…and, I’m back

December has been the month of non-blogging for me. I have just been focusing on other things and it felt nice to take a little break the past few weeks while other areas of my life went haywire. Nothing huge in particular has happened, but it seems like the days have flown by and I am now left with lots of unwrapped gifts and around 5 pounds to lose before my January vacation!

We had an amazing Christmas – it was simple and fun to hang out with family. Jackson is one loved little boy, and I am certain that his first Christmas was more than he could handle! He has had enough of all the people and the noises and the lights, and we are looking forward to getting him back on a schedule once all of our visiting family is gone.

I am getting pumped to celebrate New Year’s, though we don’t yet have set plans. I’m sure that we will have a lovely time and I can’t wait to see what 2012 has in store for our family!

I will be in and out this week too – lots of clean-up and back to the gym and continuing to check-in with my ideas for New Year’s resolutions.

This break has given me a chance to think about what I want this next year – whether to continue working or to be at home with my baby full-time. It’s a tough call either way, but I am closer to making a decision and hope that my heart leads me in the right direction!

Here are some photos from our holiday celebrations:

Happy Holidays!

Tabitha

Absence

I’ve just realized that I haven’t blogged in forever! I have been so caught up with the girls that I coach as well as lots of random errands and events and such that I haven’t really thought about blogging. Do you ever have weeks like that? Weeks that just seem to get away from you and when they are over, it’s like they almost never happened because it’s such a blur!

I keep telling myself just to get through this week and life will calm down. Five weeks into saying this, I’m realizing it’s not true! Christmas is right around the corner and I have barely done any shopping. I better get on this!! I also have family coming into town, and even though I love it, it’s stressful to have to entertain them sometimes. I know that anyone reading this can relate. It’s so much go-go-go when my family is around and by the time they leave I feel like I need a vacation from my vacation!

This week I am focusing on getting my house ready for my sister’s arrival, as well as a holiday party that I am hosting next weekend. I am thinking of doing a blue/silver/white theme for decorations, but I need some ideas. I’ve turned to (what else?!?!) Pinterest for some inspiration and this is what I found:

 

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So I’ve got a good start. Any other ideas??

 

Have an awesome Sunday :)

Buffalo Chicken Mac-N-Cheese

 

I love comfort food and I really seem to let myself indulge in a LOT of it this time of year. I have been hankering for some macaroni and cheese and decided to combine buffalo chicken with it.

Here’s the basic recipe:

Ingredients

• 1/2 stick unsalted butter
• 1 lb medium shells (I used whole wheat)
• 1 Vidalia onion
• 2 cups chicken breast, cut into small chunks
• 3/4 cup hot sauce (I love Franks Red Hot Sauce)
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs
• 2 1/2 cups milk
• 1 cup sharp yellow cheddar
• 1 cup sharp white cheddar
• 1 cup mozzarella
• 2/3 cup sour cream
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped green onion
• 4 strips cooked bacon, diced

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Cook the shells to al dente – about 6-7 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Place 1 cup flour in a shallow bowl and beat the egg in another bowl. Coat the chicken in the flour, then egg, then flour again. Cook in pan with oil, about 3 minutes each side.

Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the 2 tablespoons of flour with a wooden spoon until smooth. Whisk in the milk, then add 1/4 cup hot sauce and stir until thick, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the cheeses, then whisk in the sour cream until smooth.

Mix the sauce with the cooked pasta and bacon. Place the mixture into a 9x13 baking dish.

Toss the cooked chicken with the remaining 1/2 cup of hot sauce and then put the chicken on top of the pasta.

Put the remaining tablespoon of butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave until melted. Stir in the panko,  and blue cheese. Sprinkle over the macaroni and bake until golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle chopped green onion and a few spurts of hot sauce and devour!

Enjoy!! I love this recipe and made two batches the last time I prepared it. Both were gone in one week!

 

Linking up with The Sasse Life:

Randoms

I’m feeling the randoms today – my mind is a bit fried out due to work and Christmas planning, and having a 9-month-old shadow, so this is all I could come up with! I can imagine that everyone out there can relate with not being able to stay on one thought or project for long. That’s my day today!

So here are some randoms/random thoughts I‘ve been having the past few days:

I can’t get enough bacon. I don’t know why I am craving it. I think it’s because I am trying to get in shape for my trip to Palm Springs in January. I had turkey burgers (healthy enough) and then slathered on three pieces of bacon. Umm… kind of crossed out the healthy. Today I will be having a BLT for lunch. I am craving bacon so bad that I had a dream about serving my BLT to Guy Fieri from Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. And he loved it, of course.

My child refuses to play on his own the past few days for more than 5 minutes. He doesn’t want me to leave his sight or to be involved in anything but paying all of my attention straight to him. Can we say needy? I am relishing in this phase as much as my patience will allow me because I know that soon he will be much more interested in bugs and cars and other friends and someday other girls. So even though I am loving all the extra cuddle time, it makes for getting anything accomplished pretty much an impossible feat.

I keep thinking about starting an Etsy shop full of my creations – headbands, bags/totes, pillow covers, necklaces, etc. But then I freak myself out with thoughts of failure and that no one would like my stuff. I know that failure is not trying at all, so I know I have to do it at some point, but it’s SO scary!!

I can’t stop thinking about cutting my hair short. And then I have to talk myself back into reality – which is that I HATE my hair short. Absolutely cannot stand the grow-out process. What do you think?

I just started re-reading Breaking Dawn. I really love that book, but was so disappointed with the movie (Part 1) that I feel like I need to remind myself that I still like the book. This will be the fourth time I’ve read it. I know, I’m lame.

We just booked our hotel for Las Vegas in March! I am so excited to go and this time we are being joined by a bunch of our friends so it will be awesome. I am hoping that I overcome my unluckiness by then. I am incredibly unlucky. I never win anything. I swear that I enter so many giveaways on blogs and I have never won a single one.

It’s snowing outside, which means that I will not be leaving my house until absolutely necessary. I like the snow from a distance. Which makes me wonder why I have committed myself to learning how to snowboard this winter.

What are your randoms?

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9 Months Old

Jackson turned 9 months old on Thanksgiving. I can’t believe that he has been out in this world just as long as he was growing in my belly!

We visited his pediatrician yesterday for his 9 month well check-up and his second flu shot. It has been so interesting to see the growth chart every time he goes in. This time, he weighed in at 18lbs 7oz and was measured at 28 inches long. He’s definitely growing, but I feel like he is so small compared to lots of other babies his age. Of course his doctor says that he is perfectly healthy and I know not to compare him to other babies, but I think it’s natural to do so. I do feel lucky that he is wearing 9-12 month size clothing and that he has been able to wear each size for a while – saves us a bit of money and lets the little man wear clothes more than one time.

Milestones:

• JB is a pro at climbing up stairs – but he can’t climb down yet. He is cruising up them and I am so glad he doesn’t have access all the time because that would be a disaster!
• He is eating turkey, chicken and pastas. I am going to be brave and give him little pieces of veggies and pasta this week. EEK!
• He is starting to only say mama around me – usually when he wants me to pick him up. It’s pretty cute though and I am excited that he is associating the word with me.
• He has serious separation anxiety. Last Sunday he only wanted me – even though Trevor was there to help take care of him. I don’t want to encourage this behavior (and I don’t want to alienate Trevor) so I am determined not to give him what he wants (in this case, me) every time he is crying. It’s going to be tough, but we have to get him past this phase.
• He is getting braver about moving from one piece of furniture to another and even letting go for a few seconds. I think he will be standing on his own by Christmas.

Here are some photos I snapped of him with our Christmas tree – yes, we decorated the day after Thanksgiving. I’m kind of a Christmas freak. I would live in a Christmas world much longer than my husband allows me to!

I am ______–Tuesday Ten

 
I am _____:
I am – a mommy. a wife. a procrastinator. an icing monger. a compulsive shopper. a second-guesser. sarcastic.
I wonder – what the future has in store for me and my family.
I see – My baby growing up right before my eyes.
I want – to be more organized and on top of tasks, to be more patient, to reconnect with friends, to see family more, to have lots of adventures with my guys, and to relish in every moment of these last three months before  turns 1.
I pretend – that little things don’t get to me, but they do. Like mean words, recipes that don’t work out, running late, and bitchy drivers.
I worry – that I will never catch up. No matter how many lists I make and attempts to fold all the laundry.
I cry – over anything sentimental that has to do with children or pets. I’m a total sucker. I cried during Beauty and the Beast last week. WTF??
I hope – that I am a good momma and wife. I try, but there are still days that I am overly tired, that I get frustrated and that I feel like I need a break.
I dream – of visiting faraway places, of having a second baby (girl, anyone?), of growing old with Trevor, of one day living in Hawaii or Florida, of building a custom closet, of meeting Bobby Flay and Paula Deen and Rachael Ray, and of living the life I have always dreamed of.
I feel – hopeful. excited for this holiday season. sometimes lonely. usually content. frazzled.
I love – listening to my baby sing to himself – it’s the most precious sound ever. holding hands with my husband. watching romantic comedies. frosting. blogging. finding deals. new jeans. twilight. make-up. cuddle sundays.
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Thanks for stopping by!! 

Thanksgiving Re-Cap

Our Thanksgiving was wonderful. It was so fun to be able to include Jackson in our celebration this year.

Here is our day in photos: