Corn Chowder

I got this delish recipe from Samsters Mommy. I made it last night. It's sooooo yummy. I had to substitute a few things, since I didn't have everything the recipe called for. It still tasted GREAT! I will make this again!!!!


Ingredients:
2 cans corn
3 cu chicken broth
1/2 half & half (I used 8 oz of milk)
6 slices bacon ( I used turkey bacon)
1 onion- chopped
3 yellow potatoes- peeled, cut into 1" cubes
8 oz shredded cheddar cheese (didn't have cheddar cheese, so used monterey cheese)
1/4 cu flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp thyme (I used Italian Seasoning)
In your large pot cook bacon over med-low until crispy. Some Once crispy remove from pot. Add onions & saute until translucent. If they start to stick than go ahead and add a drizzle of olive oil. Next add your flour, salt, pepper & thyme. Cook the flour/onion mixture for 3 minutes stirring well. Add chicken stock & potatoes. Simmer for 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Add corn, half & half, cheese & season with additional s & p if necessary. Heat through for another 3 minutes & serve hot with bacon bits as topping.

Pantries!!!!

You know you are getting elderly when you dream of a pantry!!!! There are only 2 requirements for a house. 1. 2 bathrooms 2. pantry!!!!!!!!!!!

Isn't this pantry a beauty!!!!

House Hunting Outing #2

The house hunting continues.......
Sunday we went out and looked at 5 houses. Out of the 5 we found 3 we liked. Sunday was an experience. House #3 that we looked at was the BIGGEST mess I have ever experienced. I didn't feel I could breath while walking through the place. There were 2 or 3 families living in this house with boxes EVERYWHERE! The bedrooms had so much stuff in there I don't think anyone slept in the beds. They had converted the garage into a bedroom and another storage room. BOXES everywhere in this garage. It was horrendous!

House #1 we liked needed no work, but was under priced. We felt we would get outbid on it again.
House #2 - I liked the house, Art wasn't sure. Huge backyard.
House #3 - Art liked the house, I was blah.

Guess which house we put a bid in? DING DING DING House #3!!!!!

We took a trip to Home Depot priced items that would need to be replaced. It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be pricing things. When we got home we looked at Megan's Law and crime reports. That pretty much sealed the deal on which house we put an offer on. The house needs to be upgrade, but it's in good condition. The best part of the house is the Christmas red living room carpet!

Now the waiting game starts again.......

House Hunting Continues

Well looks like we won't be getting the house. Someone offered them cash plus $30K over asking price.....so we will continue to look. We are meeting with the realtor tomorrow to look at 3 homes.

And now we wait.....

We submitted our offer this morning. I think the longest of the process so far was sending a large email with all the paperwork. Now we have to wait to see if they accept our offer. If they accept then we will pay to have an inspector check out the house. Our realtor asked the bank how many offers were coming in. I hope they answer us today. :)
I am ANXIOUS!!!!! It's no fun to keep people waiting when they feel this is their house!

House Hunting

Today Art and I went house hunting for the first time. Our morgage was approved last week. I didn't think we would find anything today, since it was our first time. The first house we looked at I was so discouraged because of all the work that is needed. The realtor took us next door to a house that was update with the same floor plan. AMAZING!!!! Although they wanted $125K more for that house. It gave me hope that the crummy house could be fixed up.

Off to house #2. House #2 was NICE! It needs minimal work. The master bathroom needs new flooring and the shower redone and new molding through the house. It was new paint, nice carpet, hardwood floors, a nice backyard. The garage needs to be painted and cleaned. Overall nothing major needs to be done.

We looked at a few more houses after that. One of the houses had dark panelling on the walls. GROSS!!!! One of the rooms had a 1/2 bath. It looked like someone had smacked up a wall and threw in a toilet & sink. It was just a gross house! Aw no thanks!

We decided tonight to put an offer in house #2. I have a feeling we will be one of many offers that will be put in on the house. I contact our realtor and she is in the process of getting all the paperwork ready. Tomorrow morning we will sign the papers and submit them. Craziness!!!!

If this is the house for us it will all work out!!!!

Cute Wreath Idea

Felt Wreath

Isn't this wreath super cute! I think I might do a red and white one for valentines day.


Link to instructions
http://www.domestifluff.com/2009/11/how-to-make-a-ruffly-felt-rosette-wreath/

Bittersweet

Today I had a check up with my doctor. I have been dreading my appointment all weekend. Today at 9am Art and I were suppose to hear a heartbeat. I was crying last night as I went to bed. I was so sad because I feel like life can be so unfair at times.

I arrived at the doctors office and the nurse called me back. She was so sweet!!!! She asked me how I was doing, was so caring and concerned. We were talking about Thanksgiving etc. She said her whole family came over and her niece just had a baby. She said my niece had a miscarriage and 3 months later found out she was pregnant. Now her niece has a beautiful little boy. She told me a couple other funny family stories and I was cracking up at her.

The doctor came in and was just so incredibly caring! He sat and talked with me. Check to make sure I was doing ok physically and emotionally. He reminded me a few times it's ok to feel sad. He said you have been through a lot physically and emotionally. He talked to me how this is how things should happen with nature. If things aren't right nature will take care of things. Just the way he talked to me was so touching!

I honestly wasn't sure about him the first time I met him. I almost changed doctors. I am so glad I didn't. Him and his nurse are just the best! I felt I was able to get through the appointment with a positive outlook.

Good news is I lost 5 pounds since I was there on November 19. Wooo hooooo....now I just need to lose 3 more and I am down 10 pounds since October 19.

Happy Birthday to Me!

I am officially 29 on the 29th. Today has been a wonderful day. Art got up and made me french toast for breakfast. It was seriously some of the BEST french toast ever! Around 12:30 we went over to his parents for pizza, cake and presents.

When Art turned 40 I bought him stuff he would need for his elderly age. Well today he informed me I am getting old, so he wrapped up some of the same items. Epsom salt, pill dispenser, denture cleaner, mouse traps to trim my toe nails, paint brush to put on my make up and some old mirrors I had put in the trash. All these items were in a box. I kept looking for a gift hidden in the box. There was not gift.

The next box I opened I wasn't expecting much. There was a little blue bag with a diamond necklace!!!!! Whooooo hooooooo!!!! It's sooo beautiful! I have to get a new chain for it because the chain that came with it is to short.

Art's parents gave me money and Amber bought me a cd. I received my gifts from my parents last week. My parents sent me some clothes, gift cards and various other things. Lacey sent me a cd, meat hammer (I requested the meat hammer) and I don't remember what else was in the box. Elderly age is setting in!

It was a great day! Now I am just going to relax!

Christmas List

Here are a few items for my Christmas list.

1. Houndstooth Bag - Target

I had the above bag in my cart tonight at Target. I took it out when I found 2 shirts I wanted to buy with my gift card. I couldn't justify buying 2 shirts and a new bag. I LOVE this bag! It would be sooo cute to carry to work!

2. Brown Riding Boots - Avenue

I went and tried these boots on today. They looked super cute! I took Art with me to see where the store was and what size to buy.

3. Itunes gift card - I need some new music for my ipod. I listen to my ipod to and from work every day.

4. Black Sweater - Lands End

5. Bath & Body Works shower gel - Sweat Pea, Coconut Lime Verbena and Cucumber Melon

6. Julie & Julia Book

7. Microfiber blanket - brown

8. Rachael Ray - orange ladle & spoon

I even made a Stocking list. lol

1. shaver - I use Art's shaver and he gets so mad. He says it dulls the blades. I told him for Christmas he could get me one like his for my stocking. He has the mach 3. I couldn't find them at the store. He claims he found the "girl" version. I would be perfectly happy with the "boy" version. That thing works so great!

2. Paul Mitchell Strength shampoo & conditioner - LOVE this stuff!

I think for stockings this year I am going to buy practical things instead of little knick knacks. I am trying to stop buying gifts that people won't use. My list of items above are all practical and I will use every single item. :)

Surprise

Last night Art took me to the first hotel we ever stayed at. It was so sweet! We went out to eat and watched a movie in our room. How romantic is my husband. :)

And we're off

Art is taking me some place for the night....I have no idea where. SO EXCITED!!!! He said pack a bag.

Tomorrow we are coming home to put up our tree. =)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!! I am so very thankful for my wonderful husband!

This morning we slept in and then I went to the couch to watch the Macy's Day Parade. It didn't hold my attention for very long. I was up making food to take to my IL's. We spent Thanksgiving with Art's parents. I feel like the stuffed turkey!!! It was so yummy!

This is the second Thanksgiving that I have been away from my sister. So sad! My side of the family was all split up this year. Billy called me earlier today. He asked what time we were eating today. I told him 2pm. He said who came up with eating at 2pm? What's wrong with eating at noon? Ummm I am not sure. I asked him what time they were eating....he replied 2pm. LOL No wonder he isn't happy about the 2pm start time.

Tomorrow the Christmas decorating begins! I am soooo excited!

My Great Husband!

Here is my husband who has been taking care of me for 2 days. He has gotten up with me in the middle of the night, brought me drinks, ran to the store, whatever I have needed he has been right there. What a great husband I have!

Family Pictures

We had family pictures taken last Sunday. These are the 2 that I like.

Excitement & Saddness

The past month has been filled with excitement and saddness. On October 27 I took a pregnancy test and it was positive!!! We were soooo excited! Our first appointment was on November 6. I had calculated everything and knew I should be 4-5 weeks at this point. At the dr appoinment the dr could only find a small sack about 1 cm. I felt in my gut at this point something wasn't right. The dr told us I wasn't as far along as I thought I was and he felt everything was on track.

On October 28 my Beta count was 808, November 6 Beta 8,000 and November 8 Beta 10,000. I was concerned because the number didn't double within 48 hours. The dr said to come back on Nov 30 and we should hear a heartbeat.

On November 19 I was at work. I went to the bathroom and noticed I was bleeding. I called the advice nurse, she set up a time for the dr to call me within 30 minutes. The dr called and said for me to come in at 1:30pm. I called Art at work crying because I knew I was in the process of a miscarriage. He said he would meet me at the house at 1pm and we could drive together. I left work and headed home.

We met with the dr for an ultrasound. The dr could only find an empty sack. My heart was so heavy! I had been so excited because finally my dream to be a mom was coming true. We had told our parents, Billy & Mandy, Lacey and Amber we were having a baby. Everyone was sooo excited. I knew these phone calls were going to be so hard. The grandma's were just bouncing off the walls with excitement. My poor mom and mother in law have taken this loss the hardest! I feel so bad for them.

We met with the dr in her office. She gave us 3 options on how to handle the miscarriage.
1. let nature take it's course and pass everything naturally
2. take some pills to pass everything within 24 hours
or
3. D&C

My first option was a D&C. They couldn't get me in until Tuesday. I really wanted this all to be over by Monday. I wanted to start the week fresh and enjoy our holiday weekend. I opted to take the pills. The dr explained that I would insert a few pills vaginally and in 24 hours everything should pass. She said you will experience some pain, so I am giving you vicaden and motrin 800. I asked her if I would even be awake to feel anything. She said if the pain gets too bad then you need to take another vicaden.

Last night at 9:30 I took the vicaden and motrin. At around 10pm I inserted the other pills. Midnight I woke up and felt like a mack truck had run over me! I have some pretty horrendous cramps from my monthly visitor, but this was about 10 times worse. It felt like someone was ripping my insides out. I hadn't ever experienced a pain like this! I took another vicaden to help with the pain. Shortly after I started throwing up. I threw up every hour until 7am. Nothing was taking the pain away. I couldn't sleep, lay down, stand up, nothing. The heating pad didn't help, took a bath nothing.

At around 4am I was able to doze off for a little while. Art had brought me a half of a motrin. That seemed to get the pain to subside a tiny bit. 7am I woke up grabbed the bucket and headed to the bathroom. That is when everything passed and my vomiting stopped. From 7am-9am I was able to sleep a little, but the pain was still horrendous. I was at the point of telling Art to take me to the hospital to get an IV with pain medication.

At 9am the last of everything passed and the pain went down to a dull cramping. Needless to say in 12 hours I went to hell and back. I can't believe that giving birth is more pain than what I experienced. I would NEVER recommend anyone to take the pills over a D&C.

It's over thank God!!!!! I am still taking some motrin, so I am a little drugged writing this blog. I have handled everything very well emotionally. I had prayed numerous times that if something was wrong that God would take the baby now and give me strength. Everything happens for a reason.

I have a wonderful husband who stood beside! He is my rock! I am not sure I could have done this without him. Hopefully 2010 will bring us another BFP!!!!

Countdown!

There are 12 days until my birthday and 38 days until Christmas. Let the festivities begin!!!!!

Smile!

On my way to work each morning there is a little old homeless man standing in the same place every day with the biggest smile on his face. Everyone morning we greet each other with Good Morning. On my way home he is in the same place again with a big smile. We say good night. This man always looks so happy. One day he had on a hoodie sweatshirt with a bunch of bling. He looked so proud of his new hoodie. It made me laugh.

Someone gave him a banana one morning and he was soooo happy! This morning I was thinking we all need to be more like him. Smile and greet people. I can have 100 things on my mind walking to work, but I always smile after I see him. If he can be happy and homeless I should be able to be happy.

All in 2 minutes

Every single day is an adventure working in San Francisco. The first month when I started working in the city I would email my mom every morning of crazy stories. Lately I have been reading books on the train ride, so I dont notice all the craziness.

Today I went outside at work. In my building is a day care. They have a play ground a few hundred feet from the building. They were lining up to come in for lunch. One of the little boys takes off running. He runs behind a basketball hoop hiding his face. The teachers are calling him...Wesley you aren't going to get lunch if you don't come with us. I cracked up laughing watching him running away. He just wanted to stay outside.

I turn the corner and there is a 60 year old playing hacky sack. Now I didn't even know people played with those crazy balls...let alone a 60+ yr old man.

The adventures you can have in 2 minutes on a San Francisco street!

1 Month & 3 Days

I will turn 29. I can't even begin to tell you how much I am dreading turning 29. Yes, to some people I am still young...BUT I have loved my 20's. I have learned more in these past 8 years than I could have ever imagined. Some of the most exciting moments and greatest accomplishments so far have happened. I know there are lots of great moments and accomplishments ahead of me.

I remember being a little girl thinking I can't wait to be 24-27 and how great life would be. I imagined as a young girl moving to a big city and living alone...check! All these moments I imagined when I was younger have taken place....except one thing...becoming a mother. I am not sure if that will happen before the big 3-0 strikes BUT I know it will happen.

2009 has been a rough year and such a great year. I feel this year I took more control of my life and did what makes Becky happy. I feel I have been working on that for the past 5 years. I have always been a fighter, but this year a whole new meaning of fighting took place.

I was thinking the other day how I can't believe I resigned from my previous employer and walked out. WOW was I thinking clearly when I did that? ABSOLUTELY!!!! It was the best decision I made, but one of the hardest. I have one life to live and it's not going to be miserable working some place I don't love.

Twenty Nine is about to come in a month.....what will year 29 bring? Maybe a house? Baby? New car? Hmmmm these are the exciting moments that could come. I have to make my last year in my 20's the best year.