The Life of a Working Mom

In honor of the super bowl I figured I would post my favorite super party yummy Artichoke and Spinach Dip:

 1 large bag frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
2 can artichoke hearts, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tbsp dijon mustard
1 small onion, diced
1/2 cup parmasean
1 cup mozarella

Preheat oven to 350
Set aside 1/4 cup parmasean and 1/4 cup mozarella
In large bowl combine all ingredients, mix until well combined.
Spoon into large foil pan
Sprinkle with 1/4 cup parmasean and 1/4 cup mozarella
Cover with foil
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until heated through
Remove foil and return to oven to brown cheese on top.

Serve with fresh veggies, crackers, tortilla chips (anything really)
And that its!!

This is the easiest spinach artichoke dip to make and is very forgiving. I have gotten to the point where I really don’t measure anything out when I make it. The amount of mayo/sour cream can be adjusted to your taste and how creamy you want it to be.

Enjoy…and happy Super Bowl (Go Steelers!!!!)

I am in love with foaming dish soap, but I absolutely hate paying all that money for something that is essentially watered down soap in a really funky dispenser…instead I have learned how to make my own. 

We had a foam dispenser from one of the kids’ foaming handsoaps

I filled it almost all the way with water

Then added plain old dish soap (Palmolive here…usually I use Dawn…but had to go with whats on sale)

 Shake it up a bit to mix it and……voila….foaming soap

 Doing this saves us so much…I think I have to buy soap once every six months if that often. 

If you do try this…it can take a couple tries to get the combo right, and different soaps mix a little differently, but its pretty easy and when you consider how much you spend on the foaming soap when it is mostly water it is so worth the time and energy (what little energy it takes)

ok…so a couple words…we are getting ready for more snow…figured I’d get in the mood

    Click on image to see full size What is more joyful than a little boy with his chocolate birthday cake?! 

Here’s another week of food, I don’t have full recipes planned out right now, which I know isn’t a great thing, but I know I have what I need to make each of these days a full meal.

Sun:  Beef tacos w/salad

Mon:  Roasted chicken with potatoes and carrots (made in crock pot)

Tue:  Pork Chops

Wed:  Pot roast

Thur:  Sausage ravioli

Fri:  Night out

Sat:  Birthday Party

Grocery List

Roasting Chicken
Drumsticks
Pot Roast
Pork chops
Bananas
Potatoes
Sour Cream
Ritz Crackers
Eggs
Apples
lettuce
Ketchup
taco seasonings
Toilet paper
paper towels
Chicken nuggets
1/2 gallon ice cream **
lays chips **
dubliner cheese **

 I was sick last week and didn’t do my shopping as I planned so I HAD to get toilet paper and paper towels this week, this definitely threw things off a bit, but I was still able to keep it to $78.40 for the week at Stop and Shop, plus $2.89 at CVS for milk.   This is all pretty good considering my husband and both boys were with me, the only things we bought that weren’t on the list were the three items marked **.  Works for me.

 Here is this weeks Weekly Recipe - decided to go a little healthy this time around 

We took a shot with a veggie / tofu stir-fry a couple weeks ago and we LOVED it!!  

Ingredients:
1/2 C Veggie Broth
1/2 tsp orange zest
1 orange peeled and chopped
1/4 C Soy Sauce
3 tsp oil (canola is my favorite)
14 oz firm tofu - cubed 1/2″ cubes
8 oz sliced mushrooms
3 garlic cloves minced
8 oz snow peas cut in thirds
3 scallions, chopped

1. combine the broth, zest, orange, and soy sauce in small bowl, set aside

2. Heat a large nonstick skillet or wok over medium-high heat until a drop of water sizzles. pour in 1 tsp of the oil, swirl to coat the pan, then add the tofu. Stirfry until lightly golden, 4-5 minutes, transfer to a plate.

3. Add the remaining 2 tsp of oil to the skillet. Add the mushrooms and garlic; stir-fry until the mushrooms begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the snow peas; stir-fry until they begin to soften.

4. Add the tofu and broth mixture and cook, stirring occaisionally until heated through.

5. Remove from heat and mix in scallionsThe sauce is what really made this extra yummy.

Really you could add in whatever veggies you enjoy.

We served it over rice, but you could do it over rice or any noodle.

I can’t believe I am even bothering to post right now….as I have nothing to post.  But I figure I joined up with the Wii Fit Mommies to give myself some accountability, may as well stick with it good or bad.

Read my previous post and you will see how I have been feeling, not just today but lately, so needless to say my sour mood has kept me from getting motivated.  I am trying hard to break from this funk and get my bum in gear.   I want so badly to lose this baby weight, and then some, but nothing is going to happen if I don’t make it happen….time to make it happen….

So that is my pathetic post….I have done nothing on my Wii Fit this week (boo me!)  I am going to make this next week better (yay me?)

I was feeling sorry for myself today, driving home, in tears, feeling sad and loney and….well just pathetic.  I was thinking how unfair it was….as  a mom of two young boys, working at a crazy busy job, I have little time for a life outside of babies and work.  I found a longing to meet other people, to have that mythical gaggle of girlfriends - to sit and drink coffee (or martinis….or vodka tonics really) and giggle and chat and just have a nice night out.  I felt sorry for myself that because of my job I can’t take advantage of mothers groups or MOPS. 

I got home several hours before the boys did, and instead of working out, or cleaning, or working on some sewing projects, I sat on my couch and felt sorry for myself…and I cried, and ate pancakes.

Then my boys came home.  The moment Tommy saw me his face lit up.  I went down to meet him at the car and he ran to my arms and gave big hugs and kisses and started telling me about his day.  He was so happy to see me.  When Dan walked in carrying Jack I was greated by a second big smile, from my second beautiful baby. 

Tonight we ate pizza, baked muffins, and played.  Jack stood without holding on to anything for the longest he has ever, and Tommy helped me mix and bake the muffins and got to lick the spoon for the first time. 

Tonight I realized that I have a choice - I have been blessed with a family, with a loving husband, with two beautiful little boys.  Yes motherhood is hard, and at times its lonely, and its not always fair, but I have a choice.  I can let the hardships of motherhood be my burden, I can walk around with drooped shoulders and teary eyes feeling sorry for myself, OR, I can choice to find my joy in motherhood, I can be happy everytime I see their eyes light up, I can laugh with them and love on them, I can delight in the precious firsts and enjoy every moment of their journey to grow into beautiful men.  Tonight I realized I have a choice, and tonight I chose to make my burden my joy.

Recently I read an article written by Melinda Fulmer on MSN Money, “Can a Family Eat on $100 a Week?” It was an interesting article, and for the most part I was impressed.  She managed to feed her family of 4 on $100.  And she did it without coupons.  I decided that I am going to give myself the same challenge. 

My goal: Feed my family on $100 or less a week.  This will include any take-in items (pizza, chinese, etc) but NOT include any special meals, as that is from our entertainment budget not our food budget (I mean like a date night or birthday)

 Oh…and I am going to use coupons - I live for coupons.

I’ve already been doing this actually, well trying to at least.  Since I started meal planning a few weeks ago I haven’t spent more than $100 when I have gone shopping, the only thing I have not counted in were a couple of side trips for items like milk and eggs.  From here on out everything will count.

Stay tuned.  I am planning to post weekly (following my Sunday shopping trip) and let you know how I’ve done/am doing.  I am confident that I can do this….I think.