Lazy Sunday - Family Time

Lazy Sundays, a day where I do as little as possible in preparation for the work week ahead, are slowly shaping into Family Sundays.  With this day being the only day my husband and I have off together, we are now finding things to do together, and with Stella now that she is older.

I remember back in my non-mommy days, Sundays were called "Sunday Fundays".  Long days filled with champagne brunch, mismosas, beers, and BBQs have turned into days just as fun, but so different.  My hubby even tried to talk me into getting a pedicure today (that must be a clue as to the shape of my toes) and I turned him down, asking instead to spend the morning as a family at Disneyland.  No, I was not under the influence of any foregin substance.  Honestly, that is all I wanted to do.

I love spending time as a family, enjoying Stella, even if it means I go without a pedicure or the laundry doesn't get done.  Well, I lie, I did the laundry yesterday, but the point is that family time has taken over as first place in my list of things to do.  A year has gone by and boy has my life changed.  Mimosas and too much sun has changed into sunscreen and a $5.00 bottle of water at Disneyland.  I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Happy Sunday haute moms!

Lazy Sunday Turkey Burgers

Now that the weather is warming, I have gotten my hubby back on the grill. It helps ease the pressure of cooking dinner and helps us save money! The benefits on the waistline aren't bad either. Here is a super easy recipe that I have on the menu for tonight. My girlfriend made it for us and it was DELISH! Everyone loves a haute mom in the kitchen, and with the taste of these, it will be a hit without harming that hot figure!

Healthy Makeover: Turkey Burgers

Lazy Sunday - Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

Our good friends had a birthday party for their two year old this weekend and there was a treat there that is still making my mouth water.  The recipe is NOT for the lazy, however, a few of these and your already lazy Sunday is about to take a turn for the worst.  But that's what Sundays are for, right?  Thanks Emily for making these ridicuously wonderful cookies!  This treat is not for the faint of heart!

When I googled the recipe tons of versions came up.  This is one I found on Becky Bakes that seemed pretty straight forward. 

Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies


2 sticks (1 cup) softened butter
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon pure vanilla
3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
10 oz bag chocolate chips
1 pkg. Oreo cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugars together with a mixer until well combined. Beat in eggs and vanilla.

In a separate bowl mix the flour, salt and baking soda. Slowly add to wet ingredients along with chocolate chips until just combined. Using a cookie scoop take one scoop of cookie dough and place on top of an Oreo Cookie. Take another scoop of dough and place on bottom of Oreo cookie. Seal edges together by pressing and cupping in hand until Oreo cookie is enclosed with dough. Place onto a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet and bake cookies 9-13 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

Makes about 2 dozen VERY LARGE cookies.

Lazy Sunday- Another Easy Dinner

I haven't posted a Lazy Sunday recipe in a few weeks but I actually tried this one last night and not only was it easy but it was a winner. You know how I love the crock pot. I just made this with some cole slaw and baked sweet potato fries and as my hubby put it, "Why go out to dinner?" That was before I put him on dish duty.

Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Ingredients:
- 2 lb pork tenderloin
- 1 bottle beer or root beer
- 1/2 onion thinly sliced
- 1 bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce

Directions:
1. Trim fat off pork
2. Place pork tenderloin, beer or root beer, and onions in slow cooker
3. Cook on low heat for 6 or 7 hours until pork shreds easily
4. Drain liquid from pot
5. Shred pork and add BBQ sauce
6. Serve with buns or rolls

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Lazy Sunday ~ Oscar Fun

I remember, pre-baby days, some of our funnest nights used to be during a big awards show.  The Grammy's, Golden Globes, Oscars always provided a reason to get together, open some booze, and get some good eating in.  We used to even have dinner parties where we would have a pool and try to guess who was going to win the big categories.  I never won.

Tonight is the Oscars and I am embarrassed to say that I haven't seen ANY of the movies that are up for awards.  The closest I have come is hearing about how wonderful The King's Speech was and hoping to see The Black Swan.  Actually, our nanny watched Toy Story 3 one night on our Pay-per-view.  Does that count?  I guess this year, the party will be taking place at someone else's house and hubby, Stella and I will be creating our own new, tradition for awards shows.  I mean, it really is about what everyone is wearing, isn't it?

Here is a fun recipe (courtesy of The Food Network) for the whole family to enjoy while you sit at the television and see your favorite movies win.  Or if you are like us, while you sit and gossip about who is wearing what.  It's a haute play on the favored movie snack, popcorn!

Pepped Up Popcorn

Ingredients

Cheesy Popcorn:

1 (3.5-ounce) package natural microwave popcorn (not the buttered kind)

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
Kosher salt

Directions:

Pop the popcorn according to package instructions. While hot, carefully open package and dump into a large bowl. Drizzle oil over the popcorn, and toss the popcorn with your hands to coat. Add the cheese and toss again. Season, to taste, with salt. Cool. Transfer to a sealed container or serve immediately.

Sweet and Spicy Popcorn:

2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 (3.5-ounce) package natural microwave popcorn (not the buttered kind), popped

Directions:
Put the sugar, butter, and chili powder in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave on medium (50 percent power) until butter melts, about 1 minute. Stir to dissolve sugar. Drizzle over freshly popped popcorn; and toss to evenly coat. Cool. Transfer to a sealed container or serve immediately.

Rocky Road Popcorn:

1 (3.5-ounce) package natural microwave popcorn (not the buttered kind)
1 cup mini or regular chocolate chips
2 cups mini marshmallows
1 cup salted peanuts, optional

Directions:
Pop the popcorn according to package instructions. While it's still hot, carefully open and dump into a large bowl. Add the chips and marshmallows.

Return popcorn to the microwave. Cook on high until the chips and marshmallows get gooey, about 1 minute. Add the peanuts, if desired, and toss with a spoon until all the popcorn is coated. Cool until chocolate hardens, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a sealed container or serve immediately.

Lazy Sunday - Who Wants Pizza?

Something that we always tend to crave on a lazy Sunday is pizza. Whether it is lunchtime and your family is sitting around or dinner time rolls in and you are looking for a quick and easy meal, pizza seems to be the cure all. Now that I am back to my happy weight, pizza is definitely not welcome around my house. Although I am all for enjoying things in moderation, I have no self control around pizza and the intent of one or two pieces turns three or four. This may even mean pizza for breakfast the next day because I just can't help myself.

I found this great recipe from Dana Angelo White who is all about fast and healthy. She has created a very doable pizza recipe that will meet all the requirements of a good pizza. It is good, it is quick and easy, and the best part, it is healthy...at least healthier than your normal delivery pizza which can pack over 200 calories and 11 grams of fat in just one slice of plain cheese. I hope I didn't ruin it for you all.

This recipe is a heathy alternative for that staple Sunday pizza. I was thinking how much fun it would be to let your kids or guests make their own pizzas too - you could just supply the toppings! Or what about having a pizza potluck?!

Serves: 8

Version 1: Vegetable

Ingredients

• 2 whole wheat English muffins, sliced
• 1/4 cup marinara sauce
• 1/4 cup diced bell pepper
• 1/4 cup sliced black olives
• 4-5 fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup shredded part skim mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 375F. Place English muffins on a baking sheet lines with aluminum foil. Top with marinara sauce, bell pepper, olives and basil. Sprinkle with cheese and bake for 12-15 minutes until cheese is melted.

Nutrition information per pizza:

Calories: 130; Total fat: 4.5g Saturated fat: 2g; Carbohydrate: 16g; Protein: 7g; Sodium: 390mg

Version 2: BBQ Chicken

Ingredients

• 2 whole wheat English muffins, sliced
• 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
• 1 medium scallion, finely chopped
• 3 oz grilled chicken breast, diced
• 1/2 cup shredded part skim mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 375F. Place English muffins on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Top with barbecue sauce, scallion and chicken. Sprinkle with cheese and bake for 12-15 minutes until cheese is melted.

Nutrition information per pizza

Calories: 160; Total fat: 16g; Saturated fat: 2g; Carbohydrate: 16g; Protein: 13.5g; Sodium: 428mg

Lazy Sunday

This lazy Sunday post is coming from Mammoth Lakes, CA. We took our first family ski trip to one of our favorite ski resorts. I have been a passholder at this mountain for years and sat out last season since I was pregnant. It was good to be back. Hubby and I struggled with the logistics of skiing and watching a nine month old. Many of the couples we know simply take turns watching the baby and skiing but what fun is that? I know beggars can't be choosers but it was important to us to ski together since that is one of the hobbies that we enjoy doing together. At the end of the day, we decided to bring the nanny with us. Although our price of travel increased, it was well worth it. We got to have a great weekend skiing together without worrying about the other person watching the baby. Stella was in good hands while we were on the mountain. This is definitely not something we could afford to do all the time but I guess in the spirit of the weekend, we splurged. Happy Valentine's Day weekend to all you haute moms. I hope you find some quality time with your significant others...or at least a fabulous box of chocolates.

Lazy Sunday - Perfect Pasta for Winter

Happy Sunday everyone. I have another super easy recipe for your laxy Sunday and this is courtesy of Giada at the Food Network (can you tell I LOVE her?). This is a perfect recipe to add your own touch to. I think adding whole wheat pasta and some ground turkey would make a perfect meal. I was even thinking about adding some veggies to it to get our daily servings in. And I didn't see cheese in the recipe but you can bet I will be adding that as well!

Pasta all Formiana

Ingredients

• Butter, for greasing dish
• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 clove garlic, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 pound (8 ounces) mezze penne or other small pasta
• 1/3 cup olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
• 1/4 cup dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 4 to 5 very ripe, extra-large or beefsteak tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices

Directions

1. Put an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Butter an 8 by 8-inch glass baking dish. Set aside.

2. In a food processor, blend together the crushed tomatoes and garlic. Pour into a medium bowl and add the uncooked pasta, 1/3 cup olive oil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Toss until all the ingredients are coated. (Honestly, you can skip to food processor and just add your favorite jar of tomato sauce if you like.)

3. Line the bottom and sides of the baking dish with tomato slices. Pour the pasta mixture into the pan and spread evenly. Arrange the remaining tomato slices in an overlapping layer on top of the pasta mixture, making sure the mixture is completely covered. Drizzle with olive oil. Bake until the tomatoes are slightly crispy and the pasta is cooked, about 1 hour. Remove from the oven and cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Watch Giada as she makes the recipe. She looks so much better than I do! :)

Lazy Sunday ~ Another Easy Recipe!

This recipe is from one of my very good friends and fellow haute moms.  She promises me that this is an easy one and she knows how I am in the kitchen so it's gotta be a good one!  There are also a lot of healthier substitutions that can be made, for example, chicken sausage instead of the andouille sausage.  My girlfriend says she subs shrimp for the turkey but I am actually considering getting a cooked chicken from the market and peeling it to use for this recipe and then finding turkey sausage to sub in as well.  So many possibilities...
I am going to serve it up tomorrow night - it looks so easy! Watch how it's done!

Turkey Jambalaya

Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 1 cup)


Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 1/2 cups chopped onion

1 teaspoon bottled minced garlic
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
2 1/2 teaspoons paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
2 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 cups shredded cooked turkey
6 ounces andouille sausage, chopped
2 tablespoons sliced green onions

Preparation
Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté 6 minutes or until lightly browned. Stir in bell peppers and next 5 ingredients (bell peppers through black pepper); sauté 1 minute. Add rice; sauté 1 minute. Stir in broth and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes. Add turkey and sausage; cover and cook 5 minutes. Sprinkle with green onions.

My mouth is watering!  Bon Appetit!

Lazy Sunday - It's Casserole Time

Today there is a severe need for an easy, lazy Sunday dinner recipe.  The hubby and I went to a wine tasting dinner party last night and aside from being a little, uh, dehydrated today, Stella and I are sick.  Stella has the worst of it with a runny nose and fever, that is hopefully due to teething but only a visit to the doc on Tuesday will tell for sure.  Of course, my hubby was already wondering what we were going to do for dinner before lunch was even put on the table. 

I am always a big fan of casseroles and crock pot recipes because I like being able to prep dinner when I have time and then just leave it and let it simmer, bake, or stew for the afternoon.  I found this yummy recipe for Beefy Mac and Cheese from The Food Network that fits perfectly into the easy, winter casserole category.  And it's from Paula Dean's sons, Jamie and Bobby so you know it is going to be good!  Since I have lost the baby weight, I am not going to ruin it with a fattening meal so I am going to substitute ground turkey for the beef and use low fat cheese.  I like that fact that you can put your own touch into this dish as well.  Check it out!

Lazy Sunday Cocktails!

After a stream of holidays parties, I was thinking about how a fun, festive drink at a party seems to make things come together. We all get tired of the old wine and beer selection and personally, I am not an egg nog fan (we won't even go there with it's calories now that I am back into my pre-preggy jeans). Sometimes my family has been known to whip up a cocktail on the holidays, especially on Christmas day while we enjoy noshing on snacks and opening our gifts.

I looked up some holiday concoctions but so many of them, although look amazing, take almost as much prep as cooking Chrsitmas dinner! Drinks are supposed to help you relax not add one more thing to the list. I found a very easy holiday drink that is fit for drinking morning, noon, or night (it's 5:00 p.m. somewhere) and easy to make. Giada di Laurentiis is behind this one and how can you go wrong from a chef that looks like she does, right haute moms? She calls it the Blissini and it is a fun, festive spin on a mom's best friend, the mimosa. Cheers!

Lazy Sunday ~ New and Improved

Today Lazy Sunday brought on a whole new meaning.  After my first week back at work, and a little separation anxiety, I was excited to spend the weekend home with Stella.  We had plans last night to join our friends on their boat for our city's annual Christmas boat parade and I couldn't wait to see how Stella enjoyed her first time on a boat as well as all the beautiful lights and Christmas decorations. I spent yesterday with Stella running errands in preparation for the boat parade and felt like I fell a little short of my quality time with her, so today I was determined to do nothing but hang out, just Stella and I (the hubby worked today at our store).

After my husband left for work, I decided to do nothing but enjoy Stella.  The weather was beautiful (82 degrees in sunny Southern California) but I didn't want to put her in the stroller and take her for a walk because that would offer minimal interaction, and likely nap time.  So aside from sitting on the porch we stayed inside, read books, played with blocks, and did the usual seven month old activites including my personal favorite, took naps. 

You gotta love those blocks

The snow globe and forshadowing that she inherited mom's ability to close her eyes in pictures.

This is the first day I learned the true meaning of quality family time.  I think I took being home with Stella forgranted in that I didn't know how precious our time was together until I didn't have it.  Now that I am back at work, my time home with her should be focused, at least for one day.  I sat and watched her laugh at this Christmas electric snow globe we bought her for hours.  No really, it entertains her for hours.  How I can squeeze in cleaning, errand running, grading for my college classes, and all the other "to do's" will have to get worked out but until then, Sunday's are reserved for some mommy-daughter time.  I even waited until she fell asleep to post. The empty fridge, dust bunnies in the corners, and dirty laundry will all have to wait until another day because my Sundays have just become truly lazy Sundays. 

Lazy Sunday - Easy Dessert with the Holiday Leftovers

This is a day late but I couldn't help but share this recipe that is perfect for Lazy Sunday.  The thing I like about this is that it uses stale croissants which we always seem to have on Sundays - the last two lonely croissants left over and stale from the week.  What better way to use them then in this easy dessert that is as delectable as any holiday dessert can be!

The recipe is courtesy of  British chef Nigella Lawson and serves "2 greedy people".  Love it!



CARAMEL CROISSANT PUDDING

 Prep Time : 25 minutes

Ingredients

2 stale croissants

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons water

1/2 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons bourbon

1/2 cup whole milk

2 eggs, beaten

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Tear the croissants into pieces and put in a small gratin dish; I use a cast iron oval with a capacity of about 500ml/ 2 cups for this.

Put the sugar and water into a saucepan, and swirl around to help dissolve the sugar before putting the saucepan on the hob over medium to high heat.

Caramelize the sugar and water mixture by letting it bubble away until it all turns a deep amber colour; this will take 3 to 5 minutes. Keep looking but don't be too timid.

Take the pan off the heat and add the cream - ignoring all spluttering - followed by the bourbon and milk. Whisk to mix, then still whisking add the beaten eggs.

Pour this quickly over the croissants and leave to steep for 10 minutes.

Place in the preheated oven for 20 minutes and prepare to swoon.

Giving Thanks Week 4

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Although this is normally my Lazy Sunday post, I decided that what better day to give my last week of thanks than on the day that inspired it all!  When I think about how much my life has changed since Stella was born, I think back to all of the things that have helped me along the way to being a haute mom.  I have given thanks to my friends, my family, and to the roof I have over my head.  As I look at all that I have, there is one more group of people that I would like to thank.

I am thankful for my fellow mommies.  By fellow mommies I mean my other mommy friends old and new and I also mean all of you out there who I have never met.  Some of the kindest words and notes of support have come through on this blog, from others that I do not know.  I look forward to seeing many of your comments and your supportive cheering from the sidelines.  It often overwhelms me how many of you are faithful readers and have become mentors to me through a simple thing as a blog.  I have made wonderful contacts with many of you even though you are on the East Coast, and some as far as Canada!

When I started this blog, so many of you stepped forward and have blessed me by giving me awards, and featuring me on your own blogs.  With something that started off simply as a journal of my experiences, I found the best support through strangers where the only link we have is blogging and mommyhood.  The power of being a mommy never fails to amaze me, and the network of bloggers has done the same.

I dedicate this post to all of you, whether I know you or not, who have unselfishly given me five minutes of your time to write words of encouragement.  I especially thank all of you who visit me regularly and who make me smile when I see a comment from you on one of my posts.  You have provided support and made me laugh during the hardest of times, and continue to do so.  Know that you have touched the life of a stranger all the way in sunny California just for reaching out.  For this I am thankful. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you...from my family to yours.

Lazy Sunday ~ Giving Thanks Week 3

On this truly lazy Sunday (I am still in my pajamas), I am reflecting on my week and trying to put it into perspective. There have been a lot of stressful things that have happened, where at times, I have not felt thankful for anything. I have found myself upset, defeated, frustrated, and alone. I wondered all week what I was going to write today. This is a far cry from last week when I had a million things I was thankful for.

Like always, things happen for a reason. There always seems to be things that come along at the right time to give a little sign that life isn't so bad. This happened twice this week and has helped me get back to being thankful once again.

I was invited to a fundraising event for an organization called Children Today. My friend from college invited me at the last minute, and my husband and I were able to donate a gift basket from our sporting goods store to auction off for the cause. I almost didn't go, but decided a few hours of adult time may be just what the doctor ordered. At the event, I learned more about what Children Today does. They offer child care and preschool to homeless children. I found myself donating money to give a child a birthday party, and buying books to give to the children in their program. This was heartbreaking and that evening, I found myself getting choked up. I could not imagine being in a situation where I could not provide food, shelter, and needs for my child.

Another friend of mine from college, and a fellow blogger, invited me to a blogging event yesterday for Nintendo Wii and the American Heart Association. The lunch happened to have a guest speaker on Asset Based Thinking. While I am reserving the details for a post dedicated to this event, I must say that the main message here was to change the way we thought about our problems. The speaker encouraged us to think positively about our problems and look at them as opportunites instead of negative things that weigh us down. Sounds like a little poke in the ribs from the highers that be, doesn't it?

So today, I am simply going to be thankful for what I have. I may run the risk of sounding materialistic but stick with me. I am thankful I own my home and it provides a roof for my family. I will always and forever want a bigger house but I need to stop and just be thankful that I have a home that I own. I am thankful that I have a job to go back to and that I am not in the group of the thousands of people that have found themselves out of work. I am thankful that I have enough money to buy basic necessities for my family. Money is one of those things that everyone feels like they always need more of, but I can buy food, diapers, clothing, and pay my bills. For that I am thankful.

In a time of difficulty right now, where I am personally struggling with many things in my life, I know that I am more fortunate than many. I have a healthy family (week 1), am surrounded by amazing friends (week 2), and have the basic necessities in life that so many of us take forgranted, and that so many in this country struggle for. This haute mom has had her smack in the face for the week and has been reminded that things could always be worse and when looking at things from a different perspective, I need to be truly thankful for the simple things.

Thank you to Masy Bunnell and Lisa Robertson for your invitations that have allowed me to be thankful for what I have.

I think I learned
to appreciate and treasure each day,
because you don't know
how many you're going to be given.
US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor

When I started counting my blessings,
my whole life turned around.
Willie Nelson

Lazy Sunday ~ Giving Thanks Week 2

I have the chance to write this post in the blessed silence of an early Sunday morning. I have a good friend at work who used to describe these morning too me, explaining that she used to tip-toe downstairs at 5 a.m. to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee before work, using every muscle possible to control her movements so that she doesn't make a sound. For she knew that even the slighest creak would wake a child, husband, dog, which would then wake another, crashing down into a domino effect of craziness. I never fully understood this, until now.

Today, I am thankful for friends. I know this seems kind of generic but this post is for a certain category of friends. Not the friends who are there for convenience, the ones who only call or come around when they need something or when there is nothing better to do. Not the friends who are one-sided, those who never call you or invite you places, but instead do nothing for your friendship until you reach out to them. And not those who I like to call "frenemies", the ones who use you to gain some advantage, use your ideas, or talk about you behind your back. I am thankful for true friends, the ones that are so special that they can part the clouds on a rainy day.

As I have gotten older, I have learned about all these different types of friends, some the hard way. Gone are the days when I traveled with an entourage, where only one or two in company was a true friend. I have experienced drama, backstabbing, let downs, stolen dreams, and people hanging on to my coat tails and learned that some people never change and it is best to let them go. As I think about my true friends, I realize that part of getting older means that people get let behind, sometimes for good reason.

My friends now are the ones who I know will be here for life. I can call on any one of them and they will be there for me. It doesn't matter how long I have seen or talked to them, we can pick up as though we lunched the day before. It doesn't matter how busy they are, they will take the time out of their day to help me, be there for me, or inconvenience themselves for me. These friends call or text me randomly to say they are thinking about me, Stella, and that they miss us. Sometimes they send a message about something that made them think of me and it was important that they share. They never use the excuse "I've been too busy" or "I didn't get a chance" but they keep their word out of respect for our friendship. These friends make me feel supported, loved, and special. It is comforting to know that there is a small, secluded group in my life that will always be around helping me be the best that I can be and picking me up when I fall.

I wish that I could list these friends, but many know who they are. Perhaps, some people reading this would be surprised to find out they would be on this list, and that shows me the true selflessness of their friendship. Some of these people are from my college days, others from the work place. Many of these friends I have know for years, and others, only since my haute months of mommyhood. It doesn't matter how long they have been around but what matters is that they are here to stay. Thank you to all my friends who are there for me through thick and thin and have helped me through this next chapter of my haute life. For you, I am truly thankful.

Lazy Sunday ~ Giving Thanks Week 1

I have decided for the month of November and in the spirit of Thanksgiving I was going to spend my lazy Sundays reflecting on all the things I can be thankful for. It is sad that I actually have to set time aside and force myself to be thankful but I guess that's life sometimes. I do know I get bogged down with things that are wrong and that I want to fix so I think it is important for me to remember that there are plenty of things in my life that are RIGHT. Who knows, maybe it will become a new way of thinking for me!

As I sit here on this perfect lazy Sunday, I feel very thankful for many things. We had our first professional pictures done today as a family and spent a beautiful morning in a park, smiling, laughing and enjoying our surroundings. Now, I sit here and blog as Stella sleeps soundly on my chest and my husband cleans the house. No, that is not a typo.

This week, I am going to be thankful for my family. I know that is fairly general, but it almost has to be. I am thankful for my husband who has the biggest heart, and lives his life everyday doing the best he can for me and Stella. We have our ups and downs, as most couples do. but he is always by my side, supportive in anything I want to do, and let's face it, he is cleaning the house right now. He has willingly picked up many "wife" duties since we had the baby and does them with pride! I am also thankful for my parents. They live about 400 miles away, on the outskirts of San Francisco, and are on their way here to take care of Stella for two days. My dad, who was not a hands on father, is so in love with his granddaughter it brings tears to my eyes. He offers to take her when he visits so I can eat, shower, rest, etc. I am so sad that, in a couple of days, I will be leaving Stella for two days and one night but am comforted knowing that my parents will be the ones watching over her. I also have two siblings that I am thankful for. My brother and my sister have both been parts of my life and even bigger parts of my daughter's life. I know that I can count on either of them to do anything and to be there for me no matter what. Lastly, I am thankful for Stella. I never could have imagined how one little human being could change our lives so. I feel like I put little arms and legs on my heart and named it Stella. She is so precious and beautiful and becoming a mom is the greatest role I have ever experienced. I am thankful every day for her health, her safety, and her being.

There are so many other things I can be thankful for and each week I am going to focus on one. I think this Thanksgiving will not only be a special one now that Stella is here but also because for the first time in a long time, I am going to spend it the way it was meant to - truly giving thanks.

Lazy Sunday...pudgy Sunday!

You may notice that I am always moaning and groaning about my weight. My sweet, skinny Taverniti pre-pregnancy jeans just stare at me from across the room now...waiting...judging. I have decided in this month of October, this oh, so much candy, time of yea,r that I am going to embrace my sweet mommy curves and enjoy the month of sweet treats! This lazy Sunday I am bringing to you a yummy recipe that will take your tummy to heaven with minimal work. Rocky Road Chocolate Cake cooks in the crock pot and is courtesy of Southern Living. It is delish and only 15 minutes of prep time!


ROCKY ROAD CHOCOLATE CAKE


Prep: 15 min. Cook Time: 3 hours 40 min. Stand: 15 min.
Makes 8 to 10 servings.



Ingredients:

• 1 (18.25 oz.) package German chocolate cake mix


• 1 (3.9 oz.) package chocolate instant pudding mix


• 3 large eggs, lightly beaten


• 1 cup sour cream


• 1/3 cup butter, melted


• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract


• 3 1/4 cups milk, divided


• 1 (3.4 oz.) package chocolate cook-and-serve pudding mix


• 1/2 cup chopped pecans (you can use almonds instead)


• 1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows


• 1 cup semisweet chocolate morsels


• Vanilla ice cream (optional)
  

Directions:

1. Beat the cake mix. next 5 ingredients, and 1 1/4 cups milk at medium speed with an electric mixer for 2 minutes. Pour batter into a lightly greased, 4 qt. slow cooker.

2. Cook remaining 2 cups of milk in a non-aluminum saucepan over medium heat. stirring often, 3-5 minutes or just until bubbles appear. Do not boil.

3. Sprinkle cook and serve pudding mix over batter. Slowly pour hot milk over pudding. Cover and cook LOW for 3 1/2 hours.

4. Meanwhile, cook the pecans in a nonstick skillet over medium-to-high heat, stirring often. 3-5 min. or until toasted and fragrant.

5. Turn off slow cooker and sprinkle cake wtih pecans. marshmallows, and chocolate morsels. Let stand 15 minutes or until marshmallows are slightly melted. Spoon into dessert dishes, and serve with ice cream, if desired.