MLK

My sister is on top of her blog game. She got the post up first about our trip to Alpine Lake over MLK weekend so I will just forward you on to her blog "Just call me Steph" instead of repeating the same stories and pics! And let's face it. It's Saturday morning and I am being lazy. And Joe is starting to watch the first season of Lost which is really exciting for me. I am having more fun watching him watch Lost than I ever did watching Lost on my own. Did that make sense or are you Lost?:)

R.A.D.

Last week we got to go over to Brolly's house and meet Reed Arden Dorsey! He is so tiny and so precious and we just oohh and ahhed over him all night! Holly looks amazing (was there any doubt really?) and it is so surreal to see her as a mommy. He didn't cry at all while we were there and I felt so bad because Steph and I just kept passing him back and forth and he was just trying to sleep! But we couldn't NOT hold him! Congratulations Bryan and Holly, you have a beautiful little baby and we can't wait to watch him grow!

Steph loving on Reed

I know he technically has two amazing aunts, but maybe he could use two more??

I don't think his little legs even reached the bottom of his jammies!

Joe taking it all in. I am sure Reed is the smallest person he has ever seen in real life.

Daddy on the diaper change! Bryan was disappointed in himself by making a rookie mistake as he called it. Reed peed all over the ottoman, carpet and Dad's arm.

So Far...

In follow up to my New Years Resolutions post, so far...


I have almost brushed my teeth every night. Except last night but that's because I was a walking zombie going to bed. I don't even remember actually going to bed, so I won't count it against me.

I drank my first protein shake before a work out.

I haven't had lunch or dinner with anyone yet, but I did take dinner to Bryan and Holly which is something I have never done before.

I have started looking on CL for used Dog crates and other accessories for our soon to be, not selected yet, maybe not born yet dog!

Caramel Bars

My friend from work makes the most delicious Cookie caramel dessert bars. It's probably the most requested dessert treat for work parties and potluck dinners. I made them for the first time this past weekend for friends and they seemed to be a big hit! So yummy and so easy! I thought I would post the recipe for others to try and also I figured my friend Katie from Just Roll With It, who has a love/hate relationship with sugar might one day need these cookie bars!

Combine:
3 cups flour
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) of melted Butter

Reserve half of this mixture. Lightly PRESS remaining 1/2 of mixture into a 13 X 9 pan (sprayed w/Pam) and bake for 15 mins. at 350* (should be lightly browned) Remove from oven. Sprinkle with approximately 1/2 a bag of chocolate chips (just enough to cover) Combine 12 oz. jar of caramel ice cream topping with 1/3 cup of flour and then drizzle over chocolate chips. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Do not press down! Bake for 20-25 mins. or until lightly browned. Let them sit and cool awhile before cutting.

Mindgrapeisms

I have been so bad at blogging in the past few weeks. I think there is just so much going on and so little time to talk about it. I get behind on posting and then I find myself sitting on the couch after a long day of work and I just don't have the energy or heart to write about what's going on because all I want to do is finish my glass of wine and go to bed!

New Years came and went! We rung in 2011 in Hampden where we have friends that have a rowhouse within walking distance of several small bars. We have spent countless New Years Eve's at house gatherings because I am so against being on the roads on that night. But we took cabs and spent the night at a hotel. We had a lot of fun and there was certainly regrettable late night food decisions, hotel lobby massage chairs, silly hats, silly gloves, and good times with old and new friends.

I have a bunch of New Years resolution ideas floating about my mindgrapes. But I have yet to decide which ones I actually want to resolve. Here are some of my hopes:

• Brush my teeth before bed every night. I am so bad at this.
• Drink less light beer. This may sound weird. But I would rather have a glass of wine, a tasty liquor drink, or a delicious flavorful beer rather than filling myself with crummy light beer. *The summer months may be hard because nothing is better than a cold crisp Bud Light while you are mowing the lawn!
• Be less selfish. I am admittedly selfish and have been this way for most of my 20's. I am not proud of this fact, but honest enough to realize the truth. 2 years ago I had one resolution and it was to "Give More". And then last year's resolution was to "Give Even More You Slacker!" I think I succeeded in some aspects, but not much as I knew I should have.
• Have lunch/dinner with someone once a month that I don't usually get to do that with. If you would like to make a dinner date... call me!
• Make more money. I need to take advantage of overtime opportunities and other ways to increase my income. I can wipe anything but an old man butt.
• Learn more at work. I spent 5 years learning the clinical aspect of Labor and Delivery. I will never ever ever say that I know it all because I never ever will. But now that I know the skills, I want to know more about the pathophysiology of how things and why things happen.
• Eat better. I know, I know. Everyone says this. But my goal this year isn't to necessarily lose weight or exercise more. I mean, that would be ideal, but I want to focus on giving my body the actual fuel it needs to be its best. I have spent the last two weeks eating more protein, more fruits and vegetables more frequently throughout the day. It's really hard to do at work though. For instance, I packed an amazing bag of food for work today (almonds, yogurt, turkey sandwiches, vegetables, fruits) and all I was able to eat was the yogurt, a cup of coffee and once slice of pizza while walking. This was all I consumed in 15 hours! uhhh. So much for increasing my metabolism.
• Get a Dog!! This is going to happen really soon too! We are looking for a sweet, cute, adorable, killer guard dog!

We have a follow up eye appointment tomorrow morning when hopefully Joe will be able to fitted with a new prescription for his glasses. We are about 1 month post his procedure. He is still having some pain and has funny blinking fits, but overall there isn't much change or improvement in vision yet. The Doctor made us chant 3 times in row that "this is a marathon, not a sprint!", so we are trying to remember that. And forget it to some extent, because that was really corny and embarrassing to have to do. :)

30!

My 30th birthday has come and gone! I thought I would hate turning 30, but I think I just hated the build up to it. People make such a big deal about it, you just assume that it's going to be horrible. It still feels weird saying that number out loud, but I don't feel any different. The 20's were unbelievable and I can leave them with absolutely no regrets...

• I graduated from Belmont at 21, where I made some of the best friends I have ever had in my life. The best thing to come out of those four years in Nashville away from my family and boyfriend were those 6 girls.
• I married my best friend at 22 and 7 years later, can still say he is by far my best friend, my number one fan, and biggest supporter.
• I got my first cat.
• I graduated from Nursing School at 25 and got my first job at 26.
• I moved from 3 different houses over 4 years in the SAME city.
• I learned how to stay up all night long.
• I traveled to Europe at 22 and 28.

Here's the to the 30's and all of my 1980 birthday buds who are along for the ride with me!

We went to my parents house for my birthday dinner. My Mom had the cutest table setting, I thought it was so creative! She found a picture of me and my Nana from my 1st birthday party and bought the same polkadot party hats and made them into placecards. On top of each hat, she put a picture from one of my childhood parties. Here are some of the pics....

Turning 1 with Nana and balloon animals.

Not interested in cake at 2.

Scared of cake at 3.

Same party hats from my first party? Remember silly straws??

Making my first doll cake with Gma.

"I'mmmm Lovvvinnnn It" Party at Mickey D's.

What. A. Spoiled. Brat.

I will let my Sister fill this comment in.

Be in the Loop!

I added a new feature to the right side of the page tonight. You can enter your email address and be notified by email when I post a new blog. Coming blogs... my 30th birthday events! Merry Christmas to everyone and have a safe Happy Holiday!