Simpsonize Yourself

Look familiar?

Simpsonize yourself here

Currently Cooking

This is a new one from RR, I made it last night and LOVED it!! So yummy.

Sorta Soba Noodles serves 6-8

1 pound whole wheat spaghetti or soba noodles (I used pasta and it was great)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons canola oil, divided
1 package medium sized shrimp, tails off and de-veined (I used chicken b/c shrimp is icky)
1 bunch of scallions, cut into 3 inch pieces
2 handfuls (about 1/2 pound) of string beans, about 1/2 pound, cut lengthwise into strips
1 red bell pepper, cut into strips
1 green bell pepper, cut into strips (I didn't use this cause I don't care for green peppers)
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 jar (about 1/3 to 1/2 cup) orange marmalade, about 6-8 ounces
1/4 cup tamari
1 tablespoon chili oil (I didn't have this so I just used a pinch of chili powder)
1/4 cup chicken stock (if needed) (yes, use it)
1 palmful sesame seeds and/or slivered almonds


Place a large pot of salted water over high heat and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add the noodles and cook according to the package directions to al dente.

Toast sesame seeds and/or almonds in a skillet over medium-high heat. You can tell they're done when you can smell them!

While the noodles are cooking, heat the marmalade, tamari, chili oil and a pinch of freshly ground black pepper (this is where I added in the chicken stock) in a small saucepot over low heat. Stir to combine.

Place a large skillet over medium-high to high heat and add 1 tablespoon canola oil, about once around the pan. Once the oil starts to ripple, add the shrimp to the pain and cook, about 1 minute on each side (if using chicken cook it all the way through before adding veggies). Once the shrimp start to turn pink add the veggies to the pan and cook until the shrimp are cooked through and the veggies are tender, about 3-4 minutes.

Drain the noodles and add them to the skillet with the veggies. Pour the tamari/marmalade mixture into the skillet and give it a good toss to make sure everything's nice and coated with the sauce. Plate the noodles onto dishes and garnish with toasted sesame seeds and/or almonds.

Goodbye Baby Curtis

My current (and only) students just lost their baby boy.

September 21st at 5:00 AM
Curtis Finian Collison
He weighed 2lbs. and was 17 inches long at 25 weeks gestation

I just got back from Orlando and called the mom to talk to her. She had been very sick the week before last with flu-like symptoms for 8 days and then last week out of no where she came down with it again. (BTW, she did visit the ER a couple of times when she was really sick the first time but they couldn't determine what was wrong) The midwives and doctors at Providence were testing her blood, etc. and couldn't really find anything wrong. They knew she had some sort of infection but couldn't figure out where. They monitored the baby and he was doing fine so they decided to move her to L&D to monitor the baby more thoroughly. When they got her on the next monitor they couldn't find a heart beat.

She labored like a trooper according to her husband and she told me the classes really helped her, even in this awful situation. She was still really sick too and was laboring with flu-like symptoms, I totally giver her props for that!

They just got the blood work back from Thursday and it turns out she was infected with listeria bacteria. I never knew that you could kill your baby if you happened to get this bacteria in your system. The docs told her she could have eaten something with the bacteria in it a few months ago so there's no way of knowing where it came from. And SHE had a 30% chance of dying from it too. I guess you can get listeria bacteria from produce, leftovers that have been in the fridge too long, or even from something that has been sitting around a restaurant for too long.

I don't think I'm going to be able to eat for a while because that's so disgusting.

The last three days have been so crappy that I'm ready to just lay in bed and sleep for the next three days.

Can't sleep... gotta blog

Have you ever been face first, head on with the devil? Tonight I was.

After the deodorant episode I was trying to be light hearted and funny with the baby daddy (BD). I said to him this evening in my joking sort of way "Hey, BD, I bought some tampons and lip gloss this evening and they're in the bathroom. Just don't want you to think they're Desiree's and use them as your own." To which I got the response. "Please do not disrespect me in my home. I wear the pants in this family and I deserve respect."

Now, here's a little history on this BD who thinks he's a man. For the last 2 years he has not had so much as a steady job or a home for that matter. My cousin works her butt off to support herself and her daughter without any help from him. He actually disappears for months at a time and then will reappear in their lives for a few months. Imagine what that must be like for a 2 year old little girl. For some reason my my cousin "loves" him and is addicted to him and doesn't stand firm on him leaving them alone for good. He does not live in her apartment and just showed up the night before I arrived. He does not pay rent, he does not pay child support, nothing. He lives out of a backpack and a bike. He makes me sick to my stomach.

So, fast forward to his "I wear the pants" comment. Anyone who knows me knows that I stick up for what I believe in and I believe that this guy is full-o-dookie and just wanted to start a fight with me. Looking back I should have just let it go but instead I did what my whole family has wanted to do since day one. I let him have it, first verbally. I don't even know what I said it is all a blur. I do however remember asking him to step outside.

At this point we're screaming at each other. I realized that nothing is coming from this screaming match so I stop talking. Then he proceeds to tell me how I am just a B (rhymes with witch) and that the reason Adam pushes Madelyn around (which he doesn't BTW) is because I am abusive to my son and have no idea how to raise a child. OH NO YOU DIDN'T!!!!! So being that I'm a B, I B-slapped him, twice. Then I went back inside hoping that he'd cut out the yelling at me. Nope, the verbal abuse continues so I kick him (I tried for the jewels but got him in the thigh instead because he's really tall). Meanwhile my cousin is calling 911 because she's never seen me like this and doesn't know how to stop the madness.

Fast forward. Cops come (I'm sensing that I'm going to be on the show COPS and really start to freak out) I'm standing outside crying so hard on the phone to Brian that I thought I was gonna puke in the bushes. BD is threatening to press charges against my physical abuse. (why can't I press charges against VERBAL abuse!? Verbal abuse is what starts physical abuse). Anyways, BD says that as long as I leave the apartment he won't press charges. So my cousin decides to go to a hotel with me, Adam and her daughter who are asleep. Which I think is a load of bull because he doesn't even live there!! Then the male cop decides that BD should be a man (for the first time in his life) and leave the premises so that the women and children can stay in their house.

I don't feel super safe here which is one reason I can't sleep, but I know that the Holy Spirit will protect me. I'm going to stay at a hotel tomorrow night and then I leave the next morning (thank God, get me outta here!)

I'm repenting right now on my actions which is one reason I'm typing this. But, I'm also praying that I can offer forgiveness for the harsh words that were thrown my way. I know that it was purely demonic what was coming out of his mouth, my mouth and my actions so I'm asking the Lord for complete healing so that this doesn't dwell in me for even one minute.

Thanks for listening :) I'm going to sleep now.

Utterly Disgusted

I'm still in Orlando at my cousin's apartment. Last night I went to take a shower and happened to look at my deodorant sitting on the counter next to the rest of my travel toiletries. On it was a nice long brown arm pit hair!!!!!!!! I was SOOOOO grossed out!
I immediately told my cousin to ask her skeevy baby daddy if he used my deodorant. And YES, he DID!!!! Who uses someone else's deodorant, that is so nasty!?!? Let alone a guy using women's deodorant. Now I'm wondering what else he used, my toothbrush, my underwear, why stop at deodorant?
Apparently he thought it was my cousin's deodorant and just slapped it on without thinking.

Now, I'm not selfish, I like to share but sometimes you have to draw a line. I already don't care for this dude and now he's really on my list.

Time to go buy new deodorant. I'm ready to go back to my home :(

Later Gaters

Adam and I are off to Orlando to visit my cousin and her daughter.
But first, my son has to take a nap so that we can leave for the airport at 3:00. I successfully gave him lunch and got him to sleep at noon. I run up to Target for a few things (don't worry Brian was home). When I get back he's wide awake stating that he's hungry. AHHHH, I JUST FED YOU!!!! Eat a banana, now go back to sleep rug rat!

30 minutes later I hear "mama my tummy hurts, take care of me." Oh, I'll take care of you.

Now he's sitting in his room reading a book while I finish getting everything ready. How much do you want to bet that he falls asleep at 2:45!!
Guess what book he's reading. All I hear him saying is (the raspberry noise "pbbtttt") "fart thee well!" and then "plip, plip, plip"
This is a good book although probably more a humorous adult book than a good educational children's book.

From the Cross to CBS

This weekend was spent being dunked (aka immersed) in the cross and Jesus Christ. I got so much out of this experience that it's hard to put into words.

Last week I started a new bible study with CBS. I was really excited about learning until I opened up my homework this evening and practically fell asleep doing it. (sorry Josie, but it's true) It gives a very "religious" take on the bible and I'm not very keen on that. The Beth Moore Daniel bible study we just finished over the summer was absolutely fantastic, even Brian wanted in on that action. Uh, it was so great that it gets me all excited just thinking about it!!!

I've told myself I'm going to give it a chance, even if I have to choke down the homework just to get it done. (It really feels similar to eating something you totally despise but you choke it down anyways knowing will it be good for you. This was tofu when I was a child.)

Time to testify from the weekend:

On Friday evening Jess prophesied over me about burdens in my life. In the past Brian prophesied the same things to me about removing burdens from my shoulders.

Well, on Saturday evening during worship I was soaking in the the presence of the Holy Spirit asking Him to show me how to rid myself of feeling burdened. I saw Jesus being removed from the Cross, beaten, battered, lifeless. He raised me up onto his shoulders and carried me to the tomb with Him. Jesus took all my burdens to the cross so that I can be FREE!!

I then asked for a Bible verse to meditate on. I like to play game where I just open up my Bible and the Lord shows me what to read. I opened to John 11:25-16, check this out:

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

Holy moly could you be more specifically talking TO me?!?! The verse even ends in a very specific QUESTION!

It's very difficult to go back to any sort of religious context after this wonderful word from the Lord. I'm just praying that I will be lead the right way to an enjoyable experience.

Currently Cooking

Sorry no picture, it went down too fast..
A Rachael Ray low-fat, high flavor favorite!


Inside out Turkey Burgers serves 4

1-1/2 - 2 pounds ground turkey
salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 t spicy brown mustard
1/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
5 slices of turkey bacon, cooked and chopped
Fresh tomato, sliced
Green leaf lettuce, chopped

Place ground turkey into a mixing bowl. Add mustard, salt and pepper and combine with your hands.
Divide meat into 4 portions and make patties out of each. Add some of the bacon and cheese to the center of the patty and carefully form the patty around the filling ingredients.

Grill on a outdoor grill or grill pan on a stovetop. Serve over a bed of shredded lettuce and sliced tomatoe.

It sounds simple but it's really good! You won't even miss the buns and excess carbs.

Lil' Baker

Yes, we bake half naked in our house.

Thanks Sarah!

Thanks to the generosity of Sarah we won't have to buy new 2T winter clothes. She brought enough of Josh's old clothes over for us to borrow that we have a whole winter wardrobe! What a blessing!! Adam's found a favorite in the cookie monster fleece, he refuses to take it off and wants to put it on even when he's otherwise naked.

One (or 2) of Those Days

I don't know if you've ever experiecnced this but I ran out of gas today. It's quite embarassing actually. I was really mad because my husband ASSURED me that 2 gallons of gas would get me to Birmingham and back this morning for CBS. That's the last time I believe that!! A lack of money is what kept me from easily refilling my tank before leaving this morning.
Surprisingly while I was waiting for Brian to bring me gas (I was stopped at Southfield and Joy Road with Adam in tow) a nice lady stopped to see if I needed gas. She says "I saw this nice van stopped in the middle of the ghetto and figured you ran out of gas." I thought for sure she was sent from God to make sure I was ok.

And last night I realized that I'd worn my shirt backwards all day. what a loser. kriss kross'll make you jump! jump!

Mammal Babies

Sesame Street had it right all along! Why don't any of the other mammals have a bottle of formula to suck on? Oh, that's right... it's not natural!

Pachelbel Bedtime

Love it! Especially all the crap in the background, that makes it more real.

A terrible last name...

Why oh why is my last name Surowiec? It's the hardest thing for people to spell. I just got a rebate check in the mail and my last name is spelled SAROWLEC. Mind you I filled out the form myself and I'm pretty sure I didn't spell my own last name incorrectly!!! Also understand that I went to architecture school where they teach you how to print nice and legibly. UGH! It's so annoying.

Sweet Ride

Thanks for the new trike Papa, I love it!!

Labor Day Family Fun

We had a great time today here. Lots of cute aminals (as Adam would say) and a hayride too!