Baked Beef Ziti

I was looking around on the weight watchers website at  recipes and I found this one and it looked so yummy I decided to try it out. And BOY was it yummy, I don't know how its only 7 points!!! :)


12 oz uncooked ziti
2 tsp olive oil
2 clove(s) (medium) garlic clove(s), minced
1/3 pound(s) raw lean ground beef
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried rosemary
1/2 tsp table salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
1 cup(s) (shredded) part-skim mozzarella cheese

- So IGA didn't have ziti instead I used Penne noodles, which worked just fine ;)

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add garlic and sauté 2 minutes. Add beef and cook until browned, breaking up meat with a spoon as it cooks, about 3 to 5 minutes; drain off any fat and set pan back over medium heat.

Add oregano, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper; stir to coat beef. Cook until herbs become fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Spoon a small amount of beef-tomato mixture into bottom of a 4-quart casserole dish (just enough to cover surface); top with half of cooked ziti. Next, layer with half of remaining beef-tomato sauce and half of mozzarella cheese. Layer with remaining ziti and then top with remaining beef-tomato sauce; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake until cheese is golden and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Slice into 8 pieces and serve. Yields 1 piece per serving.



I weighed last night just to check out how I was doing in the middle of the week and I've lost 1 more pound :) So happy for myself! I am truly enjoying this diet!!!! Hope ya'll enjoy the recipe and find it just as yummy as I did.

Weight Watchers

I started weight watchers a little over 2 weeks ago and I'm LOVING it so far. My first week I lost 5 lbs and the second week I lost 2 lbs. I'm very proud of myself for sticking with this and actually doing it. I've had this weight on me for 2 years now (since I was pregnant with B) and I've been very depressed about not getting it off and I've finally found an EASY way to lose it ;) I'm doing the Points Plus system and it seems to be very easy for me to do.
Breakfast:
An egg sandwhich which consist of 1/3 cup of eggs, 2 slices of bread, 1teaspoon of mayo, 3/4 piece of cheese, and 1 tablespoon of ketchup. I think this is a total of 5 pts.
OR
3/4 cup of Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal and a 1/4 cup of milk equals out to be like 3 or 4 points I think.

Lunch:
A Smart Ones meal they range from 6-7 points a piece

Supper: Just depends on what we have, I just eat in moderation...I don't go back for seconds!!

Anytime/snack: I'll eat either some fruit or cut up a cucumber and eat it, which is no points for fruits or veggies! Sometimes I'll have some chips BUT I only eat 9 Baked Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream and that equals 5 or 7 points (I think)

On Tuesday and Thursday's I normally just eat breakfast and take those 9 chips for a snack and drink water while I'm at school. Then I try to eat a good supper when I get home. Except last night I didn't eat at all, I was just to tired and had a bad headache.

I've cut down on my diet coke's, I try to only have 1 or 2 a week...I TRY!! If I go over its okay..Diet Coke's are no points ;) I'm trying very hard to just drink water, which is becoming easier since I put those crystal lights flavor things in it.

I've made a short-term goal which is to lose 20lbs by Dance Recital which is the first week of June. I've lost 7 so far so, hopefully I'll be able to do it. I told Tad Monday before he left it would be nice if I had lost 15 by the time he comes home which is May 4.

I do exercise a couple times a week. I do Dance Workout on the Wii and I just tried out my moms Wii Fit Plus Sunday night and plan on starting to use it some too. I try to stretch every night before I go to bed and do a few floor crunches. When I'm at home I do around 100 side bends a day, just trying to work on the love handles *haha*

I am really enjoying Weight Watchers and believe if you do it right then you'll lose some weight!!! I can't tell just looking in the mirror that I've lost 7 lbs, but I think if I tried on my jeans I might could tell. THOUGH, I'm not trying them on until I've lost 10 lbs just because I don't want to get discouraged in case they don't feel any looser!

PS- I forgot to mention this in my last blog, Please pray for Mrs. Sellars, she has been sick for about 2 weeks now and doesn't seem to be getting over it. I need her to get well FAST! Last time she was sick was awful and I PRAY that it won't come to that again, but God knows he's got this :) Thank you for your prayers in advance!

Playing Catch Up

So, We have been a little busy and I haven't found time to blog lately so I have lots to catch you up on. We did go to the beach for the weekend and we had a BLAST! I can't wait to go back, which will be Saturday just for the day :) Brayden LOVED the water and didn't want to get out. The beach water was freezing cold and B's lips were purple after playing in it. The Friday night we were there, we went out to eat with the Kendrick's to Outback. AnnaBeth sat with Tad, Brayden and me and she and Brayden cut up all through supper! :) That Saturday we went shopping in hopes to find some good winter clothes deals. I found a few I bought B a few things for winter from Old Navy, Polo, and Hartstrings. We bought him several summer shirts just because he didn't have many shirts. We got the most at Carter's of course :) While I was checking out Tad was over on the girl's side looking at clothes... I said "What are you doing" and he holds up a shirt and says "Can we get this for Sophie(Toyia and Kyles babygirl), and so I said "yes!" I keep forgetting to give it to them, so now you know what it is Toyia!*haha* Reasure Kyle it isn't an AU shirt. :) Anyway, he wants a baby so bad he can't stand it, but Kayla has to finish school and we need a house first too! After we got through shopping we went back to the condo for a nap and after our nap headed out to the beach! Later that night we ate AJ's and got some super yummy oysters :) They were SOOOO good. We had a nice little getaway weekend to the beach together. This past weekend we had Brayden's birthday party. His actual birthday isn't until April 6,but we had the party before Tad left to he could be there. It was Nemo of course and it turned out too stinking cute if I do say so myself. Aunt Sam made the party favors( I will post a picture later, she has that pic) She did a wonderful job on them. Just to say she did a FANTASTIC job of the icing tinting!!! =) Oh and I also iced my first cookie, and I had to eat it! I don't think you'll have to worry about me getting a job with Cake Boss!*haha* I'll just tlet Aunt Sam do all the "crafty" stuff and I'll just give orders :)

My week has started off very stressful, my neck has recently started hurting very bad again. *ugh* And my medicine does NOTHING for me what so ever!I have a little over a month left of spring semester and I'm soo ready for a break. Hopefully, our little beach trip Saturday will help my stress level some, or atleast I'm praying it will anyway. Here are a few pictures from B's party and our beach trip.

Brayden's CUTE birthday cake!

 Tad and little Miss Sophie. Toyia- if you ever need a babysitter for Sophie you KNOW who to call :)

 Landon was checking that motocycle out

 Gotta Love Miss Stella Kayte! She's such a mess!

 Karter is holding on tight, never know what wild man Brayden is going to do...haha

Whoa, that water was COLD!

 Theres a short little story with this picture, I was sitting on the towel watching my boys play in the water and taking pictures of them. Well Brayden starts yelling "mommy mommy" and starts to run down the beach.. so Tad points at me and says "mommy is this way B" It was too cute..I LOVE this picture of them together. :)

 My sweet little family before heading out to eat to AJ's, where we ate for less than $100!!! I don't think thats ever happened to anyone in my family while eating at AJ's! haha

Everyone have a blessed week! I'm hoping mine gets somewhat better :) I'm keeping a positive outlook :)

Just a little Boredom...

We've had a good week so far, Tad's at school in Houston, I went back to school from being on SB and everything's going good! :) Miss Oki Grace is with Brayden and I today and they are having a ball playing...so his room looked like a torando came through. So during nap time I cleaned it up...

It's not wrecked again..not YET anyway! haha...Gotta love them though, they play so well together as long as Brayden's not pulling her hair that is! *L* They are in there right now singing..Its so cute! You'll notice that in the pictures Brayden doesn't have a bed in his room, yes I know! His bed is currenty leaning against the wall in the living room, because the people forgot to send instructions on how to put it together!

As you can see it's NOT just a headboard and a footboard!!!!

AND this is how we are attemping to hide it! *HAHA*

Well anyway, I'm looking for us a room in Destin right now, waiting on the owners to email me back and let me know the rates and availibility. I'm so ready to go and walk on the beach I can't stand myself! =) Brayden is staying with his Papa T tomorrow and I'm pretty sure that they'll be going to "pet" the deer tomorrow! I haven't told him yet that he's staying with him yet because he'll want to go down there now! Oh I started weight watchers Monday and I'm doing really well on it I must say! :) I'm VERY proud of myself and I hope I continue to do good on it. I'm shooting to lose 20 lbs by dance recital. I hope I can make it! We went to my Nonnie's house last night, she lives close to me now :) My Aunt Chan came home Monday so we had a birthday dinner for Reed (his birthday was Friday) He turned 5 years old! I can't believe it.. Uncle Rusty grilled burgers and Nonnie made homemade ice cream and Wendy got a cake from IGA. We had a good time, we HAD to bring out Just Dance 2 and Michael Jackson of course. We all had a ball playing and watching each other. I enjoyed spending time with all of them! We don't get to do it often since Aunt Chan and Tucker live MS. Hopefully we can get them moved back home soon so we'll see them alot more ;) Ohhh No Dance this week! WOOHOO!!!! Hope everyone has a great rest of the week! :)

Brownie Trifle Recipe :)

You'll need:
 2 boxes of Little Debbie Brownies
 8 Butterfingers
12oz. pkg. Cool Wip
 1 large box of instant chocolate pudding

Crumble brownies and Butterfingers and set aside separately. Prepare pudding according to directions on box. Layer trifle dish in the following order: Brownies, Pudding, Butterfingers, and Cool Whip. Repeat the layers until the ingredients are all used. Garnish with Butterfinger sprinkles. Refrigerate overnight!

P.S. If you ate this Saturday night, see I told ya'll it called for little debbie brownies and not homemade!!!! :-) I enjoyed making it and made a big mess in my kitchen, but it was delish! :)

Daddy's Home! :)

Well to start off Tad is finally home!!! We picked him up last week from the airport and we were SOOO excited to see him. Brayden and I are bother glad that he's home for a little while. I have to take him to the airport in the morning for him to fly to Houston for school and he'll be home on Friday and then I think we're going to head to the beach for the night when I pick him up on Friday! :) Super excited! I need to do a little shopping for Brayden since some of the winter clothes are going on sale I need to get some things for next winter! I have been on Spring Break from Troy this week and I have enjoyed it soo stinkin' much! I wish I out this coming week too. Opp Spring Break is this coming week so I won't have dance which will be nice. Brayden's birthday party is coming together, I mailed out invites yesterday and the rest of the decorations came in yesterday morning. So all if left is to get the cake which I have left my mother in charge of since she knows how to contact the lady thats doing the cake... blow up balloons and make the party favors, oohhh and for Aunt Sam to make his Birthday outfit!! :) I'm getting very excited about how everythings going to turn out. My daddy and Tad are going to be super swamped the day of the party since my mother will be at work until its time for the party....Tax Season is NOT my friend!!!! I miss her alot during tax season because she works all the time and gets home late during the week. The only good thing is that she normally takes me shopping when tax season is over for a mother-daughter day! :) Which of course I LOVE!!! Anyway, I'm going to try to start walking on the treadmill every weekday and weekend if we're not busy. Summer is getting closer and Kayla needs to get into shape!!! Most of all I just need to lose weight. Brayden has started repeating EVERYTHING now worse than he ever has been about repeating things... the other day he said crap and shoot...*lol* He's a mess and can def. make a bigger mess! Tad and I went to put his bed together yesterday morning and guess what?? It came with NO instructions on how to put it together...Needless to say all of the parts to the bed are in the corner of the living room. We went out to eat last night with Tad's parents to Santa Fe, it was a little better than last time but still not great to me. We had a good time together though:) Today, we're going to Andalusia to get Brayden a mattress for his bed and to pick up his birthday present from Wal-Mart, and tonight we're heading to the Colquett 5's house for supper and wonderful fellowship with some of our Sunday School memebers! Can't Wait! Brayden is so excited to go play with Karter! :) I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend :)

He says "CHEESE" :)

Brayden this morning watching Open Season