Monday, September 29, 2008

Oh, And Another Thing---->

Guess what I will be doing today and tomorrow-----and the next day....LOL

I have one more basket after this one (these are the really big baskets too)---and the bedding too.......

My Fridge!

Happy Monday to you all--here is my fridge. I went to the .99 cent store and bought 5 more containers (They always seem to disappear here)---and then I went to the Farmer's Market and bought an abundance of veggies. At the Farmer's market--You could spend about 12 dollars and get everything you need for a wonderful week of veggies. This week I spent 40.00--but I also bought fruit, bread, tortillas, garlic cheese toasts, rice, buttermilk--etc--there is just something about the Farmer's Market that makes everything look so good.


Celery was .50 cents each, Green onions .50 cents each, mushrooms were under 2 dollars--lettuce was 1.89--Green Leaf and Romaine---Radishes were .50 cents each--I also got cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, green and red bell peppers---lots of yummy veggies


...and then I found these at the grocery store---how fun:) Halloween Cinnamon Rolls.


Happy Monday---I have lots of posts to put up this week!

Can You Spot The Parakeet?




Saturday, September 27, 2008

Saturday Chit-Chat!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend--our days have been filled with so much to do---I got to my computer about 9:00 last night---I read a few blogs/emails and then went to bed--I was up this morning bright and early at 5:20--yay---LOL. Little Kevin just does not let me sleep in. That is okay----I got a lot done already---IT HAS BEEN HOT HERE!!!! HOT!! I even had to turn the air on for two days--

Kevin is working right now--but at about 5:00 when he gets home, I have to go to my sister's condo and clean it again---what a blessing it is to make some extra money. I know they say money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes things nicer when there is extra around.

I have a bunch of pictures to share too--I cleaned and cut all my produce and put them in Tupperware, my fridge is happy again.

Not sure what I am going to cook for dinner tonight--ohhh gotta go--Baby is up!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

*Farmers Market*

I ended up going to the Farmer's Market this morning----I have to wash and cut and put everything away----

Little Kevin is napping so I am going to go and get this done before he wakes up.

Be back shortly--Happy Thursday--and if you can make it to Henry's Farmer's market--GO---they were having all sorts of fun sales!!!

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Wednesday!

I kept thinking today was Thursday--I am a day ahead of myself---OOPS! I dropped off a cookbook and a bottle of Skin So Soft to my sister---I used to lather that stuff all over myself when I was in Georgia--the mosquitoes loved me out there--I don't need it anymore--and I had a huge bottle left, and she wanted it--because she was getting bit by something.

Her daughter is Ill today--so ballet is put off again---the girls, my daughter and her daughter are starting together---we just need them both well---it is okay---I was kind of glad it was put off for one more week--I have lots I want to do. Shopping for one thing--I need a few, just a few groceries. Last night, when I made chicken, I had stopped at Albertson's and bought a bottle of Ken's Marinades-buffalo wing sauce---and I marinaded my chicken in that--boy, was that good:)

I am going to check out the meat section today at the store---I have so much chicken, but I need other meat too. My husband is such a meat and potatoes man. Before we were married, I never bought red meat--everything was Tofu, Rice Milk, Soy Milk, lots of veggies, Turkey bacon, or ground chicken--etc--very healthy eating--I really enjoy the variety of cooking I get to do married to him----My husband and kids are my biggest fans.....

Okay, well I just wanted to make a quick post--Have a wonderful Wednesday and thank you so much for coming by:)

P.S. Yes, Mrs. Ruiz---*Fred* is at Walmart:) He sells for a great price, just a little under $7.00--My grandmother named hers *MIKE*...LOL. Have you all seen Fred at YOUR Walmart? You need to give him a home. Mrs. R---You will have to let me know what you name yours!!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

What I Am Reading!

I can not remember when exactly I came across it--but I remember my AOL news screen was talking about a certain blog--it will high light blogs every now and then, so I always like to check out new blogs--some blogs I really like, and some blogs I find I have nothing in common with and some just make me think---This one particular blog not only made me think, it made me cry and it continues to touch my heart every time I read it--I read it every day as this woman writes about her daily life as a wife and mother too--this beautiful woman has Scleroderma and the strength she has is just amazing--she is just an amazing lady---I wish I had just a touch of her strength some days---Please go over to her blog and please add her to your prayer list---I believe so much in the power of prayer!!!

Diary of a Dying Mom

Fall Tuesday!

Happy Tuesday! It was quite cool this morning when I left to take Alexis to school---and the sun does not seem to come out until much later. The pool has not been played in for quite awhile now----I think it is time to put it in the garage. I am so ready for a little rain--I just love the sound and the smell of rain. This is my Fall wreath---I used one of those wreath's you get at Michael's and wrapped the leaves around it--I do this every year--I am not very crafty, but I do try--what I lack in talent--I make up for at least in effort...LOL---okay, did that make sense. Some of you make such beautiful homemade cards----this year I am sending out these cards--with a little ghost on them and some cute little stickers

Last night, I made a spaghetti meat sauce, but I served it on Macaroni--and then I made this awesome salad----it had everything in it, celery, cucumber, green peppers, green onion, carrots---etc--but the best part was Avocados----they are on sale right now for 1.00 each----they are usually 2.00 each--The dressing I used was a white balsamic vinaigrette--it came in this salad mix I had gotten--my husband said it was pretty good.

Tonight's dinner will be------> CHICKEN!!! Mashed potatoes, Peas and of course a salad:)

P.S. Spell check is not working today for me in blogland--so please forgive the mistakes--I triple checked it, but my spelling is just awful!

Monday, September 22, 2008

Candy Corn!

The beginning of Fall means Candy Corn---YAY!!! I don't particularly care for it a whole bunch (shhhh), but you have to have some during fall--I bite the white off, then the orange, then the yellow--there is no other way to eat them....:o)

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

(photo courtesy of Allrecipes)
This is not my photo, I just thought it looked so nice:)


INGREDIENTS
3/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips


DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease and flour muffin pan or use paper liners.
Mix sugar, oil, eggs. Add pumpkin and water. In separate bowl mix together the baking flour, baking soda, baking powder, spices and salt.. Add wet mixture and stir in chocolate chips.
Fill muffin cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes.


I will be going to the market and picking up the ingredients on this list that I need to make these muffins----I just love anything that has pumpkin in it!! I will then share my picture of them

Happy Fall Y'all!

Friday, September 19, 2008

Fall Recipe!

Happy Saturday---This morning I grabbed a cup of coffee and started chopping up an apple for my recipe: Here is the apple---I actually ended up chopping it up even more fine--->
I had Little House on the TV yesterday--(Yes I am obsessed) and Ma was making Apple Fritters--so of course, I had to google Apple Fritters---and the first 2 recipes looked the best and easiest---The first recipe was from one of my absolute favorite blogs--*There Is No Place Like Home* Here is Kelli's Recipe:

Apple Fritters

2 cups self rising flour
3 tablespoons sugar
2 eggs well beaten
1 cup milk
2 cups tart apples, chopped

Sift together dry ingredients. Gradually add beaten eggs and milk combined. Refrigerate batter for about 2 hours. Stir in the apples. Drop by tablespoon into hot oil and fry until golden brown. Roll in powdered sugar or a sugar/cinnamon combination.
Serve apple fritter recipe with syrup or sprinkle with powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar
.

...and here is the second recipe:

Apple Fritters 2

Ingredients:
1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 cup milk
1 egg
1 cup finely chopped apple
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted

Preparation:
Sift together the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Add milk and egg; beat until batter is smooth. Fold in chopped apple. Drop by teaspoonfuls into deep hot oil -- about 370° and at least 2 1/2 to 3 inches deep -- and fry for about 2 to 3 minutes, until nicely browned.
Drain well on paper towels then roll in confectioners' sugar while still warm. Serve as is or warm, with syrup, if desired.



I ended up using the second recipe, but I used the cinnamon sugar part from Kelli's--I will try her whole recipe next--I actually filled a ziploc with cinnamon and sugar and shook each fritter in there until it was well coated.

Here is my sifter---> It is older then my first born:)


Here are the fritters frying away--they fried up rather quickly--you had to keep your eye on them.
Here they are all sugared up--aren't they just pretty...

Happy Saturday!!

The Duggars!

I had heard that the Duggars are getting their own Reality Show---and of course I had to Google it---I am just tickled--They are--YAY!! I just adore the Duggars--and I so want to be like Michelle when I grow up. I am not posting a link to the article because the comments under neath were terrible--UGH! I am thrilled though:) If you want to read about it, just Google *Duggars Reality Show*
YaY!!!

Thursday, September 18, 2008

*Feminine Friday*

(Click on Logo)

:::Waiving::::
Happy Feminine Friday!!
Please, hop on over to Kelly's Blog-- *The Barefoot Mama* she is hosting this.
Thank you Kelly.

Today I am going to show you a gift my sister gave me--
Bare Minerals Makeup--- isn't it the most prettiest makeup you have ever seen?

It looks absolutely beautiful and feminine on my vanity--I have not yet had the time to watch the video on how to put it on, but I will--:o)
Inside the pretty packaging-->
I just love being a girl...
Thank you so much for looking
Happy Friday, Everyone!

My Little Birds!

I am so happy my little bird's beak is all fixed---and their wings are clipped again, so hopefully I can work with them again---The blue bird is kind of mean--and the yellow bird is so sweet. The blue bird's name is *Blueberry* and the yellow's name is *Sunshine* . They were a gift from my husband--My green bird passed away last year--and she was sooooo sweet--her name was *Baby*. Anyway----are they hard work? YES!!! ...LOL. I have to clean up after them constantly--the feathers and the seeds go everywhere, so I am constantly vacuuming, sweeping, etc---they love to be around people so I am constantly moving them around the house where the action is---they love to go outside and be sprayed with a spray bottle when it is real warm----They are constantly chatting--so sometimes, I have to cover them so Little Kevin can nap in quiet. Thank you for looking at my birds--when I take them out of the cage, I will take a better picture of them. Ohhh--I almost forgot----I was aksed if they are expensive--the birds themselves are about 12 dollars at the pet store--and the cages are kind of expensive--this cage if I remember was 75.00--and they eat a lot...LOL:)

Kids Update!

Alexis is pretty much all better except for that nagging cough---she coughed a lot during the night--so I am keeping her home, so she does not over exert herself at school and get sicker. My little boy now has a runny nose and did not sleep well last night--hopefully it won't get any worse.
Alexis
These were all taken this morning--very impromptu:)





Thursday!

I had to run to the Grocery store this morning to get some cough drops and some cough medicine for Alexis--she is feeling so much better, but now she has a cough. I saw these little towels for a dollar each at the store--what pretty Fall Colors! I put this bow up on my gate
My little pumpkins
Cauldrons
I got three max packs of chicken thighs-->
I divided them up in about 6 packs--I wrapped them in freezer paper, then plastic, then freezer bags and labeled them--my freezer looks so happy!
My birds--I have two parakeets and my little girl parakeet is refusing to use her cuddle bone--so Kevin is coming home early so I can take the birds to get their wings trimmed and her beak trimmed--her poor beak is out of control, I feel terrible for my little bird.

Also, thank you all again for your support about the dentist and peanut allergy--everytime I read my comments the new comments are just so awesome to read--Thank you--have a wonderful Thursday--and I will be off to take the little birds to the clinic and then I am going to scrub their cage!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Catch Up!

First I want to say THANK YOU to Ann, Maria, Mrs. Ruiz, Deezie, Kitty, Heather K, Elizabeth, Angie Pangie, Erica, Jackie, Irene, Lori, Anonymous, Kelli, and Jenn---I named you off because, every single one of your comments were just wonderful--thank you for sharing your stories with me---they helped tremendously!!!! I will keep you posted on what happens ((Gentle Hugs)))

Yesterday after school--Alexis was complaining of a sore throat---well, she just seemed to get worse through the night---she is not feeling well at all--so she is now laying on the couch with a pillow and a blanket watching Charlie and the Chocolate factory. Little Kevin woke up this morning bright and early at 4:30---YAY....LOL--anyway he is asleep again, so I am going to hop in the shower and play catch up today--lots of laundry to put away and cleaning to do---since I don't have to leave the house--I can get a lot done. Today was Alexis's first day of her new ballet class---that is okay, she will start next Wednesday:)

Have a great Day, and thank you so much for all the support!!!

Oh, I almost forgot--Dinner---Lats night we had Nachos. Tonight it will either be Chicken or pork---I will let you know:)

Monday, September 15, 2008

Dentist~~~~>

Please, tell me I am not the only one who is going through this. It is quite upsetting, when I am repeatedly told that the reason my children's baby teeth are so bad is because I am breastfeeding them--and yes, I nurse in the middle of the night, and no, I do not brush their teeth at 2:30 in the morning----I just got back from the dentist with Little Kevin and his teeth are in very bad shape--the dentist made me feel horrible----I explained to her, that yes, I do brush my baby's teeth--in the morning and before bed----and she said, that if I don't stop nursing this is never going to stop---I am just devastated.

He has to reach 18 months and 25 pounds for her to fix the cavities---which means he has to be put under---Do I let her fix them or do I let my baby's teeth rot out of his mouth---of course they will be fixed, but I am just sick about him having to be put under----I explained to her, that he has a very good diet and he does not eat a lot of sugar--I give him juice, but it is watered down---- he eats fruits and veggies and so many other healthy foods along with some fun foods--but everything is in moderation--she said, bad teeth are a result of diet and brushing--well, all my kids have a great diet and I do brush his teeth--then my pediatrician told me, not to beat my self up with this--that in my case it is truly, most likely hereditary---
On another note---my husband gave Kevin a lick of his ice cream cone--it had peanuts on them---you know those nutty buddy cones--well, my son broke out in this horrible rash all over his body--now, Little Kevin is going to have tests to see how serious this peanut allergy is--oh, how upsetting-----Thank goodness, it was just a rash and his tongue did not swell and throat close up--I was just terrified--I have never known anyone with a peanut allergy!

Does any one have any stories to share about bad baby teeth or peanut allergies, please let me know I am not alone!!--and am I the only one, that takes my one year old to the dentist--I thought for sure I was on top of it--everyone thinks I am silly for taking a baby to a dentist--but look what happens--his teeth are decayed--UGH! My neighbor has confessed that she rarely remembers to brush her kids teeth but that her daughter has never had a bad dentist appointment either, perfect teeth--I don't get it, I am so fanatical about oral hygiene and look where it got me----

Friday, September 12, 2008

Some Decorations!

Happy Friday!! I hope everyone is well and having a wonderful day. I want to share with you some of my decorations that I put out for October and Fall---spooky, huh? I have collected these over the years, some are very old and some are very new---these are just a few--as I bring them out and remember, I will take pictures and share my decorations, so check back often to see how I decorate---I just totally love the feeling of this season--I just can not wait to jump out of bed and get my days started.

Walmart find--look at the little rats--ewwww

.99 cent store find
My Friend Michele gave this to me
Alexis and I made this cute little craft a long time ago--I think we were in Georgia--I got it at Michael's
My little tree with ghosts.
Candelabra...and last but not least--this is not a decoration, but it is a new cream flavor I bought, and I have to say it is very yummy---it reminds me of the holidays when I drink it---I am waiting for the pumpkin spice and the eggnog creamer to come back:)

Also, last night, I made Pork strips, but I used the recipe that Kelli posted over
HERE for the Country Ribs---the Pork Strips tasted wonderful in that homemade sauce--you have got to try it---I will be trying her yeast biscuits soon.

Tonight, I have not yet decided what to make for dinner--I have some cleaning to do before this weekend, because I have some thing to do tomorrow. My sister owns a vacation rental in Dana Point--and the people are leaving tomorrow morning--and she has a 200.00 cleaning fee that she gets, so I am going to go over there and clean the rental for 200.00--pretty neat, huh?

Happy Friday!

Thursday, September 11, 2008

List!

The list just keeps getting longer and longer---and longer...LOL.

My laundry basket keeps getting fuller and fuller----and fuller.

My baby just went down for a nap, and I have tons of laundry to do, and so many other things--I first wanted to make a post---before he woke up---he is quite busy these days--there is nothing that keeps him from what he wants to get too--he can take off any baby gate, plug--etc--I have to have a watchful eye on him at all times--he is a very good boy, but a very inquisitive one.

On the menu tonight: Pork strips---and some kind of startch---burnt Brussell Sprouts and a Salad.

Those Poppers I made yesterday were the best--I will make them again--they took some time, but they were well worth it.

It is a cold day today--the sun has not come out yet--I am wearing red in honor of 9/11--and Alexis said the Pledge of Allegiance with her Girl Scout Troop this morning at school--very nice.

I have a long list of housework I need to get done--as I am sure you do too--I could sit here all day and just read though...LOL. It is funny---I can be busy ALL day doing so many things and as soon as I sit down here for a second, my hubby walks in the door----Have a good day!

September 11th!


Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Poppers--Part 2

Jalapeno Peppers Before you start, make sure you have gloves to wear---and whatever you do, don't touch your eyes. I got this pack of gloves for about 2.00 at Walmart---> There are 12 in a pack
I cut the stems off and cut them partially in half and cleaned out the seeds and insides, I also rinsed them in water , it made getting all the seeds out a lot easier----->
I mixed the cream cheese and cheddar cheese together

then I crumbled the bacon in to the cheese mixture
stuffed the peppers--dunked them in milk and then dredged in flour--put on a plate and then put in the fridge for awhile so the flour would stick--I did this step twice
I made bread crumbs too--and then I put the floured peppers in milk and then in the bread crumbs--Look how pretty---> They stayed in the fridge until hubby came home--then I got the fryer ready and fried them about 5 at a time in my fryer for three minutes...
inside the popper--->
All done cooking!!
The recipe I used for these are in the post below:) .....and they turned out even better then I thought they would--I dipped mine in Ranch dressing.