tread lightly please

Okay...I get that this post can ruffle some feathers so if you are not Duggar-Friendly... don't read this post.

My brain has been Duggar crazy lately...I mean so much so that I am writing a post about it!!!  Here's my disclaimer- I don't share all the same ideas as them but I simply find their show unbelievably interesting, love their cheerful spirits, and can spend hours looking at their website.  This post is completely light hearted and I'm not really looking for a serious discussion about them......   (I am smiling while I type this!!!)

What makes me a Dugger-Lover-     Fine....I'll give you my Top 3 items   :)

1.  They have servant hearts.

2.  I think these Household Guidelines are what most people strive for in their homes.  Love the way these are written.  Here are a few of my favorite guidelines:

-Always do what is right, even when others may not, or when no one is looking.-Thank God for how He made you, for what He has given you and everything He allows you to go through.     (Romans 8:28)
-Be attentive and look for ways to serve others with sincere motives and no thought of self-gain.

When I first read the list I thought...hello?!?! Why can't I just work on these everyday.....I seriously need to implement these on myself ASAP!!!

3.  Any website that has a spot for recipes is basically on my favorites list.  (I don't know why I even care about this but I want to know about their grocery list...how many loaves of bread do they buy?)  Their recipes are pretty basic.....  I mean...we've all heard about their Tater Tot casserole.....am I right?!?!  But, I like simple dinners on long crazy days.   Here's a quick football tasty I found:

Jeanne's Sloppy Joe's

1 lb. ground beef/turkey
1/2 c. ketchup
1/2 c. BBQ sauce
1/2 envelope dry onion soup mix
2 tsp. liquid smoke
Brown & season meat, drain. Add all other ingredients, heat
Through. Serve on buns; enjoy!

Are you a Duggar-Lover yet?!?!  Will you be angry if I tell you that I DVR their show at 6:00 in the morning?!?!?   Annnnd,  I am pretty excited to see the newest grand-duggar.

To be honest, I get little "obsessions" about t.v shows all the time. (ummm...sister wives, tori and dean, big love, teen mom)  So I end up watching their shows religiously, buying their DVD seasons, spend unspeakable hours watching each season, ordering books off Amazon to fill up any extra time I might have left, and then I feel like I'm ready to move on to the next obsession.   Please tell me someone else does this too  :)
 

So,  I leave you tonight as I patiently wait for both of my Duggar books to be delivered.....       Do any shows make you "bonkers" like this?!?!  

Set all alarm clocks

Is everyone ready for a sleepless night?!  The countdown to the First Day of School is on!!!!  Even teachers get the first day jitters....or at least I do.  I am anxious/excited about: getting enough sleep tonight, sleeping though my alarm, having a student cry, setting classroom procedures, having a break to "take care of business", making my little ones feel comfortable, setting high expectations, making sure I shovel lunch into my mouth at some point, my feet aching, and making sure I still come home and give my marriage 100%.  
Thank goodness I get to spend my days with these amazing ladies!!!

The weekend was spent preparing, girl talking, eating, celebrating, worshiping, and getting some quality time with The Mr.  We were invited to a surprise birthday dinner for one of our best buddies stepmother.  Let me tell you...this place was fancy!!!  The food was 5 star and so was the company.  It's extremely convenient that my best friends are married to my hubs best friends. 

This is just what I needed before the big week began.  Hopefully all you teachers are rested up and ready to take on the challenge.  I can't wait to hear about your First Week Back to School.  :)

My happy list and not so happy list

My heart is beating a little harder for these things:
-sharpened pencils
-fresh crayons
-getting a bazillion hugs
-using new expo markers
-making lists
-meeting my new sweeties
-spending time with my teacher friends.....they are so much fun!!!
-watching Ah-ha moments
-my very basic but delicious lunch.  I eat the same thing almost every day during the school year.
-getting a new class means it's almost time to decorate for fall (see the next item)
-everything fall.  It's so close....fall:  casseroles, clothes, smells, pies, weather, colors, I can go on and on.
-new school clothes
-using a new school calendar
-football
-fall t.v

Maybe I'm not so excited about:
-breaking in new shoes (I have boxes of band aids just waiting to be used)
-waking up early
-going to bed at a decent time
-getting icky germs.  I seriously get strep, pneumonia, colds way too often.  Airborne is my friend.
-not being able to turn my brain off at night....visions of homework and assessments dance in my head...
-being a total drag.  Maybe not a total drag...but I am energy drained by the weekend and usually just want to stay at home for a few weeks at the beginning of school.
-not seeing The Mr. or kitty babies during the day

Enjoy the Back to School feeling!!!!! 

I'll only eat one......

I seem to say that a lot.  I went to the grocery store on Monday with good intentions to only buy the food on my trusty list.  Please...who was I kidding?!?!  I saw these delicious little pieces of cheesecake heaven and I thought they were the perfect size for an after dinner dessert.  Its Tuesday.  I haven't stopped shoveling them into my mouth.  No one should tempt their self control with these......

This little furbaby doesn't care how many calories his momma stacks up each day!

Since we're on the topic of food....  We have gobbled up dinner this week!!!  Basically I made Buffalo Ranch Chicken dip and put it inside croissants.  (I take the worst foodie pictures....I mean these are bad y'all!!!  I promise these meals were so yummy!)

 The Mr. loved this meal!!!  It was pretty easy to make and only needed a few items.  I added Worcestershire sauce, extra tomato sauce, and some bread crumbs to the meat when it was cooking. 

Now that your arteries are nice and clogged.....  sit back and enjoy some randoms. :)  Last week we went to Cirque and I told you our picture didn't turn out....well....  after some manipulating... I semi-saved the picture!!!

For all you furbaby mama's out there.... do your pets follow a schedule during the day?  Since I am at home during the summer...it cracked me up to find out my little kitties schedule.  They wake up at 7:00am to play and eat.....and let me tell you...at 10:00am they post up in their favorite napping spots until 4:00pm.  Seriously..they do!!!  This is Ollie's favorite spot.  Under our dinning room table in the chair.  He bakes in the sun.

He is a talkative kitty.....if you say "Hi Ollie!" or "What?" he will yap it up!

And let me tell you......that is the sweet pea life.  My hubby, the kitties, and food.   The perfect day!! What makes up your perfect day?!?!

Meals and Ruffles

Monday- Buffalo Ranch Chicken Bundles
Tuesday- Sour Cream Noodle Bake (Pinterest)
Wednesday- Broccoli and Rice Casserole with Roasted Chicken
Thursday- Dinner with The Mr.'s pop
Friday- Split Spaghetti

I'm sure you're tired of hearing this but....my hubs is so thoughtful!!!  He is seriously the greatest man I've ever met.  To put a little pep in my step...   he took me "back to school" shopping!!!!  Let me say....I am giddy over ruffles.  Now, this fashion could be sooooo last year.... but I am always a little too scared to try new trends anyway.  I'm the last one to try cutsie clothing.  Here's what my new school wardrobe looks like:

So basically, I'll have feathers in my hair next summer.  :)

Also, if you are on Twitter...send me your info!!!!  I want to follow some bloggy friends!!!

@jennip68