Giggling Girls Crock Pot Italian Beef!!! So Easy!!

First of all, thank you for all the feedback on the Cleaning Reveal!! It is fun to hear back from everyone! I have to say that my weekend was filled with a lot of cleaning, but also with a lot of messing so I don't feel like I made enough headway to start yet! BUT I have higher hopes for this weekend! Anyway, I promised a recipe over the weekend, and I suck at doing blog posts on the weekends so from now one I am just not going to make that promise! LOL! But I am here today with a recipe that you will definitely want to try!!! It is a HUGE hit in my family especially among the men, and truthfully I haven't had one person not like it when we have made it! and it is SO easy!! and I am pretty excited because Kelly over at Kelly's Corner is doing a link up of crock pot receipes!!! So if you are stopping by from Kelly's blog we hope you will look around and come back and see us again!!!! It is always fun to meet new bloggy friends!

Crock Pot Italian Beef

Ingredients

Rump Roast ( I usually do between a 3 and 5 pound one)

Italian Salad Dressing (regular size bottle you will use half of, a small bottle use the whole thing)

The Dry Italian Seasoning Packet (Hidden Valley has a really good one!)

Salt, Pepper, and Garlic Salt

Hoagie Buns

Shredded Colby Jack Cheese (optional)

jalapenos (optional)

Start by taking your roast out of the package (don't forget that little pad thingy that sticks to the bottom, not that I would know that from cooking one on myself or anything!), we than season it generously with salt, pepper, garlic salt and then we put it into a preheat skillet to brown it on both sides. Once we get a nice sear on it we move  it into the crock pot!! Now you can use your roast fresh, frozen or thawed out! If it is frozen you are going to want to let it cook longer in your crock pot! We turn our crock pot on high and set it for 8 hours or however long you are going to be gone, or just on high if you don't have a timer. Then I pour two or three cups of water on it, put the lid on and let it go slow cook. The longer it cooks the better as your meant will become fork tender. Than about an hour (sometimes I wait until 30 minutes before) I drain off the water that has now turned into beef broth, and shred my meat. Next add your small bottle, or half of your big bottle of dressing, (Sorry if you like exact measurements, I don't seem to roll that way! LOL!) your dry packet of Italian Seasoning, stir it all together and throw in your peppers if you so choose. Let cook for another 30 minutes or so and then serve on hoagie buns topped with Cheddar cheese for the best results...you can forgo the cheese but in my world cheese makes everything better!!

As always, Thanks for cooking with the giggling girls!!!! (Time for new apron pictures, I will get right on that!)

The Cleaning Schedule Reveal!!!!

So I have created our cleaning schedules, I have posted pictures of them below! I am going to slide them into clear plastic covers so that we can mark them off with dry erase markers! I am pretty excited to implement these! My plan is to get my house spotless this weekend, all of my laundry caught up completely and start fresh on Monday! This works well because I am having friends over on Saturday, and that is always great motivation for my household! I will keep you all posted on the journey as we start! I plan to do an interview with Carleigh and Tim to see what they think of our new schedule too!! I definitely think it is important to include the girls in ways that they can help, I may do a little allowance or something but haven't decided on that yet. Anyone have any opinions on that?? I was thinking about having a few things that are expected but then paying Carleigh for anything extra, like folding washcloths for a quarter, something like that!  I loved hearing all of the tips you guys shared with me! If you think of anymore please send them my way! I have some major problem areas with Socks, Rubbermaid Tupperware, and shoes, any suggestion in those areas would be fantastic!!! 

And if any of you jump on the cleaning schedule bandwagon, please let me know! It would be fun to encourage each other!!!  I am hoping to get a new recipe or two up over the weekend, So check back in with us in the next day or two!!! Have a GREAT day!

Working Mom Shortcut-Cleaning Schedules!

So here at Giggling Girls we are getting ready to embark on a new journey. Now I am a pretty decent housekeeper! Not as good as my mom but I do okay. Well except for laundry! I HATE Laundry!! But we will get back to that!! I read quite a few blogs and I found a few stay at home mom's that use cleaning schedules. Now when I stayed home and even when I worked part-time, I felt that doing the housework was my job, I am a firm believer in roles in marriage and I believe the household duties fall to the woman IF she is staying home or working part-time. Now hold on all you stay at home people, don't go getting your undies in a bunch!! Just because that is my opinion doesn't make it yours and I am okay with that! That is just how my household ran, Tim helped out but most of the work including getting up with our girls fell to me (and his jobs were mowing the yard, taking down the trash, doing that "guy" stuff )  and I was good with that UNTIL we made the family decision that I would take a new job that would require me to go back to work full time. When we were discussing this I made it very clear that if I was going to work full-time I was not going to be the full-time maid, and Tim agreed. I started working and I did okay managing and Tim pulled his weight and all was fine and then the weeks passed and things started slipping, both girls became more mobile and more messy and things started getting left undone. So now, one of my biggest gripes is that my house is never as clean as I would like it, I know to some I hold a to high standard of clean, and I have learned to compromise somewhat but it isn't working well so I am going to implement a Cleaning Schedule!! You should see how excited Tim is!!! He just can't wait to find out what his new duties are going to be!!! So as I am creating our new calender and schedule (which don't worry I will share with you) I am wanting to know, what are some of your quick cleaning tips, your best kept secrets to a clean home, and habits you have gotten into that  help things go smoothly!! I can't wait  to hear them! Oh and don't worry I will touch back on the laundry thing ........(yeah maybe this is why I get piles of laundry, I ALWAYS run the other direction when it comes up!!)

8 years

8 years ago yesterday, I got married to my husband, fulfilling one of my life long dreams. I had a storybook wedding, it was prefect and beautiful, I had the long dress and the pretty veil and the PRETTIEST flowers around (yes the flowers were my most favorite part of my wedding!) The church was over flowing with people there to share in our excitement and the reception was and epic Haines party, there was dancing and great food, and drinking, cake cutting and ice sculptures it was a PREFECT day.

Our flower girls, we had four of them but Lexie was just a baby and didn't stand for the ceremony! That is Lydia looking at us! Isn't she a doll!!

My dad walking me down the aisle, can you see my smile, boy that Tim he sure had me wrapped around his finger!!

My bridesmaids! Yes we did black and I love love love how the flowers popped against the dresses!! I can't believe that it has been 8 years!

Tim,

The 8 years we have been together have been filled with lots of ups and downs, we have smiled and laughed and cried, fought and wanted to give up but kept pushing on. There are days that you drive me absolutely crazy and days that I think being a lesbian would be a much better choice, but every night before I go to bed, even on the few nights we weren't talking, I am always thankful that we found each other on that blind date to the Olive Garden and I am so very happy to be sharing this crazy, wonderful, chaotic, busy life with you! I pray that God graces us with many more years to drive each other crazy and with many more moments of loving each other! I love you!

Love, DeAnna

Flash Back Friday!!!!!

This night was October 5, 2002 and it was the night I fell in love with Tim and the night that I got kissed for the FIRST TIME EVER!!!  I felt that we deserved a flashback Friday moment because on August 23rd we will be celebrating 8 years of marriage!!! But more about that later!
PS: I do realize I am posting a Flashback Friday on a Thursday, I have a busy day tomorrow and I didn't want to miss it and I haven't figured out bloggers advance post feature!!

Carleigh's First day of Kindergarten

Carleigh,

Last night we got you all packed up and ready for your big day! You even had homework to do! You colored your very best ever picture so that you could get a sticker from your teacher!

Today we woke early and you hopped right out of bed, which is rare for you because you like to sleep in and cuddle in the mornings! You raced into the bathroom asking where your dress for today was and then you raced off to get dressed! You ate your breakfast great and got your hair done with a smile on your face and even requested a pony tail which you NEVER do!!! You looked so pretty and grown up! We put on your shoes, grabbed your brand new Littlest Pet shop book bag and out the door we went! After dropping Caylee off at Meme's,  

(she was wanting to be just like you, she looks up to you and loves you so much!)

and doing a photo shoot in front of Meme's pretty flowers like last year!

                                                                             


2010



2011



Off we went! We got to school and the first person you looked for in line was your very best friend Chloe!

 Then the bell rang and it was time to go into class! You went right in and found your name at your table!!

and guess what!! That silly teacher sat you right next to Chloe! OH MY GOODNESS!! You were so excited! Next we put all your supplies away, this took quite a while because you had LOTS of supplies!!

These were just a few!! Then we hung up your book bag and it was time for mommy to leave! I was pretty sure that I would cry when I left but you were so brave and happy and excited that guess what!! Mom didn't cry either!! I couldn't cry when you were doing such a great job, that would have made me a silly mommy!! We are so excited to see what kind of new adventures you are going to learn in kindergarten!! I know you are going to do a wonderful job!! Here are a few facts about you as you started kindergarten! We went for your physical and you did a great job getting all three of your shots! You weighed 67 pounds and were 47.5 inches tall! The doctor said your weight is good for your tall height! We also went to the eye doctor and your vision is right where it is supposed to be, most kindergartners see at 20/30 but you are already seeing at 20/25 and 20/20!  You can already write  your first, middle and last name, count to 25, draw and name all your primary shapes, you know all of your colors, and all of the alphabet, you can write all the letters of the alphabet and know all of the sounds the letters make!! You already have such a great start that I know you will pick up on all the new stuff in no time! Last night you also tied your shoe for the first time. . .  my oh my how grown up you are getting!

Love, Mommy

(Update: I just talked to you and you said your first day was so fun! You can't wait to go back  for a FULL day tomorrow!!)



I am not ready to let her go....

8 years ago in November I began my quest to motherhood, a journey that most know was long and heart wrenching for me, basal temperature charts, pills, sperm samples, post coital tests, numerous doctor's appts, tests, shots, progesterone gels, the list could go on, and then on January 13, 2006 after an emergency c-section, the doctors placed my sweet baby girl in my arms and I thought to myself I am never going to let her go,

I am going  to hold her and rock her and cuddle her and sleep with her, and I didn't put her down, I swear to you Carleigh didn't know what it was like to be in a bouncer or a swing, Tim and I fought over her, and when our family was around we still weren't very good sharer's! LOL! We took her with us everywhere we went and never left her with a babysitter until I had to go back to work and then I only worked a couple of weeks and I quit my job, because I wasn't ready to let her go....and we played and cuddled and loved, and then I went back to work part time and she got to go stay her her meme's whom she adored,

 and a I let a little piece of her go, but I would rush home to her and the years passed and it was time for pre-k, and I debated on whether or not to send her, It was an internal battle that I fought with myself and finally after much coaching and a lot of prayer for strength

2009

                                                                                   2010

I let her go for a few hours each morning and she loved it.......and now, today, the day before I am supposed to send her to kindergarten, where they are going to make her so independent, and teach her the correct ways to say bikini, and steal the rest of her babyhood away, they are going to teach her to correct ways to say all of her cute words, and she is going to be in charge of tying her own shoes......., she is going to have to open her own applesauce and carry her own lunch tray and be in charge of her own work, and today, I am just not ready to let her go..................

WE ARE. . . . . .

Soooo  excited to tell you !! We just can't wait to shout it!!

 It has taken us a few trials and errors!! But Caylee is Happy to announce!!

 SHE IS WEARING BIG GIRL UNDIES AND IS POTTY TRAINED!!!!!!

Caylee we are so proud of you!! We had done a few triall weekends since you were 24 months but the doctor told mommy to wait until you were 27 to 29 months and that would be your golden time frame and boy was she right!! You are 28 months and one Friday you just decided it was time and we started working on it and you did great! We switched to undies and haven't looked back!! ( you still are wearing diapers for nights and naps but mostly wake up dry from your naps!!! so this is just precaution for a while!!) You are even telling us now without being asked and pooping on the potty too!! YOU GO GIRL!! We are so proud!!! XOXO!

Infertility Sucks!

I know quite a few people who struggle or have struggled with infertility, I am here to tell you that just because you succeed in having a baby doesn't mean the struggle with infertility goes away, at least it hasn't for me and I have two babies... I am at the age right now that all of my friends are having kids. Tim and I had our kids pretty young, thankfully, the fertility doctor says this is one reason we succeeded with getting pregnant, anyway it seems right now that everyone I know is having a baby or trying to have a baby and I am VERY happy for them, I really am! They are all going to be great parents and most of them are already doing a great job and are just adding to there blessings, but seeing them, watching them and cheering for them is also a reminder that for me that chapter in my life is closed. I have tried very hard to find peace with being done having babies, I have prayed and talked it out and prayed and threw fits and thought about doing the treatments one more time, and prayed some more. I love kids, I love the chaos that is my life with kids, my kids are crazy little firecrackers that never EVER stop, they are loud and can turn any situation into a 3 ring circus...I tend to be high strung and probably am not the best choice of a mom for fire cracker children, God thought differently, I don't do well when my kids are wild in public or when they have a meltdown where the whole store is watching, for all of these reasons I should be OK with being done having babies, but that desire doesn't die for me. I want one more... I do, it is a fact. But infertility robs me of that choice. I am so jealous that woman can just get pregnant, I am so resentful of the fact that I will never experience that feeling of peeing on a pregnancy stick and getting a plus sign just because I had a fun night with my husband, and I am so bitter about the fact that I can't seem to get over being infertile...I always thought I would get over it, move past it, cope with it, but I am learning you don't just get over something that is a permanent part of your life and I am fed up for all of the woman out there who can not conceive at all, I am so saddened and burdened for them. I feel like God is cheating them out of something wonderful, the injustice of it makes me sick to my stomach, I know that people say "they can adopt" and adoption is a beautiful wonderful thing but it is very challenging, and I feel like if they have the challenge of  being infertile they shouldn't have to have a challenge to adopt....Tonight my heart is heavy for everyone suffering from infertility, I want to say to you that I am so sorry that you have to carry this cross, I am so sorry for the tears it will cause you to cry and I am sorry of the things it will rob from you. I know that words can't fix it, I know that hurting doesn't stop just because I tell you that I have been there, and I know you will find no comfort in my telling you it will be okay. So tonight I am not going to say any of those things. Tonight I am going to be sad with you because you know what , Infertility sucks....

http://youtu.be/e8HgAVenbUU

But there is HOPE for the hopeless. Jesus bring the rain!

A CHRISTMAS camping we will go!

We went camping this weekend and the campground was hosting Christmas in July, we had a fun time!! We sang a few Christmas Carols, did some Christmas Crafts, hung Christmas lights on our camper and did some ice block sledding!!! Lydia and I like to entertain ourselves by campfire cooking! This weekend we did, pancakes, pizzas, ham, cheesy potatoes, greenbeans, and donuts! Everything was delish!!

                                                    Santa Beards

                                                Ice Block Sledding

Fun Times had by all!!