Hola! I just wanted to let y'all know that I'm now blogging at robinsonslivingwell.blogspot.com
Hope to see y'all there!
Monday, January 7, 2013
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
A Seldom Used Form of Carpentry
I apologize if any of this is incoherent, I haven't had a decent night of sleep since the Clinton administration.
That may be slightly exaggerated...but I feel like the walking dead nonetheless.
It's the baby's fault really. He's in there laughing while I'm staring at the ceiling at 2 am thinking about nominal clauses, my grocery list, and oh yeah I'M HAVING A BABY IN 7 WEEKS OR LESS.
Due to my inability to stay asleep, I decided to consult a professional. By professional, I mean my friend Lianne who has recently birthed her third child and is an expert on many topics. You won't get a more professional evaluation than that of a Mother of 3 through text messaging. Here's how it went down (We are both English Majors so yes, we punctuate our text messages):
Rachel: Did you ever have any horrendous, pregnancy insomnia?
Lianne: YES!! About the last 2-3 months of it because I could not get/stay comfortable.
Rachel: It's killing me! I have NEVER had problems sleeping (at night) before!
Lianne: Just nap whenever you can. I couldn't sleep at night, but I could saw some logs after lunch every day.
Wait....what?
Did she just say "saw some logs"?
Not to overuse a cliche' acronym...but I quite literally LOLed!. I laughed right out loud at that message.
I laughed again when I recanted the story to Jason. I laughed again when I used it in my facebook status, and I laughed again when I thought about it in the shower.
I got some funny responses when my facebook status said, "I'm about to go saw all these logs that piled up on me last night."
Translation: "I'm about to take a nap to make up for the sleep I DIDN'T get last night."
Some thought it was sexual innuendo, some thought it had to do with bodily excrement...my own husband didn't even believe such a phrase could have such a meaning.
He just knew Lianne and I had made that up. That had to be something that only folks from counties such as Marion or Escambia would say.
He was very disappointed to have the validity of "sawing logs" verified by his North Carolina coworker who also introduced me to "calling hogs."
Maybe it's pregnancy related delirium, maybe because it reminds me of my PawPaw, or maybe it's the Tylenol PM I plan to have as a snack, but tonight, I have a feeling I'm going to be sawing a good many logs.
Or having nightmares of Leatherface....
That may be slightly exaggerated...but I feel like the walking dead nonetheless.
It's the baby's fault really. He's in there laughing while I'm staring at the ceiling at 2 am thinking about nominal clauses, my grocery list, and oh yeah I'M HAVING A BABY IN 7 WEEKS OR LESS.
Due to my inability to stay asleep, I decided to consult a professional. By professional, I mean my friend Lianne who has recently birthed her third child and is an expert on many topics. You won't get a more professional evaluation than that of a Mother of 3 through text messaging. Here's how it went down (We are both English Majors so yes, we punctuate our text messages):
Rachel: Did you ever have any horrendous, pregnancy insomnia?
Lianne: YES!! About the last 2-3 months of it because I could not get/stay comfortable.
Rachel: It's killing me! I have NEVER had problems sleeping (at night) before!
Lianne: Just nap whenever you can. I couldn't sleep at night, but I could saw some logs after lunch every day.
Wait....what?
Did she just say "saw some logs"?
Not to overuse a cliche' acronym...but I quite literally LOLed!. I laughed right out loud at that message.
I laughed again when I recanted the story to Jason. I laughed again when I used it in my facebook status, and I laughed again when I thought about it in the shower.
I got some funny responses when my facebook status said, "I'm about to go saw all these logs that piled up on me last night."
Translation: "I'm about to take a nap to make up for the sleep I DIDN'T get last night."
Some thought it was sexual innuendo, some thought it had to do with bodily excrement...my own husband didn't even believe such a phrase could have such a meaning.
He just knew Lianne and I had made that up. That had to be something that only folks from counties such as Marion or Escambia would say.
He was very disappointed to have the validity of "sawing logs" verified by his North Carolina coworker who also introduced me to "calling hogs."
Maybe it's pregnancy related delirium, maybe because it reminds me of my PawPaw, or maybe it's the Tylenol PM I plan to have as a snack, but tonight, I have a feeling I'm going to be sawing a good many logs.
Or having nightmares of Leatherface....
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Chicken Parmesan
Could there possibly be a better way to end a hiatus than with an easy and non-cellulite-creating recipe for Chicken Parmesan.
Maybe....but today, you get the chicken.
Other than keeping me from gaining laughable amounts of weight, my favorite thing about this recipe is that I made it using only things I already had in my house. I hate surprise trips to the store. I was even able to use up a rock-hard loaf of bread I was going to have to throw out to make the bread crumbs!
Here's what you will need:
-Boneless, skinless Chicken breasts.
-1 jar of Spaghetti sauce (I normally make my own but Publix has been having great deals on the jars)
-Pasta (Spaghetti or Fettuccine)
-Bread Crumbs (Italian seasoned if you want a short cut)
(If all you have are plain, just add some garlic powder and Italian seasoning)
-Just a little bit of butter (I probably used less than 1/4 of a cup)
- About 1/3 cupParmesan Cheese (Pretend you see it in the photo, I used the stuff in the green can)
-Some other white cheese (I would recommend mozzarella since this is an Italian dish, but all I had was jack so I completely jumped continents!)
1. Heat oven to 375*
2. Pour the jar of spaghetti sauce into a 9x13 pan or larger, depending on how many chicken breasts you use.
3. Mix about 2 cups of seasoned bread crumbs with about 1/3 cup of Parmesan cheese.
*Note- I don't keep seasoned bread crumbs on hand but I did have the aforementioned loaf of stale bread. I tore/chisled it into pieces and pulsed it in the food processor until I got fine crumbs. Once I had enough pulsed, I added the parmesan, garlic powder and Italian seasoning and pulsed it some more to get it well blended.
*Note you also want to make sure you use dry bread crumbs. If your bread is fresh, toast it in the oven to remove moisture.
4. Split the chicken breasts. I did this for 2 reasons: 1. They will cook much faster 2. I can stretch 3 chicken breasts to feed 3 people dinner 2 nights in a row. (That's the most math I'll do all year!)
5. Melt the butter in a microwave safe bowl (30 seconds should do it).
6. Dip each chicken breast in the melted butter and then coat with your bread crumb mixture. You'll want to really press as much of the bread crumb mixture on the chicken breasts as you can. Be warned, this will result in the picking of breadcrumbs from under the fingernails for a few minutes.
7. Lay the coated chicken breasts on top of the spaghetti sauce. I had to get a second pan so it would all fit. Keep in mind, this is only 3 chicken breasts that have been split. This recipe will go a long way!
8. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes. (While the chicken is baking, boil your pasta according to package directions. If you need a step by step on how to boil pasta, please call your Mama and tell her you need help, there's nothing more I can do).
9. Remove from oven, put some shredded cheese on top. Return to oven and bake for 5 more minutes.
10. Yum.
Use a big spoon to scoop out each breast and as much sauce as you can.
11. Serve over pasta and wait for your husband to cry tears of appreciation.
Okay, so he didn't really cry, but all 3 of us agreed that this was one of the best things I've made....ever! Let me know how you like it!
Maybe....but today, you get the chicken.
Other than keeping me from gaining laughable amounts of weight, my favorite thing about this recipe is that I made it using only things I already had in my house. I hate surprise trips to the store. I was even able to use up a rock-hard loaf of bread I was going to have to throw out to make the bread crumbs!
Here's what you will need:
-Boneless, skinless Chicken breasts.
-1 jar of Spaghetti sauce (I normally make my own but Publix has been having great deals on the jars)
-Pasta (Spaghetti or Fettuccine)
-Bread Crumbs (Italian seasoned if you want a short cut)
(If all you have are plain, just add some garlic powder and Italian seasoning)
-Just a little bit of butter (I probably used less than 1/4 of a cup)
- About 1/3 cupParmesan Cheese (Pretend you see it in the photo, I used the stuff in the green can)
-Some other white cheese (I would recommend mozzarella since this is an Italian dish, but all I had was jack so I completely jumped continents!)
1. Heat oven to 375*
2. Pour the jar of spaghetti sauce into a 9x13 pan or larger, depending on how many chicken breasts you use.
3. Mix about 2 cups of seasoned bread crumbs with about 1/3 cup of Parmesan cheese.
*Note- I don't keep seasoned bread crumbs on hand but I did have the aforementioned loaf of stale bread. I tore/chisled it into pieces and pulsed it in the food processor until I got fine crumbs. Once I had enough pulsed, I added the parmesan, garlic powder and Italian seasoning and pulsed it some more to get it well blended.
*Note you also want to make sure you use dry bread crumbs. If your bread is fresh, toast it in the oven to remove moisture.
4. Split the chicken breasts. I did this for 2 reasons: 1. They will cook much faster 2. I can stretch 3 chicken breasts to feed 3 people dinner 2 nights in a row. (That's the most math I'll do all year!)
5. Melt the butter in a microwave safe bowl (30 seconds should do it).
6. Dip each chicken breast in the melted butter and then coat with your bread crumb mixture. You'll want to really press as much of the bread crumb mixture on the chicken breasts as you can. Be warned, this will result in the picking of breadcrumbs from under the fingernails for a few minutes.
7. Lay the coated chicken breasts on top of the spaghetti sauce. I had to get a second pan so it would all fit. Keep in mind, this is only 3 chicken breasts that have been split. This recipe will go a long way!
8. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes. (While the chicken is baking, boil your pasta according to package directions. If you need a step by step on how to boil pasta, please call your Mama and tell her you need help, there's nothing more I can do).
9. Remove from oven, put some shredded cheese on top. Return to oven and bake for 5 more minutes.
10. Yum.
Use a big spoon to scoop out each breast and as much sauce as you can.
11. Serve over pasta and wait for your husband to cry tears of appreciation.
Okay, so he didn't really cry, but all 3 of us agreed that this was one of the best things I've made....ever! Let me know how you like it!
Monday, May 10, 2010
93% Savings? Yes Please!
Here is what I got today:
So it's probably evident that I don't have a lot of hobbies! I've taken up extreme shopping as a new hobby and it's working out pretty well. As a result of some strategic planning, coupon cutting and using stores rewards programs, I spent $5.92 on all this stuff today. The total cost of all of this would have been $80.59! So, um.....if you trust the math of the English major, I saved 93%! As much as I would love to have you over, give you a glass of tea, and explain to you in painstaking detail how I did all of this, I can see you cringing from here, so I'll spare you the details unless y'all just reeeeally want them.
To put things in perspective, take that pack of Huggies diapers for example. The regular price for those is $11.00 (not that I have EVER paid full price for diapers). Basically, I spent about half the cost of ONE pack of diapers and got ALL this stuff!
Go me!
So it's probably evident that I don't have a lot of hobbies! I've taken up extreme shopping as a new hobby and it's working out pretty well. As a result of some strategic planning, coupon cutting and using stores rewards programs, I spent $5.92 on all this stuff today. The total cost of all of this would have been $80.59! So, um.....if you trust the math of the English major, I saved 93%! As much as I would love to have you over, give you a glass of tea, and explain to you in painstaking detail how I did all of this, I can see you cringing from here, so I'll spare you the details unless y'all just reeeeally want them.
To put things in perspective, take that pack of Huggies diapers for example. The regular price for those is $11.00 (not that I have EVER paid full price for diapers). Basically, I spent about half the cost of ONE pack of diapers and got ALL this stuff!
Go me!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Happy Mother's Day!
Dear Mama,
First of all, you were right. About what? About pretty much everything!
Second, I'm sorry! For what? For being dramatic, for being a slob, for only cleaning the entire kitchen ONCE, for that time I made you cry at the Sizzler for being so darn bad and ungrateful.
Also, Thank you! For what? For forcing me to make friends, for getting me little surprises, for cooking a good meal for me every day and making restaurant trips (even fast food) a treat, for coming to my many thousand sporting events, for not letting me wear too much makeup, for making me bring home decent grades, for teaching me to save money, for letting me learn some things the hard way, for letting me talk about nothing on the phone and for loving all the people that love me.
Love you Mama!
First of all, you were right. About what? About pretty much everything!
Second, I'm sorry! For what? For being dramatic, for being a slob, for only cleaning the entire kitchen ONCE, for that time I made you cry at the Sizzler for being so darn bad and ungrateful.
Also, Thank you! For what? For forcing me to make friends, for getting me little surprises, for cooking a good meal for me every day and making restaurant trips (even fast food) a treat, for coming to my many thousand sporting events, for not letting me wear too much makeup, for making me bring home decent grades, for teaching me to save money, for letting me learn some things the hard way, for letting me talk about nothing on the phone and for loving all the people that love me.
Love you Mama!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
My Goings On
It's been a long time since I've posted and boy, we've had a LOT going on. I'm still pregnant and feeling more so every day! Right now, I'm 21 weeks!
Some days I feel huge but this picture doesn't look like it for some reason.
In case you didn't know.......
The blue blanket means we're having (another) BOY!
Jason and I have narrowed our choices down to 3 names. He won't give me free reign so I told him to choose between the 3. He's really, really procrastinating. Right now, his name is Mister Baby Robinson but if his DADDY hasn't made a decision in a few days, he's going to become Cletus the Fetus.
He may not have a name...
But he has a diaper bag!
Also, we color coordinated for Easter :)
My sweet Joe gets better looking every day! I just don't know what I'm going to do with him!
Today, on the way to school, Joe and I saw the most gigantor turtle I have ever seen:
My Dad thinks he was a gopher tortoise, about 12-15 years old and not even full grown!
I wanted to put my shoe in the picture for perspective but I was afraid he would bite my foot off (turns out they're gentle). From my estimate, he was about 2 feet long from his nose to his tail. His shell was like a serving platter!
Last, but certainly not least, the bittersweet news.
My dear, sweet Grandma passed away March 30th. She was just a wonderful person. She was well loved and well taken care of. I already miss her so much, but I know, thanks to my Savior Jesus Christ, I will see her again! She is no longer sick, she is no longer missing her husband, and she is rocking her only baby boy.
Thank y'all for reading and I'll see you again soon!
Some days I feel huge but this picture doesn't look like it for some reason.
In case you didn't know.......
The blue blanket means we're having (another) BOY!
Jason and I have narrowed our choices down to 3 names. He won't give me free reign so I told him to choose between the 3. He's really, really procrastinating. Right now, his name is Mister Baby Robinson but if his DADDY hasn't made a decision in a few days, he's going to become Cletus the Fetus.
He may not have a name...
But he has a diaper bag!
Also, we color coordinated for Easter :)
My sweet Joe gets better looking every day! I just don't know what I'm going to do with him!
Today, on the way to school, Joe and I saw the most gigantor turtle I have ever seen:
My Dad thinks he was a gopher tortoise, about 12-15 years old and not even full grown!
I wanted to put my shoe in the picture for perspective but I was afraid he would bite my foot off (turns out they're gentle). From my estimate, he was about 2 feet long from his nose to his tail. His shell was like a serving platter!
Last, but certainly not least, the bittersweet news.
My dear, sweet Grandma passed away March 30th. She was just a wonderful person. She was well loved and well taken care of. I already miss her so much, but I know, thanks to my Savior Jesus Christ, I will see her again! She is no longer sick, she is no longer missing her husband, and she is rocking her only baby boy.
Thank y'all for reading and I'll see you again soon!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
God Sent Me to Big Lots Yesterday.
Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration. God has blessed me immeasurably, but I'm not sure he has a vested interest in me saving 70% on a dining room suit. Ask and ye shall receive, right?
A little bit of background on the subject of my dining room. You can read more about my chronic lack of dining room furniture here. We have a beautiful formal dining room that up until yesterday, held an old couch.
Jason and I had decided to spend some of our income tax refund money on a table at least. For the past 3 months we have been "looking" at furniture. Jason's looking includes just that, looking. No action. We picked out something we liked at a local furniture market and considering the price, figured we could have it made into coffins when we die because it would be the LAST table we ever bought. We didn't even entertain the idea of buying the gorgeous china cabinet because we hope to send our children to college one day.
Fast forward to yesterday. No table...still waiting. Here's where the story gets tricky. Completely unrelated to everything you just read: Jason's office chair has scratched the hardwoods under his desk until he is one tiny scratch away from working in a bean bag. He finally got sick of me curling up into a ball and crying in the corner about it and suggested that I go to Staples and get him a floor mat.
For some crazy reason, (I didn't even fuss) I said okay and planned on going all the way across town to Staples to purchase said floor mat and then continue my day with grocery shopping. As I was leaving Staples, I decided to go in Big Lots because my Mom saw in their sale paper that they had Crocs for $10. (I hate crocs, they were for Joe)
Please note that in the 2.5 years I have lived here, I had been in Big Lots only once.
So I walked over there.
And the most amazing thing happened.
The dining room suit I fell in love with but had resigned myself to the fact that we would never get....
WAS SITTING IN THE BACK CORNER OF BIG LOTS FOR 70% OFF OF RETAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BROYHILL people!!!
I may or may not have shed a tear or eleven.
We were able to get the table, 8 chairs, and the amazingly gorgeous china cabinet for less than I would have expected to pay for the table and chairs. AND we may still be able to afford coffins one day!
It weighs about a million pounds and is completely disassembled, but maybe by Thanksgiving we can have it put together!!
I capped off the day by spending $71 and saving $85 at Publix. I'd call yesterday a success!
A little bit of background on the subject of my dining room. You can read more about my chronic lack of dining room furniture here. We have a beautiful formal dining room that up until yesterday, held an old couch.
Jason and I had decided to spend some of our income tax refund money on a table at least. For the past 3 months we have been "looking" at furniture. Jason's looking includes just that, looking. No action. We picked out something we liked at a local furniture market and considering the price, figured we could have it made into coffins when we die because it would be the LAST table we ever bought. We didn't even entertain the idea of buying the gorgeous china cabinet because we hope to send our children to college one day.
Fast forward to yesterday. No table...still waiting. Here's where the story gets tricky. Completely unrelated to everything you just read: Jason's office chair has scratched the hardwoods under his desk until he is one tiny scratch away from working in a bean bag. He finally got sick of me curling up into a ball and crying in the corner about it and suggested that I go to Staples and get him a floor mat.
For some crazy reason, (I didn't even fuss) I said okay and planned on going all the way across town to Staples to purchase said floor mat and then continue my day with grocery shopping. As I was leaving Staples, I decided to go in Big Lots because my Mom saw in their sale paper that they had Crocs for $10. (I hate crocs, they were for Joe)
Please note that in the 2.5 years I have lived here, I had been in Big Lots only once.
So I walked over there.
And the most amazing thing happened.
The dining room suit I fell in love with but had resigned myself to the fact that we would never get....
WAS SITTING IN THE BACK CORNER OF BIG LOTS FOR 70% OFF OF RETAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BROYHILL people!!!
I may or may not have shed a tear or eleven.
We were able to get the table, 8 chairs, and the amazingly gorgeous china cabinet for less than I would have expected to pay for the table and chairs. AND we may still be able to afford coffins one day!
It weighs about a million pounds and is completely disassembled, but maybe by Thanksgiving we can have it put together!!
I capped off the day by spending $71 and saving $85 at Publix. I'd call yesterday a success!
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