Free Holiday Card + Postage

One of my friends has a great blog with lots of deals and coupon tips. She posted a link the other day about sending a free card from gmail. Go HERE and you can send you own card to anyone you want (in the US). If you don't have anyone to send the card to send one to an American Solider at this address by Monday, December 7th.

Holiday Mail For Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456*

*I originally posted an address that the US postal service doesn't accept mail for anymore. This one is accurate.

eBay: The Thrill of the Fight

Where in the world have I been? Not on eBay until a day ago. And now I am addicted. I have always been a little bit skeptical of eBay in the sense that I was convinced everyone is out to steal my money and not actually sell me things. Yes, this is a bit irrational but we are often irrational about things we don't know. Over the course of the last several months I have gotten to "know" eBay a little bit more through observing other people say with pride, "I got that on eBay." By "that" I mean really cute kids clothes. Because eBay is over saturated in this market I believe it leads to some pretty good deals. So, yesterday I signed on and began a bidding war. I won 2 pairs of super cute brand new tights for Grace and feel very confident I will actually receive them in due time. I have also learned the art of watching and item. This way I never actually have to purchase it but I can think about in my head what I might be willing to pay and pretend bid. In the end I think this will save me a lot of money. But, I know I will always turn to eBay to do some shopping in the future. Well enough blogging I need to see what is happening on eBay!

And She's Off

Grace started to crawl forward like a star this weekend. It was so funny because I was taking a shower at Matt's parents' house on Friday morning and I heard everyone cheering. All that cheering turned out to be because Grace started crawling. She motored right to a phone she wanted and hasn't stopped since. She even crawled up onto Matt and nose-dived right over him today. Here is a video from her first day crawling.

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with both of our families. The events of the weekend went as follows....eat, watch football, sleep, and repeat several times:) I am only posting 2 pictures that make me very thankful even though we have 2 million things to be thankful for.

I'm very thankful that we got to spend time with my Grandpa after his health scare in June. He loves hanging with Grace.

I'm thankful for Grace's cousins. Josh is the sweetest little boy and just loves spending time with Grace and she and Jenna will have many adventures together I am sure.

Apple-Apricot Pork Chops

We just concluded Crock Pot November in our house. For the last month we have been taking Grace to swimming lessons on Monday and Wednesday from 5:30-6:00. So by the time we get home, get her fed and into bed there really isn't much time to think about cooking. I recognized this might be an issue before the month started and have been making meals in the Crock Pot on those days. We have had meatloaf, chicken Parmesan, Ruebens, and taco soup to name a few. But tonight for our last one I think I made the winner...Apple-Apricot Pork Chops. I found the recipe online and of course since I don't really follow recipes completely I modified it a bit for 2 people and for my convenience and that is what I posted below.

This recipe was super easy and delicious. The thing that made is soooo easy was my new food processor (Christmas present from Matt. But since I knew what I was getting the surprise was that I got it one month early!!!). To chop all of the food I just fed it through the giant feeding tube on my processor while using the slicing blade and it literally took less than 5 minutes to get all the chopping done. So the prep for this meal was fast! If you hand chopped it would take a little extra time but it was delicious so it would be worth it.


Ingredients

• 3 - 4 pork filets or chops (I did 3 thick cut tonight but wish I had done another for more even leftovers)
  
• 1/2 chopped apple
• 1 large handful chopped dried apricot
• 1/2 medium onion, chopped
• 4 ribs celery, sliced in 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/2 cup apple juice
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup dry sherry or dry white wine, or more apple juice (I used cooking sherry)
  
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water

Preparation

Combine all ingredients (except cornstarch mixture); cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 9 hours, or 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours on HIGH. About 20 to 30 minutes before serving, pour liquid into a separate container to skim off excess fat. Stir in cornstarch mixture and return broth to slow cooker. Continue cooking on low until sauce is smooth and thickened.

Morning Playlist

Several weeks ago Matt created a morning playlist for our family to listen to while we are getting ready for the day. I love it and have also been adding to it. Let me know if you have any more suggestions for good morning/great day songs...

1. Good Morning by Phil Joel
2. It's a Great Day to Be Alive by Travis Tritt
3. Oh What a Beautiful Morning from the Oklahoma! Soundtrack
4. Beautiful Day by U2
5. Good Morning from the Singin' In the Rain Soundtrack
6. Good Morning Beautiful by Steve Holy
7. Good Morning Baltimore from the Hairspray Soundtrack
8. A Beautiful Morning by The Rascals
9. I Will Rise by Chris Tomlin

College Basketball

No, this is not Matt posting. :) I just wanted to put a couple picture up of Grace's first 2 college basketball games. We have been able to attend games for both Matt and my Alma mater. Even though the basketball program for Matt's school is much bigger I think I enjoyed my school's better. It brought back memories of going to games while I was in college. It was also fun because Grace got to go to that game with my parents who also went to school there and have season tickets. So I think it was fun for them too!

Grace with Mommy and Daddy at Daddy's Alma mater. Grace's 1st college basketball game ever.


With Grandpa H. at Mommy's Alma mater (also Grandma and Grandpa H.'s Alma mater).