On My Heart-Life!!

Today, I'm linking up with Casey, for What is on your heart, and I think you should do the same!

I am a worrier. Maybe a worrier my nature, a worrier by fault, a worrier that I worry about worrying. Believe it or not, I've gotten a lot better and calmed my worrying self down a bit, but can be consumed with racing thoughts of everything that is going on in life all at the same time. And go figure, most of this happens right when I am trying to go to sleep. My brain won't shut off, and I'm consumed with what if thoughts. This hasn't happened in quite some time, but lately I find myself contemplating on every aspect of my life. At bedtime. Making me a zombie the next day. A lot of has to do with the fact that I'm a mom, and the other half is fear of the unknown. i.e. moving again, and this time to a big city, which scares me a little bit. Michael told me, well, Jessica. You're from Dallas! Why are you so nervous? Well, yes. I realize that. But I've never lived IN the city before. When we move to Houston next week, (next week, people! Holy moly I can't wait!) we will be living in the city. I nearly had a flippin panic attack when we went there a few weeks ago, and we were stuck in traffic. Dallas traffic is bad, yes, but this! Whoa! This is a whole other ball field! Don't get me wrong though, I am beyond excited about living in the city. It will be great for Michael, being that it is 5 miles away from his office. Great for Davis and I because there is so much to do! The parks are beyond beautiful, moms group in my neighborhood (that I'm hoping I fit in to this time!) a women's club (similar to jr. league in that is does a lot of charity work for the neighborhood and community) indoor playgrounds, soccer tots (so excited about this) and a great night life for me and my lovie!
So, what all the worrying for?
1. The mother's day outs average between $350-$1150 a month (What the WHAT? That's almost a car payment or almost a mortgage payment! They don't even serve sushi for lunch! Ha!)
2. The MDO's that I can afford of course didn't get good reviews online. Such as: kids coming home with bruises and bite marks with no notifications, not being fed, dirty, high turnover rate, director cursing at her staff in front of kids, etc. I felt like I was going to be sick!
3. Or the waiting list has 50 people on it.
4. I have found one that I'm going to do a tour, and the MDO is at a church. What I was hoping for. I am praying that this school is nice and I have that good gut feeling about it.
5.Work. In order for me to work and start spreading the word about my tanning biz, Davis has to be in school.
6. Work. Praying that I can get up and started in my area sooner than later. It's so important to me, and I really enjoy what I do. Hopefully other people will feel the same way.
7. Our house-praying that everything works out for this house. Because this house is my DREAM home! Everything from the exterior to the kitchen. I love it and can't wait to be in it.
8. I just need to breathe, pray, and know that everything will fall into place as it should. Okay, I got this!!!!

 

Don't forget to link up on Monday with Kelly & I. Next Monday's question is what is your-What is your style best summed up as? Classic, trendy, or modern? What is your typical go to outfit? What is one beauty product you can't live without?

Hope to see you Monday!!!

I'm A Mad Housewife!

For the wine, that is. If you know me (which you don't have to. Simply look at my header and that says enough) then you know I love me a good glass of wine. Vino is my friend to the rescue. My partner is crime. One that lets me put my hands all over him and never says anything. Oh, sorry.....I got a little carried away.
I am a sucker for a great wine label. Whether it is a painting, an image I love, or just the logo itself that catches my eye. So, needless to say, this more than caught my eye.

Who wouldn't that attract? I love it!! Not only does the label crack me up, it's pretty darn good wine, I must say. I drink mostly reds, so the Cabernet is my favorite.
And the other thing I LOVE about the bottle is the verbiage on the back. If it's anything I hate about wine, is when it tells me nothing on the back. Give me a little story. Tell me about the wine, where it's from. Give me a quirky little blurb about how the bat crazy wife made everyone stomp on the grapes until they had blisters from the stems? I don't care what it may be, but tell me something. Everyone knows that the surgeon general says don't drink while you're pregnant, and not to operate machinery. (Does a flat iron count? That could be machinery and be dangerous!) I was pleasantly surprised when Mad Housewife gave me this quick little summary that spoke to my heart. Which then led to the bottle to saying, please, drink more. We are one.

“Somewhere near the cool shadows of the laundry room.

Past the litter box and between the plastic yard toys.

This is your time.

Time to enjoy a moment to yourself.

A moment without the madness.

The dishes can wait.

Dinner be damned.

Mad Housewife Cabernet Sauvignon”

This wine....it just gets me. Only I am allergic to cats, so we will have to have a talk about that. Pretty great, though, right? Have you tried it before?

What are your favorite bottles? Wines?

This should be a linkup....just sayin! Next week? Wednesday? Be there!





 

Speaking of linkup, next week's linkup question is:

What is your style best summed up as? Classic, trendy, or modern? What is your typical go to outfit? What beauty product can you NOT live without?

Ramble On, Sing My Song!

It's that time again! Link up with two of my bloggy lovers for TTUT. Yes, bloggy lovers. They know what's up! And TTUT! That just means it's a must that you go on over there and check out what all the buzzzzzzzz is about!
I have about a 1,000,001 things on my head right now, so this a random ramble of nothing in particular.
1. We begin the moving process next week!! I feel like I've had a countdown going in my head, okay, and on here too, for so long now! I can not wait to get out of this dang apartment. However, we will be staying in another apartment until our house is finished, but I'm sure that the devil's advocate won't be living there, and they will have people on sight that actually work. And it's also a furnished apartment. So praise little 8 pound baby Jesus, that we don't have to unpack anything for just a few weeks!
2. I can't express enough how sad I am about Davis not being in his school anymore. He has progressed so much, learned so much, and absolutely loves being there. I could keep going on about it all day because it truly is an amazing little preschool. I have been trying to check into schools around our area in Houston, and I swear, these people must think they are sitting on a gold mine! Some of the rates are as much as a mortgage! Plus there are a few that it doesn't matter if you are in for only mother's day out (what we do) for one day or five days a week, it's still the same rate. Puh-lease people!
3. We did end up going to the circus this past weekend, and it was so much fun. I did feel like I was at a starter circus at some times, with people falling off things, dropping flaming items, and standing there like they didn't know what was going on. But, since I did have a two year old with me, and he doesn't know better, we stayed. To him it was magical. The most amazing thing ever. The lights, the flames, the loud sounds, and real elephants. I have never seen his attention span so spot on before. Maybe he can be a circus baby. During intermission was the best. They had animal rides set up, and all sorts of things for parents to spend more money on. It was awesome....and Davis had a ball! He even got to ride a little pony.

4. Are you on instagram? I love, love, love it! I am now also famous, because Sophia Grace is following me. Don't know who she is? Gasp! She's the cute little girl in pink tutus and crows that is on Ellen almost everyday it seems like. She also is on the red carpet a lot 'interviewing' celebrities with her yummy cotton candy. Well, Sophia Grace is following me on instagram!

See? She must think I'm tops, because she is following yours truly. And those other people are also public, so it's okay that you see their names. And speaking of tops, if you follow me on instagram, you will get amazing pictures like this.

I can not for the life of me figure out this stupid top knot bun! And it doesn't help when your husband gets home and just thinks you have a sock in it. Awesome!

Have a great day, everyone

Favorite Recipe-Make My Monday



 

Happy Monday, everyone!! It's that time again for 'Make My Monday' with yours truly, and the ever so amazing, Kelly! Do you have your recipes ready? I hope so, because I'm always looking for new goodies to cook.

This week, the question is what is your favorite recipe to make when entertaining? Anything from appetizers to dessert.  Can't wait to see what ya got!

*Don't forget to link up and follow both blogs*

This is one of my all time favorite, and super easy, appetizers!!

Baked Caprese Salad

ingredients

8 to 12 appetizer servings
Baked Caprese Salad 1 loaf baguette, cut into ½-inch thick slices (about 30 to 36 slices)¼ cup extra-virgin olive oilsalt and freshly ground black pepper5 Roma tomatoes, sliced1 ¼ pounds fresh mozzarella, sliced1 bunch fresh basil leaves, stemmed

instructions



Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
Arrange the sliced baguette bread on a baking sheet. Brush with some of the olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake until the bread is pale golden and crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove from the oven. Top each slice of bread with a slice of tomato and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top each slice of tomato with a slice of mozzarella and sprinkle with salt. Return the baking sheet to the oven until the cheese and tomato are warmed, about 5 minutes.

Arrange the toasts on a serving platter. Top each toast with a basil leaf. Using the brush, drizzle the remaining olive oil over the basil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and serve.

Being from Louisiana, I love anything cajun! I mean, LOVE. I'm surprised that I don't carry a bottle of Tabasco in my purse with me. This is for all my bead throwin, crawfish eating, people! Jambalaya, crawfish pie, Oh me oh my-o!
 
Jambalaya
Ingredients


12 medium shrimp, peeled, deveined and chopped

4 ounces chicken, diced

1 tablespoon Creole seasoning, recipe follows

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper

1/4 cup chopped celery

2 tablespoons chopped garlic

1/2 cup chopped tomatoes

3 bay leaves

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon hot sauce

3/4 cup rice

3 cups chicken stock

5 ounces Andouille sausage, sliced

Salt and pepper

Directions

In a bowl combine shrimp, chicken and Creole seasoning, and work in seasoning well. In a large saucepan heat oil over high heat with onion, pepper and celery, 3 minutes. Add garlic, tomatoes, bay leaves, Worcestershire and hot sauces. Stir in rice and slowly add broth. Reduce heat to medium and cook until rice absorbs liquid and becomes tender, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. When rice is just tender add shrimp and chicken mixture and sausage. Cook until meat is done, about 10 minutes more. Season to taste with salt, pepper and Creole seasoning.

Hope you guys like my favorites! Can't wait to see yours :)

Have a great week, everyone...and don't forget to come back next week!

Make My Monday-Tomorrow!

 

Hey everybody! I hope you've had a great, relaxing, wonderful, superb weekend!!! I wanted to send out a quick reminder about tomorrow's linkup. Do you have yours ready? Don't worry, there is still plenty of time!!  This week's question is-What is your favorite recipe to make when entertaining? (Anything from appetizers, cocktails, to dessert)

Can't wait to see what you guys looooove the most :)

See you tomorrow!

Saturday, In The Park....

I just have to say, it is GORGEOUS outside today! The weather couldn't be any better and to add a cherry on top, Davis is in the best mood. Crap...did I jinx it? Hehe :) The past few days have been rather challenging with an ongoing battle with our downstairs neighbors. They don't quite understand that banging on my floor when he is crying won't make it any better. That in fact, this scares the bejeezus out of him, therefore making him SCREAMMMM!!!!! Freaking idiots! But instead, they blare their radio until all hours of the night. Have I mentioned lately I am beyond excited to get out of here in two weeks!??!! Holy Moly! This has been the longest six months ever. Can't wait to start over fresh. Again!

Today has been such a nice and relaxing day. We all got sleep last night (which sure beats us all being up until 4am the previous night) so we are all wonderful! Ahhh!!!! We love going to the grocery store together and picking out our food for the recipes for the week. Yes, we like grocery shopping. I'm sure you think we are odd. Maybe it goes with loving new foods? Loving food in general? I have no idea. So off to Whole Foods we went, to enjoy an awesome meal, and on with our shopping! Davis loves helping, and putting all of the veggies and fruits in the bag and placing them in the cart. I love that he loves helping, and I love teaching him about healthy foods. It's really cute and really puts a smile on my face.

Other than that, we are being lazy bums and watching movies all day. Tomorrow we will either hit up the circus that is in town, if we can still get tickets, or go see the new Dr. Seuss movie! Yay for either :)

Don't forget that 'Make My Monday' linkup is just two days away! Do you have your recipe you are going to share?

Hope everyone is having a wonderful day!

A Horse, A Little Begging, And A Cook.

Thursday, Thursday. Is it just me, or does this week seem to be dragging on? Maybe it's just me. I feel like I'm counting down the days in excitment until the big move. If you can't tell, I am so ready to get settled. I have like 1000,000000,00000000 ideas that I want to do when we get there. Mostly thanks to pinterest. I think I may need to go to pinterest anonymous. But things like organziation ideas for Davis, the house, the pantry. Oh dear, it's bad. Well, that part is good. My obsessive pinning is bad.

This is a little video clip of this really funny leg thing Davis has been doing lately. I can't tell if he's dancing, or if he thinks he's a horse. Either way, I find it pretty amusing. If you're not family, you most likely won't enjoy it as much as I do. **And I have no idea why it's so small!**

I also want to beg you to follow me through email or RSS feeds. As most of you know, stupid google will no longer be having GFC. Why do they have to do this? No, that is not a rhetorical question. I want answers, Google!! Sheesh. So, I am begging you, as a blogger to a fellow blogger. Please don't leave me. I will curl up in a ball and cry. It will be sad. I may be in the closet again, meaning there will be wine involved. Please save the mascara from running down my face, and simply put in your email, and press enter. I will seriously love you forever. That is all for now, for the begging. Pleeeeeeeeease! Okay, that is all.

And the cutest little pictures of Davis playing at my dad's house last week. They have such great learning toys for him, and it's so cute watching him. He went and got his 'kitchen' toys and set up his own little tea party. It. Was. ADORABLE!!! Espeically because no one prompted this, he just dragged the chairs in the kitchen while we were all hanging out.

You may notice that Pooh bear is wearing a diaper. Yeah, Pooh bear is also potty training.



 

I also want to urge you to linkup with Kelly & I next Monday, as it is imparitive that you do. For all of you that keep forgetting, (shame on you by the way) you know who you are. hehehe But don't worry, I have a life too, so I'll forgive you. But just this once. :) So get your posts ready, and show some linky link love next 'Make My Monday.'

Have a great day, everyone! Almost the weekend!!!