101 Reasons Why I love my Husband

The Dating Divas emailed an awesome printable for all of us to use that helps us develop our 101 reasons why we love our husbands. As much as i like print, I think a public forum would be best. My husband doesn't usually get the recognition he deserves for all he does. Nor, do I praise him enough in public.

My husband, is a great man! There are so many amazing qualities about him; many that people don't even know about. I'm not getting on the 30 days of Thankfulness that is flying all over facebook because I am thankful every day for what God has given. And every day is a day to share it, not just during the month of November.

BUT, I am going to share why I love my husband because He doesn't hear it enough.

To my husband: (read more...)

Art & Science of Baking: Free e-book

You know, as well as I do that there is a science to baking. It isn't one of those "toss this ingredient in" or "add a pinch more of that" situations. It truly requires a balance, sometimes down to the hundredth of an ounce to nail the right combination to produce something truly amazing.

I personally struggle with this. I'm the "follow a recipe two a T" person and my husband is not. He just mixes to smell, which works great when he cooks. But not so great when I bake. Oz simply has his own way of doing things. Which i LOVE! He can create the most scrumptious meals from mere ingredients in my pantry. But sometimes, I just want that calculated baked good full of warmth and sweetness. And I'm simply not willing to just toss in items without knowing the outcome will be exactly what I want or better than I can dream.

I NEED to know the science before I'm willing to just toss and bake.

This weekend I was introduced to a free e-book, How to Bake, the Art & Science of Baking.

Oh be still my heart! Here it is.

Happy 50th Birthday Easy Bake Oven!!!

What little girl in the last 50 years doesn't have a distinct memory involving the Easy Bake Oven? I do. I remember very clearly making brownies in my Easy Bake Oven with my older sister. It consumed our afternoon, which I'm sure mom loved. And it made us smile to know we had created something so yummy with just a few steps. We were bakers! 

I recalled this memory very fondly when my niece turned 3. Now remember, i don't have any girls. I just have my nieces. They are my lifeline to pink, purple and all things frilly. That includes the fabulous world of Easy Bake Ovens. So I staked claim when she was three that I would be buying her first Easy Bake Oven. Who better than the Great Cupcake Aunt (said with a resounding super hero voice)! It was perfect. And it was a perfect way for me to connect with the sweet little girls in my life and provide them a sweet little adventure into baking. So at age 5, Emily opened a large heavy box from Aunt Sherra and unlocked a world of baking possibilities! 

It made my heart smile!

This past week marked 50 years since the Easy Bake Oven made is debut and for that, Easy Bake Oven, We salute you! 

Happy 50th Birthday!!

Friday, the day for Free Printables

The week the Pilot and I have spent a lot of time researching our ancestors. With this research, a lot of stories have surfaced. Some are relevant and some are not. Some have been entertaining, some empowering and some quite deflating. And it got me to thinking. Blogging is our platform now. Will the words we right and send into virtual space still be here in 100 years or 200 years when my five generations down grand-daughter wants to know my story?

 

I'm not sure. But I know I've enjoyed reading the letters and hearing the stories this week. So i'm inspired! Since i wrote my story a couple of weeks ago, or bits of it anyway and shared it with you, I beginning to think I'm behind the 8-ball and need to step up the pace. So,I figure there are two options:

1. I can print my blog every year or every 5 years as a memoir, hoping that someone will stumble upon it in years to come and find it equally as intriguing. Print2Blog is a great resource for just that. Prices start around $14.95 and are incredible quality. Blurb is another great resource. Their smallest book starts at $12.99. Both of these work well with Blogger, WordPress, LiveJournal and TypePad.
   
2. I can start to journal. I know. We learned in school how to journal, but who really does that any more? Well, one day someone might want to read your story from your own handwriting. It might even give it more validity than your IP address. But Not just any journal will do. I'm going to use my own journalling paper and make it almost like a scrapbook. 

And now for the Free Printable...Its great for starting a journal about your story. It works well in the classroom too for short-story platforms. Enjoy!!

If you liked my printable, check out this awesome Halloween craft to liven up your home. The make some of these Ooey Gooey cookies and share them with your loved ones while you read your awesome stories!! This can be a great family-time event.

Both, the template and the saying are free and available for personal use only. All rights belong to bakingupchaos.blogspot.com. Please give credit if you use the item or distribute the item for personal use. But remember to Share and Share a like. :)


If you liked this post, Please Rate My Blog @ Top Mommy Blogs

YOU are exactly what God had in mind.

I woke up this morning with something heavy on my heart. I'm not even sure why. Have you ever felt urged to do something so strongly that you almost can't control it? And no, I'm talking about that chocolate cake in the fridge whispering to you to eat it. That is pretty much how it this morning. So, I'm going to give in and share with you.

We read a lot about the benefits of breast feeding. In fact, its almost so overwhelming at this point that it makes anyone who does not breast feed feel like they are failing as a mother if they do not. So, this is to all my formula feeding mommies....

Look at this beautiful clan.

Yep! That's my chaos. This photo was taken in April at my niece and nephew's birthday party. What I want you to notice here is simple. Look at my boys. Study them. Just for a moment. No, there won't be a pop quiz.

Notice a few things. They are happy. They are healthy. They have 10 fingers. They have 10 toes. They have 2 eyes and 1 nose. They aren't obese. As far as God and I are concerned, they are perfect little boys.

Can you tell how they were fed as infants? Can you tell if they are all breast fed or all formula fed, or a combination? No. No, you can't.

Here is what you can't see. They are brilliant. Well, okay maybe that is just me being overly proud of my boys. But, they are incredibly smart and that has been proven on tests. They have personalities that won't quit. Just look at the oldest and youngest and you can see that. They are loving. They are caring. They fight like crazy little men with sibling rivalry that never ends. But they are exception little creatures that were given to me as a gift from God.



When I was blessed with this little men, God didn't tell me that I had to feed them a certain way or they wouldn't turn out OK. No, in fact, everything is in God's plan. And exactly how they were fed was exactly how he wanted them fed. You know how I know this? Because God made me a mom. And more importantly, He made me their mom. He gave me the knowledge and intuition to know when things were going well and we were on the right track and when they weren't. He chose me for these men; not my sister; not the crunchy lady on my message boards; not Mary Poppins. Me. It is my job and duty to do my best for them because I trust God and His decisions, even if I don't always understand them.

So here is my story.

Lessons from Children: 5 Things All Happy Women Do

I was reading a great featured blog post this morning by Francesca at SITSGirls about the 5 Things All Happy Women Do.  Her list was her following (summarized):

1. Connect with others

2. Take Time for yourself

3. Exercise Regularly

4. Sleep Regularly

5. Follow your Passion

And, it got me thinking...

We all start our lives as children doing these five simple things.  Why don't we continue doing them as we grow up?  When do we stop?  Who says we have to stop?  Why have other women already figured this out and appear happier than I regularly?  Are they really happier than I?

Photo license:  Some rights reserved

Take children for example.  They always seem so happy and content, except when being told No, but that's another post for another day.  They spend their days doing every single one of those on the list with gusto.  They don't know what real responsibilities are yet, but they don't care either.  They haven't let keeping up with the Jone's wear on their every split-end trestle.  Instead they make the best of the day and of the situation.  We could learn a lot from them and follow their example.

I remember seeing a show once where the kids wanted to switch places with the adults.  And as they got older, they got more kid like and less adult like.  The kids thought it was great at first to drive and have all the money, but then came the bills and parenting their parents.  That wasn't so much fun after all.  Sure the movie helped the children respect their parents more when their world returned to normal, but the greater lesson here.  The grass isn't always greener and we should follow their lead by living in the moment and seizing the day.

BabbaBox: Sun, Moon & Stars

Our family was blessed by BabbaBox and The Sits Girls to receive a very cool after school activity box. This particular box featured the Sun, Moon & Stars. With Oz being so passionate about aviation, this was right up our alley. So open the box we did...And what a pretty box it was!

It was busting at the seams with activities!! The coolest thing was that it came with a card explaining all the activities inside.

And another with more digital content.

This box came with 4 activities, the perfect amount to do one weekly and complete the box over a month.

Casino Night All Hallow's Eve Party

Oz and I were looking for some great ideas for themed Halloween Parties this month when I ran across this article on the "Top Casino Movies of all Time" on www.casinotop10.net It provoked a very long and rather diverse debate, much like those of the Presidential candidates. Casino Royale with James Bond was of course his first pick. I personally found Hangover one of my favorites and was pleased to see it forth on the list. So keeping the Bond concept to our Casino party, we developed a great plan for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres over roulette and blackjack.

This is where Oz's random bits of trivia always come into play. He knew exactly what Bond would be drinking, the Vesper. Just looking at that recipe, I knew that there had to be another option something more fruity and spirited. The hunt began and the ideas started flowing...

Costumes: Must haves included black cats and vampires. Just picture it. Each woman in a sexy cat costume and the men in long black dusters with stark white fans willing to nibble on our necks. Its sounds awesome!

Food: Zombie fingers breadsticks, deviled ghoul eye balls, vampire blood dip and mini devil's food cake shots.

THE DRINK: Probably the most important part of a great party besides decorations, music and food. We finally agreed upon a Martini in homage to Bond. And something Fruity in homage to an unknown female agent that would also LOVE a martini of her own making. Thus, the Black Cat Martini.

Black Cat Martini:
2 parts Chambord or blackberry liquor
1 part Vodka
just a spash of cranberry juice

shaken over ice and served with carrot slivers for cat whiskers. ***See below for an awesome martini making tip!

Of course we had to "test run" this drink to ensure it was perfect for our guests. We made ours with Chambord and being from Texas, Austin based Deep Eddy Vodka. We love supporting the locals every chance we can get. Now for a few hands of blackjack to test the feel of things and enjoy our concoction.

We are looking forward to a great night with our friends. Thanks To Casinotop10 for the inspiration! 

The crucial most important step about making a martini i learned after many years of bar tending and it was was one of those old grouchy men that taught me what I'm about to share with you. Pay attention. Seriously.

***Martini secret of the year to a perfectly chilled martini...Make sure to use a metal shaker and shake that thing until you think your arms are going to fall off, then shake some more. If you can't scrape ice off the outside with your fingernails, it isn't cold enough. 

Now...Shhhhhh don't tell. Just be an awesome bartender.

Blog Challenge Day 1: SITS Girls Memories

I'm behind. I'm sure this doesn't surprise you. I sure as heck doesn't surprise me. I knew when i planned to take on this challenge, i would most likely get caught up in life and lose all sites on completing it. But i am determined. So hang on, this will be a whirlwind of posts to catch up before the challenge ends.

Photo by Sally French shared through Creative Commons

Day 1: Memories brought to you by the letter "B"

The challenge was simply to share a fun school story, anecdote or some memory from my school days long ago. So many came to mind, but mostly high school kept making a come back in my mind. I'm still debating posting any picture to share, but I'll share a minor tidbit that always baffles me when I look back.

I had a "B" stage. Well almost my whole high school career was a "B" stage, minus the time with "M" and with "J". I didn't really have a "type" of guy I dated or was interested in. I just went for what I liked. But there was a very long period when that "type" all had names that started with "B" and many shared the same name. My poor best friends was lost trying to keep up, funny because one of their names started with a "B" too. I digress.

These boys were my sunlight. They made me laugh. They made my heart flutter. They made me reconsider every outfit selection 2 or 3 times each morning to ensure I looked my best. And sadly enough, they broke that same heart. But we did have some fun times!

Band and these boys were a huge part of my high school years. I remember trips on Bus 3 for Band competitions and football games. A few crazy moments with toilet paper, rubber gloves and lots of duct tape. I remember alka-seltzer and seagulls. I remember more band charts and marching drills than I care to remember. They made me laugh. They mentally stimulated me.

There were 4 in this phase. They were never apart of the same group, except as members of the band. Two were older. One was the same age and one was younger. Each brought something new to the equation and different than the one prior. B#1 showed me that I liked the idea of older boys and feeling protected. He showed me that authority can be given but respect has to be earned. B#2 taught me that hard work would pay off. He showed me that you can change a tiger's strips. He also showed me how to laugh, genuinely have fun laughing. I still smile thinking about this one. B#3 was so different. He had amazing relationship with his mother, whom I adored. All were smart, but this one challenged me.  The thrill of chasing him made my head swim some days. To this day, he is still brilliant and such an odd duck that few ever truly figure him out. And B#4.

I could take forever talking about B#4. He was my best friend. He was an awesome Christian, still is. We argued over religion. We flirted over movies. We tried to spend a great deal of time together. There were many phone calls, letters and fun trips after school. He taught me that quality time is more important than gifts. He taught me that younger boys can be as much fun as older boys, or more. He showed me that have a great relationship with your mother was extremely important and respect was top priority with her. He taught me that speaking your mind about your faith despite the consequences was the best way to live. He probably had the biggest impact on my choice in future men and my husband than an other's past. He also broke my heart the greatest.

Its hard for friends to continue when you move on to different phases. College happened for me first and high school wasn't the same for him. Other men came into my life and game changed. But these 4 won't be forgotten. Each one brought something fun and new. Each one taught me a little more about myself that I didn't know. Each one had a different relationship with me. Each one I loved differently. I owe them a lot.

Today I am in a single "D" phase that I vowed will never end. Each one helped prepare me for "D" and the mental stimulation, the physical attraction, the protection, the family devotion, the emotional connection and life long commitment to this one man and all his many shades.

Thank you "B" Boys. I'm sure you know who you are.

Easy Dinner Recipe: Taco Ring

We all want to be able to get through our days with as little stress as possible, that includes dinner. Yesterday was definitely one of those days. I did not want to pay someone to feed my family but I still wanted a truly yummy meal that didn't take all night to prepare. So I defaulted to one of my favorite Easy Dinner Recipes that always puts a smile on everyone's face. And with 6 people, that isn't always an easy task.

I even took pictures to ensure you would be able to repeat the process and have happy campers in your household too. Do Not make fun of my messy kitchen. ;)

Step 1: Brown 1 lb of hamburger.

Step 2: Drain, Return to pan and add in 1 pkg of taco seasoning.

Step 3: Add shredded cheese and mix well. I use a full 16oz of cheese when I make this recipe. I try to put about 1/3 inside with the meat and the rest on the outside.

Step 4: Add 1 can of Mexi-corn and 1 can of Rotel tomatoes, draining both before. I also usually add 1 can of sliced black olives, but I was out this go round. Mix well.

Step 5: Take 1 cans of Pillsbury Dough Crescent rolls and break them into their triangles. Here is where I pull out my round Pampered Chef stone. I love that it makes the crust crispy without drying out the center. Then take 1 can of triangles laying them down on the stone, slightly overlapping each other into a starburst with the largest part of the triangle toward the center. Take the second can and repeat the process but moving about 2 inches further outward with the starburst, staggering them between the first layer's triangles. I know it sounds crazy, but this part is HUGE! So i made sure to get a picture.

Step 6: Fill with Taco meat mixture.

Step 7: Roll up each end of the triangles into the center.

Step 8: Top with cheese and bake at 350* for 20 minutes or until golden brown on top and cheese is bubbly. 

My six year old started off dinner saying he wasn't hungry and he wasn't going to eat. Then I placed the taco ring in front of him and less than 5 minutes later, it was gone and he was a happy little boy!!

I always serve mine with a dollop of Sour cream and a side salad or spanish rice. Super Easy and Super Yummy!! Enjoy!

Are you ready for disaster?

We don't really think about it until its in our back yard. Hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, massive flooding...would you be ready if one of these were to strike your town? I personally freak out over natural disasters. I think its a control thing. I can't control where its going to strike, how bad it will be or what the aftermath will be like. I'm not a control freak, but man does that really push my limits. In fact when that movie came out about the end of the world because of the polar ice shift, i couldn't bring myself to watch it. Understand this, I do NOT get scared by horror flicks. In fact, I usually laugh through them. But you bring on a natural disaster movie and I'm a HUGE OL' Baby! But back to my point...

I have started to think, since we moved back to Houston that it might be a good idea to compile some recipes that don't require cooking. And, to rebuid my stock pile of non-parishables. Last time we lived here, we lived through Ike and were one of the few families with more than enough food and water to last the 2 weeks without power. But if it were to strike again today, i don't know that we would be. We are very much out of practice. So in respect for our eastern friends living this tragedy personally, I'm enlightening all of you while having a great place to reference this for future use.

Taken straight from Disaster Meal Recipes; Meals from a Can by Linda Larsen. Some of these actually sound pretty yummy!

Photo with common license by dj denim

Disaster Meal Recipes

• Bean and Tuna Salad
  This salad is delicious, even when it's not an emergency! It's also colorful and very good for you too.
• Peanut Butter Granola Wrap Sandwiches
  These crunchy and creamy wrap sandwiches are super easy to make and delicious.
• Updated Peanut Butter Sandwiches
  Carrots, sunflower seeds, and currants add crunch, texture, and nutrition to a simple peanut butter sandwich.
• Butter Bean Salad
  You could use any canned bean in this excellent recipe; black beans or red beans would be delicious. And add any canned meat for hungry appetites.
• Tuna Pizza
  Mashed white beans, combined with some seasonings, make an excellent pizza sauce for this flavorful pizza. Boboli crusts are another great ingredient that stores well at room temperature.
• Coconut Fruit Salad
  Any canned fruit is delicious in this super simple salad. Serve it in ice cream cones for a treat to raise spirits.
• Kris' Famous Sweet Potato Salad
  I love this salad; it's suave and savory. You can also use it as a sandwich spread or dip. Buy small jars of salad dressing or mayonnaise for your emergency pantry for this and other salad recipes.
• Salmon and Potato Salad
  Use pouches of salmon instead of cans if you'd like; the fish in that packaging does not have skin or bones. Serve this salad in pita breads for an easy lunch.
• Couscous Chicken Salad
  You do need boiling water for this salad, unless you can find a brand of couscous that rehydrates in cold water.
• Pantry Gazpacho
  This flavorful gazpacho is very satisfying. It can be heated if you'd like, and served hot.
• Texas Caviar
  Cut this recipe in half so you'll be able to eat it in one sitting. Serve as a sandwich filling, or as a dip with chips an d crackers.

Photo with common license by lynn.gardner

Nestle Toll House Afternoon!!!

What a way to end the day...making cookies with my boys. Its been a crazy one and this was a very nice ending to the chaos of the grind. As a Foodbuzz Tastemaker, I occassionally get coupons for free items or free products to try, usually related to food. When the chance to opt in for an awesome Nestle Toll House "Baking with your Kids" opportunity presented itself, you bet i opted in. With 4 boys, who wouldn't? We LOVE cookies!!

In our house everyone got into it, even the baby! What did we make? Well with the generous coupons and my fresh new apron, we made sugar cookies with Sprinkles, Sugar cookies with Recess Peanut Butter Cups and with great homage to tradition, we made Nestle Toll House chocolate cookies with ready made dough.

For the sugar cookies, we went pretty simple. I made a basic sugar cookie recipe and then mixed in milk chocolate chips or topped with different jimmies. For the traditional chocolate chip cookies, we used the Nestle Toll House cookie ready-made cookie dough. My melon baller was very handy at this point getting a consistent drop cookie. We even decided to top a few with the Nestle Heath Toffee pieces. BOY were those YUMMY!!!

For the sugar cookies with recess pieces centers, i used the same sugar cookie mix and baked for a few minutes until they were just started to brown, then pulled them out and immediately dropped a recess peanut butter cup (unwrapped of course) into the center. Be careful not to touch the pan at this point, it can be very hot. They will continue to cook a little after being pulled out and will create a nice gooey chocolate-peanut center....mmmm...

It was in our opinion a "finger-licking" great afternoon!!


As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program, I received a Nestle Toll House apron and coupons for free cookie dough.

Will we get to Trick or Treat?

The final days are upon us for what is one my boys favorite holidays, All Hallow's Eve aka Halloween! But with the recent reports at school and their inability to simply listen, they may lose the opportunity to be a Ninja, Green Lantern and Lighting McQueen. (NO, the baby isn't in jeopardy of losing his Lion costume, but if the big boys don't go, he won't either.) So, I've put it out there. If you want to enjoy the candy-filled holiday and dress up in your costumes, You must have good reports from school. There can't be any more "not-listening" reports, or "you son accidently bit another student today" reports, or any more "he simply isn't doing what he is suppose to do when asked" reports. (Yes he actually did "accidently" bit another student...but that is another story.) Am I bad for using this holiday to my advantage and getting a few good days out of my boys? Nope. I don't think so. SO the count down is on...1 Day down. 2 to go at school and 2 to go this weekend. Are you using the holiday to bribe your children? Do you use Santa as a bribe?

We are going to spend lots of time together this weekend and since we haven't done our pumpkin carving yet, I'm half tempted to do some decoupage pumpkins like Not so Idle Hands created and are showcased in Woman's day this month. Have you seen them?

(source)

I love the pumpkins, ghosts and mummies. Being a Scentsy consultant, working in a lighting store and having 4 boys makes me LOVE anything that works with light bulbs instead of flames! What other mosters would you come up with? I bet we could do this with other holidays too!

Monster Tooth Pillow and feeling Domestic

Back in 7th grade in Peoria, AZ I was forced to attend Home Economics three times a week for half a year. I made an apron. I made some cracked hard candy. And I made a pointless blue M&M mini pillow. I never thought I would have to pull out my M&M pillow making skills as an adult. Well, today marks the day that I admit I was wrong. The educators were right and I learned a valuable skill. And to top it off, I fell domestic!

So you may think, Domestic, so? But that doesn't come easy for me. I work full time. I have 4 boys and a husband that keep my house in a constant state of Chaos. I think FlyLade describes CHAOS as can't have anybody over syndrom. Yep. That's our house. So to accomplish feeling domestic is a big feat.

Drum roll please.... I made 2, count them 2, Monster Tooth Pillows!!! I do not take credit for the pattern. Its from www.thelongthread.com She has some amazing stuff for boys!! Back to my story...My oldest has a new found Shark tooth on bottom and one pushing through on top. No babies have wiggled their way out to make room for the larger more adult versions, but they sure are shaking in their roots. So, despite my fatigue and my homework, I used a pattern and created these cute pillows!!

Oh the handle, yeah. I have 4 boys remember. I had to come up with a few of the tooth fairy rules this weekend because apparently she is knocking on our doorstep any day. Well the sister in laws consulted this weekend about the tooth fairy network and its complications. One sister in law has a really high maintenance tooth fairy. She has a name. An origin. Checks toothbrushes and leaves fairy dust all over the place. Oh and did you know fairies are born when children have their first laugh, so says SIL #1.

SIL #2 has a much less complicated tooth fairy. She also has a boy. We determined he doesn't so much care about all those details as long as the loot is under the pillow. There is one simple rule though, if the tooth is pulled, he gets nothing. It has to fall out on its own accord. His tooth fairy seems to run well with the National treasury tooth fairy because she always leaves gold dollars.

Sweet isn't it? No. Not when my son is within ear shot and the standards are getting very HIGH!.

So I had to put a few things in place.

1. Pillows are required to get money, so says the tooth fairy. 
2. Sometimes the tooth fairy needs an express option of delivery if they are going to get to every child each night, so says the tooth fairy. Hence the ribbon. ;) There is no way the tooth fairy can get to the pillow without waking someone up or stepping on someone. 
3. And If the tooth fairy arrives before the child is asleep, becuase he is still up playing, the tooth fairy will take the tooth and leave nothing. Hey, I had to have some bedtime insurance to offset the excitement.

I think I did well. Now to just determine what the opening bid will bed...We keep hearing $5. What is the going rate for tooth #1 and each subsequent tooth?

Krazy Coupon Lady

I won't lie. I'm worried. With 4 boys, how will I ever feed them when they are teenagers? Heck, my oldest is 6 and is already starting to eat close to his weight in food. I'm getting on the coupon band wagon. I'm not into the binder method...yet. I'm going to hang out with Teri at The Grocery Game and file my tabs away. I've been doing this since April, but after watching my boys eat recently, I'm going to get more serious about it. No more frivolous shopping. Shop with a purpose and never pay full price, that is my new motto!

Today I visited a new site, The Krazy Coupon Lady! These women have been featured on TLC, Today and The Early show. To top it off, they recently wrote their own book, Pick Another Checkout Lane, Honey! Not only will it help get even the youngest of Coupon Virgins going, it will help make those that are tenured quite savvy too! I bought my own copy today and can't wait for it to arrive!!

Have you thought about couponing? Do you think you could be an extremist? Or what about just an expert on the subject? I'm not sure what category I fall into, but I know I would like to pay off some debt, buy a home and take an annual family vacation. I know I make enough money for all of that, but I sure don't have any of that accomplished. Are you in the same boat? Want to join me?

Comment and let me know what you would do with all the savings you would have from clipping some coupons? Want to know how to get started? The Krazy Coupon Lady has a great 10 day starter workshop for all Coupon Virgins. Check it out here!!

Hot and Steamy...and right on time!

Dinner is always a fight in our household. Who is going to cook? Which is followed by who is going to do dishes? And of course the inevitable, what are we going to eat?

Usually about twice a month I throw in the towel and order pizza. Most often I have it delivered. Its easy. It quick and I don't have to go anywhere or get anything. Bonus for a busy mom like me. It feeds everyone fast and provides a hot meal i don't have to feel guilty about serving the children. It has all the basic food groups, right?

1. Grains - wheat in the crust
2. vegetables - olives, peppers
3. fruits - tomatoes and occasionally pinapple
4. dairy - cheese and extra cheese
5. proteins - meats vary from sausage, chicken, bacon, anchovies, hamburger, etc
6. fats/oils - this is pretty given with the oil in the crust and from the meats/cheese
7. supplements 

 But what impressed me the most about tonight's order was the speed and the heat. No seriously. We placed our order via iphone app for carryout at 6:09pm. Within minutes we had our confimation that the pizza would be ready in 15-20 minutes. So we timed it almost to the minute and arrive at 6:22pm. My husband is in the shop less than 2 minutes and emerges with a hot and steamy pizza for all my big boys and side of undressed chicken strips for the little dudes. Win.

Then he places the order on my lap for the quick drive home. HOLY HOTNESS BATMAN! That pizza was pipping hot. I love it! Hot fresh pizza in less than 20 minutes and no wait for carry-out! Win! Win! 

Now a review is in order. Most of the time we only review things when life doesn't go as we want and we are disgruntled. Well this one deserves a review because the complete opposite is at hand. I am more than pleased with tonight's service and quality of dinner. This was defiantly a great decision. So the picture...

The Meats Original

That is one Hot pizza! The crust on the underside was done a little more than we like, but the taste was awesome. It had a hot sauce, tender meats and a sweet tomato sauce to compliment the stringy cheese. Not on person complained about dinner tonight, not one! In a household of 6, that is quite an accomplishment!

So to you Papa John's Pizza on Rock Prairie...Great job!! This is from one busy mom in a world of chaotic boys just looking to enjoy life, food and make things easier one meal at a time! You will definitely be seeing more of us!!

The Hip Chic Online

I stumbled across the Hip Chic Online while visiting the Savvy Mom's guide. I couldn't wait to share what I found with you! Who wouldn't love a YouTube site that helps take us from "frumpy" to "HOT" regardless of our age?!

I am a thirty-two year old wife to one and mother to four crazy boys! I am working full time, have 2 part time jobs/hobbies and go to school full time trying to finish that coveted Bachelor's degree. Now helping to launch a new jewelry line called Bamboo Pink. I love to learn how I can look more put-together, feel more beautiful in my own skin and love who I am on the outside as much as I do the inside. As mom, we can look amazing no matter how many kids we have or how chaotic our lives are. We can still look "hip" before and after we accept the title of "MOM" or resign to pass the threshold of the big 3-0, 4-0 or even 5-0. So, I checked out a You Tube Channel that works to inspire other women look and feel their very best - it's called The Hip Chick Online. There you'll find videos on hair, makeup and outfits.

About this new line of jewelry i'm sporting, a little over a month ago, I heard about another
opportunity to join the ground floor of a jewelry business. But not just any jewelry business, one that is ten plus years strong and sold in major high end department stores, JudeFrances. I wasn't excited about taking on another business venture. But I was excited that I didn't have to do any home shows if I didn't want to, and there wasn't any charge to join. So, What did I have to lose? What do you have to lose? So I signed up! And boy am I glad I did!! This company is already proving to be the fastest growing woman's jewelry line in the history and its going viral over the internet!

What can I tell you about Bamboo Pink?

How it’s Made

All bamboopink jewelry is hypoallergenic. This means it is not only nickel, lead and tarnish free, but all earrings have a titanium surgical post as well. bamboopink will random test every shipment of jewelry to insure quality control. The Gold BP Finish pieces are 24 karat gold plated which create the stunning gold shimmer. The Silver BP Finish pieces are plated with the precious metal, rhodium, a member of the platinum family, to create the silver sheen and unique brushed look.

The Signature bamboopink by JudeFrances Love Knot

Inspired by the ancient Celtic and Chinese knot characters symbolizing love, trust and harmony, the bamboopink love knot represents the union of the three unique founders to create one harmonious company. The symmetrical knot is interwoven into itself with no beginning or end—the three founders, Jude Steele, Frances Gadbois, and Debbie Millar, saw this design as a perfect depiction of their partnership and vision for the company: unity, trust and love.

The Jewelry Pieces

All bamboopink jewelry is designed by co-founder, Frances Gadbois. This classic, sexy, elegant and affordable collection starts at $19 with most pieces under $100. Featuring only the finest crystals as well as seasonal colored stones in turquoise, coral and more, bamboopink jewelry will always be on-trend yet classic for everyday wear. The line is composed of a myriad of earrings from hoops to studs to show-stopping chandelier earrings; super chic bangles and bracelets that are perfect for layering; stackable rings as well as bold and funky cocktail rings for day into evening looks; and collectable pendants and chain necklaces which make bamboopink the most versatile fashion jewelry collection around.

This is an amazing opportunity to get in on the GROUND FLOOR!! The Company will launch any day, and you don't want to miss it! Sign-ups are FREE ...forever!! You get to decide how much you want to buy in and determine your level of commitment, not someone else.

I would love to have you on my team and I'll help you every step of the way. What are you waiting for? Sign up or email me for more information at sherra.ogden@gmail.com.

02/04/05: Six years ago tomorrow

Yes I am becoming old. It will be official at 1:19pm on 02/04/11. My oldest son, Case will be 6. I know you might think, whop-te-do. But to me, this is my baby. This little...hmm...sweet innocent boy, yeah that is what I'll call him today and tomorrow, changed my life. I never knew what it would be like to be a mom. I always imagined growing up how it might feel and how much fun it would be, who didn't? But I don't think anything ever REALLY prepared me for the chaos and joys of motherhood. Nor did I have any idea that 6 years later, I would have 4 spawn screaming my name hourly.

So it comes, the oldest turns 6 tomorrow and has requested Blueberry Indiana Jones Cupcakes. Tonight he will bake with me. Tonight we will buy Indiana Jones ring party favors. Tonight we will make a mess out of my already messy kitchen. But tonight, we will also make a memory that he and I both won't forget. I love my little boy. Happy Birthday Case! Your mother is very proud of you!

...You don't think I'd leave the post without atleast something to tide you over until tomorrow, do you? Nope. I had hoped that Case would have jumped at my new favorite thing, Cake Balls. No they aren't new. But they are still new to me because I haven't mastered them like I have cupcakes and pumpkin bread. I was hoping he would go for some strawberry cake balls and I could practice my chocolate coatings and drizzles. But no that was not his request this year. I might still make them next week. ;)

However, Today I found a great post because of @bakeat350tweets twitter feed. My kitchen addiction posted a great post on chocolate drizzle and tips to make it "chaos" proof. Here is a picture of her amazing work:

You can read the full post here. Not only did she do a great job with the tips and techniques, she incorporated some humor as well. I can just see her kitchen covered in gloopy chocolate.

Howdy 2011!

(Image from Brooke Griffin's Healthy Taco Soup)

Boy are we glad to see 2011!! Not that 2010 was bad, but I'm very over it. I'm ready to move on to resolutions I can break, changes I can make and opportunities yet to unfold. :)

One thing I will make sure to keep the same, the Southern tradition of eating Black eyed peas on January 1st. My Granny always made a big pot of black eyed peas that we always enjoyed shortly after the ball dropped in NYC every year. She would always remember to drop a quarter in the bottom of every one of our bowls to encourage a prosperous new year. While I was preparing my families serving of 2011 luck, it got me thinking. Where did this tradition come from? Was it something my Granny's family passed down for years, or is there more to it?

Lets start with what is a black-eyed pea? Wikipedia states "The black-eyed pea, also called black-eyed bean, ChawaLie, Lobia, Mulatto-Gelato in various languages in India, is a subspecies of the cowpea, grown around the world for its medium-sized edible bean. The bean mutates easily, giving rise to a number of varieties. The common commercial one is called the California Blackeye; it is pale-colored with a prominent black spot."

Why are they lucky? The tradition came to America when the first Sphardi Jews settled in Georgia in the 1730s. The beans are tolerant to drought and do well in hotter temperatures. This made them a prominent protein during the American Civil War. The story is told that the Union soldiers believed field peas/beans to be animal feed thereby leaving the pea/bean crops when stripping the other fruitful crops from the South. The meal is typically cooked in bacon or with ham bones, diced onions and served with hot chili sauce, collard greens or cabbage and cornbread. The peas symbolize prosperity because they swell when cooked. The greens symbolize money and the pork stands for positive motion because pigs will root in a forward motion when foraging.

A little history for us all...now what to make this year? I went between 3 recipes before finally settling on a modified classic in our household.

Recipe #1: Texas Caviar

2 cans of black-eyed peas (use ones with jalapeños)

1 can white hominy

1 can rotel

1/2 bottle of zesty Italian dressing (small bottle)

cilantro

1 avocado chopped

1 bell pepper chopped

Directions: Mix it all up and let sit in fridge a bit before serving. Best served with big scoop Fritos

Recipe #2: Black Eyed Pea Hummus with Olive Oil (recipe from Kalyn's Kitchen)

(Makes about 3 cups hummus, adapted from Black-Eyed Pea Hummus at Lentil Breakdown.)
2 cans (15 oz. can) black eyed peas, rinsed and drained
(or use 3 cups cooked black-eyed peas)
2 tsp. garlic puree or minced garlic
6 T fresh-squeezed lemon juice (or slightly less if you're not that into lemon)
1/2 - 1 tsp. salt
2 T olive oil
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
3-6 T tahini (sesame seed paste), to taste
water to thin hummus as needed (I used 2 T water)
2-3 T olive oil, for drizzling on hummus
powdered Sumac, for sprinkling on hummus (or use a smaller amount of paprika or just skip this
whole wheat pita bread for serving

Directions: Dump the canned black-eyed peas into a colander placed in the sink, then rinse with cold water until no more foam appears. Let black-eyed peas drain for a minute or two, then put them into the food processor with the garlic, lemon juice, salt and olive oil and process until black-eyed peas are pureed, about 1 minute. Add the ground cumin and 3 T of tahini and process until it's combined. Taste to see if you want more tahini, and keep adding in small amounts until it seems right to you. (I used the full 6 T of tahini, but I really like the taste of tahini.) If the hummus seems too thick, add a few tablespoons of water and process. (I added 2 tablespoons of water.) Put hummus into serving bowl, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with Sumac (or a smaller amount of paprika.) Serve with whole wheat pita bread. Hummus will keep in the fridge for at least a week.

But the winner was recipe #3...Taco Soup with Black Eyed Peas

2 Cans of Black Beans

2 Cans of Pinto Beans

2 Cans of Black Eyed Peas

2 Cans of Stewed Tomatoes

1 Can of Rotel Tomatoes

1 Can of Mexicorn

1 pkg of Taco seasoning

1 pkg of Ranch Dressing

1 lb of Hamberger browned and drained

Directions: Mix all together in crock pot for 3 hours on high. Serve with Sour Cream, shredded cheese and tortilla chips.

What did you eat? What traditions do you keep? What resolutions are you making?

Cinnamon cressent rolls

Memorial day is one set aside to remember those that have served and died for our country, and to honor those that still are. In my line of work memorial day becomes one filled with large customer counts, long hours and lots of transactions. The main reason gets forgotten oh too easily in that environment. But today, today was different than last year. I was at home with my family. I got to enjoy the break and remember those I'm so proud of. To start the morning, I made breakfast. But not planning on this, my groceries are low and I had to improvise. Sugar. Check. Butter. Check. Cinnamon. Check. Cressent rolls. Check. Bingo! Yep I made cinnamon cressent rolls that were to die for. Note to self, keep cressent on hand because this could be a future breakfast again in a pinch. And we all know any good baker keeps sugar, cinnamon and butter on hand at all times.
Sherra
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone