Make This Monday - Braised Beef with Sun-dried Tomatoes

2 tsp. olive oil
1 lb beef stew meat
1/4 cup rough chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 Tbl. flour
3/4 c water
1/2 c red wine
1/2 cup beef broth
1/2 cup sundried tomatoes
1/2 Tbl brown sugar
1/2 Tbl. worcestshire sauce
3/4 tsp rosemary
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

Brown beef in olive oil.
Add onion and cook 7 minutes.
Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
Add flour, cook 2 minutes.
Add remaining ingredients and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer 1 hour and remove tomatoes. Set aside.
Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.

Works for Me: Prepping breakfast the night before

I'm sure many people already do this, but I just started and it has really helped my day get off to a better start.

The baby is usually awake and ready to nurse at the same time that Princess 1 and I are getting up and ready for breakfast. Any delay in tending to baby causes much screaming. So I have started doing the prep the evening before. I get the coffe pot ready to go and set the auto timer. I fill our cups with ice and stick them in the freezer. If I know that we are having cereal the next morning, I will pour it into the bowls and cover them with foil.

Taking 5 minutes to do these things the night before has really reduced my morning stress and helps set a calmer tone for the day. Works for Me!

Click here for more tips.

Make This Monday - Kielbasa and White Cheddar Pasta

I came up with this while trying to use up leftovers and it became a family favorite.

1/2 lb lean kielbasa, sliced
6 ounces elbow macaroni
1 1/2 cups shredded white cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon butter
salt and pepper

Cook macaroni until tender. Add butter, salt and pepper and stir incheese. Warm kielbasa for 1 minute in microwave and add to pasta.

Random Questions

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?

Cable, I feel like it is a waste of money and would like to turn it off.

2. Do you miss being a child?

Yes! no bills, no jobs, no housework.

3. What chore do you hate the most?

doing the dishes, because it has to be done every.single.day.

4. Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?

A teppanyaki restaurant in may to celebrate our anniversary.

5. If you could go back and change one thing, what would it be?

Buying our first house - we settled for one we didnt really want.

6. Name of your first grade teacher?

Mr. Cummins

7. What do you really want to be doing right now?

staying at a cabin in the woods

8. What did you want to be when you grew up?

A mom. I’m not a career minded person whatsoever.

9. How many colleges did you attend?

One. Go Sun Devils!

10. Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?

Because it’s easy to nurse in, and I spend most of the day nursing.

11. What are your thoughts on gas prices?

Way too high, but I doubt they'll ever go back down to a reasonable level. We are hoping to make our next car a hybrid.

12. Last thought before going to sleep last night?

Which time??? Baby woke me up countless times last night.

13. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?

I don't use an alarm clock...I have a human alarm that wants milk at all hours...

14. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?

Tom Hanks. He seems so nice and normal, I'd like to see if he really is.

15. Have you ever crashed your vehicle?

A few months after I got my license I made a left turn on a yellow light and a lady SPED UP to go through the light and hit me.

16. If you didn’t have to work, would you volunteer?

Probably at an animal shelter. I love animals.

17. Get up early or sleep in?

I like to wake up naturally, which is around 7 or 8 for me.

18. What is your favorite cartoon character?

I loved the wuzzles. Does anyone remember them?

19. When did you first start feeling old?

When I had my first daughter.

20. Favorite lunch meat?

Ham.

21. What do you get every time you go into Target?

Hmmm...I don't think there is any one thing I buy there...usually a gift or card for someone else.

22. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?

Nope. I think it was meant by God to be a permanent relationship.

23. Favorite movie you wouldn’t want anyone to find out about?

Don't know

24. What’s your favorite drink?

Margaritas! But I don't have that very often, so I guess Cherry Limeade would be next.

25. Who from high school would you like to run into?

My childhood best friend.

26. What radio station is your car radio tuned to right now?

Either alternative or Christian.

27. Worst relationship mistake that you wish you could take back?

Dating my ex for so long...not smart to drag out an unhealthy relationship.

28. Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purposes?

Nope

29. Do you have a teddy bear?

Yes but I gave it to my daughter

30. Do you go to church?

I havent been since the end of my pregnancy, I need to get back into it.

31. How old are you?

28 - yikes!

Make This Monday - Lettuce Wraps With Dipping Sauce

For Filling
3/4 cup chopped carrot
1/3 cup chopped green onion
3/4 cup water chestnut
1 lb ground pork or chicken
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 head iceberg lettuce
1 cup cooked jasmine rice (optional)

For Dipping Sauce
1/2 teaspoon hoisin sauce
1/4 teaspoon chili paste with garlic
2 tablespoons soy sauce

Add vegetables to food processor until roughly diced. Add to skillet with sesame oil and saute until tender. Add pork and cook through, adding soy sauce as it cooks. Serve with lettuce, rice and dipping sauce. If you have extra meat filling leftover, it freezes very well.

Getting Out

So I braved the outside world today with both girls...a few mamas at church started a playgroup and I figured this would be a good way to start getting used to venturing out with two little ones. As must be required by the universe, baby had an explosive diaper just as I was strapping her into the carseat, and Princess 1 got quite upset at the delay as her sister screamed about the outfit change. We were half an hour late, but we made it, and I guess that is the important thing. Hopefully the more I do it the easier it will get.

Sisters

It has been wonderful to watch Princess 1 interact with her baby sister. She loves to kiss her and stroke her head. So far there doesnt seem to be any jealousy issues at all. I am an only child and always longed for a sister, so I hope that my two girls will be close and I look forward to watching their relationship develop as they get older.