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Top Ten Tuesday: Guilty Pleasures

February 28, 2011 By

Again you can blame the crowd over on twitter for this week’s Top Ten Topic…although this one was on my idea list.  I just wasn’t sure I wanted to spill all my guilty pleasures for all the world to know.

But it is time.  Time for me to come clean about my addictions entertainment.

10. Diet Coke – this one is a huge one.  I had my first swig of the lovely nectar in 8th grade.  My math teacher LOVED the stuff and collected cans in her room.  In pyramids.  I wanted to know what was so great about it.  I was never really able to drink sugary sodas, so this was perfect.

I have been hooked ever since.  My only hiatus was during my pregnancy with Eddie.  I tried to do caffeine free, but it tasted weird and I had the worst reflux known to man.

I have been told to cut out soda to help weight loss.  and I have cut way back, but I just can’t give up the good stuff completely.

9. The Red Carpet – almost any red carpet will do.  Award season is my favorite sport season.  And don’t say it’s not a sport.  It’s totally brutal

8. Fashion Police – Not the show that is now on weekly (although I do not mind that either in fact “bitch stole my look” is my favorite segment on that show), but the actual fashion police after the awards.  For instance tonight?  It will be the Oscars Fashion Police.  You know I will not be missing this.

7. Popcorn – and not healthy, low fat, nothing added popcorn.  No, my favorite?  Movie theater popcorn with TONS of extra butter.  I read somewhere that in a large tub?  You get all the calories you need for one day.  I would so sacrifice the rest of my day’s calories just to sit and mow down on a huge tub of greasy goodness.

6. America’s Next Top Model – admittedly I hate almost all reality shows.  But this one?  I love.  I haven’t watched it that much (I missed the end of the last cycle and I have the first episode of this season on Tivo that I haven’t watched yet), but if there is a marathon on a Sunday?  My day is DONE.

5. Mc Donalds – who am I kidding…it’s really the filet-o-fish from Micky D’s.  And now that it’s the magical season of lent?  You KNOW I get my nom on with the double filet.  My head knows it’s disgusting, my my heart?  Oh my heart is so in love.

4. Facebook – this one IS really guilty because I HATE that I am so addicted to it.  I don’t post all over it like I used to–I use it mainly to keep in touch with people and for my fan pages, but I do enjoy creeping looking at everyone’s pictures and reading their profiles.  It is a bit silly how easy it is to know what people are up to…and also completely addictive.

3. online shopping – specifically etsy.  Oh Mah Lawd how I can get stuck on etsy…for HOURS!  Mostly just browsing, but not always.  Let’s just say my email inbox?  Always has one or two receipts hanging out waiting for shipping info.

2. Peanut Butter M&Ms – Oh how I love you.  And oh how I love that my husband does not buy them every week with groceries or I would be about 72345098 pounds.

1. Twitter – It’s like I can’t be away from it!  I have tweetdeck open on my laptop ALWAYS, I have it on my phone, and I check in at work on the web.  I completely get sucked into EVERY conversation.  It’s probably the same reason I was always up until all hours chatting in real life back in college.  Now I am all over it online.  Sometimes?  It’s a problem. (by the way?  I am @ksluiter if you want to feed my addiction tweet with me).

And now you all know my dirty little secrets…you know why I can’t let the weight go and why when it seems like I am ALWAYS around on twitter?  It’s because I am.

Now it’s your turn to spill.  What are YOUR guilty pleasures?

psst…if you are on facebook and you are feeling generous with your clicking finger?  Please click here and vote for Sluiter Nation.  This grant could help fund my trip to BlogHer!!  You can vote once a day!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,

meatloaf…smeatloaf…double beatloaf…i HATE meatloaf*

February 24, 2011 By

Last week I was informing the entire world few people that pay attention to me on twitter that I was cooking dinner.  Seems like there were quite a few of us making meatloaf that night.

I hate meatloaf.

Or…I USED TO hate meatloaf.

I mean, I hate my MOM’S meatloaf (it’s ok, she knows).  The meatloaf of my childhood was a loaf o’ burger with onion and green pepper chunks in it with ketchup baked on top.

Barf.

So when Cort told me years ago that he wished I made meatloaf?  I cried a little was determined to find one that didn’t suck.  Ok, I wasn’t so much determined as I was skeptical that one could actually exist.

Enter Real Simple Magazine.

People?  If you do not know of this wonderful magazine you are missing out on some of the best tips, cutest decor ideas, and deliciously easy recipes EVER.

Anyway…what was this post about?

Oh yeah, meatloaf.

So one day as I am paging through the gloriousness that is Real Simple, I come across a meatloaf recipe.  I am about to blow it off as another disgusting concoction, when I notice there are no chunks of yuck in it.

I  have now made this meatloaf about 247982734927 times.  It’s that good.

It’s the perfect comfort food, although probably not the best “hey let’s lose a thousand pounds” food.

Anyway…here it is:

mmmm….the only yummy meatloaf in the WORLD.

You know what I think makes it yum?  There is not nasty Ketchup involved.  It’s BBQ sauce that you see right there.  And there are no chunks…but there IS shredded Italian cheese in there.  Oh yes, friends.  CHEESE.

Oh Sweet Baby Ray’s…how I love you.

I SUPPOSE you think I should share the recipe at this point, huh?  Well Ok. Because I like you.  You have such a nice face, and all.  Here it is:

1.5 pounds of ground beef

1 cup of shredded Italian blend cheese

1 envelope of dry onion soup mix

2 eggs

1.5 cups of Italian bread crumbs

1/3 cup of water

mix together and form a loaf.

Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes

take out and top with BBQ sauce

Bake for 15 more minutes or until done all the way through

let me show you again…mmmmm….

I tend to serve comfort food with, yes, more comfort food.  Mashed potatoes.  Green bean casserole.  Anything that will make my tummy feel full and warm and my eyed drowsy.

why yes, those ARE premade mashed potatoes. I had to draw the line SOMEWHERE.

I whipped up this dinner in less than an hour’s time from start to finish after work one day.  And then I had leftovers for a few lunches to work.

Is there a more perfect meal?

The answer is no.  No there is not.

You’re welcome

*bonus friendy friend points if you can name where I stole borrowed the title from.

Filed Under: In the Kitchen Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Top Ten Things I NEED Each Day

November 9, 2010 By

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It’s Tuesday again!  That means I have today’s Top Ten list right here!

First let me point out that Top Ten Tuesdays now has it’s own tab up there at the top of the  blog.  This is a place where you can find all of the Top Ten lists that I have done, and where you can find my fancy button.  I also have my cute Top Ten button over in the right side bar.  Over there ——————->

Today’s list is of the Top Ten things I NEED each day. These are the things that without them?  My day goes right down the crapper. So…without further ado and really in no particular order…

10. Coffee

I have a sneaking suspicion that this might just make everyone’s Top Ten list this week.

I need at least one large cup of coffee each day in order to get myself moving.  I usually poor it right before I leave for work and sip it during my 35 minute commute.

If I could drink coffee all day?  I might.  But I don’t have a coffee pot in my classroom and I really don’t trust the water at our school enough to make it.  So I settle for my one cup a day.  You can ask my first hour students–I really do need this.

#9 A Shower

Some people can do just a quick “splash bath” or only wash their hair every few days.

I cannot handle that.  I NEED a shower before I start my day or I am no good.  NO GOOD, I SAY!

I have to stand under that super hot water stream and wash the night sleepies away.  I need to have fresh hair and skin.  I feel smelly all day if I don’t.  Plus?  I value showers WAY more now that I have a child.  I never realized how precious that time is!

#8 My “K” book bag

I got this as a gift for being in my sister-in-law, MacKenzie’s wedding.  It was an awesome gift because it is so practical.

Not only do I love book bags/totes (seriously, I had to do a MAJOR purge because my “collection”, we will call it, dabbled on the line of hoarding), but this one is boxy and square, so it fits my mini Coleman cooler I use as my lunch pail on one side, and my mini Miche purse on the other side.  It’s just right for work!

#7 My Laptop

Just over three years ago, we got me this little guy.  All red and shiny with a matching red mouse (and a matching red case.  And hopefully some day I will have a beautiful Gussy laptop bag with a red ruffle.  sigh…a girl can dream).

This wee little lap top has been a necessity in my life.  I have typed countless essays, articles, posts, tweets, emails, facebook updates, and instant messages.

When my screen died (thankfully it was still under warranty), I thought my days had ended.  Luckily Dell Man came and fixed it lickity split…and it is all like new again.  Happy sighs…

#6 Diet Coke

If I don’t have at least one can of this crack soda a day, I get crazy grumpy.  In fact, I could even forgo my morning coffee and have one of these instead, but I am pretty sure I could not give up having at least one diet coke to drinking coffee.

Whilst pregnant with Eddie, I actually lost my taste for this lovely sweet nectar of the gods.  I am pretty sure it had to do with  my wicked reflux, but still.  It was sad.

I tried to stay away after having Eddie, but Diet Coke’s sweet siren song lured me back in and I am back to a two a day habit.

#5 Sirius Satellite Radio

This was one of the best birthday gifts Cortney ever got me.  We were engaged and I had not only my 35-minute commute (each way) to work, but I was also commuting 60 minutes (each way) to grad school.  It got boring and I got restless.

And Cortney?  He was brilliant.  I could never ever EVER go back to “terrestrial” radio again.  Riding in a car and having to listen to DJs and commercials makes me all hive-ish and antsy.  I would rather ride in silence.

#4 Twitter (more specifically, TweetDeck)

Is it sad that my day sucks if I don’t get on twitter for at least a little while?  Maybe, but I have made so many friends this way.

There are a handful of people on twitter that I feel so connected to that I like to check in with them each day to see how they are doing.  These same people are usually busy checking in with me too.

We share laughs and links and stories and sadness and prayers and well, many, many things.  But most of all?  I find support and strength in numbers on twitter.

#3 My chair

I seek refuge in this chair daily.  Almost every single one of my days ends in this chair.

Eddie and I cuddle and read stories here.

After he goes to bed, I answer emails, blog, check facebook, tweet, read, or just zone out to the TV in this chair.  It is my gateway to bedtime.

#2: My Eddie Bear

I hate days that I don’t get to see Eddie.  My day feels unfulfilled somehow.  I know that all I do is for our family, but when I don’t even get to see my family?  It feels all for naught.

That is why I am ever thankful that Cort is able to pack Eddie up and come visit me every Wednesday after school before I head out to teaching at CC.  It’s usually only about 30 minutes of time in my classroom, but I am thankful for even that little bit.

My days are nothing without my boys.

Which brings me to…

#1:  My Main Squeeze

Cheesy?  Maybe.  But like I said about Eddie, I work so hard for my boys.  If I don’t get to spend time with them, my day feels like a fail–no matter what wonderful things I’ve done for other people.

Cortney is my rock.  It’s a big job–I’m not an easy person to keep grounded–but he does it mostly without complaint.  he keeps our house clean and picked up.  He picks up the parenting when I am not around to do it.  He keeps the bills paid and the doctor’s appointments kept.  He cooks, he cleans, and he is all mine, ladies!

On Tuesdays when I have to go to bed without him (because he has league bowling–which is good!  He deserves time away from us), I get a case of the sads.  I am so used to failing asleep next to him, knowing he has my back though the good days and the bad.

There you have it!  The Top Ten Things I NEED Each Day!

What are the Top Ten things you need for your day?  Don’t be shy!  Link up!

Filed Under: Eddie, teaching Tagged With: , ,

Social Media and Sluiter Nation are Kind of Big Deals

August 8, 2010 By

As I stated before, this weekend was the BlogHer conference in New York City.  Sluiter Nation did not attend, however, in lieu of going? I WAS asked by one of my most favoritest bloggers (and a pretty awesome friend too) to guest post while she went.

Emily at DesighHERmomma is awesome. I don’t even know how to express how honored I am to be at her blog today.  She was one of the very first BIG “mom blogs” that I read and…AND…I get to actually SEE her this coming week!

More on that later, but for now?  Head on over to DesignHERmomma and read how Social Media has changed my life.  Because it has.

Filed Under: Blogging Tagged With: ,

It’s Good to Have Crafty Friends

August 1, 2010 By

Earlier this week I was in a panic.  We had a wedding to go to on Saturday and I had nothing to wear in my hair.  Ok, I know this seems like a lame panic, but I was stressed about it.

I like to wear flowers in my hair to dress it up for special events, but I only own two and I had worn them both a zillion times this summer.  They weren’t new and fresh enough to wear.

So, of course, I was complaining about this on twitter. Almost instantly, my friend Torie responded.  She makes SUPER cute accessories for little girls.  You should check out her Etsy shop, On Top Baby Bows.  She also does custom orders!  She reminded me that she also is the crafty lady behind 25Designs, which does headbands and other hair accessories for adults!  SCORE!

She and I got to discussing the colors I would be wearing:  black and charcoal/silver.  We decided I needed those colors and a pop of color, so we chose hot pink.  This was all on Tuesday.  By Tuesday night she had it made and sent me a picture.  I LOVED IT!  So she got it in the mail and it was here by FRIDAY!

Check out how CUTE it is:

Torie is seriously awesome.  Not only does she make super fricking cute headbands, but she saved my look for the wedding!  Even after I had been dancing up a storm and needed to slick my long hair into a shaggy pony tail to get it out of me neck?
 

 The headband STILL looked super cute!  Sigh…I heart Torie and her craftiness!
Oh and those cute pearl earrings I’m wearing?  They came from The Vintage Pearl.  One of my favorite jewelry stores online.  I have another favorite…but you will have to wait until that little package of fun gets to me before I reveal.
Anyway, I need to encourage you to go to either (or BOTH) of Torie’s Etsy shops.  I love her.  Also?  While you are at it?  You should just browse The Vintage Pearl too. Clicking on their buttons below will take you to their shops.  GO!
I love having crafty friends.

Disclaimer:  25Design, On Top Baby Bows, nor The Vintage Pearl compensated me for this “review”.  I just REALLY love their products.  I bought the headband and earrings myself and love them a ton.  My hope is that you will also love them!

Filed Under: Blogging Tagged With: , ,