time for change

It's a new year.  Time for reflection, time for thinking.

This year, for some reason, that thinking and reflection is making me uncomfortable.  To keep from having to confront the uncomfortable I find myself drowning out having to think with TV.  I've become obsessed with all the shows about people with extreme lifestyles.  You know the shows - hoarders - heavy - my strange addiction - intervention.  I just don't understand how people get themselves into those situations.

But we all have our own extreme lifestyles in some way don't we?  For example, some may think I have an extreme lifestyle with all the travel.  But we learn to adapt to these lifestyle decisions and make them work for us.  I'm just glad my "extreme" life isn't detrimental to my family or me.  At least I don't think it is.

Even though it makes me uncomfortable, 2011 is going to be a year of change for me and I'm ready for it!  Before I make changes on the inside, though, I decided to make a little change to the outside.

What changes are you going to make in 2011?

a cheap meal

Tonight was Supper Club time again.  Being January, this month's theme was a meal on a budget.  After consulting my mother, I landed on a casserole.  I think the recipe actually was my sisters but I have no idea where she got it from.  Most likely she got it from somewhere as it's not like her to make up a recipe.  She's one of those that has to follow the recipe to a T - I mean, we're talking even down to the brand called for in the recipe!  So sorry for not giving credit where credit is due - if I knew - I would.  But I digress...it ended up being pretty good but I already know a change I would make so this is how I'll make the recipe next time.

Bierocks Casserole
2 lbs ground turkey
1 small head cabbage, shredded
1 small red onion
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 tsp black pepper
1 container reduced fat crescent rolls
2 cups shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese


Brown the ground turkey and onions.  Stir in the shredded cabbage and steam until tender.  Add the pepper and can of soup.  Spray a 9x13 casserole dish.  Pour the mixture in, top with cheese and unrolled crescents (crescents go on the very top).  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.  Enjoy!

Since the theme was budget, I calculated how much this recipe cost per serving.  I figure this makes 8 servings and cost about $2 per serving.  That's not too bad by my standards!  What's your cheapest budget "go to" meal?

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I'm a little out of sorts these days.  I can't believe I went to Supper Club and didn't even take my camera with me.  You should have seen how cute the kids all looked playing dress up!

once a year...

...Duke gets a new toy.  It involves a squeaky and stuffing and he usually gets it for Christmas.

He immediately proceeds to remove said squeaky and stuffing and strings it throughout the entire house.

But he looks at you with that "what? it wasn't me" look and so you just have to laugh and go around the house and pick it all up.  I even found stuffing in my office and the bedroom.

He has learned to use them to play ball by himself.  I know you think I'm crazy right now but I'm serious.  He shakes the de-stuffed toy and the ball goes flying and Duke runs after it.  It's so cute and gets me out of having to throw the ball for hours on end.

He will play with the de-stuffed toys for years to come.  In fact right now he has four of them strung out on the floor.  But how could you ever get upset at a sweet face like this...

a fun surprise

We had a little snow in Texas last weekend - not really enough to do anything with.  In Maine though, there is PLENTY of snow and no one there to do anything with it - no snow angels, no snowball fights, no cute snowmen.  Of course, that is, unless you have some really nice friends with young kids that stop by the Camp and build you a little surprise.

How fun to look out the camera and see this cute little guy staring back at us.  It has snowed a lot more since then and now he looks like he's in quicksand.  I can't wait to see how long he lasts!  I'll take a surprise like that any day!

new hair-do

I LOVE getting my hair done.  Next to a 2-hour massage on a Friday night, getting my hair done is the most relaxing thing.

Starts out with someone else brushing your hair.  That part I can totally do without - I'm way overly tender headed.

The best part is the shampoo - I need someone to shampoo my hair every day. 

Maybe I would become a morning person if I could start each day with someone washing and blow-drying my hair for me!

It makes me so relaxed I could fall asleep.....but I don't (but totally want to).

I'm secretly (or not so secretly now) glad we got a flat tire before heading back to Texas after Christmas so I could be there for my nieces first haircut and see she's already learned to love the relaxation that is getting a new hair-do!

That reminds me - I need to make a phone call - it's about that time!!!

random london-ness

I found some pictures in the London batch that I thought were interesting.  Some of them are blurry but that's what happens when it's cold out, you're trying to take pictures with gloves on and/or your camera is being temperamental.

food...
Well, the English aren't necessarily known for their food.  As Sean says, "when was the last time you went to an English restaurant?".  It was pretty cold while we were there (low 40's) but I couldn't get over how much outside seating there was at the various restaurants around town.  When I saw the roasted chestnuts on the street I couldn't pass them up.  I know you'll make fun of me but I had never had them before!  All I could do was sing the song the rest of the day - you know the one...  We also tried minced pie - not the meat version - fruit - actually pretty good.

as seen in store windows...
Loved the bling on the gorilla and the puppets bidding on something great at Sotheby's.

as seen at the parade...
You can probably imagine my surprise when I saw the band from Mount Desert Island come through - that's in MAINE y'all!  But I think I was much more surprised by the gurney passing by - IN THE PARADE!

random clock?...
So I don't exactly know how to read it but I thought it was really cool.  All I know is there is a "1" in the middle because it was January 1 - we saw it on our walk home from the fireworks.

as seen on the street...
This is the most unique street act I have ever seen.

as seen on tv...
Europeans are a little more liberal with what they show on TV.  One night I started flipping channels and came across a show.  Sean and I don't agree on what to watch too often so he went to bed - that is until I started dying laughing.  He came out to see what I was cracking up at - and ended up quite enjoying the show.  It was the greatest game show EVER.  Take yourself right on over to YouTube and search for "distraction game show UK" and have yourself a great laugh.  I don't dare tell them to bring it to the US cuz you know we'd just ruin the show.

Last, but not least, because you cannot ride the tube without hearing it over and over and over...

an evening with friends

We have some friends that are on a 2 year work gig in the UK.  The husband used to work at the same place as Sean and I do and, in fact, the very first time I ever went to Maine (way before Sean and I were together, it was probably when he wanted me...actually, no, it was even WAY before that - it was when we didn't like each other at all) my friends and I rented this friend's mother's cabin on the lake next to the one Sean and I live on now.  Currently they live in a cute suburb (if that's what they call them) of London.

We started off the evening with a little wine and snacks.  Then we headed to a little dinner and off to a local pub.  The pub was so quaint with tons of mugs hanging around.  They even had a little map so people could find theirs for future visits.

We had a lot of good conversation, good laughs and listened to some locals sing a few tunes.  Have a listen...

It went on for quite some time and we tried to join along when we could and knew the song.  Sean was so excited when they finally sang one he knew (and no, it wasn't Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd).  It was actually more of a poem.  It was The Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert W. Service.  Check out the Johnny Cash version.


Once we got back, their youngest daughter (who is in middle school and has picked up such a cute British accent in her time in the UK) was still up and proceeded to try to teach Sean how to play the guitar.  Try was the key word in that - she was oh so patient with him - much more than I could have ever been - the boy just has no memory or musical talent according to this lesson.  I just think he looks so cute playing but my dreams of being married to a rock star are shot!  :(

Mitchell's - I'm so glad we finally made it out to see you since your time is limited in the UK.  We had such an amazing time with you.  Thanks for the great time and great hospitality!