BakeCover

So, I don't even have time for my best friend these days or the MOUND of fall magazines screaming my name in my living room. But I have delved into the world of baking and cooking recipes. What?

With Tyler now eating what we eat I feel more pressure to cook a decent meal. Not fancy people. Decent (edible). So, I am the HUGEST fan on taste of home.com.

Now, after my first round of cake pops on the 4th of July, I have been more and more into baking. And thanks to Bakerella, the cake pop queen, I saw her post today on Pie Pops! Hello!!!

I have so much studying to do after I am done with youth group tonight at 8, plus clean out the fridge and kitchen for the Friday delivery. But I MUST make the Pie Pops tonight! So excited!

Just call me BakeCover... (Get it..Bakeover, Bake Cover, BakeCover!) :)

Now if only I could get into working out...

My turn!

Thanks for the tag Carri!

1. If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Anywhere tropical! I am not the least bit interested in Europe or "history" sight seeing. Give me water, cocktails and a lounge chair. I would love to go to Fiji.

2. Which do you like better, cooking or baking?
Baking! I, of all the times in my life to start now with so much on my plate, have gotten into baking and cooking. I am trying to do one new recipe a weekend (baked item) . Thanks to tasteofhome.com I plan all my dinner meals and get my baked goodie ideas from there too. LOVE tasteofhome.com. It has saved me! And, the recipes are really good too!

3. What type of music do you listen to?
In the car: Country, very rarely amp and KIIS. If I had my rathers I would probably listen to John Mayer all day long. Where is the "John Mayer" station? :)

4. What's your favorite holiday?
Hmm...I LOVE fall so Halloween is up there. I also love Christmas for the traditions and now for the new ones to start with my son. And, 4th of July is one of my favs too. I love the colors, the food, the fireworks, the fact that is an "outdoor" holiday as you all know I LOVE to be outside. With all holidays I am most excited now for doing all those special things for my son that I remember so vividly as a child.

5. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
Hmm...when I am mad, an extrovert. I am more of an introvert that I used to be. Although, I am in charge of youth and parents at work so one would think I am extroverted. I will go with a mix.

7. What websites do you frequent most often?
Hotmail, Facebook (way toooo much, I am trying to cut back!), bank, tasteofhome.com

8. What is your favorite childhood memory?

Family gatherings. The whole family (aunt, uncle, cousins, grandparents, etc.) would go to church, then head to Taco Bell for lunch. Later in the afternoon we would gather at my Grandma's house and have dinner each week too.

Another memory I am fond of is just playing in the backyard with my brother and all the crazy things we would come up with to do, like pretend we ran Autopia at Disneyland with our Big Wheels. :)

Wishes

I have not done one of these in FOREVER, and I have A follower so really, this is more for me to vent then to inform the world I guess.

I am taking Anatomy at LBCC online and an online Psych 1 class this semester. (My first time in school since graduating with my BA in 2005). Anatomy is H A R D. And next semester, given I pass this beast, is Microbiology and Physiology. Why am I doing all this? Nursing school is calling my name and those three are my ticket to even apply.

Lately I have been struggling with the balance of Tyler, Sean, work, school and household chores being neglected. It's funny because what I want right now is to have all the things I can have once I finish the nursing program. I want more time with Tyler, MUCH more, time with my husband and time to clean house. No, I am not a 1950's housewife, but right now I have very little time to clean, decorate and organize with all the studying I have to do at night.

The three of us went on a walk of the neighborhood the other night and it hit me that I should make a list of all the reasons I am going through all this agony of school again. I have always said I am more motivated because it is "for the family" and that is 100% true. But, then I began to break it down into little bite sized treats. For example, I want a fireplace, a family room, bigger kitchen, another bedroom, family vacations, a bigger car. And a nursing salary just may help us get there quicker than the full time, alot of nights and weekends for little pay job I have now.

The other issue I struggle with GREATLY and wish I could change, but doubt will happen is the wish for another baby in the next 2 years. A. our house is a very small 2 bedroom. B. With trying to get into a 2 year nursing program it would be stupid to have a baby now. By the time I get in on the 2nd or 3rd try and then go through the two year program, Tyler will be 5 or 6 and I really didn't want my kids that far apart. It's one of those situations that pains you because you know there is no other option and it has to be that way. But, if you know me, you know that I want what I want right now and find someway to make it happen but this time that won't happen.

And lastly, ironically just being increased to full time in July and starting back to school in August has really made me want to quit work and focus on school and my family. I want nothing more than two have those 2 things on my plate and nothing else. But, not working is not an option until I get into the nursing program.

Why can't we just have it all? :)

Sometimes I worry that this nursing school prep and program is not the best idea. I do want the end result but am afraid of the toll it will take on our family between now and then.

I have alot of worries and they are all knotting up in my shoulders as we speak. Only time will tell what is best and I just have to keep remembering that. As for the current day, it is crash studying for the Axial Skeleton test tomorrow at 3pm. Oh, and Grey's Anatomy tonight too. :)

Thanks for the vent outlet blogspot!

And so it begins...

So much to say! I guess I should start with a huge THANK YOU to Carri for making my blog look more like the girly blog it should be! I love reading her blog because it entertains me and makes me feel, well, normal!

Between this and uploading my 96 pictures through the snail's pace Costco photo uploader I have gotten nothing crossed off my page long work to-do list. (not that that is anything new.)

It is funny how one day at work I am thinking about the coming months and having not much on my plate to do and then the next it all hits at once. Well, June means it has all hit at once. VBS is in a week and a half, and have I figured out the opening and closing programs? Nope. The Yakima mission trip planning is done except for the little mother hen planning things like goody bags, activities and food. Confirmation Camp means I just have to get the kids there and back and hang out for the week, so no real work there. But, there are so many other little things that need doing.

And then there is so much I want to do at home, sitting at my desk, dreaming of when I get off and all the things I am going to get done after Tyler goes to bed. HA! I can't believe I fall for it anymore. When Tyler goes to bed I either veg or go to bed myself....every night. So the crafty ideas in my head and the weeding, watering, cleaning....well somehow I always have more energy during the day so I wait until my son is up and moving and have Sean watch him. Makes so much sense right?!

Father's Day has come quick this year! It seems like Sean was just celebrating his first one with Tyler's baptism. Sean is an old pro now with his 2nd Father's Day almost here! :) I surprised Sean and coordinated an "almost" free vacation to Big Bear to stay at the Croes' cabin. The Croes' are church members and Amanda is my brother's girlfriend. Big Bear is our attempt at a little family getaway before the craziness begins in my summer. I am looking forward to this, although it is stressful with a crawling 13 month old, as our first family vacation alone. I will never forget the day I was rocking my month old son, sitting in the window watching the family of 6 across the street packing their van for their two week family road trip vacation. I was so excited watching them, remembering all those feelings as a kid and being anxious to do that for my own family, that you would have thought I was hopping in the car with them. So, for now if it has to be two days in Big Bear, that is what it will be!

Since I spent the whole morning uploading pictures, I might as well share some of my hard work...Enjoy!

The Brean's first boysenberries of the season

Tyler's first time in a pool The COVER's first backyard boysenberries EVER

I have alot of packing and laundry to do tonight...this should be interesting! Hope it gets done! :)

What am I doing?

So, first it's myspace. Then I ditch myspace and hop on the facebook band wagon. And now people have a blog. So, now I have one and don't know how to decorate it, darnit!
I think I got one because of the concept of venting and sharing my life with others, who care to read my rambling anyway.
We will see how it goes. So far so good. Hopefully more is to come!