I was super excited to make my Top Ten Things I Love About Fall list yesterday... I daydreamed about the crisp breeze, pumpkin lattes and ice cream. I actually typed during commercial breaks... the first SU game of the season was on TV. I LOVE football.
How the heck did I make an entire Top 10 list for fall and FORGET FOOTBALL?!?!?!?! (hangs head in shame)
So... if I may be so lucky as to add a second #1... it would absolutely positively be football. I love everything about it... tailgating, sporting my jersey, screaming like an idiot for my team... I even like the ridiculously overpriced greasy food and beer... yup, sure do. I can't wait until the season is in high gear. There is nothing more American... and more "fall"... than football.
9.02.2011
9.01.2011
Hello fall!!!
I know it's only September first and "fall" doesn't officially start for a few more weeks, but I can't help myself. I love fall.
Last night was the first night that we didn't have to run the horrendously white trash-y window unit air conditioner all night. I woke up and it was a chilly 50-something degrees. It was a beautiful thing. On my way in to work, I stopped at Dunkin' Donuts and enjoyed a delicious pumpkin coffee. I am lovin' life this week!
Before I spoil the rest of my post, I better get right to the point...
Top 10 Things I LOVE About Fall
10. Pumpkin coffee/lattes. If only they were calorie-free
9. Leaves. I grew up in Florida and never got to experience the whole leaves changing color thing. Palm trees don't change colors, ya know. Anyway, it's beautiful... and the Finger Lakes wine region has the absolute BEST fall scenery I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying... paired with a glass of NY State wine... perfection.
8. Speaking of wine... mulled wine. It's kind of amazing. If you haven't tried it, you are definitely missing out. Whip some up in the crock pot and your house will smell fabulous. If I'm not in a wine mood (or if I happen to get lucky enough to get pregnant this fall)... mulled cider it shall be!
7. Apple picking. I am kind of partial to Beak-n-Skiff... mostly because the have an apple winery too. It's always a great date with the hubby and means I get to enjoy apple crisp and apple pie for weeks! yay!
6. Cheaper electricity bills. I know I know... it's not all warm and fuzzy... but who doesn't love September and October for the wonderfully decreased electricity bills. I sure do!!
5. Jeans! I must own about 20 pairs of jeans that have been piled up just staring at me for the past 4 months. Don't get me wrong, I love summer clothes and practically lived in a bikini during my teenage years in Florida... but I so love my jeans and love getting to wear them again.
4. Snuggling. Mushy, yeah. but seriously... who wants to get all cuddly when it's 90+ degrees? Not me. I can't wait until it's just a little bit chilly outside and I get to snuggle up on Kevin and enjoy his body heat. I always call him my polar bear because he loves the cold. I sissy out at about 50*
3. Closet shopping. This goes hand in hand with #5. Twice a year I completely change my wardrobe. I will soon be retiring all of my tank tops and shorts... and diggging out my box of fall.winter clothes... you know.... the Bearpaw boots (yep, too cheap to buy Uggs... so what?)... the skinny jeans, cute sweaters, scarves, hoodies... all of it. It's like going shopping in my own closet and I look forward to it every year. Come spring, I will be sick of the eskimo getup and ready to bust out the shorts again, but for now... I am excited for a change.
2. Fire. Bonfires, fires in our pellet stove, all of it. I love fire. No, I'm not a pyro... but I love sitting around a fire with some friends, drinking beer and signing along to our fav music... or cuddling up with Kevin and watching a movie in front of our pellet stove. And the smell... ugh... LOVE the smell of fire.
1. Pumpkin Ice Cream from Gannons. Of course it was going to be food related. I am an uber fat-kid at heart. Gannons pumpkin ice cream is the epitome of fall, to me... and it is so absolutely delicious.
Well... that's my top ten for fall... what's yours?
Last night was the first night that we didn't have to run the horrendously white trash-y window unit air conditioner all night. I woke up and it was a chilly 50-something degrees. It was a beautiful thing. On my way in to work, I stopped at Dunkin' Donuts and enjoyed a delicious pumpkin coffee. I am lovin' life this week!
Before I spoil the rest of my post, I better get right to the point...
Top 10 Things I LOVE About Fall
10. Pumpkin coffee/lattes. If only they were calorie-free
9. Leaves. I grew up in Florida and never got to experience the whole leaves changing color thing. Palm trees don't change colors, ya know. Anyway, it's beautiful... and the Finger Lakes wine region has the absolute BEST fall scenery I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying... paired with a glass of NY State wine... perfection.
8. Speaking of wine... mulled wine. It's kind of amazing. If you haven't tried it, you are definitely missing out. Whip some up in the crock pot and your house will smell fabulous. If I'm not in a wine mood (or if I happen to get lucky enough to get pregnant this fall)... mulled cider it shall be!
7. Apple picking. I am kind of partial to Beak-n-Skiff... mostly because the have an apple winery too. It's always a great date with the hubby and means I get to enjoy apple crisp and apple pie for weeks! yay!
6. Cheaper electricity bills. I know I know... it's not all warm and fuzzy... but who doesn't love September and October for the wonderfully decreased electricity bills. I sure do!!
5. Jeans! I must own about 20 pairs of jeans that have been piled up just staring at me for the past 4 months. Don't get me wrong, I love summer clothes and practically lived in a bikini during my teenage years in Florida... but I so love my jeans and love getting to wear them again.
4. Snuggling. Mushy, yeah. but seriously... who wants to get all cuddly when it's 90+ degrees? Not me. I can't wait until it's just a little bit chilly outside and I get to snuggle up on Kevin and enjoy his body heat. I always call him my polar bear because he loves the cold. I sissy out at about 50*
3. Closet shopping. This goes hand in hand with #5. Twice a year I completely change my wardrobe. I will soon be retiring all of my tank tops and shorts... and diggging out my box of fall.winter clothes... you know.... the Bearpaw boots (yep, too cheap to buy Uggs... so what?)... the skinny jeans, cute sweaters, scarves, hoodies... all of it. It's like going shopping in my own closet and I look forward to it every year. Come spring, I will be sick of the eskimo getup and ready to bust out the shorts again, but for now... I am excited for a change.
2. Fire. Bonfires, fires in our pellet stove, all of it. I love fire. No, I'm not a pyro... but I love sitting around a fire with some friends, drinking beer and signing along to our fav music... or cuddling up with Kevin and watching a movie in front of our pellet stove. And the smell... ugh... LOVE the smell of fire.
1. Pumpkin Ice Cream from Gannons. Of course it was going to be food related. I am an uber fat-kid at heart. Gannons pumpkin ice cream is the epitome of fall, to me... and it is so absolutely delicious.
Well... that's my top ten for fall... what's yours?
8.28.2011
I'm a cooking machine!!!
I only eat breakfast on weekends. I know that's terrible, but I just can't seem to drag myself out of bed early enough during the week. Week day "breakfast" usually consists of a granola bar and some coffee at my desk. Saturday is a little better with a bagel and some fruit before I head out to the Farmer's Market. But Sunday... oh I love Sunday breakfast. This is the one day when Kevin (if he is off) and I go all out.... bacon & eggs, loaded french toast, omelettes, anything we want. A big Sunday breakfast is our thing.
For breakfast this morning, I decided to make one of my southern faves... Sunny Side Up Stuffing Muffins. Sounds a little odd... bear with me...
Ingredients (makes 6 muffins):
For breakfast this morning, I decided to make one of my southern faves... Sunny Side Up Stuffing Muffins. Sounds a little odd... bear with me...
Ingredients (makes 6 muffins):
- 1 Box of Stove Top Stuffing Mix (any kind), follow directions on box to prepare. I use chicken stock/broth instead of water for more flavor
- 1/2 lb hot sausage (can be any kind of sausage, but DH likes it hot!!) cook and crumble into small pieces
- 1/2 Shredded Cheddar cheese (optional)
- 6 eggs sunny side up, or however you like them cooked
Mix cooked sausage into the stuffing and press into Pam sprayed muffin tins. This should be enough to fill 6 large muffins about 3/4 way full. Bake in the oven at 350* for about 10 min.
Remove from the oven and sprinkle cheese on top of each muffin (toally optional, but who doesn't love cheese?) and return to oven for 1-2 minutes, until cheesse melts.
Top each muffin with a sunny side up egg. YUM!!!
Remove from the oven and sprinkle cheese on top of each muffin (toally optional, but who doesn't love cheese?) and return to oven for 1-2 minutes, until cheesse melts.
Top each muffin with a sunny side up egg. YUM!!!
Next up... Bacon Topped BBQ Stuffed Jalapenos
We made these for a party that we hosted a few weeks ago. They turned out perfectly and I have been kind of craving them ever since. Well, yesterday I got a great deal on a huge box of jalapenos at the Farme's Market... so I figured that ws a sign that I should make them again.
We made these for a party that we hosted a few weeks ago. They turned out perfectly and I have been kind of craving them ever since. Well, yesterday I got a great deal on a huge box of jalapenos at the Farme's Market... so I figured that ws a sign that I should make them again.
- 12 jalapeno peppers, halved. Clean out seeds, ribs
- 1 brick (8oz) cream cheese
- 1 cup leftover BBQ meat (can be brisket, pork, chicken) for this, I used chicken
- 1 cup cheese (I use 1/2c parmesean, 1/2c shdredded cheddar)
- 12 pieces cooked bacon, cut in half
8.22.2011
Happy Monday???
For some crazy reason, I woke up in a great mood today! Which is odd, because I have to be at work this whole week at 7am vs 730 or 8. So... my alarm went off at 545 instead of 630... and I did not greet it by throwing it across the room or with a stream of @#%*&%#$&%..... I am just ridiculously happy today!!! I have no idea why... but I just know, for some reason, this is going to be an awesome week!!!
8.20.2011
Blah
It's Saturday.
Normally, I greet my Saturdays with a few extra hours of sleep, shopping at the Farmers Market, more shopping, lounging around with my super awesome puppy... followed by a nice dinner with the hubby.
Instead of sleeping in and goofing off all day, I decided to pick up an extra shift at my per diem job. I just wanted to keep moving, stay busy and try to take my mind off things. Seemed like a good idea... in theory... but when my alarm went off at 6am, I hated life.
I made it through my shift and (thank God) did not get sent to the Labor & Delivery or post-partum floor... but I felt like I was just in a fog all morning. After work, Kevin and I took our brothers to catch the last 1/2 of our friends' breast cancer charity softball tournament. "Save Second Base"... cute name, huh? Our team won... which is awesome... but even amidst the celebration, I still just felt... "blah".
I will get to sleep in tomorrow and, hopefully, find a way to snap myself out of this funk.
Normally, I greet my Saturdays with a few extra hours of sleep, shopping at the Farmers Market, more shopping, lounging around with my super awesome puppy... followed by a nice dinner with the hubby.
Instead of sleeping in and goofing off all day, I decided to pick up an extra shift at my per diem job. I just wanted to keep moving, stay busy and try to take my mind off things. Seemed like a good idea... in theory... but when my alarm went off at 6am, I hated life.
I made it through my shift and (thank God) did not get sent to the Labor & Delivery or post-partum floor... but I felt like I was just in a fog all morning. After work, Kevin and I took our brothers to catch the last 1/2 of our friends' breast cancer charity softball tournament. "Save Second Base"... cute name, huh? Our team won... which is awesome... but even amidst the celebration, I still just felt... "blah".
I will get to sleep in tomorrow and, hopefully, find a way to snap myself out of this funk.
8.19.2011
It hit me... hard
I managed to hold it together through work all day yesterday. I joked around. Laughed and smiled. Acted like normal Monica. Deep inside I just felt like I had this huge empty hole. Just a few days ago I spent my lunch hour browsing online at maternity clothes and thinking about how a baby would effect my work schedule. Now... nothing. My mind wanders... and usually back to thoughts of "the baby"... but no longer plans and preparation... just sadness.
But still, I was proud that I was able to make it through the day with a (fake) smile. Yay for me.
I got home, enjoyed a nice dinner with Kevin and our brothers. We started playing some board games... which turned into drinking games.. which turned into beer pong. I think they were all happy to see me back to my normal self, playing around and having a great time. I think they were also pretty happy that I could drink with them again.
Mike and Chad decided that they wanted to continue the party at a bar nearby, but I was pretty... well... sh!tfaced... so I stayed home. Kevin must have known what was about to happen, so he offered to drop them off at the bar then pick them up later.
I don't know exactly what triggered it or how it happened, but by the time (literally about 10 minutes) Kevin dropped them off and got back home, I was curled up on the bathroom floor, balling hysterically. It hit me... and it hit me hard.
All of the emotioons that I had supressed... the sadness and confusion and anger... came flooding out. I thought that I had a pretty good cry on my way home Wednesday... but before I walked in the door, I had to wipe my eyes and put on a smile again. I didn't want to let the boys (Kevin and our brothers) see me cry. Last night was completely, totally raw. I just kept saying "I don't understand... I just don't understand." Kevin (I am so lucky to have him), held me and did his best to comfort me. Even Lucy tried to snuggle and make me feel better.
I woke up this morning with a terrible hangover and a sense of relief. I have never really been a crier... but I think, for some reason, that I needed that. I needed to come to terms with my feelings and... well... let them out.
Today, I still feel sad and confused (and did I mention, massively hungover)... but not angry. I know God will never give me more than I can handle. And with the love and support of my family, friends, wonderful husband and awesome puppy... I can handle this. Only a few more weeks and we will try, try again.
Now to get rid of this horrendous hangover. Ugh!!!
But still, I was proud that I was able to make it through the day with a (fake) smile. Yay for me.
I got home, enjoyed a nice dinner with Kevin and our brothers. We started playing some board games... which turned into drinking games.. which turned into beer pong. I think they were all happy to see me back to my normal self, playing around and having a great time. I think they were also pretty happy that I could drink with them again.
Mike and Chad decided that they wanted to continue the party at a bar nearby, but I was pretty... well... sh!tfaced... so I stayed home. Kevin must have known what was about to happen, so he offered to drop them off at the bar then pick them up later.
I don't know exactly what triggered it or how it happened, but by the time (literally about 10 minutes) Kevin dropped them off and got back home, I was curled up on the bathroom floor, balling hysterically. It hit me... and it hit me hard.
All of the emotioons that I had supressed... the sadness and confusion and anger... came flooding out. I thought that I had a pretty good cry on my way home Wednesday... but before I walked in the door, I had to wipe my eyes and put on a smile again. I didn't want to let the boys (Kevin and our brothers) see me cry. Last night was completely, totally raw. I just kept saying "I don't understand... I just don't understand." Kevin (I am so lucky to have him), held me and did his best to comfort me. Even Lucy tried to snuggle and make me feel better.
I woke up this morning with a terrible hangover and a sense of relief. I have never really been a crier... but I think, for some reason, that I needed that. I needed to come to terms with my feelings and... well... let them out.
Today, I still feel sad and confused (and did I mention, massively hungover)... but not angry. I know God will never give me more than I can handle. And with the love and support of my family, friends, wonderful husband and awesome puppy... I can handle this. Only a few more weeks and we will try, try again.
Now to get rid of this horrendous hangover. Ugh!!!
8.17.2011
Heartbroken
Just as quickly as my world turned upside down with a positive pregnancy test last week... my little world got flipped upside down again this morning.
Yesterday I noticed some spotting and I got really nervous. For whatever reason, I decided to take another pregnancy test (to reassure myself, maybe?)... and it was negative. I freaked out and bought 3 more. all 3 came back negative. I was so sick and upset all night. This morning, I bled pretty bad. I called my OB as soon as they opened and explained... they had me come right over.
A trans-vaginal ultrasound confirmed what I feared... I had a "chemical" pregnancy or an early miscarriage... I was trying to prepare for the worst, pray for the best... but I think I was still holding out hope... I think I am just numb right now.
Kevin is devastated. He managed to talk his boss into letting him leave work early to come to the appointment with me, then tried to talk me into taking the rest the day off, but I couldn't stand the thought of spending the rest of the day in bed crying. I wanted to stay busy.
I managed to hold it together through the rest of the day at work and through class for Mental Health Nursing (ironically, one of the topics was loss, grief and depression). I lost it on the way home. I sobbed and slobbered all over my steering wheel. I can't believe I lost a baby.
I was only about 5 or 6 weeks along. I had only known I was pregnant for a few days. But from the moment I read the test I fell in love. I daydreamed about names, a nursery, browsed at maternity clothes... I couldn't wait to be a mother. It's amazing how quickly your world can change... and then in the blink of an eye, change again.
We plan to take a month off to heal, and then try again... but for now all I am able to think about is my little angel baby.
Yesterday I noticed some spotting and I got really nervous. For whatever reason, I decided to take another pregnancy test (to reassure myself, maybe?)... and it was negative. I freaked out and bought 3 more. all 3 came back negative. I was so sick and upset all night. This morning, I bled pretty bad. I called my OB as soon as they opened and explained... they had me come right over.
A trans-vaginal ultrasound confirmed what I feared... I had a "chemical" pregnancy or an early miscarriage... I was trying to prepare for the worst, pray for the best... but I think I was still holding out hope... I think I am just numb right now.
Kevin is devastated. He managed to talk his boss into letting him leave work early to come to the appointment with me, then tried to talk me into taking the rest the day off, but I couldn't stand the thought of spending the rest of the day in bed crying. I wanted to stay busy.
I managed to hold it together through the rest of the day at work and through class for Mental Health Nursing (ironically, one of the topics was loss, grief and depression). I lost it on the way home. I sobbed and slobbered all over my steering wheel. I can't believe I lost a baby.
I was only about 5 or 6 weeks along. I had only known I was pregnant for a few days. But from the moment I read the test I fell in love. I daydreamed about names, a nursery, browsed at maternity clothes... I couldn't wait to be a mother. It's amazing how quickly your world can change... and then in the blink of an eye, change again.
We plan to take a month off to heal, and then try again... but for now all I am able to think about is my little angel baby.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)