intentionally me

My most helpful summer read...

2011-08-20T21:15:00.000-07:00

Not quite a year ago I was diagnosed with ADD. I'm not ashamed of this disorder. I wish I didn't have it, but I wish a lot of things and that wouldn't be at the very top of my list. I can tell you that being diagnosed and starting medication has changed my life for the better, however, it doesn't just make the ADD go away entirely. I still struggle with certain things, but I'm learning to manage my symptoms by changing how I do things that haven't been working all these years. What medication has helped me do is be able to focus on lectures (I returned to school full-time at BSU). It is easier to concentrate when I study, and eliminate distractions. I can also sit still for longer than 30 minutes. I know that ADD is a controversial subject, and medication is a personal choice. Whether you take medication or not, an individual with ADD will have to learn additional skills to help them meet society's expectations.

I've read several books on the subject of ADD/ADHD. My favorite by far is this one:

ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life by Judith Kolberg & Kathleen Nadeau.

The reason I LOVE this book is because it understands my challenges and gives me ideas tailored specifically for them.

So, why don't traditional planning/organizing ideas help me?

Well, one example is I have a problem with "prospective memory", that is the type of memory for tasks that need to be completed in the future. The problem is that when I file "return library books today" away in my brain, it doesn't get retrieved unless I have a visual reminder. So, I may remember the library books are due when I'm at home eating breakfast, but will not remember again until I see a book or get a notice in my email account. So, the idea shared in the book is to create a "Take Me With You" basket, which is simply a basket by the door. When I'm eating cereal and think, "I need to return the library books today" then I need to get up and place them in that basket immediately. It is an established daily habit to take things out of that basket each time I leave. The items would then go into a clear plastic bin on the passenger seat of my car (my errand box), where they will be visual reminders to run the errand.

Another example: I don't do well with calendars on the computer or my iphone. Even setting an alarm for reminders doesn't help. If I have a doctor appointment on Thursday at noon, I can't set a reminder for anytime other than an hour before the appointment or I may forget it. Out of sight, out of mind. The 60 minute warning works for me most of the time, even though at times it creates a bit of chaos making sure I get there on time because I wasn't really planning for the appointment until I got the reminder. So, I've learned that I MUST use a paper day planner. It is once again a visual tool that helps me to know what I have that day. I use one that shows all seven days on a two page spread and each day runs from 8am-9pm. It's a little old-fashioned and it's a bulky, big item to haul around, but it is what works!

So, yes, I can be forgetful. It can be very embarrassing at times and it can make others frustrated or angry. I don't like that and I'm encouraged in reading this book. I am loving all the ideas I've implemented so far! I'll be sharing a few of them in the near future. I've got my "command center" about done and I'm working on other things. It is a relief reading a book that seems tailor-made for me. I love that the authors understand my challenges and share ideas to help me better adapt. Even those without the challenge of ADD could benefit from it's simple ideas to get organized.

Self-Reliance and Money

2011-08-19T22:49:00.000-07:00

I just finished this book... an interesting read. I learned quite a bit about investing. Not enough to be an expert, but enough to understand how Roths work, the different types, the limits and requirements. I learned about the basics of the Stock Market, banking, life insurance options, etc...

If you are a woman wanting to get more familiar with your money or how to grow your money, then this book can help. One of my favorite chapters was that about wills and trusts. I didn't know that trusts protect what you leave behind so the beneficiaries actually get what you leave without hassles and without paying a lot of money. Good stuff!

Chicken Pillows with Gravy

2011-07-14T20:11:00.000-07:00

I'm trying out some new recipes... desperate to be able to create a rotating menu for this fall. Preferably meals that the kids will eat (insert rolling eyes here).

I found a winner tonight. It's based off a recipe in the Girlfriends On The Go! Cookbook, called Chicken Pockets.

I've re-named them Chicken Pillows (so that my son will not associate them with Hot Pockets). This recipe includes the additional changes I made to the filling. I was in a hurry, so I used my Quick Pizza Crust as a substitute for the dough.

CHICKEN PILLOWS with GRAVY

Dough (2 hour French bread):
1/2 cup warm water
1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. yeast
3 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. salt
1/3 c. oil
2 cups very hot tap water
6 cups flour

Chicken Filling:
8 oz. cream cheese
4 Tbsp. melted butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 Tbsp. chopped green onions
2 cups cooked and cubed chicken
1/2-3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
5-6 slices of Canadian bacon, chopped
1/4 tsp. onion powder with parsley

Chicken Gravy:
1 can cream of chicken soup
3/4 cup milk

Crust:
3 Tbsp. milk
1 - 2 cups Italian bread crumbs

Directions for the Dough: dissolve yeast and sugar in 1/2 cup water. In a large bowl, combine salt, oil, and 2 cups hot water. Mix in 3 cups flour. Add the yeast mixture. Mix in remaining 3 cups of flour. Punch down every 10 minutes for 50 minutes. If making Chicken Pockets, continue on to the next part of the recipe. If making French Bread, shape, and let rise until double. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

Directions for the Chicken Pillows: Blend cream cheese and melted butter until smooth. Add the remaining filling ingredients. Roll out bread dough and cut into 3" squares. Place 1/2 cup of chicken mixture in the center of each square. Pull up the corners and seal the edges. Roll in the melt and then in bread crumbs. Let rise until double in size. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with the chicken gravy (heated soup and milk).

Storytime Fun

2011-06-15T22:36:00.000-07:00

Jared and I have read two books together recently. I LOVE that special time of reading out loud to him. Even though he's plenty big enough to read on his own, I enjoy sharing the adventures and spending the quiet moments with him.

I love Jared's sense of humor and that he dislikes cliff-hangers. It usually takes some convincing to begin a particular book, but once a few chapters in he is hooked and is often begging for longer reading sessions.

Caitlin is my bookworm. She has loved books from the beginning. She used to stack them so high in her doll buggy that they toppled over. She'd push them from room to room. Her prized possessions. She'd also line them up in rows, filling the family room floor with books. When it was reading time (an all day, off and on again event), I would tell her to pick a book and she'd pick ten.

Jared, is fussy. He judges books by their covers and nothing ever sounds worthy of his time. Usually I insist on a particular book, and he doesn't get excited about it until we are several pages in. SIGH.

Wednesday I took him to the library and he selected non-fiction books about animals. He taught me everything I'd want to know about penguins, LOL! I browsed the children's section of the library... looking at the picture books and remembering the fun I had reading those to the kids. I miss reading them their favorite stories. Caitlin's favorite was Dr. Seuss' ABC's. In fact she wore out her first copy and I had to buy another one because her book would fall apart when you opened it. I would read that book in a fun sing-song voice. She learned he letters before age 2 and she could read at age 3- 1/2. Jared, liked Brown Bear, Brown Bear (What do you see?). I had my favorites too. I'll have to make a separate post about them, there are too many.

Although Jared is plenty big enough and capable of reading on his own, I'm so glad I can still share this special time with him. Last night I was looking at his long big feet and thinking how much longer can it last? I'm totally going to take advantage of this summer and read lots more with him.

Our latest reads include:

Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan

Ranger's Apprentice is a fun filled adventure with action, humor, and mystery. It has cliff-hanging moments and characters that are realistically imperfect, but lovable. We are planning to start book 2 of this series tonight. (I believe that there are nine books in the series).

Room One by Andrew Clements

Room One is an entertaining read about a boy who loves playing detective. It is a great story that supports the importance of the character traits of honesty, trustworthy, compassion, kindness and responsibility. Good stuff.

Happy Reading!

Quick & easy pizza crust

2011-06-13T21:09:00.000-07:00

I've been looking for a pizza crust that I can mix together and use right away without waiting for the dough to rise.

I found this recipe on allrecipes.com it's called Valentino's Pizza Crust. It was quick, easy, and yummy.

Quick & Easy Pizza Crust

1 c. warm water (110 degrees F)
1 Tbsp. white sugar
2 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast
3 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

Stir water, sugar, and yeast together until dissolved. Add the olive oil and the salt. Stir in the flour until well blended. Let dough rest for 10 minutes.

Pat dough into pan or on to a pizza stone using fingers dipped in olive oil. If desired sprinkle basil, thyme, or other seasonings on crust. Top with your favorite pizza toppings and bake for 15 to 20 minutes in a preheated 425 degree oven.

Vegetable Curry

2011-06-12T07:45:00.000-07:00

Here is a tasty vegetarian dish. I thought it had just the perfect amount of spice (heat), but adjust to your own liking. I usually order mild-medium when I eat out, and often just mild.

Vegetable Curry (Serve over rice)

4 medium carrots, sliced
3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2" cubes
1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
8 oz. fresh green beans, cut into 1" pieces (**Next time I will replace these with cauliflower)
1 c. coarsely chopped yellow onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. quick-cooking tapioca
2 tsp. curry powder
1 tsp. ground coriander
1/4 - 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1 14 oz. can vegetable broth or chicken broth (I make mine using bullion cubes)
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
Hot cooked rice

Stove Top Method: (What I did) - Combine carrots, potatoes, garbanzo beans, green beans, onion and garlic into a medium to large saucepan. Add the curry powder, coriander, crushed red pepper, salt and cinnamon, mix well. Stir in broth and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and let simmer until the vegetables are tender. Add diced tomatoes and tapioca. Return to a simmer, stirring often as it thickens. Serve over hot cooked rice.

Slow-cooker Method: In a 3 1/2-5 quart slow cooker, combine carrots, potatoes, garbanzo beans, green beans, onion, garlic, tapioca, curry powder, coriander, crushed red pepper, salt, and cinnamon. Pour broth over all of it. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 7-9 hours or on high-heat setting for 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 hours. Stir in undrained tomatoes. Cover; let stand for 5 minutes. Serve over hot cooked rice.

Red, White and Blue -PART I

2011-06-10T19:58:00.000-07:00

I spent some time this week putting up my 4th of July decorations! I had a few crafts to finish, so I had to get a bit crafty this season to get out the RED, WHITE and BLUE ... I cut a small flag off its' stick and framed it. I love this blue and white mug I've been using upstairs for pencils. It goes well with the flag and "fireworks".

To dress up simple red candles, I cut lengths of red and white striped ribbon, securing them to the candles using small brass brads. Then I painted some small wooden stars blue and used hot glue to attach. I love the simplicity.

This is an older decoration... a board painted white with vinyl lettering. I thought it was a bit plain though, so I painted the edges red.

Peach-Pecan Muffins

2011-06-07T18:17:00.000-07:00

YUMMY! Another new recipe!

These muffins aren't too sweet. They are a perfect breakfast muffin, but I made them for snacking. I suppose if you wanted a sweeter muffin you could add some extra sugar to the thawed and diced peaches. Either way... they are great as is too!

Peach-Pecan Muffins

Pecan Streusel:
1/2 cup chopped pecans (I used walnuts)
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
2 Tbsp. melted butter
1 tsp. ground cinnamon

Muffins:
1 + 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup milk
1 large egg
1 cup frozen sliced peaches, thawed and diced
12 paper baking cups
vegetable cooking spray (I use foil baking cups and don't need to use the spray)

1. Prepare Streusel: stir together pecans and next 4 ingredients until crumbly.

2. Prepare Muffins: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine flour and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in the center of mixture. Stir together the butter, milk, and egg; add to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened. Gently stir in peaches.

3. Place paper baking cups in a 12-cup muffin pan, and coat with cooking spray; spoon batter into cups, filling two-thirds full. Sprinkle with pecan streusel.

4. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes (check after 15) or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes; remove from pan, and serve warm or at room temperature.

ENJOY!

Grilled Black Bean and Sweet Potato Quesadillas

2011-06-06T16:29:00.000-07:00

I tried a new recipe tonight. It was a winner! I didn't just like it... it was SO VERY GOOD!! I wish I knew what magazine I clipped it from. Like most recipes I use, I made some minor adjustments. If you try it out let me know what you think!

Grilled Black Bean and Sweet Potato Quesadillas

1/2 c. chopped yellow onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 (15 1/2-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tsp. dried oregano, crushed
1 tsp. ground cumin
4 10-inch flour tortillas (* I used 8)
1 large sweet potato (*I used a yam)
2 c. shredded Monterey Jack cheese (8 ounces) (* or more)
1 1/2 cups tightly packed fresh baby spinach
1 cup salsa
1 1/2 cups frozen corn kernels, thawed
guacamole (optional)
sour cream (optional)

1. Peel and chop the sweet potato into 1/2-inch pieces. Cover with water and boil until fork-tender.

2. In a large skillet, saute' onion and garlic in the olive oil until tender. Stir in black beans, corn, lime juice, oregano, and cumin; heat through. Add spinach and 2 Tbsp. water. Saute' another 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

3. Butter one side of a tortilla and place on a grill or a grill pan. Sprinkle with cheese, place approximately 1/2 cup of the sweet potato mixture onto one half of the tortilla. When cheese begins to melt fold over the tortilla. Grill until the tortilla is a nice golden brown and crispy.

4. Cut into wedges and serve with salsa, guacamole, and sour cream.

My favorite cookie!

2011-05-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

Peanut Butter Star Cookies

1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar, packed

Mix together. Then add:

1 egg
2 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/3 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Chill dough for an hour. Roll the dough into 1" balls. Roll the balls into sugar and then place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 7-8 minutes. Remove from oven. Place a chocolate star in the center of each cookie and return to the oven for one minute. Let sit for a few minutes before moving the cookies with a spatula to a cooling rack.

Made my day!

2011-03-26T17:06:00.000-07:00

So, yesterday my English professor returned my second essay. I was anxious to hear how I did on it, after all it was my first article analysis. I'm beginning a research paper and looked forward to hear feedback that may help improve my writing.

When she placed my essay face down in front of me and whispered in my ear "please stay after class to talk with me", my heart sank. Did I really do that poorly? UGH! I turned my assignment over and found the typical rubric with the score 15++/15.

She went over the scoring in class and it slowly sank in that I had received the first ++ she has given. WOW!

After class, she told me it was one of the best student essays she had ever received and encouraged me to fix something on the citation page and then submit it to the Presidents Awards (which was due by 5pm). She told me I am a good contender for first place. Yes, me!

That's all I needed to hear! I mean, it doesn't even matter IF I win. It was only a month ago that I told Michelle, a friend on campus, that I have never thought of myself as a good writer. So, to hear that I have something a professor deems as "publish worthy" is just drop-jaw-amazingly-great NEWS! Of course, now I probably need to stop being careless on my blog... or you won't believe it!

What a boost! It just makes me wonder: What else can I do?!?!

I can't wait to find out!!

A day in the trenches

2011-03-21T16:37:00.000-07:00

What a day! My tongue is still numb from the too hot herbal lemon "tea" I drank this morning. It was suppose to numb my sore throat, but my tongue got in the way. I'm drinking Vitamin Water Zero's like my tongue is actually on fire. Trying to drown the germs; I'm going to pretend it's working.

English class was a bit better than normal. The thing I hate about that class is that all the kids (my classmates) do not talk. They are as unsocial with one another as I have ever seen a class be. 30 kids (counting myself, haha) and silence. So, I'm sniffling and blowing my nose into wads of stiff cheap toilet paper, the type that public restrooms stock, and nobody in my group of 8 will read the Journal. We are discussing peer-reviewed articles and how scholarly journals are composed. The assignment is to pick one of the articles inside. My group hands the Journal "Criminology" to me. I cough into the inside of my elbow and blow my nose. "Really?" I asked in a croak. Silence. Yes, really. So, I flip open to the first article. In a congested nasal voice I read. Cough, read, sneeze, read, blow nose, read, and the kids look on as I read about a link found between the homicides of strangers and capitol punishment and media attention. I hope none of these kids are in my literature class next semester. SIGH.

I study all morning to re-take my math test. It's the first test I've had to re-take, I got a 77% the first time around. I am really good at forgetting the negative sign or copying the problem down wrong. It's very frustrating. So, I study and I feel ready. I'm going to get a hundred and that will put my overall class score back to 99%. Nope, I got an 84%. That is such a bummer! It's not a horrible score, I suppose, except to me. I'm still at a 92% overall, but that is just too close to a B (89%). I really need to learn to give myself an occasional break, you know? So, I'm working hard at holding my head up, which now feels like a bowling ball. My muscles ache, and I wish I could climb into a deep tub filled with hot water and bubbles. I need soothing music and some pretty smelling candles, even though I don't think my nose is working right now.

So, as soon as I do a research assignment, drop Scotty off at Jiu Jitsu, pick up Caitlin from volleyball practice, pick up Scotty from Jiu Jitsu, fix the family dinner, and study for my government quiz I'm going to treat myself to that tub soak. I hope I can stay awake long enough, LOL!

Worm Guts

2011-03-16T09:52:00.000-07:00

So, I'm enjoying the fresh air the rain brings. It is invigorating, especially in the cool morning temperatures! I love how much good the rain brings. It brings freshness, bathes the earth, waters the grass, plants and beautiful flowers. It provides us with a very needed resource: water.

Of course there are some not so pleasant things about rain... the frizzy hair, the wetness, the big puddles, umbrellas, mud and... the worm guts all over the sidewalks here at BSU, from being trampled among thousands of feet. It felt a little bit like navigating through a mine field (with less consequences, of course, for the miss step). At some points I chose to carry my rolling bag, thankfully it is lighter today.

Thinking about these poor worms and the ugliness of the worm guts, I thought it was too bad rain brings them out to the surface. How like real life that is. Real life brings so much joy and good into life and... "worm guts" too. We have to navigate around them; sometimes we can't avoid them and cringe our way through every step.

We all have our share of "worm guts" don't we?

A nice lady opened the door for me here in the Liberal Arts Building. She and I got into what Caitlin would call an "inappropriate conversation with a stranger". (Caitlin is of the opinion that I talk to strangers too much. I enjoy striking up conversation with people I don't know and find it friendly. It embarrasses her. SIGH.) Anyhow, we talked about the worm guts and she observed, "I walked through the park to get to campus this morning and the birds are having a great time!"

That made me smile. How very optimistic those birds are and what full tummies they must have! I think I need to concentrate on seeing the good in "worm guts." Although, that's not an announcement that I'm going to enjoy "eating them".

I'm sure if we look at the "worm guts" in our lives, those things we don't like and try to side step, we can find something good from the bad. It's not easy; "worm guts" are unsightly. But, carefully we can walk through life and avoid most of them and be sure to clean up the rest. The big key is smiling through every step!

Be Kind to Yourself

2011-03-07T08:35:00.000-08:00

I read something today that reminded me of something I wanted to start doing on my blog. I am reading an incredible book by Toni Sorenson called "Defined by Christ".

I cannot say enough great things about this book, it has nourished me from page one. She says:

"The adversary loves to remind us who we are not. Not pretty. Not smart. Not strong. And his destructive voice might not be the only voice we hear. Satan is skilled at recruiting other people to reinforce his cruelties and those who supposedly care more about us - and they are the ones who inflict the deepest wounds. I wonder how often we say unkind words to people without realizing the damage we are doing to their spirits. I wonder how often our tongues are on the errand of evil without even realizing it... The most destructive thing we can possibly do in life is to make another person doubt his worth and identity as a child of God. The very most productive thing we can do is to help ourselves and others realize that as children of God, our worth is infinite." (page 52)

A few weeks ago I decided that I was going to start treating myself better. I was going to change the negative self-talk I sometimes experience into positive self-talk. I was going to be better at ignoring the whisperings of Satan and those he has influenced to criticize me. I know I am worthy of love and kindness. I am going to treat myself as I deserve to be treated and learn to see myself as my Savior sees me.

So every day I plan to do at least one thing kind for myself AND give myself one compliment.

I'm not sure I will post them all here, I'll have to think about that, but I will post today's...

Today I am being kind to myself by NOT allowing myself to be negative about writing an English paper. I doubt my abilities to write papers but, I am going to challenge that thought by reminding myself that I have scored 100% on all 7 papers I have turned in since going back to college this fall.

Mr. Darcy takes second place

2011-03-05T15:48:00.000-08:00

So, I wasn't going to read this book for Book Club next week, but my friend Lisa told me it was one of her favorites!

I am so glad I read it because it is now one of my favorites too! It is very rare to find someone as endearing as Mr. Darcy, however, Captain Elliot beats Mr. Darcy hands down. What a rare find. Do men like this actually exist? I'm not sure.

Read this book if you like humor and clean romance. You will not regret it. It's also full of heartache and sadly, I relate to much more of Sarah's struggles than I wish to be.

Time to return the book to the Library, but this one I'm going to have to buy before too long!

Wish they would make it a movie!

An experience worth having, although painful

2011-01-26T23:38:00.000-08:00

One of my English textbooks is called The Best American Magazine Writing 2009. I just finished a reading assignment and have to share this essay. It is a very touching story of a fallen soldier's final trip home. Emotional, yes. Painful to hear at times, yes. But it's also life changing and will remind you of a soft side of humanity. It will probably stir feelings of respect, honor, and gratitude.

The essay won the 2009 award for Feature Writing. It is called "The Things That Carried Him: The True Story of a Soldier's Last Trip Home" and it was written by Chris Jones for the Esquire magazine. (Not the most wholesome magazine, I know, I googled it.)

I found a .pdf file doing a google search. Unfortunately, because it's copyrighted, I cannot load it up here. So, Google the article by name and author and you should find a .pdf file. Enjoy the reading! :-)

Merry Christmas Family and Friends!

2010-12-25T16:37:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago this beautiful painting was decorating the foyer of our church for our Stake Christmas Fireside. What amazing talent we have in our stake and especially our ward! Amazing!

This painting touched me deeply, the beauty, the simplicity, and the bow! I love the bow! It reminds me of the precious gift the birth of a tiny infant brought to us all, the hope it gave to all mankind and the perfect example this baby grew to be.

Last night we watched the movie The Nativity and I was deeply moved by the way it portrayed the birth of our Savior. I love how in the movie pregnant Mary asked Joseph if he ever wondered when it would happen that Jesus wouldn't be just any baby, that it would be apparent to others that he was the Savior for all mankind. How great that their speculation was answered even before His birth. It shouldn't be surprising to those who have felt the powerful influence of the Holy Ghost that some were given this powerful revelation. What a gift! The Nativity is a beautiful movie. Very thought provoking, spiritual and a perfect way to spend part of Christmas!

The other message that touched me in a personal way was that of love. Loving others, it's not always easy is it? Sometimes it's not at all like we expected it to be, or perhaps it takes extra effort. In the movie The Nativity, Joseph loves Mary. Mary was young and was taken by surprise when she was betrothed to Joseph. She did not love Joseph; she did not know him. She wasn't the happiest of brides; you could tell it wasn't her plan for herself. In the movie, it shows Joseph, loving Joseph, making so many sacrifices for Mary and the child she was carrying. It was moving to watch the change in Mary. She learned to love Joseph, and couldn't be happier with any other man she may have chosen for herself. You know, sometimes God knows more. God can change hearts, heal hearts, help us love others and learn from others. One thing Mary's character in the movie portrayed was deep faith. Faith in following God's plan even though it was the scariest thing ever. I love Joseph and Mary more after seeing this movie. Yes, I know it's not THE EXACT way things happened, but my heart tells me that much of it is. I am so grateful for Joseph and Mary and their commitment to God that led them to do His will of bringing His Only Begotten Son to earth! I am so grateful for that sweet baby, Jesus, and the man he grew to become. Grateful for His sacrifices and his love for us!

Merry Christmas to all my family and friends!! May our Savior's love be in your homes and his loving guidance watch over you!

Happy for No Reason

2010-12-18T15:45:00.000-08:00

So, I walked by this book at the public library and was drawn to it. My recent enrollment in Psychology and my study of Personality, Emotion and Learning has created a sort of passion for those subjects. Mix it with the past year of my life and my personal growth and attempts of growing into the woman I want to be... well, I couldn't pass it up. I checked it out and have been frustrated that it sat there unread because I had finals to study for.

Now, I can't put it down! There is so much good stuff in there!

Here are a few of my favorite treasures found inside this book:

1. "You BRING happiness to your outer experiences rather than trying to extract happiness from them. You don't need to manipulate the world around you to try to make yourself happy. You live FROM happiness, rather than FOR happiness." She explains that most of us strive to sting together happy experiences like beads on a necklace to create a happy life. She says, "Being Happy for No Reason, in our necklace analogy, is like having a happy string. No matter what beads we put on our necklace- good, bad, or indifferent - our inner experience, which is the string that runs through them all, is happy, creating a happy life."

2. "When you are Happy for No Reason you're UNCONDITIONALLY happy. It's not that your life always looks perfect - it's just that however it looks, you'll still be happy."

3. "Some people enjoy their lives no matter what happens, while others can't find happiness no matter how hard they try."

4. An INTERESTING tidbit on Thomas Jefferson's famous line from the Declaration of Independence... "the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"... In 1776, the common usage of the word "pursue" was not "to chase after". To pursue something meant to PRACTICE that activity, to do it regularly, to make a habit of it. SO: Let's stop pursuing happiness and start practicing it. We do that by practicing new habits.

5. Chasing happiness is a bit like a hamster on a wheel. We often believe we "will be happy when.... (fill in the blank here) " OR we believe that when we acquire something IT will make us happy. "With each one, you experience either fleeting satisfaction or out right disappointment. But how long will it last?"

6. When you are not able to change the events in your life that you don't like, change your response to them.

OH! There is so much more inside this book!! She talks about habits to develop and practice. Changing responses to real life. Taking responsibility for your own happiness. GOOD STUFF!!

Another GREAT quote, different book:

"We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way." - Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Now, I have to say that I am 80x happier today than I was a year ago. I have also had the toughest year of my life. It is strange but, I believe that I had figured a bit of this out on my own!

One of the habits Shimoff talks about is gratitude. Gratitude has really helped me appreciate all of the awesome things I have in my life! I have SO MUCH more than I don't have. Yes, there are a few things I really desire to have in my life right now. The things I want most though, I cannot put on a Christmas Wish List.

Another habit is believing that the world is not out to get you, but to help you. Sometimes bad things happen but, looking at them as if they may be avenues for greater blessings helps. Your attitude improves! Your happiness is greater!

Good Luck Bad Luck!

There is a Chinese story of a farmer who used an old horse to till his fields. One day, the horse escaped into the hills and when the farmer's neighbors sympathized with the old man over his bad luck, the farmer replied, "Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?" A week later, the horse returned with a herd of horses from the hills and this time the neighbors congratulated the farmer on his good luck. His reply was, "Good luck? Bad luck? Who knows?"

Then, when the farmer's son was attempting to tame one of the wild horses, he fell off its back and broke his leg. Everyone thought this very bad luck. Not the farmer, whose only reaction was, "Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?"

Some weeks later, the army marched into the village and conscripted every able-bodied youth they found there. When they saw the farmer's son with his broken leg, they let him off. Now was that good luck or bad luck?

Who knows?

Everything that seems on the surface to be an evil may be a good in disguise. And everything that seems good on the surface may really be an evil. So we are wise when we leave it to God to decide what is good fortune and what misfortune, and thank him that all things turn out for good with those who love him.

Author Unknown

*Check out Marci Shimoff's website HERE.

On Motherhood

2010-12-18T15:10:00.001-08:00

I'm very grateful for the opportunity God has given me to be a mother. I take this responsibility seriously. I think it's the most important thing I could do in my lifetime. Raising these two, to not only be responsible citizens, but to have great character and morals, to LOVE God and follow His plan, to honor themselves and their family, to achieve greatness. It's a big job; trust me I've felt the weight of the responsibility on my shoulders!! I believe I am a great mom! My kids make me proud; they're making me look like a success! That said, I'm always looking for ways to be better and the challenges of motherhood are constantly shifting with the children's growth.

I have a friend that I've always thought was the best mother to her boys. In my younger motherhood years I used to believe it was her gift, her talent, and that she was just a better mom than most others.

I'm a little wiser now and although I recognize that she has a gift and talent in her abilities as a mother and I still believe she IS a fabulous mom role-model, I finally see WHAT she does differently that sets her apart from other great mothers. She lives the advice that Sister Wixam gives in this conference address:

She teaches her kids in everyday moments. She bears her testimony often in simple yet powerful ways and with enthusiasm. She creates spiritual opportunities like a scrapbook about her testimony, visiting temple grounds around the country, service, researching her son's priesthood lineage, and supporting her kids spiritual needs. She lives as an intentional mother, with clear focus of her end goal that keeps her perspective as it should be.

I LOVED this talk by Sister Wixam. These things stood out to me:

1. Reach out to "hold" onto our children... anchor them on the path of faith
2. Hold TIGHT to the rod ourselves. Set an example for our children
3. Read scriptures together - the Spirit will increase in our homes
4. The world will teach our children if we do not
5. Teach what we want them to know 5 years from now
6. Teach in everyday moments

A hot soup for a cold day

2010-12-08T10:37:00.000-08:00

I don't mind the cold weather too much, unless it's windy. Today is windy. It feels about 20 degrees colder than yesterday! I put on my Smart Wool base layer and REI wool socks.

I've been wanting to try some new soup recipes; today seemed like the perfect day! I'm home studying for a final and even though it's toasty warm inside it's a soup day!

This one is perfect: yummy, cheap, and simple to make!

Tomato-Tortellini Soup (feeds 8)

48 oz. water
4 Knorr chicken bouillon cubes
1 lb. package refrigerated cheese filled tortellini
8 oz. tub cream cheese spread with chive and onion
2 cans low-sodium condensed tomato soup

Bring the water and bouillon cubes to a boil; break up the bouillon as it softens. Add tortellini; reduce heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes. Put the cream cheese into a medium bowl and add 1/2 cup of the hot broth, stir until smooth. Add cream cheese mixture and the tomato soup to the tortellini and broth. Stir until smooth and heated through.

Options: I topped with diced tomato and sliced green onion. You could use 48 oz. of canned chicken broth instead of the water and bouillon. You could also replace the cheese filled tortellini with cheese and chicken filled tortellini.

Cost: (My cost at Winco) - $8.88 ($1.11 per serving)
Knorr bouillon cubes (use 1/2 the box): $1.56 for the box
1 lb. package cheese tortellini: $ 3.98 (this is super cheap! I usually spend around $6 for it)
cream cheese spread with chives and onion: $1.98
tomato soup (2): $1.36

For the Love of Limes.... (for Jen)

2010-12-01T21:17:00.000-08:00

This was dinner tonight and the kids LOVED it!

Garlic Lime Chicken
(recipe from McCormick & Co)

1 tsp. McCormick minced garlic
1 tsp. McCormick minced onion
3/4 tsp. McCormick Ground Cumin
3/4 tsp. McCormick Oregano Leaves
1/2 tsp. McCormick Cilantro Leaves
1/2 tsp. McCormick Coarse Ground Black Pepper
1/4 c. lime juice
1/4 c. orange juice
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts

Combine all ingredients except for the chicken in a large plastic bag. Shake or knead to mix well; add chicken and refrigerate 30 minutes or longer to marinade.

I baked the chicken in a 350 degree oven for about 20 -25 minutes. (? - probably depends on the size of the breast halves)

The original recipe is actually for fajitas. It calls for you to cut up the chicken into strips and cook on the stove top with bell pepper and onion. Serve in tortillas. Instead I baked three large breast halves.

Lime Cilantro Rice

2 cups water
1 Tbsp. butter
1 cup long grain white rice
1 teaspoon lime zest
2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Bring the water to a boil; stir the butter and rice into the water. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until the rice is tender, about 20 minutes.

Stir the lime zest, lime juice, and cilantro into the cooked rice just before serving.

2010-11-21T21:56:00.000-08:00

My daughter is pretty talented. I need to show off a few of her creations...

I'm thinking I'll just hand her the stack of baby photos and let her make her own scrapbook. :-) She is interested in learning photography right now too. She has a great eye for design and fashion!

Today, it's about me...

2010-10-05T21:40:00.000-07:00

This post is about me. It seems so egocentric, which is not me at all. In fact, I've historically had a tough time putting myself first at times, and I hate to be the center of attention.

It's been a long time coming but, I really like me right now. I'm proud of myself for accomplishing certain things, living through painful things, and not just surviving, but thriving!

I feel strong. I've learned strength is an endowed characteristic. It is not holding in the tears, it is crying and allowing yourself to feel the pain, then moving forward. Strength is not insisting on doing things alone, it is letting people in and relying on others compassion and love. It is also allowing God to lead and recognizing that you don't always know best.

For me, it is like finding the path you've been searching for. Your very own path, that runs along side the path the whole family or marriage walks on. It's a path that goes on, even if the path next to it stops abruptly or takes a wrong turn. It feels good to be on the path, to move forward and gain strength with each new step.

So, I'll share a few of my "steps" with you, to give you an idea where I'm headed...

1. I recently started to run with my son. We started out a half mile and my goal is to run a half marathon in October 2011 with my cousin Carie and friend Amy.

2. Continue to go to BSU next semester. To approach the learning process with a good attitude and lots of hard work.

3. To continue to get healthier by biking, eating well and taking care of my spiritual/emotional well-being.

4. Continue to make new friends by taking advantages of opportunities to get to know others and creating opportunities as well.

5. Start a "bucket list"

6. To nurture my relationships to the best of my ability

Homemade Pesto

2010-08-11T18:21:00.000-07:00

I made Pesto two days in a row (extra basil). It's how I get on my daughter's good side. Hahaha! It is her all time favorite food. She likes it on pasta, cheese tortellini, pizza, sandwiches, etc... I've caught her leaning over the food processor eating it by the spoonful... like frosting.

Last night I was the hostess for the Bunco group I joined around our neighborhood. It has been a lot of fun gathering with them and making new friends. There are a lot of very cool ladies in our neighborhood! So, I hallowed out some cherry tomatoes and stuffed them with the leftover pesto from our dinner last night. Delicious and a cute little appetizer. Sorry, I didn't get a photo of them.

So, if you've ever wondered... Pesto is very simple to make. SUPER easy!! Here is my favorite recipe...

Pesto

2 1/2 cups packed basil leaves

3 Tbsp. pine nuts

3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and puree' until smooth. Add more olive oil if you desire a thinner pesto.

Keep VIRTUE a strong trait in our personalities & lifestyles

2010-08-08T21:11:00.000-07:00

Caitlin gave her first ever talk in Sacrament Meeting today. Mid-week I mentioned to her that we needed to work on her talk and she informed me that she had chosen the subject and had written it already! Wow! Yep, I have an awesome kid. She said it was making her nervous, so she wanted to "get it out of the way". She said having it written was like having a 20 lb. weight lifted off her shoulders. Smart girl. No procrastination here!

So, Grandma and Aunt Meme wanted to hear the talk and of course I'm so impressed that I've decided to include it here. She did great! Perfect in every way. Perfect subject. Perfect delivery.

Cait's talk:

I was asked to speak today about a young women value, and how it is important to include it in your life. I decided to focus on Virtue. I would like to quote some of Elaine S. Dalton’s talk about returning to Virtue.

Her definition of virtue “is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards.” It encompasses chastity and moral purity. Virtue begins in the heart and in.

She states:
"Virtue is a word we don’t hear often in today’s society, but the Latin root word virtuous means strength. Virtuous women and men possess a quiet dignity and inner strength. They are confident because they are worthy to receive and be guided by the Holy Ghost. President Monson has counseled: “You be the one to make a stand for right, even if you stand alone. Have the moral courage to be a light for others to follow. There is no friendship more valuable than your own clear conscience, your own moral cleanliness—and what a glorious feeling it is to know that you stand in your appointed place clean and with the confidence that you are worthy to do so.

I truly believe that one virtuous young woman or young man, led by the Spirit, can change the world, but in order to do so, we must return to virtue. Now is the time to set our course and focus on the finish. A return to virtue must begin individually in our hearts and in our homes.

Now is the time for each of us to arise and unfurl a banner to the world calling for a return to virtue. May we so live that we can be instruments in preparing the earth for His Second Coming, “that when he shall appear we shall be like him, … purified even as he is pure.”

I would also like to refer to some of my favorite scriptures about Virtue.

D&C 121:45 “Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly.”

Articles of Faith, 1:13: “if there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”

And my personal favorite,
Proverbs 31:10: “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.”

Virtue is EXTREMELY essential to keep in your life. What Sister Dalton said was definitely true. You don’t hear about Virtue that much outside of the church. That, is why, here in the present day, we have been given a hard trial to keep virtue a strong trait in our personality, and lifestyle.

In the book, Keepers of What Matters Most by Emily Freeman it says,

"How can we learn to be men and women of strength? It takes practice. How do you practice having virtue? Well, anything virtuous would be anything that gives you strength. Think of the movies you watch, the books you read, the music that you listen to. How about the conversations you have with your family and friends? Do all of those things make you stronger?? More importantly, do they strengthen your testimony of Christ?

If what you are about to do won’t strengthen your testimony of Christ, learn to walk away from it. Leave it behind. In the world we live in today, you can’t afford to waste time on anything that will not make you stronger. And your strength comes from the Lord."

Learning about Forgiveness

2010-07-29T20:17:00.000-07:00

Today I came across this video and I am in awe at this man's faith and forgiveness.

It is refreshing that somebody out in the world is so Christlike and selfless. In his grief and loneliness he found healing and impressively was able to experience deep love and forgiveness to the very person causing his heartache.

I LOVE that he said that he felt and sensed that he needed to let his anger and anguish go. His Stake President worded it "There's Jesus' way to solve problems, to address situations, and handle sorrow and then there's some other way." - This man, Chris Williams, seemed to get that Jesus' way responds with love and forgiveness. Miraculously, his very response to forgive and love has helped to heal him too!

My favorite quotes from Chris Williams in the video:

"I am merely a vessel that His Spirit, His example, His intelligence and His brilliance could shine. That's really all I had to do, was to NOT get in the way. I really didn't have much to do with that... (it was only the Spirit working through me)."

"I'm grateful that God allows trials and tragedy to occur in our lives. Not because they are easy or desired but because they help us love."

"Coming to know a man of sorrow and one who is acquainted with grief, as I've now come to understand it, is really why I was sent here. And it has been incredibly difficult to have to learn those lessons in the way that I've learned them. But I've always ended those episodes with an assurance and a hope that one day perhaps I will see Him... one day I will hopefully be like Him."

In THIS Ensign Article, President Gordon B. Hinckley said:

"Somehow forgiveness, with love and tolerance, accomplishes miracles that can happen in no other way."

"(Forgiveness) may be the greatest virtue on earth, and certainly the most needed."

"May God help us to be a little kinder, showing forth greater forebearance, to be more forgiving, more willing to walk the second mile, to reach down and lift up those who may have sinned but have brought forth the fruits of repentance, to lay aside old grudges and nurture them no more."

This is my goal to forgive as this man did... choosing to forgive brings happiness. Harboring resentment and withholding forgiveness will only make us miserable. Choose happiness.

On mothering the greatest kids...

2010-07-28T09:51:00.000-07:00

There's nothing I love more than being a mom. I happen to believe I've been blessed with the two sweetest kids ever! They are amazing! I can't believe my luck in being selected to be their mom!

Watching them grow is so bittersweet. It's sad to see their babyhood and childhood pass away so quickly, yet I love to interact with the people they are becoming!

I thought I'd brag a bit on their greatness! I truly believe that each of us is born with some natural talents and wonderful character traits. I hope my kids learn to recognize theirs, because they will come in handy during their lifetimes.

Caitlin has always been my sweetheart. Born with love in her heart and a passion for life. She is funny and fun to be with. She's always game for a new adventure and the scariest roller coaster. She is wise and has a kind, loving heart. Those gifts have brought many compliments from her teachers and her friends' mothers. I love that she makes good choices consistently and thinks about others. It is always impressive to see her compassion for the underdog, the one who is struggling. That Christlike charity will take her far. Caitlin is also very smart and an exceptional reader and writer. She has an awesome musical talent that brings our family joy!

Jared is a boy who knows his heart. He knows what he likes and what he wants. He has determination and problem solving skills that enable him to shape his life and help others. He is very intelligent and uses that gift together with his creativity to constantly impress me with his ideas. He has a passion for art, music, math and science. He is a people magnet because he is fun, entertaining and interesting. I love when he chooses to be a great example to his peers, that makes me proud! Jared is also sweet and loving. He loves people and loves to be recognized for good things he does for them.

God gave me these children and they are my biggest blessing, my proudest accomplishment and bring me the most joy in my life. I am so grateful for my sweet children.

I hope they will always know how much I love them and adore the people they have grown into. I am honored to be their mom and hope to follow the Spirit in that job so I can teach, nurture and prepare them for life.

Choosing to be happy in the midst of imperfection

2010-07-27T10:16:00.000-07:00

A friend posted this quote on facebook the other day...

Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.

... funny how I've been thinking a lot lately about how much happier I am with life. Even though there are things in my life happening right now that make me sad and are difficult on a day to day basis, I feel happy!

I've learned an interesting lesson in the last several months about happiness. It all comes down to a choice we make. We choose our reactions to life. We can't make decisions for others, we don't get to choose our trials in life, and frankly sometimes we are dealt hard blows that we aren't sure we'll live through. Finding that strength to be happy in the midst of an imperfect life is a talent worth seeking. I've never been good at it, really.

Until now, that is. I can remember the day not long ago when I felt that I was confronted face to face with that choice. With clarity I could see that by choosing to be happy, I would experience LESS pain in an already painful situation. Could it be that easy? Yes, it was. A simple choice that I made, backed up by a whole lot of work, effort and prayer to make it happen.

It's strange to look back on that experience now. I see God's hand in it; it does seem like a super-human ability. And yet it's continued to be clear and "easy" - because it's working!! Choosing to be happy = feeling happy = BEING happy... even in the midst of imperfection.

It's hard to watch our kids learn tough lessons

2010-07-18T21:12:00.001-07:00

I had taken the kids to the pool a short time ago, my two and their cousin.

The girls took a small blow-up beach ball that my son had abandoned about a half hour earlier. Soon they returned complaining of my son's behavior upon discovering that the girls had "his" ball. I agreed his behavior and reaction was inappropriate and could quite possibly could get him kicked out of the pool.

Carrying the ball he joined the girls and I. Anger sparked in his eyes ans he complained loudly that they had taken his ball without asking. Big sister often tries to "help" me discipline him so, I pulled out another beach ball from the beach bag. I handed it to my daughter and instructed the girls to go play.

IF I had thought I had established world peace I would have been sadly mistaken. This I knew as soon as my son proclaimed that that ball was his too!

"They belong only to you?" I asked, wishing I could remember how those balls had come to live in our beach bag.

In one breath he informed me angrily that they were and that long ago he had made a decision. His face was red, his words bitter. The decision he had made was to NEVER, EVER, EVER share anything with his sister EVER again! He's mad that she takes his things without asking for permission, and he has a point, it happens a lot.

"That was very wrong of her," I empathized. "When we get home we'll all sit down together and work this out. Meanwhile maybe you can share your ball with the girls and join in the game they are playing."

"No. She can't play with my ball, that's her consequence." It was about this time that the girls returned the ball to the beach bag and ran off to play in the lazy pool. As they ran off, my sons eyes filled with tears and his lip quivered. "Now they will NEVER play with me. They'll only play with each other for the rest of the day!"

I tried to explain that he had made it so. We don't usually pick friends to play with that are mean, selfish and angry. Others don't like to be hit either.

"Well, I'm not changing my mind!" he declared angrily and stomped off.

As I watched him leave, I was hit with compassion for that angry boy. I obviously have a few morals to teach him but, what affected me most was the pattern I saw.

We all sin, but sometimes we refuse to be humbled by the natural consequences that follow. With tears and anger he acknowledged that he had "burned his bridge" in having playmates at the pool. Did this pain and suffering bring about sorrow and repentance? No, his pride burned brightly and he was angrier still. It was hard to watch.

As he stomped away alone, I wished he had only allowed himself to consider for a moment that he might be in the wrong. If only he had softened his heart and thought through his choices. He assumed his decision to not share was bringing him protection of his belongings and would therefore bring him joy. It really brought him pain and unhappiness as all sin does.

My heart ached for my little boy who left to suffer his own natural consequences. It's hard to watch sometimes, but I hope to help him learn this lesson long before the sins bring consequences that are harder to bare.

Yet another goal...

2010-07-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

I might be needing to order some of these lawn ornaments. How can I NOT be a more serious BSU Bronco Football fan when...

I will be starting to attend BSU this fall...

Just shy of my 40th birthday, I'll be picking up my schooling once again!! That thought is a bit unsettling, but it's the right thing to do.

My life is about to get CRAZY! Scotty works out of state Monday - Friday. The kids are older but, it will take some serious organization to make this work! Guess I'll be posting a lot more about time and home organization, I'm beginning the research now.

... onward I go!!

50 mile Armstrong Foundation Challenge (CHECK)

2010-07-12T20:09:00.001-07:00

It's been a goal of mine. Something I had to do for the great cause. Selfishly this first ride was actually more about me, and also about supporting my brother-in-law, Tony, who was recently diagnosed with a malignant myxoid lyposarcoma. I have been working hard on myself lately, changing all sorts of things in all aspects of life. Improving in lots of areas... which I will talk about many of those at later times.

Yesterday I rode my bike (well, actually Caitlin's bike) 51.3 miles in San Jose, California. It was hard. Harder than I actually imagined it would be. I've been training for about two months, but 20-25 miles a day is just not the same. Scotty told me it was just doing the Greenbelt ride twice... not exactly true, although I certainly am grateful for his encouragement and support. The Armstrong ride had some mountainous climbs that I wasn't anticipating. I climbed about 1,200 ft. in elevation throughout the ride.

It was a great feeling to cross the finish line! I met all three of my goals:

1. finish a 50 mile Armstrong Challenge Ride
2. DO NOT take the SAG bus (the bus that hauls you up the climbs or too the next "fuel stop" when you get too tired to continue)
3. Finish before Scotty (he rides the Century- 100 miles)

I'm physically in a different spot than I was even two months ago, so although this ride was hard I am proud of my accomplishments. I have lost 30 pounds, and have begun to crave exercise.

A few of my friends have asked me how I got started:

The story is that Scotty is a bike fan. Road and mountain. He just loves to ride. I was happy to discover it is an exercise that doesn't aggravate my Achilles tendon injury when the four of us, Scotty, the kids and I, would go on 10-20 mile rides on the Greenbelt. Running and step-aerobics (my previous favorite forms of exercise) were out of the question since walking even a 1/2 mile would leave me limping for a week.

I signed up for two rounds of physical therapy, had my tendon "scraped" to get rid of calcium deposits the size of a grape and then joined a gym to finish the therapy on my own. I set a goal to walk or ride 300 miles and realized I could complete the goal faster if I rode the bike. So for the past two months I've been riding our indoor cycle and my own mountain bike, at first 10 miles and then 20-30 miles a day. My tendon has almost completely healed, I feel better than I have in years. It feels great to be able to exercise! My only advice to those of you who wish to start cycling is to buy a padded pair of bike shorts... they are your friend.

The lessons I learned from the Armstrong Foundation Ride:

1. Strength train my quads
2. Carry TWO bottles of water or Gatorade between "fuel stops" - stay better hydrated
3. Start going to a spinning class to improve my overall cardiovascular strength and capabilities
4. I need a road bike; Caitlin's bike is too "heavy". It's 30 lbs. as opposed to 8 lbs.
5. I have a lot of very awesome supportive friends
6. Fear is meant to be conquered
7. Cancer survivors are very STRONG people, they are impressive!!
8. The Livestrong Foundation is an awesome organization that does some amazing things when it comes to helping to fight cancer!
9. (last but not least) I CAN DO WHATEVER I SET MY MIND TO. I AM STRONG. I AM CAPABLE OF ACCOMPLISHING GREAT THINGS ON MY OWN (with the Lord's help).

Improving Small Talk

2010-06-28T15:05:00.000-07:00

I have conversation struggles. I imagine that those of you who know me are either thinking one of two things:

1.) You're telling me!

OR

2.) HUH? You never shut up!

Well, that's part of the trouble. When I get nervous I chat (okay, ramble). It's a nervous habit. I also tend to ramble about myself, which is not always a good thing. LOL!! I was given some advice years ago as a pre-teen when I was encouraged by some adults to go and make friends with other pre-teen "strangers" at a park. I was very shy and told the adults I didn't know what to say. The advice I got was to smile and tell them about myself. OY! I am now recognizing the blunder in that.

Well, years later... I was in search of a little conversational help with my adult peers. I was also in search of a little help in improving my listening skills.

I found THIS awesome book and it is perfect for improving and learning to start up personal or professional conversations. I have read every page & highlighted a high percentage of the book. I now find it fun to have a conversation with a stranger. I make it a game to see how many strangers I can have a conversation with and what type of things I can find out about them.

Before this book I would rather give a public speech, teach a lesson, give a talk in church, etc... than go to a social event filled with strangers where I was expected to "mingle". It still isn't my FAVORITE thing, but I now enjoy it. I like people. I love socializing. I am enjoying finding things out about people and improving my communication skills.

I give this book my highest rating, it is so worth every penny I spent on it and every minute I read it. It has become a terrific go-to reference book for me!! Can't say enough good things about it!

A fitness goal reached.

2010-06-21T11:26:00.000-07:00

300 miles!!

I did reach my goal of riding 300 miles! YAY!!! I have really discovered that my body craves that riding now. I am now training to participate in the next Livestrong Foundation Ride which is in San Jose' in about 3 weeks. It will take a lot of dedication on my part, but I am committed to that! I'm really excited to push myself farther than I remember ever pushing myself when it comes to exercise. It is just hard enough that I know it's going to be HARD, but that I can do it if I prepare myself and decide that I can.

A favorite BBQ Potluck recipe

2010-05-31T19:12:00.000-07:00

I tore this recipe out of a magazine awhile back. I wish I knew who to give the credit to, this is an AWESOME salad! My favorite coleslaw.

Two-tone Coleslaw

2/3 c. mayo
3 Tbsp. cider vinegar
1 Tbsp. snipped fresh dill
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar
7 c. shredded green cabbage (I use the shredded mix with carrots)
3 medium red apples, cored and thinly sliced
1 c. chopped sweet onion

(If you plan to chill this salad for more than 2 hours, toss the apple slices in a little lemon juice to keep it fresh and crisp looking.)

For dressing mix mayo, vinegar, dill, salt, pepper and sugar. Mix well.

Stir together cabbage, apples, and onions in a large bowl. Add dressing and toss to coat. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours or up to 48 hours, stirring occasionally.

I've never met a vegetable I didn't like...

2010-05-27T08:57:00.000-07:00

It's true, I love vegetables! Fresh produce is one of my all time favorite things. I sometimes can go a bit nutso in shopping the produce section, buying more produce than we can eat before the freshness expires.

I enjoy spring and summer cooking because I love vegetables. It is the BEST time of year for making salads and side dishes. Believe it when I tell you I even LOVE chopping vegetables. I own a food processor but, it rarely gets used. Give me a knife and cutting board almost anytime, unless they have to be SUPER fine or cut in mass quantities, such as when canning salsa or chile sauce.

So, I challenged myself this year to try to find some great tasting new sides that are heavy on the vegetables and other healthy foods. Of course, if they have protein I'll do a few cartwheels.

Both of these recipes come from Cooking Light magazine, the March 2010 edition. They are both winners, great fresh taste! (Excuse my photography, it's not the best... and I'm thinking the magazine let their pasta cool a bit before adding the feta so it didn't melt and get all soft like mine. Tasted good though.)

Penne with Chickpeas, Feta and Tomatoes

8 oz. uncooked penne
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 c. chopped shallots
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
3 cups halved cherry tomatoes
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/3 cup small fresh basil leaves
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. grated lemon rind
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; drain in a colander over a bowl, reserving 1/4 cup cooking liquid.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add shallots and garlic; saute' 45 seconds, stirring constantly. Stir in bell pepper and chickpeas; saute' 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add tomatoes; saute' 2 minutes. Stir in pasta and reserved cooking liquid; cook 1 minute or until thoroughly heated. Remove from heat. Add feta and remaining ingredients; toss to combine.

Yields: 4 servings (serving size 1 1/2 cups)

Pasta with Asparagus, Pancetta, and Pine Nuts

My results (without the pancetta) looks a bit plain but was delish! It could use a bit of red color because the one in the magazine looks much better!

8 ounces uncooked cavatappi pasta
1 lb. asparagus, trimmed and cut diagonally into 1 1/2-inch pieces
1 tsp. minced garlic
3 Tbsp. pine nuts
2 oz. diced pancetta
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup (1 oz.) crumbled Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook pasta according to the package directions, omitting salt and fat; add asparagus to pan during the last 3 minutes of cooking. Drain. Sprinkle pasta mixture with garlic; return to pan, and toss well.

Arrange pine nuts in a single layer on a jelly-roll pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 3 minutes or until golden and fragrant, stirring occasionally. Place in a small bowl.

Increase oven temperature to 465 degrees. Arrange pancetta on the jelly roll pan. Bake for 6 minutes or until crisp.

Combine lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper, stirring with a whisk. Drizzle over the pasta mixture; toss well to coat. Sprinkle with pine nuts, pancetta, and cheese.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: about 2 cups)

...my parents love me...

2010-05-26T13:20:00.000-07:00

...you know how I know?

They gave me one of these...

One night they came over and saw that I had purchased one of these. It sat by the front door still in it's box...

They said "take it back, you can have ours!" (Mom said it streaks her wood floors)

You see, I don't know where I have been but, I have not known about this little gadget. I first saw it when I was at the gym and due to treadmill boredom I watched an employee clean up the dirty "rain tracked" floors. After my workout I got a bit of a closer look and I almost offered to clean part of the floor myself but, I thought that the girl may think I had lost my mind. So, I asked twenty questions. How does it work? How does it clean? Do you love it? Is it easier? blah... blah...

Upon the gym employee's words of praise I started to search the weekly ads for a sale. Finding one, I purchased the Shark Steam Mop and fortunately my parents paid a visit before I cleaned my floors.

What do I think? I LOVE IT!! I was a bit scared after reading some of the online reviews, so happy they are wrong. I think my LEAST favorite household chore is mopping. It is such a pain, and I've always had a enormous amount of tile flooring that makes the job tempting to procrastinate until I can no longer avoid it.

I think it is a miraculous product. True, it is not perfect... but it's very close! I couldn't get it to work at first (no steam would come out) but called the customer service number and they said it was probably due to water being left it it during months of no usage. They told me to shake it real hard and I admit, I rolled my eyes as soon as I heard it. After a thorough shaking it has worked each and every time.

This gadget makes cleaning my tile flooring 10x easier, it ranks right up there with the dishwasher on my list!

Baked Asparagus with Balsamic Butter Sauce

2010-05-13T16:13:00.000-07:00

Here's a yummy recipe that I found at allrecipes.com

Baked Asparagus with Balsamic Butter Sauce

1 bunch fresh asparagus, trimmed
cooking spray
salt and pepper to taste*
2 Tbsp. butter
1/2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Arrange the asparagus on a baking sheet. Coat with cooking spray and season with salt and pepper. Bake the asparagus in the preheated oven for 12 minutes, or until tender. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat, and stir in soy sauce and balsamic vinegar. pour over the baked asparagus to serve.

(*I went easy on the salt since the sauce uses soy sauce. It's easy to season later if you feel it's necessary. I didn't need to.)

Book Shelf: Time Riders

2010-05-10T21:30:00.000-07:00

I can't put this book down! It is a witty, sci-fi, romantic mystery. A very fun read!

Pioneer Woman's Creamy Lemon Crumb Squares

2010-05-08T00:44:00.000-07:00

So, I tried out a Pioneer Woman recipe a few weeks ago. It was delicious and very easy to prepare...

Want to make some? Click below...

Pioneer Woman's Creamy Lemon Crumb Squares

Storing Digital Photos

2010-05-07T21:44:00.000-07:00

Not too long ago while at a salon/spa awaiting a pedicure I was browsing through a magazine and spotted this:

It's beautiful isn't it? See those drawers and how she organizes her digital photos? By year (blue tab dividers) and the various colors of the jewel cases that hold the cd's represent something. Red could be Christmas, Blue could be vacations, etc... She labels each cd and files it by date. I just love it! Of course, my sweetheart is the organizer of all of our digital photos and movies. I know he backs up iphoto onto a portable hard-drive and so we have back up copies IF something should happen.

In our case, IF became DID... last summer. There was a lightening storm and it wiped out our computer... software, photos, files, etc... I know that probably not every photo was saved to the backup. The most recent photos are gone... it's something I don't like to think about. Lesson learned though... back up and back up often. IF might really mean WHEN.

This drawer filing system is also an excellent storage idea if you need to free up some hard drive space.

Chickpea & Pistachio Salad

2010-04-20T12:56:00.000-07:00

In my most recent efforts to eat healthier I am trying to eat more natural foods and increase my protein. The protein is a big deal for me because I am a vegetarian, so I have to watch my numbers to make sure I am getting enough...

This was simple to prepare, a delicious light, fresh-tasting salad! I love lemons though. I did not add all of the salt and I substituted white rice because I had a lot leftover from dinner the night before. I think I would prefer the brown rice, but then again I really like both.

I have no idea WHERE this recipe originated. It was scribbled down on a piece of notebook paper in my handwriting. I most likely copied it from a magazine I found in a doctors' office. That would be typical... enjoy!

Chickpea & Pistachio Salad

I Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 of a whole red onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. water
2 c. cooked long grain brown rice
1/2 c. cooked garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
1/4 c. shelled pistachios
2 Tbsp. parsley, chopped
1 whole lemon (you'll use the zest & the juice)
2 pinches salt

Saute' onion and garlic in the olive oil for 3-5 minutes. Add water and cook for 2 minutes longer. Add cooked rice and chickpeas, heat through. Remove from heat and add the pistachios and parsley. Stir in lemon zest and the lemon juice. Stir. Taste and add salt, if necessary.

Want to join a Book Club with me?

2010-04-05T07:06:00.000-07:00

I'm joining an online book club that I thought some of you might be interested in. Check out THIS post on the blog Diapers and Divinty (Finding faith in Motherhood).

I really loved General Conference and thought this would be a great springboard for me to apply the talks one by one to my life... and to do additional study.

It's General Conference Time!!

2010-04-03T06:20:00.000-07:00

I LOVE General Conference!! I've looked forward to it for months and have some fun activities planned for the family as we gather around the TV.

Perhaps you've seen some of these activities, but if not here are a few links to help make watching General Conference a bit easier with the kids...

lds.org has a few activities you can print off HERE: activity packets, Conference Squares (bingo)

HERE is a blog that I'm so glad I found with a few conference awards. I LOVE the caterpillar with multiple body parts to discuss the talks. I think we are going to do that for the overall message as conference is going along, we will take turns filling out the body circles. It is very adorable. The testimony growing flowers are super cute too! I am loving preparednotscared.blogspot.com

One spot to always find a bunch of fun ideas regarding most anything is sugardoodle.net. I use it all the time to help me prepare my Primary lessons that I teach on Sundays. HERE is a general search on General Conference at sugardoodle. The personalized magic carpets are a brilliant idea to keep little ones still. There are activity packets for multiple age groups here.

WHAT WE ARE DOING: I combined parts from a packet for youth and senior primary packet to keep my kids on their toes listening to the talks in an active way. I also am doing one of the bingo games and letting them use Jelly Beans as markers. When they here a specific word (like prayer, missionary work, pioneer, etc... ) they mark the square. I also thought that I would start to have a few traditional foods for Conference.

2010-04-02T22:14:00.000-07:00

350 miles to Salt Lake City

2010-03-31T20:51:00.000-07:00

I'm biking/walking from Boise, ID to Salt Lake City, UT. That is 350 miles! It is a huge goal for me! But, let me explain...

When I say bike/walk I mean it in a virtual sense. I will actually be using a treadmill and an exercise bike. So far I've logged in 33 miles!

I originally set a goal for 300 miles by June 11th which is the day we leave on vacation and the first day the kids are out of school for summer break. I hope by adding on the extra 50 miles I am not pushing my luck! Today I rode for 10 miles. I walk a lot less often because I can only walk for up to two miles due to the weakened Achilles tendon that is recovering from a partial rupture injury.

So, what type of health/fitness goals have you set that work for you?

Frugal Tip for Saving Money

2010-03-31T20:15:00.000-07:00

For years, I've procrastinated setting aside some time and getting online to figure out what all this coupon madness is all about. Finally, about six weeks ago I made that happen. I immersed myself in reading about it, going out and putting it to the test at multiple stores and have reached a point where I feel that I get it for the most part.

My last shopping trip I spent $22 and saved $87. NICE! I loved paying only .18 cents for three bottles of balsamic vinaigrette, .26 cents for a package of Band-Aids, .45 cents for a 24 pk. of Cottonelle TP, 13 cents for body wash, etc...

Of course, part of the real saving is stocking up on things as they go on sale for rock-bottom prices. My grocery budget is still the same (for now) as I am stocking the pantry and other storage. I've been told it won't be long before I will be able to allocate some of that grocery budget money to other things, that will feel great since I recently took a big grocery budget cut. So, if you've been wondering how to save $$$ on groceries, check out my favorite beginner's website...

thekrazycouponlady.com

She has an amazing post called Ten Days to Become a Krazy Coupon Lady. Go ahead, click it... it's like finding money!

It also helps to find a coupon expert blogger who lives in your hometown. I like fabulesslyfrugal.com as my new coupon homegirl. She posts the deal and I follow. It makes it simple by taking up less of my time. (By the way, if you get an error when you click on fabulesslyfrugal.com just click on the tab home and it will take you to the right page. She recently made a blog host change and is getting some glitches fixed.)

I will admit that it does take time, but time well spent when it comes to saving money and building food storage. It is also feels good to be using our resources in a way that we get more for the same amount of money. It is a sense of control that is really empowering...

If you've been on the fence about trying out coupons, I say go for it!!

Catching Up....

2010-03-25T21:55:00.000-07:00

I teach Primary at church, it's like Sunday School. The kids are six years old and I really enjoy teaching them. I try to keep things interesting because it makes it fun and keeps them quite. I am also thinking it helps the kids to remember the lessons.

Here are some ideas I used around Valentines Day.

First: this was my gift to the kids. It is a bag topper stapled to a sandwich baggie. You could fill the baggy with anything. I chose this big heart for the message, but one of the kids is allergic to all types of sugars and he had to have pretzels in his. The clipart of the Savior was found at sugardoodle.net and the blue heart is a Microsoft word clipart image.

Second: Lessons are best when kids can participate. I had several "case scenarios" that the kids had to tell me if they were good choices or bad choices. I typed the red numbers in Microsoft Word and used a circle punch to cut them out. Laminate, if possible, and place on a tray. Put a cookie on top of each number. The kids select a cookie and answer the question that corresponds to the number underneath the cookie they chose. You could use graham crackers or even felt cookies like these. This idea would also work well for Family Home Evening.

A new St. Patrick's Day Tradition

2010-03-21T22:24:00.000-07:00

Shame on me... life got a bit complicated. Lots of doctor appointments going on here. Specialists, new diagnoses and all the fun stuff that comes with those.

Awhile back our 11 year old complained that I did not ever celebrate St. Patricks Day. Apparently it is not enough to wear green. I had to get a bit more creative, like I do for other holidays. Of course Family Fun has some great ideas. That's where I found this one. It was simple and the kids enjoyed the new tradition! Instead of buying all the fruit individually, I bought a fruit bowl at Wal-mart. I figure that saved me a ton of money since it is not peak season for much of the fruit right now. The "clouds" are canned whipped topping...

A rainbow and the treasure at the end of it....

A few Valentines for my loved ones...

2010-02-11T22:46:00.000-08:00

These are the the regular sized Hershey chocolate bars. I love the colors!

... and FINALLY, I saw this adorable idea all over blogland. No telling who started it. They are pink grapefruit Tic Tacs. A little ribbon and some paper. It was that easy!

It sure has felt good to get a little bit of paper crafting done lately! I finished my February projects already, in the first half of the month even!! Not only does it feel nice to have a few pretty things to give away, but I had a great time getting re-acquainted with my stamping supplies!

Monsters

2010-01-29T11:52:00.001-08:00

Perhaps it's because my little guy's drawings look very much like these monsters but, I just love this stamp set from Recollections called "My Little Monsters". (I bought the set at Michaels)

It has been awhile since I've done any stamping. My craft room is about three quarters unpacked but, I had to get a bit creative as I was throwing these together for a challenge I'm doing to complete four cards each month this year. That doesn't sound very hard, but here I am at months end. :-) Namely my challenge was not being able to locate my watercolor pencils, they are probably still in one of six boxes left to unpack. So, don't tell anyone but Crayola colored pencils work too- when you are under a deadline! GIGGLE, giggle...

Spicy Pine Nut Pasta

2010-01-28T13:39:00.000-08:00

There are certain things that I am "forbidden" to eat while the kids are at school. And NO, it's not bon bons.

You see, they have their favorite foods and IF it is discovered that I did eat those favorite foods without them I hear a few disappointing whines. Of course, they always figure it out, especially my daughter who has the nose of a blood hound. It doesn't look like a blood hound's nose, just works like one. (I had to clarify that, just in case she reads this).

Of course, if you know me then you also know I don't really let my kids dictate what I eat for lunch so, I made something yummy today... it is my favorite pasta dish. It's my own recipe, which just means I made it up. It is also one of my daughter's favorite meals.

Spicy Pine Nut Pasta

1/2 cup shelled pine nuts

1 tsp. olive oil

2 1/2 cups medium shell pasta (that is approximately half of a 1 lb. box)

4 1/2 cups water

2 chicken bouillon cubes (the amount you would use to make 1 cup of broth each)

2-3 garlic cloves, chopped finely or pressed

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 can of Italian Style Stewed Tomatoes

ground cayenne pepper

black pepper, to taste

salt, to taste (I don't add any extra)

In a small skillet over low heat toast the pine nuts in the olive oil until they just begin to turn a light brown. Set aside.

In a medium saute' pan bring the water and one bouillon cube to a boil. Add pasta and cook 7-8 minutes until al dente. Drain pasta, rinse with hot water, and set aside. In the same saucepan heat up 1 Tablespoon of olive oil, add garlic cloves and over medium heat saute' for a minute to soften. Add the canned tomatoes, the remaining bouillon cube, 2 dashes of ground cayenne pepper, and 2 dashes of black pepper. Simmer over medium heat for about 3 minutes or until the bouillon cube is dissolved. Add pasta and pine nuts; gently stir the pasta mixture. Serve with crusty, warm bread.

My daughter took one step inside the front door and asked, "Did you save me any?"

A rainbow in the midst of a sea of kleenex

2010-01-27T21:49:00.000-08:00

Now I am sick. The kind of sick that you choose to sleep all day, even ALL of the hours your children are away at school. The kind of sick where you cannot sleep well regardless of the amount of hours you spend in bed. Fevered, then cold, body aches, sore throat, congestion, migraines, an annoying cough... the list goes on a bit more.

Even though my challenges these last few weeks have been very small in comparison to others, this is a week when I didn't want to be mom. I wanted to be the one taken care of, or at least the one left alone to sleep my way through the week. I have less ambition to tackle the dishes, feed the family, wake the kids for school and settle their tiffs. Basic stuff has been a sacrifice.

In the middle of my self-pity I have seen a rainbow this week, and it is beautiful. I did find beauty in the middle of a sea of Kleenex and a foggy brain on cold medicine. I was blessed with sweet parents willing to come take one child to his martial arts class, children who surprise me by cleaning the house while I am away at a the pharmacy, a son who offers to rub my feet when I complain of the aches spreading to them, and a daughter who decides to bless me this week with taking her showers without begging, pleading and threats. (Just kidding about the threats, sorta.)

I just feel so blessed that joy in my family can be felt even when I am fevered. I no longer resent the "chore" of caring for them while I am feeling miserable, only grateful that I have them around when I am feeling miserable. I am also grateful to discover that joy in family life doesn't mean that life has to be going well, there are things that bring happiness even in the middle of life's challenges, big or small.

Boston Cream Pie

2010-01-18T21:28:00.000-08:00

I usually order Boston Cream Pie from a bakery... but, no more! This recipe was a hit with us! I made a few slight changes to the original recipe, those are noted in color. Try it, it is just yummy...

Kraft Boston Cream Pie

1 (3.4 ounce) package JELL-O vanilla flavor instant pudding (I used French Vanilla)
1 cup cold milk (I used 1 c. heavy cream + 3 Tbsp. milk)
1 1/2 c. thawed Cool Whip Whipped Topping
1 round yellow cake layer (8 -9") (I used two 9" rounds made from 1 boxed cake mix)
1 (1 ounce) square BAKER'S unsweetened chocolate
1 Tablespoon butter
3/4 c. powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons cold milk

1. Beat pudding mix and 1 cup milk (or 1 c. heavy cream + 3 Tbsp. milk) for two minutes. (It should appear quite thick and smooth) Stir in Cool Whip, let stand 5 minutes. Meanwhile cut the cake layer horizontally into 2 layers with a serrated knife (or use two layers, as I did).

2. Stack cake layers on a serving plate, with the pudding mixture in between layers.

3. Microwave chocolate and butter on HIGH 1 minute; stir until chocolate is melted. Add powdered sugar and 2 Tbsp. milk; mix well. Spread over the top of the cake. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

Black Eyed Pea Salad

2010-01-18T04:17:00.000-08:00

Here's one of my favorite side dishes... it is delicious on it's own or as a dip with tortilla or regular chips. It came from a Weight Watcher cookbook or magazine.

Black Eyed Pea Salad

1 (15.8 oz.) can black-eyed peas, rinsed & drained
1 (11 oz.) can shoepeg white corn, drained (or frozen regular kernel corn, thawed)
1 c. chopped seeded cucumber
1 c. finely chopped celery
1/2 c. finely chopped red onion
1/2 c. finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 (10 oz.) can Rotel diced tomatoes & green chilies (either mild or medium)
3/4 c. KRAFT Roasted Red Pepper Italian Dressing with Parmesan
1/2 tsp. black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl; cover and chill. Serve with a slotted spoon. If using as a dip, drain liquid.

Yields: 7 servings (3/4 c. = 2 WW points)

How to fix a cake blunder PART 2

2010-01-17T20:46:00.000-08:00

I used BAKERELLA's Easy Buttercream Frosting, which turned out very yummy and indeed easy to make, and I covered the top of the cake.

Easy Buttercream Frosting (this is BAKERELLA's recipe)...

1 cup (2 sticks) butter (room temperature)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1b. 10X powdered sugar
1-3 teaspoons milk, half and half or cream

Using a mixer, cream softened butter and vanilla until smooth.
Add sugar gradually, allowing butter and sugar to cream together before adding more.
If you want your frosting a little creamier, add a teaspoon of milk at a time and beat on high until you get the right texture.
Then, just use icing color to tint the frosting the color of your choice.

I decorated it with crushed graham crackers (dirt) and green frosting (grass)... added a few cars and flags... there you go... a suitable "PLAN B cake". It especially looked beautiful to me at 1:00 am, knowing I now had a cake for the birthday party just hours away, and I was going to get at least a few hours of sleep! MORE to come about the party...

How to fix a cake blunder PART 1

2010-01-17T20:15:00.000-08:00

I searched the web for a great cake for our son's 9th birthday. We planned a party at a local hobby store where they have a big track set up with jumps, etc... for R/C cars. I found the perfect cake. Simple enough for me to do myself (so I thought), and adorable. You will find that HERE.

I thought what a great time to try out a new recipe. I usually use the boxed cake mixes when I make cake, which isn't that often, a few times a year. I've been trying to expand my collection of "tried and true" recipes, no better time to add a homemade yellow cake recipe! So, I went to the queen of baking: BAKERELLA and found her favorite recipe. How could I go wrong? Well, Bakerella I am NOT! Look at my results:

What did I do wrong? Still not exactly sure. I just knew I didn't have the time to start over.

Time for plan B. Walmart bakery was Plan B. Went there at 10pm and found a big enough cake with suitable colors.

Removed the decorations and the icing off the top.

See PART 2

Book Shelf: The Stolen One

2010-01-13T22:10:00.000-08:00

The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley

I didn't really have time for a lot of reading this week, but thanks to a fever that comes and goes and all of the aches and pains with it, I was sorta forced into it. (I had an enjoyable time though!)

It took me several weeks to get through the first two (short) chapters, once I got through them I was hooked! 406 pages later... I give it a four and a half stars. (Amazon readers gave it 5 stars).

I love historical fiction books and this one takes place in the mid 1500's. A poor young woman on a quest to find her birth mother. Her talent with a sewing needle brings her to the palace, where it seems that none can be trusted. It is more of a mystery than a romance novel. Cowley does a fantastic job of transporting you there. I loved that with her descriptions I could envision England and it's citizens, fine clothing to poor rags, the story setting seemed real from the country shacks and the Queen's quarters. I loved that the characters had real life qualities, talents and imperfections.

Storytime: The Titan's Curse

2010-01-12T11:25:00.000-08:00

Each night at bedtime I read to the kids. We have two kids, ages 11 1/2 and about to turn 9. They have always loved storytime and I have always loved storytime. It's OUR thing. I love that they love books.

We finished our latest book last night. The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan (the 3rd in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series). I was very hesitant about starting this series. I was unsure that reading about Greek myths was a wise thing. Would it confuse my impressionable 8 year old? Here it talks about gods who are nothing like the God I have taught our children about. I decided to read it with them and I think that it was a wise choice.

These books are such exciting, well written books. I do love the adventure, the characters, and the humor. Each chapter feels like a cliff-hanger in the adventure. You don't want to stop reading but, the parched throat and the stifled yawns help to remind me to wrap it up for the night. I will admit that on occasion I have been tempted to read ahead while the kids are at school or after they have gone to bed. But, I haven't... YET! :-)

Just my opinion: Even with this recommendation, I think these books are for older children (no younger than 8). As we read, I like to know how things are affecting the kids, what they are thinking. Perhaps these things don't bother you, so skip this paragraph. But, if you are concerned like I was, then read the first book before making a choice. I would suggest that you read the books with your kids or before your kids so that you can discuss certain things with them namely: the myths that talk of mythological gods, gods having children in non-marital relationships, and the occasional phrase "oh my gods!" (which I find offensive and skip over).

Pizza on a Stick (Pizza Kabobs)

2010-01-11T18:34:00.000-08:00

When I first saw this recipe in Quick & Easy Meals, a Paula Deen's Special Collector's Issue Magazine, I knew I had to try it out. This is just the sort of thing that my kids like, and it's nutrition on a stick.

It's all of the ingredients of pizza in a different presentation, and may I add that this way seems slightly healthier. Unless of course, you are my son, who is THE pickiest eater out there. At one time he would only eat Chicken Nuggets, ham or Chicken Cordon Bleu. And bread... he has always loved bread. So, we've expanded his taste buds a bit over the last 4 years. His kabob above is the one with only bread, cheese and pepperoni. He will dip his food in the marinara sauce and the ranch dressing. Hoping there's enough nutritional value in there somewhere.

So here are the ingredients:

and Paula Deen's recipe:

Pizza on a Stick

1 (11 ounce) can refrigerated breadstick dough
8 skewers (wooden or metal)
1/2 pepperoni (mini or regular size)
1 c. Colby Jack cheese cubes
2 cups mixed pizza vegetables (chopped bell peppers, mushrooms, black olives, grape tomatoes)
Marinara sauce
Ranch dressing

Preheat oven to 375 degrees (NOTE: I went with 350 degrees because those were the instructions on the dough packaging). Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.

On a clean flat surface, unroll breadstick dough. Cut 4 breadsticks in half crosswise. Reserve remaining breadstick dough for another use. (NOTE: or cook it all, I did) Tie each dough strip in a knot. Arrange on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Thread baked bread knots, pepperoni, cheese, and vegetables onto skewers. Serve with marinara sauce and ranch dressing.

Moms for Modesty!

2010-01-07T09:25:00.000-08:00

If you know me, you probably have heard me complain loudly about the lack of appropriate clothing and especially shorts, swim suits and Halloween costumes for girls. Sometimes I feel that I am one of the few who really think it's a big deal. I'm so happy to have discovered Moms for Modesty!

If you feel the same way please click HERE to visit the Moms for Modesty site and sign their mission statement as support!

Pine Trees for Breakfast

2010-01-06T08:52:00.000-08:00

While the kiddos were out of school I made a fun breakfast I had seen in a cooking magazine a few years ago. (Don't remember which publication) The kids love it! Simple enough for them to help make and delicious! This may be like one of those "grandma instructed" recipes. My grandma's recipes were always "a bit of this", "a handful of that", etc... Like Grandma I didn't measure or count anything. Don't let that scare you though, it's really easy.

Pine Tree French Toast Breakfast

You'll need:

Egg Beaters (or eggs)
milk
cinnamon
vanilla
Texas Toast (cinnamon/maple flavored or plain)
sausage links, cooked
butter
maple syrup
powdered sugar (optional)

Step one: Heat a large frying pan coated with non-stick spray on the stove top over medium low heat.

Step two: Pour the Egg Beaters or crack several eggs (start with 6) into a pie plate. Add a few tablespoons of milk, a teaspoon of vanilla and about a teaspoon of cinnamon. Mix up well. If you are using real eggs, whisk until smooth. The mixture should be a nice pale yellow color.

A note about the EGGS: My friend Drady taught me a long time ago that Egg Beaters are great for making french toast. No trying to beat the eggs smooth enough that you don't have any egg white or egg yolk lumps. I prefer using the Egg Beaters, but then I'm one of those crazy people that have to remove the little white things attached to the yolks. Please, no comments about WHAT they are... you can have the opinion that I'm crazy but, I can't discuss eggs. It's a close your eyes and eat type thing for me... and as a vegetarian that eats eggs and milk, I really need that protein option. Egg Beaters are my way of keeping my eyes shut to it all.

Step three: Quickly coat a bread slice on both sides, careful to not let it soak too long or the bread will become extremely wet and fall apart. We are talking a few seconds on each side. Immediately add it to the hot fry pan. Watch bread slices carefully and turn when they are golden brown. Cook on both sides.

Step four: Cut slices of french toast in half diagonally. Set on the plate with sausage links to form pine tree. Sprinkle with the powdered sugar (snow) and serve with butter and syrup.

"Growing Your Self-Improvement Muscles"

2010-01-05T08:36:00.000-08:00

OUCH!! It's been forever since I posted!

Well, we are now owners of a fancy new computer and I should be able to get my act together. Our old dinosaur was just so fickle... of course there is more than one way to upload photos and I should really put on my problem solving cap and figure it all out. It's not my favorite thing to do. In fact I think it causes migraines... at least for me. I promise to get over my bad attitude and I have just the inspiration to do it!

Check out THIS post from Messy Moms!

It is titled Growing Your Self-Improvement Muscles! Catchy, fun title! I love the quote: “You can make radical changes in minute steps.” I think that some valuable wisdom is shared there AND it is just perfect timing with New Years Resolutions or goals that we may have set. No motivation to accomplish a goal or task? We can all do "minute steps". How many times have we had to do something for 5 minutes that we absolutely hate?? 5 minutes is here and gone quickly! We can do almost ANYTHING for only 5 minutes... and if we can't we can do it for 60 seconds and build up from there, right? LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!

Oreo Chocolate Bark

2009-12-14T19:53:00.000-08:00

I discovered a new blogger this week! It's Leigh from Your Home Based Mom. She has an amazing collection of recipes including: Oreo Chocolate Bark. I knew it would be a simple enough Christmas treat that I could make with the kiddos. How do YOU eat an Oreo? Well, here is one way... and it's not holding back on taste or calories!

After our FHE (please read more about that in the next paragraph) we followed Leigh's recipe. (We used chocolate melts, white and milk chocolate, AND the peanut butter is a must!) We then placed our pan of yumminess in the fridge and read two chapters out of The Titan's Curse while it hardened back up. The kids cannot believe their eyes: chocolate, more chocolate, peanut butter and Oreo cookies! I was going to resist a piece, after all running (yep, I said running) on the treadmill today was HARD and it wasn't going to be for nothing! Nope it was for a 1" somewhat squarish piece of Oreo Chocolate Bark. It was very, very good and we're going to have to share some LOVE. Don't you wish you were our neighbor?

Speaking of love, that was the theme of our FHE tonight. I read the chapter on Love in the book A Christmas Treasury for Latter-day Saint Families. These quotes are especially nice to ponder:

"Christmas is more than trees and twinkling lights, more than toys and gifts and baubles of a hundred varieties. It is love. It is the love of the Son of God for all mankind. It reaches beyond our power to comprehend. It is magnificent and beautiful." - President Gordon B. Hinckley

"One of the remarkable qualities about God's love for us is that not only do we experience it as validating and affirming, but it also produces growth and change in us. It literally moves us forward, toward Him and our own eventual exaltation. It is a sculpting, correcting, and purposeful kind of love." - Virginia Pearce

We talked about how love is one of Jesus Christ's characteristics and we are asked to love others as he does. Each day this week we are writing down a reason we love each other and placing that slip of paper in the appropriate family member's stocking. Next week we will read them as a family. Trying to stir up some love and create some bonding.

Cookie Exchange- A real life one,this time...

2009-12-12T23:10:00.000-08:00

It is nice to have such a variety of cookies without all that work! This afternoon I attended my first cookie exchange. How fun! Whomever thought up this little party idea is just brilliant. Awhile ago I talked about the virtual cookie exchanges, see those ramblings HERE.

Going to a real cookie exchange was a lot of fun and you get to actually taste the cookies!! If you want to throw together a last minute cookie exchange party then pick up some ideas at Creative Homemaking, about.entertaining.com, and Cookie Exchange has some great photos and tons of ideas!) ,

I thought I'd share a cookie I had never tasted or even heard of before: Orange Creamsicle Cookies, from the kitchen of my next door neighbor, sweet and friendly Judy.

Orange Creamsicle Cookies

1 pouch (1 lb. 1.5 oz.) Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix
4 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 tsp. orange extract
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
2 drops red food coloring
5 drops yellow food coloring
1 bag (12 oz.) white vanilla baking chips (2 cups)
1 Tbsp. water

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, stir all ingredients, except baking chips, until soft dough forms. Stir in baking chips.
On ungreased cookie sheets, drop dough with 1 1/2 Tbsp. size cookie scoop or by rounded teaspoons about 2" apart.
Bake 10 minutes or just until dough is set. (Do NOT overbake) Cool for 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cookie racks. Cool completely. Makes about 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

A domestic accomplishment

2009-12-11T22:51:00.000-08:00

Now, to some this might sound silly but, cooking meat is not really my thing. It probably has a lot to do with the fact that I've been a vegetarian since age twelve. I don't mind cooking meat for the family but, frankly it's just been a domestic skill that has been improving over the past 13 1/2 years and I'm still learning. My husband used to need a saw to get through dinner. Today we used the regular old butter knife!

Domestic Accomplishment: Top Round London Broil

Cooked the way my husband likes it... others might like it just a bit more pink.

What I've learned about this particular cut of meat (thanks to several instructions I read on the internet)....

It's best when broiled on HIGH with the oven door left slightly ajar. Some say this left their homes a bit smoky... didn't happen here, not even a little bit.
Some believe scoring the meat or piercing it all over with a fork helps to tenderize it a bit
You can use marinade but, a few opinions said it does nothing to tenderize the meat, it only enhances flavor. I went with a dry rub (Montreal Steak Seasoning) - because that is what I had handy. Plus: last minute dinner= no time for marinades.
Use a meat thermometer and test for doneness. Watch closely, it cooks up quickly!

I am feeling a bit more confident that I will not totally ruin the "Roast Beef" come Christmas dinner. My Mother-in-Law will be here... she probably has it mastered. Her expertise and my small domestic accomplishment of cooking this less expensive cut of beef might mean even the Grinch will like it!

Making cookies with Mrs. Claus

2009-12-09T19:47:00.000-08:00

My mother-in-law bought this Mrs. Claus for our family several years ago. It sits in our kitchen each Christmas season and oversees all the holiday baking. What Christmas season would be complete without making some cookies to share with the neighbors?

Tonight we made Ranger Cookies. I tasted these for the first time a few months ago and they are super moist, yet they have a crunch to them. The recipe went straight into my favorite recipe booklet...

Ranger Cookies

1/2 c. margarine or butter
1 1/4 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 c. Rice Krispies cereal
1 1/3 c. flaked coconut

Beat margarine with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add about half of the flour, sugars, egg, vanilla, and baking soda. Beat until thoroughly combined. Beat in remaining flour. Stir in cereal and coconut. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 7-8 minutes.

The Grinch's "ROAST BEAST"

2009-12-08T22:08:00.000-08:00

Tonight we watched the original cartoon How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Such a wonderful story for cuddling up on the sofa with your kiddos. I love the message it sends that even without the presents, decorations, etc... you cannot take away the holiday spirit. Those Hoo's knew exactly what celebrating Christ's birth is all about!

I love the Grinch's dog, Max. He is adorable. I also love that they serve "Roast Beast" for dinner. I've decided that I'm going to adopt this new tradition of serving "Roast Beast" for our Christmas dinner. Sometimes we have ham, sometimes turkey and sometimes roast. But, I am really liking the "Roast Beast".

So, here is what I want to make for Christmas dinner this year: Pioneer Woman's Roasted Beef Tenderloin a.k.a Heaven on a Fork. I'm not sure if the Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond would like it if I copied her photo to give you a sneak peak... so follow the link and check out what's on my Christmas dinner menu this year! I'm going to have to go and buy a meat thermometer. Meat is the hardest thing for me to cook. Period. It just is.

A Seasonal Barn Star

2009-12-07T06:48:00.000-08:00

I love barn stars!! Decorating them with scrapbook paper is a fun to way to make a cute seasonal ornament to hang onto a tree or a door knob. Maybe you've seen these all over the internet. I've been noticing them for awhile now.

I didn't use any one's instructions, just winged it. It was simpler to make than I suspected it would be.

Here's what I did: You press a piece of regular white printer paper on top of the star, bending it so it's tight against a point. Trace it; cut out the pattern. Trace the pattern onto the decorative paper; cut out. Slather a matte paper mache' onto the backside of the patterned paper and onto the point of the star. Glue down, pressing to make sure it doesn't bubble and the edges are stuck tight. (use your fingers to gently rub) Let it dry for several hours on wax paper and string a ribbon through one point (mine already had a hole).

Santa Pancakes for dinner

2009-12-04T08:40:00.000-08:00

The kiddos had the best time eating this yummy dinner. Simple to make: pancakes, cherry pie filling, a few chocolate chips and a can of whipped topping. Sure, there's a lot of sugar in there... we only have Santa Pancakes once a year. Serve with some bacon and milk to balance out the fruit and sugar! :-)

Bringing the Spirit into Christmas

2009-12-03T06:40:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed an article in the Idaho Statesman this past weekend about a few local Baptist churches who are doing something called "Advent Conspiracy".

Often I've wondered how to make the Christmas season a more spiritual one for my family and this article gave me a few new ideas...

First: They ask their members to buy one less gift this season and to give the money to a charity instead. You can choose your own charity or go to the store with the kids and let them pick out a gift & drop it off at the local fire station. This is an activity on our advent calendar I just made. The kids will use their allowance.

Second: The article asks: "What did Jesus give? The answer: He gave Himself." Service & Love should be demonstrated throughout the year, but certainly even more so around Christmas in gratitude, celebration and rememberance of our Savior.

Here are a few service ideas for around the home and in the community:

December Service Ideas

Third: Give more presence and fewer presents. You hear all the time about how kids just really want more time with their parents. I believe it!

In October I celebrated my birthday. Instead of stuff this year I asked for a weekend away with my husband. He took me to Seattle and we saw Joseph & the Technicolor Dream Coat, took a ferry to Bainbridge Island, enjoyed a dinner with friends we hadn't seen in ten years +, and had a fun Seattle-style breakfast downtown. I loved it! Best gift ever, it was great for our relationship and a lot of fun! I had my husband's complete attention and he had mine- that doesn't happen a whole lot with our responsibilities.

Fourth: Homemade gifts that take time, thought and sacrifice to make will limit commercialism and encourage giving from the heart. Knit a scarf, make a scrapbook, frame a favorite photo, a favorite dessert, an album of photographs, a coupon book for service or activities....

I know more of you are reading this blog than leave quotes, so share some love and tell me:

What do you do to make Christmas less commercialized and Spiritual?

Andes Mint Cookies

2009-12-01T19:10:00.000-08:00

Have you all been invited to a Christmas cookie exchange yet? Perhaps you didn't get an invitation and you would like to be invited to a virtual cookie exchange? There are a few of those out there. Check out: Little Birdie Secrets, Our Plain and Simple Life, Designer Digitals, Frugal Creativity, or check out the Blog Catalog. Your thighs will love the virtual cookies and you can probably find a few recipes that will be worth the occasional real indulgence!

I know some families spend a day this month baking tasty treats to put on plates for friends and family. I usually don't do that... but thought I'd join in a virtual cookie exchange just for the fun of it!

I found the recipe for these Andes Mint Cookies on Becky Higgins' blog about a year ago. I HEART Andes Mints so I thought I'd give them a try and they have been a big hit with the crowds each and every time I do. Oh, and just so you know, I never have any extra mints left so don't sneak any... but, don't worry they are still delicious melted on top of a gooey cookie fresh from the oven!

Andes Mint Cookies
(makes approximately 4 dozen)

3/4 c. butter
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
2 Tablespoons water
2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips (1 package)
2 eggs, beaten
2 1/2 c. flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 boxes Andes Mints, unwrapped

Heat the butter, brown sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat until melted. Add chocolate chips and stir until completely melted. Cool for 10 minutes. Pour chocolate mixture into a large mixing bowl and add eggs. Stir well and then add flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix together and chill in fridge for 45 minutes. Roll into balls (like 1 to 1- 1/2" big). Place on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 - 10 minutes. Take out of the oven and immediately place a mint on top of each cookie. Allow to melt for 2 minutes and with a knife swirl the chocolate around to create a pretty green/brown swirly pattern. Allow to cool. (Chocolate will harden after cooling) But, I always eat one while the chocolate is melted. :-)

Just so you know: These cookies freeze very well. I usually bake half the recipe and freeze the other half. Once the cookie balls are on the cookie sheet I place the cookie sheet in the freezer and let the cookies harden up for 20 minutes. Then I remove them from the cookie sheet and put them in a labeled ziplock bag. (This process keeps them from sticking together) Freeze the cookie balls and when you are ready to bake them take the desired amount out and put on a cookie sheet. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes and then bake as instructed above.

A new Christmas Advent Calendar Idea

2009-12-01T06:58:00.000-08:00

Over at the Blue Cricket Design blog I found an adorable advent calendar that is just perfect for me because I already have way too many Christmas decorations and the size is small!! Besides, it is SO CUTE!! Click HERE to go see it. Amy at The Idea Room also has an advent calendar idea. Click HERE to see Amy's list.

So, I've made my own. The kids are going to love this!!

It's a great way to help make sure you get in all of the fun activities that somehow get skipped if you don't plan them out. I actually had a hard time coming up with 25 activities. But here is our "personalized" list:

Decembe 09r Advent Events

Meal Planning- Part I

2009-11-30T21:18:00.001-08:00

You are going to LOVE what I found today. Pocket Full of Posies sells these very efficient and pretty meal planning systems. I just had to order one. You see, this is sorta new for me to plan out the week and actually shop for and stick with the menu!

Scotty and I have several bigger ticket wish list items and we have decided that we can get some of the fun stuff sooner if we limited the food budget more. I may have mentioned (a few times, ahem) that our dinosaur computer is acting up. It's not behaving itself and I can't blog or do any of the fun stuff. We have decided to get a Mac, and not just any Mac but the newest, sweetest Mac they sell. We don't replace our computer that often and we are really both needing a much more powerful system to keep up with our hobbies and play.

Anyhow, meal planning has been a tool for me to keep to my new food budget. I usually plan out the menu, shopping trip and type up a "plain-jane" menu to post on the fridge. But, this new Monthly Pocket System is going to be very cool! I can hardly wait for it to come. I just ordered one set of their menu/recipe cards. I'll probably use a lot of my own recipes since we have picky tastes in this family...

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2009-11-30T20:59:00.000-08:00

... I am thankful most of all for a wonderful family and that my husband, Scotty, was able to spend the week at home with us. He was working from home, but he was here every night and every morning. It was nice!

I have a lot to be thankful for: my family, my faith, my health, my husband's job, a home to live in, friends, etc...

I am also thankful that my computer is temporarily fixed and I can post photos on my blogs. Hang in there friends... a new computer is in my near future. This old beast makes blogging very difficult and I'm too impatient to blog from my iphone. Sorry... hopefully it won't be long now. I'll write my list to SANTA.

Here are a few photos of our Thanksgiving table. My siblings, Mirriam and Josh, were able to spend the day with us. The food was good. We were on our feet all day cooking, but had a nice time! Believe me when I say that I was definitely thankful that my Achilles tendon has healed as well as it has, or that would have been torture!

Lazy BBQ Chicken Nugget Pizza

2009-11-12T18:27:00.000-08:00

A quick dinner! BBQ Chicken Pizza the lazy way... (or the too busy to cook tonight way!) On the pizza pictured above the chicken is only on half the pizza because some of us in my household don't care for meat. Don't worry I doubled the chicken nuggets in the recipe below so you'll have plenty to cover the entire pizza. The amounts are approximate. If you like less sauce, use less. More cheese? Go for it! Some people prefer green onions instead of red onion, I like both. Just don't make it too complicated, or it won't be...

Lazy BBQ Chicken Nugget Pizza

1 package refrigerated pizza dough (I used Great Value, Walmart's generic brand)
1/4 c. pizza sauce
1/4 c. bottled BBQ sauce (your favorite flavor)
2-3 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
1/8 c. chopped cilantro
1/8 - 1/4 c. chopped red onion
12 chicken nuggets (cooked- microwaved for 1-1/2 minutes)

Preheat oven according the pizza dough package directions. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and spread the dough out over the sheet stretching it to spread to create a thin crust. Pour pizza sauce and 1/4 c. bottle BBQ sauce onto crust and spread all over the dough. Sprinkle dough evenly with the cheese. Cut up chicken nuggets in bite sized pieces and cover with enough BBQ sauce to coat the pieces on all sides. Sprinkle chicken, onion, and cilantro over the pizza. Bake according to the pizza dough package directions. (I baked ours at 400 degrees F. for 15 minutes.) Let sit a bit before slicing! This makes 1 large pizza. With a salad it serves our family of 4.

Pumpkin-Pecan Cookies with Brown-Sugar Butter Frosting

2009-11-12T06:05:00.000-08:00

Nothing says fall like pumpkin-flavored goodies. Here is a new recipe I tried last night from Better Homes and Garden Magazine. My kids exclaimed that they are their new favorite cookie. Super delicious!

The cookies were simple to mix up and bake. I used a cookie scoop to put the dough on the cookie sheets and one recipe gave me 57 cookies!! I found that 9 minutes was the perfect baking time on them for my oven. The frosting is very yummy but, a bit different consistency than I've worked with before. It was hard to spread onto the cookies towards the last half of the cookies, so work quickly! I should have added another drop of two of hot water to see if that helped but, it worked out. Every cookie had frosting and looked good. I wonder if a drop of maple extract would be a good alternative for the vanilla. Doesn't that sound tempting?

Pumpkin-Pecan Cookies with Brown-Sugar Butter Frosting

2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar, softened
1 egg
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup chopped toasted pecans

directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degreesF. In a medium mixing bowl combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and allspice. Set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Beat in the sugar. Add the egg; beat well. Stir pumpkin and flour mixture into egg mixture with a wooden spoon. Stir in the chopped pecans.

3. Drop the dough by a rounded teaspoon about 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

4 Bake cookies in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned (mine were done at 9 minutes). Transfer the cookies to wire racks; cool. Frost the cooled cookies with Brown-Sugar Butter Frosting. Makes about 40 cookies.

Brown-Sugar Butter Frosting
6 Tablespoons butter
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

In a medium saucepan heat butter and brown sugar over medium heat until butter is melted. Remove mixture from heat. Stir in the powdered sugar and vanilla. Add enough hot water (2-3 teaspoons) to make a smooth, spreadable frosting. Frost the cooled cookies immediately after preparing the frosting. If frosting becomes grainy, add a few more drops of hot wate and stir until smooth.

To store: Place in layers separated by waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze unfrosted cookies for up to 3 months. Thaw, then frost cookies.

Fall Decor around our house!

2009-11-11T16:01:00.000-08:00

I just love fall decorations!! The colors are my favorite colors and I use them year round to decorate the house. I love the leaves changing colors, the air that becomes crisp and cool. Love, love, love fall.

Above are two pilgrims that I made at a Super Saturday several years back. I just love them. The boy sorta leans to the side a bit and I had to reinforce him last year with a few screws. I smile every year when I pull them out of the storage box.

The Fall letters I posted about yesterday...

Our kitchen table. This year I plan on making a burlap or muslin table runner slightly wider than the plaid one above (to go below it). That will be one of my next projects.

Fall Crafts

2009-11-10T21:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I picked up the wood kit to make this pumpkin for my sign hanger. I forgot to attend the class I had signed up for last Saturday, even though I spent most of the previous week looking forward to it. Go figure?

The pumpkin and the FALL letters/acorns were bought as kits, at a local scrapbooking store... but, the gal (Nicole) who makes them and teaches the class also has a blog, sweetpickledesignscompany.

I just love her stuff, and can't wait to see her Christmas hanger. My guess is that it will be a tree; Caitlin thinks it will be a candy cane. We'll see! If you didn't see the Halloween Spider hanger, check him out. He was a bit harder to do as the teeth are all itty bitty individual pieces. Still easy though, don't be scared off by that!!

Tomorrow I'll post the rest of the Thanksgiving decorations I've set up around the house...

Seasonal Fruit: Pomegrante

2009-11-08T18:35:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty certain that the pomegranate is an under appreciated fruit. I suppose it could be the difficulty of peeling it, although it's really not that hard- just a bit messy.

I really love to just eat the fruit by itself, it's very juicy and sweet. I also love it in salads. Recently I found a great combination; I added pomegranate to a Fresh Express Mediterranean Salad. You don't need to buy the Fresh Express version, you can make your own:

fresh baby spinach leaves
sweet dijon mustard salad dressing
croutons
pomegranate
feta cheese
(sliced fresh pair or apple would be a yummy addition)

Other than eating it plain or in a salad I really don't know how else to serve it. So, I did a bit of research on allrecipes.com and found a few that have great reviews to try...

Pomegranate Stew with Chicken

Pomegranate Relish

Herbed Pomegranate Salsa

Roasted Pork Shoulder with Pomegranate Sauce

Gift Wrapping Cuteness

2009-11-07T21:08:00.000-08:00

I have a cute little Brazilian friend named Paula. She is just as adorable as you can imagine and very, very sweet. When we lived near her in San Jose she would bring me or the kids gifts. Often they were cute little plates of homemade goodies. She would cover them with cellophane wrap and tied them shut with ribbon. She made cute little tags using the little pre-colored wooden cutouts from Michaels Craft Store, and they just made the package so adorable.

So, when it came time to wrap up a few gifts for my new little nephew I thought of those cute little wooden cutouts from Michaels. The ones I picked up are approximately $1 each and they have little felt pieces on them for added texture and cuteness.

For these packages I just used my glue dots to attach them to the wrapping. You could also drill a hole in the top and attach them with ribbon. Michaels has several designs.. these two (the turtle and the puppy) are a few of my favorites. I also like the zebra and the blue elephant!

Welcome Reese!

2009-11-05T22:25:00.000-08:00

Today we are welcoming my new nephew Reese Cecchini into the world! He was born this morning weighing in at 7 lbs. 7 oz. and 19" long. Congratulations to his parents Tony and Sara (my sister) and his three older siblings: Carlee, Garett, and Ginger!

I just can't wait to snuggle him!!

Creating time by cooking freezer meals

2009-11-04T20:26:00.000-08:00

My husband has been traveling a lot lately. He's been working out of town Monday - Friday and so the weekends are our family time. It seems that we have been spending too much of the weekends running errands, fixing dinner or going out to eat. Wanting to take advantage of the short amount of time our family has to be together, I've been thinking of stuff I can do differently throughout the week to free up some time on the weekends.

Today I finally got around to trying out the concept of making many meals in one day and freezing them for later use. I really liked it! It is so nice to have my freezer full of home cooked meals that are ready to be thawed and heated.

I made:

Chile Chicken Verde (to eat in soft corn tortillas w/cheese)
Slow-cooker Ribs
Cranberry Chicken
Swiss Steak w/gravy

Each of the above is a single recipe. My family is small and I can usually get two meals from a single recipe. The Chile Verde and Ribs got rave reviews from the family. They haven't tried the other two yet.

I have several freezer meal cookbooks but, today I used just two:

Dinner is Ready by Deanna Buxton
Once-a-Month Cooking by Mimi Wilson & Mary Beth Lagerborg

So, as a beginner freezer meal cook, I thought I'd share a few cool or helpful things that I learned today, as well as the recipes for the two meals the family liked...

A few main things make cooking in a day possible:

You need to start in a clean kitchen
You need to have a variety of meals that use different cooking methods (oven, slow cooker, stove top and assemble for cooking later).
It helps to have two sets of measuring cups and spoons, one for wet ingredients and another for dry
Have the trash ready and empty
Read through the recipes and prep identical ingredients at the same time. (Three of the recipes above called for onion. It was quick to cut all of the onions at once.)
After you label and fill the freezer bags put them on cookie sheets so they freeze flat. It will be easier to stack and store that way.

Slow Cooked Short Ribs (from the Dinner is Ready cookbook)

2/3 cups flour
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
4 pounds boneless beef short ribs (I used pork ribs)
1/3 cup butter
1 1/2 cups beef broth
1 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup ketchup
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup chili sauce
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 cup corn syrup

Combine flour, salt and pepper. Coat ribs with flour mixture. In a large skillet, brown ribs on all sides in butter. Transfer browned ribs to slow cooker. In the same skillet, combine beef broth, onion, brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, chili sauce, garlic, chili powder and corn syrup. Mix well. Heat until mixture comes to a boil. Pour over ribs in slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 9 - 10 hours. Remove from slow cooker and allow to cool. Place in freezer bag. Label and freeze.

To Serve: Thaw. Heat until hot and bubbly.

Chile Verde (from the Once-A-Month Cooking cookbook)

1 15-ounce can pinto beans, drained
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked
1 4-ounce can chopped green chilies
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 cups water
3 chicken bouillon cubes ( I like Knorr)
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon salt (I omitted this)
2/3 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese*
1 dozen corn tortillas*
1 24-ounce jar salsa*

Combine chicken with chilies and seasonings; refrigerate until needed. At the same time, combine beans, water, bouillon cubes, garlic, salt, and onion in a large pot; bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer until beans are soft, about 1 hour. Add more water if necessary.

Combine chicken and spices with beans; simmer 10 more minutes. Cool and transfer to a gallon sized freezer bag or a 5-cup freezer container. Grate cheese, put it in a 1-quart bag and attach it to the freezer container with the chili.

To Serve: thaw chile verde and cheese; serve on warmed corn tortillas
Serve with: fresh tomato, cilantro, and avocado slices

Our Halloween! and computer difficulties...

2009-11-02T06:48:00.000-08:00

Recently my laptop stopped working, now our home computer isn't working. To fix the laptop will almost cost as much as to buy new and our home computer is a dinosaur we've been wanting to upgrade anyhow so, neither one is getting repaired. We'll be buying a new home computer this coming weekend, the newest Macs are coming out!! Meanwhile, I'm going to have to get creative about my postings.

I'm sitting here reflecting on our Halloween season this year... glad that we were able to pull off almost all of the normal traditions and add a few new.

Here are the kiddos in their fun costumes... ready to "terrorize" the neighborhood...

Storytime! Magician's Elephant.

2009-10-27T21:19:00.000-07:00

The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo was our latest read. I had to talk Jared into this book. He had to read a book that was about an animal (nonfiction or fiction). I should say that I wasn't dying to read the book either. Tale of Despereaux wasn't one of my favorites of children's literature. But, we gave it a shot.

Both of us were pretty excited for the evening storytime to happen each night. Jared always begged for an additional chapter to be read. It isn't funny, but it is captivating. DiCamillo really has a style of writing that makes a story sound like a song. (At least to me.)

Jared is nine years old. Although the many fancy, big words made it hard for Jared to read on his own, he enjoyed learning the new vocabulary. Because of the challenging vocab, I would rate this as an excellent book to read aloud to your kiddos under the age of 10 but, not a great choice if they read it on there own.

THE NOTEBOOK: words of love, appreciation and approval...

2009-10-25T12:51:00.000-07:00

ON MOTHERHOOD: If you are looking for a way to enter the heart of your child, or enrich your relationship with your child... here is an idea that has worked for us.

Six years ago, when my daughter was five (she read at age four), I started a notebook for her. Most nights, after she had fallen asleep, I would quietly slip into her bedroom and write in that special notebook.

I would write words of love, appreciation and approval. Such as... "Great job reading that hard chapter book!" OR "You sure looked cute in pigtails today!" OR "I was so proud of you when you shared your candy with your brother! You're awesome!" OR "I love you!"

Our relationship changed for the better. I changed for the better. She started to write me notes and draw pictures in the notebook. From her I would hear, "Good job cooking dinner tonight! It was yummy!" OR "Thank you for playing games with me.", etc...

Funny thing... I was always on the look out for the positive so that I would have some new material for the notebook. I spent less time focusing on her faults, struggles or disobedience and MORE time focusing on the positive character traits, and good deeds or decisions.

Both of us felt more loved, cherished, appreciated and accepted for being who we are!

We've fallen out of that habit recently. I noticed last week that I was falling into an old trap of criticism and missed our notebook. It's great to say those same things out loud, but let's face it, often it doesn't happen. I love the notebook because in the quiet time of the evening, I would have time to reflect on the day and remember to "say" what she needs to hear. Time to start another notebook!

Want some "Boo-berry Muffins" ?

2009-10-24T14:14:00.000-07:00

These are so simple to make and so moist and yummy! It's my mom's recipe and I've used both fresh and frozen blueberries. It is not a super sweet muffin. If you want it sweeter you can always add additional sugar.

Sour Cream Blueberry Muffins

2 cups biscuit/baking mix (such as Bisquick)
3/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons sugar, divided
1 cup (8 oz.) sour cream (not low fat)
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries*
2 eggs

*If using frozen blueberries, do not thaw before adding to the batter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line muffin cups with liners or spray with non-stick cooking spray.

In a bowl, combine the biscuit mix and 3/4 cup sugar. In another bowl, combine the eggs and sour cream until smooth; stir sour cream mixture into the biscuit mixture until just combined.

Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Sprinkle with remaining 2 Tablespoons sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.

Yields: 1 dozen

Bat-o'-Lanterns

2009-10-22T14:23:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun craft to do with the kids....

Check out the video on how to make Bat-o'-Lanterns on the Family Fun website. The kids and I made these last night and they turned out soooo cute!! We actually used glue dots and straightpins to help hold the foam bat ears and bat wings up and out.

It's finally fall for me!

2009-10-21T15:50:00.000-07:00

Although I've been enjoying the beautiful fall colors of the changing leaves, fall didn't feel like fall to me until I dug out the Halloween decorations. My kids are so excited! These little things that I sit out on shelves, tables, and counters, really mean a lot to them. They talk about each little decoration and their favorite decorations seem to change with the discovery of the next old favorite.

I have a lot of favorites too, but I just love pulling out the Halloween picture frames with photos of my precious family from years past. Here are my two rugrats- six years ago! The kids remember the events that took place when we snapped this photo, because they get retold every year. Here we are in Frisco, Texas - we went to the pumpkin farm/patch with my friend Crystal and her 4 kids. They had a petting zoo and a hayride. I love hearing them relive the fun!

An after school snack today thanks to Pillsbury and Betty Crocker. :-) The kids had fun doing the decorating. We'll be delivering the rest to our neighbors!

Spooky Treats

2009-10-20T22:45:00.000-07:00

At last the long anticipated day came for my kids. Every year we do caramel apples. I usually wait until closer to Halloween, but last year I decided I needed to space all of the activities throughout the month. MUCH better, we have too many traditions to keep up with for only a day or two of fun!

About the caramel apples... they don't look the best. Ah, well. I decided to try a new recipe this year and it was a mistake. My fault, for not reading through the entire directions before dumping all of the ingredients in the pan. The caramel tasted yummy, but was not quite as thick as it needed to be. We didn't have a candy thermometer on hand, so we sort of had to eye ball it. Yeah, I AM that type of cook.

This cute little ghost is a twinkie (well at least three quarters of a twinkie). He is frosted white with two mini M&Ms for eyes. My favorite of the spooky treats ended up being the box mix brownies. We drew skeletons on them with a white cake decorating writing tube. It was so easy and the kids did an outstanding job! We had a lot of fun making these treats at Grandma's and Grandpa's house.

Witch Hat Candy Corn Hanger

2009-10-20T07:15:00.000-07:00

This was a simple craft that I saw somewhere online and don't remember where. Cute, huh? Simple - gotta LOVE simple! This craft also cost me only about $3 (including the candy)!

I purchased this witch hat at a local craft store (non-chain) a few weeks ago for a different project (which I've abandoned since giving one week + of my life this month to the flu).

To assemble: You will need a generous cut of ribbon, I'd say a bit over 2 feet so you have plenty to make a nice bow. Thread the ribbon through a hole on the outside of the hat, just under the brim. Pull ribbon through to a hole on the opposite side. You should have the ribbon threaded through now with a generous amount of ribbon on each side. Pull the ribbon upwards at the center of the hat to form the loop that hangs on doorknob. Careful to keep the ribbon equal on both sides. Next, I find it easiest to tie the bow by first tying a knot. If you want to, you can secure this with a dab of hot glue. Then tie a bow the size you desire. OPTIONAL: You can also do this with two different ribbons if you want. It can be a bit frustrating to line the ribbon up that way but, worth the effort!

Pumpkin Bars

2009-10-19T21:24:00.000-07:00

I made a cute craft tonight but, will have to post it tomorrow because I promised Caitlin that she could help me fill it with candy. She fell asleep just before I was finished.

So instead, my sister-in-law, Michelle, requested this recipe today and I thought it was of course seasonal and everyone who likes pumpkin will LOVE it! It's one of my favorites, which is why I chose to make it for my own birthday cake. Very moist and delicious! I found this recipe on the website allrecipes.com - great site!

I apologize for this photo, it is not the best. I've discovered that the lighting in my new kitchen is terrible for photography. I will have to carry the plates into other rooms of the house or outside- the kitchen has too harsh of light and just too much glare.

Pumpkin Bars

3 eggs
1 & 2/3 cup sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
2 (15 oz. each) cans pumpkin puree
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie seasoning
1 teaspoon salt

Frosting:
8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray pan with cooking spray. (I like these best cooked in jelly roll pan, my second choice would be a 13 x 9-inch pan.

In a medium bowl, mix the eggs, sugar, oil, and the pumpkin with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl and then add to the pumpkin mixture. Stir well. Spread batter evenly in pan. Bake 25-30 minutes if using a jelly roll pan and roughly about 30-35 minutes if using the 13 x 9 - inch pan. Cake is done when a toothpick inserted comes out fairly clean. It's a moist cake, so you may have a bit of cake on the toothpick, but it shouldn't be doughy.

Frosting: beat together the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add vanilla. Stir in powdered sugar until smooth. YUMMY!! Enjoy!

In My Kitchen

2009-10-18T22:07:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of our family favorites. Tonight we had a real sit-down family meal for the first time in two weeks. It was very nice, something I miss a lot when Scotty is out of town for work. I made some of his favorites tonight and I tried a new chicken recipe which didn't end up getting very good reviews from the family, "It's okay" doesn't really make the recipe files.

Tomato Focaccia Bread
This is a 5 star recipe I hounded my husbands co-worker for for months.
Worth begging for... :-)

1 loaf frozen bread dough (such as Rhodes)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated or shredded
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
4-6 roma tomatoes (or 2 very large roma tomatoes)

Thaw bread dough in an oiled 13 x 9-inch pan for about 4 hours. Cover with a piece of saran wrap sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Press the dough dough down, spreading to cover the bottom of the 13 x 9-inch pan. Sprinkle dough with 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Slice tomatoes and place on top of the cheese.

In a small bowl combine 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, basil, Parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, and garlic. Top each tomato slice with a rounded teaspoonful of the mayonnaise/cheese mixture.

Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and starts to brown slightly. Let sit a few minutes before slicing. I store leftovers in the fridge and reheat in the microwave. They never make it past breakfast.

___________________

Wedge Salad
One of our favorites.

1 head of iceberg lettuce
1 roma tomato, diced small
1/4 cup chopped bacon
1/4 cup chopped green onion
1/2 cup blue cheese
desired amount of blue cheese dressing (our favorite is Marie's Original)

Cut lettuce head in half or quarters (depending on the size of the salad you want. Pour desired amount of blue cheese dressing on top and sprinkle with tomato, bacon, green onion and blue cheese. YUM!

_____________________

Oven Rice Pilaf
My friend Miho brought us dinner one night and this casserole was a huge hit with the family!

2 cups rice (not instant)
2/3 CUBE butter
5 cups water
3 Knorr chicken bullion cubes (the large size 1 cube=2 cups broth)
1 & 1/2 cups chopped celery
1 & 1/2 cups chopped carrots
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 c. slivered almonds

Brown rice in the butter in a medium saucepan (holds 6+ cups). Place rice in a 13 x 9-inch casserole dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray. In the same saucepan heat up 5 cups water and the bullion cubes to a boiling point. Pour into the pan with the rice. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake at 375 degree oven for 30 minutes.

Take the pan out of the oven, add vegetables and almonds. Stir to mix well with a fork. Return to oven for another 30 minutes.

Getting the 411 on movies!

2009-10-17T14:18:00.000-07:00

ON MOTHERHOOD: I found one more web-site that deserves a great shout-out from me! I really like kids-in-mind.com for giving the 411 on the movies out there.

Earlier today Scotty and I were talking with the kids about the "world's ratings" vs. "our own ratings". You see they really believe that what is appropriate for one person or family is appropriate for ours. It's the "well, so-and-so is doing it!" argument.

I'm ULTRA picky and conservative when it comes to what my kids watch on tv and in the movies. It's not always easy to understand what "suggestive behavior and mild crude humor" means, you know? I cringe at the alarming amount of times I am watching a "kids show" and there is some mature undertones peaking through. Sometimes, I will know of a particular scene or quote on a movie and use it as a teaching opportunity because that is the wise thing for a parent to do. My goal isn't to shelter my kids to an extreme degree, but to protect them from seeing more than I think they can understand or be exposed to based on maturity.

I do think it's a bit unrealistic for me to be "in-the-know" of all the entertainment out there. So, I like kids-in-mind.com and the exact details they give regarding nudity, sex, violence, gore, and profanity in a particular movie. LOVE IT!

WOW!! WOW!! WOW!! Real Hero Posters!

2009-10-17T13:54:00.000-07:00

Photo used with permission of Real Hero Posters.

WOW!! I'm so excited about what I just found! Maybe many of you already know about these but, I am LOVING these..... REAL HERO POSTERS!

They are beautiful to look at and inspirational artwork for your home. You can dress them up a bit with a nice black wooden frame for the main areas of your home. I just can't decide which to get!

They have a Bible Series and a Book of Mormon Series! My favorites from the Bible are Peter Walks on Water, Daniel in the Lion's Den, Moses Parts the Sea. My favorites from the Book of Mormon series are Enos, Lehi's Dream, Samuel the Lamanite.

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!! GO CHECK THEM OUT!

Cranberry Coleslaw

2009-10-16T20:53:00.000-07:00

Trying out a new recipe. I thought this salad was yummy. I omitted the sunflower seeds only because I didn't have any. It was good with out them, but next time I'm going to add them for sure! I love that I usually have everything on hand except the coleslaw mix. That makes for easy shopping! This recipe came from the First magazine.

Cranberry Coleslaw
Makes approximately 6 cups

1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 (16-ounce) package coleslaw mix
1 (6- ounce) package dried cranberries (I used 1 cup Craisins)
1/4 cup sunflower-seed kernels

In a 2-quart bowl, combine mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Mix well with a whisk. Add slaw mix, tossing gently to coat. Refrigerate until serving time.

Before serving, stir in dried cranberries and sunflower kernels.

TRYING TO CONTROL THE PAPER CLUTTER

2009-10-15T21:12:00.000-07:00

This week, being stuck at home with the flu, I've had to look at a blaring chaos of paper. Sick of it, I've spent some of my "feeling better" moments tackling it. I hate getting the mail. Let's face it, there is rarely something fun inside the mailbox. Mostly junk mail, a few bills each month. The kids come home from school and dump a backpack full of paper each night. AND did I mention my son is an artist? YEP, he's good too and I have a gazillion papers around to prove it!

So, it was time to fill the empty filing cabinet drawers (remember we've just moved in). My friend, Debra, taught me something several years ago that I absolutely LOVE. You see, file folders usually come tri-cut. Three separate divisions, stacked so that you can read all of the tabs at a glance. But, if you like to alphabetize and IF ("snort")- WHEN you have to add a new file, it messes things up. Well, it bothers me. Debra taught me that I should use all file folders with the tab in the same place, that way you can add or toss any folder. I just loved that idea!

BEFORE (not shown: the stack next to the filing cabinet, the one on the desk, the one on the sofa table and the one on the table):

Supplies: File folders with the tab on only one side or the center (every single file folder) and a label maker. I cannot live without my label maker. One of my favorite tools.

Filing cabinet drawer after: Alphabetized, ready for new folders to be added. The Yellow hanging files in front are my "To Be Filed" and "To Be Paid" folders. Someday the red and blue hanging folders will be green...

This little metal container holds four files. Labeled Mom, Dad, Caitlin and Jared. It sits above the filing cabinet and next to the computer monitor. It is meant for the papers that need action (other than bill paying action). For example it looks pretty sloppy right now because my folder is STUFFED! I have a lot to do. Caitlin's folder has a paper that tells me the details of some items I need to purchase for her violin class. Jared's has a book order that needs returned to school.

When the kids bring home their school work for keeps it goes into their box. I usually weed it out about 3-4x a school year, and it's the place the art/school work sits until it gets scanned into the computer for their Shutterfly books.

The hardest part for me is being consistent about filing the stuff away, but more than half the battle is actually having a home for it to go. I used the box system for the kids papers last school year and it worked pretty well! Found the boxes at Longs Drug store of all places! They are approximately 13x15".

MUMMY TABLE CENTERPIECE

2009-10-12T09:09:00.000-07:00

Here's a SIMPLE idea for a cute centerpiece. I've been doing it for years and I still believe he's one of my favorite Halloween decorations. I use this same glass votive for every holiday, they are really versatile.

YOU WILL NEED:

A glass votive
A candle
Self-sticking First Aid Gauze - I used 2" because my votive is quite large
Googly eyes- Again use a size that makes sense with your votive
Glue Dots (to attach the eyes)

Wrap the gauze around the clean votive. I started at the top and worked myself down. Leave a considerable uncovered space on the votive for the eyes. For the eyes: attach one to two glue dots on each googily eye and stick to the votive. YEP, it's that simple and SUPER cute!

Here he is all lit up!!

3 Can Creole Dinner

2009-10-07T07:20:00.000-07:00

This recipe was actually created by me, accidentally. A few years back I had a kielbasa that needed used, so I decided to pair it up with my husbands favorite (black beans) and throw in whatever spice. Only I wasn't paying too much attention to cooking, because I accidentally opened up a can of green beans instead. Not to waste, I added the green beans anyhow and later a can of stewed tomatoes because I thought it was dry. The result of that accident is quite amazing ((BLUSH)). I hope you enjoy it! Our son won't even taste it (he doesn't like his foods mixed together) but, it is in the top three favorite dinners for the rest of us! Sorry for the awful photo. Too late to take another, that stuff is LONG gone!

FRUGAL TIP: Not factoring in the seasoning or the white rice (which is an on-hand staple for us) this meal cost $4.57. Watch for the kielbasa to go on sale, here they are 2/$5.00 . The canned food frequently goes on sale too (I could have got a better deal on those had I stocked up during earlier sales).

3 Can Creole Dinner

1 smoked beef or turkey keilbasa, cut into 1/2" slices.
1/2 large onion, chopped (or one small onion)
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 can (14.5 oz.) stewed tomatoes (PLAIN: not the Italian or Mexican seasoned)
1 can (14.5 oz.) cut green beans, drained
1 can (14.5 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 tsp. - 1 1/2 tsp. Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning
cooked brown or white rice

Brown keilbasa and onion in the oil. Drain off fat in a colander, return keilbasa and onions to the pan. Add stewed tomatoes, green beans and black beans. Add creole seasoning to taste, I recommend starting out with the smaller amount and going up from there, especially if your serving the kids! Serve over a bed of rice.

Product Shout-Out

2009-10-05T09:55:00.000-07:00

So, if there is a product that I just LOVE I'm going to tell you about it. I WISH that these companies were compensating me, but they are not. Not too long ago there existed a particular frozen pasta meal made by a particular brand. This pasta was amazing! My daughter and I loved it! Easy fast lunch, tasted homemade. They must not have heard many shout outs about it because that product no longer exists and my daughter and I lament about it all the time. So here are two products I hope will be around forever, because I love them...

These are called "Monkey Hooks". Now there are actually a few different brand names out there and my dad says they are all the same. Basically instead of drilling a large hole for a screw you drill a tiny little hole and insert this hook (the big long part)into the drilled hole. That is it! No stud necessary and it can really hold a lot of weight! I think they are very clever and if you decide that you don't like the picture where you hung it, you are not left with a large hole to patch up. Nice!

(Just turn your head like you're eating a taco. I'm not sure why this photo rotated on me. I swear it is right side up in Picassa. So strange.) ANYHOW.... I love Indian food. In fact I'm hoping to eat at one of my favorite Indian Restaurants this weekend!

The Amy's brand is sort of a hit or miss with me. Some of it I really dislike, others I absolutely love! This is a yummy curry wrap filled with potatoes, peas and tofu. Tofu takes on the taste of whatever it is cooked with/in. It is basically there for protein. If you have been wanting to try tofu, this is an excellent quick lunch. Two minutes in the microwave and TONS of yummy flavor!

A little bit of Spidery Cuteness

2009-10-04T12:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I got to spend a little one-on-one time with myself! After Scotty's trip to Africa to help the team Biketown and then his business trip to Dallas, Texas, I was so ready for some time alone doing something fun. I signed up at the local scrapbook store for a fun class involving a bit of wood, paper and paper mache. I made this cute little spider, there are other little wood pieces to display during other holidays or months. In fact, Nicole, the genious behind this cute little guy, said she would cut out a CTR emblem for me. (Of course, the wheels are turning in my head, and I'm thinking of even more things)

Check out Nicole's blog and her cute crafts!