2011 It was the best of times and the worst of times...

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.


Benjamin Franklin

I can't remember the last time I felt so positive about the future. I am excited to add more structure to my little blogspace in the coming year..But for now I am counting my blessings and getting ready to head up to Flagstaff for New Years and meet my family..make snow angels..have potlucks..eat pizza...read ..watch movies...reconnect... It actually snowed in Fountain Hills...Scottsdale..Phoenix..today....I got two teeth pulled today (and it really was nice to be able to stay home) I suprised Jake with new boxes of crayons.. activity books & a strawberry soy frappucino...picked up two of Starbucks Valentines Day cups to give as gifts..slowed down a bit.. it was very nice and a perfect end to 2011..New Years Eve tomorrow, I will be back with a bang,,, may be lighting a few fireworks between now and then as they are legal in AZ..you can buy them at Safeway! I am so loading up!!

Happy Christmas

and DAYS filled with THE LOVES OF MY LIFE..RED VELVET CAKE...THE ZEROS..KITCHY PRIME RIB DINNER..MIMOSAS..PLAYGROUND TIME..GRAND SLAMS..THINKING...GETTING INTO THE GROOVE OF THINGS ..SPECIAL ANIMALS..PASSION...HOLDING HANDS..MAKING MEMORIES..BEING DELIGHTFULLY SUPRISED..HAIRDOOS..PRESENTS..FEELING PRETTY..KISSING...COMING TOGETHER AS A FAMILY...BLESSINGS..ELVIS..GAME PLAYING..ENCOURAGEMENT..MASSAGES..FEELING ALIVE ...

Elizabeth Gilbert quotes

Elizabeth Gilbert quotes: "'If I love you, I will carry for you all your pain, I will assume for you all your debts (in every definition of the word), I will protect you from your own insecurity, I will protect upon you all sorts of good qualities that you have never actually cultivated in yourself and I will buy Christmas presents for your entire family. I will give you the sun and the rain, and if they are not available, I will give you a sun check and a rain check. I will give you all this and more, until I get so exhausted and depleted that the only way I can recover my energy is by becoming infatuated with someone else.'
— Elizabeth Gilbert"

Happy Christmas (War Is Over)

Christmas 2010

Only a week away...this is a very relaxing month so far...most of the presents were bought early and I have a feeling Santa will be rewarding good behavior...the joy of togetherness.. and all that the New Year has to offer..here's to new beginings...

Good Morning Boys & Girls;)

Good Morning boys and girls, i'm your


substitute teacher, Mr. Buckwort

the topic Fo' today is, what you wanna be when you grow up

you, over there in the jean shirt, what you wanna

be when you grow up?

- i wanna be a police officer

alright, that's a pretty good profession

you over there in that black shirt

what you wanna be when you grow?

- i wanna be a fire man

alright, that's a pretty good profession too

you, back there in those french braids, what's yo name?

- my name is Snoop

alright Snoop, what you wanna be when you grow up?

- i wanna be a motherfuckin hustla, ya betta ask somebody


Where have I been for the last almost 5 months u ask? I have been growing...taking a relationship hiatus..making things more interesting..cleansing mind body and spirit and removing impurity from my life..seeing the beauty..learning every day...embracing truth...looking forward to the New Year...did I mention growing up? I am glad dear blog to make your aquaintance again, it's a pleasure to to be back.

VH1 Rock Honors: The Who - Pearl Jam performance

5 Things on Friday

~~5 things I did this week~~
1. Nursed two children back to health after a bout of fevers and a stint in the ER
2. Met my childs 4th grade teacher and it truly was a pleasure
3. Admited to someone close to me that time doesn't always heal old wounds
4. Got a beautiful new hairstyle that made me ever so excited
5. Ate no less than 4 cupcakes

~~5 things I want to do before Monday~~
1. Take the boys shopping for shoes & back to school outifits
2. Reorganize the room my 2 youngest boys share
3. Watch a movie
4. Make a raspberry pie
5. Take a nap

~~5 things I am Truly grateful for today~~
1. That I live in America
2. That I have been blessed with healthy children
3. That I have had no major health problems
4. That I listen when a voice from a higher power speaks to me
5. My humble home
 
~~My 5 Favorite things this week~~
1. My boys smiling
2. Cupcakes
3. Ovation TV
4. Checkers
5. Tickleback & being inspired for this by Simply Feather

The Salton Sea May 2010

Jumpology

“When you ask a person to jump, his attention is mostly directed toward the act of jumping, and the mask falls, so that the real person appears.” -Philippe Halsman

Thrift Store Finds This Week

Modern Cream & Sugar for After Dinner Coffee

Handcarved Frame from San Bernadino,CA

In love with detail

For Someones 38th B-Day inscribed.. Cowgirl Chic Folding Frame

I have no comment on this:)

Also a newer silver 11X13 frame...a Dell keyboard that did not work after Logan tried for 2 hrs to fix it to no avail..Still looking for macrame plant holders..

There Has Been All Kinds of Good Stuff Coming Out Of The Kitchen..

I have been making an effort lately to eat at home 99.9 percent of the time and we are about three weeks in, whereas before we ate at home probably 80% of the time.... Don't get me wrong ,I love, I mean absolutely love going to a great restaurant and eating wonderful foods...sipping wines..little cafes...desserts.. I just found that it no longer became a special occasion to do so and therefore starves out my obscene love for cooking...So I am in the kitchen 2 extra days a week and loving every minute of it, I even have taken a step back to not only become more frugal in the kitchen (think early 20's just starting out) because it makes sense but I am a real eat by the season type of gal so it makes it easy and it is actually fun to try and use up all those strawberries or zucchinis ... With the weather still hot and sweltering most of what I make lately is easy on the oven time and easy prep time as well..which is a beautiful thing before the heavy meals of Fall come to be..Without further ado here are some of the meals I have been serving to my family lately...

Herb Roasted Chickens: On Sale 49 cents a lb. 3 Purchased

Cleaned, Patted dry, Rubbed Down with Veggie Oil -Fresh & Dry Herbs- Freshly ground salt & pepper- stuffed with aromatics onions, garlic, lemons, limes..Roasted 45 min - 1 hr at 375

Leftovers dices with mayo, dijon, sweet pickle relish, red onion, salt & pepper for a mean chicken salad!

My favorite thing to make with 3 ingredients courtesy of Smitten Kitchen Strawberries on sale 99 cents a pint

Fresh Strawberries (or any berry) Sour Cream & Fine Brown Sugar

Before

And After Broiling for 10 min on low then hi

Divine and yes I ate it all myself simple & wonderful

Green Chille Casserole Eggs on Sale 69 cents a Dz 10 eggs , evaporated milk, cayenne papper, split whole chillis fresh or canned, plenty of fresh cheddar and jack.. my mother has been making this since I was a kid, it is sometimes called easy chilli rellenos and is perfect any time of day

Banannas 49 cents a lb had 3 mushy ones left over combined with peach sorbet vanilla ice cream and milk for a smoothy for Nick & Jake

I think I may have gotten some on the lens & the lighting in my kitchen isn't the best...or maybe it's just me:)

More Strawberries after 1 pint was dusted with sugar and put on the counter and quickly eaten up, there was one last lonely pint for non other than The Pioneer Woman's Strawberry Shortcake Cake... I did cheat & use a boxed strawberry cake mix because I was having company for dinner but plan on making the from scratch version this week as strawberries are buy 1 get 2 free..

Ummm I didn't make these Sprinkles did Red Velvet anyone??

And The Veggies:

Zuchinnis 99 cents a lb made into a provincal , sauteed in olive oil, cracked pepper & salt, dash garlic, traditional red pasta sauce, sprinkled with parmesan melted over the top it is perfection.This was actually one of my favorite dishes when I was a little girl...strange but this is my Dad's recipe and makes for an easy and yummy side dish.

Funny Little Fingerlings Can't recall if on sale..drizzled with olve oil and herbs and roasted 30 min.. My sons favorite new potatoes..

There was also Penne with a Lemon Creme Sauce with Garlic Cheese Bread

Fried Porkchops ( great sale) with the veggies above and a french baguette

Green Chille Enchiladas ( ground beef sale extra for stuffed peppers tomorrow)

Tortilla Soup (Mexican Chille) with corn muffins

Grilled Ham Steaks with buttered carrotts & fried potatoes for a kids only dinner

Looking forward to good eats next week!

Saturdays Summertime Sangria... Need I say more?

The Sunday Creative: Traditional Anniversary Gifts

I thought I would showcase some very creative people on Etsy making Traditional Anniversary gifts that are sure to please.

1st Anniversary: Paper                          Crepe Paper Hydrangeas Rananculus Market

2nd Anniversary: Cotton                       Wristlet Akward

3rd Anniversary: Leather                       Your childs artwork cuff suzicook

4th Anniversary: Fruits or Flowers         Mid Summer Nights Fruit Bowl Rainestylehome

5th Anniversary: Wood                         Personalized Treasure Keepsake Box Braggingbags

10th Anniversary: Tin or Aluminum        Red Rose Aluminum Earrings Nomsa

15th Anniversary: Crystal                      Night Out of Town Earrings Designsmjc

20th Anniversary: China                        Vintage Mikasa Wrappedroundmyfinger

25th Anniversary: Silver                        Antique Mexican Silver Frame Cerifairie

50th Anniversary: Gold                         Cameo Gold Locket Necklace Melissa Haske Jewelry

75th Anniversary: Diamonds                 Illumination Diamond Ring Singlebbeautiful