Category: Recipes/Cooking

A Saturday Worthy of Repeating

Yesterday, I had one of those types of Saturdays that, as a child, I envisioned having with my best friend as an adult. Like when you’re playing Barbies with your BFF and your Barbies are having brunch and then go shopping? Like that. And the best part is: it’s the same BFF!

I had a hard time sleeping after Jorge left to work (he later told me he was telepathically trying to wake me ’cause he was jealous buahaha). I may or may not have had a headache/hangover due to going out the night before >_<.

?

Stolen from Kary hehe

Darn air and smoke in there makes my eyes squinty!! >_<

But I took an Aleve and began scrubbing the kitchen down since I was making lunch for Sally after she got out of work :).

A corner of my kitchen counter becomes bombarded with mail and Alaethia’s work she brings home from school. I feel such guilt throwing some of it out, but OMG. I can’t keep all of it. It’s overwhelming. So I have the cutest things she makes saved in a small box. I later asked Sally what in the world she did with all of Quentin’s stuff and she, too, has his work piled in a box.

What do other Mom’s do with your kids’ work??

I scrapbooked some of Eenan’s and Jaylen’s. When I was a “new mom”, I literally kept EVERY. SINGLE. THING. Eenan ever made in school (a huge Rubbermaid tote full) and eventually weeded out the cutest things (and almost shriveled up and died of sadness and guilt LOL) and scrapbooked them.

Anyway, eventually I made myself some breakfast: egg whites with mushrooms, fresh spinach, chives and bacon pieces.

The beginnings of breakfast :)

I did my hair, stuck in my contacts and got ready to go drop Mom off with Gramma, withdraw my rent (*tear*) and head to HEB to get some ingredients I needed to make Sally some Pesto Bacon Caprese Paninis (recipe following photo below!).

I also found some cute Celosia flowers on sale for .99ยข!! Yes. I’m going to try the garden thing again. Let’s hope we don’t get another hail storm!

I got home and unloaded the groceries and stuck new Plug-ins into the walls, heh. Sally arrived not long after. We caught up for about an hour and she rested on the sofa while I made our lunch. This is seriously one of my most favorite sandwiches EVER.

lunch for my bff!!

————

RECIPE:

For 2 sandwiches, you will need:

♥ 6 bacon slices
♥ Pesto sauce. I use 1 whole Knorr Pesto packet (in the gravy section;) or half a jar of HEB Basil Pesto (I prefer this one)
♥ 2-3 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
♥ 4 slices Oroweat Premium Italian Bread (you can always use your favorite whole wheat)
♥ 4 fresh Mozzarella medallions (I used: 7oz Galbani Mozzarella Fresca Medallions)
♥ 2 large tomato slices
♥ Black Pepper
♥ A handful of fresh spinach

In a large skillet, fry your bacon at medium-high heat. In another, smaller pan, set your burner to low-medium heat and heat up your Pesto. Drain your bacon and toss into the Pesto pan. Make sure all of your bacon is covered. Simmer.

Now, since I hate using so many pans, I washed my bacon pan and set it to medium heat. Drizzle your olive oil and place two bread slices on it. Quickly spread some of the hot pesto sauce the bacon has been simmering in on the bread slices. Add two Mozzarella medallions to one of your bread slices. On top of that, add 1 tomato slice, sprinkle with pepper, add half of your spinach and on top of your spinach add 3 of the pesto bacon slices. Using a spatula or tongs, check that your bread slice is golden brown. Cover the full bread slice with the single one. Repeat for your next sandwich. Enjoy with your favorite hot or cold tea :).

————

In this case we had some hot Lipton Island Mango & Peach tea sweetened with honey. I think I found a new favorite tea!

(I just told Jorge I was putting up the recipe for the Caprese sandwich and he said, “What you need to do is put it on the stove!” Buahahahaha. He’s only half-joking.)

We ate, sat back and reflected on how darn good that food was, and got ready to head out to Goodwill. Back in the day, like around 2007, I’d go religiously, every Saturday that they had their 50% off sale. Target takes all their clearance stuff there, brand-new. You could buy anything at 50% off. So we thought we’d give it a try.

We spent about 2 hours there and found tons of new stuff, including new running shorts and cute matching beach hats. I was a little sad I didn’t find any scrapbooking stuff like I used to, but we did arrive a little late.

Since I gave myself a budget I put a few things back, but now I’m having the opposite of Buyer’s Remorse! Although they changed the rules and not everything is 50% off during those sales (brand-new items with barcode tags are the price on the tag) you still can’t beat those prices!

Our next stop was Iguana Rana’s, which is a snack shop. We were still full from lunch, but we had some natural agua de sandia (watermelon water). It was SO GOOD.

We got home and talked some more about an event she has coming up. I hope to be of some help since I can’t totally throw this bash on my own =\. I need to get on Pinterest and research some things :).

Sally left and I tidied up a bit and then relaxed till Jorge got home. I asked him if he wanted me to make dinner, but he said we’d go to Walmart to get a few things and find something quick to make.

Our humungous cats are so horribly messy we decided it was time to get them a new, covered litterbox. Then we found a Lazy Groomer cat bed, which will be great for Kika because she loves sleeping on our mats and covers them in her fur (I know, gross!).

We walked around some more and wandered into the garden section. They didn’t have the plants I wanted, but we did find a topiary. I’ve been wanting one of those darn things since we moved into the house almost 2 years ago (2 years we’ve lived here! Damn!).

We found a cute pot, got a few more things and finally left. It was quite a feat shoving that tiny tree into the BMW >_<. I spoke to Eenan for a good hour while I was making dinner and watching Jorge fix the topiary. We ate, and watched a tiny bit of "The Hobbit". Great Saturday, indeed!!

I finally own a topiary!

Happy 6th Birthday, Little Diva!

I have to be up in 5 hours yet I find myself lacking sleep. I’m exhausted, for sure, but not sleepy.

I spent my work day crampy, with a headache and with back pain, but I trudged on and helped Michelle with shopping for her events and I made some flower arrangements. Love that there’s always something different to do at work :).

Arrangements

I rushed to Walmart to get more party stuff, made dinner with my girlies, played a game, talked to the boys, bathed the girls, sold the girls’ last toddler bed to a Craigslist buyer and made cupcakes for Alaethia’s class. She approved :).

2 hours and counting...anything for my lil' Diva!

All while texting with Jorge, who’s out of town on a project :(. I’m glad we get to Skype!

I feel overwhelmed with joy with my family; I can’t even explain it. I’m so grateful to have my little lady at home with me–both of them–and I cherish our time together :*). I love that Emily told me, “I love hanging out with you Mama”, as she watched me frost the cupcakes. Best. Feeling. Ever!

It’s my weekend with my boys so I get them back tomorrow. I can’t wait to celebrate my little lady’s birthday! 6 years old, amazing! Time really does fly by guys! Tomorrow will be brief, because Mario gets her for 2 hours, but come Sunday it’s party time!

Making Memories :)

The girls played with Barbies till it was time to go outside and wait for the BBQ to finish cooking on Monday night.

Can you tell they're arguing? They're good!

A black chihuahua mix randomly walked up to the porch and decided to join us. The girls were elated. The food was out and I’m not kidding you, those fajitas Jeremy brought from–of all places, Walmart–were SO GOOD. The seasoning was amazing. Omar brought meat and these awesome corn tortilla tacos made of bean and I think chorizo from Monterrey…the girls and I were in heaven, heh.

I was quickly getting tired, and the girls were drowsy, so we called it a night. Jorge came in later and gently woke me to go to the bedroom.

And we crashed out till it was almost time for him to go to work D:. So no breakfast for him that morning. I saw him off to work, and made my way back to the living room to nap in the cuddle chair till the girls woke up. But, that was short-lived…as Mom decided to thrash things about in the refrigerator -__-. Got up, woke the girls up, and Emily helped me make French toast :).

We finished up, they played with Barbies and I chopped up veggies and put them in the slow-cooker with some meat for beef stew for when my love came home for lunch. Must make it a point to get more recipes for that thing; it’s so handy!

I cleaned up, bathed the girls, then myself and my love came home for lunch. He LOVED the beef stew ^_^. I did, too, but my stomach was already protesting since I’m not using to eating red meat often, and I’d already had it the night before =\.

My love left back to work and the girls and I left to run an errand and then we went to the library.

At the Library :)

Computer Time

With Their Stack of Books

Between computer time, getting the girls new library cards, and them finding their books, we were there a total of 2 hours O_O. But it was fun. I LOVE that place! It’s just so…cozy? I don’t know how to explain it. I spent a lot of time at the Old library as a child and now I’m glad I get to make memories with the girls at the New one :). And I’m thrilled that it’s not far from home, too!

I had to lure the girls out of the library with gumdrops, or else we never would have left! Sue me. We didn’t leave before at least one of them had a meltdown, though; Alaethia was upset that we didn’t buy nachos from the Cafe LOL. But she was placated once she scored a candy from the store.

We got home and they quietly flipped through their books. I chopped up cauliflower and potatoes for Skinny Potato Soup. Once it was done, the girls and I ate, and then we watched “Up”. Well, Alaethia sorta watched “Up”…she wanted to look up the Barbie DreamHouse game and check out prices for the dollhouse LOL.

My poor babe got home late. He had to settle some things with a project and then was on the phone making managerial decisions. I don’t know how he does it. He’s always so stressed out :(, but he’s the type of person who can leave it at the doorstep when he gets home ♥.

I bathed the girls, put them to bed and then we attempted to watch The Voice but we sorta passed out towards the end, heh. My poor babe missed a good deal of the end; he was exhausted. All-in-all, it was a long day. But a great one :).