Oh Crap....Walked Right Into This One....

We have good friends from the Czech Republic that we have not been able to see for some time because of conflicting schedules. HH was talking to the guy friend online tonight, and I said to mention us getting together on Saturday night. I assummed we would get together at their house because they have a small child, and we have always gotten together at their house. Not so much....they are coming here. (Ok, I guess I was inviting ourselves over to their house, but still.)

I've got to think of something awesome to make, these people are GREAT cooks. I want to do something decent that doesn't make me look like a fool. Also....um, the house doesn't look that great, but after watching Hoarders on A&E, I feel like a million bucks as far as a housekeeper. (The grill in the middle of our living room floor is out of my control, although HH does go to get the part we are lacking tomorrow.)

I am proud that I have my meal plan for NEXT week already completed. I'll be on the hunt tomorrow night for what I will be making on Saturday. I'll post the dinner meal as well as next week's plan soon.

Darryl Worley, Sounds Like Life To Me - OFFICIAL VIDEO

HH and I really like this song.......

A Sad Memory and TAKING RISKS!

Yesterday we went to Opry Mills Mall on our way back from Memphis. When I walked into the mall, I remembered my last trip I made there with my family. I was getting ready to start my first year of teaching, and my family went down there to buy me some clothes to start the school year off. The gravity of my weight problem was fully evident that day. After combing the mall, I came home with one jumper and one shirt. That was all that I could find that fit me. (At the beginning of the summer I weighed close to 285-290 pounds because I joined Weight Watchers that summer.) It was also humiliating because my family knew that my size was what prevented me from finding clothes.

It was a whole different experience this time. We only came in for the leather jacket, but it was the fact that I could have bought something from almost any store in the place. I felt human.

ON TAKING RISKS:
This afternoon I made "Aloha Chili." It had pineapple in it. I am glad I tried it. :)

Trading One Thing .... For Another

I quit Coca-Cola when I had my DS. One of the best decisions I have EVER made. As I have mentioned a million times on this blog, I was a hard core addict. I would easily drink 4-6 cans a day, up to a 2-liter a day. I tried having a small amount of Sprite about eight months out of surgery, and the carbonation made me feel like I was going to die. This last month I have decided to start drinking some Sprite Zero and Diet Sunkist. They both have zero carbs/calories. I can't drink them fast, but I can do it. I don't feel horrible about this, but know I can never let a sip of Coca-Cola pass my lips again for the rest of my life. There is no slope, just straight down.

At a truck stop in Tennessee.....Ben doesn't realize there is a REASON that CD is marked down to $2.99.

Check out the dessert! My HH is so fun....he always keeps me laughing.

We had dinner at Bound'ry in Nashville. This place was so DELISH! The weather was perfect and no bugs!

Here is the sign to Heartbreak Hotel where we stayed. I had to get my picture taken by the Elvis in our room. My face is ALL BROKE OUT! Grrrrr.....I need to find another magic formula to try. I've tried pretty much everything under the planet, and it works for a short period, but nothing for a long time.

I love Cinnabon. I only allow myself to have them when I am away from home. I refuse to buy any in Louisville. This keeps me in check.

Ben is standing in line waiting for dinner. He is carrying my new black lamb skin coat and gloves!

My favorite suit at Graceland....

The Jungle Room....

I loved this monkey so I had HH take a picture of it.

We ate lunch at the Neely's Restaurant. It was very good. The portions were enormous. I didn't take any pictures, because I was completely out of steam. I have been having problems getting the right amount of rest, then having one day every so often it all comes crashing down and I sleep for hours on end. I really wanted to go the Civil Rights Museum and walk down Beale Street, but by 2:30 Memphis time, nothing seemed more appealing than sleeping while HH drove back. I slept from Memphis all the way to Nashville.

Today I joined Ben's church. I've been attending since last July. We both attend the same denomination, but my church is different than his. (Not in a negative way, but just that we use different methods to get to the same end.) It took me a long time (almst nine months) before I made the decision to join my church. I have been a member at this church for nine years. I asked Ben to be respectful and not push me to join his church. He didn't push me at all. I decided today to join his church.

I'm watching Bride Wars right now, and just vegging out. I love the three day weekend.

Soooo READY!!!

Ready for 4:00 that is! I am so pumped about going to Memphis with my hubby tonight! I checked out the restaurants in Nashville, since that is about when we will hit dinner time. I found two good possibilities. It is going to be great! I thought we could have dinner in Nashville, then get to Memphis and go walk down Beale Street to enjoy some of the later night Friday atmosphere. Then we will be up early on Saturday to go to the Civil Rights Museum, and then to Graceland. We'll top off our trip by going to The Neely's restaurant.

Big picture post coming!!!

Feeling Better Now

I am feeling much more confident about going to Seminary Wives Institute tonight. Last week I felt pretty intimidated (not as much the type of group, but the fact that it was a LARGE GROUP). I am going to try to get several errands done before it starts. I want to get my wedding and reception pictures ordered (last week I got the rehearsal dinner and pre-wedding pictures ordered/picked up). I need to get a seminary ID made. I didn't make it to the bookstore to pick up my book that I wanted over the weekend, so that is probably the highest on my priority list! :)

We have officially been back in school now for three weeks. I am starting to get in a groove with my class, and I really like this group of kids. There are a few tough nuts, but there always will be. As of right now, my class is set with seventeen kids. Our principal was supposed to cut five teachers, but found money through grants, etc to keep all staff. With that being said, we are down to one functioning copier in the building. I am not a copy queen by any means, but I do have many resources that I pull from to teach concepts. I actually use many of these "worksheets" to teach different things.

Last night I made the bacon and cheddar mini meatloaves, and they were awesome. :)

Tasty Tuna Casserole Recipe

This is from Taste of Home (online)....

* 1 package (7 1/4 ounces) Macaroni and Cheese Dinner
* 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of celery soup
* 1/2 cup milk
* 1 can (5 ounces) tuna, drained
* 1/2 cup red peppers
* 1 green onion (sliced)
* 1 cup crushed potato chips

Heat over to 350 degrees.

Prepare Macaroni and Cheese dinner as suggested on package.

Stir in soup, milk, tuna, peppers, and onions.

Spoon into casserole dish, top with crushed chips.

Bake 30 minutes.

(I added 1 cup of frozen peas to my dish as well. I loved the flavor it added, but also the color it added to the dish.)

***And if you are preparing it for Ben (my husband)...spoon it onto Ritz crackers!***

Almost Mid-Week!

Today went very quickly. My student teacher taught, and she is doing such a great job. I am so proud of her.

Family drama is rearing its ugly head again....my brother has gone crazy since having a child. He got mad because my mom because she took my niece "outside the county" without permission from Todd's wife. They really are not being grateful for the free help that my parents are providing. I hope that I remember this when I am on the other side of the fence with my kids. (The only round my dad and I will go is "taking my kid to McDonalds"....we are NOT starting the fast food habit with our kids. I don't want my kids to get heavy.)

My heart is a bit heavy tonight....I will not be able to go through with the National Board Certification process. I have a pretty sweet deal at my school with my principal getting it paid for, getting us extra support, etc....BUT you have to complete all your work in one school. I could possibly rush and crunch it all in before Christmas, but what if we are living somewhere else by then? There are so many variables that are unknown, it is just not possible. I am sad because it is a dream I've wanted for so long, but it isn't the right time.

Forgot to Mention

Ben's reaction to the Tuna Casserole I made,

"This is so good you could put it on Ritz crackers and serve it at a fancy country club where people would say, 'oh ho ho ho," (Because that is how rich people talk ya know!) The comment sure did make me smile.