I am not really sure where to even start writing. Its been so long. I have had a really horrible week. Its been so long. Its been miserable. I am just feeling fat, uncomfortable, bored, frustrated, unorganized, tired of being cooped up in the reiculous weather. Its just a rough week. I am more than ready to be done taking stupid classes etc.

On a good note, I got a raise yesterday. Not much, but 10% which will help. We are also getting carpet put in the bedrooms next week which will help with the freezing cold. I am almost finished with the 4th book in Twilight though I took some time off over the weekend.


We went to Minneapolis to a bball game and did some major shopping. It was so much fun. we went to hells kitchen and a place called Fogo De Chao. It was AMAZING. thats an understatment. It was VERY expensive, several weeks worth of groceries kind of expensive but it was an insane amazing experience....after a 2.5 hour wait, we can still look back and say we're super glad we went. Rudy has wanted to try it for years so he was glad we finally did. Yumo. The game wasnt as bad as I thought, but I missed Vaughn so much!! I cried several times a day. she had a blast at gma and papa's house but we couldnt drive fast enough to get home and see her. She is my world. My beautiful, crazy, amazing world.


I am looking so forward to spring. Vaughn keeps saying "when its WARM and COZY and TOASTY we can FINALLY go to the park and plant flowers." haha, i like her thinking!

Another one bites the dust

Hallelujah for weekends. This weekend, Rudy decided to go to a friends birthday party in Iowa City so I am enjoying the night alone. I love that sometimes. I love laying on the couch, headset on, listening to my favorite tunes as loud as I want (with headphones on) while vaughn sleeps soundly in bed, lights down, relaxing, lighting candles, doing a facial, laundry, cooking, just enjoying the quiet for my mind to rest and think. Every woman needs nights like this.

Valentines day annoys me. Girls today at work were talking about hoping they got engaged on Sunday and I just wanted to gag....its like.....how cliche. Just dumb.
In my opinion if you cant treat me special all year long, why would you do it on one national day? Dumb. Stupid.

We are not doing much this year. Next weekend we are headed up to Minneapolis and will call that our Vday present to each other. The game for him, Shopping for me. What more could you ask for?

I have been missing Iowa City alot lately. Just have an itch to get back there....I always have but it gets stronger by the day. I think I left my heart there. I just adore that city. Its amazing. I would go back in a heartbeat....but wouldnt want to take V far from her gma and gpa and cousins. Iowa City.....a breathe of fresh air. Love that place.

I am having so much fun with Vaughn lately- she's growing up so fast and has such a fun personality. She's so lovey....and sneaky....and defiant....and precious...and smart. She knows more songs that I do, word for word, she tells stories and knows how to make them up (like fairy tales) and she takes characters from movies and makes her own plot, she is now obsessed with taking baths and has so much fun in there. She has learned nursery rhymes. the newest that i love is "jack and jill went up to hell to catch a pail of winter, jack fell down and broke his crayon and hell came tumpling laughter. " She's just so very precious and I just cry when i look at her and see her in a light only a mother can see.....her perfection and her heart and her true joy. She brings a peace and love and joy and contentness to my life that i have never known. She is my hero.

what a week

I know I have not blogged in a very long time. I have been overwhelmed with the load of things i have to do and the little time i have to do them in. I have been so tired i have barely been of functioning quality lately. i have nearly been falling asleep at work, on the phone with people cannot even remember what i was saying. its bad. I just cant sleep well. I have been trying to finish up a really good book so when i can keep my eyes open after V goes to bed I have been reading. I know I should be keeping up on other stuff, but i will tell you after the 2 weeks I have had I don't care to do anything that is not relaxing when i get home. Vaughn has been more than trying at bedtime. sweet as pie when she's awake but at bedtime (which she keeps pushing back later and later) i am at my wits end. she just simply will not listen. If I lay with her, I fall asleep and then my night is over and i have accomplished nothing. i have been laying with her, and then waking up at midnight and trying to do a few things. Its just impossible. Tonight, I left it up to rudy....who battled with her until 9:30 and still did no get her down. She finally got in BIG trouble and fell asleep about 9:45. I don't understand how anyone could NOT want to go to bed. Its very frustrating. Having a routine doesn't seem to help her because then she knows whats coming and gets upset way before bedtime. I need tips moms! I need a gate that i can lock her in the room until she puts herself to sleep!

I admittedly have not worked out in 10 days. I feel so gross...but again, when i battle with Vaughn until close to ten at night, i have zero energy left to do a 2 hour workout. Something has to give this weekend. I am hoping to buy her a new bed this weekend, and maybe that will help. I really don't know. She needs one anyways so I am hoping to kill 2 birds with 1 stone. I am going to try to bribe her with a new blanket, but doubt that will do anything. I just don't even know.
Tomorrow I have coffee with Shannon (my longest friend) in the morning, a pampered chef party at night, have to take Alfie to get groomed, Sunday is church, and then a cooking class at William sonoma with Rebekka (a girl from work) and then the super bowl at night. It should be a fun weekend. Lets hope I can stay awake for it all!

I do have a few pics and will upload them this weekend hopefully.

Thought Id share a football recipe with everyone if your needing something amazing to take to a party. Its a favorite around here:

Buffalo Chicken Dip:
I use a small rectangular glass pan.

mix 2 packs cream cheese, 1 cup ranch dressing, 1 package of ranch dry dip mix and 2 cans of white chunk chicken meat. put on bottom of pan. Pour 2/3 bottle Franks Wing Sauce on top and bake at 375 for 25 minutes. Serve with celery sticks and frito scoops. Delish!