Recipes From Others I Want to Try

There are a couple people who post some really tasty looking recipes that I think I want to try. So, I am going to put them in here and hopefully soon get to try them and let you know how they go. The one I saw today was called:

Raspberry Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ingredients

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup quick-cooking oats

2/3 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 egg, lightly beaten

3/4 cup fat-free milk

1/3 cup canola oil

2 tablespoons orange juice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup fresh or frozen unsweetened raspberries

1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Combine the egg, milk, oil, orange juice and vanilla; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in raspberries and chocolate chips. Fill paper-lined muffin cups or cups coated with nonstick cooking spray two-thirds full.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.

And there is this recipe I want to try....

Chocolate Revel Bars

Original Recipe Yield 1 - 9x13 inch pan

Ingredients

3 cups quick cooking oats

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups packed brown sugar

2 eggs

4 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

2 tablespoons butter

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.

In a large bowl, beat together 1 cup butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Mix in eggs and 2 teaspoons vanilla. In another bowl, combine oats, flour, baking soda, and 1 teaspoon salt; stir into butter mixture. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, heat sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, 2 tablespoons butter, and 1/2 teaspoon salt over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in walnuts and 2 teaspoons vanilla.

Pat 2/3 of the oat mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread chocolate mixture evenly over the top, and dot with remaining oat mixture.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in preheated oven. Let cool on a wire rack, then cut into bars.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving Calories: 343 | Total Fat: 14.4g | Cholesterol: 46mg

Do you remember when holidays were actually holidays?

This is something that I am getting progressively more frustrated with. Holidays are not holidays anymore. Where did that time of family fellowship, relaxation and really thinking and knowing what is being celebrated go? I was fortunate and did not have to work on Thanksgiving so I got to see my family for a lot of the day and Colton got to go to my brother's house and "ride" horse. He thought it was amazing and it was so cute. However, Thanksgiving was my only day off that week and I had to be at work at 3:30am the next morning. Lame. Obviously there are many things that I am thankful for but I dont feel that there was time to enjoy being thankful. Again, I know i can always be thankful but if thanksgiving is to reflect on what we are thankful for there should be time to do it.

Christmas is the same. I have Christmas day off. AND Walmart has decided (for some unknown and ridicules reason) that on Christmas Eve they should be open until 8pm. I'm sorry but what the hell? I want time to spend with family, to think about the One who was born and died for our sins, to sing, to be thankful for all these things. I love Christmas day...its a good day but it goes so fast....

Shifting towards Christmas

Well the time is flying by. Colton has turned 2, he was a lion for Halloween and Thanksgiving is swiftly approaching. Thanksgiving isnt really that exciting for me though because the weekend after I pretty much work non stop. I really enjoy seeing family though! Then its
Christmas! Jason told me he really wants to decorate this year. However, when I ask him what he wants to do he says "I dont know, I dont decorate". So, we will see what happens. I love Christmas even though its a challenge to balance work and all the family. I love seeing everyone and am really happy when it all works out well.
Colton had a lot of fun going trick or treating. He even got to meet up with his cousin Caeden at Grandpa and Grandmas and go to a few doors with him. Caeden was a monkey and they were pretty cute together.
Today we are getting family and Coltons two year pictures taken. I am pretty excited and hope it goes well. I guess we will see. I am a lot fatter than I used to be so im guessing I wont like the pictures with me in them very much. We will see.
I started painting my entry way the other day. I am hoping I will like the color otherwise I will have to get some glaze and do a different technique on it ...
Colton has become quite the little conversationalist and has learned many words in a short period of time. It is amazing to listen to him and realize how much he knows! He has also used the potty a few times! Mommy is pretty impressed :)
One of Jason's cousins is getting married today. We feel bad we cant make it but wish her the best!
We are enjoying the warmer fall weather that we missed in October. I personally hope it sticks around awhile but we will see. It is crazy that is has already snowed because it doesnt really feel like it. I of course will add a few pictures here at the end :)

Where did Fall go?

It appears that I have trouble keeping up with updating the blog. Oh well. Funny story from this morning. Colton shows slight interest in the potty so he has one and this morning he hauled it out to the living room and wanted to use it. I let him take off his diaper and sit on the potty. Of course nothing happened so after a little while he started to walk around so I went to get his clothes and a new diaper. Next thing I know, little man is peeing on the kitchen floor! That was fun to clean up...it was pretty funny though. Thats what I get for letting him walk around without a diaper and at least it was on the kitchen floor and not the carpet. Fun times.
Colton's 2nd birthday has come and gone in the midst of busy times at work and home. We took a trip to Minneapolis to see the last Twins game in the metrodome. It was fun but Colton didnt get a birthday party. I was thinking about inviting some people over for cake soon. We will see.
Colton also had his 2 year check up. He didnt get any flu shots yet because they were out so I will have to call and see when some are going to come in again. However, the Dr. was really impressed with his vocabulary and speaking ability. He is still pretty skinny , his weight was in the 25th percentile while his height and head were in the 75th percentile. It seems he had another growth spurt! He is also finally getting his eye teeth for real this time. More drool. What fun. AND, he is becoming much more independent and I have seen a few more temper tantrums :( Hopefully they dont get too bad !

I am not very happy to see snow either...

Maybe I should Update

So I am super excited because I just realized that my dear friend Clarissa decided to follow the blog! Hi friend! Also, once again it has been awhile since I have written anything here. I did not get the new job at Walmart but I am pretty sure that is ok with me. Someone else can be the guinea pig and figure out what its all about. I have also been thinking about taking a class or two for something although I am not quite sure what yet. We will see how that goes.
Last night was not fun as I was sick. I actually havent thrown up in over two years and got to have that lovely experience last night. I am pretty sure that is done now :) I really hope Colton doesnt get sick now though.
Lately I have been looking for some good books to read as well. If anyone has any suggestions that would be great! Maybe I will have to take a look at my Amazon listing as well. I know i have a couple listed on there.
Colton has reached a new level in his terrible two stage...I hope its the top but I am pretty sure I would only be fooling myself to believe that is true! He is extremely curious and really likes trying everything so he has been a little difficult to control. However, I dont think I would change it because I would rather have a curious, brite, active and intelligent child than a passive one. He also likes to count and try to figure things out. I think he has more of his dad's brain than mine but who knows...he does like books as well. The only thing he isnt interested in at all is the TV. I am actually pretty thankful although I cant use that to provide a break for myself. Sometimes I wish I could just turn on the TV and that would entertain him for a bit ....no such luck. Oh well, like I said I would rather have him be curious and active than anything else. He shows a little interest in the potty but not a lot... We will see how that goes as well.
I also included a few pics of things we have been up to...

Not Sure

Sometimes I am just not really sure what I should do. There is a new opportunity at Walmart that I applied for but retail is obviously not something I am passionate about. I really could care less if a store has everything every person thinks they need to be happy. Granted, choices are good but we as a society have become so focused on things, and appearances, and money. It amazes me the things people think they need to get by. I am far from perfect in this area too. I have so much crap that I don't really do anything with and I want that to change . But how to go about that. Why can't we just be happy with having people we love in our lives, with the relationships, with the just enough. I'm sure that there are people who are but I have a hard time finding them.
I guess my point is that I want to work for someone/something that cares more about the people who work for them than for making sure they make every cent they can. I dont have daycare for Colton the Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday of Labor Day weekend. I have to work Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Monday..... I have to find someone to watch him because I have to be at work.....I dont really know what my point is but I guess I wish I knew of a better job in something I am interested in and that was more family friendly and could still pay the bills.
However, I also wish people didnt judge others for the job they do. So what if I work at Walmart ...it atleast pays the bills and gives me a pretty good schedule to spend time with Colton. Does it mean I dont know what I am talking about just because it doesnt seem like I am using my BA in psychology? Hell no....I use it everyday in some way and dont think you can treat me like I am an idiot just because of where I work. Yes, I hope to someday find something that fits better but right now there are things that are more important ..like my little boy and my husband and family etc. Walmart is sufficient...maybe not ideal but it is a piece of the puzzle that is my life and if you dont like it . too bad.
ok, i guess thats enough of the frustrated blog....maybe I will have to write a cheerier blog soon.

Missing My Baby

I had to work Friday night and Saturday so Colton has been at Grandma and Grandpa's house in Sioux Center. That means that I have been bored :) Although that isnt neccesarily bad. Friday night Jason and I went out with Kate to Applebees after work and tonight I got to hang out with myself for awhile. That is something that rarely happens.
I am looking forward to next weekend when we get to go to Oak Grove to hang out with my grandparents and my mom's side of the family. We get to go canoeing and just generally have a good time with family.