Get it while it's HOT!

Check out these websites for new deals every single day:

http://www.woot.com/ - New deals are posted daily at midnight central time. These items eventually rotate so you can plan ahead for something you really want.

http://www.mywoot.net/past/ - This is a website that is designed to help you track the deals offered by Woot under its website, woot.com.

http://delectiblemommies.blogspot.com/ - Check out new deals and GIVEAWAYS posted daily.

https://www.mamabargains.com/Every single item, AT LEAST 50% OFF it’s retail value and at times up to 80% off its retail value! New featured item(s) each day.

http://www.greenbabybargains.com/ - At 12:00 pm EST, Monday-Friday, they bring you their latest "green" baby bargain, and you have until it's gone to scoop it up, and spread the word! And, then they do it all over again the next day!

http://www.babycheapskate.com/ - Save big bucks on baby & kid stuff with in-store tips & coupons as well as online bargain shopping.

http://www.babysteals.com/ - New deal posted each morning at 9am!

Did I mention I like shopping online?

Wicked

Last night, Travis and I went to see the Broadway production of "Wicked" in downtown Portland. We went with a big group of friends and had such a fun night! It was exciting to get all dressed up and have cool places to go! We went to dinner at an excellent restaurant called Henry's Tavern. Then we hurried over to the Keller Auditorium for the show. It was fantastic! We had amazing seats and were so impressed with the performance!

The show was better than I had expected and I am looking forward to watching the original "Wizard of Oz" so I can put it all together in my head. The music was fun and the set/costumes looked really good! I loved Elphaba! I learned later that at age 8 the actress played Young Cosette in the original Broadway cast of Les Miserables (on CD). Wow! Oh, and I heard that "The Lion King" may be coming back to Portland next year! I hope so! I loved that Broadway show would love to take Travis! I'm crossing my fingers for that one!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

AAAAA!!!! I'm 33!!!!! I'm still getting used to being so old and wise! :) It seems so strange to say I'm a thirty-something! Yes, I know I have been there for a while now. But 33 just makes it more official, don't you think? I do have to say though, that each year gets better and better for me. I wouldn't want to turn back the clock because I'm excited to see what the future holds for me.

I had a wonderful birthday! Tyler and I hung out at home all day and Travis brought lunch home to us. I loved all the birthday wishes from friends and family! Then later, I drove to the airport to pick up my sister, Tawnya. We were laughing before she even got into the car! I love it when she comes to visit! What a great birthday present! We stopped at IKEA before heading home and I have to say that it was a totally different experience without kids along to chase. I could actually browse around and read the tags for things. :) After we arrived home, Tawnya broke out the presents from my sisters. Heidi made me two beautiful bracelets. I love them! Amber gave me DVD copies of "The Young Riders" TV show season. Those of you who remember this will know that we were in LOVE with this show as teenagers. I teared up over this present. And totally busted up laughing! Then we watched one of the episodes. Whoa, that took us way back! Too funny!

Tawnya's present came the next day when we went shopping all morning! Tawnya gave me new sunglasses and a cute clutch purse. She took the day off of work so we could play! It was a beautiful day, so we took the boys on a bike ride to the school to play and ride around the track.


Later, Travis and I had a surprise visit from our good friend, Lincoln, from Maryland. Justin was busting out laughing at things Lincoln would say. :) Wish you were here too, Jeri! Travis had a good time going out to dinner and a movie with his buddy.

Tawnya worked on Thursday and then we had a girls movie night. We watched "The Secret Life of Bees". I had read the book for book club last year and was happy the movie was as good as the book.

This morning, we drove Tawnya to work and then she will go straight to the airport to catch her flight back to Salt Lake City. We are sad to say goodbye, but are so happy we were able to have such a fun week with Tawnya doggie and Lazagna! Thanks for coming Tawnya!

I Laughed Out Loud!

This morning, Justin and I were in such a hurry to get our shoes on to catch the bus passing by our house that I picked some winners! Thank goodness we were able to flag down the bus driver as we ran around the corner. Whew! That was a close one!

Slow Cooker Sunday - Shepherd's Pie

We had a change of plans this morning and I made homemade chicken noodle soup and corn bread for dinner tonight. This crock pot recipe is on the horizon for us later this week. It sounds yummy to me...

Shepherd's Pie

1 lb. ground beef, browned
1 (10 3/4 oz.) can, condensed tomato soup
1 (15 oz.) can, whole kernel corn, drained
1 (15 oz.) can, French cut green beans, drained
1/2 tsp. dried basil
2 cups instant mashed potatoes, prepared (or use leftover real mashed potatoes)
2 cups grated cheddar cheese

Combine beef, soup, corn, beans and basil in crock pot. Spread mashed potatoes on top. Cover and cook on low heat 5 to 6 hours. The last hour of cooking, sprinkle cheese over potatoes. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

You'll find it on the fridge!

If you take a peek at my refrigerator, you'll see what's been going on at our house:

1. Preschool - Yesterday was my turn to teach Ty's preschool group. Our theme was the weather and we did all sorts of art projects including these hand print sunshines and drawings of snowmen. The watercolor pictures are just solely for entertainment purposes only for Tyler while Justin has been at school. Did you know I can put in a whole load of laundry in the time it takes to watercolor a picture? Yeah, I was impressed, too. Those watercolors are coming back out again soon. :)

Today we had a preschool field trip at the park and did a weather balloon experiment to go along with our lesson yesterday. The kids like letting their balloons fly away so we could observe the direction the wind was blowing. They looked for their own balloon color until they were out of sight. Several of them were relieved when I told them I had another identical balloon in my van for them to take home. I don't think Tyler would have EVER let go of his balloon otherwise.





2. Alphabet - We're all about letters at our house. We even sing the ABC song forwards AND backwards! Those magnets are also great fun when I'm trying to make breakfast, snacks, lunch, snacks, snacks, dinner, and more snacks. Sometimes I wonder if we do anything but eat around here? Hmmm. Justin tells me every day that he is going through "one of those growth spouts! I'm starving!" It makes me laugh every single time he says "spout"!

3. Menu Calendar - There I go with more of that eating thing. What can I say? So, I decided to make it all a little easier on me with a menu plan for the month. Or at least for a week or two ahead. It's still a work in progress, but I'm hoping this will help to solve the 5:15 p.m. scramble for something to cook for dinner. Please say you do it too!

4. School Pictures - Justin got his first grade class pictures back this week. They aren't on the fridge because the menu won out on the fridge space battle. This picture is of Justin in kindergarten. That picture of the little girl is ME in first grade. The boys have a hard time imagining that I was EVER their ages. I thought it was fun to see the family resemblance. Yep, we're definitely related there.

5. M.I.A. - Two more things missing-in-action on the fridge, but still fully fridge-worthy news: Snow in March?!? I can't believe it snowed on Monday...in Oregon! Here's proof:



And last, but certainly not least: We are officially counting down to visitors! My sister, Tawnya, comes next Tuesday (on my birthday!). I am so excited! Then my parents and my Grandpa Jolley are coming to visit the next week during the boys' spring break from school. I can hardly wait!

Slow Cooker Sunday - Santa Fe Chicken

SANTA FE CHICKEN

Combine the following in your crock pot:
1 can black beans, drained
1 can corn
1/2 cup salsa

After stirring, add:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup more salsa

Cook on low for 3 hours. Then add,
1 block of cream cheese

Cook one more hour. Serve over rice with flour tortillas.

My Notes: I just used 2 chicken breasts and we still had leftovers for tomorrow's lunch. (I love that!) If you need a dairy-free version, we recommend using Tofutti brand's better than cream cheese. I just used 1/2 of what the recipe calls for and it was great.

I spiffied up some jasmine rice with some cilantro and green onions. It was so tasty wrapped up with the chicken in a flour tortilla. Tyler got a corn tortilla and was happy as a lark. He started eating first and called over to me in the kitchen, "That is some good food, Mom!" What a good boy!

Jungle Gym

The boys love to wrestle with Travis and he usually lets them climb all over him. They have so much fun together! Tonight, Tyler just climbed up on top of Travis' head and he just sat there and laughed! This cracked me up and I just had to go run and grab the camera:



Little did Travis know he would someday be not only a great dad, but a fun jungle gym, too!

Slow Cooker Sunday - Cream Cheese Chicken

This is a yummy one we have loved for years! Thanks, Jeri! We haven't eaten it for a while, though, because Ty can't have dairy or wheat. I finally figured out some alternatives and it turned out perfectly! I am so pleased. Here is the original recipe and I'll add my notes at the end.

Cream Cheese Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 pkg. dry Italian dressing mix (Good Seasons brand)
3 T. melted butter
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. seasoning salt
1/2 cup milk
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese

Place chicken in bottom of crock pot. Drizzle butter and sprinkle dressing packet all over the chicken. In another bowl, mix cream cheese, onion powder, seasoning salt, milk, and cubed cream cheese. Pour over chicken. Cook on Low all day. Shred chicken and serve over rice or fettucini noodles.

My notes for a dairy-free/wheat-free version:
#1 Use whatever butter you can use or just leave it out.
#2 Recipe for homemade cream of chicken soup base:

3 cups water
1/2 cup rice flour (try white bean flour or 3 TBS. corstarch for gluten-free sauce)
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbs. healthy mayo like Veganaise (this turns sauce a creamy white and flavors it up)
2 packets chicken broth concentrate (Trader Joe's) or whatever chicken boullion flavoring you use.

#3 We like "Better than Cream Cheese" by Tofutti.