[random]

I have been MIA on blogger this past month. Have I been extremely busy? No, not really...I have actually had lots of downtime recently. After the hospital was crazy busy the past month, the past few weeks have been laid back. I was actually called off work Friday and today...which meant 4 day weekend! Bliss! The past few weeks Ryan and I have been able to spend time with friends and family and just catch up on life. A few weekends ago we were able to spend the day at the waterpark and met our friends Lee & Leah and their little stink Sarah! Lee & Leah live about an hour and a half away from us, and we love getting to hang out when we can. Sarah was a rockstar at the waterpark and loved all the slides, she went nonstop until it was time to go!

A couple of weeks ago we also had Meloni's baby shower at work. Monogramming for little girls is soo much fun! I have spent most of my downtime in my craft room, and have been in heaven!

This was my 2nd Fourth of July I was not in Panama for our annual mission trip. Since I have started working at the hospital I have not been able to go-but I am hoping next year will be different. My mom and dad were able to go, and I know lots of seeds were planted this past week, and I am so glad they are back safely....Since my parents were out of the country, we spent Fourth of July with Ryan's family at my sister-in-laws family's lake house. We had so much fun grilling out, swimming,and boating. It was a great day to be outside and relax!



Last but not least...
Hi my name is Tiffany, and I have become a coupon junkie!!! Yes, I admit I have a couponing binder. Yes, I admit I have begun a stockpile. And yes, I admit, I wake up super early on Sunday to get the newspaper because we have a limited number since I live in the middle of nowhere. Yes, I admit I spend lots of time on the internet and going through sales ads to map out my couponing trip. Yes, I admit my sister-in-law is my couponing partner, who makes me want to coupon even more with her crazy good deals. First step to overcome an addiction is to admit you have one, right? This is definitely an addiction I won't be kicking anytime soon. ha. Couponing is a pure adrenaline rush. Crazy, I know. I have soo much fun saving money, and feel absolutely totally guilty paying full price for an item! But, I am not just buying just to buy. I am couponing practically. Ryan and I have also decided if we are saving money and just spending the extra, it is really not saving anyways-so we have begun putting the money we save on each trip to savings account. Whew. That was a spill. Well, back to work tomorrow, then off again for 3 days! I think I can make it one day! I am enjoying staying home waaaayy too much!



$35



$0.02!!



[meatloaf mania]

I have had several drive me crazy  ask me for this recipe, so I decided it was time to post it. I also didn't have much to blog about right now. Work has been crazy busy,I think this week they have been running a special right now on gallbladders and uterus' in the OR.  Ok, not really, but it sure feels like it. I have also been busy training for my newest position-Charge Nurse. lovely.  But anyways, to the meatloaf! My Nanna Paula gave me this recipe, and it is divine!

-1 1/2 lbs of ground chuck
-3 slices of bread (torn into small pieces)
-1 c. milk
-1/4 cup minced onion
-1 tablespoon ketchup
-1 tablespoon worcestershire
-1 1/4 teaspoon salt
-1 teaspoon tabasco
-1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
-2 1/2 cups sharp shredded cheese

1. Mix all ingredients EXCEPT cheese in bowl.
2. Place half meat mixture into meatloaf pan, then about 2 cups of cheese on top. Pat rest of meat mixture on top of cheese, and sprinkle top of meatlof with remainder cheese.
3. Bake @ 350 for 45-60 mins

**Remember cheese is greasy! I always use a meatloaf pan to drain the excess grease while baking. Also, when meatloaf is finished I pour out grease from on top of pan, and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving!

Sorry I don't have a picture, but trust me....delish! Happy baking.

[Birthday Week]

Tuesday was my birthday,alas! I had such a wonderful birthday week, and it is still continuing! Even though this past weekend was my weekend to work, somehow I was not scheduled to work on Saturday...yahtzee! Sunday morning at 5: 30 am as I was half asleep trying to put contacts in,supervisor called to tell me to stay home and be on call, double yahtzee! The bonus of all this was- I was scheduled off Mon,Tues, and Wed...which meant 5 day vacay for my birthday week! I was able to catch up on some monogramming, bake, shop, and lay on the couch to watch NCIS marathon all day. Pure bliss! Tuesday I took my first gamble at couponing at CVS.  Ryan and I are trying to knock out our student loan debt and I figured we could cut our grocery bill by couponing. I did better than I thought I would, but still not as good as I would like to be. Any tips? For those of you who don't coupon or have never couponed you may not understand-but couponing is such an adrenaline rush! Crazy, I know! Checking out at the register with 4-5 different purchases, hoping everything equals what it's suppose to is pure adrenaline. My total before coupons was $43.56(pre tax)....total paid after coupons: $8.82(pre tax)!! I was super pumped!

Tuesday evening Ryan's parents, my sister and brother in law, and Ryan and I went to Rosie's for dinner for my birthday. I could eat mexican everyday, and Rosie's is delish! After dinner, we went to my sister-in-law's parents house for cake and ice cream and presents. I know I am way too old for birthday parties, but I loaded up on gifts! The only thing missing from my birthday were my parents! This was my first birthday without them-such a bummer...



Cindy & I @ Rosies



one of my presents from Ryan-my bucket stand

Willow House Savannah Bevarage Server from my Parents..looove!

I ended my 5 days off by going on a very hilly 1 hour bike ride today with Ryan, Casey, and Cindy. Boy-I am out of shape!! I absolutely love riding my bike, but I am use to riding on flat ground of the coast, and not the hills of North Alabama! I have had such a wonderful 5 days off and a great birthday. Now, back to the reality of work tomorrow. ehh.....

And of course because I can't leave out Jacks & Ridge...We took them swimming for the first time this past week, and I wasn't sure how we were going to get them out they loved it so much.

Jacks & Ridge

[Memorial Day Weekend]



Ridge & Jacks



Yes, I realize tomorrow is Memorial Day and I am already posting on my Memorial Day weekend.....but of course, I will be saving lives at work tomorrow (insert sarcastic voice). I hate I have only had a 2 day weekend, but I have had a great weekend off. Friday night, our friends Lee & Leah came in from Birmingham and we met them for dinner when I got off work.  After taking Maddie for an overdue grooming Saturday morning, we spent the remainder of our day working in our yard. Fixing up our yard will be a never ending project, bleh. I need to register for one of those HGTV shows were they show up and landscape your yard...hey, I can dream, right?

Unfortunately since I work tomorrow and so does my mother-in-law, we grilled out this afternoon with the inlaws. I think I ate an entire week's worth of food today...and I am really regretting that one at this moment.  I am thankful for a wonderful Memorial Day weekend with family, and thankful for all the men and women who have lost, risked, are risking their lives for our country. I am so proud of my husband and brother in law for both having served in the Marines. I hope everyone had a splendid weekend.

[weekend home]

Finally! 6 days off from work!

Ryan and I went on a much needed trip to the coast to visit my parents. We left on Friday and came back Monday, and it was not near as much time as I would have liked. This was Jacks & Ridge's first big road trip, and I was really nervous of how they would do in the kennel for 6 and a half hours. To my surprise, the puppies slept the entire way, and let us know when they needed us to stop for a break. We spent the weekend shopping, relaxing, and eating as much as possible. Jaron and Courtney stayed Friday night as well (btw-have I mentioned, I AM GOING TO BE AN AUNT!!) The puppies absolutely loved that my parents have a fenced in back yard and they could come in and out as they pleased.  They were wore out to say the least. I wish my parent's didn't live so far away, but I am thankful they live within one day's driving distance. I don't know how I am going to make it back at work tomorrow, getting up at 5:30 am and working a 12 hour shift aren't looking so fun....



at my favorite restaraunt! lookout!




Jacks & Ridge LOOVEE water




Me & Jaron



[back to the gym I go]

Maybe if I post this publically, I will hold myself responsible.

Have you ever lost complete motivation to be active? I am guilty. My last semester of nursing school and until our wedding I was completely addicted to working out, and the high you get from having so much energy. I felt good, and I had so much more energy...and I also had a goal-fit into my wedding dress. Since October, I have given up on working out, and I am still paying a gym membership. Sad, but true. It takes a a couple of weeks of dragging yourself to the gym before it becomes enjoyable....but I need the motivation to even do that! So, starting this week, my goal is to get back to working out, and not using the excuse of I am too busy. Now, I don't mean hard core dieting, just working out (I am world's worst about dieting!!).  I felt so much better about myself and I had soo much energy when I worked out, and I am hoping I can get back to that point.....I am also totally guilty of having a chocolate chip pound cake in the oven as I type this.. eh : /...This isn't going to be easy! Guess I need to find my running shoes, and air the tires up on my bike.

[Cinco de Mayo]

To begin, I know I have been MIA lately. Work and life have been CRAZY! The tornados hit our area directly and it has been a mess. We were so fortunate and blessed that it missed our small town, but it hit all the towns surrounding us. I personally know how much a struggle the next few years will be for the people who were directly hit, and my heart absolutely breaks and goes out to them. We spent this past weekend working in a small town called Phil Cambell, in which there is total devastation. We talked with the coroner while we were down there, and the stories are just horrid. Lots of prayers are needed for these areas. Also, the hospital was crazy after all the storms had calmed with victims. I have gotten my fair share of overtime the past week. Ryan's work has also been closed due to lack of power, he has been using his time doing tornado clean up with some of the members of our church. My mother in law took pictures one day while we were down there, I will upload some next time, and even then pictures don't do it justice.  Please continue to keep those affected in your prayers, as they have a long road of recovery ahead.

On a happier note, yesterday was cinco de mayo! In lieu of cinco de mayo, we had family over for dinner and had a great time. Mexican is my favorite, and I kid you not I could eat it every day. So yesterday I made enchilada casserole, mexican rice, cheese dip, and lime margarita cupcakes with  lime cream cheese frosting.  My vote is everyday should be cinco de mayo!

Enchilada Casserole:

• 1 pound lean ground beef 
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 cups mild picante salsa
• 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/4 cup reduced-fat Italian salad dressing
• 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
• 6 flour tortillas (8 inches)
• 3/4 cup Sour Cream
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend

1. Cook beef and onion in a large skillet, drain.

2.Add salsa, black beans, italian dressin and taco seasoning. Mix.
3. Place 2 tortillas down on a 9x 13 baking dish. Pour half of meat mix on top of tortillas, top with 1/2 of sour cream mixture and cheese. Place 2 more tortillas down, rest of meat mix, sour cream and cheese. Place last 2 tortillas on top and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
4. Bake @ 400 for 20 minutes, or until bubbly.
-Serve with tomatoes, lettuce, and sour cream for toppings
*Note: I double my recipe and make 2 dishes, so I can freeze one to bake another day.

Mexican Cheese Dip

-1 block of Jalepeno Mexican cheese dip (at Walmart in the hispanic cheese section)

-8 oz cream cheese
-3/ 4 cup of milk

1. Crumble cheese dip block into small pieces with milk and cook in microwave for 30 seconds at a time until almost creamy.
2. Add cream cheese and place into crockpot on warm, until serving.
3. Add straw, and drink cheese dip because it will be that amazing. just kidding, ..well..maybe not :) .

Hope everyone had a great Cinco de Mayo!