What's Hanging?

The TV!!!

I can't wait for the Lion King to be out on Bluray!

It was a chore. It consumed our entire Friday night. We had to take the TV down a couple of times to hide wires or reposition the TV... but I can confidently say that we are now

 TV Hanging Professionals.

We got the wallmount from Monoprice.com for only 24 bucks w/shipping! Eat that Walmart.

We also cut the cord on cable when we bought the new place. 

Cable prices were getting out of control, plus, I can watch anything online or Netflix, and we got an HD antenna for Danny's Chief's games so it is hard to justify paying for cable.

Honestly, I don't miss cable at all

It makes me be more imaginative with my time, and not a couch potato.

BTW Antennas are awesome. we have 22 channels, ALL in HD, they don't have embarrassing bunny ears. In fact, you can't even see the antenna unless you look behind the TV.

So the break down.

I can watch all of my TV shows

The Chief's Games

I am more active

pay no cable bill.

yea. it's a no brainer.

Now I need to build a Mantle for the fireplace... because let's face it, it looks blah.

Danny and I will be cut off from the world next week.

We are visiting my family in Upstate NY and Sprint has no love for Upstate NY.

notice how far the airport is from my family. yea that's a 4 hour drive.

I am looking forward to seeing my grandparent Hazeltons and celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, while seeing all of my mom's side of the family at my cousin's wedding. and enjoying NY in the fall time.

While I am away I will leave you with some Food Porn

bow-chicka-bow-wow. oh yes I did just go there.

I made these a few weeks ago

Slowcooker pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Put chicken of your choice in the slow cooker, pour your favorite BBQ sauce over chicken and season with whatever your heart desires. Turn the slow cooker on low for 8 hours then shred the chicken with a fork and ta-da! BBQ chicken sandwiches!!

I know.. you must be thinking "that is the most complicated recipe you have ever shown us!"
What can I say, I like a challenge =)

I like to top my sandwiches with home-made slaw

So when you are feeling lazy about dinner, throw something in the slowcooker, it never fails.

Have a happy two weeks!

slump

I am in a workout slump. I just can't seem to motivate myself to get to the gym.

I usually go 4 times a week.. these past two weeks I have only gone 2-3 times. I am blaming Sookie Stackhouse. 

I read while I am at the gym. I rush through my weight exercises, then I move onto cardio, which I find much more enjoyable. I prop my nook on the Elliptical and do my interval training, then I lay the nook on the exercise mats and read while I do the plank for 2 mins. Then I'll go back to the bikes and read for another 15 mins. But this 11th Sookie Stackhouse book, Dead Reckoning, is so awful that I cut my workouts short do to boredom. Thanks a lot Sookie... don't you know it's bathing suit season?

Now I know I should have just given up Sookie, and picked up another, much enjoyable, book but come on! It's book 11. I would feel like I was missing something, and I have already invested so much time and energy in the series. Not to mention that the darn ebook was 15 bucks! So I am a sucker and stuck it out. 

Thank goodness I finished the book today, so now I can move onto a book I have been looking forward to all month, and maybe I will get some better workouts in.

I'll review it at the end of this blog... but you can already tell I do not think too highly of it.

What do you do when you hate a book? Do you stop reading it? Or do you feel like you owe it to the author to finish it out?

Journey has been doing her job fantastically. I took pictures of Danny's Family last week, and I love the pictures and how they turned out =)

I also took pictures of my lil man

can't you tell he loves his bunny.

I am in love with how clear the images are.

However this is turning into a dangerous hobby... I constantly find myself wanting to buy new lenses!

and food pictures!! they look A-MAZE-ING

Danny made this dish for me. He's becoming quite the chef. Here is the recipe he used.

Memorial Day weekend was jammed packed with celebrations. We had a surprise party for Danny's Parent's 35th anniversary, a graduation party for Danny's cousin Lya, and we made a stop at baby Olivia's one month party. 

Thank goodness we had Monday off.. otherwise my boss would have to deal with sleep deprived monster.

Speaking of work..... we finally hired someone!!!! ekkkk!!! I am wicked excited, Now I won't be stressed out trying to do three jobs at once. And I will get off earlier!

ok. onto Sookie Stackhouse.

Dead Reckoning

By Charlaine Harris

• Pub. Date: May 2011
• Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
• Sold By: Penguin Group
• Format: NOOK Book (eBook) , 336pp

Synopsis 

With her knack for being in trouble's way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. Sookie suspects otherwise, but her attention is divided when she realizes that her lover Eric Northman and his "child" Pam are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, Sookie is drawn into the plot-which is much more complicated than she knows...

Review:

I have such admiration for Charlaine Harris. She has created a world that is fun, fresh, and captivated millions of people both in the literary world and television. However, she is losing her spark. The entire book was slow paced, boring, and redundant. We read more about her cleaning her attic and decorating for a baby shower then we did with actual plot development. Once the main climax happened, I scratched my head thinking " really... that's it?"

Harris seemed to have trouble with continuity in this book. Many story-lines did not add up with previous books ( Niall and Eric' relationship/understanding). Also the tone of this book did not sound right. Many characters were acting...odd ( Bill in the crawl space, Eric biting Sookie, Alcide in bed) and Sookie sounded so lifeless. I don't know what happened to Harris... but it seems like she didn't even write this book. I think Harris is setting up the end of Sookie for us. It's painfully obvious who Harris has planned to be Sookie's Happily Ever After, but I don't agree with how Harris is trying to make the audience hate Eric in order to move him aside. I wish she would set it up differently, or at least try and make it a surprise, but I guess she just wants to rip the band aid off, just like the rest of us.

I can't wrap up this review without acknowledging that Sookie makes some great new discoveries about her family history. And we finally know where her telepathy comes from ( although the storyline doesn't fit with the past books) We have resolution on the main story arc, but the relationship issues are left hanging in a most frustrating way. I just didn't feel like the book was cohesive, and it ultimately could have been condensed with another book, at least then the readers would feel like they got their moneys worth.

If you are a Sookie fan, check this book out at a library. I will continue to read the series hoping to find a happy ending, but I will not be jumping out of my seat to purchase it. 

 ok onto a new book! I love this husband/wife writing team. Hopefully they can lift me out of my slump.

Busy Bee

I want to be a good blogger. I really do.

When I started this blog, I was slow at work and had tons of free time on my hands.

Now I am so busy that this week alone I will be getting close to 10 + hours overtime. 

We have made so many signs this week.. we had to start storing them up-front.

 And these are all of the orders I still have to design and produce.. by tomorrow.

I'm not complaining. I LOVE BEING BUSY! 

and I also don't mind the overtime money =)

So needless to say.. this leaves little time for my baby blog. 

And I haven't had time to dye my hair. GrrrRrr..

See. how awful is that? I haven't dyed my hair since February!

So with my lack of blogging, my camera has an overload of food pictures, that promise savory bites, and happy tummies. 

 Recipe:

2 cans (11 oz. each) mandarin orange segments, drained, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup  finely chopped red pepper

1/3 cup finely chopped red onion

1/4 cup  Honey Mustard

1 Tbsp. lime juice

1 Tbsp.  chopped cilantro

4 boneless skinless chicken breast

MIX orange segments, pepper, onion, mustard, lime juice and cilantro; cover. Refrigerate several hours for flavors to blend.  ( i did this the night before since I knew I would be working Overtime.. AGAIN)

I steamed the Broccoli ( keeps all of the good nutrients that way ) and I grilled the chicken on Mr. Foreman. Then poured the sauce on the chicken, and prepare for a burst of amazing flavors.

See, easy recipe that anyone could do.. regardless of schedule.

We also created a Man Cave out of the second bedroom ( aka my hoarding room)

Brodie belongs in the man cave. pumping iron and getting buff.

This weekend I am rewarding myself.

Friday night we have a date night with these fun people

 and Saturday I will be celebrating the birth of Nikki Stone.

I can't wait to kick back, laugh, and smile until my cheeks hurt.

On a happy ending note. I am thinking about doing another giveaway...  what should it be.. what should it be.. hmmmm

Welcome to My Roller-Coaster

Let me tell you why I wanted to have a blog section on eating healthy and why I try and offer healthier recipes that anyone can muster up in the kitchen.
Up. Down. Up. Down.UP

My ride never ends.

 I have struggled with weight since I hit my final growth spurt in 5th grade. Yes. I have practically been the same height ever sense. Sucks. I was suppose to keep growing and be a world famous model or something. However no one told me I was done growing, so I continued eating like a little kid, without a care in the world. Thus I blew up.

I have been a yo-yo dieter ever since then.
Remember Atkins? Yea my family was hardcore with that one. Then I became a devoted calorie counter, I worked at job were I was constantly on the move and that seemed to keep me fit.

Then I moved to KC after graduation. and met a boy.

look how cute and young we were. ah. to be a teenager again.

Frugal and Fabulous: A Clothing Swap Party

Random Elishia Fact: I RARELY buy clothing at full price.

So when an opportunity arises to get FREE new clothes, I'm all for it!!

My fabulous friend, Lynda, hosted a clothing exchange party this past weekend and it was a complete success.

The concept is simple, you take a look at your closet, evaluate what clothing pieces you no longer wear, bag them up and meet up with your girlfriends ( and cross your fingers that the cute top you saw your friend wearing 6 months ago is at the party). The results are outstanding since you essentially leave with brand new pieces for your wardrobe.... all for free!

Of course you have to throw food into the mix, and maybe drinks, this is a social event after all!

Blog recipe!

Growing up in the Hazelton household, lasagna was THE most requested dish. We love our Italian food, so this isn't so surprising. But as I grew older I would start helping my mom make the delicious dish, then as time progressed we would start having a friendly competition to see who made the better lasagna, which my dad was the judge ( I won too!). Now that I am out in the world on my own.. and striving to live a healthier life style... I discovered how UNHEALTHY my family lasagna was! Between the gluttonous ricotta cheese, and the white noodles and the copious amounts of various cheeses... i set out to find a healthier, but just as tasty alternative... which bring me to, "Zucchini Lasagna"! The concept is simple you sub out the noodles for Zucchini, and use cottage cheese.
So with no further delay.. the recipe

2 1/2 cups zucchini, sliced 1/4 inch thick (about 3 medium)
1/2 lb lean ground turkey meat (I use 1 lb.)
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1 jar of tomato sauce ( I use sugar free and season it with spices)
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 cup water
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 egg
3/4 cup low fat cottage cheese
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded (I use 8 oz. divided)
1 tbs of flour
4 no boil noodles

Directions

1.Brush Zucchini with olive oil and broil in oven until tender, and set aside. Fry meat and onions until meat is brown and onions are tender; drain fat. Add tomato sauce and spices, let boil.
2. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered 10 minutes or until reduced to 2 cups.
3. In small bowl slightly beat egg.
4. Add cottage cheese, half of shredded cheese and flour.
5. In a baking pan arrange half of the meat mixture. I use one layer of no boil noddles so the the bottom of my lasagna is no soggy, then do a layer of cheese, then layer of meat sauce, zucchini, then cheese finished with combination until you are out of ingredients!
6. Bake uncovered at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes.
7. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 10 minutes longer.
8. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. And you're done! Enjoy =)

Currently Reading
Iron Crowned by Richelle Meade

Quick rundown of the book:

Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham is the best at banishing entities trespassing in the mortal realm. But as the Thorn Land’s queen, she’s fast running out of ways to end the brutal war devastating her kingdom. Her only hope: the Iron Crown, a legendary object even the most powerful gentry fear…

Who Eugenie can trust is the hardest part. Fairy king Dorian has his own agenda for aiding her search. And Kiyo, her shape-shifter ex-boyfriend, has every reason to betray her along the way. To control the Crown’s ever-consuming powers, Eugenie will have to confront an unimaginable temptation,one that will put her soul and the fate of two worlds in mortal peril…



Going to watch Rango tomorrow. Look for my review on Friday! Have a great week!




P.S. Who watched the Oscars last night? I thought they had a couple of good "laugh out loud moments" but i grew tiresome of Anne Hatheway... she totally became a "Whoo" girl by the end!! it was so frustrating. And the questions of the night.. where in the world was James Franco!?