Big Idea

I was awakened at 5:30 this morning by the automated phone system at Kate's school stating that school was cancelled today.  I breathed a huge sigh of relief.  Honestly!  We have been going and going and going from having two special friends in our house all last week, to going to visit Uncle Michael & Aunt Cyndi for the Super Bowl, to spending at lot of time up at Kate's school the last two days consumed with Casino Night stuff, that I needed this day at home.  The girls are happy little clams when they are at home, so it's good all away around.  It's 9:30 in the morning, and I am still in pajamas paired with my favorite shoes, my Uggs.  I'm sipping my fourth cup of coffee, I've studied some scripture, and I am listening to my girls giggle while chasing each other around the house.  I'm definitely blessed.

Something that Mary Clare says when she wants to do something is, "Hey, Mom!  I've got a big idea!"  I love it.  It makes me smile every time she says it.  So here are my "big ideas."

Big Idea #1: I'll clean the house top to bottom, fold the four loads of laundry waiting for me, and get dinner started in the crockpot.  (I'll post the recipe at the bottom.)

Big Idea #2: The girls and I have discussed having a picnic in the living room, so I'll need to get ready for that.  And I am going to ask Tim to bring home some M&Ms and a box of yellow cake mix so I can bake some cakies that Stephanie at Plain Chicken posted.  (Another favorite blog, and I'll post that recipe at the bottom as well.)

Big Idea #3:  Tim told me that he would also come home early today so I can head off to the gym to do some marathon/triathalon training.  This year is going to be a big year for me.  I can feel it in my bones.  I am training for a marathon to help raise money for Alzheimer's in honor of my Grandmother Bindel.  I was also invited by some fellow mommies at St. Mary's to join their Iron Girl group and train for a triathalon.  My thoughts were, "Why not?".  My resolution for this year is, "Just DO It", so let's do it.

Really Big Idea #4:  I am thinking about starting a blog called Fat Mama Slim.  I wanted to use Fat Girl Slim, but that is a brand of cellulite creams offered by one of my favorite spas, Bliss Spa.  Fat Lady Slim or Fat Gal Slim didn't really have a ring to it, but Fat Mama Slim does.  I have noticed that when I document each thing that I put in my mouth, the weight melts off.  When I fall off the wagon, which I have a tendency to do ALOT, (as in almost everyday), the adipose comes back with a vengeance.  It's a vicious cycle that I unintentionally continue to sabotage myself with, and I have become very aware of this pattern within the last year.  I thought if I blogged about my triumphs, my lows, and my in betweens, then my fit for life journey may be a little bit more successful.  Then maybe, just maybe, other women out there who have been on the same crazy weight loss train as I have, will read the blog and we can support each other in our efforts.

I hope you have some Big Ideas!   I hope you are enjoying this beautiful snow!  It's God's blessing of giving us an opportunity to sssslllooowwww dddooowwwnnnn......


Crockpot Enchiladas
1-1/2 lb. ground beef (or ground turkey)
1 medium onion, chopped
1-2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
6 corn tortillas

2 C. fresh or frozen corn (or 15-oz can)
1 19-oz can enchilada sauce
2 C. (8 oz) shredded cheddar cheese
1 2-1/2 oz. can sliced ripe olives, drained
sour cream for garnish
Brown ground beef and drain. Add onion and garlic; cook over medium heat until tender and transparent. Add salt and pepper. Place 2 tortillas in bottom of crockpot. Place a third of the following in layers over the tortillas: meat, corn, sauce, cheese and olives. Repeat tortillas and other layers two times. Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours.  Serve with sour cream.

M&M Cakies (found at www.plainchicken.blogspot.com)
1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 1/2 cups M&M or chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. In a medium bowl, stir together the cake mix and baking powder. Add eggs and oil, then mix until well blended. Stir in M&Ms or chocolate chips. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto cookie sheets. (I used a medium Pampered Chef cookie scoop)

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. 


Voila!
xoxo,
sf