The Food Nanny

I LOVE TO COOK!!! Sometimes when I'm mad or feel under appreciated and think "I won't make dinner tonight that'll show em!" But then I realize that not making dinner is more of a punishment on me then anyone else, because I enjoy it so much, Ry is fine with a bowl of cereal! :)

As long as we've been married I've worked and that means I usually get home a little tired but it is a stress reliever to cook dinner. But, I have to have a plan. I have to make a list the week before and shop the Saturday before in order to have stress free dinners. If there is no plan and I have to come up with a dinner on the spot...IT'S NOT HAPPENING!

Anyways, a couple of weeks ago we were at Swiss Days (where my sister was voted one of the top 3 booths! :)) and the only thing I bought was this recipe book: (I have a secret crush on all recipe books!) The "Food Nanny" has brought so much JOY into my life the past 2 weeks than I realized a cook book could. It is not so much the food as her idea...Every night is a theme night! Her book is grouped in recipes according to a theme. You pick your theme each night and then just flip to that section in the book and plug in a recipe! I love it. We have eaten Food Nanny recipes each night for the past 2 weeks and it has been some of the best eatin ever! :)

Fettechini Alfredo with homemade bread sticks (Italian night), 3 cheese quesidillias (Mexican night), buttermilk waffles (breakfast night), some amazing Italian pasta (Italian night), homemade pizza (homemade pizza night), and tonight maybe the best fish tacos (meatless/fish night) I've ever had!

I have kept the same themes each week and plan on keeping it that way. This way Ryan will know what to expect for dinner depending on what night it is.

I bought this book for $20.00 but amazon has it for $16.95.

Here is what my two week planner looks like. We plan and shop for 2 weeks at a time except for the perishable items. I also like it because you don't have to just use her recipes but you can plug in your favorites to the night that they match. I read her whole book and loved it...she is from the Park City area...oh and even signed my book! :)

You can check out her web sites and see all her recipes and get them off line. You can also plug them into your own 2 week planner and then print the recipe if you want. I find the book easier just not cheaper. I made my own 2 week planner in Excel instead of using hers because I am a super geek like that!

Anyways, give it a whirl...if nothing else try the theme nights, it kind of makes planning out your menus fun.

I know I am sounding geeker by the minute :)

sorry for all the typos I blog too fast these days... there's just not enough hours in the day!

Things I am currently in LOVE with...

In no particular order...

#1) How can he not be the cutest baby ever? I had to change him after pictures because these clothes made him look way too grown up! :)

#2) My glorious and extremely good looking husband who willingly took all the feeding the other night and then accused me of taking advantage of his over sleepiness by making him do them! :) Oh, and who graduated last Friday...pictures to come.

#3) GLEE... I have watched a;; the episodes over the past 2 1/2 weeks and am falling over for the over acting and theatrical show tunes!

#4) PARENTHOOD...if you haven't watched this yet,,,you should! I am pretty sure it is our new favorite TV show. We look forward to every Tuesday night just to take a peek into the Brenaman Family! Check it out but, I suggest you start at the beginning.

Remember this...

Remember this post BABY SLINGS? Well, I decide to go with a wrap and absolutely love it!

Last night we went on a walk and my body heat kept him warm. Within a few minutes he was asleep and stayed that way. I was also able to make dinner the other night with 2 hands while holding him! Yep...I'm a fan!

My friend Jess made the wrap and i downloaded the instructions off the Internet. There are about 5 different wraps you can do...but for now this is my favorite!
Don't notice my un-kept hair do and no make-up...it's kind of how I "roll" these days! :)

CUTE AS A MONKEY OR WHAT?!? I LOVE THIS PICTURE.

Highly Aniticipating...

Here are two movies I am highly anticipating! I have read both the books and even though I didn't love Dear John I am still looking forward to it!

30 ROCK...ROCKS!!!

If you know me at all you know the love I have for The Office BUT, now you should know this about me...I LOVE 30 ROCK!!! The Office is hilarious in a real "I know someone just like that" sense or a "who does that" sense but, man 30 ROCK out does its self. This past Thursday's episode had me crying I was laughing so hard. You know one of those really great laughs that has you tired afterwards, the kind where you just can't stop once you've started! That was how great this episode was!

If you have not been introduced to this show do yourself a favor and tune in!!!

Thanks to Ben and Chrissi for letting us borrow that first season which was the start to our beautiful relationship with characters like Liz Lemmon and Tracy Jordon!

Man, they make me laugh!

Cougar Town

I hate to admit to being a cougar but...HELLO!

I saw NEW MOON last night and it is AWESOME! It kind of blew Twilight out of the water. But, my goodness every time that Jacob Black came on screen without a shirt on which was 3/4 of the movie i had to remember to breath! Sorry Ry! :) He is "kind of Beautiful!" Anyway, I will post more New Moon pictures later but I had to get this off his, i mean, my chest! :)

Edward needs to step it up a bit in the movies or I may just be switching teams!

Go Team Jacob!

This Is It!

We saw this last night and I loved it! Yeah, he is weird but AMAZING!!! He really was an artist. His death was really too bad. It is only in theaters for a couple more day so if you haven't seen it..GO! :)

Something to Look Forward to...

They are making THE HOST into a movie. Another GREAT book. I had to pick it up a couple of times until I really got into it but it is really good. If you haven't read it, I recommend you do.

Click on the book to read about the news.

My Heart Goes Out to You...

Seriously, if you have not read "Hunger Games" the first time I recommended it my heart goes out to you...because it is so FRICK FRANKEN GOOD!!! And now there is a second, "Catching Fire"! READ IT!!! Both books are very captivating...you just fall in love with the characters and want to be apart of the Games yourself.

Although, I loved them and am so absolutely positive there is a 3rd book coming I kind of wish that I had not heard about them till they were all out so that I don't have to wait to find out what happens next. But, none of you can do this because you have all been made aware of them and their goodness....so read them. I have "The Hunger Games" if anyone wants to borrow it but I only have "Catching Fire" as an audio book. They are really quick books and for some of you could be a quick 2 dayer.

I can't wait for the next book, I know it is coming...in 2011 I bet!!! AAAhhhhhhh!

He Loves Me Not...NO, HE LOVES ME!

You know your husband loves you when he makes you (in the words of Michael Scott from the Office) a mix-tape-CD! Oh, yes ladies and gentleman...Ryan made me a mix-tape-CD and it is not even Valentine's Day. :) We are so much a like in so many ways (that even our science teacher at UVU thought we were brother and sister :) ) but, we could not be more different in our music tastes! So, he tried to broaden my horizons and made me a mix-tape-CD of what he likes right now. Not that I don't like some of his music, it is not what I usually listen to...but I just might start. He is into the new Green Day CD...it is not that bad, I actually really liked it! I just thought it was funny and thoughtful that he made me a mix-tape-CD...just with out the love songs! :) Thanks honey!

The Hunger Games

Ok, so when I asked for recommendations for books, this one came from my friend Taylor. She said that if I read it I would not be disappointed...and I wasn't! IT IS AWESOME! It is called The Hunger Games and is totally easy reading but you get into it really quick! I usually only listen to my books M-F to and from work but the week ended and I couldn't stop so we went to Barnes and Noble and I had to buy it! I read all day Sunday and finished listening to the last couple of chapters on my way to work on Monday. I LOVED IT!

Now, I say the same to you..."Read it, you won't be disappointed!"

I think there is also a second book called "Catching Fire"...I will let you know what I think!

So, You Think You Can Dance?

NO, BUT, HOW I WISH I COULD!!! I am in love with So, You Think You Can Dance! (It is my secret obsession...not a secret anymore) I wish so bad I was a contemporary dancer. I think it is so beautiful! Is it ever too late to learn to dance? I want to dance like this:
WATCH THE VIDEOS...THEY ARE AWESOME!
It is about addiction: Kayla & Kapono
It is about breast cancer: Melissa & Adea
I just love it and "So, I WISH I could Dance!"
I am very happy SYTYCD will be doing a fall season as well! :)

LOVED IT!!!

We are big Harry Potter fans! We got to see the movie last night and it was AMAZING!!! I really loved it. Go see it....but if you only watch the movies and have never read the books you are missing out! I recommend you read the books. The movies are good but the movies are 1,000 times better!Now that the characters are getting older...I am pretty sure I have a crush on Harry Potter! :)

Help Me Understand...

I have talked to so many people who have loved "A Thousand Splendid Suns". I just finished it and I need some help. Why? Why do people love this book? I am just wondering. I am not saying I did not like it I am just saying the verdict is still up on this one and I could easily be swayed either way. I just know that who ever has read it, loved it... am I missing something?

If you have read this please pipe up and give me your opinion...

Three Words & a Symbol

This is all I have to say about the movie “17 Again”:

IZach Efron

I am not usually one to care for movie stars but HELLO…that kid has it goin’ on! :)Although, (this is not a spoiler) in the beginning he starts dancing and I thought to myself, “if he starts singing I am out of here” I was not prepared for a High School Musical 4!

Anyway…loved the movie!

I Love It and You Should Too!

I love this CD! It is prefect for those days where you have a 45 minute commute home in the pouring down rain and you are out of audio books until the 16th when your Audible.com subscriptions renews and you can get another book.

Just incase one of those days comes along! :)

I've Gone GREEN

Spinach Shake

My friend, Jill, posted this recipe on her blog so I thought I would try it. I love shakes and don't mind spinach and I am always looking for new ways to get my veggies in. So, I tried it....and the verdict is in...LOVE IT! You really can't taste the spinach! Not that I would mind but the combo of fruits and spinach kind of makes your eye brows raise, but it is really good. I can see why even her kids love it. Jill's kids call it the "green drink" which is a great idea...I had to tell Ryan the same thing. :) He is not a big veggie eater but he really liked this...so it passed the test! Try it for yourself! You will be happy that you did and you may even get your kids (or husband) to finally like eating their veggies!

Get the recipe here:

SPINACH SHAKE

I have only tried the first recipe but I add fresh lime juice (yummy!) and I half the recipe which makes about 3 cups (i think).

Happy Veggie Drinking!

Consider it Recommended...

This past week I finished "The Host" by Stephanie Meyer. I loved it. I tried reading it once before but couldn't make it past the first chapter but this time I listened to it during my commute everyday and really liked it! So much so that I found myself cheating and listening to it while I was doing things around the house instead of watching the TV or listening to music. I say cheating because I have to keep my audio books for my drive or I get really bored. Anyway, consider it recommended if anyone is looking for a good book to read.

I really like how Stephanie writes. It is very easy reading but you get really into the characters...which leads me to believe that maybe I don't love Bella and Edward or Wanderer, Jared, or Ian (from The Host) as much as I love the author who created them...

So, Stephanie if you are reading this... (whispered and kind of creepy) "I Love You!"

If anyone likes to listen to audio books check out Audible.com this is where I get all my audio books it is a monthly subscription that downloads to your i pod. The only hang up is that they don't have the Harry Potter books, YET! This is a great way to get new books every month for WAY cheaper than getting it on itunes or on CD.

Where have all the EXTRAS gone?

..........
While in Idiana we went to dinner with one of our good friends, Tracy. As I babbled over Twilight she told us about another series that she had really liked. That night We went to Walmart and bought the first book, UGLIES. A couple of days later he needed the second one, and then the third. He seemed to really enjoy them so I decided that when I was done with Twilight that I would read this series. As Ryan finished the third book a friend at his work gave him Eragon...which he started and really liked so he decided to read that unitl I was done with the third book and we would just buy the fourth one when I was ready. It sounded like a good plan expect for...I have been sick in bed since Thrusday night (not fun) and half of Friday and all of Saturday I just read. Read until I finished the third book all on Saturday. It was been very nice to be able to just go from one book to the next without waiting. Well, my nice husband who has been waiting on me hand and foot by the way (super great husband) left Saturday night on what we thought a simple trip to Barns & Noble to get the fouth book. But, not so simple. They did nat have any of the EXTRAS! He went to Target...No EXTRAS! And to Walmart...No EXTRAS! Is it just bad luck or am I just feeling pity becasue I am sick? Who knows? But, where are all the EXTRAS? Now, it is Sunday and I am still too sick to be up and TV is a bore and all I want to do is read that last darn book! Well, I quess I am waiting...just not very patiently.
Anyone looking for another good read in a series...pick it up. It is not as loveable as Edward but it is a pretty good series. I suggest it.
But if anyone finds EXTRAS let me know!