My NEW Summer Do!!

I haven't had my hair short in a long time....even though I've come to the realization that I really shouldn't have long hair. My hair is too thin and it just looks frumpy on me :) I never do anything with it and it just hangs there. AND, as my good friend Christie said, "what's the point of having long hair if it's up in a pony 90% of the time"? Okay, that maybe wasn't her exact quote, but it's close! Christie got her hair chopped the beginning of June and it's so stinkin' adorable! It motivated me to do the deed too! Plus since having Barrett and with nursing, I'm SO tired of shedding everywhere. I know it's gross...but all you mom's know!

Here's my BEFORE

After the color...my good friend Heidi did! She's awesome & I LOVE IT!!!!

AFTER the cut from my sis-in-law, Kim! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!!!!

Favorite Things Swap...the goods!

HOW EXCITING!!! It's so fun to come home from work on a Monday and have an unexpected package on your front porch! I didn't recognize the sender and I couldn't figure out what it was until I opened it and found the sweet note!

It was a box of someones *favorite things* and they were sharing them with ME! My swap partner was Rebekah in Texas. She sent me more than a few of her favorite things and I love them ALL!

Here's what I got: *Bath & Body Works Freshwater Cucumber Foaming soap
*Junior Tangle Toy--Barrett will have fun with that!
*Texas Bluebonnet Wildflowers
*Lemon Lavender Yankee Candle
*Cinnamint Mentha Lip Shine
*Hawaiian Punch Singles-Fruit Juicy Red & Wild Purple Smash
*Texas Flag
*Gummi Bears (Justin and I polished these off Monday night)
*Minty Sweet Twist Trident
*Dove Chocolates!! NOT on my diet, but I love them! Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate & Caramel
*Home Sweet Texas Book
*Adorable baby burp rags...they're so soft!

Gosh, I think that's everything!! Thanks Rebekah!!

So, when I signed up for this swap via email the first of June I was so excited!! But...I never heard anything back on who I was partnered up with. I knew that hundreds of bloggers were participating, so I just figured my email got lost in the shuffle, and I would have to wait till next time to join in. THEN, this package shows up at my door and I feel awful! I got all this fun stuff, but I didn't have to send a package to anyone. Of course it wasn't right, so I emailed Kelly, the swap organizer. Come to find out, SPAM had gotten the message. It went right to my spam folder all those weeks ago and I never knew! So, she resent it and now I have Rebekah's info, so I can send her an awesome package too!! Sorry it'll be late Rebekah...darn spam! But, it's on it's way SOON! Stay tuned, I'll be sure to post some pics of the favorite things I'm sending her!

What's Cookin' Wednesday

So, remember when I started the Menu Plan Monday...and did it for two weeks, then quit?!?! Yeah, well Monday's aren't a good day for me to be trying to plan a menu, so that obviously didn't work too well! Writing my letters to Barrett on Monday is more important anyway! So, I've decided to try Wednesday instead! It's in the middle of the week and will give me more time to plan and get my shopping list together, since we usually go to Dillons on Sunday afternoons to do our shopping for the week. I'm all about planning and getting organized after I'm done working, so we'll see if this works better :)

By the way...I'm not a wonderful chef! I do enjoy cooking, but for now my menus will be pretty basic. Our evenings are way too hectic for anything fabulous yet! After July, I want to try to branch out, and I'm hoping I'll have more time in the evenings to make yummy dishes!!

Monday (7/7): Enchiladas, Corn, Tortilla Chips & Homemade Salsa (recipe below)
I can't take credit for making enchiladas this time...they were purchased from a local restaurant-Neives'-for a fundraiser for the Winfield Main Street program. Barrett has his first Aqua Babies swimming class tonight, so dinner has to be quick & easy!!
*FRESH SALSA*
This recipe is from All Recipes and I've only made it a few times. My sister-in-law makes an awesome salsa, so I'll have to share that recipe too!

3 tomatoes, chopped (or buy a can or two of diced tomatoes)
1/2 cup finely diced onion
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic salt
2 teaspoons lime juice

DIRECTIONS
In a medium bowl, stir together tomatoes, onion, cilantro, salts, and lime juice. Chill for one hour in the refrigerator before serving. Even though Justin doesn't like tomatoes, he'll eat this as long as it's blended up a bit-so we usually put it in the blender for a few seconds.

Tuesday (7/8): I have elections for my Young Professionals group at Neives', so we'll be eating there. hmm...Neives' two nights in a row! I always get a taco salad when I go there, so oh well!

Wednesday (7/9): Brick Oven Pizza

We love these on busy nights! Barrett has swimming again so it's quick & easy!

Thursday (7/10): Breakfast for Dinner! French Toast & Eggs
We love breakfast for dinner...I make the french toast and Justin makes the eggs :)

Friday (7/11): Taco Salad
I get a lot of my recipes from Kraft Foods...so here is the one I use for Taco Salad! We use sour cream instead of Ranch AND since Justin doesn't like tomatoes, I put them in a separate bowl for me. http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/recipes/quick-taco-salad-95057.aspx

This week is Mexican week I guess :)