Sprouts

I love Brussels sprouts. My husband - not so much. So I am always looking for ways to spruce them up so my hubby will eat them. I usually steam fresh Brussels sprouts then spritz with butter & add a little salt/pepper to taste. I have also roasted them with onions & red peppers & they were dee-lish. So imagine my excitement when I found the recipe for this tasty appetizer...

Those would be bacon-wrapped Brussels sprouts with a creamy mustard dipping sauce. Looks good doesn't it? I can vouch for their yumminess personally. I made these for our cul-de-sac get-together last night & unfortunately got called in to work before I could put them in the oven. So I put them in the frig & the hubby & I snacked on them for lunch the next day. I had also made Bacon-wrapped shrimp w/pineapple which was very good. I baked these in the oven also rather than cooking in a skillet so I could get the bacon crispy & they turned out great!

Here is the recipe for anyone who is tempted...

Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts

Preheat oven to 400°. Microwave 10 bacon slices, in batches, between paper towels, at HIGH for 1 1⁄2 minutes. Cut slices in half crosswise. Cut 10 Brussels sprouts in half lengthwise. Drizzle under-sides of Brussels sprouts with low sodium soy sauce. Wrap 1 bacon piece around each Brussels sprout half; secure with a wooden pick. Place sprouts, cut sides down, on a lightly greased wire rack on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with pepper to taste. Bake at 400° for 20 - 25 minutes or until bacon is crisp & Brussels sprouts are tender. Serve with Creamy Mustard Sauce, if desired. Makes about 6 to 8 appetizer servings.

Creamy Mustard Sauce: Stir together 1⁄2 cup sour cream, 2 tsp. whole grain mustard, 1 tsp. brown sugar, salt & pepper to taste in a bowl. Makes 1⁄2 cup.

*I would NOT suggest using turkey bacon or thick-sliced bacon.

Enjoy...

Crazy weather

Living in tornado alley has been interesting to say the least these past 4 days. Our weather has been quite active around the area & has kept everyone on their toes & on edge.

First, Saturday night I stayed up until 12:30am listening to the tornado sirens go on & off while Shane slept comfortably in our bed. I had wondered if I should wake him up & head down to the basement or should I stay close to the TV?! Needless to say, I stayed by the TV & listened for confirmation of a "touchdown" of a tornado in Spring Hill while letting Shane sleep. A decision I would get fussed at for later by my husband :(

Then Sunday evening the horrible devastation occurred in Joplin, MO from an E5 tornado. Even though the town is located 2 hours south of us, it was a bit too close to home. I had spent lots of time at St. Johns Regional Hospital in Joplin when I worked as a Device Rep & can clearly remember what the area around the hospital looked like. To see the images on the TV now & hear the stories from people who lost their homes, family members & friends is truly heartbreaking. I just can't even imagine what they are going through. So heartbreaking...

Monday night was pretty quiet - weather wise. I stayed close to the TV & sadly watched the news coverage from Joplin. It really got me thinking - where in our house would we go if there was a tornado & how would we survive if we were trapped for hours or days? So after work on Tuesday, I went to the store & put together a "tornado survival kit" to keep in the basement. It includes items like: bottled water, granola bars, trail mix, flashlight, weather radio, new batteries, a whistle, dog food, pillows & blankets that I put in a plastic storage bin...just incase!

On Tuesday they were predicting a "tornado outbreak" across the Kansas City area for the next 2 days so I stay tuned to the TV....until around 9:30pm when the satellite went out :( Shane had left for work around 9pm & shortly after we had two different severe thunderstorms roll on by. Hail, heavy rain, strong winds but thankfully no tornadoes.

Wednesday started out to be a quiet morning but by 11am things started to get crazy. I was working at St. Lukes South & was getting ready to go to lunch when we hear the tornado sirens come on. We looked out the window & only saw gray skies & rain. Then we turned on the TV & they were talking of "rotation" being spotted about 12 blocks straight south of the hospital as well as above the area where we live. I tried calling Shane but he would not answer the phone so then I started to worry since there had been severe weather at our house as well. Then they announced over the hospital speaker to "please put the Code Gray into effect" which meant evacuating all patients, family members, staff & head to the designated "safe place" which was the lower level of the hospital.

We evacuated patients out of their rooms, into the hallways & away from windows & then they announced a tornado was spotted several blocks away from the hospital so we were all instructed to move down to the lower level. I was amazed there was no chaos as the entire hospital made their way down stairs to the basement. We sat down against the wall in the hallway for about an hour waiting for the "all clear". I tried to text/call Shane again but we had no service down in the basement so none of us knew what was going on outside.

*photo of the tornado above the shopping center 12 blocks down the road from the hospital - thanks Michelle!

In the hallway to my right was a woman in active labor that they had brought down on an "evacuation sled" which made the hour interesting. As I sat there, I listened to her fetal monitor & watched her cry. I didn't know if she was crying because she was in pain or because she may have thought she might be delivering her baby in a hallway during a tornado!? Regardless I felt bad for her. Then I thought what a birth story to tell to your child!

To my left was a new mom holding her 2 week old preemie baby tight. After talking with her she had shared that her baby was going to be in the hospital for about 3 more weeks & she was here visiting her. The baby was SO tiny! There were some people crying, others desperately trying to get ahold of loved ones & others sitting there quietly praying. It was a weird & eerie feeling sitting in that hall thinking about what "might" happen as the events of the Joplin tornado were all fresh in our minds.

We finally got word that the tornado warning had been lifted & we were able to return to our departments. We watched more of the weather, ate lunch & went about the rest of our day. In just 2 hours there were 14 reports of tornadoes around the area & unfortunately, it isn't over. We will be under a tornado watch until later tonight.

Needless to say, I am pretty much done with this weather & living in Kansas. Oh & I never did get ahold of Shane. I was told tornado sirens went off in Spring Hill when all this was going on & he never called me.

My guess is he slept though the entire thing...go figure!!

Anniversary

Today the hubby & I are celebrating seven years of marriage! It just doesn't seem possible that 7 years have already passed us by. We have definitley had our share of ups & downs this year & have dealt with things I wish no other couple would have to face. We definitely enjoyed all the "ups" & managed to work through all the "downs" which brought us even closer together & for that I am so very thankful. I couldn't have asked for a more loving or supportive husband!

So with 7 years of wisdom behind me, I thought I might list some of things I think are important in a marriage. It seems to have worked for us thus far!?

10 Things I've Learned in 7 years

(in no particular order)

1) Marriage is never 50%/50%. It’s both people giving 101% & it requires a lot of "give & take", sacrifice, compromise & negotiating.

2) Marriage is about acceptance. To accept each other regardless of who or where that person is in life is an act of love. Each person will have strengths & weaknesses that they bring to the marriage. Definitely try to encourage the strengths & learn to accept the weaknesses.

3) Forgiveness is crucial. Just saying the words “I forgive you” isn’t enough. When you are able to release your spouse from the punishment of their wrongdoings is truly forgiveness. And if you’re not sure if you have truly forgiven your spouse, then try asking yourself this: Am I still bitter? If the answer is yes then you may have some work to do within thyself. Shane isn’t perfect & as much as I think I am perfect...I am not. Shocking, I know :)

4) Be totally honest with one another. When you aren't honest with your spouse it is a recipe for disaster. There should also be no secrets. Honesty is the key to trust. When you aren't honest with one another then there can be no trust.

5) Be sensitive. We both have different pasts & perspectives & what may be no big deal to me, just may be a big deal to Shane. I have learned to recognize that & have learned to be more sensitive to his thoughts & needs.

6) Work together as a team. I have learned that it is much easier to get something accomplished with Shane when I am not nagging or bickering with him. Sometimes you just have to keep your thoughts to yourself & "play" nice to get something done together.

7) Communication. No communication = a lonely marriage. Talk about things that matter to the both of you. However, I think I sometimes irritate Shane with my excessive talking & too much communication :)

8) Laughter. I think this is why we remain strong. Shane makes me laugh every single day. We laugh at each other, at ourselves & are always joking around with each other all the time. Laughter is the gift that keeps us grounded.

9) Sacrifice. You both must be willing to sacrifice some things in a marriage. That is definitely where the "give & take" comes into play.

10) You need your own life. We are always encouraging each other to pursue activities, hobbies & friendships outside of the home. It doesn’t really matter what it is — as long as it gives your life additional meaning & purpose & it’s something you enjoy doing. I love that I am able to enjoy my "girl-time" whenever I want & Shane loves that he can ride his Harley whenever he wants. We enjoy doing lots of things together but also are able to enjoy doing things apart.

And the #1 lesson I think Shane has learned: HAPPY WIFE = HAPPY LIFE :)

Now I am no "marriage-expert" by any means, but this is what seems to work for us & so far it has been pretty great! Thank you Shane for a fun, exciting, entertaining & never-boring 7 years! I am looking forward to sharing many, many more wonderful years with you!

Love,
your wifey :)

Game-Night

This evening was our monthly game-night festivities hosted by Michelle & it was another fun evening had by all. We did our usual gathering around the kitchen island nibbling on appetizers, sipping on yummy sangria, sharing in conversation & enjoying the end of the work week.

I ended up making a new appetizer called Jalapeno Popper Dip & it was a huge hit. Will definitely be making it again. I served it with Triscuits & Pita chips & there wasn't much leftover - which disappointed the hubby :(

After we all filled up on dee-lish appetizers, we gathered around the table for a fun game of "Loaded Question - Adult version". You know anything that says "adult" on it has to be fun & so much fun it was! We laughed until we cried at some of the answers the girls gave - or it could have been the alcohol that made things so funny :) Michelle & Keri's husband came over half-way through the game & even ended up playing a few rounds with us.

After we were all "gamed-out" we decided what better way to end the evening then a trip to the local bar - The Hideout. You never know who you are going to run into at this place or what might go down & every time we go, it makes for an interesting evening.

Tonight we ran into the lady who delivers the mail in our neighborhood, Shane's cousin & her husband who we haven't seen in 2 years, we almost got into a fight with a girl who was one of "Spring Hill's finest", & exchanged words with a guy who had on overall's with no shirt & had more tattoo's than teeth. It was definitely a wild time & we ended up shutting the place down yet again.

And for those of you wondering, yes that is my pager clipped to my shirt - classy I know. I started call at midnight & was worried I wouldn't hear my pager go off in the bar. Oh, & that is just a Diet Coke in my hand ;)

I must say it was another great evening spent with these lovely ladies! I am so glad we make it a point to do this every month & am thankful for this great group & their friendships!

*thank you Melissa for the great photos

Nest Update

So when I peeked in on the nest this past Sunday, this is what I saw:

And when I peeked into the nest this morning, this is what I saw:

All the eggs are gone :(

I am SO sad.

I was looking so forward to watching the little chicks hatch & grow. I have NO idea what happened to the eggs. I don't think it was a squirrel that got them because the nest is untouched & a squirrel would have tore it up. I of course consulted with Mr. Google today & after doing a little research I have a feeling that the Blue Jay in our backyard ate them :( They seem to be notorious "nest-robbers" - especially for robin eggs! The nest is too high for a snake to get them, the lattice around the deck is too small for a raccoon or buzzard to get them so the only thing I can think of is the Blue Jay flew in there & ate them. Ugh - it makes me sick just thinking about it.

I feel really bad for the mama robin. Imagine yourself going out to eat for an hour & returning home to find all of your children missing - never to be found :( I know it is just a bird but it still makes me sad....

Benefits

Got to sleep in this morning & arose out of bed at 9am. The hubby greeted me with a hug & a "Happy Furry-Mother's Day" along with a cup of coffee - such a sweet guy! I also got tons of smooches from the furry's! I then proceeded to sit down with my coffee, outside on the patio with the birds chirping, the sun bright & do some blogging. Ahhhh - fabulous morning :)

The day is now coming to an end as I sit here enjoying my evening on the patio, I think about the meaning of today & how it is a special day to honor mom's. Unfortunately, it is also a day that brings a bitter reminder to all those who have suffered through infertility & loss.

This time last year I was upset, sad & felt devastated that I wasn't yet a mom. This year I don't have quite the negative feelings but it does still bother me. Somehow I feel a bit mellower about the whole situation - maybe it's because I have been dealing with infertility for so long!? Or maybe it's because I have changed my attitude!? Or maybe it's because I have grown to realize that it is what it is & I can't change the cards that have been dealt to me?!

Regardless of what it is, lately I have decided to do away with my "poor-me" attitude & instead enjoy this childless life I live rather than resent it. I have come to realize that there are many benefits to having children, but on the flip side, there are just as many to NOT having them & I am going to enjoy these benefits until my status changes. My sister (who is a mother of 2 boys - 3 & 1 yrs old) is always reminding me of these benefits:

1. Sleeping in on weekends!

2. Ability to spend money freely – have you seen my Coach purse collection?!

3. I can choose to work late nights & take extra call on weekends & not feel guilty about it.

4. I can spend many summer evenings on the patio reading or blogging with the furry's beside me.

5. The hubby & I can go out for lunch/dinner & enjoy the company of just the two of us.

6. I am able to spend time doing the hobbies I love by myself - reading, gardening, shopping, etc.

7. I can meet the girls after work for dinner or a quick drink on any given evening.

8. My car is always clean & if it is dirty it is because of me & me only!

9. I can lay around on a lazy Sunday & watch movies ALL DAY if I want!

10. When I leave the house, all I need are my keys & my purse & I am out the door in 2 minutes.

11. I can plan weekend getaway's with my hubby or girlfriends at any time.

12. I can enjoy late "game-night" with the girls every month while enjoying a cocktail or two because I know I get to sleep in the next morning!

Now don't get me wrong - I enjoy my child-free "benefits" LOTS & some might even be envious of the life we lead, but don't think I wouldn't gladly trade all of it in a skinny minute if it meant I could be a mother. Maybe this time next year I will get to be so truly blessed but until then, I will continue to enjoy my life children-free & be "mom" to my furry's that love me so unconditionally.

With that said, I want to wish a Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful women in my family - especially my own mother, to all my girlfriend's who are mom's & mom's-to-be, to all the other honorary mom's out there & we can't forget all us "pet" mom's :) May you all enjoy this beautiful day with those that matter most to you!

Hugs to you all,
HT :)
Me & my mom

Nest update

It has been 5 days since I checked in on the robin's nest so I thought tonight I would take a pic & see what is going on. To my surprise there are now 5 eggs:

As soon as I opened the door under the deck the mama robin flew away & start squawking like crazy. Out of nowhere papa robin showed up & sat right by her. I got a little nervous thinking those 2 would gang up & attack me so I managed to quickly get a picture & get the heck out of there.

Here is what those two sound like when I am near the nest. Warning: my video skills aren't that great so you may just want to listen rather than watch? :)



Will be checking in on them again Sunday. Can't wait for these little chicks to hatch :)

Marchin' for Babies - The Walk

This morning I woke up early & put on my walkin' shoes for the 2011 March for Babies event. I picked up my girlfriend Jilly & we headed downtown to meet up with the rest of the Woodland Ridge Racers team. It ended up being a cloudy & chilly morning but that didn't stop over 8000 people from coming on out for this wonderful charity. Everyone lined up outside the Power & Light District & then at 10am it was "go" time.

Right at the beginning of the walk there is a memorial wall with pictures of babies born way too early in the KC area. Some of the babies made it (the white ones) & some of them did not (the yellow ones). It was so very touching seeing these images of babies at 24 weeks, 28 weeks, 32 weeks & then seeing a picture of what they look like today. Truly amazing. Then we saw toddlers that were having there pictures taken next to their "memorial" & it was so cool to see them in person & then look at the picture of them as a preemie.
We chose to do the 2.5 mile walk vs the 1 mile walk & had a great time checking out all the old buildings in the downtown area & discovering restaurants that we have heard of but never knew where they were located.

About halfway through the walk, Jilly was pointing something out on top of a building & as I look up to see what she was talking about the next thing I know I am down on the ground on all floors. With my leg stuck in a gutter. In front of a taxi cab. With hundreds of people around me. Not one of my most classiest moments. God bless Jilly for first checking to see if I was ok & THEN laughing at me. That is a true friend :) Turns out I was walking along the side of the sidewalk & the curb indents inward by the gutters so I basically fell off the curb & lost my balance. I ended up losing some skin off my hands & my knees are quite sore & bruised but at least I didn't break anything. After Nurse Jilly assessed me for broken bones, I brushed myself off & we kept on walking.

45 minutes & 2.5 miles later, we returned to the starting point & after a quick bite to eat we made our way back home when it began to rain. We are SO thankful we didn't get rained on while walking. That would have made for an even colder & miserable morning.

Just wanted to say thanks again to everyone who sponsored me & donated to this wonderful charity! I unfortunately didn't reach my goal but am SO very thankful to have donated $375 to this fabulous cause.

I thank you & the babies thank you :) Until next year....

Discovery

All of you who read my blog or know me personally know about my strange fascination for nature & animals. In the past I have shared with you all a few posts about this passion here or here or here. Imagine my surprise when I made another awesome discovery this morning right underneath our deck :) We have a small electric box under the deck that powers all our outdoor lighting. On top of it was a nest & right before I opened the door to get under the deck a robin had flown away. The nest is about 6 feet off the ground so I can't see up in it so I got my camera to take a picture of what was inside the nest:
Three robin eggs :) I have no idea how old the eggs are so I am going to have to check it everyday to see when the baby birds start hatching! I am SO excited to watch this unfold. For some reason Shane doesn't share in my enthusiasm :(

I of course ended up doing a little research on this process (are you surprised?) & found these little tidbits of information about robins:

Mating: Robins generally remain together for the breeding season, but often mate with other individuals the following year.

Nesting: It takes from two to six days to make the nest, with an average of 180 trips per day to find materials. Males sometimes help gather nesting materials but the female chooses the site and builds the nest. An American Robin can produce three successful broods in one year. On average, though, only 40 percent of nests successfully produce young

Brooding: The female robin incubates her eggs for about 12 to 16 days. She sits on the eggs for 40-minute periods. Then she stands up, turns the eggs and flies off to feed or for a break. The male stands guard and sometimes sits on the eggs.

Society: In summer, females sleep on the nests and males congregate in roosts. As young robins become independent, they join the males in the roost. Female adults go to the roosts only after they have finished nesting.

Life-time: About half of the robins alive in any year will make it to the next. Despite the fact that a lucky robin can live to be 14 years old, the entire population turns over on average every six years.

Song: The robin is one of the first birds to sing in the morning and is one of the last to be heard at night. The male is most vocal, usually singing from high points in the morning and during courtship. The robin is one of the few birds to sing throughout the winter.

Chicks: The chicks are fed by both parents. They eat about 35 to 40 meals a day. The parents keep the nests clean by carrying away or eating the chicks' fecal sacs. When they are about 13 days old, the chicks leave the nest. They stay in their parents' territory for a few weeks but leave after about a month.

Now you know all you ever wanted to know about robins & their chicks! Sorry if I am boring you. I know not everyone shares in my excitement! I will be sure to post pics when the baby birds hatch - that should be more exciting :)

Walk

Click here to help me reach my goal!

WOW - there are only 7 more days left to reach my goal of $500 for the March for Babies walk & I am asking for your help. Won't you please consider sponsoring me as I walk for such a great cause? I would very much appreciate it & so would the babies :)

To make a donation, click on the link above!

Thank you so very much for your support!
HT

Top 2

Top 2 Things You Collect

1) Coffee mugs - whenever I travel, I always make sure to purchase a coffee mug from where I visited before I leave. It drives my husband insane when he sees me come home with yet another mug since we have run out of room in the cabinet to store them all. I haven't counted them lately, but last count I had 20+ mugs & always room for more :)

2) Socks - I have at least 7 pairs of fun socks for every holiday during the year with Christmas being an exception. Last count I had 19 pairs of X-mas socks & I add a pair to my collection every year. I usually bust out the X-mas socks starting Dec 1st. Pretty soon I will have a pair for every day in Dec :) I also have "lucky" socks, bulldog socks, smiley face socks, slipper socks - oh the list is long!

Welcome Miss Sofia

Remember the baby shower I went to in February for my dear friend Desiree??? Well, ever since the phone call I got from her back in August telling me that she was pregnant, I have been anxiously awaiting these last 8 months for this day:

I am SO happy to announce the arrival of Miss Sofia...Miss Sofia Ines was born on 4/11/11 at 4:54 pm weighing in at 7 lbs 1 oz & 20 inches long. Is she not adorable? I can hardly wait to hear all about Desiree's birth story & how this beautiful girl came into the world. I'm sure it will be very entertaining as most of her blog posts are :)

Congrats to this beautiful family & welcome Miss Sofia...they are so very blessed!