What's for Dinner at Your House?

Tonight I'm serving: Dijon Crusted Chicken Breasts, Baked Sweet Potatoes, Sauteed Mushrooms, and Steamed Spinach! 

What's on your menu?

(originally posted on my blog, Dairy of a Young Wife) 

Hospitality...

With the addition of a baby into our household, we have had more visitors come to our little abode than ever before! I am ashamed to say it, but I have often found myself in a bit of a pickle when a well-meaning friend or relative calls and asks if they can pop in for a minute. Up until very recently, the apartment was messy and there wasn't much to offer our guests in the way of refreshment. Fortunately, I have begun doing my little tidying up ritual every morning which takes care of the mess and eliminates the need for scurrying around with the dust buster while trying to simultaneously soothe the baby and toss clutter into the hall closet.

Having a tidy house doesn't mean that I have refreshments for my guests though. I have been giving a lot of thought to stocking my pantry with quick and easy things to serve in a snap. Here are some of the ideas that I have come up with:

Beverages

Coffee
Tea
Frozen juices (add water and frozen juice concentrate to a pitcher and voila!)

Snacks

Hummus and mini pita bread
Vegetables and dip platter
fruit (to eat whole or as a fruit salad)
Crackers and Cheese
Baked goods (homemade banana bread, muffins, etc.)
Cookies

I am sure that many of you even better ideas! Please write them in:) I would love to compile a list to keep in my recipe box to refer to. 

(originally posted on my blog, Dairy of a Young Wife) 

Emma's Morning Routine...

Now that I have gotten used to going through our apartment every morning and tidying up (see Emma's Daily Cleaning Routine), I have decided to add another schedule to my day: Emma's Morning Routine. I had this down pat (except for the Tidy House bit) while I was working, but have gotten off track since having been in the hospital for so long and then having a new baby to care for. I am ashamed to say it, but there are days when I am still in my pajamas at noon and haven't done anything but feed and change the baby and stumble around the apartment in a fog. This was perfectly acceptable while I was getting used to mothering, but now that I feel better and things are going a bit more smoothly, I think that it is time to get into something of a routine. Please don't laugh at how simplistic it is. I am honestly at the point where I need to remind myself to do these simple little tasks. Here it is:

Emma's Morning Routine

• Rise and Shine (freshen up, dress femininely, make-up, hair, scent)
• Morning Prayers
• Breakfast, vitamin, and water
• Tidy House
• Write out the day’s “to do” list

*With the exception of tidying the house (which is pretty involved and takes a bit of time), all of the above must be completed before noon each day!*

(originally posted on my blog, Dairy of a Young Wife) 

My Head to Toe Beauty Routine...

Every week or so, I get the urge to do a little bit of pampering and matenence. Though I suppose this could be construed as vanity, I feel that it is important to have a neat and pretty countenance. This was good to do when I was a working woman, but it seems to be nearly necessary now that I am home full time. I have already found that it is quite easy to fall into a more slovenly manner of appearance and dress when I am not going anywhere and am operating on less sleep than I am accustomed to.

Here is what I do to help myself feel a bit more human:

First, if time allows, I draw myself a bath. I add bubbles or bath salts to make the water fragrant. I have also been known to light candles and put on some soothing music. I bring in a freshly laundered towel and a book or favorite magazine and then I soak. I soak for as long as I can!

Since I no longer have the luxury of time, I take a bit of a short cut by taking a shower instead. Once I am feeling relaxed by the nice hot water, I take care of my body from head to toe. I wash my hair carefully and condition it well. I wash my body with a bath scrub and a sweet smelling body wash. Next, I carefully shave my underarms and legs. When I am finished washing and drying, I continue my Head to Toe Beauty Routine at the sink.

The next part of my routine is to pluck my eyebrows. I have found that the best time to do this is right after bathing because it hurts less. After plucking, I put a Biore Pore Peeler onto my nose and clean my jewelry while it is working. Next, I carefully moisturize my face and body. Finally, I do a manicure and pedicure (sometimes I get these done at a nail salon... usually for special occasions).

I have found that going through this routine about once a week helps me feel better about putting my "best foot forward." I wonder if other women have beauty nights like this. If you do, I would love to read about what yours consists of!

(originally posted on my blog, Dairy of a Young Wife) 

Emma's Daily Cleaning Routine...

Now that I am an official homemaker and have recovered from giving birth (i.e. my forty days are nearly over and my home is in disarray), I have devised a daily cleaning schedule to follow.  I am hoping to incorporate this into our day before my return to civilization. What sort of daily cleaning schedule do you follow?

Emma's Daily Cleaning Routine

Master BathroomWipe mirror
Wipe sink and faucet
Wipe toilet and swish bowl
Spray shower, tub, and curtain
Empty garbage can

Bedroom 

 Make bed
Straighten surfaces
Feather dust furniture
Restock changing table
Empty diaper pail
Put away clothing

Guest Bathroom
Wipe mirror
Wipe sink and faucet
Wipe toilet and swish bowl
Wash, dry, and put away a load of laundry
Empty garbage can

Living Room
Tidy couch cushions and throw blanket
Straighten surfaces
Feather dust furniture
Run hand-held vacuum cleaner

Kitchen and Entranceway
Empty and load dishwasher
Wipe down counter tops, stove, and sink
Sweep floor
Empty garbage can 

(originally posted on my blog, Dairy of a Young Wife) 

ABC Meme That's Going Around...

Accent: I suppose one could say that my accent is a northern New Jersey accent... I don't think that I speak with the typical "New Joisey" accent that some people are fond of poking fun of! I wish that I spoke with a British accent, but since my parents are American and we only lived there for the first three months of my life, it was never a likely possibility!

Bible book I like best: I think that I would have to say the book of Esther. We recently watched dvd that told the story of Esther and I liked it so much!!

Chore I Don't Care For: I really don't have a particular chore that I don't like doing... when I was younger, I couldn't stand cleaning the toilet. As I got older, I really disliked washing dishes in a dishpan that had little bits of food in the water. Now, my difficulty is getting myself started with the housework... once I begin, I am good to go!

Dog or Cat: I love kitty cats! The cat that I loved the most was a big grey tom cat named Thomas... after naughty Tom Kitten in Beatrix Potter books. He was such a sweet cat and he loved to be held and cuddled. Unfortunately, Hubby isn't fond of animals, so I don't think we'll have one anytime soon:(

Essential Electronics: I suppose that I like my laptop the best... Since it belongs to the school that I teach in though, I will have to turn it in by the end of May. Yes, I have only twenty more days left in my teaching career! I will officially be a homemaker as of June 1st!!

Favorite Cologne(s): I recently bought a bottle of Burberry London (with a gift card)and have been enjoying it very much. It combines roses and jasmine which are two of my very favorite scents! I only sprits on a little though, because it can be quite potent!

Gold or Silver: I like white gold the best. My engagement ring and wedding band are made of white gold and I also have a little white gold cross and chain and white gold earrings. I like it better then silver which tarnishes easily.

Handbag I carry most often: I really like pocketbooks! The one that I have been using the most lately is a brown Longchamps bag that I bought with my birthday money. I have always purchased black ones, but felt that black was too "heavy" for Spring and Summer. I have been happy with this one so far!

Insomnia: Thankfully, I don't suffer from Insomnia... I am sure that I will soon suffer from Infant Related Insomnia soon though;)

Job Title: Currently- Wife, Mama, and Teacher
As of June 1st- Wife and Mama

Kids: One little baby on the way!

Living arrangements: A lovely apartment that we feel very cozy in... with the exception of the leaky dining room!!

Most admirable trait: The ability not to hold onto anger for long.

Naughtiest childhood behaviour: Probably taking things that didn't belong to me... at one point I was a real Miss Sticky Fingers!

Overnight hospital stays: None that I can remember. I know that I was in the hospital for a week when I was an infant and then again when I was a toddler. I will have to stay overnight when the baby comes though... I am a bit nervous about that!

Phobias: Being alone. I didn't like when John had to go one two week-long business trips. I had never been alone in a house or apartment overnight before (I grew up in a large family and lived there until I was married) and I didn't like it one bit!! Every noise scared me!

Quote:

Religion: Orthodox Christian

Siblings: Three younger sisters (Anna-22, Katharine-18, and Juliana-17) and one younger brother (Nicolas-10).

Time I wake up: I wake up at 6:30 am and hit the snooze button until 6:48 am.

Unusual talent or skill: I can wiggle my ears and I can also raise one eyebrow which can convey surprise or amazement (both positive and negative)... a real help in being a teacher!

Vegetable I refuse to eat: I love all vegetables... I don't like mangos though!

Worst habit: It's a toss-up between cracking my knuckles and biting my nails.

X-rays: Only one that was not dental. It was on my ankle which was puffy and swollen because I slipped and fell on some ice. Fortunately, nothing was broken.

Yummy stuff I cook: Shepherd's Pie, Brownies, and Chocolate Chip cookies.

Zoo animal I like most: Giraffes

(originally posted on my blog, Dairy of a Young Wife) 

The Kratt Brothers...

We had some surprising visitors in our school today. The Kratt Brothers of Kratts' Creatures on PBS made an appearance! Apparently, they both lived in this town when they were growing up and even went to our school (there are a few older teachers who actually taught them!!). They were making a CBS special using some of the children from our school. I'm not sure when this program will air, but I'll let you know... it will be interesting to see some of the children that I've taught on TV! By the way, these two brothers weren't the most humble of creatures! They insisted on entering the school through a rear door (I guess so that the Central New Jersey paparazzi wouldn't bother them ;) ). They also ignored the children that were looking at them in wonder and interest (I had told my class that they were celebrities). Oddly enough, most of the kids and teachers had no idea who they were!

(originally posted on my blog, Dairy of a Young Wife) 

This and That...

In celebration of spring, I made our dinner with loads of fresh ingredients. I stopped at our local grocery store to do our weekly shopping (I normally do this on Saturday... However I was foiled this weekend by the trip to New York). Stop and Shop (which is the only grocery store they seem to have in our area...There are literally four of them within ten miles of our apartment) is a terrific store for fresh and organic foods. It is also a bit more expensive than A&P, Shop Rite, and Pathmark... Stores I have shopped at in the past. I bought many yummy things and concocted a pretty good Lenten meal.

We had French bread pizza (tomato sauce, mushrooms, red onions, green peppers, tomatoes, and various seasonings... I also had cheese on mine) and a cucumber, tomato, and red onion salad with this surprisingly easy dressing made from a Lenten cookbook. Our dessert was strawberries and peaches very lightly dusted with sugar. I felt like it should have been beautiful spring weather with a fresh and light dinner like that! Instead, we were (and still are) all bundled up in our cozy little home!

I made a very extensive "to do" list for myself tonight (the things on the list must be completed before the end of the week). The four main things that I'd like to accomplish are:

• Register for baby things at Babies'R'Us (my mother informed me that there will be a shower held for me on May 21st... Interestingly enough, that is also my old calendar nameday (the day that St. Emilia is commemorated)!
• Register for Lamaze classes at the hospital where we will be delivering the baby.
• Pick up the dry cleaning that I dropped off weeks ago.
• Call three of my good friends and write to my godmother.

So far, I have called two of my friends and left messages for two different people who teach and schedule the Lamaze classes in our area. I feel pretty good that I have actually done some of the things that I have been putting off for a few weeks! Hopefully this trend towards taking care of this things that need taking care of will continue for me!!
I was speaking to a co-worker who is also expecting a baby (in August) and was surprised to find that she and her husband have already set up the nursery! They painted the walls and got bedroom furniture and decorations. John and I have pretty much done nothing for our little baby! Granted, the baby is not coming for a few months and the baby will also not have his/her own room while we live in this apartment... However, I feel like we need to get cracking!! We probably still won't purchase anything for the little one until after the shower, but at least we'll have an idea of what we need/want. Oy!

(originally posted on my blog, Dairy of a Young Wife) 

An Enjoyable Weekend...

Thank you to everyone who posted encouraging words about my blah day on Friday. I am hoping that this week will be less filled up and have some time for relaxing... Hopefully I won't feel so overwhelmed by the time that Friday and the weekend roll around.

We had a good time at my husband's aunt and uncle's home. They were babysitting two of their grandchildren which was enjoyable. A. and N. are three and two respectively, so they are a bit of a handful to care for. It was good that we were there to help them a bit. I watched N. During the Liturgy today (good practice for when the baby comes). He was sweet, quiet, and very good during the service.

Before we came home we stopped at Titan foods in Astoria (a huge Greek supermarket). We stocked up on hummus, pita bread, olives, calamari, etc. I think that it will be a good break for John to have some of his favorite foods as a little treat. Great Lent can be difficult in the middle... Some variety seems to make it more bearable.

Today was also my mother-in-law's Nameday (Saint Daria), so we had dinner at a Chinese restaurant (We had a pretty ethnic day!!) with John's parents and brothers. It was nice and very laidback... I was quite happy not to have to cook dinner:) We finally came home at about 8 and I've been puttering around since then. I think that I am pretty much ready to face the week. I will probably have a small snack and then go to bed. I am pooped!

(originally posted on my blog, Dairy of a Young Wife) 

One Smile...

"It only takes seeing one smile, hearing one word, receiving one act of kindness or reading one book to change your view of life. Read this heart-warming story and begin a new and meaningful life today. It only takes One Smile."

~ Bernie Siegel M.D.

I came across this book during my first year teaching. I had placed an order with Scholastic and they sent it along with my order for free. When I opened it to read it to my class for the first time, I was shocked to see that most of the women pictured in the illustrations wore long and flowing dresses! My students were totally enthralled with the story and pictures in this book. I highly recommend it to parents, teachers, and librarians!

(originally posted on my blog, Dairy of a Young Wife) 

Open Range...

Despite it's "R" rating for violence, Open Range is one of the most beautiful examples of feminine womanhood that I have seen in a movie. Annette Bening is graceful, feminine, and elegant as a frontier woman quietly waiting for true love. She finds this love in rough and rugged cowboy, Kevin Costner.

(originally posted on my blog, Dairy of a Young Wife) 

A Delightful Saturday at Home...

I am very excited to be home today. The weather is sunny, but cold. As I type this, I am watching Fried Green Tomatoes on TNT. I already have a load of white laundry in the washing machine... I just love crawling into crisp, clean sheets at night. Since I am feeling pretty good today, I am hoping to get some homemaking accomplished today. I'd like to clean the apartment, bake some bread and cookies, and spend some time primping. It seems like a tall order, but I hope that I can accomplish it all!

(originally posted on my blog, Dairy of a Young Wife) 

Returning to Work...

Ahh... my nice long weekend is nearly over:( New Jersey closes schools the second Thursday and Friday of the month of November for teacher's conventions... Since, it is optional, I decided not to go. Taking long naps seemed like a much better way to spend my time:)

I am actually kind of nervous about returning to school because I have been suffering from all-day sickness! Poor John has been so good to me! I am hoping that I won't feel too terrible tomorrow...

Many people have been wondering whether I'll be able to stay home when I have the baby. The answer is a resounding "YES!" John and I both think that it is really important for Mama to be home for the Daddy and the babies:) We are very thankful for the two years that I have been employed as a teacher, because it gave us a great start toward paying off our school loans and other debts. We were also able to pay for our wedding without burdening our parents. However, I am SO ready to move into the next phase of our lives:)

(originally posted on my blog, Dairy of a Young Wife) 

A Long Absence...

Whew! I have been gone from his blog for a long time!

Lots has been going on for us... John was ordained to the deaconate on Sunday, October 30th. It was a beautiful service, and I can see how happy and fulfilled John is serving in the church!!

In addition, John and I have discovered that we're expecting!! Our little one is due on June 26th. Though we've known for some time now, we tried to keep it to ourselves in the beginning:) We are both so happy and excited!! I have been feeling pretty tired and sick to my stomach lately. I've been checking out many home remedies for morning sickness and have found crackers, ginger ale, and strawberry icepops to help a little.

Teaching has been going pretty well. I love my little kids very much! They are really blossoming now... we've stopped reviewing what they learned in Kindergarten. They are all doing so well with reading and writing! Math is becoming easier now that we've begun to explore different ways to find answers (No more fingers allowed!!). We've also begun learning new patriotic songs from our favorite c.d. Wee Sing America. Thanks to that c.d. all of my six year olds know the fifty states in alphabetical order!! Amazing!

Anyway, that's all for now! I will try to write more frequently from now on...

(originally posted on my blog, Dairy of a Young Wife)