March Madness

19 Mar posted by

It’s no secret that we are big college hoops fans in this house.

I cheer for Carolina & Doug cheers for Kansas & Roy Williams is a particularly sore subject in our marriage.  But after almost six years of marriage, we are both coming around to co-cheering each other’s teams – Doug wears Carolina shorts & I have a KU tshirt.

basketballwreath March Madness

This is on our front door.  Team spirit, baby.

But if the Heels & Jayhawks end up facing off this coming weekend, one of us is going to have to leave the house.  So who has a couch I can crash on?

HeirtoBlair500x150 v41 March Madness

17 Comments
Filed Under: Life in General, Random, Suzie Homemaker, The I Do's

Beef Stew: The Momma Edition

22 Feb posted by

beefstew 300x300 Beef Stew: The Momma EditionI used to feel really, really intimidated by this recipe, mostly because it took so long to nail The Momma down to exact measurements (she’s been making it so long that it’s second-nature to her!).  & the first time I attempted it, I left the heat up too high in a basic pot & it was…shall we say, DESTROYED.  I can count on one hand the number of inedible meals I’ve made since our marriage began & my first attempt at beef stew hits #1 on that list.  I’m so proud to conquer it because it is a staple of my childhood & an absolute favorite on cold nights.  The leftovers are fantastic, too.

I make it in my cast iron dutch oven on the stove, which helps distribute the heat much more evenly so that I can walk away for the hour that it simmers.  Key to the first time: WATCH YOUR HEAT.  Watch your heat, watch your heat, watch your heat.  Otherwise you’ll end up with beef charred to the bottom of your pot & gravy that’s more like glue paste.

Ingredients

1 lb stew meat
4 potatoes, skinned & cut into chunks
1 lb baby carrots
1 chopped onion
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
4 cups hot water
1 Tbsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp paprika
shake of garlic salt (I do three shakes)
dash of allspice or cloves
1Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

  1. Coat bottom of pot with EVOO, heat until hot.  Sear meat in the oil.
  2. Toss in 1/2 chopped onion & saute.
  3. Add 4 cups hot water.  Boil & return to low setting on stove.
  4. Add sugar, salt, paprika, garlic salt, allspice, Worcestershire sauce, & stir.
  5. Cover & cook for an hour.
  6. After an hour, add carrots, potatoes, & remainder of the onion.
  7. Return to a boil, then cut heat back until it is barely boiling (like a little over mid-heat) for 30 minutes.  Keep your eye on it to be sure it’s not burning on the bottom!
  8. In a separate bowl, whisk a few tablespoons of flour into hot water until thick but even (you don’t want little “dumplings” in the flour).  Stir into the stew broth that’s in the pot right before serving.

This also freezes beautifully!  I serve with a salad & drop biscuits.  Enjoy!

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Filed Under: Life in General, Recipes, Suzie Homemaker

What I Wore Wednesday

8 Feb posted by

P1011622 What I Wore Wednesday

flannel: old navy  ::  jeans: lane bryant  ::  glasses: vera wang

After years of pencil skirts & blazers, I am really digging the “wear what makes me comfortable” part of being home.  I’m trying to limit my yoga-pants wearing to only 2 days per week, but I was definitely rocking second-day hair here.  Other notables about the picture include Tuck, who never leaves my side anymore & my red Epiphanie camera bag, which needs to be dusted off & organized before Blissdom.

Today I’m setting up calls & emails while Harry hangs out with his Auntie & on Friday, RMHC of Durham has it’s big Winterfest Gala so I’ll be in a cocktail dress helping people (hopefully) spend lots of money at a silent auction.

Also got news that we have a “second showing” on Saturday, so I’m hanging out with St. Joseph & crossing all my crossables.  Although if we strike a bargain, that means we have nowhere to live.  I have NEVER BEEN MORE EXCITED TO BE HOMELESS.  Let the apartment or house hunting potentially begin?

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Filed Under: All about BA, Finding Balance, Moving on up, Sorta Staying Home

Game Day Wreath

28 Jan posted by

May I present The Momma’s 2012 birthday present, compliments of unemployment:

9010c046485511e19896123138142014 7 Game Day Wreath

It’s so super-easy to make & she LOVED it.

Get a vine wreath from your local craft store (they usually sell for $4.99 + 40% off coupon) & some plain wooden letters (these were $2.99 apiece).  Paint the letters in school colors using one of those $0.30 foam brushes then make the polka dots with a qtip (it took three coats of each color using basic craft paint).  Tie a coordinating ribbon to the top.  I used two different colored ribbons to really set the colors off & create more detail.  Secure the letters with hot glue or wire – I used wire that I had leftover from an old project because I thought it might hold up better in the elements.

The whole project cost roughly $12.00.

Pin It

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Filed Under: Life in General, Suzie Homemaker, Tutorials

Don’t worry, it’s not all sad-sad-unemployed-sad-sad-dramz around here.

24 Jan posted by

So today, I hit up the dentist because HELLO, insurance runs out in one week & I’m making all the popular pit stops.  Dentist, eye doctor, birth control, & of course, the psychiatrist who desperately needs me to bitch on her couch for an hour.  I dropped Harrison off with his auntie for two hours while I got my teeth scrubbed (he had been asking for her & considering she was a daily fixture in his life for two years, he needs some Auntie time).  Then we hit up the craft store because a) it’s time to get my Pinterest on & b) The Momma’s birthday is coming up & I’m on a budget.

Let me just say that I can stand in a board room or jet across the country, but I turn into a complete wuss once I step through Michaels.  All those women with glue stick burns on their fingers, willing to cut a bitch over the last vial of Martha Stewart glitter?  THEY TERRIFY ME.  Same thing with fabric stores.  Also, the strangest thing happens that once I hit the first aisle, I completely forget what I was there for.  Confidence takes a crash & burn so I stand there in the aisles, completely overwhelmed by the choices in felt.

In short:
Before Michaels:  BIG SPARKLY INSPIRATIONAL UNICORNS OF HAPPINESS!

After Michaels:  I WILL NEVER ACHIEVE ANYTHING GOOD IN MY LIFE.

yeah.

I’m standing in line with Harry in the push cart & a matronly lady turns to me.

“Is your mother’s name Karen?” she asks.

“No,” I say politely.

“You look like my friend Karen, so I figured you must be her daughter,” she explains.  I shrug.  Raleigh is a pretty decent-sized city.

“With two children, I figured you had to be her,” she persists.

Is this lady drunk?  I only have one child in the seat & I’m pretty sure the firstborn’s that were traded for Christmas Cricuts weren’t eligible for the 40% off coupon.  Like I said, I’m on a budget so if it’s not on sale, it’s not in my cart.

“You know,” she says.  ”With your boy & the one on the way.”

oh.

shit.

Awkward silence abounds.

Does this lady not know Rules of Feminism #253: Don’t ask a woman if she’s pregnant unless the fetus is 75% down the birth canal with a hand waving?

53 Comments
Filed Under: All about BA, BA is effing crazy, FAIL, Fatass, Life in General, Sorta Staying Home, Stupid People, Suzie Homemaker
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Stealing is for losers. Copyright 2008-2012 Beth Anne Ballance