Don't laugh at me, but how do you do freezer meals?

So, I have the buying meat in bulk, separating it, and freezing it for several different meals.

That is a big accomplishment for me, and I feel so domesticated when I do it.
Don't laugh, that is the rule!

I am ready to venture into the world of preparing freezer meals, and of course enjoying them at a later time.
I love the idea of setting it out to defrost in the morning...
and then getting my bake on in the evening.

What are your suggestions?
What meals do you like to freeze?
What containers do you use?
I just need some guidance!

Been busy

Life has been flying by.

Is it really the last week of February already?

It has been a whirlwind of craziness and busy days/nights.

This weekend was no exception.

My nephews were in town from Lousiana, and on Friday night we ventured to Chuck E Cheese.

Oh my, that place was crazy busy, but the boys loved it!

Gabe loves his older cousin Bryce so very much!

I know in my heart, that if he lived closer, they would be the best of friends. 

It is sad that they cannot have a regular relationship together.

Maybe one day.

I think Graedon and Isaiah look a lot alike. 

I will have to find a better photo of the two of them to show the resemblance.

Love these boys so much!

I am happy to say that this is finally melting!

I am ready for spring!

Recipe Sharing WW style

This is my favorite recipe by far! 

I am a huge salisbury steak fan, and when I decided to try this WW recipe, I fell in love with it!

The hubster and little guys love it too, so that is a win, win for me! 

Healthy and good, you cannot go wrong!

Let me know if you try it out.

Salisbury Steak

1 lb ground round

2/3 C finely chopped onion

1/3 C uncooked instant rice

1/4 tsp pepper

1/8 tsp salt

1 large egg white

Cooking Spray

1 1/4 C presliced fresh mushrooms or 4 oz can (drained)

2 (10.5 ounces) cans beef consomme

1 1/2 T Worcestershire sauce

2 T water

1 1/2 T cornstarch

1.  Combine first six ingredients in a bowl; combine well.  Divide into 4 equal portions (I can usually get 6 out of this). 

2.  Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray.  (I use my electric skilliet).  Place on medium high heat.,  Add patties once skillet is hot.  Cook 5 minutes on each side or until browned.  Remove from skillet; set aside and keep warm.

3.  Recoat skillet with cooking spray.  Add mushrooms and saute over medium-high heat for 3 minutes.  Add consomme and Worcestershire sauce; cook 10 minutes.  Return patties to skillet.  Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes. 

4.  Combine water and cornstarch; stir well.  Stir cornstarch mixture into broth mixture in skillet; bring to a boil and cook 1 minute or until thickened.  Stir constantly.  Spoon gravy over patties when serving.

Yield:  4 servings (serving size is 1 patty and 6 tablespoons gravy).

Points:  8

For the Love of Ketchup

Graedon has some serious ketchup love going on, and he has for awhile now.

When he wants to eat, ketchup is it's own "meal" or "side."

You cannot forget the ketchup, or you will be in trouble.

I bought a new bottle and gave it to Graedon.  He looked at me and said, "Thank you for the ketchup."

He talked to me like I had just given him the most wonderful present.  Love that boy!

Yes, he is eating cheetos dipped in ketchup....doesn't everyone do that?  lol

Bedtime Advice Needed

It has been one of those days.

I am so frustrated with the older of my two boys, Gabe.

He is just being so difficult, especially when it comes to bedtime.  He just fights going to sleep.

He has even thrown fits to go to bed and has caused himself upset stomachs to go.

We've asked if he is afraid of anything, and he's not, at least he hasn't shared with us, and we ask him often about what is going on.

Now, we seem to have the fits under control, but he just tries to talk to us all night now.

The boys go upstairs for bed between 9-9:30.  Chad and I stay downstairs and have our time together.

Next thing we know, Gabe is asking us if he can take off his socks, if daddy is asleep, what if he has to go potty, etc, etc.

We just do not know what to do.
I have caught him awake well after 11pm at times, and we usually have to get angry with him before he will listen and try to go asleep.  I hate it that bedtime is such a negative time for us. 

We thought it was that he wasn't getting much attention from his daddy because this all started when Chad went away for a week for business in November. (this was his first business trip).
We thought maybe he was feeling insecure and that daddy wasn't around as much.

Well, Chad took Monday off of work and took just Gabe out to breakfast and took him to school and explained to Gabe that daddy was only home to be with him. 

Well, Monday night, he still misbehaved. 

Ughhh....I just don't know how to get through to him.

I would love advice or just reassurance that this too shall pass. 

It's just so discouraging because he was our good sleeper...his head would hit the pillow and he was out.

**He does have a night light, a flashlight, as well as the hall bathroom light is left on, so I am pretty sure it is not the dark.

Some nice inspiration for the day!

A Heavy Heart

This week has just started, and I already feel blah!

I don't know if it is the gloomy weather or what....where is the sunshine?1?!

I have not had much motivation lately to get much done.  I think the take it easy mentality from being sick has spilled over into my "healthier" state, and I can't seem to get things done that I would like to.

I hate to complain.  My life is so good and blessed, especially in comparison to those in Haiti.  I have no room to complain.  My heart is so heavy for those experiencing such devastation.

Please keep this devastated country in your thoughts and prayers.  This country needs to be blanketed with prayers, and I know that we can do this small thing for them.

It just makes the small everyday tasks that I complete or at least try to complete seem so meaningless and unimportant.  It is hard to be motivated when there are some suffering so much. 

I hope to feel better tomorrow and be more motivated as well.

I am just thinking out loud.

Being sidelined

The dreaded stomach bug has made its way into my home, and I have been been it's first and hopefullly only victim. (knock on wood)

I hate the stomach bug! I have been out of commission for more than 24 hours, and my house shows it! Luckily, my hubby was able to stay home from work yesterday to take care of the boys and get Gabe to and from school. He let me sleep on the couch, and the boys enjoyed some nice time with thier daddy.

I have no energy to get the house in shape, but I don't really have a choice. (You mommies know what I am talking about.) You just don't really get days off or sick days. It just doesn't work like that.

Oh well, hopefully I will feel better soon, and that the boys or the hubster won't be sidelined either.

A Happy Heart

I recieved the best news today!

My heart is healthy!

After another round of testing which included another stress test and an echo, my heart is officially okay!

I still have my original condition that I take medication for, and that is not going away, but there is nothing new wrong with my ticker.

I am excited and overjoyed.

Stress and worry had been consuming my days, but today is the first day that I have truly felt relieved and happy.

My heart is happy today!

God is so good, and prayers are so healing and calming. Thank you everyone who has kept my in their thoughts and prayers. I am truly blessed!

Now, I just need to exercise more and cut out caffeine in my diet. My cardiologist is pretty confident that if I follow through on those two things that I can come off of my medication completely. Yay!

My 200th Post!!

What better way to celebrate my 200th post than with a giveaway!

Traci at Beneath My Heart is hosting an awesome giveaway on her blog that you must check out. You really do NEED to check it out!! After you read how to enter the drawing, please stick around and read about Traci and prepare to be inspired. Beneath My Heart has become a daily reading for me, and I love all of her ideas and inspiration that she gives out!

Just click on one of the links above, or here to check out the contest!