What's on my phone, Tuesday:

I came across this amazing blog...and i thought it would be super cool to copy her!! ;)
I always have my phone attached to my hip...(By the way, if i don't answer...i usually SEE your call, i just don't want to talk to you at the moment! ;-P )
I'm ALWAYS snapping pics with my phone...so i thought this would be a great way to share little pieces of my week-weekend and a little bit of yesterday too.

Lunch (this was from last Thursday-@ work).  Jasmine Brown Rice with beans and Avocado. YUMMY!!

Sushi Lunch date on Friday.

I loooove spicy tuna rolls. I could probably eat this every single day. I don't know what I'm going to do when I get pregnant!! I heard you can't eat sushi... It's going to be a LONG 9 months!! :(

I really don't know why i snapped this pic...it's a pic of my nightstand (my side, of course)...and it has a bunch of magazines, the movie Valentine's Day (that i always fall asleep 1/2 way through)....and a purple candle that totally doesn't go with the decor, but smells yummy (it's glade, plum).

By the way, my nightstand I created (LOL). it's one of those couch TV trays that i spray painted in white, and an oval mirror. It's obviously temporary...but it's holding up pretty good. :)

I went to the Salvation Army on Saturday...and they had this frame. It's not a great looking frame...but i really liked the quote for some reason (that is the reason i took the picture). You can't really see because obviously the pic is kinda tiny...but here is what it says:

"How long the road is. But, for all the time the journey has already taken, How you have needed every second of it in order to learn what the road passes by."

love it. I didn't buy it :(

I purchased this rug for my living room this weekend (LOOVE IT) from Lowes.

It was marked down to $68.60 from $98.00.

Love it.

Love this mirror...and for ONLY $64.00...it's a bargain!!

You can't really tell, because it's up high on the wall, but the "WOOD" frame is actually plastic....but hey, who's TOUCHING YOUR MIRROR ANYWAYS?!! Right?

And LAST but NOT LEAST: Hubby and I had date night last night, at a bar in RVC (a cute area near our house)...and it was TEN CENT WINGS NIGHT! Yes, that whole entire plate of wings was just $2.00. There is a catch though, there is a 1 drink minimum per person...but honestly...the wings are SO GOOD...and the drink specials are even better!! Who DOESN'T LOOOOOVE BEER AND WINGS ON A MONDAY NIGHT??!!! ;)

Ok, well...that's my take on "WHAT'S ON MY PHONE TUESDAY".

So...what's on your phone?!!

The guidelines.

1. spend the week looking for interesting, funny, cute, special, lovely, ugly, silly, crude (okay maybe not crude), or other worthy pictures. and by that it pretty much means anything.

2. when you find them, snap a shot with your phone.

3. then on tuesday, upload it into your blog.

Salisbury Steak.

I had no idea what i was going to make for dinner last night (Even though, i've tried the whole "MENU PLANNING" Idea...it's gone out the window for this week! :( )

I had taken out ground beef the day before to make hamburgers, since we were going to have a bbq, Just Hubs and I...however, we were pretty content with just teriyaki chicken...so the ground beef went back in the fridge. I'm TIRED of tacos, tired of meat loaf, hamburgers, meat sauce, meat balls, etc.  I wanted to try something DIFFERENT, and i wanted something FAST (Last night i got home around 6:30 PM--i work 10 hour days...and i was not going to be in the kitchen for 3 hours, to eat at 9, so i needed something quick and easy). I didn't take pics, because quite honestly, i had no idea this was going to come out this great (and it is a little messy on the hands). I really didn't expect to like it as much as i did...i was just making to to make it before it went bad...bc i HATE throwing away food/meat...it's just such a waste of money!! It's like, literally...THROWING money in the garbage, when you think of it.

Hubby is a big MEAT eater.  We have to have meat for every meal (Yes, even including breakfast, he loves his bacon-and more recently, we've been eating turkey bacon, to substitue-because i'm no fan of my house smelling like bacon for 5 days to follow, along with the obvious health benefits). He loves Steak! And although, this isn't technically a steak...it's a little different than a meatloaf or a meatball.

I got home, and googled "Easy ground beef recipes"...and this was one of the top few searches...so i clicked. I checked out the ingredients portion and looks like i had pretty much everything. I always buy campells cream soups, because they are FAST and EASY sauces for chicken or beef...so i had the cream of mushroom. Not to mention, they were on sale for 2 for $1 at my local supermarket (Score!).

I did a little tweeking to the recipe, so here is what they asked for...and here is what i used.

Ingredients

• 1 (10.75 ounce) can Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup (Regular, 98% Fat Free or 25% Less Sodium)---i used the low sodium Cream of Mushroom
• 1 pound ground beef---I always buy the 93/7 grade---it has less fat, and can be a little dry...but with the other ingredients this recipe calls for, it's quite moist, and if you are concerned about your cholesterol, or if you have a health condition which requires watching the amount of fat you eat, a leaner grade of ground beef is going to be the choice for you ( i googled that)
• 1/3 cup dry bread crumbs---I found the new seasoned whole wheat bread crumbs in my bread crumb aisle this weekend...so i just HAD to try them out....Plus, if you're not big into whole wheat, you can't really taste it since this is added to the meat.
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil --- I ommited this, since i baked it, took a little longer than usual, but i didn't want to use oil, so instead, i sprayed the cookie sheet with PAM Olive Oil which is Low Fat
• 1 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms---i didn't have mushrooms, but if i did, i would've added them.

Directions

1. Mix thoroughly 1/4 cup soup, beef, bread crumbs, onion and egg. Shape firmly into 4 patties, 1/2 inch thick. Kinda like you're making hambergers/meatballs-except i shaped mine more oval....i don't know why i did it! LOL
2. Heat oil in skillet. Cook patties until browned. Pour off fat. I oiled my cookie sheet with PAM, and baked them at 350 degrees for about 1/2 hour (unitl brown/they sortof look like hambergers, and the bottoms will be a little burnt)
3. Add remaining soup and mushrooms.This was for the last 10 minutes, i used the rest of the soup, and put a dollop on top of each patty...just enough to cover...and put back in the oven for an extra 10 minutes. Heat to a boil. Cover and cook over low heat 10 minutes or until done.

All the while this was baking...i was preparing the rest of the meal. I made a huge salad and i made fresh steamed string beans and Asparagus (My hubby hates asapargus, so MORE for me!).

It was really delicious, and the meat was really full of flavor...since the soup made the meat nice and moist.

Hope you all have a great evening.  Any recipes you guys like to share?!

Perfume dilemma

I'm searching for a new spring/summer scent.
I've never been the type of girl that has a SET SCENT (say that 9 times fast!)...you know, a signature scent.  There is a lady i work with...that wears a certain perfume (i believe it's CK Obsession)...and i always know if she's in the building (even if i don't see her), because i can just smell her...cubicles away.  Do you know of someone like that?
I've always dabbled in a little bit of everything.  I usually go to the department store, and have the lady spray me down...and i usually end up buying something...and use it a few times, and end up HATING IT. Some perfumes give me headaches...and some, just smell like old lady.
Well, about 2 years ago...i found THE ONE. I found, Gucci Rush.

This has been my scent for sometime now, but now...we're almost hitting summer time...and i want something, fresh...something, Happy. Not that Gucci Rush isn't fun or happy...but i want something light, something...not so, overdone. Do any of you have any fun, summer scents they'd like to share??!!

Weekend project

This weekend, i feel like i've got a few things checked off my "TO DO" list.
I've finally tackled my closet...and i'm really proud of myself. I was able to donate about 1/3 of my stuff!! I really wasn't holding back this time. I kept saying to myself, "Did i wear this in the past 5 months? No? Ok. Time to let go!"...and in it went in the "DONATION PILE".
I was really proud of myself for doing it...but i still have lots more to do. I have yet to hit up my jeans and t-shirt drawer. That's where it's going to get hard. Lots of stuff in my closet are work clothes (dressy pants/tops/dresses/formal wear)...so that wasn't so hard to just toss, next up...my everyday apparel...which is really hard, because i lovvvvvve jeans and i loooove my comfy Tees!! And, i really do loove all of my tank tops i've accumulated over the years. But, i'm looking on the bright side...i get to start over...and start buying some new pieces to add to my collection...so that will make it a little easier to let go! hehe.

I do have a bunch of jeans i've had since i was 16 or 17...DON'T JUDGE! I think it might be "time" to let them go!!! I'm so ready for the challenge!!!


And, to top it off...i was also able to get rid of some unwanted crap in my entrance/living room (part of my "30 Items in 30 Days" April challenge).

 I didn't really take before and after pics...but...i swear, i really did THROW THEM IN THE TRASH FINALLY! purge them! I got rid of some really disgusting dusty old candles i've had sitting in my living room...and i got rid of some plants in my entrance...that were really, just dying. Poor things looked so terrible. I felt really bad throwing them in the trash, but i have big plans. I was thinking, Succulents!! I really love the way they look, and they are LOW MAINTENCE...that's SOOOO Me!! ;) I started googling easy plants (Because i'm the WORST Plant grower, ever!)...and this is what they say about succulents: "Succulents are not only easy to grow, they are forgiving of neglent and absence"....THAT'S MEEEEEE!



So...did any of you guys "PURGE" this weekend?? What did you end up throwing away/donating??? It really does feel great...i feel really motivated to tackle some other areas of the house now! :)



Paint swatches, Oh MY!

OK, i must admit it...every single time i go to Lowe's or Home Depot, i stop by the Paint Department...just to check out the different colors. For some reason...i know the colors have been the same for years now...but I'm drawn to the wall of paint swatches like a bug drawn to light. I stand there for about 45 minutes envisioning every room in my house a different color....and then...i do the unthinkable. I decide...to take a swatch from EVERY SINGLE COLOR...for NO REASON AT ALL. I put them in my purse...and NEVER LOOK AT THEM AGAIN (Well, until i decided it's time to clean out my purse---which is usually like once a month...and usually by this time I've made about 9 trips to Home Depot and Lowe's...therefore, i have about a gazillion little swatches, floating around in there! Please tell me I'm not alone here!!!

I was checking out some blogs, and i found this idea...that is super cute...especially since Easter is the around the corner...and also, i thought...you can totally use this for a kids party too....I'm sure it will look pretty cool.

You can find it here.

Just thought I'd share that with you. Hope everyone has a fabulous Thursday!! Anyone else have any ideas with paint swatches?

DMV blues.

So, I’ve decided that Friday (THIS FRIDAY)...I am going to actually take the dreaded trip to the DMV and get my address/name change!!
I've been putting this off for some time now (I’ve been married almost 6 MONTHS!!)...BECAUSE I ABSOLUTELY DETEST THE DMV...and especially the one in my area...it's probably the worst place in the world. No seriously...I’d rather PAY someone to go there for me!

Unfortunately...you can't pay someone to CHANGE YOUR NAME---and they don't offer this service on their website either!!! If only things were THAT easy, right? (Hey, maybe that would be a good business proposal, a DMV correspondent?!)

Another reason why I absolutely have to go, is because my registration is up in May...so I guess, we can kill 3 birds with 1 stone. We need to hand in our old plates for new ones- and did I mention that NY State has issued NEW license plates!!??!!!  AND-they are HIDEOUS!!!!

this is the old plate:

and the new:

Aren't they awful? I mean, seriously...I love mustard and navy, but on a license plate? Really?  GROSS!! Although, it does look a little vintage...and I like vintage!! LOL.

Here is the dilemma:

I’m actually a little torn. I haven't really put much thought into this...but, am i going to hyphenate my last name? I'm actually a little torn here. All my life, I’ve hated my last name...and now, I have the chance to actually ERASE it...and start over, with a NEW, NORMAL SOUNDING last name...and I’m actually having second thoughts =(  Should I stay, or should I go?

Did any of you feel torn when changing your last name? Any thoughts? I could really use some advice girls! :) 

To hyphenate, or not to hyphenate: THAT IS THE QUESTION!

30 items in 30 days!

I'm so excited for the challenge! I already know a few things that have to go!! Any of you guys start your "spring cleaning" yet? I've decided to get rid of lots of sheets/bedding/towels that we don't use, and that don't go with our bathroom decor. I want to have only the bare necessities...and if that means getting rid of almost everything, and have only 2...then so be it!! i'm UP FOR THIS CHALLENGE and i can't wait.