The Bachelor Recap - 2.3.14

Ay yai yai

I did not start watching The Bachelor until 9pm central time tonight because CDC had Girl Scouts, I had to give baths, then exercise, then clean up for a good 30 minutes to burn the rest of my energy. So I ended up seeing a few spoilers on Facebook. {Boo! You'd think id learn to stay off of Social Media if I didn't want spoilers!} 

Once I turned it on, I had several things I desperately wanted to talk about...

Let's begin at the beginning of the episode {even though I want to jump right to the juice of the story}

The first one on one date went to Renee. Mom to an 8 year old. I really really like her. I have liked her from day one. She has stayed true to herself and showed pure class. I thought they had a great date and it went really well, but bless her soul, I don't know if it was the editors or if she really talked about "the perfect night for the perfect kiss" that often, but it was just sad.
But, alas,  skip to the end, she.got.the.kiss!!!!! And freaked OUT.... It was "so worth the wait." So cute. She's adorable.

Next up was the group date. 

Andi was bummed because she was on another group date. She whined about it and acted like a grumpy butt. Does she not get that he has macked down with her more times than most of the girls? Chill.
And ok, Clare is an attention whore. Hey girl, when none of the other girls in the house like you, that's an issue.
Charlene....ugh. That's all I can say. She reminds me of a man for some reason. I do not like her and do not understand what he sees in her. Her actions and mannerisms are just awkward.
The rest of them... eh, whatev. I do like Chelsea though and think we will see more of her. Mark my word. :)
Then, Clare received the group date rose. Sigh.... Did we see that coming or what? Come on Juan Pablo, give someone else a chance.

Fast foward to that night, after Clare received the rose, she told the girls she was "going to bed." She snuck away, off camera. Then they picked her up again and she "didn't want the night to end" so she sneaked to Juan Pablo's room and told him she'd never felt "warm waves in the ocean." {If I could make a gagging face with an emoticon, I would do that here.}

So, they end up in the ocean, feeling the warm waves falling over them.... and doing God only knows what else, but apparently it was "Pure Bliss... in every way." according to Clare {with an eyebrow raise and a wink} Gag. Gag. GAG! 

I mean come on, did they do the nasty or did they DO the NASTY?!!!  Seriously JP, you want to be Mr. Goody Goody with certain girls, but then do "THAT"{your own words}... of which you said your daughter wouldn't respect, if she saw, in the ocean with Clare Bear....
Come on now. Don't be hypocritical.

Let, me walk away from that for a moment and discuss Nikki's one on one. I could not stand this girl last week. She was all about gossip and drama, but she made a change for the better and I loved her this week. Her braid and choice of outfit for the daytime date made her look a bit like a little boy, but it worked for her. He likes her. She is funny and I think that's one reason he likes her. She would keep him on his toes. Her comment about the date had me rolling... 

"I live. I die....or I poop my pants" That's the epitome of not taking yourself too seriously and making the best of the situation even when you're scared poopless!

Moving along to the cocktail party. Juan Pablo confronts Clare about "taking things too far" {obviously meaning sessy time , to me} and says that it's something that he does not want his daughter to see and if she did, he knows she would not respect him for it.{Duh...}

Clare cries. Clare causes a scene. Then Clare tells the girls her "allergies are awful!" Blah, blah, blah....
Don't be a skank if you can't handle the repercussions. Seriously, yes it is about "following your heart", Clare, BUT keep it CLASSY!! No man wants a woman that puts herself out there like that so easily. Especially a man with a daughter who he treasures so highly. Although, I hold him just as accountable. He should not play the "I have a daughter" card with every other girl, then be a freak-a-leak with Clare , then go back on it and basically blame her.

Anyway, the rose ceremony proved to be exactly what I predicted. It's so easy to pinpoint exactly who goes home, simply because of the editing on this show. It's SO EASY! They do not show ANY time with the girls that will be going home that week. Danyelle, Kellye, and Allie were the ones to say bye-bye. I did not see any of them with him in the long run, but perhaps that is because they did not air any of their conversations!!!! 

Bachelor producers, if you do not want the general public to know who The Bachelor/Bachelorette choses in the end, learn to edit the show better! Mmk thanks :) 

All in all, what a mess. What else can you expect from reality TV though, right? I'm disappointed in the hypocrisy and the skankiness, but I will be tuning in again next week... My earlier prediction of Clare taking the prize aka Engagement ring is no longer on the table. As of now, I choose Andi, Renee, and Nikki. {PLEASE not CHARLENE!!! That is my ONLY wish for the whole show!!!} 

Until next week, let's hope not only that no one spoils the ending for me, but also that Juan Pablo learns to keeps it classy!

Overall, my words to describe this episode are Awkward and Skanky.

Crazy for Quinoa

Quinoa with Edamame, Sautéed Mushrooms, and 1/4 Cup of LowFat Cottage Cheese {I was out of my preferred Feta}

 

After last nights gorge fest during the Super Bowl, I am trying to detox my body of all the yuckies I consumed!

My favorite go-to recipes almost always includes Quinoa! If you haven't heard of Quinoa, you must be living under a rock because word of it's benefits for your body has spread like wildfire over the past couple of years! I have been experimenting with it since I went GFree in '09. It is very similar to the way you prepare rice , but the texture is closer to that of Couscous. You can pretty much add any and everything to it to make different yummy concoctions! My one word of advice is to always use something wet to provide a more enjoyable texture. I like using Viniagrette based dressings, Salsas, or even acidic fruits such as Limes, or even Pineapples! 

The recipe I used for the above picture is 

1C Quinoa to 2C Water {I always prepare in bulk so I have some left for my weekly lunches}

1/2 C frozen Edamame (shelled)

1/2 C sliced Mushrooms (sautéed)

1/2 C LowFat Cottage Cheese (I prefer Feta for taste)

Sesame seeds 

Carmelized onions for taste 

Salt and pepper 

And a drizzle of my fav! Ceasar Viniagrette Dressing 

And there you have a healthy lunch option that's packed full of protein!

Superbowl XLVIII

Broncos vs. Seahawks

Now, I am a lover of Peyton Manning. I have been a fan since 2007, The Indianapolis Colts were my all time favorite team. I followed them like no other.

A few years ago, though, I quit watching football as much. I was just busy. I had my third child and life just went spastic. I didn't know ANYthing about what was going on in the world of football. But this year, right before the playoffs, I started watching again. I learned that Peyton was no longer playing for the Colts, but for the Denver Broncos... bleh. I wasn't thrilled. I had not ever heard anything great about the Broncos. But, alas, he was my Peyton and I would follow him no matter the team.

So, as you can expect I was thrilled when they made it to The Superbowl. I actually was equally as excited about the Seahawks making it. I'm not a fan of the 49ers, so when the Seahawks pulled it out over them, I was jumping up and down in my living room. But, of course, I had to cheer for Peyton to win the Superbowl.

We went all out in the snack department tonight
We cleaned the house top to bottom, rented the girls two movies for their TV, and I went grocery shopping earlier in the day to be sure everything was taken care of so that we wouldn't be disturbed during the big game...

The pregame got us pumped and the National Anthem was amazing. Even the early minutes of the game were exciting. Well, it could've been that it was finally here and starting because now that I look back, it wasn't all that exciting even then.  
BUT, the train wreck that was yet to come, was only beginning.

When the Seahawks were ahead 22-0 in the first quarter, I knew there was trouble on the horizon. Peyton was playing ok and passing fine, but I wanted him to really PASS the ball down the field or RUN the ball {which I know he doesn't like to do often}
Man, it just really hurt them tonight. I'll give it to the Seahawks, their defense is spot on. They were really fun to watch because they were everywhere! It was almost as if they had radars for eyeballs, they'd be running one way, then all the sudden be on the other side of the field to intercept the ball. I was literally screaming at the TV.
"Come ON!!!! You've GOT to be kidding me! What is going ON!?"

Anyway, we finally made it to the halftime show, which I was very much anticipating. I love Bruno Mars. He is epic greatness to me. His old soul and classy attire always amazes me. And it was no surprise that he brought the house down! I loved every second of his performance. His talent is beyond words. I was amazed that he was really singing {no lip synching please} and sounded amazing even with the nerves you know he had to be having in front of that many people!
Red Hot Chili Peppers.... eh.. Whatev. They were ok. I think their day has passed and they need to put their shirts back on, but they sang well. What else can I say?
So, all in all, halftime show rocked. A+++

Then, we tuned back into the game. Err, we thought we would, but apparently Fox was having technical difficulties. We got a message across our screen that said  
"No need to call. The problem will be resolved soon."
Hmm.... awesome. Notsomuch. So, not only was my team sucking, but the game was cutting in and out and we were missing who knows what?

Oh and don't let me forget about the HORRID commercials!! I seriously have never been more disappointed in advertisement in my life, especially during the SuperBowl for goodness sakes! If you are going to pay 4 million dollars for an adspace, make it EPIC! Everything I saw was LAMESAUCE. I did like the Tim Tebow commercials. I thought those were very clever. Good job T-Mobile.

Back to the game..... or lack thereof. It was not a game by any means of the word. I honestly thought I was watching a high school football team try and take on the Seahawks. It was just sad. By the fourth quarter, I was bored and pissed, so I walked away to clean up the kitchen and get the girls to bed. I did see the end and I was not impressed with ANY of that game. Beginning to end. I will say the Seahawks deserved their win and I am proud of them. They had never won a Superbowl before today and I think they wanted it more. It showed.

Peyton, I still love you and you will continue to be my favorite quarterback, but today was not your day my friend. Better luck next time.

.......................................................................................................
My Salsa Recipe {which is not really a recipe, but hey, it's CLEAN and it was delish}

Two Tomatoes
1/8 Cup Diced Onions
1/8 Cup Bell Pepper
1 Clove Garlic
1 Serrano Pepper, chopped
Dash of Cilantro
1/2 Lime, squeezed
Salt and Pepper for taste
1 Tbsp Cumin

I put all of the ingredients in a food processor and chopped coarsely. Leaving everything a bit chunky. Served with Corn Tortilla Chips. YUM!!!

7.5yo Heartbreak

Remember when you were a kid and you got invited to a birthday party/slumber party?! It was the MOST anticipated event of your whole world {at that particular moment in time} You talked about it for the entire week. You packed your bags two days prior to the actual party. And you were giddy with excitement the morning you woke up and realized it was really here, THE day!

Well, CDC had her first experience with these emotions this week. I watched as she bopped around , telling her sisters of all the fun things she would get to do. She giggled about what her and her friends would talk and gossip about and then she bragged about all the pizza and cupcakes they would get to devour because it's a SLEEPOVER,after all, and no rules apply. 

I was really excited for her! I remember those feelings and I have tons of memories from several different epic slumber parties. 

When she woke up yesterday morning and we were on our way to school, I told her she had to do great on her spelling test in order to go. So, she said would. I gave her medication for the Sinus Infection she's been battling and she took it willingly. 

After work, I swung by our house to grab her bag, pillow, and sleeping bag and then headed off to get her from her Nana's house. 
She was literally jumping up and down when I pulled into the driveway. She had her boots and jacket on and was walking to the car before I could even put it into park. I asked how she did on her spelling test and she said she missed one word....sprung! {I knew she was having trouble with that word, so I almost accounted for the fact she wouldn't get it.} Anyway, I was happy with her test results! She got all of the other words right, so off we went. 
Headed to the party...

When we arrived to our destination, CDC started getting really nervous and shy. I told her it would be fine and everyone was looking out the windows for her! We rang the doorbell and she said 
"MOM! You brought me a TINKERBELL sleeping bag! I'm 7! That's for babies!" 

*rolled my eyes* 

"Really? Tell them it's CRC. It's not that big of a deal, I promise.." Lol... Such drama!

Once inside, her friends were hiding from her. She looked at me, smile, then ran off to find them. After she found them, {well, after they jumped out and said "BOO"} , they giggled and scampered away to get into the cupcakes! I hollered goodbye to her, but she was too busy to come back and give me a hug so I heard her say "Bye momma" from the next room. I left about 6:10pm and drove back to town to get JClaire from my mom. 

I was at my moms for about ten minutes, then left to go home. No more than three minutes later, I walked in my door and got a phone call from the little girl's mom at the Slumber Party.{I knew something was wrong...I always know "those" calls}

"Hey Kaycee...CDC just got sick and threw up everywhere and she has a fever of 100.2"

*uhhhhhh* I felt TERRIBLE!! Not only for sending a (apparently still) sick child to a birthday party full of ten little girls, but also for my child who was so excited for her first sleepover. :( 

I called her Nana and asked her to pick her up because she was much closer than me and I told her I'd leave my house that moment and meet her down there. I pulled into the parking lot where I was to meet them and received a phone call... It was CDC. 

*Crying hysterically. Hyperventilating.*

"Momma!! I don't want to go. I wish I'd never been sick!! I wish I'd never came. I'm embarrassed. I can see them having fun through the window! It's not fair..."

My heart was crushed. I wanted to cry with her. Had I known she was still feeling bad, I would have never teased her with the option of going, but she had been fine the past two days. 

I spoke with her and told her I understood and that I was so sorry, but it wouldn't be fair for her to stay and risk getting the other girls sick. And I told her they were having fun, but I'm sure they were bummed that she had to leave and I promised her we could have a sleepover for her 8th birthday this year in May. I also told her she could pick any movie from RedBox{this is a big deal to my kids} and we'd order a pizza. She liked all of that and was able to calm down. 

Later at home, all was fine with the world again. She and I snuggled on the couch with pizza, popcorn, and a movie. Then we fell asleep cuddled up together. {That NEVER happens anymore} So, in a way, it all worked out for the best and she hasn't mentioned it again. 

Love my girl. 

5 year old Princess

My Pretty Princess-Loving Girly Girl turned five years old in October and it was harder than I thought it would be. 

As most friends of mine know, CRC has Albinism and vision difficulties so I've always tended to nurture her {some would say "baby"},therefore, I've always thought of her as my "baby!" Even after JClaire was born I couldn't let go of CRC being my baby! For a long time, I wouldn't accept that she was growing up. {Calling myself out again...}I let her have a pacifier for WAY too long. We won't say just how long, but let's just say a LOT of people mentioned it to me and I would always tell them

"She's my baby! She won't go to kindergarten with it!" Haha.. 

But finally, around the time of her fifth birthday, I accepted it and embraced the fact and for that, I learned to respect her brilliance and watch just how mature and smart she had really become! She wasn't/isn't a baby anymore. She's grown into such a smart, quick witted, gorgeous 5 year old little girl. She will start Kindergarten this coming school year and I'm just a little bit emotional about it!

She got her ears pierced this month! She begged me for them and she did so great!

She was the only one that would pose for a picture with me on New Years Eve-2014!

Smiling big and having fun at her Christmas party :)

At the lake scavenger hunt with CDC's Girl Scout Troop 

Sporting some awesome braids. I love love her hair! (Is it ok to be envious of your own child's hair?!)

...and as another mom friend said "Lady Gaga's early years" {Although, I definitely do not want her to turn out like Gaga!}

And hugs for mommy after her Princess Sofia 5th Birthday Party!