[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