Vegetarian Diet - Almost 3 Weeks Into it

I have been on my vegetarian lifestyle for almost 3 weeks as of Sunday. I am missing meat less and less. I tried gardein crispy tenders that I thought were delicious. I have been trying to watch what I eat as well. I am trying to stick to a 1200 calorie diet and it seems to be working. I was sick as well during some of this time which helped the weight loss situation. I am down about 9 lbs, since the beginning of my vegetarian lifestyle change. I figure I have saved a few more animals lives and that makes me feel pretty good about my decision. I am still not totally 100% on the vegetarian boat yet (which means if there is a special event that is serving meat, then I might eat it), but I am choosing to stick to it for now and for the long term with possible slip ups. So I will not say I am a vegetarian, because I am not, but I am not eating meat, not even fish at the time. I know my hubby likes this since he is one, but I am not doing this for him. I am doing this for me and all those cute fuzzy little animals. Some people told me I would not lose weight going vegetarian, but so far I have, so I am happy! I would have posted about this last week, but my whole family was sick. Til' next week!

Dear Santa, All I Want For Christmas is : The Follow-up List

Dear Santa,
I just wanted to let you know that I had to revise my list, since I ended up getting a couple of the items on my list or I just changed my mine. Here is my new and improved list. I have been a very good girl!
1. Karaoke for Xbox or Wii with microphone

2. Pretty warm fleece pajamas

3. GPS for my car

4. Silpat for baking

5. Snow suit (or you can add to the TJ Maxx card and I can get it myself)
6. Skis

7. Wii Just Dance

8. LL Bean Wildcat Boots
9. Gift Certificates (QVC or eBay for my Bare Escentuals Makeup, iTunes, TJ Maxx (for workout clothes)

10. Zumba Wii Game
11. Flip Camcorder

12. Accessories for my Canon Rebel XS DSLR (such as a better flash)

And don't worry Santa, I will add to the list in the next couple of weeks!

First Week of a Vegetarian Diet or Lifestyle Accomplished

Well, I did it. I made it through one week on a vegetarian diet. It wasn't too hard. Did I crave meat at all? I did, I won't lie. I was walking into my house and someone must have been grilling hamburgers or steak and I wanted it so badly. I decided to go inside and get over it. I have had lots of energy and feel better. I lost 0.8 pounds which isn't much but it's better than nothing. That includes alcohol and sweet treats, so not too shabby! I am guessing I saved at least 1 or 2 animals lives this week by not eating meat, if not more. I was told that I would gain weight because of the carbs. I ate carbs, but I ate whole grain carbs that are good for me and that provide me good energy. Also my digestion issues were better as well. I also want to say, this is not a vegan diet. I can still eat dairy and eggs, but I will be doing that as little as possible. I bought almond milk and am incorporating that into certain things such as my cereal in the morning and my hot cocoa. I also had fake chicken patties and chicken nuggets made by Quorn. They taste better than the real thing and I can do alot of fun stuff with it when I am cooking. If you are interested in what to do with Quorn's line of food, then stay tuned on http://www.cookingdivas.blogspot.com/. I will start to post more vegetarian recipes on there as I try them. I was able to buy the Quorn packages for $3.99 a pop at Super Stop & Shop on sale. I will definitely need to buy alot more and stock up at that price. I am feeling good about my decision, but am still fighting my meat eating urges. Stay tuned for more on my diet as I progress.

Going Crazy the Night Before Thanksgiving

I am totally running around like a maniac tonight. I have so much to do and so little time. I have been cooking all day, cleaning, taking care of children, shopping, you name it, I've done it. It's past 10 pm and I don't know when I'll get to bed. And even when I do get some sleep, I will have to be up in so little time to start preparing the rest of the food, table and decorations. Maybe I will be lucky this year and be able to get a shower in and get dressed up. We will have to see about that one. The other nerve wracking thing is that I have to do everything, then serve the dinner, clean everything up and then get out at midnight to start my Black Friday shopping. I will have to get in line a little before 4 am for Target's Black Friday shopping. I don't know how I will do this and hope that I won't fall asleep in my shopping cart or in an aisle somewhere. I am glad I have a friend that will be with me to slap me in the face if I start to pass out...Should be a very crazy 2 days for me. There is always time for sleep on Friday afternoon if my family will allow it! Happy Thanksgiving to you all! Safe travels!

My Thanksgiving Dinner is Planned

Turkey (brined and then roasted)
Veggie Chx Cutlets seasoned and roasted
My Best Ever Vegetarian Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Gravy with sauteed mushrooms
Candied Sweet Potatoes
Orange Cranberry Sauce
Green Bean Casserole (made from scratch except will cheat with the onions)
Buttered Herbed Corn
Rolls
2 Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecakes
Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie

Finally Got My Kitchenaid Food Chopper

I am so excited about my new kitchen gadget. I finally purchased my Kitchenaid Food Chopper. I have wanted this for a long time, but when the time came for presents, there were other Kitchenaid items that I wanted that were more expensive and bigger. This item was more needed in many ways though and I wish I had purchased this first. I can keep this on my countertop because it doesn't take up too much space and it takes a minute to clean it up. I can now quickly chop up my onions without crying my eyes out. I can make a salsa in a minute, chop nuts, mince garlic, chop herbs and clean up, is as easy as 1, 2, 3. I love it. Plus this great gadget is putting me in a festive mood. Maybe it's that beautiful empire red color that reminds me of Christmas. Kitchenaid has been very good to me and they have great customer service. Love, love, love this company!

My Issues with Materialism: Separation Anxiety with Materialistic Items

I don't know what's wrong with me, but I guess I am overly materialistic. I just sold my Tassimo coffee machine on Amazon and I feel like my heart strings are being majorly tugged on. I feel as if someone just broke up with me. I don't understand why this happens to me. I have always been like this. I have always felt like items had feelings. Maybe it has something to do with being an only child and living on a main road with no neighbors to play with. I didn't have anyone to play with, just my toys. I made them alive in my own way. Maybe that is why people become hoarders. They can't separate from the item they purchased because they feel like they would be hurting the item's feelings. I know this is crazy, but I think that might be one of the big issues. I also feel like I might use certain things again and it's best to keep it, just in case. I have some wonderful friends that have helped me quite a few times, by coming over to my house and helping me let go in a way. We would make a junk, tag sale and keep pile. It really helps to have someone hold your hand through this, especially a good friend that understands you. They will tell you the honest truth and let you know that you really don't need that mini dress from 1988. That it will never fit you again and more than likely, will not be passed on to my boys. Yes, friends are important in helping to fight this "pack rat" battle. It is hard to do alone, especially if you have trouble getting organized. I am organized in certain ways, but falter in other ways. I also wonder if it has something to do with genes. My father is a major hoarder and my mom always says that I am just like him. She is more like Martha Stewart/Mommy Dearest, when it comes to cleanliness and organization. I can clean, but I can really pack things away... haha, even pounds. Okay, back to the subject. Yes, genetics must have something to do with it. I know I am just like my father in many ways and being a pack rat is one of them. We have the same mentality, that you might need it one day. We try to save things and hold on to them, because you never know. I have to say that I am trying to control my issue, by having friends become part of my rescue. Thank God for them, and you know who you are! I know when it's getting out of hand and I decide to take control of it before it can control me. And that's where I will end this. I will say goodbye to my Tassimo tomorrow and send it on it's way to it's new owner. Then list a couple of more items that have been sitting around doing nothing. Time to break away from my materialism....

Going to Try this Vegan/Vegetarian Diet a Bit More....

I am not perfect, especially when it comes to food. I can cook great food, but that's not the problem...If you have read any of my posts, then you will know that obviously it's my weird relationship with food that's is the true issue.... I like to eat it way too much. I have tried every diet in the book and nothing seems to last long. Now, my husband and children are vegetarians, so this should be easier for me then for someone that wants to go vegan/vegetarian and has an omivorous family. I started to look at the "Skinny Bitch" books by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin and think this might actually be a good thing for me. I have seen many vegans and they always look lean and healthy. Their skin seems to be clear and their hair, shiny. I am going to make myself a guinea pig. Maybe not a perfect one, because I won't totally give up meat yet. I will try to only eat it if I crave it or for the holiday feast. But I am going to try to stop eating meat, eggs and dairy because I really do love animals and I want to help out our environment. I also have an eye out on the new cookbook by Kim Barnouin, called "Skinny Bitch: Ultimate Everyday Cookbook: Crazy Delicious Recipes that Are Good to the Earth and Great for your Bod". It talks about how terrible high fructose corn syrup, certain non-organic foods with heavy amounts of pesticides on them, certain food dyes that are bad for you, etc. are for you. I think many people are really unaware of how bad certain foods really are to their bodies. Many of these foods are so over processed that they barely provide any nutrition to the person, but does provide them with terrible ailments. With the number of people falling victim to cancer, people should start to look at what they are eating and drinking. Food can make you sick, if you aren't eating the right kinds. I am not trying to badger anyone about this though, because I eat these foods as well. I sometimes don't check the label and say, "Oh well, just this once, I don't care"...I know better, but sometimes I just want to eat the food with the MSG in it, because they just taste so good... And that's where I am wrong also. I also drink diet soda, once in a blue moon, just because I don't want those extra calories, but I don't feel well afterwards. Hmmm....Could it be, because I just drank a can of poison? I will write more on this subject as I try to start eating healthier and try to cut the meat, eggs and dairy out. It will be a slow process, because honestly, I love meat, eggs and dairy. To start, I am running out to the store and picking up some almond milk, more Quorn products (fake meat products), veggies, and who knows what else. Wish me luck and I promise to let you all know how I am doing with this process....

Quick Treat for the Kids - Ants on a Log Snack

My son made this and I had to post it. He told me the name of it, so if anyone wants to fight it for copyright laws then that would be silly since he just made it up and it's just a fun thing that kids have been doing forever. It's so easy a 6 year old can make it. Actually my 3 year old could make this too. It's very simple and the kids will love them.

Ingredients:
celery sticks (cut on both ends and cleaned)
peanut butter
dried cherries

Directions:
Use a plastic knife  or a thin spatula and scrape some peanut butter onto the celery and then place dried cherries on top of it. Enjoy!

Dear Santa, Black Friday Can Save You Lots of Money!

So Santa Baby,
I would like to let you know that you can save lots of money if you get out early on Black Friday and pick up some of my items. There is a Flip camcorder at Walmart for $99. And a TomTom GPS for $79. There is a also a DS Lite for $89 for my son. Oh yeah, and a trampoline for the boys for $165. Wow they have a KitchenAid Stand Mixer for $149, but I already have one so don't worry about that. So while you are at Walmart, I'll be at Target checking out the deals...maybe at 4 am, if I can do it after throwing a Thanksgiving feast at my house. Santa, I recommend that you get your butt up and save some money and make me happy. Oh and I promise to take care of you as well! Now, get some rest, save your energy for this friday, "Black Friday", that is....

Prince William and Kate Middleton are Engaged...Royal Wedding on the Way!

Princess Diana's son Prince William has finally asked Kate Middleton to marry him. Many girls around the world are heartbroken, knowing one of the most eligible bachelors has flown the coop. They make a very handsome pair and it's about time that they get married. They have been dating since 2003 and had a long enough time to court. I think it's wonderful that he will not be marrying another aristocrat. It gives common folk a chance to dream that they can one day marry their prince charming. It seems that he is marrying for love and that's how it should be, even if you do have royal blood lines. I never quite understood why royalty marry only inside their little group of nobility. I would rather think incest is a no-no. I would think royal blood would be more tainted than a commoner's blood in actuality. Well, I won't go there, but I am glad to see Prince William finally tying the knot with someone he obviously truely loves. Princess Diana obviously raised her children right. She was the peoples' princess and he is obviously following in her footsteps. God Bless the Prince......

Holiday Warning: Customer Service Reps, Naughty and Nice!

I decided it's time to talk about customer service reps. It's the holiday season and many of us will be dealing with them. They will make some of us happy and alot of us upset. They will either make you frustrated or help to make your life better again. Since Friday morning, I have been dealing with them from eBay and from Paypal to no avail. I have been on the phone with several of them with no resolution at the end and been transferred so many times. Oh and the best part was, after being transferred and waiting on hold for 40 minutes, listening to music and speeches that made me want to gag, I was hung up on. My stress levels were pushed to the utmost limits this weekend and I was still at the same place I was at, from the first phone call. Nowhere.
I have been a customer sevice rep. I know how you are supposed to treat your customers. I was always making sure issues were resolved and if I couldn't get it done during the time of the call, then I finished it on the side. I was a top of the line customer service rep. I actually won an IBM thinkpad at my job, because I did my job so well. I also saw the bad customer service reps, some that sat next to me. They would hang up on customers and the reason they did this was because a customer service rep needs to get a certain amount of calls in during a certain time. The call volume needs to stay low and customer service reps were rewarded if they answered several calls in little time. The problem with this was, that issues wouldn't be resolved and those clients would have to call back several times making the call volumes stay up. I watched a customer service rep answer the call and then mute the phone till the customer would hang up. The call would usually last less then a minute and the next call would come in. Since the customer hung up it looked like a resolved issue in no time for that customer service rep. It was terrible, but happened constantly and I bet most of you have gone through similar issues. I feel for you, I really do. I have been on this end so many times myself that I dread when I have to talk to a customer service agent. It's hard to find someone that cares about their job and cares about their customers, especially when reps don't usually make that much money. I will write more on this subject, but I don't want to write a novel at this time on it...haha... Hope you have read it and want to hear more... Tata for now!

Awesome Deal at QVC's Today's Special Value: bareMinerals The Perfect Gift 7-piece Color Collection

QVC's Today Special Value
bareMinerals The Perfect Gift 7-piece Color Collection

$36.98
They also have this on easy pay.....

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.item.tsv!.tpl.tsv.cm_scid.TSV

I had to put this up, since I love bareMinerals... That's all I ever wear. This is an awesome deal, thought I would pass it along to all of you!

Don't buy or sell on eBay (thieves) ...and you have more safety with your credit card than paypal..................

A nice long message to follow...once I can calm down....

PMS = Chocolate, Potato Chips + Bloat + Major Mood Swings

I can not stand PMS. I don't know about every other woman that might get it, but it seems like I am always getting it and that it lasts for 2 weeks. I feel like I am going to eat the house and not only that, look like it afterwards. I get these terrible cravings for the foods that we are not supposed to eat when trying to follow a diet plan. I end up with my hand in a bag of potato chips till they accidentally disappear. "Oops, what happened to the potato chips? Did I do that?" Let's not forget the chocolate, fast food value meals that seem to hit the spot and carton of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Oh and by the way, I said carton because Ben & Jerry's doesn't just come pint size. No siree, they have a nice quart size one as well. Oh yeah, and I can go through a whole quart during a day of PMS, along with as I said before, the whole house. So besides eating everything that my pantries and refrigerator have to offer, I end up having several different personalities. I become Cybil, trust me, ask my husband. Family try to walk around me like there are egg shells everywhere. Seriously, my house becomes a mine field, and if you do or say the wrong thing, I am going to blow. Plus, you don't know what's coming, screaming, crying, laughing, moping, etc. Oh and there are other things that make PMS so much fun, such as bloat. I love when my fingers look like sausages, and when my clothes feel so tight that I feel like I will burst out of the seams. Yeah, thanks mother nature, just what I needed, some more crazy in my life.....

Another Great Deal: Vizio 26” LCD HDTV $189.99

Vizio 26” LCD HDTV


$189.99  + $5.00 shipping


http://deals.woot.com/sellout

Great Deal of the Day: Motorola MotoNav 3.5" GPS Navigator

This is an awesome deal...hint, hint Santa!

Motorola MotoNav 3.5" GPS Navigator with Text-to-Speech


$44.99

http://woot.com/

Easy and Inexpensive Thanksgiving Centerpiece

What you need to make this centerpiece:
vase (use something you own or buy a new one)
stones (you can either pick them yourself from outside or buy them)
silk flowers / artificial flowers and/or leaves
optional: tray, baby pumpkins, gourds, ceramic glazed pumpkins, etc.

This is a very inexpensive craft to do and will make a great centerpiece for Thanksgiving. I actually purchased the stones, flowers, leaves, and ceramic glazed pumpkins from the dollar store and spent less than $10. I used a vase and tray that I have owned for several years.

Directions:
Add stones to vase, carefully dropping them in so that you don't break the glass or crystal vase. Then arrange your silk or artificial flowers inside the vase. Very simple and beautiful. You can top this off by putting it on a tray and adding some baby pumpkins or gourds to each side of the vase. A simple and inexpensive decoration that you can use throughout the fall and to dress up your Thanksgiving dinner table.

Gwyneth Paltrow is "Country Strong" at CMA's

Even though a bit shaky, I think Gwyneth Paltrow sang her heart out on the CMA's belting out, "Country Strong". I think she could definitely have a second career as a singer, as well as being an amazing Oscar winning actress. I also loved her song, "Cruisin", that she sang as a duet with Huey Lewis. She is one fine singer and can also play the guitar, which accompanied her on stage at the CMA's, along with Vince Gill. A standing ovation from the crowd was received and well deserved. Hope to hear more songs sung by this wonderfully talented human being. Bravo, Gwyneth!

I love Christopher Pike, Author of Young Adult and Adult Books

I just wanted to say that I really love Christopher Pike. I have had an infatuation with his books since my early teens. His style of writing just captured me from the beginning of the story til the end. I loved to try to figure out who the killer was in the books from the start. I couldn't get a book of his fast enough and still feel the same way all these years later. My favorite book of his was Remember Me. I don't want to tell you the story, but it was amazing and I just ordered it so I can read it again. It's been so long since I read it, that I hope it will be all new to me. Also I just recently picked up his Thirst novel and loved it. It is a series and I have read all three and can't wait till number 4 comes out. Thirst is a bit different, because it's about the last vampire. It wraps krishna consciousness into it, in a special way. It made me want to learn more about Krishna and the Bhagavad Gita. It's funny, because I felt like I was lead to this book so I can learn more about the spirituality that my husband and his brother (who's passed on) believe in. I highly recommend picking up one of Christopher Pike's books. Happy Reading!

Elf on the Shelf is My New Best Friend (Less Stressful Holiday Season)

I have to say the Elf on the Shelf has become one of my favorite purchases of late. It's an elf that comes with a book to tell the story about him being santa's helper. The elf watches the kids and then flies back to santa every evening to report on how the children behave. He then finds a new hiding place when he comes back from the North Pole. My kids love him. They have named our elf Jack and they love to find his hiding places in the morning. If they start to misbehave, then I tell them that Jack is watching and he'll be going back to tell Santa at night. It works like a charm. Wish I had made this purchase earlier. This Christmas season will now be a little less stressful! If you are trying to find the Elf on the Shelf, look to the right side of this blog and you'll see a link to it!
Here is a commercial for the Elf on the Shelf...It's very cute:   Click here:  Elf on the Shelf

My Issues with Dieting

I have a major issue with dieting. I have spoken about this before on this blog. Some of them work for me but I always resort back to eating. I love food and get comfort from it. I sometimes eat out of boredom, emotional stress, just because, it's there, don't want to waste it, looks too good, need to try it, etc. I have every excuse in the book to eat. And sometimes it's not that I try it, but that I eat it all until there is nothing left and then I end up hating myself because I know I shouldn't have. It happens even during the state of eating the food. I will know that I should stop but I don't and I am already angry with myself because I know it will make me bigger and make me depressed. I guess it's time to go to OA (Overeater's Anonymous) to get a hold of it. I am not afraid of getting help. I am just afraid of not being able to eat. Yes, mental issues, you might say that. That's why this blog is here. I am unafraid of saying how I feel and what I am. I try to be as open as I can. Sometimes it's my downfall because I trust in people way too much and I think that everyone is like this and most are not. People might not like what I write all the time, but it's what I am thinking or what I am feeling at that time. I hope you don't mind my craziness, but this is who I am. I am what I am and I can't change it. Trust me, I have tried many times. Keep checking in, because I will be on here blogging alot about everything.

Craft of the Day: Thanksgiving Turkey Hand Print

This craft is so easy and the kids love making them.

Items you will need:
For the Outline of the Turkey
Marker, pencil, crayon, or pen
Construction paper or cardboard paper

For Decorating Turkey (optional, your choice):
Crayons
Markers
Glue
Googly eyes
Glitter
Paint
Tape
Feathers
Tissue Paper

Directions to Make Turkey Hand Print:

1. Take your hand or your child's hand and place it on the paper.
2. Use a marker or any writing tool and trace the hand onto the paper.
3. Next decorate your turkey whichever way you like...

(hint) The thumb part is where you put the eyes, gizzard and beak, then at the bottom of the hand place the turkey's legs.

1. Another way to make your turkey is to paint your hand or your child's hand and stamp the paper with it.
2. Let it dry and paint or draw over it.

Kids love to do this craft. My son and I just did this and he didn't want to stop making them and they are great for Thanksgiving decorations!

Dear Santa, All I Want For Christmas is

1. A laptop with a web cam already in it
2. Pretty warm fleece pajamas
3. GPS for my car
4. Silpat for baking
5. New workout gear (clothes and sneakers)
6. KitchenAid Chef Series Food Chopper (in Chrome or Susan G. Komen Pink one to leave on my countertop for small jobs) (red will do since it's on sale at Target and I think Amazon.com)
7. Wii Just Dance
8. Wii Kinect Sensor
9. Gift Certificates (QVC for my Bare Escentuals Makeup, iTunes, TJ Maxx)
10. Mastering the Art of French Cooking (2 Volume Set) [Box set] [Hardcover]
11. Flip Camcorder
12. Accessories for my Canon Rebel XS DSLR (such as a better flash)

And don't worry Santa, I will add to the list in the next couple of weeks!

Happy Birthday Wishes to My Sweet Little Boy

Happy Birthday to my special miracle baby...Mommy loves you more than the world. You make my life worth living every day. You are my shining star! You are truly a blessing from God, my little sunshine!

Planning this Year's Thanksgiving Menu

I throw all the holiday dinners at my home, because I want to eat what I like for that specific holiday. I want to make sure everyone eats well and has been fed like a king or queen. I always make way too much food and have leftovers forever. I love it and look forward to every holiday, because I get to cook certain things that I don't always have during a regular dinner night. It's like the special day when you get to have all your comfort foods at once. Can you tell that I am a foodie? Well, I am and now it's time to plan my Thanksgiving dinner menu. I have put lots of thought into it for a little over a month now. "Crazy", you say. Well, yes it is, but I so far there have never been any complaints at one of my holiday dinners, so it can't be that bad.

2010 Thanksgiving Menu (Rough Draft -give or take)
Candied walnuts, cranberries and gorgonzola harvest salad
Brined Roasted Glazed Turkey
Mushroom and Turkey Gravy
Vegetarian brown gravy
Best ever golden mashed potatoes
Candied yams
Sauteed red cabbage with caraway and apples
The best vegetarian stuffing ever
Garlic green beans
Cranberry and orange sauce
Freshly baked wheat dinner rolls

Spiced Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake
Bourbon Pecan Pie
Fresh Whipped Cream

Awesome Deal at Woot: Philips Blu-Ray Home Theater System for $199.99

Just a quick FYI, Woot has a great sellout deal that I would purchase if I didn't already get a blu-ray player for my hubby's birthday. Here's a link. It's a Philips Blu-Ray Home Theater System for $199.99.  Here's the link for it if anyone is interested.

http://deals.woot.com/sellout

Scrumptious Raspberry Lemon Oatmeal Bars

Ingredients:
Bar Batter
3 cups old fashioned oats or quick oats
1 package yellow cake mix or butter recipe cake mix (18.25 oz)
1 cup butter
2/3 can of sweetened condensed milk

Filling
2 Tbsp of lemon juice (freshly squeezed lemon)
10 oz jar of rasberry preserves

Directions :
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.Get a big mixing bowl and add all the bar batter ingredients into the bowl. Mix with a wooden spoon or mix with a hand or stand mixer. Then get a small mixing bowl and add the raspberry preserves and lemon juice into it and mix it well. Grab a 9 x 13 pan (buttered) and pat half the mixture on the bottom of the pan, making it even. Now it's time to spread the raspberry filling evenly on top of the bar mixture. Next, add the rest of the cake mixture on top. I kind of crumbled the bar filling on top of the filling and then pressed it down a bit. Bake for 22-25 minutes, make sure not to let it brown. Also keep an eye out for the bottom of the bar to make sure it doesn't burn. Let bars cool and enjoy!

Tip of the Day: Know when to say when

I have to learn this tip of the day, which is "know when to say when". I do everything over the top and need to know there are limits. I know many of us have trouble with this in some parts of our lives. Mine is with food, spending money, etc. I think a great idea is, next time you are in this predicament, to stop and take a breath, count to 10, and tell yourself, "you won't be happy with yourself later, if you overdo it"... Hope you enjoy this tip of the day and learn to use it in your life. I will try in my own.

Tip of the Day: Make sure to tie your shoes...

Yes, please make sure to tie your shoes. Especially if it's raining where you are and you have to go outdoors. Otherwise your laces will get muddy. And who wants to unless leather or pleather shoes just throw the laces in the wash. Not I.. Also, if you don't tie your shoes, then you might trip and fall and break something. Not a good idea, when the holidays are coming up. How are you supposed to go shopping on Black Friday if you have a broken arm or leg? You could end up missing out on that hot item that you have to fight over, or run for to get. Although, you might be able to use your cast if it's a broken arm and knock someone out with it...but I didn't say that, and I am kidding...please don't.. I am not suggesting this of course. But see why it's so important to just take a few seconds to tie your shoes... I know this is silly but I am just trying to save you money and time. Hope you enjoyed my tip of the day!

How do you make hot cocoa?

As soon as it gets cold outside, I like to make myself and my children hot cocoa. Summertime is s'mores time and fall and winter time are hot cocoa time... I love to mix it up. I have several different ways that I like to make my hot cocoa. I also love adding toppings to it, such as marshmallows, whipped cream, candy canes, etc.

I would like this post to be a bit more interactive and I want to hear your responses on how you make your hot cocoa.. I will post my cocoa recipes while it's nice and cold outside. So stay tuned and please share your cocoa recipes. I like to try new ways to make it.

Rich and Decadent Hot Cocoa

Ingredients:

Bar of good quality chocolate... (Lindt, Ghirardelli, etc.)
1 - 2 Tbsp. of sugar (dark chocolate usually needs a bit more sugar)
pinch of salt
2 cups of whole milk
1/2 tsp of vanilla

Optional: marshmallows, whipped cream, candy cane

Heat a saucepan to medium heat... Break up the good quality chocolate into small pieces and put into saucepan, then add milk...Keep stirring. You can use a whisk or a wooden spoon. Add 1/2 tsp of vanilla, sugar and salt. Stir until chocolate is totally melted and mixed. Pour into your mugs, add toppings and enjoy!


P.S. Don't forget to turn the stove off....

Craft of the Day: Rain Maker

What you will need:
soda bottle with cap
              or
clean baking powder can
              or
anything that is a small container that can be opened and closed (that you can decorate)
dried beans or rice about 1/2 cup full
glue and/or tape
crayons, markers and/or paint

Some items that you can add onto your container (Choice is yours):
Aluminum foil
Ribbons
Yarn
Stickers
tissue paper
Streamers

What to do

1. Take your container and fill it with the dried beans or rice then close the container nice and tight.
2. You may add tape to seal the container more so that the rice or beans don't come out of the container.
3. Now have fun and decorate your containers.
4. Let them dry if you used glue or paint.
5. Once your rain maker is dry, then you can go around shaking your rain makers...

A fun thing you can do with your rain makers is get dressed up and have a little pow wow in your living room with the kids or you can do this outside as well.

New Gap Logo is a no-no (hint, hint: bring back the quality)

I feel I need to get this off of my chest. I recently read about Gap wanting to freshen up their logo with a brand spanking new logo...I was totally shocked by this, because that's why most of us buy Gap items. Let's face it, we used to buy Gap because of the quality of their clothes, but these days the quality is more like Old Navy. The cost is still there, but the quality isn't. I remember feeling my Gap shirts and sweaters and thinking how soft they felt and how thick they were. Now, I do the same and they are thin and cheap... The quality is gone, but the prices have still risen. So what does Gap do when they see a drop in revenue, "Hmmm....Let me see...They try to change the logo. That must be the problem"... Seriously, what are these people smoking? That is one of the best things that they still have. Even though the quality has gone down, I am still a faithful consumer because of the Gap Logo. I just hope they will bring the quality back to the clothing, instead of paying ridiculous amounts out to advertising that obviously didn't know anything about marketing.

Take a hint Gap, from a faithful consumer...bring back the quality!!!!!

Recipe: The Best Vegetarian Stuffing Ever

1 1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup celery
2 Granny Smith Apples (cored and chopped)
1 cup of dried cranberries
1 cup of dried cherries
2 tsp rosemary (dried or fresh)
1/2 tsp thyme (dried or fresh)
3 tsp sage (dried or fresh)
1/2 cup of fresh parsley (chopped finely)
7 tbsp butter
1 3/4 cup of vegetarian vegetable broth
1 lb Field Roast Italian Sausage (take out of casing and crumble it)
3 cups whole wheat bread (cut into cubes)
2 cups white bread (cut into cubes)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Put bread cubes in a roasting pan or large pan  (such as a 10 x 17 pan) for approximately 7 minutes. Make sure to check on the bread cubes so they don't burn. You just want them to dry out and toast. I recomemend to mix them halfway through so the bread cubes toast evenly.
3. Sautee your onions in 2 Tbsp of butter on medium heat, then add celery, just as the onions start to turn clear. Sautee for about a minute ad then add the crumbled Field Roast Italian Sausage. Keep mixing and sauteeing for a few minutes, making sure the onions and celery don't burn. Then put aside.
4. Put all the ingredients into a large bowl now and mix together with tongs or with your hands, then place in a large roasting pan.
5. Bake approximately 40 minutes uncovered at 350 degrees, then uncovered for approximately 15 minutes... (Make sure to keep an eye on the stuffing. Mix a few times while baking and make sure it doesn't dry out, if it looks like it's drying out add a bit more broth or butter.

Craft of the Day: Thanksgiving Pumpkin Centerpieces

What you will need:

Small pumpkins
Round headed pins ( multi-colored, pearl, or whatever colors you like)
Puff paint (White, or whatever color you like)
Tacky Glue
Glitter (White, or whatever color you like)

Once you have your small pumpkin, it is time to decorate it. Here are some easy ways to decorate your pumpkins:

Glamour Pin Pumpkin Centerpiece

1. You can take the round headed pin and stick it all the way into the pumpkin. You don't have to push all the pins in. You can create more dimension by not pushing the pins all the way in.
2. Then repeat with the same color pin or different color pins.
3. Have fun designing your pumpkin.

Puff Paint Centerpiece

1. Paint your pumpkin with puff paint. Have fun designing your Thanksgiving pumpkin.
2. You can also add the round headed pins into the pumpkin to add more flare to it.

Glitter Pumpkin Centerpieces

1. Take your tacky glue and start with your designs. I would only do a small part at a time.
2. Add glitter to your glue design.
3. You may also add round headed pins to add to your design.

Hope you enjoy this fun and easy craft!

2nd day of my BTS diet...plus going onto day number 4 of being alcohol free

I started up a back to school diet for myself, because the summer was so bad to me... Well, actually it was a really great summer, except for my weight. There was so much good food and drinks. So I decided that the day my son went back to school that I would start a new diet... And no, I am not cutting anything out except for alcohol. This diet is me trying to control my calories and workout every day with maybe a day off each week. I am going to try to not drink for at least 30 days and see if I can go farther than that...but I am starting small...30 days for now and I might up the limit... and trust me, I already have some scheduled parties during that time to go to.... and I will not be having a drop of alcohol. I am going to try to beat my Biggest Loser weight that my gym had done last year. I'll keep you updated as I lose weight. I won't say my weight but I will tell you how much I lose and hopefully where I end up and then you can add the number to that weight and know where I am now...Wish me luck...I will need it. I love to cook and love to eat, so this is always hard for me to do. But I want to be costume ready for Halloween! If anyone wants to join me on this journey, please feel free to comment on this blog!

I want my daddy!

Why can't life be simple. I need a break. Is it that hard to fathom that I need some time to myself. Let's start with: I am a good mother, I took care of so many children and did a great job of it.....Here comes the fun part..... I can't seem to figure out what is going on with one of my children. One is like they are supposed to be, but the other...is another story... The problem is that I am not on the same page, but want to be. He pushes every button that there possibly can be and does it only to me... He is great with everyone else... I feel like the worst mom in the world because I can't figure out how to deal with it. I am trying, but nothing seems to be working. I am not cracking through the lining. I honestly feel like giving up. Maybe I should run away, but my bullishness as a Taurus and as a good mom will never deter me. What do I do? Do any parents feel like this. Parenting is much harder than teaching... any day... I was a childcare person for many years, but I gave the kids back... This is harder, because these are your own children you love from the depths of our soul and they know it and they will push your buttons more than any other person in your life. I am not talking about a little bit of childish rebel, but of constant moments that keep persisting and don't show an end... I am at my wit's end.................

Summer days are here

I have been so busy lately. I thought summer days are supposed to be lazy days, but they haven't been so far. I have been up earlier than I usually get up, and have been running around like crazy from morning till night. I remember the days when I used to get up at 11 am and then I would go out and lay out on my deck or on a mattress in my pool and just soak in the sun and water, listening to music. I wish I could have bottled up those moments and had them now to get a little taste of them. The good ole days, the peaceful and fun days. I still have fun, but not peaceful, fun days. Don't get me wrong though, I love having my family, but I just would love to have a taste of the good ole days. I wish I could just open up a book and read it in the sun with no one to interrupt me. I can't do that these days because there is never a moment of no interruption or a time where I am not worried about what is going on around me. I have to be a hawk to keep my children safe. I need to pay attention 24/7, so that they will stay safe. I have so much to do... clean the house, have the children and cat fed, run errands, take the kids where they need to go, potty train the little one, work, exercise, clean the house again, clean the children, etc...etc.... There is just not enough time in the day, but even if there was, I would be too exhausted to do anything else. Plus, we all know, more things would be piled on to that list that would not include any sort of relaxation... Maybe a vacation is what I need...I think that is what my brain is telling me. It's telling me, "Crazy girl, it's time to take a long needed vacation. Time to say, I have had it and just go".

Another pic I took...Can you tell I love the forest?

Chocolate addiction

Note to self: Don't buy 72 chocolate bars from a wholesale club to save money.... It will cost me more to lose the weight when I am done with them...

I have been going through those chocolate bars like a mad woman.

PMS +72 bars of chocolate in house = Fat Crazy Girl

By the way, it's not 72 bars anymore. I think I am in the early 60's or 50's with them already and I just purchased them 2 days ago... Yes, I have problems.... They seriously are calling my name. I can't get the thought of having one melting away in my mouth out of my head. HELP ME!!!!!!!

Getting crazier by the minute

Haven't been on here in a while and that's because I am losing my mind more than ever. My child is just about to start summer vacation and both my boys together, all day long are going to take me to new limits. I am already having panic attacks. I have 2 high maintenance children. All I hear every minute of the day, is Mommy, Mommy, Mommy... over and over again. You would think that they can't walk by themselves. I might sound like the worst mom in the world at the moment, but I am just worn out. I need a vacation and not summer vacation. I will stop venting for now.

No show

I am sorry to any of my followers, if I haven't shown up for a couple of days. I sometimes need to hide within myself and can't deal with priorities that may arise. Just like this blog that took a year for me to finally start. I have a laptop with a broken screen that needs to be sent in to the warranty place and it has been sitting on a table for 2 months. I just can't seem to finish certain things. For some reason, certain things in my life just seem so hard to do, when they really are so simple for most people. I do the same with bills sometimes...I pretend they aren't there and then I end up with a huge bill because I didn't pay them on time and they decided to tack on late fees. Oh and items that need to be returned to the store that never make it there until it's too late to return. Yeah, I really suck at life. I can't seem to function quite right. Sometimes I can get things done on time and everything will flow perfectly and then there are times that I am just lost in a big squall that's called life. I am a total lost cause most of the time. I don't know if I could ever totally survive on my own. I feel like I would sink and not be able to ever come back up for air. I need to figure out why I do this to myself. It's like I have something inside me that wants to destroy the essence of me. I will finally get the wheels churning and everything is in the correct gear and it's like I throw a stick into it and the whole thing blows up in my face. At least, my kids are coming out right. I can say that I put most of my attention on them and they seem to be doing great. I just need to figure out the puzzle inside my head and fit the pieces together.

Heart of a million pieces - written by me

You broke me

Tore me into a million pieces

You left me there to fend for myself

Never turning back to see what became of me

Broken, feeling of unwant, lost

I couldn't breathe

I couldn't see from all the tears shed

Hollow inside, filled with utter pain

How could you hurt me so much?

How could you break my heart?

Why did you tell me you loved me?

How could you leave me if you did?

I was lost without you and couldn't find my way

I almost didn't make it

I was so close to the end

Grasping for something that wasn't there

You were my world and you took it away

Leaving me in a black hole of emptiness

Through my darkest hours, I could not find the light

Wandering around like an unseen ghost

Time passed by so slowly

Day turned into night, into day

I thought you would come back

But you never came

So close, yet so far away

Yesterday, as we were about to leave the house, I decided to go grab something out of my car and quickly locked it without thinking. Then I got into my husband's car and realized I still needed something out of my car. I went to grab my keys and realized they were still in my SUV. I did not panic, I just thought, "I'll get my spare in the house". Low and behold, I then realized that the keys were safely tucked away in my gym bag in my SUV. How wonderful, both keys are in the car, not outside of it. Plus, AAA will not open my car up because of it's electronic system or something like that. So now I have to wait till tomorrow, when it's not a holiday to get a new key made for my car at the dealership. Funny thing is that the dealership is about 40 minutes away and my husband has to work so he can't help me out. What to do, what to do. This is my major dilemma. I think I might need a fairy godmother.  This is why I am lucky that my head is attached to me, because otherwise I would have lost it long ago. Wait, I kind have lost it, just in a different kind of way.

Stuck on band-aids

It's that time of the year, to go out and buy your first aid kit if you have children and even if you don't. I feel like summer is the time, when I have to try to rush in the house to find hydrogen peroxide, neosporin, and bandaids... Oh and don't forget the ice pack. I have two rambunctious little boys that can't help but get bumps, scrapes, and cuts. I try to keep them safe, but no matter how hard I try, they somehow seem to find a way to get hurt. So this year, I am totally prepared. I picked up a good first aid kit, then I purchased some important products, such as neosporin, more band-aids, cotton balls, sunscreen, caladryl, and benadryl (new after recall). Last year, I could never find what I needed in time, because I was either out of band-aids because the kids decided they were for fashion statements, or I would run out of hydrogen peroxide...You name it, I was always missing something. Now, this is not good when mother and children are clumsy. I walk into walls, and it seems my children have inherited this wonderful gene. I am hoping we can have a safe summer this year, but I feel it's better to have a filled inventory. I think that if you are prepared, then it's more likely that it will be a more bump, scrape and cut free summer than if I don't! I am wishing you all a safe and healthy summer! Now let the summer fun and games begin!

What to do

I can't figure myself out. If anyone that reads this blog can, please let me know. I have been trying to figure myself out for 34 years. Shhh....don't tell anyone my age. I am really only 22.... But seriously, let's get back to the subject of figuring yours truly out. I have come up with a brand spanking new idea to make essential oil sprays. There are obviously essential oil sprays out there, but these will me my mixes and it will be something that I love to do and hence it's my new idea or venture.  I also should be certified as a personal trainer within the next two months. I am very excited about this as well, just a bit nervous. Now onto, more ways to express myself and somehow make money. So far I can definitely express myself, but the making money part, has been a total no-no. I need to figure out a way to make some moolah. I don't care if the ecomony isn't so great. I still want to make some money and I want to do it by expressing myself. The question is, how do I do something that I love and make money???? Plus how can I stay on a subject long enough  to make the cash roll in? I want to be rolling in the dollars, benjamins preferred of course. If anyone has figured me out, please feel free to comment. If not, that's okay, just send me your money!

Hair weave

I think I am going to add some color to my hair...Feeling kind of punky...Maybe some red or blue... or hot pink. Definitely want something different that I can take out when I want to, without messing up my long natural hair... Worked too hard to get it back to it's natural shiny color and also to grow it long... Being crazy, makes you want to dye and cut your hair all the time. Well, okay at least for me. I just love to change things up all the time. Call me crazy!

Gerard Butler

Anyone ever get those celebrity crushes? Well, I do, a bad one...I think Gerard Butler is an amazing Scottish actor and I think he is beautiful! I have been watching him since I first saw him play Atilla the Hun. If you would like to see who I am talking about, because you never have heard of him, then you have come to the right place. Here is a list of the movies he has been in:
How to Train Your Dragon - voice of Stoick
The Bounty Hunter - Milo Hunter
Law Abiding Citizen - Clyde Shelton
Gamer - Kable / John Tillman
The Ugly Truth - Mike Chadway
Tales of the Black Freighter - voice of  "The Sea Captain"
RocknRolla - One Two
Nim's Island - Jack Rusoe / Alex Rover
P.S. I Love You - Gerry
Butterfly on a Wheel - Neil Randall
300 - King Leonidas
Beowulf and Grendel - Beowulf
The Game of Their Lives - Frank Borghi
The Phantom of the Opera - The Phantom
Dear Frankie - The Stranger
Timeline - Andre Marek
Lara Croft Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life - Terry Sheridan
Reign of Fire - Creedy
Shooters - Jackie Junior
Attila - Attila the Hun
Jewel of the Sahara - Captain Charles Belamy
Dracula 2000 - Dracula
Harrison's Flowers - Chris Kumac
The Cherry Orchard - Yasha
One More Kiss - Sam
Please! - Peter
Little White Lies - Peter
Tale of the Mummy - Burke
Fast Food - Jacko
The Young Person's Guide to Becoming a Rock Star: Making Tracks - Marty Claymore
Tomorrow Never Dies - Leading Seaman
Mrs. Brown - Archie Brown

Okay, so this is a list of most of the movies that he has played a part in. Now you can go check him out for yourself. Hope you enjoy him as much as I do! I mean, I hope you enjoy the movies as much as I do...

Full Moon - Tip of the day included

Looks like there's a full moon out tonight! Awoooooo.... Like my howl. Watch out for those werewolves and shapeshifters tonight! Or the crazies, like me! No wonder I was going crazy today. I can now blame it on the full moon. I think I might go outside and just stare at the moon for a while. Become one with the moon. That's my tip of the day today... Become one with the moon!

Foods and drinks that I think are perfect for a really hot summer day

1. Watermelon
2. Corn on the cob
3. Ice pops/ Ice cream
4. Iced Tea
5. Lemonade
6. Barbecue chicken
7. Salad
8. Chips and salsa
9. Barbecue ribs
10. Pina Coladas

I would love to hear what your favorite's are on a hot summer day! Please post your comments!

Love letter from my hubby for our anniversary

Today I closed my eyes and held you closely
Inhaled deeply...and for a moment...
forgot about everything else that was around me
Allowing all my senses to fade into the stillness of our being
I exhaled slowly...
And with that breath
The sands of time that have always moved so quickly
...settled within my heart…
Unveiling a light that is forever expanding
from the infinite reflections that make us one
We are the oneness that is everlasting...
...Everlasting, is the reflection of our Love.

Craft of the day - Shaving cream

This craft is great for little kids... It's fun and easy to clean up. It's definitely perfect for toddlers, since they won't destroy anything with shaving cream. If you have a high chair, I would recommend to place them in that, locked in of course. Just spray lots of shaving cream on the tray and voila, let them play and design! You can also use a plate or table. Anyplace that shaving cream is safe to put on.  Hope you enjoy it!

Top ten places I want to travel to

1. Versailles, France (all over the country)
2. Italy (Tuscany, Rome, Venice)
3. Australia
4. Hawaii
5. Fiji/Tahiti
6. California (one of the only places in the states that I haven't made it to)
7. Scotland
8. Ireland
9. England
10. Greece

Gift ideas for your wedding anniversary - Traditional and/or Modern

Anniversary                 Traditional                Modern


1st                               Paper                       Clocks
2nd                             Cotton                      China
3rd                              Leather                    Crystal / Glass
4th                              Fruit / Flowers         Appliances
5th                              Wood                       Silverware
6th                              Candy / Iron             Wood
7th                              Wool / Copper          Desk Sets
8th                              Bronze / Pottery       Linens / Lace
9th                              Pottery / Willow        Leather
10th                            Tin / Aluminum         Diamond Jewelry
11th                            Steel                         Fashion Jewelry
12th                            Silk / Linen                Pearls
13th                            Lace                         Textiles / Furs
14th                            Ivory                         Gold Jewelry
15th                            Crystal                      Watches
20th                            China                        Platinum
25th                            Silver                        Silver
30th                            Pearl                         Diamond
35th                            Coral                        Jade
40th                            Ruby                         Ruby
45th                            Sapphire                   Sapphire
50th                            Gold                         Gold
55th                            Emerald                    Emerald
60th                            Diamond                   Diamond

Tip of the day

Do something nice for yourself today. Some great examples:

1. Buy yourself something nice
2. Take a nice long hot bath or shower
3. Take a half hour time out for yourself
4. Treat yourself to your favorite dessert
5. Plan a vacation or a weekend getaway
6. Get a massage, facial, or mani-pedi

If you have any great ideas on how you can do something nice for yourself, please feel free to comment!

Amazing Experience

Today, we went to a living museum type of place and they had a section where there are different farm animals that you can get up close and personal with. I saw this beautiful little auburn calf laying down on some hay in her stall. She looked very sleepy and sad, and I couldn't take my eyes off of her. Just about the same time, the farmhand came out with a big baby bottle (calf-sized). I asked him how old she was, because she was so tiny and I he said she is only 10 days old. When she saw him, she got right up and was so excited to get her bottle. It was so amazing to watch her nurse that bottle. I had never seen this in real life before. She was hopping around, rubbing up against the farmhand. She was such a giddy little calf. She finished that bottle so quickly and wanted more, but that was all they would give her because she was on scheduled feedings. She started to suck on the farmhands fingers and I said that they should get her a calf-sized pacifier. I was saddened to hear that her mother rejected her and so she was pretty much on her own. No wonder she looked so sad and loney laying there before. I went up to her and pet her and let her suckle on my arm and elbow. She was so happy and loved being cuddled. I didn't want to leave her. It was hard to say goodbye, but my arm was covered with calf slobber and I had to go wash up. It was about closing time and we couldn't stay any longer. I have to say it was one of those experiences that I will never forget and will hold it close to my heart. I wish I could have brought her home with me. I don't think I will ever be able to eat beef again. How could I? After bonding with such a precious little girl? She had so much personality and was even more attentive than most dogs or cats that we have living at most of our homes. We don't eat them, so how could I eat a cow? It looks like beef is off the menu for good in this household......

Hiatus

Sorry, I have been M.I.A. for a couple of days. I just needed to gather my thoughts. I was trying to get back into the right state of mind. This sometimes happens to me and all I can really do is concentrate on my family and try to keep the house clean. I throw everything else to the wind and hope all will land safely. Feeling better now...almost fully revived...still a bit worn, but much better. Feel the energy to write again! Love getting the creative juices flowing again. I love when my mind starts coming up with new ideas. Unfortunately they usually happen just about the same time that I am trying to go to sleep. I'll lay there in bed, and go...this sucks, I don't want to get out of bed and get the laptop. And sometimes I will get it and sometimes, I will just hope for the best, that I'll remember it in the morning. Usually, I will forget it and that will be the end of that great idea... I bet I could have made lots of money by now, if I had only gotten out that laptop or that pen and paper. My muse likes to work the late shift, it seems. Unfortunately, my kids like to work the early shift... Poo-poo for me. But I am back and should be coming up with lots of new posts in the upcoming days. Stay tuned!

Take the day off

I think most people are running on empty these days. It is so hard to catch a break from the stress of everyday life. I totally understand this. I am a stay at home mom and I don't feel like there is enough time in the day to get everything done. I am constantly rushing around, running about aimlessly like a chicken with it's head cut off... I am not organized one bit and can't keep a list if I wanted to. It would just disappear within seconds..."Poof", there it went! I know my friend's that read this would say, "But you take naps in the middle of the day". Yes, I will not lie, I do try to take a nap when my youngest one naps. But one thing, most don't know is that, I am lying there with 5,000 different ideas going through my head. I don't sleep I just lie there, with all these thoughts driving me completely insane. I keep telling myself stop thinking. Just "STOP THINKING"! But I can't, my mind races too fast. I am so tired, but feel like there is so much to do and so little time. I think alot of us feel this way. I don't think we get enough time for ourselves. Whether it be a job, parenting, etc. There is always something that needs to be done. I think people in certain parts of Europe have a better clue at life than we do, when it comes to taking care of ourselves. I think that we would be healthier and less stressed if we got more time off to breathe. We need siestas and more time off. As a housewife, I would like my husband to have more time off, so that we can enjoy our family without the stress of him going right back to work. I think that companies should either offer more vacation time, or maybe a 4 day work week (same amount of hours). I will write more on this topic, but alas I am tired and need my rest. This sleeping beauty has a very busy day tomorrow. I bet you do too! I would love to hear your thoughts on this subject!

Creamy Mushroom Soup

3/4 cup of butter
2 packages of mushrooms (recommend cremini)
2 onions
1/4 cup of chopped fresh parsley
4 tablespoons mushroom bouillon (recommend Better Than Bouillon Mushroom Base)
1 tablespoon vegetable bouillon (recommend Organic Better Than Bouillon Vegetable Base)
4 cups of water
1 1/2 heavy cream


Slice onions, mushrooms and parsley. Heat stock pot at medium heat. Add butter. Once butter has melted, add the onions until transluscent. Then add mushrooms. Saute and stir onions and mushrooms for about 15 minutes, then add water and bouillon to the pot. Heat on medium high heat for 15 more minutes. Then add heavy cream and parsley and cook for another 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Craft of the Day - Watercolor with magic markers

You will need cardstock paper or some sort of thick paper to do this project, washable markers and a nice rainy day. This is a very easy and fun project for the kids. Draw whatever pictures you like, such as a full landscape or an abstract. Then put it outside when it's raining and leave it there for a bit then bring it back inside and let it dry. You will have a beautiful watercolor painting made by you and mother nature!

My new bread machine

For many years, I wanted to purchase a bread machine. I love to cook and bake and thought I should have every kitchen gadget possible. I love the smell and taste of freshly baked bread and knew that the bread machine would make this possible for me. I know what you are probabaly thinking, "Use a loaf pan". And yes, a loaf pan works but I didn't want the hastle of the other processes and the mess they make. Like mixing up the, waiting for it to rise for "x" amount of time, and then finally baking it. The bread machine does everything. I just put my ingredients in and it does the work for me. A few hours later, I have a fresh loaf of bread. And I can even set it on a timer so that I have freshly baked bread as I wake up in the morning. Perfect with a nice big slather of butter and honey. Bread machines can be pretty expensive, but I found one for about $50. This is the exact machine I have and I love it: Breadman TR520 Programmable Bread Maker for 1-, 1-1/2-, and 2-Pound Loaves. I have made honey wheat bread alot and cinnamon raisin bread. These are my two favorites. It is much more cost efficient then buying good bread at the store and has no crap in it. No high fructose corn syrup, artificial sugars, etc. So much healthier than a lot of breads out there and so delicious. I especially love the lingering scent of freshly baked bread in my house. It's actually in the air as I type this, since my bread just finished baking 10 minutes ago. And yes, I already had a slice. No low carb girl here! Moderation is the key!

Gymnastics

I just came home from another night of adult gymnastics. And no.... it is not some x-rated thing that I do at home, it's really gymnastics for adults. We started off with stretches and then preceded to do yoga. Halfway through the class we got into floor exercises such as cartwheels, roundoffs, handstands, etc. Then we did flips at the end of the long trampoline and did some jumps on the big trampoline and ended with stretches. By the way if you do 4 cartwheels in a row, you'll end up pretty dizzy. It's definitely a fun-filled hour that takes me back to being a kid again. I am proud to say that I even did a headstand that I didn't think I could do anymore. We use different appartuses when we have classes and it's alot of strength training. Those olympic gymnasts are hard core. The strength training is vigorous and I am only in an adult gymnastics class. It is so exhilarating and goes by so fast. I am always looking forward to the next class. It is a great way to build strength in your body and keep you more limber. If you have never tried it, I recommend you do! Definitely a great way to relive your childhood....

Tip of the Day

Give someone you love or care about a hug!

Laurell K Hamilton

I have been reading the Anita Blake Series by Laurell K Hamilton which is my new addiction. I can't seem to put these books down. Anita Blake is an animator and also known as "The Executioner", vampire executioner that is. She is a necromancer and can control zombies and vampires. She is a petite little thing that is as tough as nails. She becomes romantically involved with certain vampires and shapeshifters, but I won't say anymore about that because you won't want to read it if I give away too much. It keeps you sucked in and they are pretty naughty, not PG rated if you know what I mean. If you haven't read this series, I highly recommend them. I started to read this series after I ran out of my 2 other addictive series of books. The first was the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer and then the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. I was trying to figure out what I can read next and this became my new addiction.

My new retro Cuisinart pan

My Birthday Cake

This is the cake I made for myself on my birthday. It doesn't look as good as it tasted. It was a delicious homemade butter cake with fresh raspberry filling and a white coconut ganache poured over it. I made my own cake, because I was the only one that would make it the way that I wanted it to be done.

Sale Finder

One thing you will learn about me on this site, is that I love to shop. It makes me feel good. When I go to the store or if I go online and find a great deal, it makes me feel great. I just recently watched "Confessions of a Shopaholic" and realized that they wrote a story about me. I have gotten much better then I used to be. I used to max out my credit cards, but now I have pretty much gotten rid of them. I am almost done paying the last one off... Does this mean that I have stopped shopping? Oh no... I have not stopped, but I am more careful and I have become a real good deal hunter. I love to shop at places like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, outlets, Amazon.com, eBay, overstock.com, Sephora, qvc, hsn, etc. I always check out the deals on Amazon.com and you will see that I had it set up on my blog as well because I like to make things easy for everyone. Also a great place to get a great deal when you want to go out to eat is restaurant.com. I go on to couponcabin.com before I go to restaurant.com and I check to see if they have any promo codes for restaurant.com. Then I go to restaurant.com find a local restaurant where I can get a $25 or so gift certificate for like let's say $10 then I add the promo code and sometimes only pay a few dollars for the $25 gift certificate to a restaurant. And yes, they do work. I am living proof. I have many friends following this and would not steer them wrong, because they know where I live...Also I find great deals on woot.com. Most of the time, they are things I don't need, but I did find lots of cute little things for the kids for christmas on there, such as an mp3 player and a disney mini camcorder. I will be posting a picture of my new cuisinart skillet pan that I just purchased. I love the retro yellow color of the exterior of it. I sound like a guy talking about his car. But I can't help myself, I love my kitchen gadgets. I am a self-taught cook and love to cook with well made kitchen tools. So I will show you my new skillet that I have to christen tonight....

 By the way, if you are also a great deal hunter, please post where you find great deals. Or if you know of a specific one, please post it. Thanks in advance from your shopoholic crazy girl!

Zumba

So one of my passions at the moment is Zumba. I absolutely love it, can't get enough of it. "What is Zumba?", you say. Well it's dancing to latin and international music to make exercise fun. They are based on salsa, cumbia, merengue, reggaeton and other dance styles and forms. It is interval training, so the pace will pick up from slow to fast to slow, etc. I always think of it as an hour at a dance club, minus some guy trying to hit on me and minus the drinks. Okay, drinks would be nice, but come on...it's a fitness class. If you have never tried it, you need to. It is a fun way to get a real good calorie burn in. I usually can burn 500 - 700 calories in a class, based on my Polar heart rate monitor. So my thing now is that I might actually go take the class to become an instructor. I love to do the classes, but don't know if I have the nerves to teach the class or the memory to teach all those people that usually come to a Zumba class... What a dilemma...I will keep you all posted regarding the outcome of becoming a Zumba instructor and I would love to hear you post comments on what you think of Zumba...

Favorite items for relaxation

1.    Lavender oil for the bed
2.    Yankee Candles
3.    A really good book
4.    Victoria’s Secret or Bath and Body Works Bubble Bath
5.    A spa gift certificate for a massage
6.    A nice hot cup of chamomile tea
7.    Glass of red or white wine ( I prefer red)
8.    A real soft blanket to cuddle up to
9.    Soothing music
10.  Aromatherapy (Use essential oils such as lavender, chamomile, sandalwood or mandarin)

Tip of the Day

Take 20 minutes out of the day just for me….

Flickering Flame of the Soul

I have this passion, this fire
Feels like someone is always trying to snuff it out
Every time it starts to gain momentum
It starts to falter, due to outer forces
That I have no control over
My power weakens as time flies by
Do I stay or do I go
Will my energy strengthen, if I shall leave
What happens if I stay
Will my flame burn out like the stars in the sky
Will my misery finally overshadow my heart and turn it into ash
Is happiness waiting in the outer realms that are out of reach
My soul gravitates towards an unknown source that is untouchable
If only I could stretch my being towards this source
To seek truth and purpose in my life
Then my fire would burn brightly
Like the sun in the sky shining down upon us
Warming our bodies, our thoughts, our lives
Pushing us further into different realms of being
Enlightening our paths to unspeakable truths

RPS better known as, Recovering Princess Syndrome

This passage is from over a year ago when I was frustrated with trying to get my site up and running.

Have you ever asked your significant other to help you out with something that they have lots of knowledge with, and they won’t give you the time of day. I have that problem all the time. Take for example, this website. I purchased the name of this site months before my husband finally actually decided to design it. I had written several pages for my blog and had ideas of how I wanted it to look, but it couldn’t be put together till he had the time for me. He is a great web designer and makes a living doing it, but when it comes to his wife, I come last to all his other tasks. I guess that’s normal with most people. I guess that’s why I try to do most things on my own, that I never would have done before. I am much more independent now that I am married, then before. It is a definite change from my days as an only child. I guess you can call me a recovering princess.

Oh, those kind of dreams....

Okay, so have you ever woken up in the morning and had a horrible nightmare that your significant other has been cheating. You wake up with steam coming out of your ears, tears in your eyes, and your heart thumping fast, because you are so angry at them that you want to throw something at them. They try to say good morning and give you a hug or kiss and you just push them away and you snap at them. For the rest of the day, they are the enemy. Yes, this has happened to me on several occasions and my husband would say it requires medication, but I know as well as all of you, that this happens to most everyone at some point in their life. In a way, it reminds you that you love your partner and feel the fear of losing them, without really having to lose them. I usually get mad, but at the same time I am so happy that it was only a nightmare and that we are fine and that I don’t really have to lose him, to feel how important he really is to me.

Another one of my photographs....

My ongoing battle....

I have never felt comfortable in my own body, except for my first couple of years in college. I had worked so hard to look good and it took everything in me to get that way. I have been dieting since I was in fifth grade. I am a yo-yo dieter. I have tried it all and forgot how to eat and how to exercise. I finally joined Weight Watchers and it worked. If I stuck to the points, I lost weight. I have finally learned how to eat again. I am not perfect and I still binge a lot, but now I know how to control my portions. I know how much I really should be eating and how much I need to exercise. I also have to say that a personal trainer is a great way to work your body for your own individual needs. They personalize the workout to your body. I was always afraid that I would gain weight from lifting weights, but I have learned through my personal trainer that it will create a lean and toned body. I still have a ways to go, but it definitely is working. If I was more strict with my diet, then I would be at my goal, but then I would not be having as much fun. You need to treat yourself at times and not get mad when you do mess up, which I do too often. This is the way you learn to make it a lifestyle. I used to screw up my diet and then binge for months. Now I know I just have to get back on the wagon if I fall off. The great thing about this way of life is you can always have a fresh start. I am living proof that it works. I have lost over 50 pounds and have kept it off for more than a year thanks to Weight Watchers and exercise.

Homemade Tortilla Recipe

Ingredients:

4 cups of flour
½ cup flour for rolling out tortillas
2 cups of water
1 tsp. salt
4 Tbsp. canola oil

Take a tsp. of the canola oil and rub it around a bowl. Place 4 cups of flour and 2 cups of water and 1 tsp. of salt in the bowl and mix it together. Once you have mixed the ingredients, knead the dough for a few minutes. Make a nice round piece of dough and let it stand covered for 15 minutes. Take a handful size of the tortilla dough and roll it into a ball and then flatten it out. Get out your rolling pin and roll out the dough into a circle. Keep turning the dough, so you get a nice circle. Heat up a skillet or griddle at medium heat and add some of your canola oil to grease the pan. Place your tortilla into the skillet and heat for about 30 seconds on each side or until you see it lightly browned.

Craft of the Day - Marble Painting

Items needed:

Soda box
Marbles
Poster paint –non-toxic
Paper
Bowl

Take the piece of paper and lay it inside the box. Pour some paint into a bowl. You can use as many colors if you like. Drop the marbles in the paint and swirl them around . Then drop the marbles into box and let your child move the box around. They will end up with a really neat marble painting.

One morning, over a year ago....

So far the day is going by quickly. I felt like I was going to lose my mind this morning as I tried to make breakfast for the four of us. I was trying to make homemade tortillas on the skillet while getting two bowls of cereal ready for the boys and scrambling up eggs, while the veggie bean burrito mixture was heating up in the microwave. All the while, I have my son asking me for yogurt , my husband telling me that he should already be working and my baby running around my legs, trying to trip me. I finally did get two delicious breakfast burritos out for my husband and I, while the baby and my son had cereal, scrambled eggs and yogurt. So now everyone is full and the house is in shambles, time to clean. The work of a housewife is never-ending.

My ever changing top 10 movies of all time

1.    Practical Magic
2.    The Notebook
3.    Legends of the Fall
4.    Dangerous Beauty
5.    Pulp Fiction
6.    Twilight
7.    Grease
8.    Usual Suspects
9.    A Bronx Tale
10.  Dead Poet’s Society

My self-professed addictions

1. Food
2. Shopping
3. Alcohol
4. Blogging
5. Eternal quest to be thin

A little bit more about me written over a year ago, when I first thought of starting this...

I am a stay at home mom with two crazy little boys. People always call me crazy and weird, in a good way of course. I love to have fun and try to keep everything positive around me, even though my husband would say otherwise. My mind is like a tornado. There are so many different elements flying through my head at once. So why not start this blog and clear my head…..

I am 32 years old and still feel like a teenager. I know some people would call that crazy, but that’s how I feel most of the time. I have a 12 year old girl that comes over to help out with the kids and likes to hang out with me and my boys if she gets bored. She will bring her best friend along with her and we will chit chat about a movie, such as Twilight and talk about how cute the guy is in it or play the Wii. I realize at those moments that I act the same as them, but come on now I am 32. I am supposed to act like a grown up, but don’t really want to. It makes me realize that, yes, I am getting older and unfortunately I can’t turn back the clock and no, I shouldn’t have a crush on a 21 year old actor…. But a lot of us don’t feel like we are older, it’s just that our bodies tell us we are. I honestly wish I could hit pause, or press rewind. I don’t want to get old. I like myself where I am right now and feel like my good years are now. If 40 is the new 30, then 30 is the new 20, right? I feel like there is so much I still want to do with my life. I know what I want to do when I grow up, but wonder if it’s too late to actually do it.