The Seven Year Wish

Today is my 7th wedding anniversary. I really can't believe it has been that long but I also can't remember what my life was like before Ryan was a part of it. In our seven years as husband and wife, we have been through a lot but in the past year we have been through more storms than usual. In the last 12 months we've been through a job loss, two job changes, Aidan's terrible twos, unimaginable money woes, health problems and frequent changes to our schedules and routines. Thankfully, things are finally starting to slow down (fingers crossed). Although we have had some of the worst fights we have EVER had in the last year I really think we've come out much stronger as a unit. Before our epic disaster year began, we were not in a happy place as a couple. We were both working jobs we hated and we took a lot of our bitterness and frustration out on each other. Ryan wrapped himself up in Aidan 100% to a point where I didn't exist so I withdrew from both of them.

Ryan lost his job just three weeks before our anniversary last year so we weren't able to celebrate and frankly there really wasn't a marriage to celebrate. But, as we have learned first hand, crisis brings out the best and worst in people. Going through Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas last year was so hard. I am a holiday person so it was extremely hard to be miserable last season when I would find myself wishing the holidays away. He pushed me through December and helped me make the best out of a hopeless situation. For most of the year, Ryan worked a job where we didn't have a single weekly day off together. For a couple like us that has one car and is pretty much joined at the hip, this was tough. I was angry and lonely a lot of the time even though I couldn't express how I felt. Yes, it was nice to spend weekends alone with my son and it helped us bond tighter but I missed having my husband around and being able to do things as a family.

So here we are on the other side of twelve months and in a much better place. Aidan has a routine and is back in daycare with his friends. Ryan has a better paying job and he doesn't have to work weekends. I love my job and because I'm not tied to the house on weekends I have been able to pick things back up with my cupcake business, which for the most part had been on hiatus since last August. We have family time again and are even getting a cheap second car. We have come a long way but we still have a long way to go to get back to our happy place as a couple. My wish for going in to our eighth year of marriage is that things continue to improve and that we can be content as individuals, as a couple, as parents and as a family.

Prime Time Emmy Picks 2012

Award shows can be long, tedious and boring but I am still a fan. I watch the major award shows because I am competitive and love to have "pick 'em" contests against my husband to see who is better at picking winners. I also love to see the amazing and amazingly awful outfits that are on display on the red carpet. The Emmys are one of my favorites because I don't watch a lot of new movies, but I watch a lot of TV. Later in the week, I will share my 5 best and 5 worst looks of the Emmy red carpet but for now I'm going to make my picks for the actual award winners.

Comedy Series - The Big Bang Theory
Conventional wisdom says that Modern Family will win but I despise that show because I just don't find it funny and I don't understand why people rave about it so much. Since I can't pick that show even if it is a shoe in, I will choose what is, in my opinion, the best sitcom on TV.

Actress (Comedy) - Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly)

Actor (Comedy)  - Jim Parsons

Supporting Actress (Comedy) - Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory)

Supporting Actor (Comedy) - Jessie Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family)
I don't think Modern Family is funny but I am a fan of Jessie Tyler Ferguson and his work

Drama Series - Mad Men

Actress (Drama) - Claire Danes (Homeland)

Actor (Drama) - Damian Lewis (Homeland)

Supporting Actress (Drama) - Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey)

Supporting Actor (Drama) - Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones)

Mini-Series or Movie - Game Change

Actress (Mini-Series or Movie) - Julianne Moore (Game Change)

Actor (Mini-Series or Movie) - Woody Harrelson (Game Change)

Supporting Actress (Mini-Series or Movie) - Jessica Lange (American Horror Story)

Supporting Actor (Mini-Series or Movie) - Ed Harris (Game Change)


Reality Competition Host - Tom Bergeron (Dancing with the Stars)

Reality Competition Series - Top Chef

Variety Series - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart


*****UPDATE*****

Out of the 19 categories that I chose from above, I correctly predicted nine winners. I'm mad at myself for not picking Eric Stonestreet because he is hilarious. Both Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik of "The Big Bang Theory" were robbed! This wasn't one of my better years making predictions but hey... it's a Looooooooooong award season so I can do better next time.

Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken

This is another super easy weekday meal. As I mentioned previously, when I make slow cooker meals during the week I put everything into the slow cooker the night before and refrigerate. In the morning before work I just take it out, put it into the heating element and set the timer.

What You Need

1 Cup of Light of Fat Free Ranch Dressing

1 Can of Cream of Celery Soup (Low Fat/Low Sodium is preferred)

2-4 Chicken Breasts

1 Package Frozen Veggies (I usually use a snap pea stir fry mix because I like the flavor of snap peas and water chestnuts with this sauce)

Salt & Pepper to taste

1/8 Cup of Water or Milk

1. Stir together the ranch dressing, soup, salt, pepper and water/milk. Mix until well combined and smooth

2. Stir in frozen veggies until well incorporated

3. Place chicken breasts into sauce and cover with lid

4. Set your slow cooker for 7 hours on low

Serve on a bed of cooked white or brown rice.

I try not to buy a lot of superfluous kitchen gadgets because my tiny kitchen really doesn't have room to store them, but an absolute must have is a good rice cooker. I was given one as a wedding gift almost seven years ago and I wonder how I got along without it. Aside from cooking perfect rice every time, a rice cooker is also a money saver. Bags of raw rice are often $1 to $2 cheaper than instant or boil in bag brands and you get much more for your money. If you are serving rice with a slow cooker meal, just measure your rice and water (I use a 2 to 1 water to rice ratio) and start your rice cooker. By the time you have changed your clothes, changed the kids and set the table your rice is ready and dinner is done.