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Tuesday, September 13, 2011

I bought these REALLY, cool bowls at Amazon.  They come from Zak!Designs. They are made out of recycled materials yet no harmful plastics are in them. VERY COOL!!! 

They are described as mixing bowls, but they aren't really the right size.  AND, one review said they cracked when she used them with her hand mixer.  My purpose is to use them as cool serving bowls.  Chips, dips, salsa or guacamole.

Aren't they fun?????

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Saute'd Chicken Thighs with Leeks

Hmmm, what's for dinner?

This recipe kind of came by accident. (Now, I am sure I am not the FIRST person to ever make this. But its my blog...and I wanted to share!)  I had some chicken thighs to eat up.  Didn't feel like baking or grilling so thought to saute them.  I also had a leek to use.  When it came time to add some liquid, I discovered I was out of white wine (GASP) and chicken broth.  But in the back of the fridge was a non alcoholic beer that someone left here.  So I used that in the recipe. 

And it worked! 

Plus a small glass for me was a nice treat.  I prefer the real thing...but it wasn't THAT bad!



Saute'd Chicken Thighs with Leeks

2 T. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 leek, white parts only, sliced into thin rings
6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Santa Fe Seasoning (I used one from Pampered Chef)
salt/pepper
1 cup white wine, chicken broth or beer

Heat your skillet over medium heat, add oil then add leeks and saute. 
Meanwhile, season both sides of chicken thighs with Sante Fe Seasoning, salt & pepper. 
When leeks are almost soft and translucent, add chicken.  Cook for about 15 mins (turning half way thru). 

Remove chicken to a plate.  Turn heat up to high. Add the liquid (beer, wine, chicken broth or whatever you have on hand).  Scrape all the bits off bottom of pan.  Keep stirring till bubbly then reduce heat to simmer.  Add chicken back to pan.  Turn a few times to get sauce on both sides of chicken.

Cover with a lid, turn off heat and let sauces coat chicken (about 3 - 5 mins).

ENJOY!!! 

They would be delish with smashed potatoes!  I served them, tonight, with some zucchini stix.  You can find that recipe here:
Zucchini Stix

Those were REALLY good. 

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Nana's Roses

Thirteen years ago, my Nana passed away.  It was a really hard time and hit David, me and the kids really hard.  I had some wonderful friends give me a gift certificate to a local nursery and advised us to buy something special in her memory.  I spent months researching exactly what kind of plant I wanted in her memory.  Even though I do NOT have much success with any sort of plant that requires any sort of tending to; I decided on a rose bush.  Then I spent more time deciding what color/kind.   Finally found one that fit perfect.  'Touch of Class'.  It was an orangy/pink color and fit my Nana to a tee.

We designed a Peace Garden, where we planted the rose along with some other plants.  The garden was behind a big outdoor fireplace/grill so was semi private and secluded.  It had a stone bench.  I added a bird bath and other features.  For a few years it thrived and was a really peaceful place to go and reflect.  Then I got involved in other things and it grew into an ugly mess.  Although David would always weed around the rose bush. 

Three years ago we moved.  We rented out our old home and left the rose there.  David would go by occasionally and make sure it was still there!  When the renters moved out, David decided to dig the rose bush up and bring it to our new home. 

For the last three years, David thought it was dead.  But he kept tending to it.  Several times he thought it was gonna bloom and the deer would munch on it.  But he never gave up on it!!!

Yesterday as I drove down the driveway I saw a hint of orange in his normally green garden.  I thought maybe a weed?  Well tonight he came running in house with a big ole smile on his face and said "Nana's roses finally bloomed!"  And this is what he brought me:

Friday, August 26, 2011

Creamy Penne Pasta with Andouille Sausage

I received some yummy and organic pork andouille sausage this week.  They are local and made with no hormones or antibiotics.  I wanted to do something different than the obvious; grilling them and throwing in a bun.  So I did a search online and found one that looked promising.

The original recipe called for turkey andouille sausage.  Well, obviously, I substituted with my pork andouille.  And it called for baby spinach....I had regular spinach on hand.


(Excuse the messy plate.  I was so excited to eat I didn't have time for fancy staging. LOL)

OMG....it was DELICIOUS!!!  I totally could see ordering this in a restaurant.  It had just the right amount of spiciness and so creamy.  David had three servings, he loved it so much.

You MUST try this!!!

You can find the original recipe here Creamy Penne Pasta with Turkey Andouille Sausage

Friday, March 11, 2011

SKINNY GIRLS MARGARITA NIGHT

Yes...it is GIRLS NIGHT.  And Yes...I did pick up some Skinny Girl Margaritas. 


Never tried them before.  They JUST arrived in WA.  So me and a few girlfriends are gonna test drive them.  Crossing fingers that they are YUMMY.  I'm sure they aren't as good as my delicious margaritas....BUT I think they are more figure friendly.  And THAT is always a good option!!!

I'm ready to go!

Saturday, February 26, 2011

SNOW!

Been snowing ALL DAY LONG.  Wasn't expecting this.  (of course I haven't really been paying attention!).  I had big plans tonight.  Getting together with the gals I graduated with.  Well due to weather, it was postponed.  Boo Hoo.  I was really looking forward to tonight.  I had margarita fixings all ready, I had my outfit set out.  I guess I REALLY have cabin fever and needed to get out of house!!! 

So instead I am going next door to hang out with my sister in law, while the guys are off at a poker tournament.  I think we are doing dinner and a movie.  Eat, Pray, Love.  At least I am not stuck in the house again and have something exciting to do:-)

When they said this was a La Nina year..somehow I expected it during December......not into almost SPRING.  Oh well.....its purty to look at:....and FUN to play in.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Update

Today is 2 weeks since I had my hysterectomy.  Everything went well.  I checked in Monday at 6am and was released Tuesday about 1pm.  Was on pain meds for 4 days before felt good enough to go without.  I felt GREAT that first week. So good that I overestimated my recovery and did a bit too much!!  My doctor made me realize that no pain did not necessarily mean I was back to 100%.  So last week I went back to taking it easy and think I am on the right track for healing.

Today, I drove my son to his chiropractor.  He was going to be in there a while so I decided to hang out in Target.  I just browsed and walked up and down the aisles at my own pace.  It felt good to walk.  While it wasn't anything that worked up a sweat...it still felt good. 

I can't believe I am saying this...but I miss exercising!!  I can't wait for my 6 week checkup, to be cleared to get back to working out.  For now; I am starting short walks...at a slow pace. 

It is hard to be stuck at home and seeing everything that needs to be cleaned yet not being able to really do much about it.  I can basic stuff but no vacuuming or scrubbing.  David has been awesome with keeping up laundry and dishes but I still see stuff that I want to do.  I think I need a maid........

So for now, taking it easy and trying not to go stir crazy!!!

Sunday, February 06, 2011

A bit apprehensive....

(So trying hard to keep this post out of the TMI category......)

Tomorrow, I am off to the hospital to have surgery.  I'm going in for a hysterectomy.  Not for any cancerous reasons!  I am horribly anemic and have been for years.  After spending the last year, ruling out everything else; we (my doctor and myself) have decided this is my best option.  And believe me...I am ready!

So while excited about the future and improvement to my life; I am nervous.  I mean..its SURGERY.  Anesthesia and everything.  AND with my anemia; there is a possibility of a blood transfusion. 

Sooo, while I am 99% feeling positive about the situation, I am 1% scared!

I'd appreciate any extra thoughts, directed at me, in the morning:-)

Monday, January 31, 2011

Raise Your Glass

I LOVE PINK!!!

Raise Your Glass

Right right, turn off the lights

We gonna lose our minds tonight
What's the dealio?

I love when it's all too much
5 AM turn the radio up
Where's the rock and roll?

Party crasher, panty snatcha'
Call me up if you are gangsta'
Don't be fancy
Just get dancey
Why so serious?
So raise your glass if you are wrong
In all the right ways
All my underdogs, we will never be, never be
Anything but loud
And nitty gritty dirty little freaks
Won't you come on, and come on, and
Raise your glass
Just come on and come and
Raise Your Glass!

Slam slam oh hot damn
What part of party don't you understand?
Wish you'd just freak out (freak out already)
Can't stop coming in hot
I should be locked up right on the spot
It's so on right now (so fuckin' on right now)

Party crasher, panty snatcha'
Call me up if you a gangsta'
Don't be fancy
Just get dancey
Why so serious?

So raise your glass if you are wrong
In all the right ways
All my underdogs, we will never be, never be
Anything but loud
And nitty gritty dirty little freaks
Won't you come on, and come on, and
Raise your glass
Just come on and come and
Raise Your Glass!
Won't you come on and come on and
Raise your glass!
Just come on and come and
Raise your glass!

Oh shit my glass is empty...
that sucks !

So if you're too school for cool (I mean...)
And you're treated like a fool (treated like a fool)
You could choose to let it go
We can always, we can always
party on our own...

So raise your (Aw fuck)
So raise your glass if you are wrong
In all the right ways
All my underdogs, we will never be, never be
Anything but loud
And nitty gritty dirty little freaks
So raise your glass if you are wrong
In all the right ways
All my underdogs, we will never be never be!
Anything but loud
And nitty gritty dirty little freaks
Won't you come on! and come on! and
Raise your glass
Just come on and come and
Raise your glass
Won't you come on! and come on! and
Raise your glass
For me
Just come on and come and
Raise your glass...for me

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Friday night ramblings

David and I just finished watching Repo Men with Jude Law and Forest Whitaker.  The ending came out of no where.  Just when I was satisfied that the movie came full circle and was neatly tied up in a bow; the ending changed and I was left going "HUH?".  I love movies that make me think...but kinda wish this one had ended with a nice, fluffy ending.  Although it really wasn't a nice, fluffy movie.

Jude Law?  WOW!  Never really gave much thought to him till tonight.  He's HOT.  WOW!  (not as hot as my beloved Ben...but a real close second).

Forest Whitaker?  Dang, he is so talented.  I don't think I have seen him in anything that I haven't liked.

One thing, I think my husband loves about me is I love action movies.  Matter of fact, most of our movie dates are action movies.  He has no problem watching chick flicks, but we usually reserve those for watching at home.  I prefer to see the action movies on the big, movie screen.  But the older I get the more I love action movies without all the blood and guts.  Repo Men had plenty of it...got me a bit squeamish at times.  But I thought it was good. The concept of repo'ing organs when the paitent can't pay for them; kind makes me nervous though................

Did you hear they Transformers 3 is in 3D?  WOOHOO......just gotta wait till July!

UPDATE:  Yes, I am a dork....I realized that I posted Friday Night Ramblings....on SATURDAY night.  OOPS, a day late and a dollar short.....

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Drama Free Zone

This is one of those things that is going around every ones Facebook status. I like it!

There comes a time in life, where you walk away from all the drama and the people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you make laugh, forget about the bad, and focus on the good. So love the ones who treat you right, and forget about the ones who dont. Life is too short to not be happy.


Just one of the things I am working on this year.

Monday, January 10, 2011

One extreme to another...

I had to leave these beautiful surroundings, on Friday....

 To come home to these beautiful surroundings.

Amazing what a day...and two states distances...can make! 
 I think I am glad I came home to snow and not gloomy rain! :-)

What a day!!!

I just gotta vent about my day yesterday!

We are having a snow storm. Dylan's car has been broke down for a few months so he occasionally borrows one of ours. (We have Davids truck and Kayleighs old Neon). Well Saturday night he was in the Neon and the tires are really bad on it and should not be driven in the snow. He was going around one of the roundabouts and slid into a curb and cracked a rim. I still don't know how bad it is, since he parked it at a friends house till the snow melts. (it won't make it up our driveway). So David has the truck to go back and forth to work (gas guzzler) and I am stuck home. I can occasionally borrow my moms  but still an inconvenience.

That's not even the worst thing! I had the best dinner planned for Brenna's birthday. Per her request, cchicken fettuccine alfredo, cesear salad, and garlic bread.. So I am getting ready to start dinner and David informs me we are out of propane. We use propane to heat the house, run our fireplaces AND for the cook top. I am clueless why we ran out, but maybe while we were on vacation, the fireplaces were run a little longer than normal? UGH

So I make adjustments and borrow my moms hotplates to boil noodles and cook sauce. I decide to bake chicken in oven and also use oven for the bread.

I'm getting back into my groove; using what I have available to make the dinner turn out good. I put chicken in the oven. And start to boil water for noodles. ALL of a sudden I hear a POP! Then icky smelling smoke. MY OVEN BLEW UP!!!! Can you believe it??? So David is swearing and I am trying to figure out what to do. Brenna tells me to saute the chicken. (DUH). So I pull out a cast iron pan and start sauteing 4 chicken breasts. Once that is done, then I go back to boiling noodles. THEN, I do the sauce.

In the meantime I decide no bread since I can't cook it. Well my mom brings up a toaster oven. So my counters are all crowded with extra appliances. I am running back and forth between toaster oven and little cook top to try to get dinner together. David keeps telling me to just cancel the dinner but I guess I took it as a challenge! LOL

We ended up eating over an hour late....BUT the fettuccine turned out sooooo delish!!!! In the end it worked out. Just a bit hectic.

So this morning, I call first thing to get the guy out here to fill our propane. Well of course, we are on a waiting list....and my house is getting colder and colder. (its at 59 right now). And I am worried because last time it snowed the truck got stuck in our driveway. LOL CROSS your fingers that he makes it here...and makes it up our driveway so we don't turn into popsicles!

SECOND call of the morning was to the appliance place. I needed to double check because this happened once before.  I need to refresh my memory on when and how much.  Well it was just a little over a year ago AND it cost $500 to fix. No warranty since this oven set wasn't bought from them, the oven is over 10 years old and the part only had a 90 day warranty. Well at this point there is no way I am paying another $500 dollars, for it to happen in another year. So looks like I will have to buy a new double oven set! UGH. Can't do that right away so will be without ovens for a few weeks.

So now I am sitting here, bundled up, cruising the Internet looking at double ovens.

How was your weekend??

UPDATE: Propane truck arrived AND made it up my driveway!!  House should be heating up soon.

Saturday, January 08, 2011

Saturday, January 01, 2011

A New Year, a New Me....the REAL Me

I am starting off the New Year with a repost of two of my favorite quotes and thoughts.  Thought it was a fitting way to start the New Year.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Healing may not be so much about getting better, as about letting go of everything that ISN'T you - all of the expectations, all of the beliefs - and becoming who you are.
-- Rachel Naomi Remen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom"
--Anais Nin

Sometimes we wonder how we got to where we are. Not our surroundings, jobs or life around us.....but the person the world see's and accepts. Because honestly, I don't think that person is always the person that we feel on the inside.

I think we all make changes along our lives path that we don't consciously agree to! We get married and give up a part of our freedom....we sometimes conform to what we think is the ideal spouse. We have children and begin to behave in a way that we think is THE way that a parent behaves. We don't always share our strong opinions because they are deemed NOT politically correct. We start to dress a certain way, behave a certain way....and conform ourselves. ALL so we can be liked by the masses. So we fit in. Molded into a cookie cutter image of what we think we need to be.

But what if that is not how we feel on the inside? What if we want to be more true to how we really feel?

The RISK is: what if no one likes the person we are on the inside? What if we offend someone? What if they laugh at us? What if they talk about us? What if not EVERYONE likes us?

Is the RISK worth it?