As you can see it's been quite a while since I've posted anything to this site. I am still blogging about my messy crazy life albeit infrequently over at PJs Til Noon. I'm not ready to give up on this blog yet, but since I've got a lot of potential changes going on in my life and with the crazy (wait) CRAZY (that's better) summer we've had I thought it was better to focus on just one of my creative outlets. PJ's won the coin toss.
If you're curious at all what's going on with me, and here's where I should put some scintillating tidbit that will make you drop what you're doing and head on over to PJs quicker than a cat on a hot tin roof. As you can see I got nothing.
Except some glorious self-promotion....go to the other blog!
www.PJs-Til-Noon.com
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Messy Pajama Mama
Posted by The P in PJs til Noon at 10:08 PM 1 comments
Thursday, May 28, 2009
I'll Ask You To Remind Me
Me: I love you Jilly!
Jill: I know.
Me: How do you know?
Jill: Because you keep telling me, over and over and over, and lots and lots and lots of times. And if I ever forget, I’ll ask you to remind me.
Gotta love a 5-year-old's perspective on things. I'll enjoy it while I've got it! Just like right now I'm enjoying the view of her sundress hung up in her backpack and showing her undies. I tried to get a pic but it didn't last long, you'll just have to imagine.
I'm thinking there's a very deep lesson to be learned from Jill and I's conversation but right now nothing is coming to me. I am still in 'rush' mode after looking at the fridge this morning, realizing Jared had a field trip that he needed a packed lunch for and didn't take, calling the school confirming he needed said lunch, loading up Jill, packing said lunch, putting resistant (and wet and dirty) puppies in cage, rushing 20 minutes to school, arriving just in the nick of time (children lined up, bus arriving). Only to find out from Jared he didn't need a lunch after all, he'd be back in plenty of time to eat in the cafeteria. But he'd love to have a water bottle for the ride. SIGH!
Either I'm mellowing in my old age, I'm really tired, or maybe the pain in my shoulders and thighs from Level 2 of the Shred has just dulled all other emotions because I'm actually not upset.
My only regret is I had to get out of my pjs before noon.
Posted by The P in PJs til Noon at 9:52 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
I'm a Teeny Tiny Bit More Shredded Than Last Week
(Because I pick and choose what blog I feel like posting at on any given day, this story has been drug out over both of them...if you care to get the back story it's here and here and probably somewere else to but I'm too lazy to look.)
Well, I’m still at it..sort of. I have semi-completed Level 2 three times in the past week or maybe it’s more like 10 days but who’s counting? Oh that’s right, I should be. Level 2 is full of push-up/plank style exercises. All I can is say is thank God for Anita, who is the low-impact version of the work out. I’m also trying to either get a daily walk or some time on the elliptical as much as possible.
Our spring schedule is starting to wind down and that leaves us with a little more free time in the evenings. D and I have been able to take a walk the last couple of days, we even broke out into a jog yesterday. And don’t fall over people, but it was actually my idea to jog! It was NOT my idea to jog the rest of the way home and to ‘burn it’ for the last two minutes…I think I’m still breathing hard from that episode. Burn it? Really? But that’s my trainer, always trying to push me a bit further.
So all of the aforementioned blathering was meant to lead up to the big ‘weight update’ I planned to do each and every week. Now it’s been what, 15 days? Oh well, if you read this blog at all you’re very aware of the fact that I’m a slacker, sadly our title is not just a catchy turn of phrase.
Now, drum roll please. Someone finally told my scale I was sweating copious amounts (eww) to try and work my badonkadonk off. Yay! I’m down 5 lbs or as someone once told my mom, that’s 20 sticks of butter. I bet you’ll think twice before buttering your roll now, huh? Not me, a hot roll without melted margarine is like a baked potato without cheese, bacon, and ranch…and I wonder why I’m carrying around XX extra pounds. Obvious, right?
Now I’m off to reward myself for all this hard work. Actually I just watched the season premiere of Jon and Kate plus 8 so I’m off to drown my sorrows in something loaded with some sugar and hopefully a good dose of fat as well.
I think there’s a Hershey bar left from our smores that I hid somewhere….
So the 30 Day Shred (plus some elliptical workouts and some trainer sessions) are working for me!
To get some actual useable good ideas, head on over to Works For Me Wednesday.
Posted by The P in PJs til Noon at 2:52 PM 3 comments
Labels: works for me wednesday
Friday, May 22, 2009
Oreo Pie
I posted yesterday about how my firstborn was celebrating 14 years of life on this amazing planet.
We grilled out last night to honor the occasion and I made his absolute favorite dessert to finish the night off—Oreo Pie. It’s insanely easy (and even more so if you choose to use prepared graham cracker pie crusts) and very refreshing and yummy! A perfect summer dessert for potlucks, especially ones with kiddos!
So here’s the recipe for a double batch of Oreo Pie:
(sorry if these aren’t exact, I just dump and mix for my crusts)
Crust:
15-18 graham cracker crumbs
½ c sugar
4 tbsp melted butter
OR purchase two deep dish graham cracker pie shells
Filling:
2 pkg instant vanilla pudding (also good with chocolate)
3 ¾ c. milk
16 oz. Cool Whip
Package of Oreos, crushed (Josh prefers the double stuffed)
Mix crust ingredients together and press into 9 x 13 pan, pop into freezer.
In large mixing bowl, whisk together pudding and milk. When mixture begins to set up, blend in ¾ of the cool whip and ¾ of the Oreos (reserving some of each for the topping). Pour over crust.
Top with remaining cool whip and crushed cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
However, do not use all of your cool whip in the filling and try to use ‘squirt cool whip’ to write your child’s name and then put back in the freezer b/c the fridge is too full….you’ll end up with a melted cool whip all over the top and no name. BUT your kids will still scarf it down like there’s no tomorrow.
Happy Memorial Day!
This post is linked to The Grocery Cart Challenge - Recipe Swap Friday.
Posted by The P in PJs til Noon at 10:49 AM 1 comments
Labels: recipes
Thursday, May 14, 2009
All Girl Weekend
My family is evenly divided between the sexes, three males, three females. This weekend the male half will be heading off to a father-son camping trip with our church. This means we have a weekend of nothing but girl time! I love this weekend (even if it means I'm a single parent, at least he takes half the kids with him).
So here’s 13 things I’m looking forward to this weekend:
1. A weekend of NO sporting events (live or televised)!
2. The basement (the boys’ domain) is clean and will stay that way all weekend!! (Until they come back with BAGS of dirty laundry on Sunday but that’s another story.)
3. A mother-daughter picnic with my daughters, mom, mother-in-law, one of my sisters, most of my sister-in-laws, and lots of fabulous church friends.
4. One-on-one time with each of my precious girls. Maybe get a head start on a Father’s Day project?
5. Making special treats with the girls for the above-mentioned picnic.
6. Did I mention my house will stay cleaner this weekend?
7. Reading in bed until the wee hour s of the morning..if I want to!
8. Knowing all my boys (even my biggest one) are enjoying a great weekend full of fun activities and some serious ‘guy time’.
9. Having the ‘big’ tv ALL to myself..no sharing the remote this weekend!
10. Watching a chick flick with my chicks! (Which just means Disney around here…the girls are 5 and 8)
11. Thankful for a husband who will do anything and everything to have a good relationship with his sons.
12. Making a menu that will please us. Shh…don’t tell but we’ll probably have at least one meal of JUST deep-fried mozzarella cheese sticks! (I’m looking for a good recipe for homemade ones.)
13. Having my tired but happy boys tell me ALL about their big weekend on Sunday afternoon. I can’t wait for the details!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
This post is linked to Thursday Thirteen and Things I Love Thursday!
Posted by The P in PJs til Noon at 3:34 PM 2 comments
Labels: things I love thursday, thursday thirteen
Monday, May 11, 2009
Menu Plan Monday
For a TON of other menu ideas head on over to Org Junkie's Meal Plan Monday!
Posted by The P in PJs til Noon at 10:00 AM 1 comments
Labels: menu plan monday
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
40 Days
Ever read a bible verse that you’ve probably read/heard 100s of times and all of a sudden, it’s like you have a major light bulb moment?
I had one this morning. Tuesdays are my busiest days, I’ve really got to boogie to get myself ready, Jill to mom’s, and be at work on time! (What? You think I should get up earlier on Tuesdays? ) Plus today is Jilly Bean’s 5th birthday AND for some unknown reason I decided since I had exactly 30 minutes before I needed to leave the house it would be a good idea to do a 20 minute elliptical workout. Okay, the reason was that my trainer suggested I should but I did do it! And yes, that left me 10 minutes to shower and get out the door…which I barely did in 15 and with no makeup and wet hair.
Anyway, all of that means I read my devotions online today at church and, yes, we’re finally getting to the story. Let me set up the scripture, Elijah has just destroyed the prophets of Baal and Queen Jezebel has told him he’ll be sleeping with the fishes by this time tomorrow. So Elijah does what most of us do, he complained! He cried and whined and then he went to sleep! Then an angel wakes him up, feeds him, he goes back to sleep, eats more, and then travels for 40 days! Finally after he finishes his journey God speaks to him (and then sends him back the way he came which is a whole other story).
If you’d like to read the devotional and the actual scripture go here!
The ‘a-ha’ moment for me was I truly realized that Elijah prayed, slept, ate, slept, ate, then he traveled for 40 days and THEN, THEN God spoke to him. Over 40 days people! And I often get frustrated when God doesn’t give an answer or fix a problem in two minutes!
I know in this situation Elijah truly felt alone and his very life was being threatened, but yet God took time to send an angel to prepare food for him and he rested. Sometimes the mundane, routine things of life are the very things that keep us sane.
Currently I’m praying for direction as to how the Lord will use me when my last little chick leaves the safety of the nest for Kindergarten in the fall (the same day as my oldest chick heads to high school…sigh…). And I want an answer NOW.
But tonight I’ll do laundry, bake a birthday cake, clean the kitchen and I will do my best to patiently wait for God’s answers and His divine direction in my life.
Has it been 40 days, 40 weeks, or 40 months for you? Hang in there…the answer is coming. And for that I’m grateful today!
Posted by The P in PJs til Noon at 12:27 PM 0 comments
Labels: gratitude tuesday
Friday, May 1, 2009
Pets on the Brain
As you can probably see I’ve totally got pets on the brain.
I posted over at PJs about our dabbling into veterinary science.
And now the pets have even taken over my recipes for today!
If you’re wondering why you can go here and see pics of my new babies. I’m trying to get through this blog without another pic of them.
In our frugal pet quest, I found great resources through this blog entry from Gayle at The Grocery Cart Challenge and this inspired me to attempt some of these recipes.
The puppies got a bath on their first full day as members of our club. However, I think this caused some skin irritation so we gave them a Lemon Bath to help with the itching. They didn’t start scratching until after the first bath, but we were concerned about fleas as well. So we gave them a Rosemary Flea Rinse.
Lemon Bath
Thinly slice one lemon, bring one pint of water almost to a boil. Remove from heat, add lemon, cover, let steep overnight. Sponge onto puppy, starting at head (but not near eyes or ears).
Rosemary Flea Rinse
Same directions as above, only add one Tbsp of rosemary.
This has significantly reduced the amount of scratching we’re seeing so hopefully it’s working!
Now here’s a couple of recipes I’m planning on trying out next week. I’m not sure yet whether this will be the most frugal option or not but I’m sure it’ll be a treat for the little pups. I think my girls will get a kick out of making homemade doggie treats!
Puppy Meatloaf
Tons of Dog Treat Recipes
For some really tasty PEOPLE food...head on over to the Grocery Cart Challenge's Recipe Swap Friday and join in!
Posted by The P in PJs til Noon at 9:26 AM 0 comments
Labels: recipes
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Things I Love Thursday

Last Saturday morning we did our weekly inventory and made sure we had:
· Four kids – check
· One lazy, overweight beagle – check
· Three fish and a blue lobster – check
By Sunday afternoon we had to add to our weekly checklist:
· One bunny
· Two puppies
Puppies are just the absolute best. I am so in love with them. The bunny is adorable as well. But without further ado…please welcome the newest members of our family: Cupcake the Bunny and Peanut Butter and Cookie. Obviously my family has an unhealthy obsession with food.
And I’m sure the fact that we’ve just increased our family by way too many has nothing to do with me counting down the days until my life changes forever. Our baby starts kindergarten in the fall and our first baby will start high school. The same day people! I've considered starting prozac now in order to prepare. My eleven year run as being a stay at home mom with a preschooler are gone. My era of only ‘elementary age’ children is over.
Sigh. I could go on but I’ll save it for another post. I’m going to play with the puppies.
For more 'Things I Love' head on over to The Diaper Diaries.
Posted by The P in PJs til Noon at 9:37 PM 1 comments
Labels: things I love thursday
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Stuffing the Colliers
We occasionally play a game after dinner we affectionately call ‘Stuffing’ and D thought tonight would be a great night to break it out. We got the idea from a parenting book we read in our Sunday School class.
Here’s the game. We pick one person (in birth order, reverse birth order, how we’re sitting) and we go around the table and everybody says one nice thing about that person. Then we go on to the next. The goal is to ‘stuff’ each person with compliments. Usually we try to keep it to a one or two sentence statement, no repeats, and no saying ‘they’re nice.’ We like for it to be as specific as possible. For example, today Josie (8) said to Josh (13) “I like it when you help me with my homework.” Nice job, Josie. Josie said she liked her dad because he said she could have a bunny (I totally called that one in advance!) I said to D, ‘thanks for calling the fridge people today, I really appreciated it.’ (He totally called that one too.)
One of my favorite parts of this game is what the kids say about Daryl and I. One day I’m going to ban the phrases ‘she cooks dinner’ or ‘makes good food’ from my list! But overall it’s a lot of fun and occasionally eye opening. Yep, we enjoy a field trip to the corn fields every now and then, people…all right, all right, we’ve bought property there (add this to my list of ever growing second homes..I still haven’t sold my Egyptian waterfront home). Mercy! I’m following some huge rabbits tonight, sorry, back on topic!
Of course, there are those moments when, well, I don’t even know how to describe it, except to just tell you. We went in birth order tonight so Jill (4) was our last stuffee. And it was Jared’s (11) turn. Jared said something nice about her being funny and then he says “I don’t mean this to be mean or anything but Jill is like Smegal from Lord of the Rings.” Okay, we all just about lost it then but his explanation was even funnier. He said “you know, how she’s got like a nice side and she’s all helpful and sweet but then sometimes she’s like ’It’s mine! My precious! It’s like she’s two different people.”
So we are all hee-hawing out loud at this! And of course Jill, who craves the spotlight anyway, just loved it that Jared was talking about her, she didn’t care. Thankfully she doesn’t know who Smegal is or she’d probably have thrown her plate at his head.
So on this Tuesday, I am grateful for my family and for memories made around the dinner table and if I get my nerve up and am not embarrassed by my children's weirdness I will link this post to Gratitude Tuesdays at Heavenly Homemakers.
Posted by The P in PJs til Noon at 2:23 PM 0 comments
Labels: gratitude tuesday
Monday, April 20, 2009
Just Another Manic Monday
Yesterday I was heading into the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee when I heard this strange humming noise. I kinda looked around but in my pre-coffee fog I thought it might be my hearing. Honestly, first my eyes are ‘going’ and my hearing has never been the best….But back to the story, D comes in and says the fridge is making a weird noise. Great. Fabulous. Super Terrific! Did I say any of these things? Nope, not one of them. Well, I may have but if I did it was with a huge dose of saracasm.
So I spent yesterday afternoon lugging foodstuff from the 5-year-old *new* fridge to the 15-year-old basement fridge (thank goodness old Betsy is still chugging). The new fridge, which was bought so we could have more space, has now seen the repair man four times (not including repeat visits diagnois/repair). My repair man said basically ‘you’ve got a stupid lemon’. Well, those weren’t his words but that’s what he meant! Honestly he said I’ve never seen one refrigerator have so many problems.
Mr. Repair Man pulled out the fridge (wow, it’s really clean back there now—one good thing) and said ….”the compressor is gone, you’re looking at spending at least $600.” Boy he just likes to keep the good news coming, huh? Oh it gets better, “your warranty expired about a month ago.”
I’m about two seconds from auto shutdown at this point. He suggests we call the manufacturer and see if there’s anything they’re willing to do, but he wasn’t hopeful. I realize I am in no mental state to try and coerce someone into ‘understanding’ what we’ve been through. I’m thinking my crying and explaining I wouldn’t have bought the kids new Easter outfits if I’d known the fridge was going to breakdown would make any headway with anyone. So I make a phone call to hubby who is not really pleased that I (who am at home) don’t want to call. I try to make it sound good, like you’re the most persistent and persuasive one. But he’s not buying it, he knows I just don’t like dealing with this stuff.
At least the fridge got a complete and total clean up. If all goes as planned, it may be up and running by Wednesday or Thursday…until then I’ll be running up and down the stairs every time I need a snack. And if you're thinking that'll make me think twice before getting a snack...I'm way ahead of you, I'm just doubling up while I'm down there.
Posted by The P in PJs til Noon at 12:32 PM 0 comments
Labels: monday madness
Friday, April 17, 2009
Recipe Swap Friday
I meant to post this a week or so ago when this was actually on my meal plan. These are a family favorite but who doesn't love deep-fried, breaded chicken strips?
Chicken Fingers
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 egg, beaten
1 c. buttermilk
1 ½ tsp garlic powder
1 c. all purpose flour
1 c. seasoned bread crumbs
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
Vegetable oil for frying
Cut chicken into small pieces or strips; place in large Ziploc bag. Combine egg, milk, and garlic powder; pour over chicken. Seal and refrigerate 2-4 hours. In another large resealable bag, combine flour, bread crumbs, salt, and baking powder (I also add a little Italian seasoning if my bread crumbs were plain). Heat oil in skillet to 375. Drain chicken, place a few pieces at a time in the flour mixture and shake to coat. Fry in small batches for 4-5 minutes or until golden brown.
Enjoy the hot, steamy, delicious goodness! And if your nieces come for a visit one night when you've made these, they will ask you for them for the rest of your life. Trust me on this one.
For more delicious and practical home cooking recipes, check out The Grocery Cart Challenge's Recipe Swap Friday!
Posted by The P in PJs til Noon at 6:18 PM 1 comments
Labels: recipes
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Things I Love Thursday
Posted by The P in PJs til Noon at 9:11 AM 3 comments
Labels: chocolate, things I love thursday
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Swapping Buns
I’m a bit of a plain jane when it comes to my burger condiments. I don’t like mustard or mayo, and I’ll usually skip the onions too. I always remember to ask for no mayo, but last night forgot this restaurant puts mustard on their burgers. Lots of mustard. I mean a true heaping pile. So I scraped what I could off the bottom bun (applied more ketchup) and started chowing. I could still taste it but being the hamburgler that I am, a little distaste wasn’t going to deter me. It diminished my enjoyment but not my enthusiasm.
My darling hubby noticed my dilemma and asked me what I was doing. (Okay, I was probably embarrassing him with all my scraping and wiping w/ the napkins --making a serious mess.) When I told him I forgot to ask for no mustard, he promptly took his top bun from his burger and offered to switch with me. I didn’t ask. He offered. I even got an extra dose of cheese from his bun--bonus points!
So today I am grateful for my hubby. He knows me, understands me (as much as any human being can), and wants me to be happy. Even if making me happy is doing something so simple as swapping my gross mustard-soaked bun for his delicious sticky-cheese one.
And in case you’re wondering the trainer (aka hubby) forced a Bowflex AND two elliptical workouts on me after our greasy (but oh so yummy) dinner. Okay maybe forced is too strong of a word, he encouraged me, no I think he ordered me, is that any better? Either way I tried to work off my bacon-cheeseburger, two Pepsi’s, and a large quantify of fries. Did I mention they make killer homemade onion rings too?
This post is linked at Gratitude Tuesday and reposted here.
Posted by The P in PJs til Noon at 5:19 PM 0 comments
Labels: gratitude tuesday
Monday, April 6, 2009
SPRING BREAK!!!!!!
We're enjoying Spring Break this week..so there is NO menu plan! Even Messy Moms deserve a spring break.
We had dinner out at a local restaurant tonight-woo hoo! Hubby is gone for the next two nights and Friday is our Easter Family Fun at church! So I may have to cook on Thursday but it'll definitely be pizza or something quick and easy. We're looking forward to a great week.
Hope you have a blessed week and are able to truly enjoy the spirit and awesomeness of this Resurrection Week!
Posted by The P in PJs til Noon at 7:17 PM 0 comments
Friday, April 3, 2009
Taco Leftovers
We had leftover taco filling but no shells. My first thought was to do a taco calzone type thing. So I made a batch of pizza dough and started rolling it out, and then inspiration struck or maybe it was just laziness? Why would I go to the extra trouble of making individual bundles when I could just make a pizza?
I did and it was yummy. My dough recipe makes enough for two pizzas, so with the other half I made cinnamon twists from a recipe my sister-in-law suggested. I think making dessert sometimes helps leftovers not be so boring!
Here's my recipe (originally found at Money Saving Mom):
Pizza Dough
1 TBSP yeast
1 c. warm water
2 TBSP oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
2 1/2 c flour
Mix yeast and water, add other ingredients and knead for five minutes. Roll out half of the dough and form to pizza pan. Add taco-seasoned ground beef and shredded cheddar cheese. I cut off the excess dough and put it on top for a little extra crunchy. Yummy! The kids ate it up.
But their favorite were the cinnamon twists:
Cinnamon Twists
Cinnamon (to your taste..we like a lot!)
1/2 c. sugar
melted butter
Roll out remaining dough. The recipe said to cut the dough in strips, then brush each strip with butter, dip in cinnamon and sugar mixture, then place on greased cookie sheet, twisting from opposite ends.
Again being lazy, I rolled mine out, brushed with butter, sprinkled w/ cinnamon sugar, THEN I cut into strips and popped into a 375 oven for about 10 minutes. When they came out I once again brushed with butter and gave a second dose of cinnamony goodness. I think it cut down on the mess of brushing/dipping each strip on my counter. Maybe, maybe not.
It was a quick and easy dessert...nothing like my cinnamon roll recipe but WAY quicker! Here's a pic on the Winnie-the-Pooh plate that is approaching 13 this year...
This recipe links to the Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap Friday!
Posted by The P in PJs til Noon at 8:33 AM 0 comments
Labels: recipes
Thursday, April 2, 2009
The Bible and a Massage

Have you ever tried to read the entire bible in a year? I have. Tried that is. So far I have not met with success…ever. I don’t think I’ve even really come close. I think it’s a major accomplishment when I can say I’ve actually read a scripture for seven days in a row (because reciting our theme verse in children’s church on Sunday counts, right? Just say yes so we can move on.).

Posted by The P in PJs til Noon at 12:35 PM 0 comments
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Menu Plan Monday
Here’s the proposed menu for the Messy Manor this week:
Monday – Hubby’s out of town – Hoagie Night!
Tuesday – Gymnastics and baseball….guess we’re skipping prayer meeting again this week…another sandwich night!
Wednesday – Taco Pockets and first baseball game of season!
Thursday – Crispy Orange Chicken (if I’m feeling bold)
Friday – Pizza …Second ballgame of the season!
Saturday – Children’s Board Meeting--Guests for dinner!
Chicken Strips (my favorite recipe, I’ll post it this week), baked potato and salad bar
For more great meal ideas, go HERE.
Posted by The P in PJs til Noon at 9:39 PM 0 comments
Labels: menu plan monday
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Menu Plan Monday
Monday - Crockpot Chicken (you'll see this a lot more often, everybody loves it and I scored 8 chicks @ .66/lb--boo-yah!)
Posted by The P in PJs til Noon at 11:07 AM 0 comments






