My version of Thai Basil Beef

Despite the 3rd day of rain and 41 degree weather, we had a very productive day. This morning I had a Starfield advertising meeting (if you haven't done so, purchase your ticket today!) and then had a cupcake decorating party with Mosaic. Went to my in-laws afterwards to pick Ethan up and had an early dinner. Went back to our house and made Thai Basil Beef. I've been wanting to make it for the past 3 days and had everything ready so I was determined to make it. Luckily, we were still able to eat a little bit and Ethan loved it! It has some red chili peppers but he didn't seem to mind. It's the Korean blood in him :)

My boss swore by this recipe that she found in Everyday Food and it seemed easy enough to make. I actually had all the ingredients except for Jasmine rice. I have a 50lb bag of Korean rice in my house, do you really think I would buy Jasmine rice just for this recipe? It turned out the same, probably even better because Jasmine rice has this smell to it that I can't imagine mixed in with coconut milk.

My version:











I will definitely make this one again. Thanks Jessie!

my version of a busy weekend

Friday night

• 6:00- come home
• 6:30-feed Ethan dinner
• 7:00-play with Ethan and start making dinner for Dave
• 7:45 - bathe Ethan
• 8:00 - read bedtime story and give milk
• 8:15 - 8:45 - put Ethan to bed (it took extra long tonight)
• 8:45 - make ramen for myself
• 9:00 - start cutting up veggies for kalbi jhim
• 9:30 - clean house
• 11:00 - feed Dave
• 11:30 - get ready for bed
• 12:00 - goodnight

Saturday

• 6:45 - wake up
• 8:00 - feed Ethan breakfast
• 9:00 - grocery shopping
• 11:00 - start cooking lunch and dinner
• 12:30 - feed Ethan
• 1:30 - crockpot!
• 2:30 - hair appointment (short nap in the salon)
• 4:30 - setting up for dinner
• 6:20 - dinner with in-laws and Dave's grandma and aunt
• 8:00 - clean up and bathe Ethan
• 8:30 - Ethan to bed
• 8:30 - clean up
• 10:00 - good night (crash)

Sunday

• 7:00 - wake up
• 8:20 - feed Ethan breakfast
• 9:20 - nap with Ethan
• 10:30 - get ready for church
• 11:30 - church
• 2:00 - lunch
• 3:00 - put Ethan to bed
• 3:30 - catch up on some E!
• 4:30 - feed Ethan snack
• 5:00 - watch daddy play football
• 6:30 - make dinner
  
• 7:20 - family dinner
• 8:00 - wash and put Ethan to bed
• 8:20 - load dishwasher
• 8:30 - blog!
  

hello Monday!

my version of organization 101...

After being inspired by the latest issue of Real Simple, I decided to de-clutter my house. We started this process in August and had an unsuccessful yard sale in early September. We sold some stuff but ended up making our basement seem even more cluttered because we took everything out and now had it stacked in one room. After a few attempts of trying to squeeze things in the coat closet and throwing things away that I'll probably regret doing, I still find myself with a cluttered house.

So I made a goal to start with one space at a time so that this time I'll remember where I put that lint remover that I've kept and never used because I couldn't find D batteries.

I focused on our coat closet. It is so small and inconveniently located on the second floor of our house. So we're always trying to open it as quietly as possible so we don't wake up our son. My husband immediately started to panic because last time I tried to de-clutter, I was pregnant and was going through my "nesting" stage and made him rearrange our furniture every other week.

I assured him that this time I would just need his assistance in figuring out what coats to keep and to throw away. The man has a million jackets!!! Ok, definitely more than me so that's just abnormal.

After 1 and 1/2 hr of balancing boxes and rediscovering some treasures (my black Mexx blazer that I haven't seen in 2 years), I was pretty pleased with my first attempt.

Before:

After!

My version of accessorizing

I'm not big on jewelry and my daily hair routine consists of running my fingers through my hair and pulling it back in a pony tail. So my new "fashion" goal is to accessorize by taking baby steps, meaning I won't be wearing feathers in my hair anytime soon (sorry Carrie, I love you, but that's just whack!) but I will add a "pop" of color into my wardrobe once in a while. For example, today, I decided to wear a white scarf with jeans and a grey top. Sounds boring, but it's a BIG step for me.

I also found these adorable flower bobby pins ($1.50!) online and ordered them in every color BUT black!

My version of Salmon Cakes

In our efforts to save money and follow Dave Ramsey's "snowball" plan, my husband has been sending me links of other people in our situation. The most recent was of a family who went on for an entire month without buying groceries and instead, emptied out her food pantry and freezer by making simple and delicious meals After watching it, I was actually inspired to do the same instead of rolling my eyes at my husband's yet another attempt to get me to save money. Hey, I already gave up my routine hair appointments and tanning!

After looking into my pantry, I did feel a little guilty since it looked like we were stocking up for a snow storm in the middle of August! Ok, so today I will be using all ingredients from my pantry to make tonight's dinner - Salmon cakes with pasta and eggplant salad (leftovers from my mom).

My version:

forgot to add my version of a Peruvian Dinner

Feeling motivated from my latest obsession of Martha Stewart's Everyday Food, I decided to conquer tonight's dinner. Unfortunately, my son decided to catch yet another cold bug in the middle of July and 100 degree weather! I seriously do not know how this talent came about but he always tends to get sick on a weekend or a holiday..lucky me! So instead, I sent my husband off to the nearest Peruvian chicken place. Have you had this lately? Living less than 2 minutes away from the "capital" of MS13 has its advantages - over 15 Peruvian chicken places all within 5 miles radius. Dinner consisted of beans and flavored rice (garlic powder and oil), chicken, yummy green and yellow dips, and a glass of pinot noir. No pictures were taken at this dinner because I was too busy running up and down the stairs while attending to my sick baby (see entry below). good night.

My version of dealing with a sick baby...

No one ever tells you that the newborn stage is the hardest. The second thing that no one ever tells you is that it only gets worse when your baby is sick and cannot voluntarily blow his/her nose, swallow a pill, or just suck it up. Instead, I find myself waiting like a hawk in front of a monitor in case I hear any signs of discontent from Ethan, my 11 month old son. All kinds of thoughts go through my head, did he get sick when he stood over the AC vent while drooling all over his chest, did I not "purell" my hands after touching a stranger's hand, did my husband carry the germs from his lacrosse camp, or did my nephew carry the germs as he often does from being in a dreadful daycare. Ugh! If there was a bubble that my baby could grow up in, I would be the first in line to buy it. But for now, I'll sleep with my one eye open. Pirate style.