Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Be Happy!!!!

Coffee!

I am sure we can all agree that we all love Starbuck's...my favorite coffee is the Peppermint Mocha....I have tried others but I always go back :)

With that said, McDonald's regular black coffee is the BEST coffee ever....soooo when I was in Kroger and saw these K-cups I was super happy...they sell the K-cups and the regular ground coffee...so now I can have McDonald's coffee with Peppermint Mocha creamer...life is good :)

The K-cups were 5.99 for the box ;)

Tuesday!!

Good Morning!!!

Happy Tuesday:)

I "think" I have mentioned this a dozen times before, but this is my absolute favorite coffee creamer, it is my guilty pleasure....lol...along with mayonnaise....not Miracle Whip, Mayonnaise :)

......and this is my juice.....I love my juicer.  I am telling you, if you want to stay healthy and lean, JUICE...best thing I ever did :)  My kids love to juice, also!

I hope you are all enjoying the Christmas break, we are.  It goes by so quick!

On the menu for tonight is Chicken :)

I made sure I had every stitch of laundry done before Christmas, and as you know...it always comes back...LOL...so I have some laundry to do along with some bedding.  It is chilly this morning about 45 degrees, but it is warm in the home.

I bought a new calendar to keep organized, it is big...I also need a new planner, mine runs out at the end of this month...nothing extravagant, just a simple day planner is all I need :)

Happy Day!

Monday...December 29th, 2014 :)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!  Our Christmas was lovely :)
My son asked for a Fedora for Christmas...so a fedora is was he got...LOL.  They sell child's Fedora's at Sears, who knew?

It was so nice having everyone here and I am so happy Tony is back..You know what they say, "Home is where the heart is".  Tony told me that home is where I am.

 Here is a picture of Jesus's birthday cake :)

 Here is our tree in the great room.  I also have a tree in the dining room and on the upper level...I just love the lights.  As you can see Santa came, he was very good to us!

I have some very exciting news coming...it is something my husband and I, especially me have wanted for years...but with his work it was not able to happen.  I will get more into that in another post....and no, I am not pregnant ;)

The kids are home for another week..woohoo!
The weather is wonderful, and I just adore the seasons.  This is the place I want to stay forever!

I am putting away a bunch of things...I will leave the tree and wreaths up a little while longer but everything else is being put away.  I am putting the mounds of tissue paper neatly in another box and putting all the gift boxes in a box, too...for next year.  I can never have enough boxes and tissue paper!

For dinner, I am thinking pork...something different from all the holiday food....with cheesy potatoes...YUM!
...and juicing, yes I am still juicing...it is a very good thing to do...trust me, it keeps you thin and healthy!

Happy Dough!!!

The dough has risen :)

The Day Before :)

Good Morning!
Yesterday, Little Kevin and I went to the store early to get the rest of what we needed for Thanksgiving :)  It was great, Publix was not busy at all.  Have you ever seen a Publix commercial?  They have the best holiday commercials and their stores are so neat and clean, LOVE IT!  I have been shopping there about 3 years now?  I just adore everyone that works there, the nicest people...don't get me wrong, I love my Walmart, too :)

Okay, so today, I am going to start cooking...rolls, lima beans with a bacon crumble, stuffing...etc...it is going to be great.

The weather is mild, I was hoping for snow...I know, I know...I must be the only one...I am such a winter girl!

I will have all my children under one roof this Thanksgiving...for that I am VERY thankfull!!!
My computer is in the kitchen, so I will try and post a little more about what is going on and will take pictures of the food on ThanksGiving to share ....have a wonderful day XO XO

ThanksGiving Week :)

I hope everyone is having a wonderful time preparing for Thanksgiving.  I am having a great day getting the house in order for everyone to enjoy ThanksGiving Dinner:) The kids have off this whole week which makes me very happy! I am also cooking which takes the stress off of Little Kevin's allergy. I am making all the usual Thanksgiving day food. XO
I am making fudge right this minute!

Things Kevin Says :)

Little Kevin had to go to the Dentist yesterday, and the nurse told me that while they were working on his teeth, he said to the Dentist:
"You know, this is taking a lot longer then I expected." 

THEN, after it was all done...He said to me: "Mama, that laughing Gas did not work...I did NOT laugh once".......

Wednesday :)

I have a lot on my mind, mostly peanut related.  I am an allergy mom, I did not choose this, my son definitely did not choose this.  Sometimes, I just have to step away from the computer after reading the comments about the Teal Pumpkin Project.  Listen, it is completely optional.  It is by no means trying to change Halloween, what so ever.  It is just a little added bonus, to let children know, that the house that has a teal pumpkin, that there is something for them, too.  That they are thought of.  A little toy, a sticker, a glow stick, a pencil, something safe for the allergy child.  Trust me, I have been doing this a long time.  I am teaching my child how to navigate in this nut filled world.  I would never ask anyone to alter their life to accommodate my child.  This is a very exhausting and challenging allergy, and one I do not wish upon anyone, ever.  All I do ask is for a little compassion and understanding for this life threatening allergy.  It is on the rise, 1 in 13 children are being diagnosed with a food allergy, a life threatening food allergy.  So, there will be a day someone you know may have it.  I have been told I am lazy, that I want to put the responsibility on other parents for my son to have a happy Halloween.  I have been told to keep my son home.  I have been told to keep my son out of school. I have been told a lot of things.  I am NOT lazy, I have been doing Halloween a LONG time, I go through all my kids' bags to make sure they are safe.  The teal pumpkin is optional, it is to show that ALL children are thought of.  Do it, don't do it.  I will make sure my son has a Happy Halloween.  It is just to show a little support and awareness for this life threatening allergy.  I am not lazy, it takes me hours to go grocery shopping..I read every label, every time.  If Kevin comes with me, I have to wipe the entire cart down in case it had come in contact with nuts...I do my shopping most of the time while he is in school, so it doesn't happen as much as it used to.  When there is a spontaneous birthday, I race down to the school to make sure he has something fun to eat in case his treat box had run out.  When the teacher does grafting with M&M's I make sure she has a supply of skittles to graph, so he can do the assignment too :)  Every product at one time or another must be researched and I call the the 800 numbers you see on the products, because they don't always post the "may contain" label.  I make most things from scratch and stay away from processed as much as I can.  I nursed all my babies, formula had never touched there lips.  I juice, I eat healthy, I serve healthy snacks.  I spend hours upon hours, baking and washing and cutting and cooking so my entire family will have lots of safe food to eat.  My home is Peanut and Treenut free and that is a hard feat to accomplish, because nuts are in everything, not only food items but non food items.
My little boy must wear a medical bracelet and can never go anywhere with out his Epi Pen.  He has to be aware of his surroundings at all times.  He knows how to educate you on his allergy, when some kind person tries to give him a cookie or something, he has learned to politely say, "No, thank you, I have a nut allergy and it might not be safe".  He can read labels.  He can read better than most, he has surpassed his level and has been given his own list of spelling words, because he has surpassed all the words his class is learning.  My son is smart, my son is kind, my son is loving and caring and compassionate.  He thinks of others even when they don't think of him.  He doesn't ask me anymore why he has this allergy, he, at his young age has accepted it..he knows his limits.  I pray for a cure, and at night I sometimes cry.  I worry, I worry a lot.  My son is a bright, beautiful, smart child.  He wants to run and play and celebrate holidays just like all children do.  He wants to go to school and make friends, and he loves PE....He is my joy, and it just breaks my heart when people say he needs to be in a limited environment away from society...and I am the one being lazy.  Moms' are complaining because they are asked by the school not to send in peanut butter sandwiches, and they are complaining that they now have to think of something else for their child to eat, and I am the lazy one??  We navigate a peanut free life every minute of every day and the school asking you to wait until your child gets home to have their peanut butter, is ruining your child's life?  You are mad at the allergy child because he is ruining things for you? People are complaining that these allergy kids are messing things up at school....well, I am going to ask it again, and really think about this question.....really think about it:  When did a peanut butter sandwich become more important than a child's life?

Monday!

Nothing too exciting has been go on, and actually that is the way I like it! It is starting to get really cold in the mornings, it is hard to get out of a nice warm bed :)  I love my thermals, oh, yes, I do...LOL.  I have always been on the cold side, I must have really thin blood, because I have been this way since I was a little girl.

Saturday was my Mother's Birthday, she would have been 70.  Give your Moms' a kiss and a hug!  I wish I had known mine better.

Tonight's dinner was baked chicken, I had called on the spices I used on them to make sure they were made in a nut free facility.  A lot of calls are made on food as well as non-food products, you can never be to safe :)

School is going well, Alexis is in advanced and made straight A's~~~yay!  Kevin has surpassed all his spelling words and his teacher has sent a list of harder words, he can pronounce all the words, he now has to know the meaning of them.  He is a better reader than I am..it amazes how well he reads just being in the first grade, he is one smart cookie!

Can I just say, I am super excited for Christmas....LOL...I really am :)

Happy Monday!

#TealPumpkinProject :)

Tuesday 10-14-14

Look what just went through~~~WoW!!!
....and how was your morning?  :)
It is dark still, but the worst seems to be over!

Ta~Da!!!

  Just got back from the store and picked up these creamers :)
I'm a happy girl!!

Thursday! October, already :)

I went to the library today to return some books, and they have shelves upon shelves of books for sale.  I bought these two cook books for $2.00 :)  Yay. I love anything Christmas!  I know fall just started but for some reason, I am just super excited for all the Holidays coming up.

I took Alexis to the Ortho the other day for her tightening, and I think everyone in the waiting room was sick...used lots of Hand Sanitizer and tried not to breath...LOL ;)

I am not so worried about me getting sick as I am getting my little one sick, or everyone else in the household for that matter.

Can I just say, I just adore our neighbors...they are the nicest people I have ever met.

Alexis is doing very well in school, and Kevin is just so smart...I can not get over his reading skills.

My house is all decorated for Fall, except for my pumpkin.  I bought it at Krogers and it has already started to rot :(  I need to get a new one.

I have laundry going at the moment.

It is a nice day :)  I love the cold mornings, I love the Fall, I love scarves, and warm clothes, I love warm beds and comfort dinners. 

I love hot coffee, especially peppermint mocha.  I love the Holidays, and Christmas music.  I absolutely LOVE the rain!

I love my husband, my children and my pets.

I am thankful to God for everyday, and for giving me the coping skills when I feel defeated, for understanding my tears and my frustrations. I am God's girl :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alexis got to go to the One Direction concert, she went with her sister..oh, what memories they will now have :)  It took her awhile to cut the concert bracelet off...LOL...Ah, to be 13.  My first concert was when I was 7, I saw the Bee Gee's...remember them?

Have a wonderful Thursday!

Food Picture Post!

Happy Saturday!
I have laundry going and I just finished up cleaning the kitchen:)
Here are some pictures of food I have made along the way.

These are wraps I made for my daughter's lunch.  I put cherry tomatoes in there, too.
She gets a drink, I put in something crunchy like Pirate Booty or Goldfish.  I also put in some fruit, I have been putting in watermelon...but I also do strawberries, grapes...etc..I can't put carrots in there anymore, because of her braces.  I also put in a treat like a Hershey's Kiss:)  The plain Hershey Kisses are safe.

 Here are Beef Enchiladas

Shepard's Pie

A different style of Shepard's pie...LOL

Fruit Smoothie

Juice from the juicer

Meatloaf Dinner

Chicken strips and pork

Breakfast Bowl's for my husband

Baked Chicken

Spaghetti Day!

Today is Tuesday, and it is the first official day of Fall :)
I am making pasta in a crockpot today .
I will also make a salad to go with it.  I may have to stop real quick at the store for lettuce.  With the Guinea Girl, Juicing, sandwiches and salads we go through A LOT of lettuce!

My husband and I had a date night in July (My Birthday) and he took me to LongHorn's Steakhouse.  I ordered the BEST salad..it was a grilled watermelon served atop a kale and cheese salad, with a really good balsamic vinaigrette..

I have some pictures of the Fall decorations I have been slowly putting up.....Fred of course is out.  He is always the first to come out, he has seniority, ya know...LOL.  I will make a picture post next...stay tuned!  XO

Rainbow :)

This beautiful rainbow made it's appearance outside my front door on September 11th :)  My son came running to me, saying, "Mama, LOOK, LOOK!!!!"  It was quite breathtaking, and I will forever think of God's enduring promise to us, whenever I see these beautiful rainbows :)

10:29 p.m. <~~~~Love..LOL

At 10:29 p.m. it is officially when Fall begins, YaY!!!

I love Fall....I love the leaves changing, the sun setting earlier, the cooler air, pumpkins, comfort food...everything!

We just had a Fall Break, no school or work for all of last week..it was wonderful!

I really enjoy writing in my blog, and I snap pictures all day to put here...but time has a way of evading me.  I do find it easier to write on the kitchen computer, considering I am in the kitchen most of the time.

So tomorrow, I promise, I new post is going up, with pictures :)

Have a wonderful day and remember at 10:29, Fall begins!!  XO XO

Monday's Thought!

What has happened to some people, and mothers especially.  Where is the compassion.  When did a peanut butter sandwich become more important than a child's life??? 
Please help me understand this?

I don't get it, I really don't get it :(

Chicken and Mushroom Casserole!

Good Morning!!!
This is a Chicken and Mushroom Casserole I made for dinner this week :)  Very simple.
I layered the bottom of the casserole dish with cuped potatoes and sliced onion. Mixed in cream of mushroom soup...use whatever you like canned or homemade soup mix. Place chicken breasts over that mixture.  I cut them in half.  Put a whole carton of mushrooms over that, covered with foil and baked it until done....I took it out of the oven and covered it with Cheddar cheese...cheddar is my husband's favorite, but you can use any kind of cheese..I think swiss would be really good! After you put the cheese on you can put it back in the oven for a few minutes..I just put it on the counter and covered it back up with foil..and the cheese melted..as I served the salad :)

 

Today is Thursday, and it is very cloudy outside, it is supposed to rain. Here is a picture of what it looks like right now ~~~~>

 I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Georgia weather..I can't even express how much more happier I am here rather than California!

Here is the start of my Fall decor..trust me, this is just the beginning...LOL.  

This is a little sign I have right by my front door.  I really want to have one made, like out of wood.  This sign does help a lot..it is a gentle reminder to visiters.

 You can also catch me on Facebook...Friend me, just let me know, you are a reader..I would love to get to know you, too :)  I am also on Instagram posting pictures daily!  The links are right to the side of this post, in the sidebar at the top~~~~~~~>

Have a great Day....Dinner will be Italian tonight..Pasta:)



Hello, September, Hello Fred and Friends!!

It's that time of year again, Fred and the gang have all come out of hibernation:)  I just love Fall, my absolute favorite time of year!

My Little Dog :)

Axel, my little dog turned 10 on August 10th.  Boy, my little dog and I sure had our moments when he was a pup...LOL...I love my little dog, and don't know what I would do with out him under foot all the time :)  Happy Birthday, Axel XO XO

Thursday!

Well, I went into my office all ready to do a Blog post, and for some reason my computer is acting funny.  I got the dreaded Blue Screen yesterday and Kevin restored my computer.  Then today it was acting all jumbled.  I just reinstalled my virus protection and ran that, so hopefully that helps..I don't know..I am not that computer savvy!

So now, I am in the kitchen using that computer...the only thing about this computer is I don't have anything on it...I just use it to watch my beloved You Tube Vlogs and also my DVD's like Little House on the Prairie while I am in the kitchen doing my many different kitchen preps!

My kids have been in school since August 4th, it isn't easy, letting go, especially my little boy who is anaphylactic to nuts....it is pretty scary!  We are learning daily how to navigate this nut filled world, and let me tell you, it is TOUGH!!!  Nuts are in EVERYTHING, not only food items but non food items as well, such as lotions, makeup, shampoo, fabric sheets, firewood, lawn treatments...so many things, the list goes on.

My oldest son, Tony is back home and he is now working with Kevin again.  It is nice having him back.  I don't care if my kids are 2 or 22 they are still my baby :)<~~~I am sure all you Mamas can relate!

Last night's dinner I made baked chicken, steamed rice, string beans and everyone had salad :)  Avocados are a must!

Tonight I took out ground beef so dinner will be something beefy...LOL.

I really like our new home, I absolutely LOVE the neighborhood.  It is right next to our old neighborhood, but it is a lot more cozier...it is also gated, which is nice!  I live right next to a cow pasture too...can you believe it???...LOL..I get to drive by my beloved cows everyday...I love seeing the babies with their mamas.  I don't eat any meat, and just couldn't dream of eating one those sweet animals.  The rest of my family eats meat, and I don't say a word, it is their choice.  I just voice it on my blog, well..because I can...LOL.

It is supposed to be 91 degrees today, but the heat doesn't seem to bother me, the older I get, the colder I always am...I tend to wear long sleeves everyday, even over my sundresses....I just can never warm up.  I have been to the doctor and I am in perfect health...just always cold.

Alexis got her bottom braces put on this week, and then they tightened her upper braces, lets just say, her poor mouth hurts.  I took her soup to school one day because the poor thing couldn't chew.  I live right next to the school which is right next to the cow pasture...LOL.
Have a great Thursday, and this weekend is a 3 day weekend...WooHoooo!!!

Daily Planner

This is what my daily planner looks like that I use.  I love it!  It is so fun.  I use the time I am in the car line to update it.

Also, I made this calendar and hung it on my office door, so Kevin can help me count down days :)  It is almost Fall, you all...LOL  :)

Fall Is Coming :)

Two of my Favorite things put together, Sunflowers and Scarecrows :)

This cutie was Walmart for .98 cents :)

It is almost time for Fred to make his appearance!

Georgia Sky!

Beautiful!

The sky here in Georgia is always different.  Such beautiful art work in the sky :)  Never a dull day...or night...LOL.

It is supposed to rain in about an hour, and I never tire of the rain...makes me so happy :)

Tuesday!! ~~~Supplies :)

Good Morning!
Hope you all slept well.
Hope this day is wonderful to all who stop by my little blog.
I started this Blog so long ago, I think in about 2 years this month it will be a whole decade???
Anyway, I have been picking up school supplies here and there.  Kevin needs a 3 ring binder for school, so I got him a blue one.  I would like to figure out how to put a picture of Sonic the Hedgehog on it...yes, he is still crazy about Sonic.  I also need to get him a haircut before school..I let him go haircut free for summer...but now it is time.  School starts August 4th.  I am so excited for Fall to start.
My daughter is really getting into beauty things...she likes to get her hair done, she likes her eyebrows perfectly done..etc..she isn't into makeup too much, but she does like a lot of other things...Clothes, loves clothes.  I was really happy when we went clothes shopping, she wanted more dresses than anything else :)
We have had a nice summer.....
Also, I turn 44 Thursday, July 24th...44???
44!!!
One more thing, my Tony is moving back home!!
He said Home is where the family is, not where he thought he would be happy.  He wants to be back around his Mama :)
My heart is full!
Oh, did I mention, Alexis got braces~~~Fun Times...LOL.
BE HAPPY!

School!

School will be starting up very soon.  I get that worrisome feeling in my stomach thinking about my son and his peanut allergy.  Oh, how I hope they find a cure soon.  I got his new set of Epi~Pens, which helps me breath just a little bit easier.  Those Epi~pens go with us everywhere, where ever he is, his Epi~pen is right there.  This is our "normal" .  This is his "normal". Every label is always read, every time.  Everything is researched.  Our home is his safe place.....he can relax and not worry about nuts....
I read labels once, twice sometimes three times or more.  Just talking with someone about this can bring tears to my eyes because it can be quite scary.  This is our "normal".  This is his "normal".  I don't let him see me cry, I don't let him see the worrisome l feel every time a new food is tried.  I get scared, I pray, I pray a lot!  I love my son so much!  I love all my children so very much.  I am thankful to God he gave me such awesome kids! We are learning together my son and I, because this is our "normal".

Pool Time!

Spent the good part of the day at the pool!!!  I got a little more sun then I wanted too...OOPS!  It was fun though, and Little K will sleep good tonight!

13

My sweet girl has turned 13!!

Can you believe it?  Time is just flying by so fast.
I was able to take her shopping to the mall for new clothes and  I was so happy, that she wanted more dresses than anything else...LOL.  She went through a jeans only phase...so now she wanted some "Girly" clothes.

Picture

Kevin painted this in school.  I just love it.  It is just so happy :)  I framed it and put it in the Great room for everyone to see.  I did have it hanging in my "office"...but I was the only one who could see it...so I moved it to a more appropriate spot.

A Gift!

I can not remember if I shared this on my blog or not.  For Mother's Day, my husband got me the Little House complete season set!!  SUPER AWESOME GIFT...LOL.  Oh, how I love the Little House :)

I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, so I watch the Little House in the kitchen.  I have a computer in there so I am able to watch my Little House, and I really love to watch Vlogs from other SAHM's on YouTube too.

Sky :)

The picture above is when the storm rolled in...it was quite a fantastic sight!

It poured for awhile and then stopped...and after it stopped raining the sky became this glorious color and a rainbow appeared during the night sky. 
God can sure do some amazing things :)

 

 

Squirrels!

Sweet :)

More Pool Time!

Kevin did it!!!

He went down the slide, woohoo!

The weather :)

 Pretty exciting weather is going on here in Georgia :)  LOVE the rain!

We are able to sneak pool time in between rainstorms.

Pool Time :)

  We took pictures in the little pool, not to intrude on the other people in the big pool....LOL