backgrounds helped. Somehow my 6th grade clarinet didn't really come in handy.

Well I'm off, we are headed over to the Goldricks for Thanksgiving. Danny, Sara, Ty and Katie made the trip down last night!

weekend trip

Mat and I took a trip to Nashville this weekend. It was our "birthday present" and in general just really nice to take a break from work and regular life in general.

I love my pets. Really I do. But two nights of uninterrupted sleep with no meowing or a puppy that that can't make up her mind of under the covers or on top was NICE. I slept until almost 11. I haven't done that in years. Yeah I am sure you guys that are parents will have a comment about that one...ha!

We started our trip with a tour of the Jack Daniel's distillery in Lynchburg. Oh the smells that come out of that place. I had a hard time believing that all the Jack Daniel's in the whole world came from there.

They took our picture while on the tour.

http://www.jackdaniels.com/TheDistillery/Picture.aspx?id=59707



I'm pretty sure our tourguide (the guy kneeling) could give that tour in his sleep.
I enjoyed it so much I bought a used quarter barrel to plant flowers in!

Saturday we went to see Beowulf in IMax 3D. Let me tell you after seeing a movie in Imax and in 3D no less I have a feeling other movies will pale in comparison. The animation was insane. I literally forgot at times it was an animated movie, it looked that real. However it did amuse me that even animated Angelina Jolie spent most of her time naked.

We spent the next few hours walking the mall at OpryLand. I do find it a little sad the theme park is gone. My parents took us there for a few trips growing up and I have fond memories of it. I also have memories of being forced to sit through the Grand Ole Opry which as a kid I found the most boring thing ever.

We finished our night at up at Dave and Busters so we could see the Clemson game. As far as the game goes I'll say no more. (I mean really now!) I throughly enjoyed spending a few hours drinking girly drinks, playing skeeball, basketball and trivia.

On our way home Sunday we stopped by the Loveless Cafe for the insane breakfast food.

It was a great weekend. Thanks Mat for such a nice time and thanks for understanding on Saturday when I needed a break from the crowd.

Happy Birthday! I love you.

mat's blog

hey all,
just wanted to let you all know Mat started a blog now too!

http://matwithonet.blogspot.com

ah, I love the interweb. :)

Menu Plan Monday

For those of you that don't care anything about menu planning you may want to skip over this post!



Menu Plan Monday!

I really seem to be struggling with dinner lately. I'm not sure if its the cold, the dark or what but dinner lately seems like such a struggle. I've learned if I wait until after I get off work to plan dinner and make a frantic run to the store by the time I do finally get home I'm too hungry and tired to care!

I have been reading Menu Plan Monday for months now. I always enjoy seeing people's menus yet I had not taken the time myself to participate. In addition to the menu planning I also am trying to plan ahead with some things I can make extra and freeze for a future meal.

This week's plan ahead meal: Firehouse Chili
I spent some time Sunday getting this made. It was not anymore work to double the recipe and I froze half of it after it was finished. The other half goes to dinner tonight and leftovers will be made into lunch this week. I used extra lean ground beef so it should be fairly healthy. I will let you guys know how it turned out.

Menu 1: Chili with cornbread, oranges
Menu 2: Mini Greek Meatballs on pita with Tzatziki, served with romaine lettuce and tomatoes, alexia potatoes
Menu 3: Soup and Sandwiches, I plan to cook a turkey breast early this week so I can have it to take for lunch (I like this so much better than packaged deli turkey), fruit
Menu 4: Sweet Vidalia Spinach Salad with Chicken, apples

Mat and I have plans the other nights of the week. Hopefully this planning ahead will result in better for us foods and overall savings compared with last minute eating out and junk food.

To check out other people's menus visit Laura over at The Organizing Junkie

Saturday!!!

I love being off on Saturday's. I seem to work them about 90% of the time so getting two days off in a row is a real treat.

I envy you guys that are at the Clemson game today. The weather looks gorgeous on TV. Plus we are winning!!!

I have been trying to use this day to catch up on things around the house. I don't know how we manage to make things so messy so fast but its unbelievable. I haven't been doing very well keeping up with my FlyLady cleaning this week. Between the slightly cooler weather, getting dark before I get home from work and my new BP meds I feel zonked out by 6 pm. One area I want to work on this week is menu planning. Over at the Organized Junkie she has something called "Menu Plan Monday" so I am going to do my best to participate this week and play my meals ahead of time.

As for the knee..
Well I got my MRI results. No tears at all however I do have arthritis in my knee (what?!?) and a Ganglion Cyst. I googled it and it doesn't sound too bad but they want me to go to an orthopedist to see. Ugh.

happy to me!

Today was my 32nd birthday. I cannot believe I am 32. It seems so OLD! I remember when I was younger and I dreamed where I would be "in the year 2000". I was sure by the time I was 25 I would be married, with kids, a career etc etc. I didn't reach any of those goals. Thankfully at 32 I have a great husband, a job I like and while no kids yet we finally are headed in that direction. I can't complain about a thing! (Don't tell my husband I said that!)

I took today off work. I was so hoping to sleep late but my animals would not allow it. By 7 am they were up and they thought I should be as well. Thanks furry children.

I did have a nice day though. Mat took me to a new place I wanted to try for lunch (Tropical Smoothie Cafe) and then he took me to see a sorta girlie movie I had been wanting to see (Martian Child) and then when he had to leave to go to work Kristi took me out to dinner. Overall a very nice birthday!

On another topic...

I started my Aldomet yesterday. It is the new pregnancy safe blood pressure medicine. All day today I swear I can hear my heartbeat in my ears so I will need to be careful and check my BP daily. I really need to get some of this weight off me. Hopefully my knee will be back to normal soon.