Highhhhhh Fiveeee

“If you wait to do everything until you're sure it's right, you'll probably never do much of anything.” ~ Win Borden

Ok so I started on my list again...registered for the CF race, got some donations...looking for more donations & participants. I am just so excited about raising money for such a passionate cause. I am really looking forward to seeing Monica again :D ! Let me know if you're interested , I will pass along the info...GO TEAM!




Wooo hoooo....My Cricut came today...now if I could just figure out how to use/work it? Maybe I should just read the user manual?!? Oh hell who has time for that? Let's see how far I get without it....LOL.

I have lost 8 lbs thus far in this Wellness challenge thing but I am exhausted and quite possibly starving :)---yeah right...LOL I did however go to McDonalds today---wait---before you judge me...I did good....I ate a grilled chicken wrap (no ranch sauce) and its only 270 calories but that's with the sauce sooo I did good...I wanted the burger but opted out. I figured that I have worked really hard and am not going to let a quarter pounder ruin it :) I have to admit though it was like torture...but I did it! Woo Yay me!

Now there are quite a few things on my list ....33 to be exact since that is how young I am :D ! I am in the midst of planning my tupperware party and signing up for a 5K :) The list is coming along and I am really excited about it. I am soooo good at not finishing things and this would be quite the accomplishment for me :D so I am really looking forward to crossing off all the things on my list! That would make for an excellent year! Hopefully...Stay Tuned....

Hors d'oeuvre's anyone???

ap·pe·tiz·er

Function: noun

1 : a food or drink that stimulates the appetite and is usually served before a meal
2 : something that stimulates a desire for more

Doesn't that sound delightful....

On my my sister-in-law Mair's Facebook page, she asked for appetizer ideas...so I figured I'd share some of my favs. Everyone who knows me (esp. Maura & Sheila)...knows I can throw together a party in a matter of a half hr---LOL. Just give me 30---and we're good!


So here are some ideas...

Yummy & Easy Bruschetta

1. 1 french baguette (have the bakery slice it diagonally about 1/2 inch for you-that will save you time)
2. 1 large can of petite diced tomatoes
3. 1 packet of McCormick's Zesty Herb seasoning
4. 1 tablespoon of garlic
5. 1/2 tsp. of basil ( fresh is better but whatever you got)
6. 1 tablespoon of olive oil
7. 1/2 cup of of parmesan cheese
8. 1-8oz pkg of mozzerella
9. 1-60z pkg of provolone

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Arrange the baguette slices in a single layer on a baking sheet. Brush both sides of each slice with the olive oil.
   
3. Drain half of the can of tomatoes of it's juices. Only half!
   
4. Combine all ingredients---minus the cheeses and olive oil in a small bowl.
   
5. Once mixed well, spoon mixture on top of bread evenly.
   
6. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on each slice.
   
7. Cover each with slices of the mozzarella and provolone.
8. Sprinkle some oregano on slices.
   
9. Bake in the preheated oven for about 8-10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly.

You can also top with pepperoni if you like, I like to top with some sprinkles of oregano

This is one of my favorites. It's cheap, easy & good! Let me know if you try it!


Reuben Dip

1 cup of lite mayo
1/4 cup of lite sour cream
1 cup of thousand island dressing
1-16oz can of sauerkraut (drained, rinsed and dried)
1/2 lb. of corned beef sliced thin and shredded
1 lb of swiss cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In a small bowl combine sauerkraut, mayo, sour cream and dressing.
3. Spread mixture into 9x13 dish evenly
5. Spread shredded beef over mixture
6. Top with swiss cheese
7. Bake approx. 30-40 minutes til bubbly

* Serve with rye crackers

Deliciouso!!!



Fruit Salsa & Chips


1. 2 red apples cored and diced small
2. 1 granny smith apple, cored and diced small
3. 3 kiwis peeled and diced
4. 1 lb of strawberries, diced
5. 1/2 lb of raspberries diced
6. 1/2 lb of blackberries diced
7. 10 grapes (any color or even a mix) diced small
7. 2 tbsp of granulated sugar
8. 1 tbsp of light brown sugar
9. 1 jar of strawberry fruit preserves (you can also use Smucker's strawberry ice cream sauce topping instead)

Directions

1. Thoroughly mix all ingredients in bowl
2. Chill in fridge about 30 minutes.
3. Serve with Stacys Cinnamon Pita chips :)



Sausage with a Kick

Yaya ( THE BEST COOK EVER) gave me this recipe...I just added the onions and peppers...you can add or not depending on your preference

1. 2 Hillshire Farm Smoked beef sausage
2. 1 jar of cocktail sauce-any brand
3. 1 small jar of grape jelly
4. 1 bottle of BBQ sauce
5. 1/2 cup of water
6. 1/2 cup of ketchup
7. 1 small onion diced
8. 1/2 green pepper diced

Directions

1. Slice sausage into approx. 1/4 slices
2. Place in crockpot
3. Place the remaining ingredients in crockpot
4. Stir and cook on medium for 6-8 hrs.

* if sauce gets too thick while cooking you can just add a little water :)

This is sooo good... Great appetizer! However, this can also be a main dish if you want ...If you serve as main dish...try it over white rice, it's yummy!

Oh Sunday...Sunday...Just another Funday....

NOT! Man I was sooo excited to be home last night...it felt great to not be at the ER...let me tell ya! I woke up in a great mood.... But trust me that didn't last long...I should have known better...Then...of course reality sets in...and first things first...our Omen dog who I shoulda named Satan or Damien ate our Redbox DVD...then she threw up in her cage...Hmmmm...not sure but maybe it was from all the plastic she accrued in her stomach from the damn dvd!

* NOTE THIS IS ACTUAL PHOTO-LOL

Now I have to pay like 25 bucks for a stupid dvd...that I can't even watch...ughh...I could just lose my mind...oh wait it gets better...

Then after a very healthy breakfast that I made :) ( The highlight of my day thus far) YUM!
Shawn and I made the mistake of talking about money...Does every couple argue about money? We do even when we are right side up! I am trying my best to budget since Shawn asked me to try hard this year because we want...or I should say he wants to make some big purchases this year! Why didn't I put budgeting on my list you ask? I did not want to put budgeting on Da List...not sure why? Maybe because I can not put my whole heart into it like I can the other things...but I told him I would try? I have never really been good at others telling me what to do...I'd like to think that I'm an independent thinker/achiever :) Shawn on the other hand...calls it something else...Hey, I'm trying to be somewhat censored here ha ha!

It's no big secret that I love to spend money and that I love to go shopping! What woman doesn't...what's so wrong with that? I also like to do other things too and people NEVER bitch about that...I never spend huge amounts of money on things...well except that cricut---BUT...in my defense...I bought it with a coupon (took almost 40 dollars off) and took the installment plan on HSN even though I could purchase it outright...well in my world...I was budgeting!

Hey I haven't been to Wal-Mart...in ages...and well look I need to take baby steps here...I can't just quit cold turkey...not yet...baby steps are working for me...I can make little changes...it's like with an alcoholic, you can't just take the liquor away and think there is not going to be a response or detox reaction...you need to ween....I'M WEENING!!! Shawn is just a penny pincher and I can not stand it! I mean he bitches about everything from groceries to a dollar redbox movie...which ok...cost me more than a buck today because of my crazy dog...but in normal circumstances it'a only a buck! It's all going to eventually drive me nuts...what good am I going to be as a $ contributor if I'm locked away in a nuthouse...well maybe Shawn will forward my mail...LOL...Anyways...we never fight about anything else...Besides maybe I am in denial ...who knows...I told him to shove his $ where the sun don't shine...soooo maybe not a FUNDAY in The Potwin house today...Oh well....

Place Your Bets People

Here yee Here yee...Diana actually finished writing her list...did someone say there was snow in the forecast? Ha! Now...the hard part will be be completing the items on the list to the best of my ability :) I do however have great news...I did complete one thing on the list....I bought the Cricut machine. Man...am I excited...Can't you tell??? It really doesn't take much I tell ya! I bought it on HSN. I know pitfiul huh? The Home Shopping Network...it's actually a great shopping channel/website...I swear!

I know I am going to be one of those lil' old ladies standing by the phone telling the woman on the t.v. how much I love the 12 coffee pots I bought---one for my mother, one for my neighbor, one for the lady at the grocery store,etc...LOL...makes me giggle just thinking about it...I really seriously hope not... There are worse things ...though right? I guess so?

So after this nightshift, I am off the rest of the weekend. Woo hoo! Thank you Baby Jesus...8lbs, 6oz Baby Jesus! You think I was happy about the Cricut machine...Ha! I'm even happier that I am going to be able to spend a few days with my family at home, doing absolutely NOTHING! Well maybe not NOTHING but I won't be at work so it's all good!

There are quite a few things on there that are going to be a huge challenge for me but only time will tell I guess. I'm taking bets and I am sure the office pools are beginning...Just a bit of advice...I would vote for me :) I'm a winner!!! Just ask Shawn...I always win at least a dollar when I play the lottery....hey better than NOTHING!

Da List....

UPDATED!!!!!!

Well I started to write my 33 Things to Do List...I actually, sat and wrote it...then rewrote it then rewrote it like a quatrillion more times and it's still not finished. Makenna was getting mad at me because I was using up all of her paper...Oops!

Sounds easy enough right?...Errrrr....Wrong answer....I have a few more things left to write and try to decide on. It is actually pretty hard because you want to be able to accomplish these things in one year. You don't want it to be a bucket list per say because I am not dying...well at least I don't think I am ....but you want to put things down that you can actually do in one year ...maybe with a lil' work...but nothing too simple...Ok so here's what I have so far....


1. Clean and organize my closet
2. Travel to at least 3 different cities. ( Ones I have never been to)
3. Drop 3 dress sizes and keep it off
4. Buy new window treatments
5. Shred all junk mail as it enters
6. Create an online cookbook
7. Go back to school
8. Buy the Cricut machine
9. Sign-up, Walk and raise $ for CF (Cystic Fibrosis)
10. Do a 5 K and actually run
11. Debug my computer
12. Download family pics and create albums for them
13. Finish my ancestry family tree
14. Paint my bedroom & bathroom ( or maybe hire someone to do it?!?)
15. Redo my landscaping & plant more flowers
16. Attend a musical or theatre production
17. Schedule & Have a Tupperware party * Scheduled for Feb.27th)
18. Go to Works of Clay and create beautiful pottery of some sort
19. Read 5 4 new books (1 down...4 to go)
20. Attend midnight premiere of Eclipse (I know...I know ... pathetic)
21. Buy a new camera
22. Buy new lighting for the house
23. Organize the garage
24. Re-learn sign language and teach my children
25. Send out more birthday cards and less E-cards/emails
26. Sync and organize my google calendar with Shawns
27. Buy a Ravens Fathead for the Loft
28. Volunteer more at the kids school
29. Go to church more
30. Incorporate a custom calendar at my house that has everyones schedules on it (sports, school,etc.)
31. Volunteer my time at a charity, shelter or something like that...maybe bring my kids along for the ride...
32. Be THANKFUL and not complain as much ( this is going to be my hardest goal...)
33. Work less

I guess I will think some more, some ideas would be great! Comment or send me a message...nothing mean people! Help a girl out... meanwhile I will get to working on what I have and see how far I can go with this...

Ok so remember when I said....

there are some weirdos out there....apparently that doesn't just apply to the ER where I work. It apparently expands all over the world especially to the Blogger World. Remember when I talked about that "Next Blog" button...o.k. o.k....so I kept pushing that button again! I know it's like a bad accident---you just can't help but to look. Well I came across some really weird peoples pages...things I can not erase from my memory LOL...but I did come across this really cool blog that stated that I should make a list of how ever old I am and create a list of that many things. Soooooo.... since I am ....25...ahem plus 8 (getting choked up over here)! I will make a list of thirty three items. This will be a list compiled of things I want to accomplish, big and small. She says the list should NOT be a resolution of sorts but just some fun ideas that will help the year be a good one. What a great idea...damn why didn't I think of that?!? Grrrr....Probably because my crazy family has sucked my brain dry....I mean that in the nicest possible way of course...

So I think my life may become more interesting as I type...oooohhhhh kinda getting excited here...esp. since it is no big secret, I have adult ADD.... yes, I have diagnosed myself. Anyone who knows me, knows this statement to be true!




So I will think about this list and definitely type back tomorrow. I definitely have some ideas....Hmmmm very interesting....

Bon Appetit Jerk!

I woke up today at like 1:30...WTH? I never sleep that late...I came this morning at like 8:00 a.m. thanks to some accident near Kohl's this morning (it looked pretty bad) ...that is the worst...just when I am crossing the finish line...thinking I will be home at any minute...BOOM! Stand still traffic...I thought I was going to die...I was so tired. Beyond tired...Delirious actually!

I did finally make it home, thanks to my husband talking to me and keeping me awake. I konked out as soon as I hit the sheets. I woke up and to my surprise...it was like 65 degrees outside---FREAKING AWESOME!!!! I took the kids to the new park near the house, we walked, ran, rode bikes for an hour...it felt great! I am feeling good about this wellness program. Well until tomorrow when I can barely walk...haha!




As far as dinner---I was searching the internet for a healthy recipe for dinner. I came across a jerk chicken recipe. I of course am putting my own twist on it. Here is MY recipe.

Look there is a disclaimer * I HAVE NOT TRIED THIS RECIPE...JUST YET...IT IS ACTUALLY MARINADING ON MY COUNTER AS I TYPE-LOL. It does smell delicious :) though

Ok here goes:

Ingredients- 6 servings

• 1 small onion, sliced into thin rings
• 4 tablespoons brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoon of garlic (powder or whatever you like to use)
  
• 2 teaspoons thyme
• 2 teaspoons of vinegar
  
• 1 teaspoon ground red and black pepper blend (McCormick's)
  
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 1 cup white wine
• 1 packet of McCormicks Zesty Herb Seasoning mix
• a pinch of salt (to your liking)
  
• 6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch strips

Most jerk chicken recipes call for habenero peppers, I don't really like them so I don't use them....

Directions

1. Combine the all ingredients in bowl minus the chicken and onions. Whisk thoroughly.
2. Add chicken and onions to marinade mix. Mix together. Marinade in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
3. I have an indoor griddle/grill so I use this to cook but you can broil it also.
4. Drizzle some oil on grill (I used sesame oil to cut calories) but you can use whatever.
   
5. Remove chicken and onions from marinade onto the grill. Pour some marinade over chicken (about 1/4 cup). You don't want it to be too wet.
   
6. Discard marinade.
   
7. Grill chicken for 10 to 15 minutes, turning to ensure even cooking. Make sure chicken is really browned.
   
8. I added a cup of diced and onions and zucchinis to chicken while grilling.
9. Serve with brown or white rice.
   

Estimated that it is about 200 calories per serving---not including the rice

Ok so... I tried this...YUM! Holy crap---it was delicious! Smelled delicious the whole time... Capital "D" ! My family loved it! It was soooo good so if you try this, let me know. I'm not really good at measuring for recipes so please let me know if you think the recipe needs something.

Bon Appetit Bishes! Hugs! ~ Di

Life in the ER...

I am currently at work...Boooo!!! HOWEVER....I am assigned to triage tonight...and I love it! Sounds crazy but I love listening to the crazy people. It's quite amusing! It is never a dull moment! It is actually somewhat entertaining! I hardly ever get to come out here and I have been here two times this week, it's like Christmas! Deck the freaking halls with nutty people! Hahaha! Some people do not like it...I am not one of those people. Hmmm now that I think about it...I sound kinda nutty...but who cares! I sure don't!

I know it sounds very cruel...haha... but really it's sooo freaking funny here...Sometimes I can not hold a straight face. I never realized how many weirdos there are in the world...well peeps...I'm here to tell ya...THERE ARE A LOT! And they all manage theri way to this ER. I know it's not funny but it's funny...sad actually but hey I need something to keep me awake since I stopped drinking coffee...for now anyway...

I keep giggling to myself because this one guy was talking like he had sh** in his mouth (no that was not his chief complaint) and I couldn't understand a thing he was saying...oh boy! I could go on and on...

Anyways...I hope your night is going well...I will post again later! Happy MLK day folks---I got the day off tomorrow ---well since it's past midnight...I guess today:)---wooohooo!!! Word!

Rain, Rain Go Away and Take Indy with You...

Well....I really thought we had a chance last night vs. Indy (I refuse to call them The Colts---you know why) but they had our number. %$#@Q@#@#%$^ Hmmm ...I guess I was wrong---yes I was actually wrong---can you believe it? Yes, shocking but true! There are only three teams I truly despise, here they are in order:

1.

2.
3.

NEED I SAY MORE? DO I REALLY NEED TO EXPLAIN WHY I CAN'T STAND THESE TEAMS?!?

Anyways...I changed shifts last night with Susan ---so I could watch that God forsaken game ---so I am working tonight instead..grrrr...it's raining and dreary and I just want to stay in bed and feel sorry for myself :) Just kidding...well about the sorry part anyway.

I know ...I know...I get a little out of control and obnoxious when it comes to The Ravens, well because they are MY team! I was sooooo crushed last night, very much so! I grew up watching The Colts and going to Memorial Stadium and them Bam one day the news came on and Jane Miller was reporting outside of Memorial Stadium in the snow...And there you have it Baltimore-NO MORE FOOTBALL TEAM. There was no notice, no warning-just cowardliness on Baltimore Colts owner, Robert Irsay's part. He moved them in the middle of the night, in a snowstorm. Left us...just like that...and yes Folks...I am still bitter ---LOL.



To take away a city's liveliness and heart is just cruel! Baltimore lived for football. I mean we had one of the best Johnny U! May he rest in peace! That is why we have a Johnny U statue at our stadium and not in Indy!



I just remember my Dad in a depression over this. I mean I was like 8 when it happened, but still it affected my family. My Dad worked at Memorial Stadium part-time doing police security. So when they left, he lost a paycheck. It took money out of his kids mouths and there were four of us! I guess now I look back and think how devastating that must have been...I can't even think about it...it just makes me wanna cry! So beating them would have been freaking AWESOME! Capital "A" but I guess it just wasn't in the cards for us. Well next year is a whole new season. I still love my Thug team and everything about them. The Ravens really get NO RESPECT from anyone....well except from their fans and you know what...that's more than Robert Irsay had. He died knowing an entire city hated him...an entire city! Wow! That's pretty hard to do...well I guess all you have to do is move your football team and you too can be hated by your city --haha! Well that's my soapbox...Screw Indy...This shirt says it all...I need to get one...real bad!




Well...back to trying to catch some Zzzzz's Folks! Peace Out!

Ok...Ok...I'm cracking myself up here...

Ok so I went on my blog to try and figure this damn thing out...myspace and facebook were a lil' less complicated! --- Everything to me is a lil' complicated I guess?!? So here I am playing around on my page and Boom...I discover a "Next Blog" button...Oh my...it shows people's blogs from anywhere and everywhere...it's just cracking me up because every blog I hit...it's like ....Our Lives are so perfect, perfect kids, perfect family, perfect hair, perfect pics...HA! Yeah right people...that is what the movies and magazines are for.

I kinda feel sad for these folks...Perfect is not perfect at all :( My kids are pretty great---I could totally lose my mind ...like...EVERYDAY ...but...their mine and I love them. My husband is a overworked grouch sometimes...Oh boy ...he could sooo use some work but he is truly a wonderful guy---with a big heart and has a somewhat funny personality!!! But hey he takes the trash out and takes me out to a nice dinner once in a while "which I might add...doesn't consist of a Drive Thru or a Supersize" Yay Me! Am I lucky or what! In all seriousness...NOONE is perfect! What fun is a cookie cutter life?

Anyways...moral of the story, just be yourself...I thought that's what Blogs were about to get inside someone's "True" life. True Stories, not fiction people. There is a difference! Well off to lunch with one of my favorite people Ya-Ya! XOXO! Till later...

Early Riser

Ok so I slept like total crap last night...I thought exercise and diet was suppose to be better for you?!? Things that make you go hmmm.... I am working tonight so it is imperative I get a nap today...but as most of you know ...pretty doubtful! My ankle hurts pretty bad too...I guess those trails kicked my ass...or I guess technically my ankle. I have to work tonight, hopefully Cindy (my charge nurse) puts me in triage because I do not think I can run around like a maniac like I usually do. Well...that's it for now-stay tuned later...I'm sure after I get the kids ready for school, there will be stories to tell. LOL.....Especially since Colby tells me everyday that "he hates school...that he will be a NFL punter and doesn't need school?" That he only needs to go to college so the scouts can look at him...He said he is thinking about going to Nebraska....WT???

??? MY FUTURE CORNHUSKER ???

Oh brother... I am so glad I am instilling great values in my children...Stay Tuned...

Blog Virgin

Ok so I guess I am joining the rest of America and going to start blogging...Wow, this has come a long way since my commodore 64- haha! I think my life is pretty boring but my friend Dawn says that I am really good at cooking and juggling my family that I should share my tips/recipes,etc. So I was thinking...instead of just that boring crap, I figured I'd share my whole life. I am not sure how to really do this...I will start out by introducing myself...as I am typing this I am getting freaking distracted! I hear my youngest son Colby chasing our puppy Brenna who is completely insane ( in a minute he will come over and say.." Mommy, Brenna bit me"
Well No freaking duh! If you chase the dog, it's instinct is to bite at you ( she never hurts him, she just gets annoyed )---you damn nutball!

Brenna is a mixed mutt that we got in August from Palisades Animal Rescue in Cary. Great people btw! Highly recommend them! When our wonderful Black Lab mix Battie died of lymphoma, we decided to get another puppy---boy that was dumb!

I knew it...Yup---here is my son...crying...Mom....Oh brother! I knew it! Hold on...


Ok...back to me...I married my husband, Shawn when I was 18...seriously...18...what was I thinking right? We have three kids. Justin-13, Makenna-11 & Colby-8. We are Christians, even though I am not as close to God as I want to be. I pray daily and pray with my kids and know in my heart that Jesus is there and always will be. I actually get really disturbed when people tell me they don't have God in their lives.

Darn it!!! Hold on...Makenna is screaming at Colby....

Ok I'm back...again...gheesh...I might be able to start a blog that makes sense?!?

So here goes...today was Day one of my Wellness Challenge, it's no big secret that I have gained some weight since moving to NC. Alot more than I care to admit. I use to look pretty damn good but alot of it is because my whole world use to revolve around exercise. I was a total gym rat! now...ughh...I'm struggling...I walked/ran this morning at this new park near my home and really enjoyed myself. I ate really good all day long and to my surprise...it was really not too hard ...TODAY...anyway...once Shawn gets home I am going to do Iron Lady/BodyPump ( a class I use to teach) . I know what to do....I was a certified instructor...Boy wouldn't I love to be in great shape again like that! Hot dog!


It's just getting motivated! Cindy & I have initiated a team of friends from work so hopefully we will keep each other accountable. I guess only time will tell...