Wordless Wednesday
I love these chicks!!Don't forget to check out more WW participants at Extraordinary Mothers, 5M4M and as always, the Hub.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
I love these chicks!!Don't forget to check out more WW participants at Extraordinary Mothers, 5M4M and as always, the Hub.
Monday, September 28, 2009
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Last night, amidst all the boxes and packing that needed to be done, the hub and I had a little date night. Quite possibly the last one we'll have in this apartment. Sad, but true, I'll miss our mini-dates in our apartment.
We snuggled on the couch with X-Mex Origins: Wolverine, and though you wouldn't think of it to be much of a date movie, the hub and I are huge X-Men fans! We've watched the first three movies probably 100 times each easily and when we heard that Wolverine was coming out, we were totally stoked. But with two kids and a full time job, we never made it out to see it in the theaters.
First off, I have to say that the hub gives me a hard time because I just want to watch "Huge Jacked-Man," which totally isn't (completely) the case. Though its nice to watch a gorgeous guy in a movie like this, its also easy to just sink into who these characters are.
I don't want to spoil this movie for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, but there are definitely ways that this action movie can hit the chick flick note at times. And its definitely welcome to see Logan/Wolverine/Jimmy, be sensitive and rugged at the same time.
With X-Men Origins: Wolverine there's something to appeal to everyone, the action, the sensitivity, the hotness!
Pick up your copy of X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Jonas Rockin' the House
Boug's at the age where she's into the boy bands all of a sudden, the little girls at school have Jonas Brothers backpacks and she just asked me today how do girls find a husband to marry...
Jonas Rockin' the House was obviously a huge hit at our house, and Boug has kept asking me to put it on over and over- yes, I'm growing a bit tired of it after watching it probably 20 times so far.
The movie is cute and the boys seem like they're growing up since breaking onto the scene, what a year or two ago? Five episodes, Groovy Movies, Wrong Song, Pizza Girl, Bands Best Friend, and Chasing The Dream, along with two bonus episodes, Beauty and the Beat, and Cold Shoulder have kept this on our "must watch" list. Our favorite episode is Cold Shoulder, Boug loves the song "Left My Heart."
The "You've Just Been Jo-Bro'd" bonus on the DVD is hilarious, and Boug cracks up each time it plays. Watching the guys play a prank on Chelsea Staub is great, it shows just how normal and down to earth they are as well.
You can get your copy of Jonas Rockin' the House
Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana
I think that Boug has a Disney show obsession simply for the reason that this cable company doesn't even offer it. There's only ONE reason that she's happy we're moving this weeks and that's because the new house will have the Disney channel. For all those times that we missed shows, Boug's been lucky because we've been able to grab them on DVD.
Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana was just released on DVD and Boug was thrilled! Getting THREE different shows together into a DVD was a huge perk to her, Wizards of Waverly Place, Hannah Montana and The Suite Life on Deck all together kept her interest in all three parts of the DVD.
With bonus features including, Justin's Award-Winning Essay: Watch The Essay Video That Got Justin And His Siblings On The S.S. TIPTON Teen Cruise, It's A Suite Life Having Fun With Hannah & The Wizards Hilarious Bloopers And Backstage Interviews With The Stars!
As always, I'm a big fan of the bloopers and its always fun to catch the behind the scenes footage! Even with the DVD, I don't care to admit that I can actually sit and watch with this Boug, but its not such a bad show for kids! You can pick up your copy of Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana
Menu Plan Monday
Could this week BE any more HECTIC?? We're getting ready to move, Wednesday and Thursday. I pick up our moving truck Tuesday night, of course the place closes at 7, the hub gets off work at 7, so we're going to have to figure this out somehow. I'll have the truck til like 6:30 on Wednesday, but I have to be at Boug's school by 7:00 Wednesday night for open house, can't miss that for the world. The hub was only able to get off Wednesday and Thursday from work, so we've gotta make this happen in a HURRY!! So therefore... this weeks menu plan is fairly easy peasey!!
Recipes are below!!
Monday: Grilled Cheese & Soup
Tuesday: Navajo Tacos
Wednesday: Who knows? Open house at school... maybe order a pizza??
Thursday: Breakfast for dinner
Friday: Crockpot Chicken Cordon Bleu
Saturday: Sweet & Sour Chicken with Rice
Sunday: Crockpot Beef & Brocolli
Once again, breakfasts are usually cold cereal, oatmeal and sometimes Boug just wants toast and a banana! Lunches usually are leftovers or sandwiches paired with yogurt or fruit generally. My meals are usually a bit heavier in meats and chickens as hub is a butcher and brings so much home for free or next to nothing!! Check out more Menu Plan Monday entries at orgjunkie!!
Navajo Tacos (from Recipes of a Cheapskate):
2 c. flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 c. milk
Oil/Shortening for frying
Taco toppings
Stir together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the milk and mix until the dough comes together. add flour if needed. Knead for about 5 minutes, until the dough is smooth, then let it rest for 5 minutes. Heat about 1/2 inch to 1 inch oil in a large skillet. Break off pieces of the dough and either roll out flat, or use your hands. Make a thinner spot in the middle. Fry until brown on each side. Let drain on paper towels. Top with taco toppings. Makes about 5-6.
Crockpot Chicken Cordon Bleu (from Joy in my Kitchen)
4 Chicken breasts
1/2 bottle honey dijon dressing
4 slices honey ham
4 slices swiss cheese
1 c. bread crumbs or stuffing
Spray the crockpot with cooking spray. Layer the chicken breasts in the bottom of the crockpot. Drizzle Honey Dijon dressing over the chicken, to taste (around 1/4 C). Layer ham and cheese over the top of the chicken. Top with stuffing, and drizzle about 1/4 C more dressing over the top. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours, or until chicken is 180 degrees and tender.
Sweet & Sour Chicken (from My Kitchen Cafe)
Chicken:
3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt and pepper
1 cup cornstarch
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup canola oil
Cut boneless chicken breasts into chunks. Season with salt and pepper. Dip chicken in cornstarch and then in egg. Fry in a little oil until brown but not cooked through. Place in a single layer in a baking dish. Mix sauce ingredients (below) together and pour over chicken.
Sauce:
¾ cup sugar
4 tablespoons ketchup
½ cup vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon garlic salt
Bake for one hour at 325 degrees. Turn chicken every 15 minutes. If you like extra sauce, make another batch of sauce and bring it to a boil on the stovetop. Stir constantly and let cook over medium heat until thickened and reduced - about 6-8 minutes.
Crockpot Beef & Broccoli (from Joy in my Kitchen)
1 lb. beef, chopped into cubes and trimmed of fat
1/2 C beef broth, low sodium
1/4 C soy sauce
1 T dried, minced onion
1 T brown sugar
2 large garlic cloves, minced
8 oz. mushrooms, canned or fresh (if desired)
1 (16oz) bag of frozen broccoli, thawed
2 T water
1 T cornstarch
Combine broth and soy sauce in a crockpot, add onion, brown sugar and garlic. Stir in beef cubes. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours (or on high for 4-6 hours). About an hour before serving, combine water and cornstarch and blend well. Stir cornstarch mixture into the crockpot. Add broccoli to the crockpot and cook on low for an additional 30-60 minutes until broccoli is crisp-tender, or done to your liking.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Harry Connick Jr:: Your Songs
I have to admit, I've been a Harry Connick Jr. fan for many many years. One of the first concerts I went to was a Harry show and I don't think I could ever forget it. Can I also admit that Harry was also one of my very first celebrity crushes? When I was probably no more than 12, my mom, my sister and her mom went and saw the ever-so-handsome Harry at West Point and he was nothing short of an amazing performer, and a dreamboat at that. At one point, a whole bunch of people went down toward the stage and then the military police told us all to go back to our seats, Harry was so classy, but he told the mp that his fans were allowed to come down to the stage, and that the mp are NOT to tell his fans what to do again for the rest of the show!!
Could he possibly be any more handsome??!!Hearing him sing some songs that have been originally done by some amazing artists is such a treat. Though the songs on the album, like "Your Song," "Just The Way You Are," and others are so associated with the original artists, Harry sings them so well and makes them his own, all while keeping it classy and giving respect to the original singers. My favorite on "Your Songs" has to be "And I Love Her," originally sung by The Beatles, but my Harry does it perfect!
Tracks on "Your Songs":::
All The Way (Frank Sinatra)
Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)
Can’t Help Falling In Love With You (Elvis Presley)
And I Love Her (The Beatles)
(They Long To Be) Close To You (The Carpenters)
Besame Mucho
The Way You Look Tonight
First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Roberta Flack)
Your Song (Elton John)
Some Enchanted Evening
And I Love You So (Don McLean)
Who Can I Turn To? (Tony Bennett)
Smile (Charlie Chaplin)
Mona Lisa (Nat King Cole)
Would you like to win a copy of "Your Songs" by Harry Connick Jr?? Leave a comment here with what song on the album you'd like to hear the most!!
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This giveaway will accept entries until 11:59 pm on Friday, October 16th . Winner will be drawn with random.org and emailed. Winner must reply within 48 hours to winning email or a new winner will be drawn. Please make sure that your email is accessible, whether in the comment or a blogger profile, cause if I cant contact you, how can you win??
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Ninja's Make Things Yummalicious!
Stay tuned, cause I can't wait to tell you about the Ninja Master Prep... but drool over these while I collect my thoughts!!
Tortilla Crusted Salmon
Curried Chicken SaladFriday, September 25, 2009
So ya wanna go fast??
If you like being speedy and living on the edge, why should your internet and other services be slow? And if those aren't slow, then why are you driving a beat up 1982 car that peaks at 44 miles per hour? Don't you want to be zipping down the road in a hot Camaro? Charter's Camaro Sweepstakes is accepting entries now to get you behind the wheel on a smokin' hot Camaro!
Obviously Charter rocks, but they are taking another step in the awesome sweepstakes direction and this time you're able to win a 2010 Camaro 2SS. I told you before how great they were when they were giving away a laptop a day, and they've given away HDTV's and XBoxes... their sweepstakes just flat out rock, and the Camaro is taking the cake for me!
Looking to sign up for Charter services? They've sweetened their already sweet deal by offering you a $100 gift card when you sign up for three services, $50 gift card when you sign up for two services and a $25 gift card when you sign up for one service.
Make sure you enter before November 26th at noon, cause that's when it ends!!
Camaro Sweepstakes are definitely hard to come by, since these hot cars are worth over $41,000!! Charter's High Speed Sweepstakes is making your chance of owning one a bit greater!!
Make sure you stay on top of all things Charter by becoming a fan of Charter on Facebook and get instant info from them by following Charter on Twitter!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Organizational Love for Stuck On You!
We've grown to love Stuck On You labels for so many different things, Boug's back to school stuff, my bag tags when I went to Chicago, Lil' Buddy's sippy cups and I could go on and on... but we'll be moving at the end of this month and its my chance to make a fresh organizational start. (and if you don't see as many posts toward the end of the month/beginning of next, that's why)
Stuck On You makes organization easy even for people like me who are organizationally challenged. I would love nothing more in life than to be neat and tidy and organized, but I can't do it on my own. I don't have that "vision." Stuck On You has the shortcuts that you need to get yourself into organizational success!!
One great way to keep organized is with Stuck On You's vinyl kitchen labels. They include labels for items like decaf, pasta, coconut, rosemary and so many others. Why I like this idea so much? The kitchen that we're moving into is ridiculously small, these labels give me a way to buy containers that work for my small space, label them with their contents and have nice, neat organized cabinets!! Not to mention that they're microwave and dishwasher safe, which is a definite perk!!
If you check out some of Stuck On You's latest offers, and browse through the Household Labels, you'll see the awesome selections that they have to keep you organized. I especially love the cord labels because I've been on my husband for YEARS to keep the cords from behind the tv from looking like a giant pile of tangled mess, and the cord labels make keeping things neat and tidy easy!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Where do I fit in?
Here we are, Sunday night... I dread it.
I am most certainly NOT a morning person and the school week starts again tomorrow. But the real reason I dread Sunday nights is the fact that I know first thing in the morning, I have to bring Boug to school, walk her in the doors and feel like I don't add up. Then I leave, come back at 3:25 and once again, feel like I don't fit in.
I don't know how to explain who I am sometimes, I'm laid back, I do care about how I dress, but I don't put any excessive thought into it most days. Sometimes my hair is just a teeny bit greasier than it should be. I've been stuck with craptastic skin since my senior year of high school and I refuse to wear any real makeup unless I'm at some sort of special occasion. I'm 50 pounds heavier than I'd like to be and my clothes don't fit right. I feel most days that I look like I'm still 19, which isn't a socially acceptable age to have a 5 year old and a 1 year old, though I'm really 27.
The Moms at Boug's school are pretty much separated into two groups. The "I just got done browsing the LLBeanJCrewLandsEnd catalog and found the perfect loafers to go with my khakis" moms and then there's the "Skantacular" moms who show up looking like they just rolled in the dirt. (Don't get me wrong, that's acceptable in the town, since its about 85% farms.) I know I don't fit in with the farmer moms and I know I don't fit in with the catalog moms, so where do I belong? I think I've seen maybe 1 other mom either picking up or dropping off their kid that is similar to me at all. I wear skateboarding sneakers, I love football... I listen to ridiculous music. I smoke cigarettes. I don't sip cosmos or wine after the kids go to bed.
Normally, I wouldn't really care all that much what people think of me, but right now I don't want anyone making any assumptions about me, because that could in turn affect the friendships that my children form in their lives. But I'm at a point where I'm not quite sure where I fit in, how to reach out to other moms... I don't want to change who I am just to be accepted, because I've never been that way and I wouldn't want to set that sort of example for my daughter or son.
I don't know, I'm just not looking forward to that awkward feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Menu Plan Monday
First I'll say, I'm having a hell of a time getting it together this week. It seems like I'm repeating myself every other week or so and I'm so tired of it. I love love love MPM, it keeps me organized, it keeps me from spending too much and I get new recipes from the other participants, but what's driving me absolutely batty is the people who don't link or share recipes in the list. I'm not saying share a grilled cheese sandwich recipe. I'm saying share a recipe if the meal's name sounds like something someone can't figure out on their own! I feel like I'm missing out on lots of great meals here!!
Couple of carryovers this week, we went out to dinner with my parents one night and then I forgot that I had plans with friends last night... I can't complain though, carryovers make this weeks menu plan that much easier!!
Recipes are below!!
Monday: Bacon Veggie Skillet
Tuesday: Turkey Club Pie
Wednesday: Honey BBQ Chicken Wings
Thursday: Hot Dogs & Macaroni Salad
Friday: Pasta with meat sauce
Saturday: Crockpot Honey Mustard Chicken
Sunday: Pesto Pasta
Once again, breakfasts are usually cold cereal, oatmeal and sometimes Boug just wants toast and a banana! Lunches usually are leftovers or sandwiches paired with yogurt or fruit generally. My meals are usually a bit heavier in meats and chickens as hub is a butcher and brings so much home for free or next to nothing!! Check out more Menu Plan Monday entries at orgjunkie!!
Bacon and Veggie Skillet: (from Kraft)
4 slices cooked chopped bacon
1 med. onion
1 can chicken broth
2 c. elbow macaroni
4 c. mixed veggies
4 oz. cream cheese
2 tbsp. parm cheese
Cook bacon, then cook the onion in the bacon grease. Add 1 c. water, chicken broth and macaroni to skillet. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 10 minutes. Add in veggies and cream cheese. Cook til melted and heated through. Top with bacon and parm cheese.
Turkey Club Pie:
1.5 c. cut up cooked turkey
8 slices crispy, crumbled, cooked bacon
1 c. cheddar cheese
1/2 c. bisquick
1 c. milk
2 eggs
Preheat oven to 400. Combine turkey, bacon and cheese in a pie plate. Combine bisquick, milk and eggs, pour on top of other ingredients already in pie plate. Bake 30-35 minutes, I like to top mine with sliced tomato and sliced red onion for the last 15 minutes of the bake time.
Honey BBQ Chicken Wings (From MomAdvice)
3 lbs chicken wings (purchased in the frozen section of Aldi)
1 cup honey
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup BBQ sauce
1/8 cup vegetable oil
1 clove garlic, minced
Season wings with salt & pepper. Place frozen wings on broiler pan and broil for 12-15 minutes on each side. Transfer wings to the slow cooker. Combine ingredients and pour over wings. Cook on high two hours or low for four hours.
Pasta with Meat Sauce:To be honest I will throw whatever cut of beef that I have in the freezer in the crockpot with a jar of sauce, I let it go about 6-7 hours and by the time I prepare dinner, the beef is all shredded and I just put it on top of some pasta!
Crockpot Honey Mustard Chicken: (from Eat At Home)
1/2 C. Honey
1/4 C. dijon mustard
2-3 lbs chicken (your choice)
salt & pepper to taste
Mix the honey, mustard, salt and pepper together in a small bowl. Put the chicken in the crockpot and pour the mixture over the top. Cook on high for 6-8 hours.
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I <3 My Kid Sister.
Maybe I'm a bit biased, by my kid sister sure can sing!! I love this girl!!
Launching Ninjas all over NYC!
No, not really launching ninja's all over NYC, but it caught your attention, didn't it?
I'm ready to put the Ninja to the test!! It says that it can, among other things:::
- mince, dice, chop, blend and puree
- make several drinks at a time
- has uniform crushing and cutting action
- one touch pulsing
- dishwasher and microwave safe
Of course I can't wait to try it out, see how easy it is to use, how convenient it will be. Just reading about it makes me drool for it, I love kitchen gadgets and I'm always adding one more to my wish list... For $59.85 and buy one get one free at the site, make sure you check it out- it could be the perfect gift for someone or yourself!
I can't wait to tell you all about it when I get back! You can also follow the launch of the Ninja in NYC on twitter, just search the hashtag #ninjalaunchnyc!
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Friday, September 18, 2009
Lose Your Ugly, Find Your Bliss
There are some things that are just so dang ugly, but with LG Bliss and their Lose Your Ugly, Find Your Bliss contest going on right now, you can enter for a chance to lose your ugly and grab a new LG Bliss!!LG Bliss Facebook Fan Page is where you'll need to head to enter into the Lose Your Ugly, Find Your Bliss contest!!
From now until November 6th, you can upload a video or a photo of whatever you have that's ugly and you'd like to lose. When you enter at their facebook page, you'll be in the running to win one of five grand prizes of a new LG Bliss, fifty runners up will each win $50 to buy their own bliss.
There's so much ugly in the world, but not limited to of course...
Ugly Fashion: I saw a picture of a girl that I went to high school with on her wedding day. She looked like a hooker... now THAT'S ugly fashion! Which ties right into Trashy Trends, there's some stuff out in stores now that I just don't understand!! How can people think that these things look good?!?!
Mutant Machines: You know you've held on to one at one point or another, the electronics that are so old that your grandma says "Oh look its my original ... (insert old thing here)" Yep, they belong in the trash heap!
Ugly Wonders: There are some forces of nature that are just ugly- there's a group of really strange mushroom things in my front yard, They look disgusting and ugly... at least I THINK that they're mushrooms...
Uglymobiles: Ever see a car so hideous that it made your modest mobile look like a brand new Range Rover? Yep... that's an "uglymobile!"
You can see entries from these categories and more at the LG Bliss Facebook Fan Page gallery!
Entrants over age 18 can submit one entry per facebook account of whatever it is that they think is ugly, but keep in mind, no pictures of people, no violence, no indecency, and no illegal activities!!
Couple-a winners!
Wicked Good Cookies winner: Shop With Me Mama (Wicked Good Twitter follow entry) CLAIMED!
Tony Lama boots winner: Liz (text link entry) CLAIMED!
$25 JamTots winner: Heather (JamTots facebook fan entry) CLAIMED!
Winners, you've been emailed and have 48 hours to reply! Thanks to everyone for participating!!
Magazine subscriptions made easy with MAGHOUND!
Have you heard about Maghound yet? I know that some other great bloggers have already been chatting it up, but now its MY turn. I get to tell you what I think about it!!
First off, Maghound is not any old magazine subscription. Its the best magazine subscription service that is around, and I haven't seen anything like it before. For a monthly fee that is lower than what you would pay to buy 3 magazines at a newsstand, you can subscribe to multiple magazines and have them sent directly to you. The convenience is HUGE. As time goes by, interests change, you may end up with a new hobby and want to subscribe to a different magazine to read up on it. You can change your Maghound magazine subscriptions so easily on the site. Its not a monthly magazine? You can fill in those blank months with another title without any problems... You can even get different magazines for each member of the household!
My BIGGEST perk right now with Maghound? No needing to fuss with each individual magazine to update your mailing info if you move. We're moving at the end of this month and I can change my address info for all my Maghound subscriptions right in my own account. I've said it before, I'll say it again, Convenience is KEY for me.
Would you like to win a ONE YEAR membership to Maghound?? 2 lucky entrants will each win a one year membership by browsing Maghound and leaving a comment here with what your Maghound magazine picks would be- don't worry, you can always change them if you're a winner!
(keep an eye for upcoming Maghound giveaways from Nadine Jolie, Two of a Kind, and Chip Chick!!)
Extra Entries??
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Follow CaseyDeuce on twitter and tweet this giveaway. Tweet this daily & leave me the link:
"Get the magazines YOU want, enter to WIN a 1 year @Maghound membership http://tinyurl.com/knbk9s @caseydeuce Please RT!"
Become a fan of A Couch With A View on Facebook.
Post my button on your blog.
Become a fan of Maghound on Facebook, leave a message on the wall saying that you came from A Couch With A View!
Follow Maghound on twitter!
Add my text link to your blogroll: http://acouchwithaview.blogspot.com/
Post about this giveaway on your blog!
If you don't have a blog, you can gain extra entries by emailing a friend about this giveaway! Just CC me in your email! caseyscouch@yahoo.com
This giveaway will accept entries until 11:59 pm on Monday, September 21st. Winner will be drawn with random.org and emailed. Winner must reply within 48 hours to winning email or a new winner will be drawn. Please make sure that your email is accessible, whether in the comment or a blogger profile, cause if I cant contact you, how can you win??
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Check me out....
over HERE!
I'm now contributing to 100CafeStreet.com, a fabulous dessert blog and my very first intro post just went up! Head over and check it out because not only is my post there, there's lots of other awesome posts to read!!
I want to thank 100CafeStreet.com for letting me contribute!
I want to thank 100CafeStreet.com for letting me contribute!
Holiday Gift Guide!
Can you believe that the holidays aren't that far off? It seemed like not that long ago we had just came out of the winter into springtime! I'm not trying to rush the holidays by any means, but Melissa from Outnumbered 3 to 1 and I are getting prepared!! We're teaming up to put together an awesome Holiday Gift Guide! We'll be sharing with you so many great reviews. and of course giveaways, to prep for the holidays!! The Gift Guide post is already growing, while the reviews and giveaways will start November 1st. Make sure to grab this banner to display on your site and help us spread the word. You'll get 2 extra entries into each and every giveaway during the event just for doing so!
If you are a company wanting to get some great exposure for this holiday season, feel free to contact me here or send an email to caseyscouch@yahoo.com. We'd love to hear your thoughts and be thrilled to have you on board!
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