Confessions of a desperate housemama: Grocery store woes.

I had the best of hopes for the day.

That was my first mistake.

I needed to do some grocery shopping and I decided to take the princess with me. Since I am a human cow, I was afraid she would open her big blue eyes the moment I pulled out of the driveway and cry non stop.

I told the hubs that I would take her because she would probably snooze through the whole thing. I had grand visions of a peaceful, beautiful baby sleeping while I save my family money couponing and deal hunting.

EHHHHHHHH. (That was the sound of the buzzer signaling my wrongness at this assumption.)

I got about to the front door when the little ball of joy opened her eyes and decided that she had slept enough. I felt my belly flip flop in worry with the hours of shopping I had before me than I just as quickly told myself that she would either go back to sleep or be highly entertained by all the sights.

Do I need to sound the buzzer again??

It started with little whines and a couple grunts. Three isles in we were in full crying mode. I had to search for the right deal and then again through my coupon binder while pushing the cart back and forth, back and forth. Over and over again.

By the time I reached the canned goods that wouldn't even appease my little blessing. I thought maybe she would like to be in the carrier against me. Then she would fall asleep right?!?

I got her feet in the carrier right as she threw her arms out and knocked a jar of olives out of my hand, sending it to its death. I heard the glass break and the very nice grocery man came and assured me it was no big deal.

I broke a speed record going to the next isle.

"Clean up in isle five...just follow the screaming baby."

Little miss was not satisfied with this carrier arrangement however, so I started to bounce my body down the isle, singing the Steely Dan song that was blaring over the loundspeaker.

bounce bounce. " When you smile for the camera.....you know I love you better" People were trying to look without being rude.

Then even this would not satisfy. I felt my milk come in, a direct response to her little shrieks of discontent.

I looked around in panic. I had a cart full of food, some things left to get and a very unhappy girl on my chest.

Why oh why didn't I wear my nursing tank or a top that could be shoved to the side to nurse?!?
I had to have a t-shirt that you had to lift completely up to get to the girls...geesh.

When I hit the frozen foods, I tried to maneuver one of the girls out the top of the t-shirt while having the carrier cover any show that I might give to the patrons. I then tried throwing a receiving blanket over one shoulder, lifting my t-shirt up on one side to expose enough for her to be appeased while yanking it down in the back so I wasn't totally naked from the rear.

That didn't work and generally ticked her off.

I was a desperate woman, which isn't a far jump for me. (Ask my friends or hubs...they will tell you.)

As the beads of sweat started to form, I pushed my cart to the front of the store, looking for a chair, bench or anything where I could discreetly sit my bottom down and feed my child.

Nothin.

I saw that off to the left was a semi- segregated area.

The liqueur section.

I made my way there, screaming baby and all and hid in front of one of the shelves. I then lifted my whole shirt up. (I told you I was desperate.) and attached crying baby to an udder.

Sweet, sweet silence.

I did manage to get a receiving blanket over me but who was I kidding? My back was totally exposed and you could hear, suck, suck, gulp. (The girl was hungry, ok?!?)

Of course being my child, she was going to be leisurely about her eating. (The experts always see eat slowly, right?)

I had nothing to do but look at all the liqueur around me. I seriously contemplated opening a bottle and taking the edge off my nerves. I wondered to myself...

"Self, wonder if I could unscrew a bottle with my teeth, while only being able to hold the bottle with one hand?"

I shook my head into rational thinking again and decided that alcohol was not the answer. Especially if someone came around the bend and saw me nursing and drinking.

My thought soon turned to panic while I then thought about all the people who could come into my isle. You know, ex-boyfriends, that perfect mom from the PTA, construction workers.

The princess finally did get her fill and I gently placed her in her carrier while trying to put all my clothes back in place. I told little girl that mama had been through the ringer today so I expected her to be a quiet little angel the rest of the trip.

She responded with a goofy grin and moving her bowels in a mighty way...as in blowout in isle 20.

Not the sign I was looking for.

Sweet Clove Sunshine cafe review and giveaway !!!

I am not a breakfast person. Never have been. So when I was asked to review a brand new breakfast/ lunch restaurant, I was a little skeptical. I have been to those type of restaurants before. It's not like I didn't like them, I just wasn't impressed. Just being honest here, people.

But I went with another bloggy friend for lunch. I had just had the princess and I needed some much needed time out. We decided that we would try the new Sweet Clove Sunshine Cafe, which is owned by the Honey baked ham store. Its brand new and I like me some ham so we thought we would give it a shot.

The first thing I noticed when we sat down on a lovely terrace is that the menu that they handed me was the largest selection in a menu that I have seen in my life. And it wasn't just ham (although Honey baked ham entrees could be ordered. ) It was an extensive breakfast and lunch menu with many options and pictures that made my mouth water. I decided on the french dip served on rustic pan bread and a cup of the baked potato soup. It was excellent. (I wanted to lick the bowl, ok? )

I loved it so much that I asked my hubby to take me back for breakfast on my birthday! I had pineapple upside down pancakes that was as big as my head. (I especially liked when my lovely waitress brought out a huge bowl of freshly whopped cream and asked me if I would like some. Yes, please !!!!) Then we had the bacon.

My hubs is sort of a foodie and it takes alot to knock his socks off. He tasted the bacon and almost dropped his fork. Listen to me when I say, "This is the best bacon that you will ever taste. Period." Some genius decided to caramelize the bacon with the glaze they use on the Honey baked ham and they should win some type of award. :) Can you tell I liked it?!?!

So I liked it so much I had to share it with you. Click on the link above for the menu to see the awesome selection for yourself or the main website here. I have also been given a $25 gift card for a lucky reader. (Remember, you can always take me with you :) )

Just look at the menu and leave a comment telling me what you would order with your gift card. I will be choosing the winner next Wednesday! Good luck!!!!

Menu Plan Monday: Simple is in!

Sometimes you just don't want to think about what your gonna eat in the upcoming week. :) We are blessed to be able to join some family this week at a lake cottage. Fortunately, it comes with a great kitchen that we can cook in. So, this week we will be having very simple meals together. (Its all about the company, right? ) No new dishes or complex recipes = a more relaxed mama. I hope y'all have a tasty week....happy eating!


Monday: Spaghetti and cheese filled meatballs, salad, garlic bread

Tuesday: Taco bar, refried beans, black beans and rice

Wednesday: Hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill, baked fries, fruit salad

Thursday: Leftover buffet- if its not movin.....

Friday: Pizza Night!

Saturday: Lemon pepper chicken, zucchini fritters, broccoli

Sunday: Italian beef roast, mashed potatoes, fresh green beans

Project Kitchen Organization: Coffee Shelf

I will be the first to admit that I went a little crazy with the nesting when I was pregnant with my last princess. I was like a mad woman with the crazy look in her eye and all. My family simply stepped to the side and let me do my thing. (Often stepping over piles of containers, bags and bins)

After the baby I found the organization very useful and effective and am thankful that I got it all done. I thought I would take the next couple of weeks to go through and share some of the things that worked really well. Happy Organizing!!

We are coffee drinkers in this house! When someone tells us that they don't drink coffee I shudder and question our friendship. :)

When you are a coffee drinker you may have alot that goes with the morning ritual. Filters, sweetener, creamer, stir sticks. It can become overwhelming!

I have found a solution that works for us.

I have used a bottom shelf right above our coffee maker and made it our "coffee shelf". (I also include salt, pepper, Kosher salt, our favorite seasoning and toothpicks.) Everything we need is right there for easy convenience. I also find it easier to know if we are running low on something for grocery list without digging!



Today I will be posting at "I'm an Organizing junkie".

Chicken Bruchetta Recipe

Sooo.... hubs and I had some garden tomatoes and basil and it was too hot to really cook. We had a loaf of bread that was getting sort of crusty. (Being me, I didn't want to waste it) So we decided to try our hand at some bruschetta. It was so delicious that we decided to make it again, this time with some sauteed chicken and make a meal out of it.

We used bigger style bread than french loaf so it would feel less like an appetizer. It was light and refreshing and even the kids liked it!! (It also uses your garden veggies, which I am all about these days!)

Happy Eating y'all !!

Chicken Bruschetta

• 8 roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
• 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 loaf crunchy bread, toasted and sliced
• 1/2 lb chicken, chunks
• 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
  

Saute the chicken chunks in 3 Tbs of olive oil until cooked through. Remove to a paper towel.

Toast bread in oven until slightly browned.

In a bowl, toss together the tomatoes, basil, Parmesan cheese, and garlic. Mix in the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, kosher salt, and pepper. Place on toasted bread and cover with mozzarella cheese. Place back in the oven until cheese is melted.

No Menu Plan this week- too hot and too busy!

Hey Y'all !!! Just wanted to let you know that I am not doing a menu plan this week due to several factors! My hubs is out of town a couple of days, the kids have VBS every night and it is so hot out!!! We are simply doing alot of simple sandwiches and leftovers. (Hey, you do what you have to do, right?!? )

I will be posting later today a recipe that my hubby and I sort of made up and it turned out so well its worth sharing! Its light for summer and the kids actually liked it so I hope you will too !!

Hope you guys have a yummy week!!

Project Kitchen Organization: Bakeware, beware!

I will be the first to admit that I went a little crazy with the nesting when I was pregnant with my last princess. I was like a mad woman with the crazy look in her eye and all. My family simply stepped to the side and let me do my thing. (Often stepping over piles of containers, bags and bins)

After the baby I found the organization very useful and effective and am thankful that I got it all done. I thought I would take the next couple of weeks to go through and share some of the things that worked really well. Happy Organizing!!

I am a baker. Or at least I am when I don't have a little baby. That means I have a ton of cake, pie and bunt pans along with ramekins and other assorted bake ware. The pans are usually bulky and thick and makes it hard to keep all of it organized.

Hubs plan was to get rid of most of it.

Yeah...that wasn't going to work for me. Geesh.

I was in Target one day and happened upon a plate organizer that was clearanced out for under $5. (Often when they change brands or design they will have some really good prices on their organization things so its worth a trip down the isle just to stock up!) I didn't know what I could use it for but being in full nesting mode I decided that I needed it.

I have a small narrow cabinet that use to be where things would go to get lost. (I couldn't get to the back of it !) With the dish organizer I can clearly see my bake ware, its not on top of one another and I can fully utilize the space in the back!!

Don't you just love when a plan comes together?!? :) Happy Organizing y'all!




Today I will be joining I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Have you been encouraged today?

I have to tell you that since having my third, I don't always get to my devotional every day. I often can tell because my day doesn't start out right. Just hearing a verse in the morning can really make a huge difference in how I handle, screaming children and poopy diapers. (Its the glamorous life, really! :) )

My girlfriend from high school just started her own blog and its called "Joyful Word". I have to tell you that I have really enjoyed it!! Its a encouraging way to start a mamas day.

I wanted to share it with you and tell you to check it out. Maybe its just the Joyful word you needed to hear today !!!

Menu Plan Monday: Veg out!

Its all about the veggies this week! We have an abundance of green beans in our backyard so while looking for a new way to use them, I found Ms. Paula Deans recipe that is so delicious!! You have to try it! I am also having a taco bar this week. I have found this awesome container where the kids can just put whatever they want to on their taco. (My hope is that they will eat their food this way! :) ) Happy Eating y'all!!!



Monday: Shrimp pasta, spinach salad, garlic bread

Tuesday: Taco bar, refried beans, chips and salsa

Wednesday: Leftover buffet- if its not movin.....

Thursday: Chicken kabobs with fresh garden veggies over brown rice

Friday: Pizza Night !

Saturday: BBQ pork chops, rosemary potatoes, green beans

Sunday: Oriental steak, rice, roasted brussel sprouts, broccoli

Project Kitchen Organization: Recipe? What recipe?

I will be the first to admit that I went a little crazy with the nesting when I was pregnant with my last princess. I was like a mad woman with the crazy look in her eye and all. My family simply stepped to the side and let me do my thing. (Often stepping over piles of containers, bags and bins)

After the baby I found the organization very useful and effective and am thankful that I got it all done. I thought I would take the next couple of weeks to go through and share some of the things that worked really well. Happy Organizing!!


I had a recipe problem. I had one whole drawer of any recipe that I had run across in the last 5 years that looked halfway good. In this cabinet was whole magazines, inserts and chicken scratch notes that I could stuff in one place.

I won't even go into what would happen if one would open the door...ahem.

It took a good week but I went through each and every bit. I found that half the recipes were not practical now that we were a family of five. ( Poached pears? I don't think so...maybe when we retire :) ) I felt awesome with what was left because now I actually had things that I wanted, could and would make!


For my loose recipes, I found that I prefer the recipe books. They have handy pages that can be whole pages for bigger recipes and then index card sectioned pages for the cards and smaller recipes.

My favorite part about this cabinet, however is the recipes for the week area on the door.

I took a cheap file folder and cut it in half. I then taped it up on the cabinet that held the recipes and I place all the recipes for the week there.( I should have used double sided tape to make it look a little cleaner but I was in crazed nesting mode!)

Its so easy when I menu plan to pull them right then and there and that way I have them!!



((I am linking up this week to I'm an Organizing Junkie!!))

What do I do with all these garden veggies?!? (recipe)

So you put in the time to pick the perfect seeds or plants and painstakingly planned, dug, planted and kept critters and weeds out of the way. You get your first crop and are thrilled!!! Then.... you start to get so many tomatoes you are actually seeing red. (Don't even get me started on zucchini :) )

I found the perfect recipe that uses 5 (or more) different veggies and is delicious. An added side bonus is that the kids gobbled it up without realizing that it contained so many things that were actually good for you. I don't know about you but it tastes even better to me due to the fact that I know where it came from and it was as fresh as it gets!

I can't wait to try it with shrimp....yummy!

So here you go....enjoy!!

Garden veggie pasta

• 1 (16 ounce) package pasta (any type will do )
  
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 red onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 zucchini, chopped
• 1 yellow squash, chopped
• 1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1/2 red bell pepper, cut into strips
• 5 roma (plum) tomatoes, chopped (or a can of diced tomatoes)
  
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese/ mozzarella
  
• 1 lb of chicken diced
  

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook diced chicken until cooked through. Add onion, garlic, zucchini, yellow squash, mushrooms, bell pepper, and chopped tomatoes until tender. Season with basil, oregano, salt and pepper. Add pasta and 1/4 cup olive oil. Mix well, and heat through. Sprinkle top with Parmesan or shredded mozzarella.

Menu Plan Monday - I'm back in the saddle !

Hello!!! After 2 months of looking at my newest little princess, I am ready to get back to saving, blogging and cooking! It wasn't until I stopped menu planning that I realized hoe much money and time it saved!

I had a bunch of garden veggies from my garden that I needed to use this week and came up with the yummiest pasta. My kids loved it and didn't even know they were eating 5 different kinds of veggies!! I will make sure to post it tomorrow! Happy Eating y'all!!!


Monday: Summer garden veggie pasta (see recipe tomorrow), garlic bread

Tuesday: Marinated chicken kabobs w/peppers, onions, mushrooms, salad, rosemary potatoes

Wednesday: Pork stir fry over brown rice

Thursday: Italian pot roast over egg noodles and spinach salad

Friday: Pizza Night!!!

Saturday: Roast beef sandwiches with Au jus, baked fries and green beans

Sunday: Leftover Sunday- If its not movin, you can have it but big mama is NOT cookin!!



For other great meal plans visit I'm an Organizing Junkie .

Menu Plan Monday: Happy Memorial Day !

Happy Memorial Day !!! I hope that your family is remembering the sacrifices that our armed forces have made...and of course having some good food!! I am going to try to have a meat free night one night a week. ( I can't wait to eat from our garden this summer!) What did you plant this year? Happy eating y'all!!

Monday: Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and all things picnic!!

Tuesday: Grilled lime chicken, grilled asparagus, potato packets

Wednesday: corn on the cob, sliced tomatoes, green beans with redskin potatoes

Thursday: Leftover buffet - big mama is not cookin!!

Friday: Pizza Night!

Saturday: bacon wrapped cheeseburgers, baked fries and salad

Sunday: BBQ shredded pork sandwiches, baked beans and mac and cheese

Menu Plan Monday: Back to the grind

So I guess I am back to cooking! :) I am excited that the weather is finally warm enough to do some grilling. I am trying a new recipe (Mexican lasagna) and an old favorite (sausage with potatoes and green beans). I hope y'all have a yummy week!

Monday: Grilled sausage with potatoes and green beans

Tuesday: Stuffed shells, salad, garlic bread

Wednesday: Leftover buffet

Thursday: Grilled steak, corn on the cob, asparagus

Friday: Pizza Night !!

Saturday: Mexican Lasagna, salad

Sunday: Chicken kabobs, tomato salad, baked beans