This Week, So Far...

Yesterday's fun.

Monday's meal.  Balsamic chicken with orzo.  We really liked this meal.  

After marinating chicken in (the following were blended together) half cup-ish balsamic, cup-ish olive oil, italian seasonings, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, throw it in a skillet on high until cooked through.  

Saute chopped up mushrooms in the marinade from the chicken.  After the mushrooms are cooked, throw in some flour (about two TBSP), followed by about three cups of chicken stock.  In the meantime, cook your orzo and chop up your chicken.  The last step, add the chicken and orzo to your gravy and serve.  Pretty tasty.  Oh yes, I felt it was missing a zing at the end, so per my brilliant elder sister's advice, a bit of cayenne at the very end turns it up a notch.  I served this with a salad and the best homemade bread EVER: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alexandra-guarnaschelli/parker-house-rolls-recipe/index.html

Been working on a baby shower that I (along with my preggers sister) are throwing over the weekend.  Today was a day I will dub: FINDS AND FLOPS.  To start, I found so many great items that fit into my vision.  For the shower, we are doing some of Mom-to-be's favorite things.  So, along those lines, a few prizes for game winners include a green mug for the green-tea along with relaxation-inducing soft socks and mint M&M's with Baby's monogram sticker to hold the bag closed.  I really enjoyed putting this together today with my sissies.

I was SO happy with my most brilliant idea for shower decorations.  I decided to papier mache some green tissue paper orbs.  I hung them on the pool fence to dry, excitedly anticipating my lovely creations.  

BIGGEST FLOPS EVER!  SO EMBARRASSING!  This idea's out the window.  My beautiful orbital visions look worse than hanging deflated balloons.  I kept comforting myself (after each balloon came out dreadfully wrong), with the idea that getting them all up together, they'd be so lovely. WRONG-O!!!  So, here below are the "trashy" (per Mark's assessment- though he meant no ill) creation.  I honestly think they look like my kids made them- like I straight-up, hung some of our trash from the ceiling.  ARGH!  These were going to be the best lanterns ever.  Oh well.  Back to the drawing board.  Is it overstating to say that I am thankful that "His mercies are new every morning" Lam. 3:23???

Finally, I was teaching my kids the song "It Is Well With My Soul" this morning.  And my heart was SO encouraged by those words.  I am praising the Lord that "my sin not in part, but the whole, is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more!!!"  Could there be more glorious news for this chick?!?  A resounding "NO" is echoing through my cavernous head:)