10 Things You'd Do If You Won the Big Powerball Jackpot

10 Things You'd Do If You Won the Big Powerball Jackpot

1. Pay off all of my debt.
2. Set up a trust fund for Princess Ivi.
3. Buy a fully-loaded 2013 Kia Sportage.
4. Pay off my sister’s mortgage.
5. Move out.
6. Figure out a better living situation for my mom.
7. Give my brother some money for nursing school.
8. Visit a financial advisor and put myself on an “allowance”.
9. Figure out what I really want to be doing with my life and do it.
10. Stress a whole lot less.  

10 Random Things On Your Mind

1. I have no idea what to do for Easter. 
2. I would do a lot for a piece of chocolate right now.  
3. I could really use a massage between my shoulder blades. 
4. I wish I was hanging with my sister. 
5. I wish I was watching TV with Princess Ivi. 
6. I wish I was snuggling with the boyfriend. 
7. I wish I could clone myself and be everywhere I want to be but still experience the memories and feelings of being in that moment.  
8. I have no idea what to make for dinner. 
9. I wish it was 5 so I could go home. 
10. My cell phone battery is dead.  

SATs, College Lists, and Scholarships....How I plan on keeping it all straight.

What’s up in the parenting world?  Well, Princess Ivi is starting a SAT prep class next Sunday and she will be taking her SATs on May 5th.  We also have been scouring the College Board’s book on scholarships and making lists of colleges she is interested in.  I am thinking of buying a huge poster size white board calendar so we can calendar in the deadlines.  I have only ever seen them for 3 months at a time but I think that would be good.  I will pick up a basic calendar/planner and calendar months ahead too and then we can just transfer it onto the big one. And with both of us on this, we should not miss any deadlines...hopefully.

She has an eye appointment on Saturday.  I expect they will tell her she will need to wear her glasses all the time but I am hoping that the glasses don’t cost a fortune.  Between new phones for both of us, new glasses for me, birthday stuff, stock ups at the grocery store and Sam’s , and a new (used) dryer, we have spent way too much money over the past few weeks.  

My Love-Hate Relationship with Daylight Savings Time

I have a love-hate relationship with Daylight Savings Time.  Love because I really enjoy walking the big dog with Princess Ivi when I get home from work and the fact that it will be lighter later is great for that.  Hate because I have many sleep issues and change is not good when you have sleep issues.  On Sunday I slept until 10, Monday I woke up at 8:12 (when I need to leave at 8:30) and this morning I woke up at 5 (when I didn’t want to wake up until 7:45).  Eventually my body will adjust.  

I thought what I would do in order to make this transition easier is make myself a little list of all the great things that Daylight Savings means:

1.  Spring is almost here.  We live in Florida and I anticipate we will have one more cold spell but other than that, we can look forward to nice weather coming soon.  

2.  Flowers.  The azalea, dogwood, and some other plants that I do not know are all blooming right now and it is beautiful. 

3.  Lowe’s garden section.  We picked up some nice pansies and a few other plants which are looking pretty good. 

4.  Fresh veggies from our garden.  

5.  Walks with my kid

6.  Being able to catch the sunset in a pic (normally I am driving down the road when I see it). 

Sunset on Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

Too busy to read....

As I mentioned in an earlier posting, I upgraded my Kindle to a Kindle Fire which I am totally loving.  (I gave my old Kindle to Princess Ivi.).

So now that I have this awesome little reader, what have I been reading you ask.  The answer....nothing.  I have been too busy on Pinterest.  But now that I have planned by dream wedding, my dream house, dream baby showers, and dream dinners, I will start reading again.

As for tv, we haven't watched anything interesting although I am really looking forward to the return of Revolution.

Movies....we watched The Perks of Being a Wallflower which was really good but it has a sad part that just sneaks up and grabs you.  Princess Ivi and I were both in tears.

I also saw Snitch with the boyfriend.  It was okay.  It wasn't quite as action-y as I expected.

Adventures in My Kitchen

I had never made lasagna before.  Not until Sunday when I made an Italian Sausage Goat Cheese Lasagna for mom, the boyfriend and Princess Ivi.  It turned out really well and I was told the recipe is a keeper.  Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of it.  Next time.  

I have been eating a lot of those little Quaker oatmeal cups and I want to start experimenting on making my own to see if I can get the taste right and lower the cost.

I have also been eating lactose-free Yoplait which is really good.  I just wish they had more flavors than vanilla, strawberry and peach.  I think I will write to them and suggest blueberry and blackberry.  

I saw these beautiful jars on a website and I really want them.  I think the blue is such a cool color although if you canned something in them, the blue might make it look a little "off".

I also made white chocolate macadamia nut cookies which turned out okay.  Princess Ivi and I tasted them but since we never eat white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, it was tough to say if they were good or not.  The boyfriend gave them the thumbs up.

I made red velvet mini cupcakes and a little round cake with the best frosting I have ever made.  It was a white chocolate cheese cake frosting.  I didn't eat the cupcakes or cake but I licked the beaters after I tested the frosting.

What is on the menu...

Chicken with Flash-Seared Spring Vegetables and Pancetta

Image courtesy of Cooking Club

Crockpot Corned Beef, Cabbage, Potatoes and Carrots (like the good Irish girl that I am)

Image:  Courtesy of Martha Stewart

Obviously, we will be eating more than this but I am not sure what.  I keep meaning to make a good menu and have Princess Ivi start cooking but I just can't seem to get around to it.  

10 Reasons I Have Not Been Blogging

In honor of my 2 week absence from the blogging world, I have created this little list of reasons why I have been absent. 

1.  A new boyfriend. 

2.  Too busy hanging out with said new boyfriend. 

3.  A new job.

4.  Too busy getting new glasses. 

5.  Too busy hanging out with Princess Ivi. 

6.  Too busy spending too much money with Princess Ivi

7.  Too busy playing with my new Kindle Fire

8.  Too busy playing with my new Samsung Galaxy 

9.  Too busy trying new recipes (like Italian Sausage Goat Cheese Lasagna)

10.  Pinterest.