(fill in the blank). It's what's for dinner.

The dishes are done. kinda. The laundry is done. halfway. Dahlia is asleep. for now. I am am finally blogging.

It's been a long time. And domestic issues are weighing on my mind. We try real hard to not live in a pigsty around here, but cleaning does take a back burner. The real problem I am having is what to cook for dinner. I know, I know. "Your husband is a chef!" The last thing that a chef wants to do is wrangle up an impromptu meal at 11 o'clock every night after cooking and cleaning for 12-13 hours every day.

So, I try to cook. TRY. It is so hard to cook at a hot stove with a 10 month old on your hip. After all day away from each other, Dahlia just doesn't want to be left in her playpen or in the highchair for long. I have 20 minutes, tops, to do it all.

Here is where you come in. Leave a comment with your favorite fast and easy dinner idea. Help a mama out:)

Love,
Brandi

Mornin' Sunshine

If you know me, you know I am not a morning person. Unless you were a lady chieftain and I was busting in the door, hollering, "MORNIN'!" just to rile you up. I used pull the curtains tight and slumber until well past noon.

I love my sleep and I thought that the early mornings would be my least favorite part of mommyhood. I am learning that many of the things I thought I knew about being a parent are wrong.

I just adore waking up to that sleepy, smiley, cooing face. We co-sleep, and I can't get enough of being snuggled up to Dahlia. She is such a little morning person. She pops right up and goes flopping all over the bed. Rolling around and falling over in a sleepy silly bundle. Yaya and I have decided she got that from Daddy since Jeremiah and I are notorious for late nights and wasted weekend sunshine.

Did you have a similar perspective change after having kids?

Love,
Brandi

I lost my Orange. Do you have it?

I see your true colors shining through. I see your true colors, and that's why I love you.

I am blue. Or so I thought. When you take the True Colors personality assessment, you can be either Blue (Emotional), Gold (Organized), Orange (Spontaneous), or Green (Rational). 

In the past I have taken it and have always, ALWAYS, been SUPER BLUE, with a little gold and orange thrown in as my second/third place colors. This year I got a shock. My primary color was tied. BLUE/GOLD???!!!! 

I have always been a little gold, and I have to admit, I love my lists. I never in a bagillionty years thought my blue-ness could ever be matched by gold. 

Yesterday at Sonic I asked Jeremiah if he had noticed a change. He asked me if gold people are bossy! I had to admit it. Then he started impersonating me bossing him around. Later, when he was about to order way to much food and caught me about to boss him about his selection. SHEESH. Gold it is! (He also mentioned that I have been very productive around the house lately, so goldi-ness has it's positive points.)

I can handle being gold. My friends think it has a lot to do with becoming a mommy. That makes sense to me. What really plagues my mind is, "WHERE is my ORANGE???" Is it gone forever?

Any ideas?

I am totally blocked!BLAH! It is like this unbearable heat has fried my brain.

Make me a match

Hello Reader! I would like to take this opportunity to play matchmaker. Meet Cecil.

He's manly and looks good in a pair of ripped jeans.

He is a wonderful friend. 

He looks good in yellow (and isn't too cool to dress up on Halloween).

And he melts my heart when he holds Dahlia 

He is her Uncle Cec. 

The pictures are pretty explanatory. Cecil has a great easy going personality and is one of our bestest friends. If you know me, you know I wouldn't say it lightly. He watches our dog, fixes my car, and helps with our home improvement projects. He also has sexy hands. I said it. Sexy hands. If you know a sweet, pretty girl who is in her 20's, let me know and I will set it up. 

Hugs,

Brandi

New Foods

I am trying to cook healthier meals to help my waistline and Jeremiah's heart. We found out he has high blood pressure and, well, I am just wobbly.

I will make:

Potato Leek Pizza
Fruit salad with some herbaceous dressing
Pasta with seared scallops and tomato butter sauce

Jeremiah will have to help me with these. (hint hint)

MMMM,
Brandi

Little Foodie

Boughten baby food is B-L-A-H. Have you ever tasted it? I am not saying I won't give it to Dahlia. It's so darned convenient. Bu-ut, we are taking advantage Dahlia's age and tendency to put things in her mouth. Right now her favorite is her own feet. Not edible.

Here are some pictures of the most recent experiment in taste. I love pickled okra ( used to steal it from the refrigerator in the basement of our church-horrible, I know. I still maintain Mr. Neal kept it there especially for me). Jeremiah loves it too. Maybe our baby will? Let's see.  

Curious

and curiouser

and sour

and juicy

I will try it again

still sour

and slippery

and no. thank. you.

Shortly after this she threw it in the floor. I take heart in the fact that she usually makes these faces when trying anything cold. Plus, it was super cute. 

Hugs, 

Brandi