RIP Keurig, I miss you.

We laughed, we fought, we shared amazing coffee; but alas my poor Keurig coffee maker died. We had a good run, 2 years of fun, and lots of Starbucks Blonde Roast. I miss it. I miss the ease of freshly brewed coffee. No measuring, no waiting, and no mess. I want it back. But, I have to wait. I have to wait until I can afford a new one. Yup. Bummer. I am not the only one suffering, my dear hubby has been without his Jetfuel K-cups for almost a month.

It died like this; First it wouldn't push water through the cups. So, I cleaned the needles and descaled it. By the way, my descale light never came on. I had thought I cured it, nope. That is when all the lights lit up and started blinking like Christmas lights. I unplugged it and the plugged it in, nothing. after an hour it worked and I could get some glorious caffeine into my system. The machine was OK for two weeks, then BOOM. It wouldn't take water from the reservoir. And then the lights went out. Oh no. What do I do? I need my coffee. I need the precious.

That is when I remembered my French press. Oh, Ikea French press how I love thee! I busted that thing out and proceeded to make the weakest coffee ever! In the history of ever! Great. I forgot how to measure coffee, two scoops? No. Three? No. What in Hera's name do I use? I finally a week ago figured it out. Go me!
French presses make great coffee, but you have to know coffee chemistry to use it. Like how many scoops to water. Oie'. I miss my Keurig, because yes I am lazy. And with baby bear, mama bear has no time to wait and taker her sweet time. I miss it so much, and freaking A, the warranty was out! However, Keurig gave me a discount off my next machine when I am ready.  50% off actually.

Yes, soon the precious will be back in my life. It will be mine;oh yes, it will be mine.

Fall fun ; pumpkin spice snack

I had an immense craving for sweets this morning.  The cool weather this morning made me want pumpkin spice lattes, pie, and soup.
I went to the store for formula and came home with cereal, milk, cake, and pumpkin spice jet puff marshmallows.

I thought, what would be an awesome fall inspired snack? Rice crispy treats! No rice crispies. Craptastic.
But I do have rice chex.
Here is my recipe for pumpkin spice rice chex grabbies. The aren't a bar, they are more of something you break pieces off. Which is why I call them grabbies.
Pumpkin spice grabbies.
Ingredients:
1 bag pumpkin spice Jet Puff Marshmallows
3 tablespoons of butter the salted kind.
2 cups or more of rice chex.

In a large pot over medium high heat, melt the butter. When melted add the bag of marshmallows and turn down the heat. Stir until marshmallows are melted. Then take off heat and add rice chex. Stir until all the marshmallow is on the chex.
After all that, pour into a baking dish and let it set up. It will set up within 5-10mins. 
Now, break pieces off and enjoy!

Crying at nap time, let the fun begin.

I'm trying to get stuff done today, baby boy needs a nap, and I can not hold him while he is sleeping. We have a morning routine, we dance together. I get my exercise and he get to be bounced around. We have fun and he is getting too comfy and ends up sleeping on me. That is a habit I am trying to break. I have tried sleep training early on and he didn't do it very well. Now here I am with a screaming baby who is so tired and needs to learn to comfort himself. Pediatrician said he could cry a little. I go and check on him, let him know it's ok. But, he throws tantrums that put 2 year olds to shame. I am talking throwing himself and going in circles. He is an epic fitter. My sweet baby bear.
I know his reasons for being really bad today. Normally after me going in his room once or twice and giving kissies and hugs, he settles down and zzzzz. He got his shots Wens. Since then I have had one clingy and not so happy little man. He got part one of the flu vaccine. Yes, I believe in vaccinating my kid. My little man is a bit under the weather and he was up and down last night. So, I expected a crabby baby today. How am I doing it? Well, lots of patience. He is my little man, my baby bear. I love this little kid with all my heart. That is how I do it. Sure there are times I wonder if there is a record for loudest fit by a 6 month old. Then I snap out of that, and go back to snuggling that little meanie monster.

I am quite curious how many mom's out there do the whole cry it out thing. I can't. I know he is sometimes testing me with his epic fits,no tears. But the rest he really does need something. So, mom's chime in and what do you think about crying it out, how long do you let them cry when it is nap time?

Oatmeal for lunch and Xmas music....my life.

It is lunchtime and instead of having a sammich(no jelly or meats) or a tasty soup(out) I am having the cold weather breakfast of champions. Oatmeal. Oatmeal with a pad of butter and brown sugar, no milk. Sounds yummy right? It is, but not what I was hoping for.

I am right now sitting in my office listening to Xmas music while my Little Man sleeps away. Yesterday he got his 6 month series of shots at his 6 month check up. Not fun and addition to those he got the flu shot. Something his mama here can not have, due to allergies. Yay. He has the battle wounds to show for it and the fever to prove it. He is such a poor grouchy child. He just wants his mama, or grammy, but I can't hold this booger all day long. While trying to clean carpets he was ok, as long as he was not in the jail(packnplay).
But, then that didn't last. So into the office we went and the Xmas music went on. He calmed right down after our morning dance around the office. I made the mistake of turning it off and all hell broke loose. Lesson learned. DO NOT TURN OFF LITTLE MAN'S MUSIC! Mama got the message now.
Wont happen again Little Man, mama promises.

So, the eBay store is going well. I just listed some great stuff. Like a diaper bag gift set, I never used the bag. It comes with a blankie, huggies,J&J stuff, onesies, bottles and a surprise. I also listed a Dooney and Bourke bag and Givenchy Sunglasses. Unfortunately, I lost their certificates of Authenticity. Craptastic. I have looked everywhere for those darn things. But, the store is doing great and I can not wait to start the next chapter of the store. Once that is up and running more, I will blog more about it on my Gofashiondeals blog.

You know, I say loosing my job may at the moment be awful and seem like the worse thing that could happen, but my friends and family say it may have been the best thing for me and the best thing to happen right now! You know, if I hadn't lost it I would still be stuck in misery. I would still be missing my son every moment of the day and my PPD would still be horrendous. But, loosing that job has lit a fire under my ass to get up and do something! And you know what? I did! I started my store. I am my own boss, my own worse critic, I have to use my brain, and I get to learn new things. I am excited. When one door closes another opens.
Now, off to enjoy my now cold oatmeal and cold coffee. When will I ever get hot stuff?!

It is nap time, you know what that means?

Ah HA! My little man is asleep! Normally I would be scurrying around the house trying to get crap done. But today, I am working on my eBay store and working here in my office. The blogs need some work. Not structurally but writing wise. I should be reading my book The October Horse, but he would sense that I was reading and wake up. No, I will read before bed. Just like I would not turn off Pandora Christmas music, he would wake up;we don't need a grouch. I got some chores done today, I feel accomplished. I even made Marsala for my mother for lunch! TAKE THAT! Now, on to working on these blogs of mine.

I have a fun little app on my phone for tarot reading. I actually have 3 decks, but they are more of a decor thing. People are so scared of Tarot, but why? They are no more scary than reading your horoscope in Cosmo. In Victorian times women would read each other's fortunes with tea leaves and with playing cards, while the men were off having brandy in another room.So why such fright? Hollywood. Why am I bringing this up? Well, I was reading Cosmo and with all my awesome fortune lately I would check the cards. So, this morning this is what I got:

Ten of cups

This card was basically saying Got to be grateful for the love and happiness in your life. Makes me think, I have been so mopey lately.Also, focusing too much energy on what I feel is what others have and I don't. Like what great things they have and how happy. The ten of cups means stop whining about the "don't haves" and focus every ounce of energy on the "do haves".

This isn't necessarily a bad card to get,especially if you are feeling sorry for yourself and being envious of others for what they are getting,got,and keep getting. And it makes a lot of sense to how I have been feeling. I would like to see Cosmo's horoscopes do that. They are never right for me. But, then it is never meant to be serious. 

Final note if you are wondering what deck that is, it is the Rider Wate Deck.

Broke the dinner doldrums

20 minute Chicken Marsala.Yummy!

Have you ever stood in front of the fridge; door wide open and staring at the abyss within. From the fridge  you wander to the pantry and begin the stare down with the pasta and beans.
You haven't picked anything out and have thus entered the dinner doldrums.
I have been in the dinner doldrums for quite some times and fellow bloggers said check out Pinterest. Which I do, but rarely do I use the recipes.
Tonight I broke the cycle and made chicken Marsala. Holy Hera, it was amazing! Did I get it from Pinterest?
My mother and I got a Martha Stewart DVD from our local library and watched her make quick cook chicken Marsala. I remembered the recipe and then made it for my hubby and me.
Recipe:
Ingredients:
3/4 cup of flour
Salt
Pepper
1 garlic clove
2 cups of Marsala wine. I used Smithfield. It can be found where the desert wines are. 

 3 table spoons of lemon juice.
4 table spoons of butter unsalted or salted.
2-4 chicken breasts boneless
Parsley for garnish
Olive oil 2 table spoons.
1 package of white mushrooms.

Step 1.
Butterfly the chicken in thick breasts. In a shallow dish mix flour, salt, and pepper. Then dredge the chicken in flour. Add oil to a hot pan and cook chicken for 3 mins on each side or chicken is golden brown. While the chicken cooks I chopped mushrooms and minced the garlic. Place the chicken aside or if needs to cook more put into oven.

Step 2.
Add 2 tablespoons of the butter to the pan you cooked the chicken in. Then add the mushrooms. Cook the mushrooms, stirring occasionally for 5-7 minutes. The liquid should be reduced. Remove from heat and add the Marsala wine. Then put back on the heat and stir, getting those brown bits mixed in. It should be like deglazing the pan. When it is simmering again, add the last 2 tablespoons of butter, garlic, and the lemon juice. Bring back up to a simmer. It should cook for 2-3 minutes. I did longer and the sauce thickened a bit more. It is a runny sauce. 

Step 3.

Take chicken and place on a serving platter, pour the Marsala over the chicken and top with parsley.  I served it with Idaho instant potatoes. Gasp! I know it was not fresh, but it was as good as it could get. I did not have the time. So, I doctored the classic buttery potatoes with parsley and extra butter. Sandra Lee would be proud of that. Serve HOT!

Making this dish made me come out of that dinner dump and back into the world of what could be. Who said you have to go to a swanky restaurant to get a good dinner like this? For 4 servings the total cost of this dinner was $20. At a restaurant it is what, $12-25 per person? Wow,big difference. This meal took 20 minutes to make and well worth it. So easy to do, I love it. Tomorrow? Well, dinner will be stuffed peppers! Yes, I will post that. 

App I couldn't live without.

When my son was born it sometimes became a blur on when I fed baby and how many diapers he had. I tried the whole write it down method. But in this techy world I found the iBaby app. Free on Google play. It is an app that can record feedings,  how much, which breast, bowel movement of baby, growth and development. There is even an alarm for reminders. What a help it was when my son was a breast feeding newborn.  It took a lot of weight off my shoulders. And it was fun to use!
I would say if you want a record keeper this is the app to get. This is a top app pick for new moms or been there done that mamas.