A storm brewing

This is just a cool picture I took when we had a storm last week. I went outside and the sky above our street was split in two, with blue sky and sun on one side, and dark, dark clouds filling up the other side. The sun was eventually overtaken by the clouds and hail came soon after that.

Now we're (I'm) cookin'!

I have really enjoyed my quest to provide more home-cooked meals for my family. Darren has always been the one to make the more complicated, recipe inspired meals while I provided the easy to throw together pasta, tacos, stir fry, and manwich nights.

I think what got me started on this journey was purchasing a couple of these awesomeWeekday Dinners - DONE! cards from my sister, a Pampered Chef consultant. They had a meal for every day with a shopping list and easy to follow recipes. Every time I made something, it boosted my confidence that I could actually cook! Since then, I have added to my collection of recipes from other sources.

Tonight, I made HOMEMADE macaroni and cheese out of an America's Test Kitchen cookbook. Talk about a comfort food! Let me tell you, it was as good if not better than any restaurant I've tried. Even the delicious Sideboard in Danville! Noah even loved it - he actually pretended to FAINT over how much he loved it. Anyone with a 5 year old knows that is a big deal :)

The caprese I threw together as a salad

Toasting the breadcrumbs in butter for the topping

And the final product!! Darren was in heaven!

You've come a long way, baby.

Ok, so I'm a little bit embarrassed to admit this. Not just because I think you will laugh and tease me, but because many of you that read this blog already HAVE laughed at me and teased me. But here goes.

I enrolled in JAZZERCISE.

My earliest memories of Jazzercise were of my sis-in-law going in the 80's or early 90's I think? Those were the days of leg warmers, and of wearing this swimsuit type outfit OVER your tights. I even wore something similar to an aerobics class I took in college.

Thankfully, times have changed! This is how Jazzercise looks now...

The music for these classes come right out of the current club scene, so they are fun and funky. It's funny because sometimes I just laugh watching certain women doing the more "sexy" moves (yes! there are some!) and I think "what would that woman's husband think if she came home with THAT one!" LOL There are women in their 20's and women in their 70's, so I feel like I blend in right in the middle. It's a great workout that makes me sweat, and it makes me feel like I am doing something to stay fit and healthy for my two little kiddos. Fortunately, Noah and Faith really enjoy the childcare, so that's been great too.