HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DO MY MAKEUP!!!!!

That is what my darling 2 year old daughter, Ariana, was screaming at me bright and early this morning. Is she serious? I mean my makeup isn't even done yet AND she's only two. Did I hear her right? Oh, but I did. Just in case I misunderstood her the first time, there she yelled it again, "DO MY MAKEUP MOMMY!!!" Last time I caught her in my makeup, she destroyed it, so I gave her her own to play in ( all the ugly colors someone must have gifted me) and I allowed her to look like a clown for an hour or so, but now here she is demanding I do her make-up. What does this all mean? Is she trying to grow up too fast? Will she be high maintenance? Well.... Nothing left for me to do than to quit crying like a baby and do this girls makeup:-)

Trial Run

Oh my goodness!!! Starting our new healthy eating ways on Monday must have just been a trial run because I only stuck to the working out part :-) I'll do my best, little by little. I think I was a little too "gung-ho" about it. I'll have to work up to it all, but am so excited so many other ladies are doing it too. WAY TO GO GIRLS!!!!!!!!!!

Get Ready for New Years

It's almost the new year. I am so excited!!! There's just something neat about starting a new year. I like to make New Years Resolutions, which I don't keep :-) They're still a lot of fun to make. The #1 thing on most womens list is.....WEIGHT LOSS! Well, what else would it be after gorging ourselves two to three holidays straight. I, myself am sure that I gained at least 500 pounds after Christmas alone. I'm starting my weight loss efforts today. Athough I love New Years, I never stay up til midnight to celebrate. I can't make it that late, so there's no worrying about over-eating in celebrating there. Candy, over at Keeping the Home has started a little weight loss support group if anyone is interested. I'm gonna do it. There's nothing like a liitle accountability to keep you going. She's doing Nourishing Traditions style. I'm just doing good ol' calorie counting and a nice cheat day on Sundays. I mean who doesn't over do it every Sunday, can't just be me :-)

Quick and Easy Cheesecake

Here's the recipe for the cheesecake we enjoyed so much Christmas day;

1 lg. graham cracker crust
1 lg. container of cream cheese
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
1 lg. lemon

Let the cream cheese set out until it reaches room temp., mix in the milk and lemon juice, place all in crust, add a little lemon zest to make it pretty, then set in fridge. That's it, YUMMY!!!!!!

Missed Ya All

Hi guys, I missed all of my Blogger Buddies and am so glad to be back. I'm sure I've missed so much and can't wait to catch up. We all had the most wonderful Christmas. Bakari sang so wonderfully in the choir at church. I am so very proud of him. It took a lot of dedication, practice, and time. He did it all with a smile on his little six year old face. We spent two days straight with family, that is my favorite thing to do. We're all tired and feel like over-stuffed turkeys, but it was all worth it. I have an awesome and easy cheesecake recipe that I'll post tomorrow. We had it yesterday and it was so good that I think I'll make it tomorrow. Until then........

Gone for a bit

Hi guys,

I'm taking a little break from blogging until after Christmas. I have a lot of preparations and fun stuff going on, so until 12-26..... HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!

Ornament Exchange

So I received an invitation to an ornament exchange . I have never been to one before so I excepting the invite with great excitement. Well I was on the hunt for the cutest or prettiest or most outlandish ornament AS you can see I had no idea what to look for. So I got prepared and went shopping,I searched up and down. ALL of a sudden it dawned on me CUTE ornament and I found what I believe to be the perfect one(its a secret I can't tell what it is.)
BUT another obstacle arose when I found it was a pot-luck too, sooooo dwelling on what I am to make I feel short of what to bring . SO I called up my Sister Amy for some advice(that always works) and SHE DID IT AGAIN! Santa Fe Soup it's the perfect thing for such an event .

I will take plenty of pics and put them on after the Exchange
Tootles till then...

Testimony Time!

Well Its almost time for Christmas and I am SOOOO Excited! I just can't stop thinking of the predicament my husband and I were in last year.... Anyone up for a story??

Ok so my Husband and I had very good jobs at a private firm, but all of a sudden due to legal issues the firm had to close its doors. Leaving my husband and I stuck in a rut. We lived off of our savings for a while and the savings went fast. So this time last year we had absolutely NOTHING .. Thank GOD that we are strong believers in Christ and knew He would work it out. We kept our faith strong through the bad and GOD is blessing us in so many ways. It's funny now because the simple things( like buying a piece of fruit) I can't help but thinking back to when we were eating Ramen noodles every night. I feel so blessed this year that we have overcome my husband has a great career and we have truly been blessed in every way.

Fish Tacos Anyone?

It seems like there are signs everywhere promoting fish tacos. When I think of tacos I think beef. The thought of fish in a taco shell really grossed me out. Well...... yesterday I intended to make salmon patties, so I took my can of salmon out and looked on the back for a salmon patty recipe and I was met with a recipe for.... Alaska Salmon Tacos!  I read the recipe and thought this doesn't actually sound too bad. I decided to experiment. To my surprise they were DELICIOUS! I think they even tasted better than beef tacos. Well here's the recipe in case there are more of you who are a little "adventurous" :-)

* 1 can salmon
* 1/2 c. salsa
* 12 corn tortillas
* 3/4 c. refried beans (Ii just used a small can)
* 1/4 c. cheddar cheese
* 2c. cabbage or lettuce, shredded
* 3/4c. fresh tomato, diced
* salsa to taste
* cilantro, to taste
* I also used a little sour cream as a topping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix salmon with salsa and hold aside. Place the tortillas on sheet pans in single layer; portion beans and cheese evenly onto tortillas. Place in oven until warm and cheese is melted (5-8 min.). Remove from oven and divide salmon mixture evenly among tortillas. Top with cabbage or lettuce and diced tomatoes. Fold tortillas over and serve withextra salsa and chopped cilantro.

Decorating on a budget

Ok with a tight budget and a small amount of time ,I decided I wasn't going to decorate this year . So besides putting up the tree I was going to stand firm on my decision of (there are better things to do with your time and money.) Well that decision lasted all of 2 days before I realized that isn't what I wanted. I wanted a beautifully decorated home.
There's something about those pretty decorations that just brightens your day. So Think Think Think And I GOT IT!
I go all around my house oh yes I am on a scavenger hunt for real. I grabbed everything I had that was green, red and sparkly and I got to work. I hung tiny Christmas ornaments on my bland chandelier, Took red sheets and wrapped them around the bottoms of tables not to mention red sheets are my tree skirts. Anything You can find do it , and I did it. I even hung some stockings (that don't belong to anyone ) out side on the porch wall DECORATE DECORATE that's all I can say.
Heres a site with some decorating pics http://interiordec.about.com/od/christmasdecor/ig/Fast-and-Easy-Christmas-Decor/
Also while your redecorating your home don't forget your front door. Grab some greenery from outside your home put it on the door,pine cones flowers bows again anything you can find .
Just have fun and when your done Take time to appreciate your hard work

Chow for Now!

Snow, Snow Everywhere!!!!!

It is really cold and snowy here in Colorado, which makes for a pretty scene but causes a couple of  problems for me. I feel like there is no way I can get out from under my blankets in the morning, because even with the heat turned up I feel that I might freeze to death if my pinky toe comes out from hiding. I love walking around town in the summer and getting much needed exercise without even noticing it but in the snowy cold I don't even wanna walk to my mailbox. What am I to do? How's a mom to get a work-out if not by accident.  I offered some of this snow to the gals over at fivemomsandablog and either they didn't take any or not enough because it's still snowy cold :-)

Shape Up!

OK so I have to be honest I have not been sticking with my exercise routine; which is 3 times a week at the gym.(OK so it's out) But fortunately my body is still in shape so I wanted to let everyone know some simple SIMPLE techniques to do to stay fit this holiday and hopefully it will stick with you all year long.

First Sometimes you just don't want to get out of bed , it may be cold , you may be tired whatever it may be . Its OK everyone has those days but while your in the bed do some leg lifts and arm lifts. Easy enough your still covered up and cozy but you got a little workout before even rising out of bed

Second so you want to sit down and watch some t.v that's fine but try some squats in front of the tube or what I do is crunches or squats every time it goes on commercial that way when the shows on you get a break( believe it or not its like a Lil game that is also relaxing.)

Third got children at the house now (or pets) take them for a walk YES children enjoy and need walks as much as we do .

And Last but not least before you go to bed at night do some buttocks lifts or crunches (you should be in the floor kneeling to pray anyways) and if not you can do those in the bed too!

These are fun little things I do to keep in shape and I wanted everyone to know. After you get into a routine of doing simple exercises all throughout the day you will see the LBS dropping and the muscles tightening. Just remember DON'T MAKE IT HARDER THAN IT IS

and have fun with it.

Chow for now!!!

OVERWHELMED

Well as everyone knows the holiday season is right around the corner . As I start getting everything together I find myself a bit overwhelmed !You know with the Decorating,family planning,financing,sleep overs,vacations,meals,Seasonal doctors appointments All these things and more whew. Well remember what this celebration is all about Its about Celebrating Christ and how without Him our world would be wayyyyy different (in a not very good way)So as I relax and take in a few verses from my bible I have this thought . This year and every one after I will bake Jesus a birthday cake .If you feel overwhelmed think about what Jesus had to go through for OUR sins .

The Joy of the Lord

Sometimes I become overwhelmed with God's love and His goodness. He has brought me so far and I am so in love with Him. The love I have for the Lord is indescribable. I wish that everyone could know that love. I wish that everyone would choose to know and have a relationship with the Saviour.

30 Days of Dinners

It took me a little longer than I had expected to come up with these dinners, but I'm so very glad that I, along with a friend and a couple of my sisters we did it! Now these are just the main courses because I never plan out sides. I have lots of frozen and canned veggies, boxed Annie's Organic pastas, and  usually serve up some bread. The bread could be biscuits, bread-n-butter, garlic bread, or cornbread muffins. If I want something a little extra I'll make baked mac-n-cheese, potato salad, deviled eggs, or something along those lines.
Here we go:

1. taco salad
2. hamburgers
3. nachos (make topping with rotel dip)
4. chicken -n-dumplings
5. chili cheese dogs (good way to use leftover chili)
6. pork chops
7. lemon pepper wings
8. hot wings
9. chicken club sandwiches
10. salad w/ chicken and bacon
11. chili
12. omellettes(yes, these are so yummy for dinner too)
13. tuna salad sandwiches
14. chicken salad sandwiches
15. pot roast
16. pork burritos
17. fajitas
18. green chili
19. beef burritos
20. Santa Fe soup
21. bacon and bleu cheese burgers
22. gumbo
23. salmon patties
24. chicken enchiladas
25. lasagna
26. pork fried rice
27. shrimp fried rice
28. stuffed bell peppers
29. chicken quesadillas
30. baked ham, mashed potatoes, and green beans(this one is the only one with sides. Makes you think of a Thanksgiving dinner)

Lots Of Yummy Dinner Ideas Coming Soon

I'm getting together with my sisters and some friends and we are  coming up with at least a weeks worth of dinner ideas each. I hate getting stuck in rut making the same things over and over. So, I decided I would ask others what they usually make for dinner(over and over:-)) and we would compile our lists. The tricky part is is that there can not be any two days the same. So far we have come up with 18 dinner ideas. You guys just don't know how excited I am!!!!! I'll work today and try to complete the task so that I can post the dinners tomorrow.

God bless ya'll

Quick Sandwich Ideas

1.)Tomato Sandwich

Two slices of whole wheat bread

I whole ripe tomato cut into slices

Mayonnaise

Spread Mayo on both pieces of bread add tomatoes

and viola!

(you can also add other veggies,(bell peppers,cucumbers etc) and sprinkle on salt and pepper.

2.)Banana Sandwich

Two slices of wheat bread

I banana

Mayo

Follow the same recipe as the tomato sandwich but substitute the tomato with the banana

Yummy!

3.)Egg & Cheese sandwich

Two slices of whole wheat toast

Two Large eggs

Two slices of Velveeta cheese

Butter

Scramble eggs and place on plate, cover bottom of pan with butter and add slice of bread .When bread is slightly browned flip and add 1 slice of Velveeta cheese take bread out of pan and lay eggs on top . Place 2nd cheese slice on 2nd uncooked slice of bread. Place on top of sandwich and cook the entire sandwich in the pan . (un-browned slice of bread down) until bread is brown and

Your Done!

4.)Fried Egg Sandwich

Two eggs

Mayo

Tomato(optional)

Fry the eggs on the stove until done,place all ingredients on bread and you finished

You can salt and pepper for taste

5.)The croissantwich

One Can Pillsbury croissant rolls

16 slices of ham

4 slices Velveeta cheese

Cut Velveeta cheese slices in half (that way you have 8 slices of cheese)Follow instructions on croissants BUT instead of rolling empty place 2 slices of ham & 1 Half slice of cheese inside the dough and then roll. Place on a lightly greased pan and bake on 375 for APX 10 min or until brown.

The great part about this recipe is you can add anything you want!! Egg and cheese for breakfast.

Ham and cheese for lunch

And pepperoni and cheese for dinner

Have fun with it and send in Your croissant recipes....

A temporary good-bye to my good friend bread

I believe bread is good for you, especially if it's healthy homemade bread. Well, I think that I like the taste of my homemade bread a little too much. Once you are in the habit of making homemade bread it's just natural to make homemade muffins, pancakes, and waffles too. Well the taste is out of this world, especially if you allow the dough to sour a liitle. It's so good why not have homemade baked goods at every meal and snack on them too. Come on, I use all healthy ingredients. All my baked goods are made with soured whole wheat flour, ground flax seed, buttermilk, organic eggs, and raw and unfiltered honey. Well, my good friend bread loves me so much too that she decided to stick with me for a while, on my hips, belly and bum. Which she's now like a guest who has overstayed their welcome. We need a break! So, I had to kick my friend bread out, at least until my body is no longer affected by her stay and I can just visit with her casually without inviting her to stay all day.

Easier Flossing

I always have a hard time flossing my teeth You know with the floss running out, losing your grip,not cleaning enough ect.. Well I went to my dentist for a cleaning and he gave me some GREAT advice . Easy and great

Just take your floss and tie it into a circle

That way you can use the floss in its entirety.

Also after your finished flossing take your toothbrush dip it into some baking soda and brush brush brush. The taste of the baking soda can be chased with alittle bit of regular toothpaste.

Enjoy your squeaky clean teeth....

*Quick & Easy Oatmeal Cookies*

3/4 cup butter

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 granulated sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup of water

1 tsp vanilla

3 cups oats un-cooked

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350. Beat together butter,sugars, egg,water and vanilla until creamy. Add reamining ingredients mix well. Drop by rounded tsps on greased cookie sheet. Bake on 350 for 12-15 min.

ENJOY!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

At least at my house anyway :-)
My husband and sons could not wait to put up the Christmas tree. Our tree and other Christmas decor was up promptly Friday morning. I think someone was a little excited. I bet you're all wondering what I was doing while the guys were working so hard. Well, in all seriousness, I could not roll myself off of the couch. I ate way too much on Thanksgiving. I literally made myself sick. I felt like an overstuffed turkey! Every year I vow that I WILL NOT eat that much again next year, but when I see all that yummy goodness I temporarily black out and don't know what I've done to myself until afterwards. Well, the after-effects are just now wearing off. What's a girl to do? It will be like Dejavu when Christmas comes around.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Thanksgiving

There are so very many things that I am thankful for. God is so good! I think if I started a list of all the things that I'm thankful for, for one it would be pages upon pages, secondly, I am blessed by God with more blessings all the time so my list would never end. Thanksgiving brings about so many wonderful thoughts to so many people, but for some who are going through horrible times right now or even those who don't know Christ, it's hard for them to have that joy right now. I was reminded yesterday when I was reading Nan's blog over at http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/ that some people may not have on their minds the usual happy thoughts that Thanksgiving brings because they're going through something right now. If we could remember those people and take time to pray for them it would be such a blessing. Be happy, be thankful, but also remember those who are having a hard time and pray with them and mourn with them.

Anniversary Fun!

We've had so much fun celebrating our anniversary. We've been celebrating since our actual anniversary on Thursday. I promised to tell what I did for hubby . I made him two small lemon cakes and some no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies. I bought him a yummy smelling candle and a beta fish. We had my wonderful mother-in-law watch the kids while we went to lunch at Country Buffet and then to dinner at Outback Steakhouse. Like I said we had so much fun!

A turnaround in my childrens' attitude

I had been having a really hard time with my boys having a bad attitude when told to do their chores. I have no idea what happened but their negativity was really starting to affect me and I didn't want it to rub off on their little sister. I prayed and prayed. This was serious because peoples moods really affect my mood and I don't put off a bad attitude when I'm doing chores around the house. It actually makes me really happy to bless my family in that way and the boys know that. So what was I to do? Well, something kind of just came to me so I decided to give it a try. My boys are always wanting an allowance but we don't give them one. I think we might go broke if we had to pay them for all the chores that they do. So I decided to make them fake money on little post-it notes and I customized the money just for them. My son Beau, earns BEAU BUCKS and my son Bakari earns KARI DOLLARS. Anyhoo, when they do a chore wwith a good attitude and/or I catch them doing something that I feel is exceptional, then I pay them with their fake money. After they've earned ten BEAU BUCKS or KARI DOLLARS then they can turn them in to me for a prize out of the prize box which we all made and decorated one weekend. The prizes are usually candy bars since I don't allow them to have those often. After they've turned in their ten fake dollars they start all over collecting them again. This system really has blessed our family because now they get up earlier every morning and cheerfully get started with their chores and begging me for more chores. And at the end of the week, how much money have I lost? Only about $1.00 for the price of two candy bars and that treat makes them so happy and I'm one happy momma.

Is that a SCOBY I see?

I have been drinking Kombucha tea lately and it is so good! I think that I may be addicted to it. There's absolutely nothing like it. Besides, it makes me feel good drinking it and knowing that it's good for me. Well that stuff is expensive if you buy it from the natural food store. So, I set out to make my own SCOBY, and the first attempt failed. But since I'm not a quitter I tried my hand at it again and it worked! I just set some already made Kombucha in a glass container, covered the top with a paper towel and let it sit( for weeks). Well now that I have my SCOBY lets make Kombucha, yummy. I can't wait to tell you all how it turns out.

I'm Back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey ya'll, I'm back! God is so awesome! Even with the small things like a computer. Thanks Beau for the wonderful anniversary gift!

What happened to me?

Hello my sweet blogger friends,

I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm still here. My computer went KUPOOT so now I'm out of a computer temporarily. I'm actually blogging from the library. What a life:-) Being without a computer has freed up a little more time for my hubby and kids. I've been having so much fun with my kids! So much fun that I was starting to ignore the messes we were creating throughout the house. So, I had to regroup and get the house back in order. Now that that's over it's fun time again! The other day my sister, Alonna, posted about lists. Thanks so much!!!! I have always been one to think, I know what I have to get done I don't need a silly list. Well, I sure have gotten A LOT more accomplished everyday.

God bless ya'll

Getting things done!

Before I went to bed last night,I couldn't help but think of all the things I could've gotten done but never did. Sometimes we as women don't take the time out for ourselves ,instead doing it all for our families. Well that's what was happening,As the days went on I realized my house wasn't as clean as usual and I wasn't as energetic.
So This morning as I get the family ready (normal routine of making breakfast, packing lunches and getting everyone out the door on time.)I think how can I accomplish everything that I need to get done today because honestly lately my mind was thinking"well I did all this stuff let me relax when I'm alone"
With that said I was digging a unhappy hole for myself and something needed to change FAST.
Sitting on my bed after everyone has left the house I contemplated what I could do to fix this.
LIST..
I know I know .You've listed before But did you actually stick with it?For instance...
My list after everyone was out the door went something like this>>>

1. Go to the gym
2. Get online
3. Call all appointments
4. clean house

Extra Do laundry

There was more but as I was getting ready for the gym(a task I have not done in awhile)I saw my un-made bed. I ALWAYS make my bed before I leave the house, so as I'm pulling up that 1st cover I stopped myself . As you see the gym was my 1st priority of the day cleaning house was later, I left the covers undone and took myself to the GYM (yea I survived).The reason why I am mentioning all of this stuff is because I know myself and I know that once I get started I will not stop, and by the time I would've finished cleaning the entire house I would've been ready to relax. Also Don't try to be super woman I had to but away my cape while jotting down my TO-DO list because if I'm overwhelmed nothing will get done.So the little things that don't need to necessarily be done THAT day put them as extras on your list that way you don't beat yourself up if it doesn't get done.I have been doing my list since 6am this morning it is only 10am and I have already accomplished more then usual.
Just remember

• List it
• Try it
• And you don't always have to be super woman

Recipe Received in the mail...

Whenever I find recipes that are good and familier, I love to share them with as many people as possible. Not only that but I miss casseroles so I'm bringing 1 back.

Chicken Noodle Casserole
2/3 cup chopped onions
1 garlic clove, minced
1 Tbsp canola oil
1 1/2 pounds of boneless chicken breast,cut into 3/4 cubes
1(14.5 ounce)can chicken broth
1 1/2 cups chopped carrots
3 celery ribs,chopped
1/2 tsp dried savory
3tbsp butter
3 tbsp all- purpose flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp lemon pepper
1/8 tsp white pepper
1 1/2 cups 2% milk
2 cups shredded sharp chedder cheese
8 ounces wide egg noodles,cooked and drained
In a large non-stick skillet,saute onion and garlic in oil until tender.Add chicken;cook and stir until no longer pink.Add the broth,carrots,celery and savory.Bring to boil.Reduce heat;cover and simmer for 10-15 min or until vegetables are tender.Meanwhile, in a saucepan, melt butter.Stir in the flour,salt,lemon pepper and white pepper until smooth.Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil;cook and stir for 2 min or until thickened.Remove from the heat;stir in cheese until melted.Pour over chicken mixture.Add noodles;mix well.Transfer to a 3-Qt. Baking dish coated with non-stick cooking spray. Bake, uncovered at 35o for 15-20 min or until bubbly. serves 8.
Sounds Yummy doesn't it??!!

Cheesy Potato Wedges

2 Potatos
1 cup of vegtable oil
1/2 cup of water
1 Tbsp of Zatarains Fish Fry
Shredded Cheese

Pre-heat the oven to 450. Chop potatos into wedges and place in pan .Cover potatos with 1/2 oil and water.
Bake until potatos are soft enough to stick a fork but still hard enough that you can pick them up without them falling apart.
Place fish fry and (JUST)oil in pan and stir all along the bottom of the pan ( heat the pan hot enough like your going to fry chicken)
Then take potatos one at a time and fry them on the stove in the fish fry mixture until browned and crunchy
After all the potatos are cooked place back in the stove in a empty ungreased pan and sprinkle shredded cheese all over the top of potatos and heat on Broil for 3-5 min until cheese is browned.
And whoola !! Presto cheesy fries and they sure are good....

Anniversary is near

It's almost my anniversary and I am so excited! On the 19th I will have been married to my hubby for 11 years. It's been quite a journey. So now, here we are...... We have really been through a lot, gotten through a lot, and changed a lot. If I could go back and give my younger self any advice it would be to cling to Christ. It really is because of the Lord that we've been married this long. Now for the fun part, planning how we will celebrate our anniversary. Thanks to my sister, Alonna's, post on how she celebrated her hubby's birthday, it shouldn't be so hard for me. Last night I came to hubby and told him some ideas that I had for our anniversary and he told me that he already had it taken care of. What a nice surprise! He told me that we were going to eat at the restaurant in the aquarium downtown, but he won't give up any other details. I'm so excited that I can hardly wait! Next, what in the world should I give him for a gift? Well, well, well, any old wife might just go out and buy a card and a gift, but not me. I am absolutely not an ordinary wife and like things personal and not to mention thrifty. So here's what I'm thinking....maybe a homemade card, a back massage, and his favorite dessert(no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies).  Grandma has already volunteered to babysit so we have that whole night to ourselves. I'll have to let everyone know how it all turns out. Until then let the countdown begin:-)

It's A Winter Wonderland

Here in Colorado we've been getting some beautiful snow, so yesterday when the snow was really high and fluffy we had no choice but to spend the day playing in it:-)

My Hubbys B-day On a BUDGET!

http://slideroll.com/?s=7nf7mt3z

It's funny my Doggies b-day is the weekend before my husbands b-day sooooo As I am making my dogs b-day cake I am thinking ,"what in the world am I going to do for my Husbands B-day?"
So Here it is a B-day weekend on a budget!!

Started by Friday He woke up to find a homemade sign above his head that showed his New Age.The rest of the day continued like normal ,But Friday nights we have Date night so we enjoyed a movie and dinner at home.(That was simple enough.)

Now onto Sat- I booked a hotel room to check in @ 2pm . I gavve Him plenty of time(just in case He had somthing he wanted to do.{which He did} We checked in at 1:45 and out to the movies we went. We checked in for a movie that didn't start until later(sometimes when you do that they allow you to stop into another movie until yours is ready)
TWO Movies for the price of ONE you can't beat that!!
Well all movied OUT we headed back to the hotel But not before stopping by a fast food joint and picking up some junk food. AKA our dinner for that night.Easy so far RIGHT?

Now onto SUN- We enjoyed a complimentary breakfast at the hotel .Then checked out and headed home:{I planned that so we wouldn't have to pack our church clothes}. We checked on the dog changed our clothes and headed to church.
Sun afternoon I planned for his family to come and some of his friends.
I started making the food Quick food I made a 16" pizza but stacked real high (it feeds more people that way The cost of the pizza $8
I grabbed some frozen hotwings for $2.50 And some frozen bread sticks for $2.50 also
Total $13 to feed Apx 8 Adults (not bad)

I made a homemade 4 layer cake for hubby His favorite is Carrot cake So I made carrot and vanilla. Then we had a family movie night/party at the house.
It was Simple,Easy & Everyone had a BLAST!!

Quick dog cake recipe
1 cup flour
1tsp baking soda
1 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup veg oil
1 cup shredded carrots
1tsp vanilla
1/3 cup honey
1 egg
Mix all ingredients , place in a pre-greased pan and bake on 350 for 30 min.

For frosting Puree cottage cheese and add some sprinkles
Pawwww-fect for a pooch!

Forgiveness

Sometimes I can find it hard to forgive others, but God's Word is very clear that I must if I'm to be forgiven by Him. The following verses really reached out and grabbed me in my bible study:

Mat 18:21 ¶ Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?


Mat 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.


Mat 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.


Mat 18:24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.


Mat 18:25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.


Mat 18:26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.


Mat 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.


Mat 18:28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.


Mat 18:29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.


Mat 18:30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.


Mat 18:31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.


Mat 18:32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:


Mat 18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?


Mat 18:34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.


Mat 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Fun With Kids

As I've mentioned before, one of my favorite things to do is hang out with my kids. I try to make sure we go on at least one outing every weekend. Today we went to Bass Pro Shop. We had an amazing time! There was bull roping, bull riding (all pretend of course), a spin wheel, leather key chain pressing, etc...... The fun didn't stop there, we came home and made a fort in the living room floor. How much more fun could we have? Hangin' out with my hubby is always a blast, but there's just something about playing with your children, there's nothing like it.

Fun at Chuck-E-Cheese

Real Skin Age Test

Hey ladies
If you didn't know I am a certified Skin Analyst . I am trained to give this test to tell how old your skin REALLY is.
It is very fun and is correct So heres what you do......

Your skin Age is the biological age of your skin,based on how well you care for it.Determining your Skin Age is simple! Just answer these 10 Questions for your skin calculation.

1.) Your Age (based on the year you were born) _______
2.) Sun Exposure:
Wear SPF daily: -2
Use a tanning bed/booth: +17
Spend more than eight hours /week outdoors during the day: +8
3.) Skin Care Products:
Use daily skin care products (i.e,cleanser,toner,moisturizer): -2
Use age defying treatment products -5
4.) Nutritional Suppliments:
Use a mega multi -4
Or, Use a one a day supplement -3
Take additional anti oxidants(e.g vitaminC,vitaminE -1
5.)Experience high stress: +3
6.)Sleep 7-8 hours per night: -3
7.) Exercise a minimum of 60 min weekly: -2
8.) Live in a metropolitan area (pollution): +2
9.) Lifestyle:
Consume 4+ alcoholic beverages per week: +3
Smoke +8
Or regularly exposed to second hand smoke: +7
10.) Consume 8+ glasses of water daily: -2

Your Skin Age _________

Manicotti Recipe

Spinach & Beef manicotti

1 box of 8 oz manicotti noodles
1Jar minced garlic clove
1bag frozen spinach chopped
2 eggs
1 15 oz container of ricotta cheese
1 tsp salt
1jar of marinara sauce
1cup grated parmesan cheese
1 bag shredded mozzarella Cheese
1 lbs hamburger meat (can substitute turkey meat)

Preheat oven to 350
Cook manicotti noodles for apx 7 min; drain rinse and cool.set aside
Cook hamburger meat over med heat until brown&season (to taste),add garlic (to taste),and about 1cup of frozen spinach Sautee for about 2 min and set aside.
Beat eggs in a med bowl ,stir in ricotta cheese and salt.Stir inHamburger mixture.
Spread 3/4 cup of marinara sauce over bottom of 13/9 inch baking dish. Fill manicotti with hamburger mixture; place in dish. Spread remaining hamburger mix on top of the noodles,than spread the remaining sauce over noodles . Sprinkle parmesan cheese evenly over the top Lastly cover the Entire top of pan with Mozzarella Cheese .Cover with foil and bake for 30 min ,than uncover and bake until cheese is melted and browned.

Homemade Sourdough Bread

I just love homemade sourdough bread. It's so good and healthy. Serene from Above Rubies shares how

Outsmart the FLU!!!!

Wakey wakey eggs a bakey!

Or better yet Kick off your family's day with a breakfast rich in colorful fruits and veggies set against a backdrop of whole grain carbohydrates. The immune system functions better with a healthy diet. Also ask your doctor about giving your children a multi vitamin to make sure they're getting all the nutrients they need.

Germ Warfare

• Wipe down the handle of your shopping cart, the door knobs of public bathrooms,even your kids menu (think of how many tiny tots have licked the pictures of tasty treats )
• Bring your own books ,toys or portable video games. Most offices do clean their toys but the odds are huge that a sick child has had their hands on it)
• Adults carry germs too! Use your pen at the doctors office, pharmacy and the checkout counter.
• Spray down the bathroom with a household disinfectant , if a family member has been sick.Other germ magnets like phones,remote controls, microwaves and refridgerator door handles. You can spray down toys at the ends of the day. (I like to take a bowl and fill it with warm water and vinegar and dip the toys or wipe with that mix.)
• Try not to hug soiled linens to avoid spreading germs to other parts of your body.Take them off them wash your hands afterward.
• Sanitize like crazy if your go into an outdoor play place.

Wash wash and wash some more!!

1. When to do it - Have your child wash their hands before meals, after using the bathroom,after coughing,sneezing,nose picking ,touching animals and after coming from outside.
2. How Long - For at least 15-20 seconds, or long enough for your child to sing the alphabet or "Happy Birthday".
3. What Temp - Have your kid wash in warm water. Heat isn't going to kill the bacteria but washing removes them.
4. How Much Soap - Some Soap but not gobs (skip antibacterial soap.) Effective hand washing requires soap and friction so makes sure they rub their hands together vigorously.

Avoid Wardrobe malfunctions

From chilly bus stops to stuffy classrooms to hot gym classes: Most kids could use a series of costume changes throughout the day. Tempature fluctuations alone won't make them sick, but overheating can lead to dehydration, leaving them run down and more vulnerable to germs.. Layers that can be easily snapped on or zipped off with confidence will keep kids comfortable .

Speacially For Baby

Power up the probiotics, studies show that preschoolers who were given twice-daily probiotic supplements for 6 months experienced fewer fevers.cough and runny noses during the cold and flu season than children who were not. You can find probiaotics in Breast Milk and Formula, Foods Dannon makes yogurt and yogurt drinks with probiotics- Also Beech-nuts Goodmorning and goodevening baby food with prebiotics. Suppliments Ask your prediatrician about a supplement like Florastor Kids Or Culturelle for Kids, which is often used to treat antibiotic-related diarrhea.

Dish up the Vitamin D

Make sure your childs getting enough viamin (it helps activate immune cells) Good sources of vitamin D are Fortified Milk and juices,cheese,eggs and salmon. Still its tough to recommend 400-IU daily unless your childs a big milk drinker-one cup of mik only has about 100-IU of vitamin D. You should talk to your pediatrician about a 400-IU.Infants who are consuming at least 32 ounces of formula daily are covered, but once solids are added to their diet, they're likely to need a supplement too.

Wipe them Clean

Doctors agree that when you're on the go , the gentelist way to wash your childs hands is simply with a baby wipe. Since infant skin is more permeable , steer clear of alcohol based sanitizers until he is at least 2 yrs old.

H1N1 Update!

Should your child get the new flu vaccine? What's the latest treament advice? Find the most current H1N1 news at Parenting.com/flu

TOP NOTCH CARE PACKAGE

Somehow, somewhere, I picked up the H1N1 virus and was having an awful time getting over it. Now, it's down to a cough every now and then. My sister, Alonna, immediately went into HELP mode. She knew just what I needed, a homemade care package. This is the ultimate care package. It's got vitamins, minerals, pajama bottoms, all sorts of teas, etc........... THANKS SIS!!!!!!

GREAT BLOG GIVEAWAY

Nan over at http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/ is having a fun blog makeover giveaway. Please check it out! While you're over there browse her blog. She has tons of great info. and lots of humor.

My Sweet Ariana

I just had to post some pics. of my 2 year old. I think that she is the most wonderful, sweet daughter in life. It's such a blessing to be home with her and to watch her grow.
There's just something about having a little girl.

Exercises During the Holiday rush!

Sneak in these great exercises while.....


Waiting in line at the store*


Calf Lifts:Rise up on your toes and hold for 3 seconds,Lower and repeat 15 times..




Balancing: Stand near a counter for balance,shift your weight to one foot and raise the opposite foot. Hold for as long as you can . Repeat with the opposite leg.


Standing at a buffet table*


Ab Flattener: Tighten your abdominal muscles as if preparing to take a punch.Hold for about 10 seconds,release and repeat 10 times.




Addressing Holiday cards*


Chair squats: Stand in front of a chair as if your going to sit down;raise your arms out in front of you ,then bend your knees SLOWLY as if your going to sit in the chair.lightly touch the seat of the chair then stand back up. Repeat 15 times.




Preparing a Holiday dinner*


Tricep toners: Hold two 14 oz cans(cranberry sauce,pie filling ect)one in each hand, palms toward the ground. Raise your arms straight out in front of you until they are parallel to the floor. Pause then slowly lower arms straight down to waist. Repeat 15 times.




Bicep toners: Hold two 14 oz cans , one in each hand Palm up toward the ceiling ; starting with arms by your waist Slowly bring the cans up towards your shoulders, bending your elbows. Hold for a few seconds, then return to the starting position. Repeat 15 times.




Waiting for the oven to heat*


Hamstring kicks: stand facing the counter *hang on for balance* Shift your weight to one leg, and bring the other heel up toward your Glut. Hold and squeeze for a few second then return your leg to the starting postition, and lift it straight out toward the side and back down again.


Repeat 15 times with each leg.




Have Fun and Enjoy your Workout!!

A Week's Worth of Casseroles

Chicken and Noodle Casserole

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

6oz. egg noodles

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can of cream of chicken soup

1 c. sour cream

salt & pepper

1c. crumbled Ritz crackers

1/2 c. butter

Cook chicken. Cook pasta. In a bowl combine and stir soups, sour cream, salt and pepper. Melt butter in a saucepan, stir in crumbled Ritz crackers. Top casserole with buttery Ritz crackers. Bake @ 350 degrees for 30 min.

Beef and Potato Casserole

1 lb. ground beef

1 chopped onion

1 can cream of mushroom soup

salt and pepper

3-4 medium potatoes sliced

Brown ground beef, salt, pepper, and onions. Cover bottom of casserole dish with a layer of potatoes and a layer of ground beef. Pour half of soup mixture over ground beef. Layer a second time. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Mexican Style Zucchini Casserole

2T. olive oil

3 lbs. zucchini, sliced

1c. chopped onion

1t. garlic

1t. paprika

1t. oregano

1t. cayenne

1c. cooked rice

1c. cooked pinto beans

2 1/2c. salsa

1 1/2c. shredded cheddar

Heat oil in a lg. skillet over medium heat. Add zucchini and onions, cook and stir until tender(about 10 min). Season zucchini with all the seasonings. Mix in rice, beans, and salsa then cook until heated through. Mix in 1c. of cheese. Transfer to 9x13in. baking dish and top with remaining cheese. Cook at 350 degrees for 20min. Serve with tortilla chips.

Breakfast Casserole

(this is best prepared the night before)

4 slices of bread

1 lb. bacon or sausage

1c. shredded cheddar

6 eggs

2c. milk

salt and pepper

Grease 13x9in. pan. Tear bread and place in pan. Brown and drain bacon or sausage, crumble over bread. Sprinkle with cheese. In a bowl beat eggs with milk and seasonings. Pour over mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 35min.

Macaroni and Ham Casserole

1/4c. bell pepper

1/4c. chopped onion

1T. butter

1 can cream of mushroom

7 to 8 oz. uncooked macaroni

1c. diced ham

pepper

1/2c. milk

1T. chopped parsley

1/2c. cheddar

In a skillet, saute the bell pepper and onions in the butter for 5min. Add ham and continue cooking until thoroughly heated. Cook macaroni until tender;drain. Combine all ingredients except cheese. Pour into a greased casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 min. Sprinkle with cheese and bake until melted.

Tator Tot Casserole

(this is a recipe from the Duggar family; http://www.duggarfamily.com/ )

2lbs. ground beef, seasoned

3-2lb. bags of tator tots

2 cans cream of mushroom soup

2cans cream of chicken soup

2 cans evaporated milk

Brown meat and place in lg. casserole dish. Cover with tator tots. In a bowl, mix soup and milk together. Pour over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Broccoli Casserole

(this is a recipe from the duggar family; http://www.duggarfamily.com/ )

3/4 lbs. velveeta cheese, cubed

2 small boxes frozen, chopped broccoli

1c. cooked rice

1 onion, chopped

1 stick of butter

1 can cream of chicken soup

1/2c. milk

Saute onions in butter. Cook broccoli then drain. Cook rice. Combine all ingredients and pour into 9x13in. dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 45min. or until brown.

I'm in the war on germs

I was recently drafted into a war, a war on germs. My hubby started off sick and now my 10 year old is sick. I immediately went into nurturer and warrior mode at the same, if that makes any sense. I ran to the store to grab some epsom salt, gingerale, and crackers. I already had the much needed tea and honey on hand. So, armed with the neccessary items for nurtering that's exactly what I began to do. Once I had both hubby and son comforted and relaxed I moved on to the weapons I would need to battle the germs. I grabbed the Clorox wipes, disinfecting spray, vinegar, and paper towels. Now that I had my weapons in hand I went to war. I must have blacked out because what seemed like an hour was really morning till night. Well, I just dare them germs to stay. Today hubby is feeling better, thank God. I'm praying that my son feels better soon and that the two "littles" don't get sick.

My Warm, Wonderfully Cozy Day

Have you ever had one of those days where you stop, look around and say, "This is nice." It's snowing outside so we're indoors enjoying the warmth and relaxation. We had gotten up late this morning, stayed in our jammies, and have no agenda. The kids helped me make breakfast burritos and then while I was cleaning up I looked over and saw the kids all lying in the livingroom reading books. Even my 2year old had her own book open looking at pictures. This is what I call a great day! What more could a mommy ask for? Later we're all gonna have pizza and watch a movie together.

What's On The Menu

My 2 year old daughter and I had a blast making dinner for tonight. We made homemade chicken pot pie and whole wheat apple cinnamon muffins. Our pot pie had all natural ingredients and a whole wheat crust. Our muffins were whole wheat, slightly sweetened with raw, unfiltered honey.

Choices In Educating Our Children

My Puppy

I would've never dreamed that she would give me this much Joy.

I mean isn't she adorable!!!

My Oldest Daughter

Thankful for this beautiful girl

With her in my life ,it's a whole new world

She's a teenager now, but that is ok

Because raised up in Christ,is what I have prayed

Truely sweet is this child,that your looking at

The joy that she brings me will eternally last!

My Youngest Daughter

She is one of the lights in my life,Truely sent to me from God! Plus who could possibly resist that smile.

A Quick view of my home

http://slideroll.com/?s=shccuu0a

I hope you enjoy!

A Week's Worth of Soup

I, along with my sister, Alonna, wanted to share some soups and stews recipes. The weather is perfect for a nice hot bowl of soup and as I'm sure you can tell by now that I'm in the mood for soups:-)

Corn Chowder

4 slices of bacon
2T. onion, minced
1T. celery, minced
1T. pepper, minced
2c. corn
2 potatoes, diced
3 tomatoes, cut-up
2 pints of milk
salt and pepper

Dice the bacon and put into pan to brown, add onion, celery, and pepper; fry until bacon is crisp. Add the corn and saute together for 3min. Add the potatoes, tomatoes, and seasoning, cover and simmer for 30min. Finally, add the milk, heat to boiling and serve w/ chopped parsley.

The parsley is optional but I think that it's the perfect addition to most soups.


Split Pea Soup

1lb. split peas
3qts. water
1 ham bone
salt
2 carrots, sliced
1 stalk of celery, chopped
1 lg. onion, chopped
pepper

Wash peas, add cold water, veggies, and ham bone and simmer for 3hrs. or until mixture is thick. Remove ham bone, stir, and season to taste. Dilute with a little milk.

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

1/3 c. whole wheat flour
1/3 c. butter
3c. water
12oz. cooked smoked sausage, quartered and sliced lenghtwise
1.5c. chopped, cooked chicken
2c. okra
1lg. onion
1/2c. green bell pepper
1 stalk celery, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 t. salt
1/2t. pepper
1/4t. red pepper
3c. brown rice

For roux, in a med. heavy saucepan stir together flour and butter until smooth. Cook over med-high heat for 5min. stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium. Cook and stir contantly for 15min.

Place water in 4qt. crock pot. Stir in roux. Add sausage, chicken, okra, onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, salt, pepper and red pepper.

Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours or high 3hours.  serve with cooked rice.


Potato Soup

Yeilds 2 servings
Ingredients

•3 LG Potatos

•2 Tbs Butter

•1 Tbs Season Salt

•1 Chicken boulion Cube (1 Tbs Chicken boulion powder)

•1 Tsp Chicken Herb Seasoning

•1 Cup of milk

Chop & Boil Potatos When potatos are tender begin mashing . Drain 1/2 of the water(leaving enough to cover potatos) Add boulion cube and mash ,place in bowl and add all ingredients,mashing vigerously till its at your desired consistancy . (If you would like it more soupy add more water)

Optional (mix in bowl afterwards for added flavor)

•2 tbs white flour

•sour cream

•onions

•shredded cheese



Squash Soup

Yields 8 Servings
Ingredients

•6 bacon slices

•1 Lg onion

•2 chopped carrots

•1 tbs garlic powder

•3 Lbs Chopped,Peeled,& Seeded Butternut Squash

•1 can Chicken Broth

•2 tsp salt

•1tsp pepper

•1/8 tsp nutmeg powder

•1/2 cup whipped cream

•2 tbs lime juice

•1 1/2 tbs honey

Cook bacon . Remove and drain on towel

Suatee onions and carrots in bacon grease until onions are tender

add garlic powder ,squash and chicken broth Boil until carrots and squash are tender

Place in bowl and mix until smooth (you can also use a blender or food processor)

place in a Pot on med heat And add all ingredients except bacon

Simmer aprx 10 min until thickend

Crumble bacon and add to soup






Chicken & Rice Soup

Yeilds 4 servings
Ingredients

• 2 Lg boneless skinless chicken breast

•1 1/2 cup of white rice

•1 Lg chopped Onion

•1/2 cup chopped celery

•1 tsp Chicken herb seasoning

•1tbs Chicken boulion power

•1tsp garlic powder

•1 can Chicken broth

Fry chicken breast in a pan until done, remove and drain on a towel.

Boil rice and celery adding 1/2 cup of excess water

Chop Chicken breast into cubes

when rice is tender mix in All ingredients

Simmer for Aprx 10 min

Place in bowl and serve



Goulash

Yields 4 servings
Ingredients

•1 Lbs Ground beef

•1 Tbs Season Salt

•2 cups elbow macaroni

•2 cups spagetti noodles

•2 Tbs garlic powder

•2 Cans of Tomato sauce

•1 Tbs Onion Powder

•1 Can of Green Peas

•1 Can of Corn

•*2 Tsp Salt / 1 Tsp Pepper


Brown beef in skillet & boil noodles

when noodles are tender drain and add tomato sauce,garlic powder and onion powder to noodles.Boil on med heat for Aprx 5 min.

Drain peas and corn and add to noodles, mix in remaining ingredients and salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy!

Great Fun Over at The Happy Housewife

Toni, over at The Happy Housewife is doing daily giveaways this week.  Please join in on the fun.
http://thehappyhousewife.com/

Oh What Deals

Yesterday I needed a jar of coconut oil, so I walked into my favorite store, Blazer's Street Market. I just needed that one thing until I found out that everything in the store is 50% off through Sunday. Well, well, well.... I was then thinking I need a little bit more if that's the case. So here's what I walked out with:

4-14oz jars of coconut oil
2-coconut bars
1 can of coconut juice
3 bags of tortilla chips made w/ flax seed
12-50.73 fl. oz. bottles of sparkling mineral water
52oz. sauerkraut
16oz of raw unfiltered honey

Everything I purchased is organic and came to an awesome price of $24.00. I am so blessed, even in the small areas of my life.

The seasons sure are changing

The weather here in Colorado is becoming colder. The trees and leaves are changing. We are definately in fall. It's neat the things that change with the seasons. One of those changes are what we eat. In fall and winter here in my house we eat a lot of soups and sandwiches, so tonight I am making a big pot of hearty chicken noodle soup. I'm making it with lots of organic veggies and whole wheat noodles.

What a wonderful blessing

My friend, Nora, picked some produce from her dad's garden for my family. We'll be eating on these wonderful organic veggies for awhile.

Link to recipes

Hey all,

Here's a link to some sample recipes to the book: Eat Fat, Lose Fat by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig

http://www.eatfatlosefat.com/recipes.php

WE'RE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello to all my friends out in Blogland,

We were experiencing difficulties with Blogger but now we're back! Can't wait to hear from you all.