Accomplished

I'm basking in my weekend of accomplishment:

Finished the girls Christmas shopping (well, all but a few stocking stuffers)
Finished painting the dining room area (WHEEEEEEE!!! It's yellow instead of "owner's white")
Wrote round 1 of holiday card letter (hopefully approval from Josh will make it final)
Made dinner on Saturday and Sunday night (I'm not typically the chef in this family)
Me time with TWO uninterrupted movies after everyone crashed out (Wedding Date - entertaining, typical, but cute; Made of Honor - Typical, eh.)

So, the dinners weren't crazy by all means. Saturday night I made the classic tuna noodle casserole, which Olivia loved and Bea hated (I like all the stuff momma, just not together). Sunday I did a crockpot recipe I found off the internet, and it was so delicious that I want to share it with you. Both Josh and I were astounded at how delicious roast beef can be with little prep:

Layer the bottom of your crocker with mushrooms.
Place a 2 - 4 lb of roast beef (loin) over it.
Add a packet of Lipton onion soup mix over the top of the beef.
Pour in one bottle (12 fl. oz.) of beer. (I used the Dos Equis amber)
Cook that sucker on high for nine hours.

The result was amazing, fall apart and juicy roast beef. The juice left in the crocker Josh turned into gravy and put it with mashed potatoes and over the beef. It was so worth smelling it cook all day. I can't wait to make it again, and it was so little work. I'm still full. I should have taken a photo of it. Next time.

This weekend wasn't an easy one by all means with the girls. They played together happily for the most part, but when they got into it, it wasn't pleasant. After I came back from holiday shopping, Bea told me I better give her the presents or I'm going to go to jail. Or, when I told Olivia that no way she cannot go outside in her tank top and underwear and she went into hysterics. There was a lot of bickering between the girls. There were some raised voices around here, and I am proud to say I think I finally got the hang of the disciplinary mother voice. It worked.

I'm now officially wiped out, and ready for a very short work week. The next month is going to be crazy, but fun...