Taco Casserole

Taco Casserole

Part of eating healthy again is trying to make healthy meals at home.  This is one that I saw on Facebook and thought I would try it.  And it was GOOD and it's good even the next day!

1 bag of doritos

1 lb. lean hamburger

1 package taco seasoning

1 package mozzerella cheese low fat

1 package chedder cheese low fat

lettuce and tomatos

Cook the hamburger and mix in the taco seasoning as instructed on package. 

Layer in 9 x 13 pan as:

Doritos on bottom

Meat/taco seasoning mixture

1/2 cheese mixture

lettuce, tomatoes, onions (whatever else ya want)

Rest of the cheese mixture on top

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. 

Enjoy!!

Sometimes Mom Duties Take Priority

I know many of you have probably been DYING to know how I did in the race on St. Patty's Day....and I'm sad to let you know...I didn't do it.

 

I ended up having to put my wants behind where Miss H needed to be that day and so I skipped out.  Which I'll be honest...wasn't all that bad considering it was a chilly 34 degrees and breezy out! 

 

But I did get my tshirt from that day (whole point of paying for a race anyways right??  Can I get an AMEN??) 

 

*crickets*

 

hello??

 

Anyone there??

 

Moving on! 

 

I'm getting back at it though.  Trying to get my eating under control again and drinking my weight in water each day.  This weekend its supposed to be in the 40s...so I'm going to get back out there and start up again. 

 

Love this little girl!

 

 

 

First "Race" of 2013..kinda

Anyone else running in a St. Patty's Day Race? 

I'm "running" a 4 miler but there ain't gonna be no racin' going on around here for me! 

After yesterday's trial run...I'll be surprised if I can run 3 miles without walking. 

I fully plan on walking some of it (and drinking green beer at the same time) and supporting my fellow runners as I eat drink their green beer their dust. 

My co-worker talked me into doing and I'm now regretting it and throwing office supplies at him during all working hours because I know I'm not going to do well but Whatev right?? 

It's the start of the running season and there's FREE GREEN BEER afterwards....and of course

I get a tshirt for participating. 

It's ALL about the tshirt..duh! And the green beer...

They didn't say how much you gotta participate...but I'll be participating in some shape that day.

Does picking up my registration packet = participating?? 

One thing this "race" will do is kick my butt back in gear and get me back out there again. 

Should be fun....with all that green beer. 



Weekend Recap....I'm back at it and SORE!

This weekend was relaxing and crazy busy too at the same time.  Come Friday afternoon I was D.O.N.E with the week! 

After sporting this cute scarf all day

LOVE infinity scarfs right now and I FINALLY found one I love (NY and CO)

 I enjoyed a couple of these after I got home for the day while I made dinner and cleaned my house.  I rarely drink just because so when you see me doing this...you know it's been a LONG week!

Saturday I spent the entire day cleaning more and making food for family to come over for Miss H's birthday party.  It was a great time but just crazy I tell ya.  That kind of fun is exhausting! 

Fruit Pizza Idea I found on Pinterest...pretty close to the actual one I must say!!



Pretty good right??



All the yummy food I made.  No complaining from any of the guests how good everything was!

All ready for the party!

Love this sweater!!  I need 5 more like it

Ice Cream cake from the DQ

Cousins!  Seeing these 3 together warms my heart in ways I never thought possible

Then Sunday morning Miss H was dropped off at religion class at 9am and it was a nice day out and I decided I needed to get my butt out there and run again. 

It was in the 50s when I woke up...so perfect weather to head out in. 

I'll be honest...I've been scared of seeing how much I've lost what I worked so hard to do this past year in the couple of months I've taken off from running.  I knew it was gonna be bad and I knew my mind was gonna tell me I couldn't do it.  I headed out and did .7 miles and I was huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf in the Three Little Pigs story. 

I got to a stop light and couldn't believe how much my lungs hurt.  My legs were out of shape you could tell but OMG my lungs...where did they go??? 

I haven't had to concentrate this hard on keeping my breathing under control in so long....IT SUCKED!! 

I walked some and stretched on my legs and feet good...they were hurting and I could feel myself starting to limp.  The LAST thing I want is to get hurt again.  I gotta take better care of my feet and make sure I stretch out.  Got to another light and I started running again....felt a little better but it was still rough and then of course I hit a hill.  ERRR!

I made myself get to the top of the hill before I stop, caught my breathe again and started up again, run another long stretch and then walk again.  Started running again and FINALLY felt good and finished out the last half mile or so strong and ran the rest of the way.  I was tired and exhausted and couldn't believe how much that 2.7 miles sucked. 

It took me 35 miles to do that 2.7 miles.  yes I walked some so it would  have been faster if I ran...but I ran 5 miles in 55 minutes on Thanksgiving day...not cool!

I was mad at myself that I didn't keep up with my running but then I know it's really not been possible with it being cold out.  80% of my running has always taken place with Miss H out with me and I can't drag my kid out in the cold to run a couple of miles...I'm not THAT mean!  So it is what it is...I'm running further than I was a year ago at this time so I'll take it. 

Walking around my church parking lot and just stretching it out and reflecting on everything going on in my life I spotted an outdoor rosary area and the stations of the cross and I walked through them all and prayed the rosary in this area while I waited for Miss H to get out of class. 

Outdoor Rosary

It was one of the more peaceful things I have done in a long time.  The wind was blowing, the sun was shining through the branches and it was just me out there.  And it reminded me that sometimes in life things get crazy and busy and overwhelming and they don't always go the way we thought they would...but no matter what the basics of our life are always there. 

My faith is a true basic in my life.  I can't remember the last time I prayed the rosary but doing so felt very healing with everything I've been going through these last couple of months.  It reminded that I don't run for races or fast times...I run for me.  I run for that peaceful feeling I get being out on my own, just my thoughts and my feet on the ground. 

This morning I woke up crazy sore but I'm glad to be back at it. 

Bring on the Spring Running Season!

Snow day, sweater, and my new love

Not a lot whole lot of exciting stuff going on around here. 

I've been cleaning and going through a lot of stuff a my house lately and have actually dragged some things to my office to make it more "homey" and "me" at work. 

I've always done contract work so I've never been in an office for very long...but with being at my current place for almost 3 years...I think it's time to decorate a little. 



View from my chair at my desk. 




J

Found this litle guy this past weekend. 
I LOVE HIM! 
I've been slightly obsessed with owls lately and have refrained myself from buying them until I met him. 



It snowed like crazy here in the last 12 hours...and then it's supposed to be 54 on Saturday...HELLO OHIO WEATHER!

New Sweaer I found at Old Navy

Miss H didn't approve of it at all....said I wasn't a "cool mom" in it. 

AS IF! 

Apparently she doesn't know that polka dots are in right now. 

It's super soft and I'm not sure if I like it either but it reminds me of those old sweaters my mom used to put me in for school pictures from the early 90s, you know with the big stripes and stars and hearts on them. 

I'm reverting back to being 7 with Miss H I guess. 

But I'm STILL a Cool MOM! 



What do ya do when your waiting in line???

Try to take pictures of yourself...without anyone realizing what you are doing....duh!

Love my new necklace...you like??



What do you think you're looking at???



Whaaa? 

Don't judge....I'm posting again aren't I? 

I NEVER said it was going to be life changing! 

Miss H's Birthday Traditions

Yesterday was Miss H's 7th birthday. 

That's some crazy stuff there ya'll.  I have a 7 year old?!?!  How the heck that has happened, I'm not sure.  Literally just this past weekend I was picturing her at the age of 2 or 3 years old...and then BOOM...she's 7??? 

It's not fair I tell ya!

In my house...birthdays are a BIG deal.  Probably part of that is because my mom always made them a big deal but I've kind of taken them to the next level. 

And why shouldn't I??  Miss H's birthday is my Mama - versary (ya know...anniversary but with mama in the beginning...just incase you missed that...I probably would too). 

Miss H's birthday is PACKED FULL of traditions that I started on her very first birthday.  It amazes me that Miss H remembers them ALL.  If I try to skip one...she remembers.  Which honestly...that tells me that I've done it right! 

So here they are....Miss H's Birthday traditions. 

1.  Starts the day before...where I bake cupcakes and a treat to bring into school.  This part I dread and normally I am EXHAUSTED for some reason on this day. 

2.  Hide cupcakes from Miss H and decorate after she goes to bed. 

3.  Take off work to spend the day with her, bring her to school, have lunch with her, pick her up from school etc. 

4. Wake her up on the morning of her birthday singing happy birthday to her with a cupcake and candle lite in it.  She LOVES this...and so do I.  I tried to record me doing this, this year and I about dropped the cupcake and burned my house down doing so...so the video was worthless. 

5.  She gets to eat the cupcake first thing in the morning....it's her day...why not start your day off with a cupcake?!?! 

6.  She gets to open a present from me...it's always an outfit she gets to wear for her birthday. 

7.  I make her breakfast...eggs and french toast were her request this year. 

8.  Take pictures of her new outfit and see how much she has grown!

OMG is she cute??!!?!

Word to the wise....take a picture of your child in front of something that you will be able to look back and see how much they have grown! 

The picture on the left is her last year on her 6th birthday...she's grown a ton!!

9.  Take her to school, have lunch with her and celebrate her birthday with her friends. 

10.  We go out to dinner, where ever she wants for her birthday...to end the day. 

Went to Logan's of all places...she's obsessed with that place....because she has a friend named Logan.  ha!  I love this age!

And that is it.  Lots of hugs and kisses and a few happy tears and it's a great day!   Done exactly the same every year...and I don't think I'll ever stop.  I love that little girl more than anything in this world....and someday when she's grown...I want her to be able to look back on her birthday and realize how important that day is...not just for her...but for her mom and how much it means to have her in my life.  I am so blessed!!