Just the Two of Us

So sorry I have been completely MIA the past month, with all the crazy weather, work/school being cancelled, and then crazy busy make up days at work.....my life has been a little off-kilter! Now that things are back to "normal" I vow to get back into the routine of making this blog into what I wanted it to be. But for this post I am just going to catch you all up on what has been going on this past month. I decided to dedicate this post to Luke and I b/c needless to say with all the crazy weather and Luke's Dad being busy with his work, we have been spending A LOT of time as "Just the Two of Us"

As all of you know, we endured a hefty amount of snow at the beginning of February! Luke was out of school and I out of work for multiple days......everyday I kept thinking I should write on my blog, but the motivation was just non-existent, I think the snow shut down my brain! I have to admit I was a little worried that Luke and I being snowed in together for multiple days might result in disaster, but it was actually really nice. We didn't butt heads at all, which was a little shocking to me. We spent most of our time hanging out on the sofa watching movies, playing board games, and playing in the snow occasionally.

This is what our back yard looked like! That is a table and sofa that I have on our back patio, the snow drift was pretty impressive. Unfortunately, because it was so bitterly cold outside we weren't able to play in it for very long. But it sure was pretty to look at! Once all the snow was finally melted and the temperatures became more manageable, life picked back up to normal and we were slowly getting back into the flow of school and work.

Then Valentines Day came around....I truly have mixed feelings about this holiday (regardless of if I am in a relationship or not). But I will tell you one thing that I do love about this holiday, and that is making sure that I let the little guy know how much I love him! There is nothing more satisfying than having an unconditional love for your child! Sure we have our moments and there are days when I just want a break, but there is just something about the way he makes me feel :)

I was able to steal a kiss from my Valentine that morning as he ate his breakfast. Normally he won't let me take pictures like this b/c he is too embarrassed, but he let me sneak one in on V-Day! Later that night I had a great evening as well. I decided to have over a couple of my girl friends to eat dinner and watch the Bachelor (guilty pleasure). So I made a creamy, vodka, tomato pasta (thank you Pioneer Woman) and my friends brought over garlic bread (which was Amazing), cupcakes (again Amazing), and wine (Amazing)!

This brings me to something I have noticed lately. I have become more open to inviting people into my life. I have had a complex, for such a long time, about being such a young mom and then adding a divorce on top of that! But now I feel like my heart is beginning to open back up and allow myself to be me! I don't know if it's because I live in a house now, or if I am just more comfortable in my own skin (probably a combo of both). It used to be a rare occasion that I would have ANYONE over to my house when I lived in Norman (except for Lindsey and my family of course). But now I find myself having friends over during the week, even when Luke is awake (which is something I've never really done before). I am very grateful for this feeling that has come to my attention lately because I believe I am FINALLY 100% comfortable in my own skin. Now for one last pic!

This is a pic that I snapped the other night after we got back from the gym. I was shocked as to how old he looks in this picture! Luke has been quite the trooper lately. It is incredibly hard for me (working full time and being a single mom) to actually get to the gym to workout, but I was determined to figure out some kind of routine. So Luke and I made a deal that we go to the gym on Mondays after school and then on Saturday mornings as well. Fortunately, Luke has a really good time at the gym. There are usually quite a few kids in the day care that are his age, and he seems to really get along with them. Luke even let me squeeze in an extra weekday workout on Wednesday night since we will be out of town this weekend (isn't he great)!

So starting next week I will dedicate more time to writing on my blog! Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Simply Sweet,

Jennifer :)

Wonderfully Exhausting

This picture pretty much sums up the week/weekend I just endured. Last week was a complete whirlwind, I had something to do every single day after work! There was not a single night that I got home before 7:00 pm. Needless to say, come Friday I was completely exhausted. However, did my day slow down....of course not! I left work and immediately drove 45 min to meet my mom so Luke could spend the weekend with his PaPa and Boopi! Then as soon as I got back to Norman I changed out of my work clothes and met my sweet friend Lori who flew in the night before from Florida. As soon as I walked into the restaurant and greeted her with a hug, she holds up her left hand........her fiancé just popped the question 1 hour prior to dinner!!! So excited and happy for them I forget the fact that I was exhausted. After an evening of dinner, drinks, and a little dancing I finally get home at 1:30 A.M!

Finally the weekend, time to relax right?!?!? Wrong....true to form I wake up at about 7:30 (which is sleeping in for me). After about an hour of tossing and turning in my bed trying to force myself to go back to sleep, I give in and just get out of bed. I went into the kitchen and made some breakfast, coffee, and watched a little television. I then precede to start a load of laundry and also decided to go for a workout. After my workout I came home, had lunch, and even contemplated taking a nice little Saturday afternoon nap......but then my phone rang. It was Lori inviting me for afternoon drinks with her, her fiancé and a couple other friends, of course I say yes! Now it's 2:30 and I arrive at the restaurant for drinks and to watch some college basketball. Then we all get to talking and decide to head to Bricktown to watch the Thunder game at another restaurant. Watching the Thunder game was a complete blast, had soooo much fun! We then move on to a bar in Bricktown and continue to have an awesome time with each other. But by 11:30 my tank was on empty! I had exerted every ounce of energy I had and was ready to call it a day! Right before I leave Lori pulls me to the side and says she has a question for me...."would you like to be a bridesmaid in my wedding?" OMG of course!!!! I was completely honored and delighted to hear this from her, not to mention the fact that 1 week prior to this I was also asked by my amazing cousin Bailey to be a bridesmaid in her wedding!!! I cannot explain how blessed and loved I feel to be a part of 2 very special individuals big wedding day :)

Just to give you some background on these 2 amazing women.......My cousin Bailey and I have been extremely close since we were very small (have so many hilarious stories together). So to be a bridesmaid in her wedding will be an extremely special moment to say the least! Lori is my sweet friend I met in graduate school. She and I have gotten very close over the past 2 1/2 years and I am again completely honored to be a part of her day as well!

Sunday I actually slept in till 9:00, that's huge for me! Then I went on a movie date with another great friend I met in grad school, Lyndsay who also recently got engaged! I know something must be in the water......expect the water that I'm drinking apparently ;). She is my saving grace during the work day (we email each other all day with funny stories, talking about food, wine, shopping, etc). After the movie I ran by the grocery store and then met my Dad to get Luke back. So even though I felt like I had been stretched to my limit this past week/weekend.....like every other moment in life, it was well worth it! But I did save the absolute BEST moment for last! Last night just as I was falling asleep, I hear Luke sneaking into my bed. I didn't say anything because I was just on the brink of falling asleep. Once he got nestled into my bed I felt him pull my arm over to him, then he hugged my arm and held my hand as he fell asleep (sigh, tear)......I'll tell you what, this made my heart absolutely melt! I almost got teary eyed just now thinking about it. He and I definitely butt heads a lot but it's moments like these, that are there to help remind us how much we mean to each other! He is my Wonderfully Exhausting little guy that I would not trade for the world! Here's to another work, Happy Monday!

Simply Sweet,

Jennifer

Oh the Weekends!

I had a very good/much needed weekend, so I wanted to give it a special shout out! I've been very busy this past week, busy at work and busy at home! I was soooo ready for this weekend on Friday, I had a very hectic work week and going home was no easy task this past week either. This weekend got me thinking of how much I appreciate the weekends now. Don't get me wrong, in college I loved the weekends as well, but now working 40 hrs/wk makes the weekends that much more special :-)

I was able to do several of my favorite/simple things this weekend which included: reading, listening to music while cleaning, cooking new things, having dinner with friends, and watching movies on the sofa. I also joined a gym this weekend, and got in my first workout in the past 4 months! Today I prepared 2 meals I have never had before and both turned out great! So I thought I would share them with you .


Luke and I slept in a little this morning so I didn't really have much of a breakfast, 2 slices of toast with cinnamon and a cup of coffee. But then lunch rolled around and we hadn't gone to the store yet so I went scavenging throughout my fridge and cabinets. Luke opted for mac and cheese and chicken nuggets, while I decided to make eggs. While I was getting the eggs out I remembered I had a bag of fresh spinach and tomatoes....this got me to thinking of making scrambled eggs with spinach, tomatoes, and cheese. And it turned out delicious!



Later in the afternoon we made a trip to the grocery store to get things for the week. I have been wanting to make a few recipes I've found on Pioneer Woman website, so I picked out a couple I want to try this week and bought the items needed. The one I decided to go with tonight was the mini meatball sandwich! These were incredibly easy and incredibly yummy! Items needed: 1 lb hamburger meat (I use 97/3%), garlic salt, pepper, 1 jar of marinara sauce, provolone cheese, and dinner rolls. All you do is make meatballs (about the size of 1-2 tbsp, brown meat in saucepan. Then add marinara sauce and let simmer for 20 min. Cut open a dinner roll, add provolone cheese, meatballs with sauce, and Enjoy!

Simply Sweet,

Jennifer

A Day on my Plate

Well the holidays are over, the decorations are down, and everyone is getting back to their "normal" lives. Every year when I take down my tree it does make me a little sad. I love Christmas decorations and for several weeks after taking them down, I feel like my house looks so bare! While I do love the holidays and seeing family and friends, it is also nice to get back into the swing of things. But I have to admit, the only time I really do appreciate cold weather, is during the holidays......so needless to say, by late January I am already starting to get the itch for spring! I often find myself believing that I can wish away winter (haha) I believe I can do this by protesting to wear a coat at times or starting to wear more spring-like colors! As a matter of fact, I have noticed that the past 2 days at work I left for lunch without my coat.....take that mother nature! While it might not be proven to be effective, it makes me feel like it's getting closer to spring.

Onto my next topic, I've noticed that since becoming a Dietitian, people often ask me what I eat....so, thinking about this gave me an idea for a blog topic. I plan on (at least once a week) posting a pic of everything I eat that day. That way others can see how I typically eat. Hopefully the more I do this the better pictures I will take, so bare with me until then :)

Breakfast: Everything Wheat Bagel Thin with whipped Cream Cheese and 1 cup of coffee with Peppermint Mocha creamer.

Lunch: Grilled chicken, baby carrots and tomatoes and diet coke from Sonic.

*as a side note, I want to apologize for this picture. I ate lunch in my car while running errands

and realized as I was sitting at sonic ordering my drink that I had not taken a picture of my food yet....sorry guys.

Dinner: 90% lean hamburger meat with Ragu Garden Vegetable pasta sauce and pasta noodles. Carrots and broccoli for my side of vegetables (these are frozen vegetables that you can heat up in the microwave...so fast, simple, and I love them (just be cautious of ones that are in a butter or cheese sauce, the more natural the better)

Happy New Year!

New Year's Eve celebrations are always made out to be a big fancy event with food, drinks, party hats, fireworks, midnight kiss, etc. I however, have not really experienced it that way before. True to form, last night I was in bed by 11:00 and brought in the New Year fast asleep! Although, I was slightly awaken every now and then from text messages from friends between the hours of 12:30 and 1:30, but I didn't mind, at least that made me feel a little more cool. I've also never really been one to set a New Years resolution, and I don't think I am setting one this year either. I sound like quite the party pooper don't I! haha Don't get me wrong, I see nothing wrong with setting a resolution....so if you set one this year more power to ya!

In my last blog I promised a nutrition break down of a yummy recipe. However, due to unforseen pure laziness on my part, I did not post it yesterday like I said I would......you have my dearest apologies ;) So this morning I woke up, made some coffee and sat down at the computer (no excuses now). The first recipe I want to share with you is one I adapted from cooking light. It is a yummy yummy pasta dish that is super easy to make and tastes great! So I bring to you......

Lasana Rolls

I've made this dish many of times, and it never disappoints me, I hope you enjoy!

What you need:
8 uncooked lasagna noodles
4 tsp olive oil
1/2 c finely chopped onions
1 (8oz) sliced mushrooms
1 (6oz) baby spinach-fresh
3 garlic cloves, minced (sometimes I skip this, up to you)
1/2 c part-skim ricotta cheese
2 tbsp minced fresh basil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper

(the recipe from cooking light has you prepare your own sauce from scratch, but I just use marinara sauce...shhh)

How to prepare:
1. Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions, then drain and rinse with cold water.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over med-high heat. Add onions, mushroom, spinach, and garlic; saute for about 5 min.
3. Remove from heat and add cheeses, basil, salt, and crushed red pepper.
5. This step is where you make your sauce, but since I just use marinara sauce, I simply heat it up on the stove...done and done!
4. Place cooked noodles on a flat surface, spread 1/4 cup mixture over each noodle. Roll up the noodles. Place rolled up noodles (seam side down) in a shallow microwave safe dish. Pour marinara sauce over the top of the rolls and microwave on high for 3-5 minutes.

Nutrition Breakdown:
Serving size: 2 rolls
Calories: 393
Fat : 11.7
Protein: 19.3
Carbs: 58.3
Fiber 5.9

Now sit down at the table and enjoy this light, healthy, and yummy meal! If you have any tips, suggestions, etc please let me know!

Simply sweet,
Jennifer

2010

On the eve of New Year's Eve I can't help but look back and reflect on 2010. I remember how I felt this time last year and how I could not wait to say Good Riddance to 2009....this year is a little different. Over the past year I completed my Dietetic Internship, passed my RD exam, got a job, was blessed with 2 nephews, and moved into a new place! Sure there may be a few things here and there that didn't pan out the way I hoped for them to, but overall I must say 2010 was a pretty darn good year! I am excited to welcome in a New Year and see what blessings it may bring....so bring it on 2011!!!

Check back tomorrow for a nutritional breakdown of a yummy feature recipe!

Wishing you all a fabulous New Years and all the blessings that come with the New Year!

Simply sweet,
Jennifer


Enjoy a few of my favorite images from 2010!

As I was sitting in my cold office at work this morning with all my work assignments already completed I found myself scrolling through several blogs, some people I know, some people I don't. This got me to thinking, maybe I should start a blog.......so, here I am! Since I have a passion for talking and food I thought a blog might be the perfect outlet for me.

My goal for this blog is to share some of my personal life (which can be pretty eventful, let me tell you) and to share my passion for nutrition and food. I am new to this whole blogging world and it may take some time before I really get going, but you have to start somewhere right? I look forward to delving into this new adventure and hope you enjoy reading my posts as much as I will enjoy sharing them!