Hey Guys!  How’s everything going?  Well, here’s the current episode in my drama I call life:  I discovered yesterday that we have no hot water.  So, I spent several hours yesterday heating water on the stove and hand washing all of our plates, glasses, bowls, china, flutes and goblets.  And I still have the big stuff to do.  Ugh.  They are replacing the water heater tomorrow.  AANNNNNDD… today, Little Monkey stepped off the deck (which is about a 14″ drop) and his foot got caught.  Instead of just falling on to the grass, he tripped and smashed his face on the jogging stroller.  After an awesome trip to the Urgent Care and a $45 cotton swab of antibiotic ointment, we didn’t have a whole lot of time for moving today.  Which is really awesome, given that it will snow tonight.  Who doesn’t love hefting tables and beds up the stairs in the snow?  The good news:  We did find a sofa and love seat on Craigslist for $65.  It’s not much to look at, but they are awfully comfy!  And they threw in a microwave for $10.  UPDATE:  We also got a three piece dresser set (two dressers, one with a mirror attachment, and a night stand) and another dresser, as well.  So, we have all of our big furniture now!  Woo HOO!  And, did you notice the number next to the Follow button?  I did, YAY for 1000!  I’m so tickled that many people think what I have to say is worth reading, on a regular basis even!  We will have an awesome giveaway to celebrate this, but I’m going to have to put it on hold for a few days.  Keep your eyes peeled for it though!  Ok, enough of my DRAMA, let’s party!

So, I don’t have features this week.  Sorry, guys.  Between Urgent Care and Craigslist shopping, I just didn’t get time to do it.  But, I do have some fun news!  Remember a few weeks ago we had a giveaway for free AD SPACE on my sidebar?  Well, let’s do it again!  Each and every link is an entry for 4 weeks of FREE ad space on my sidebar!  Party is open now and will be until midnight PST on Monday.  Only link each post one time, but you may link up as many posts as you would like.  I will draw a winner on Tuesday with random.org and post the winner here!  You must be “present” to win, which means you’ll have 24 hours to send me your button html code or I’ll draw a new winner.  So, you want some FREE ADVERTISING?  Link ’em up!  Ready, Go!

Good Luck Everyone!

Today we get to hear from Holly at Hoosier at Heart.  I found her in February when she linked up to a Weekend Wander Party!  She had a screamin’ awesome Valentine’s Day card for her hubby, which ended up inspiring the card I made for My Mr Right.  And he loved it.  Holly is spunky, hilarious and always makes me smile.  And sometimes I even laugh out loud.  Then, I look around and wonder who heard me, before diving back in.  Plus, she has some Ahhhh-maze-zing recipes.  You’ll definitely want to check her blog out.  But, first…  Here’s Holly!

Hi!  I’m Holly from Hoosier at Heart.  I am thrilled to be filling in for Krista today while she’s running around packing and unpacking. Congrats Krista on the new place.  I would love to tell you that I am uber creative and talented but the truth is, I just blog about whatever is going on in my life on any particular day.  I’m a very
random blogger and my head is usually chock full of nonsense.  I’ve been thinking a lot lately about aging so I wanted to share a post with you that I did last year.

I’m getting old, there I said it (not out loud or anything cuz I’m sitting here by myself in my office and I’m still trying not to talk to myself, remember this? Keep up!). I’m not saying this because I’ve just looked into the mirror that reveals my age spots or my butt dimples or anything. I just know this to be a fact. Oh yes, I do
hear “You’re just a Baby!” from sweet little blue haired women but I know this is not true. I’m saying I’m
old because I’ve noticed other changes. Changes in the way people react to me that is different from years gone by. Let me ‘splain.

I have never been much of a “Looker” and have always thought I was a little on the plain side but I did have nice hair, a sweet smile and I didn’t want to vomit when I looked at myself naked or anything (I kinda do now but I didn’t then). I did get my share of attention at times.

Once, when I was standing in line at the bank, I had that oogy feeling you get when someone is in your space. I turned around and a young black man was standing almost against my back side and he said, “Baby, you smell like graham crackers and milk.” Now, I have no idea what that meant but I remember it fondly so it must have been a compliment. (yes, a little creepy but I’ll take a compliment wherever I can get one).

I had a stalker once who looked like Gary Busey. I used to stop at the same convenience store every morning on my way to work for my Diet Coke with extra ice. This Busey looking guy would always be there and would wait until I pulled out and then try to follow me. It was quite a game. If I couldn’t lose him I would pull into the fire station and watch him drive on by. That lasted about a month. Good Times!

These days, I don’t get smelled or stalked, or noticed for that matter. For example, the other day I went into a Victoria’s Secret to see if they had bras on sale. There were a few girls behind the counter but I didn’t see many customers. The sales girls, let’s call them Blimberly, Blemissa, and Bliffany, never even glanced up when I walked past them. A minute later a thin, navel-gazing twenty year old walked in and Blemissa went to help her. A minute later a skinny brunette came through the door and Blimberly went to help her. They just looked right past me so I took my Wal-Mart bra bound boobs out of the store. I later told this to my daughter and she said that I should have pulled a “Pretty Woman” on them. I can see it so clearly now. I walk into the store wearing 15 bras and 20 pairs of panties.

Bliffany: Um, can I help you?
Me: I was in here yesterday, you wouldn’t wait on me.
Bliffany: Oh.
Me: Big mistake. Huge. I have to go shopping now.

What did I tell you… What fun, right?  Thanks for coming to visit Holly!  Make sure you check out Holly and her awesomeness!

I am a former work-at-the-office wife turned stay-at-home mom. I enjoy writing, photography, cooking and many other activities. I love a good Margarita and {some} reality TV. The Texan and I married in 2005 and welcomed The Boy in July of 2009. You can read more about me here and here.

The Texan and Me

Nap Time Is My Time was started as a way for me to share my thoughts and reflections on what I have learned about being a woman, a wife, and a mother. Being a stay-at-home mom has been an amazing experience so far, and far more rewarding than life as a work-at-the-office wife. I am so thankful that The Texan is so supportive and encourages me to focus on The Boy, rather than ranting about our floors which {still} need to be mopped.

The Boy

We’ve given up a lot, like our cleaning lady, now that we live on one income. It wasn’t exactly planned that I would be {so fortunate to get laid off have my position eliminated and get to be} a stay-at-home mom. We have the same bills as when we were a 2 income household, but are working on our system to spend less, save more and still live a little!

When I was a WAOW, I never planned meals. I’d just pop into the market grab whatever looked good and throw a meal together. We were spending about $300 per week on groceries. For two people, The Boy really doesn’t eat all that much. {Yet.} Now that I meal plan every week, I’ve reduced our grocery bill to around $100 per week WITHOUT using coupons!

As a former restaurant gal, I {still} spend a lot of time in the kitchen and love to create {and share} healthy, easy recipes! Two of The Texans favorite things are Buffalo Wings and Pizzas. I decided to combine the two.

Here’s my recipe for Buffalo Chicken Pizza – enjoy!
Ingredients:  (Please note, these are approximate measures. I do not measure when I cook, I simply eyeball, cross my fingers and hope for the best!)
Room Temperature Pizza Dough (store bought is a great time saver, I recommend the Trader Joe’s Whole Wheat Pizza Dough. It’s just 99 cents a ball!)
1/2 cup hot sauce (The Texan likes Pete’s)
1/2 tsp unsalted organic butter
2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or chopped (I typically use chicken I’ve precooked on another night, but Rotisserie works too!)
2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (Saves money to do shred it yourself. Buy a block, shred it, package it. Done!)
1/4 cup Blue Cheese, crumbled
3-4 scallions, sliced thinly

Cooking Instructions:
Preheat oven (and pizza stone) to 500 degrees.
In sauce pan over medium heat, melt butter and add hot sauce and chicken. Cover and reduce heat to low.

Stretch dough to fit stone. Bake pizza dough in oven for 5 – 7 minutes until light brown.
Remove pre-cooked dough from oven. Top with chicken mixture and cheeses.

Reduce heat to 400 degrees. Bake an additional 5 – 7 minutes.
Top with sliced scallions and enjoy {with a cold beer}!

Be sure to stop by Nap Time Is My Time soon for more stories about us and great recipes, too! Thanks to Krista for this wonderful opportunity as a guest blogger, it’s been a blast!

Thanks for coming, Emily!  Oh, my heavens, doesn’t that pizza look so delish!  I’m gonna have to try that sometime.  We love homemade pizza and this one looks like a winner, for sure.  Make sure you go over and check Emily out!  Thanks again, Emily!