Kellly's Idea #17 Laugh Till It Hurts

Laugh Till Your Stomach Hurts

One of God's biggest blessings he has given us is the ability to laugh.. As babies we laughed out loud to the most fun things.... a silly face... a fun rattle.... a puppy licking our faces... As babies we found the joy in the little things in life... As adults - many of us have lost that joy...

Today I was sharing a story with my kids about the time I accidentally peed on my friend because I was laughing so hard... Sounds kinda gross but when you're thirteen not so much - didn't get her wet or anything... I jumped up in time... but nevertheless - it was the best kind of laugh.. Even today, this friend is still a very good friend and sometimes we reminisce about the good old days... by saying "Remember that time you peed on me?" Then we laugh ourselves silly again..

I remember my family - (sisters, mom, and dad) we were trying to take a group picture.. We were all joking about not blinking for the camera or making sure our eyes don't squint too much and all of sudden we just start laughing - the kind of laugh you can't stop and next you know everything else is funny too... those are awesome laughs..

But my all time favorite kind of laughing is the ones I share with my kids... Admittedly, I am a pretty silly with my kids and I believe they love the fact I can laugh at myself and laugh at them... My teenager likes to pretend she's embarrassed and the next thing I know she is giving her own... and that is funny..... I really enjoying the teenager smirks...most of the time.......
We have our little inside jokes and it is a great thing.. and I know we will remember them forever. And when I am gone to my home in the sky - my kids will remember fondly the jokes we shared when they were kids and adults... (I plan on hanging around for a long while)

So today and everyday, I encourage you to have that big fat laugh... The kind that makes me you almost pee your pants.....and if you do pee that's okay just change....

Supporting Our Troops - Advertising?

Everyday I get more and more concerned for our country.. Our country, "The Land of The Free".... Where our military men and women fight everyday to maintain our rights... our freedom.. our way of life.. So when a condo's homeowners association forbids a man from displaying military support stickers on his own vehicle, I got to wonder - Where is our country headed....communism? What is happening to our rights?
Frank Larison, a disabled veteran was told that he had to remove all seven of his Marine Corps decals from his car... Having served in the Marines for fourteen years - Frank was rightfully upset.. The Homeowners Association (HOA) said that the stickers violated the HOA rules of no advertising - and the decals are advertising the Marine Corp.... Are you kidding me?
If Mr. Larison does not comply with the HOA's ruling than they will tow his car at his expense!!! The board also said that they will fine him $50 for any future incident... The guy has been living there for over eight years and it's a problem now?
A Homeowners Association (HOA) is a board of fellow homeowners in a particular condominium complex... Usually it means that your lawn must look good, you cannot paint your home purple, and other simple things to make the complex look good and to help maintain its value... This particular HOA has a dictatorial HOA president and I can almost guarantee the guy will not be reelected... It seems it always takes one bad apple...
For now, Mr. Larison's hands are tied unfortunately... Courts usually rule in favor of the HOA. Lawyers like to call HOA's "Little socialist colonies" and they can be. I have worked with many HOAs through my business and some of the rules.... you have to laugh....
It is sad to me that supporting our troops... supporting our nation... - is offensive to some.... maybe they should move away.... I heard housing is pretty cheap in the middle east...

The Rotation Diet... Ths Time

I do not like the word diet.... It automatically makes me want to get a tube of chocolate chip cookie dough... But dieting is what I need to do... Healthier way of eating... yep Exercise aka torture is a given.... This week I have reviewed the many diets I have done.

Jenny Craig - okay tasting food... Not much to it.. Did not enjoy going in every week to talk to a stick thin girl who never in her entire life had an eating problem.. Pretty pricey.

Medifast - shakes.. gross soup.. different flavored shakes.. Not good tasting.. But what really turned me off was... (don't gag) I had left a cup with a little of the shake in our garage. There was an airtight lid on it... A few days later I discovered it and inside this airtight cup with a little medifast shake were about 50 little worms... I kid you not......EWWWWW

Optifast - You can have Five shakes a day - total calorie intake 800.. Go into a doctor's office every week for weigh in and blood pressure checks.. average cost $160 - 200 per week.

Nutri systems - One work YUCK ... Tried about 4 of their meals - ended up returning the 1 month supply of food and got my money back... They even messed up on the chocolate cake!

Weight watchers - I think this is a really good program... I did the on-line way and the group meeting way... Did not like the group meetings... I am too busy to listen to others complain... I might go back to this..... on line

Atkins - This was a really good program - I lost a great deal of weight... only to put it back on once I started eating carbs again..... I do love my bread, pasta, and potatoes..

The Rotation Diet by Martin Katahn is a good diet/way of eating. It teaches you portion control and it has you eating healthy foods from all the food groups. What can be difficult with this "way of eating" is the first three days of the diet... Calorie intake is 600 then it goes to 900 and then to 1200 and then back to 600 then 900 then 1200.... It is a 21 day plan that you can continue to follow.. It jolts your body to burn fat... and the food is not bad.. if you like a lot of tuna....

So I am thinking - I'm going to do The Rotation Diet this time...

Any suggestions?

Kelly's Idea #221

I was at the beach the other day and was amazed on how much litter is out there.... Wondering why people can't put their cups and food wrappers in the trashcans... they are cans everywhere!!!
Sunday - will be family day at the beach.... Taking my kids and a few of their friends... taking a bunch of green trash bags.... and we are going to pick up trash... and for fun rinse off in the Pacific Ocean... and come home and take a shower....
The crying Indian gets me every time.....

Show Your Love - Stop Smoking Today

Kelly's Idea Number 471

Quit Smoking Today - if not for you... for your loved ones.... My dad died because he smoked.. I look at my husband's dad Darrell who is one year older than my dad and Darrell is full of life... He golfs often, he plays often, he travels often, and he is living....daily.

I quit smoking three years ago... I went to the dentist for oral surgery and my blood pressure was 200/110 and I was only 40 years old... I came home, got on my knees and prayed for God to take away my want of tobacco, and threw my full pack in trash.... and never looked back.. I used to smoke two packs a day since high school! My mom quit smoking after over fifty years and she looks very good today and her cough is GONE!

Listen to the video above. The song is a very powerful story of a man and his habits... and while lying on his deathbed he is full of regret....

Show someone you love them TODAY... Throw the pack away and Live.... and if you don't smoke and there is someone you love that does.... send them this post... show your loved one - They are loved..

Something Is Popping Up In My Backyard II

On May 10th I posted a picture of our Sago Palm sprouting something new.. In the last 20 days it has become huge.... remember the movie 'Little Shop of Horrors'?
We have been getting a lot of hummingbirds in the backyard lately... Our red hibiscus plant has been drawing a crowd.. With the plant so close to our backdoor the birds get nervous when we walk by.... so I went out and got a hummingbird feeder and hung it on one of our trees... pretty...
Kara my shy one (just kidding) wanted to pose and share our additional Sago Palms - they are getting very big with lots of new growth.. I love this time of year when my backyard also known as Dusty's Paradise comes to life.. stay tuned

The After Picture Is Gonna Take A While

There were many blogs I read today about different people's struggles with weight loss. Many of the stories were very uplifting and human.... making me realize that I am not alone. In my teens and young adulthood, I had a great body... at least I liked it and I know my husband did.. and then I got sick... I was diagnosed with Lupus... before anyone feels sorry for me..I am symptom free today and have been for fourteen years - I had kidney failure for a couple of months way back then but my kidneys came back... I am fine but I became fat...
I have my little comfort zone I live in... I have my friends that I see all the time and love me... there are clients that I have worked with for years and years and never met face to face and I like it that way... there are old high school friends that I would love to see but in my embarrassment, I have allowed other obligations to take priority and have not seen anyone... it was kind of sad to me the other day... I have a picture of me and Dusty (my husband) on a shelf in my family room. The picture was taken sixteen years ago when I was a size 2... My friend looked at the picture and asked me who the pretty girl with Dusty was..... can you feel my embarrassment...and I think my friend was embarrassed too...
I am tired of living my life in hiding... I know that this is my problem and my problem alone... At my ripe old age of 43 - I seriously doubt friends that love me for me could care less how small or large I am.. I think my clients may be surprised how I look.... my voice does not sound like I look... Don't get me wrong... I am not scary to look at.. I'm just over nourished...
So tomorrow is Memorial Day and I am going to start yet again another diet... another way of eating... making good choices and not eating that chocolate cookie dough calling my name from the refrigerator in the middle of the night.. I'm going to wear earplugs.. so wish me luck... pray for me if you will.. I am NOT going to post a before picture until I have an after to share (okay I will- accountability and all that). I am guessing the after won't be available for at least a year..

The View's Hot Topics - Hit Rock Bottom

I taped The View yesterday morning because I saw an advertisement that the women were going to discuss "Hot Topics" today... I thought that it could be interesting.. I had no idea what the "Hot Topics" were... I wish I had and I would never had bothered...Here are the "Hot Topics"

Is He Having An Affair? - Let's glorify Sarah J. Symonds who just wrote a book called "A Handbook for the "other woman". Sarah has admitted to having affairs with many famous married men.. When asked if she felt bad for the wives of the men she had cheated with she said, "I didn't know these women so how could I? It's hurts to be involved with a married man because he won't leave his wife and I recommend for a woman not to seek a married man, but if they do... don't fall in love.. because it can be devastating." She also said that cheating is in a man's DNA....

The Real Housewives of New Jersey - I am a housewife and most of my friends are housewives and we look nothing like these women and we act nothing like these women. The New Jersey housewives are NOT real housewives.. Real housewives are not being filmed for a reality show... they are taking care of their husbands and children... a real housewife's prime focus is her family and not herself.... That being said.... I thought this segment was really dumb.... especially when one of the moms said how proud she was of her son who works several different jobs and works sixteen hour days and his dream is to open a car wash/strip joint and not go to college....... Yep, I bet that's every mom's dream for her son... Below is a short clip of the show.. Are they typical in your opinion?


The New Documentary "Outrage" - To Out Gay Politicians - The goal of this documentary directed by Kirby Dick is to out all the "hypocrite gay politicians that vote against gay issues" I think Whoopi Goldberg was so disgusted that she had very few words. Below is a preview of the documentary - What do you think?


Oral Sex Is The New Goodnight Kiss - Author Sharlene Azam spent four years with young teens and discussed their sexual activities - instead of helping the teens or getting the parents involved - this author wrote a book promoting their behavior... Sharlene says girls as young as eleven years old are selling their virginity for money and it starts by them giving oral sex in the elementary school boys' bathroom for math homework.... Girls are saying that holding hands is more intimate than giving oral sex.... Warning sign your daughter is giving oral sex - If your eleven year old or junior high age daughter is dating an older boy in high school or college chances are they are active in more mature activities... Of course, my first thought was huh? Why would a parent allow their young daughter to date Period..... I'm asking you... when did parents shop parenting and another thought is what parent would allow a strange woman talk to their kids about sex...?

My thoughts on The View.. they have really hit the bottom - next thing you know, they'll have audience members fighting with guests like on the Jerry Springer Show..

Kelly's Favorite Vacation Spot #3

One of the most beautiful states in America is Utah... The incredible red rock formations are breathtaking.. When looking at the sandstone, you can see years and years of time and pressure.. layers and layers of different colors... I have had the opportunity to visit Utah a few times and one of my favorite places I have discovered is Zion...
My family and I spent three days there and we should have allotted more time. In the town of Springdale, you can jump on the free shuttle and it will take you to all the shops, museums, and places of interest on the main street through town... The shuttle also drops you off at the main entrance into Zion National Park. For a small entrance fee, you can jump on the free shuttle (no cars are allowed) once again and take the scenic drive through Zion. There are many stops along the way.
Our first stop was at the very top of the scenic drive - called the Riverwalk... There is a mile long hiking path along the Virgin River.. where the trail ends is where you can begin your adventure walking in the famous Narrows.. The Narrows can be a very dangerous place to be at the wrong time. You would never go in there during a rainstorm or times of flash flooding... The Narrows is when the Virgin River runs along Zion Canyon and the canyon walls get closer and closer...and closer.. The Narrows is a must do when visiting Zion - it's the "wet" hike in the park.. Prepare to be wet from the thighs down.... be sure to wear good shoes...
The next stop was something else... we had just got on the shuttle for the next stop and a cloud burst wide open... being from California, I had never seen anything like it... it was amazing.. The rain was warm so I did not mind walking in it... As the rain started to slow down, we headed for the Weeping Rock... The Weeping Rock is a sandstone that water had been dripping through for over a thousand years.. we all got splashed with thousand year old water.. as we were starting our short but very steep hike we heard this incredibly loud boom.... all of a sudden about one hundred yards in front of us on top of the canyon came a newly formed waterfall from all the rain. I started to grab my kids arm and run for our lives but was told the water was going down to a stream below us and not to worry..... after the "surprise fear" it was a sight to behold...
There are many other things to see.. The Emerald Pools, Hanging gardens, The Court of the Patriarchs, and so much more.
My husband and the kids went on a real horseback riding adventure through the back country and came across perfectly persevered bones of a bobcat... they all thought that was cool..
I look forward to going back soon and spending much more time there

I Predict Kris Allen Is The New American Idol

I know I am going against the norm.. I also have to agree that Adam Lambert is by far a more talented singer... Those notes he can hit our amazing.... but Adam has been the same every week. He takes a song - mixes it up - and then screams in tune..

Kris on the other hand has slowly made himself known.. Yes, we can all agree that those dreamy eyes of his just make you want to melt... but the guy can sing... As Kara said last night - he makes you feel like he is singing right to you.... I would buy his album... and Danny Gokey's too.

So my prediction is Kris Allen will be the New American Idol...

Birthdays and Fashion

Today, my friend Carole celebrated her birthday.... we celebrated with her by shopping at one of her favorite woman's stores.. Dress Barn.. We all gathered for snacks and shopping. In celebration of her birthday - everyone at the party enjoyed 15% off their purchases..
I thought this was a great idea. A great way for a group of friends to relax, visit, and shop. I bought a very cute skirt...
Happy Birthday, Carole!

Two Truths and A Lie

Michel over at Factsoptional tagged me on this silly little game.... you know me - I am always up for fun.. Be sure and visit Michel's blog... great sense of humor.
The game is for me to post two truths and one lie and you my friends are suppose to figure out the lie....

Here I go!

1. I have always lived in Southern California and I would love to move to a state that actually has seasons...
2. I married my high school sweetheart, Dusty, and have been married for over 20 blissful years.
3. My secret hobby is I love to read romantic suspense novels from writers like Nora Roberts, Sandra Brown, and Kay Hooper..

If you have read my blogs - then you might know the answers... Leave a comment and let me know your guess. Now I get to tag a few of my favorite blogs that I have not promoted yet - there are so many favorites to choose from..... so here goes! Be sure to visit the sites for some great reading and ideas.

Underdogs Unite You're Tagged
Mrs. Sandy at One Day At A Time
The Obnoxious SAHM!
Momsweb at Mom's Peace Bites
Jen & Crystal at Beachy Keen
Amber S at Four guys and a gal
Life is Wonderful

Aunt Audrey's Salad Oil Cake

Salad Oil Cake
2 Cup Sugar
1/3 Cup cocoa
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baling soda
3/4 Cup Mazola Oil
1 tsp vanilla
2 Cup Cold water
2 Tbsp Vinegar

Put flour, sugar, cocoa, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl. Add oil, vanilla, vinegar and cold water. Mix until well-blended. Pour into a greased cake pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

Chocolate Frosting (Never Fails)
1 1/2 cup sugar
5 Tbsp Butter
6 Tbsp Milk
1 Cup chocolate chips.

Combine in a saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup chocolate chips. Beat until frosting holds its shape, then spread on cooled cake.

Chicken Cheese Casserole

Chicken Cheese Casserole

This is one of my All Time Favorites.

6 Whole boneless Chicken breasts (or 1- 4lb chicken)
2 10-oz pkg. Frozen whole broccoli
2 Cup milk
2 8 oz pkg. cream cheese
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

Cook chicken until tender. (remove skin or bone if applicable) cut into pieces - refrigerate.
Cook broccoli (do not over-cook) Cut into bite size pieces. Arrange broccoli in lightly greased low flat baking dish. Over low/medium heat blend milk, cream cheese, and salt until smooth and hot. Stir in 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese and stir until smooth. Pour 1 cup sauce over broccoli. Top with all the chicken. Cover with rest of cheese sauce. Sprinkle remaining Parmesan cheese over the top. Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from oven. Sprinkle Mozzarella on top and let stand 5-10 minutes covered..... and enjoy..

Left overs taste better than the first night too....

Kelly's Favorite Vacation Spot #2

Glenwood Spring, Colorado




Last summer my daughters and I took an All Girl road trip... It was awesome.. We could take as many potty breaks as we wanted too.... The girls watched their movies in the back with headphones and I listened to my "chic" books on tape....The hotel room TV only came on to watch "girl friendly" TV... no sports....no wild kingdom.. no Discovery channel, and yes no Jeopardy.... (sorry honey)
One of my favorite stops was Glenwood Springs, Colorado.. If you have not been there.... you gotta to go. We stayed at the Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge. The Lodge is famous for their hot springs pool - the largest in the world.. The main pool is larger than three football fields and the temperature is 90 degrees year round.. (even in the winter snow) and the "hot" tub which also was huge is around 103 degrees... When you walk into the pool area, you are immediately hit with the smell of sulphur... but that smell either goes away quickly or I just got used to it...
Doc Holiday had heard about the hot springs and believed that they had healing powers.. unfortunately they did not for him and he passed away.. There is a short but nice hike up to his memorial close to the Lodge.
The Lodge itself is really nothing to write home about.. There is no room service, bell captain service, and no restaurant. I thought the staff was very rude and thankfully - once I discovered they were not helpful in anyway whatsoever - I just did things myself... like carry a one hundred pound piece of luggage down two stories all the way to my car.. and a cooler stocked with bottled water.... by MYSELF.... my kids sucked it up and carried their own bags....
We enjoyed going to the Hotel Denver to enjoy our meals at the Brew Pub restaurant. It had great food, great prices, and their french fries for the kids were smiley faces... Loved it.
Down the street from the Lodge is The Adventure Park... now this place is spectacular in every sense of the word... You need to take a gondola up to the top of the mountain (7100 ft up) - I am deathly afraid of heights...but the view was breathtaking... the Colorado River running down the middle of the valley below....words cannot describe.. Up at the top there are several cave tours.. You can take the regular walking tour or you can go deep into the caves with a lighted helmet and crawl through small crevices.. your choice.. We went on a walking tour in the "fairies caves". It's a great place for the kids with many attractions.. bungee jumping, panning for fossils, rock climbing, and many other things..
The restaurant had a panoramic view of the entire valley and the food was your basic hamburgers and hot dogs....at very reasonable prices..
In addition to the Adventure Park - there are some great hiking trails you can take up to lakes and waterfalls.. There is also river rafting half day and full day trips down the rapids on the Colorado River....
One funny story.... before we came to Glenwood Hot Springs - I found a web cam of the pool on the computer. I figured out where it was and made a computer web cam date with my husband. So here we are me and my two girls waving like crazy to a big spiral slide... and people walking by like we were nuts.... the husband loved it!

Kelly's Favorite Vacation Spot #1

The most incredible place I have ever been is the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas.. This place is a tropical paradise... We stayed there for a week and still wasn't able to do all the things we wanted... I live in California and there are some pretty amazing aquariums here but nothing like what they have at Atlantis... they beat Sea World hands down... The world's largest manta ray in captivity is in one of the aquariums at Atlantis.. along with hundreds of sharks and lobsters chasing each other along the sand... reminded me of a Red Lobster "lobster fest" commercial.. wanted to jump into the tank and grab some dinner..
In the middle of the resort is the King of water parks.... a seven story slide in the middle of an Aztec pyramid... Check out the picture of Nikki - the kid is fearless... there were grown men who turned around at the top of the slide.....There were some great inter tube slides as well... and as you are floating through caves and tunnels you come out into a Plexiglas tube and there are sharks swimming all around you...under you... above you.... it's breathtaking... My favorite water activity was the lazy river... I plopped on an inter tube got a diet coke..and just floated around the property...I lost count on how many pools they also had..
Atlantis is located on its own island called Paradise Island.... The beaches are spectacular.. the water is a blue like nothing I had ever seen before.... so warm...and clear.. We were riding on a boat to a private island and I could see all the way to the bottom.... We had fun snorkeling in the small bay inside the resort and collecting baby jellyfish...too small to really hurt...but fascinating to watch.
Everywhere you go in Atlantis there is something new to see.. small little ponds with sting rays.. touch tanks... caves.... lush tropical plants... beautiful tropical birds..
The night life is nice too. The grounds are lit up beautifully and for the gambler there is a HUGE casino... I was lucky last trip... I received $20 in free play and turned it into $500 without touching my own money.. not even once.. so that was pretty cool.. For the parents with small children.... they have a "kids only" care center that my kids loved for a couple of hours... face painting.. games.. snacks.. It was great so that Dusty and I had one nice dinner out.. just him and me..
The only negative thing I can say is that the food is very expensive... so what we did.. don't laugh... we brought a suitcase filled with breakfast and lunch supplies.. I made breakfast every morning in our room and made lunch to take with us on our daily adventures.. We found a family style restaurant within walking distance from the resort and had dinner there.. the prices were much more reasonable than in the resort....Atlantis is a place that has to be seen...here's a link to their web page Atlantis Resort.
I can't wait to go back....soon..

Calling All Married Couples

You know when you read a good book, see a good movie, or do something fun you want to share with everyone your experience? Well, I want to share with you two things.. The movie Fireproof and the book The Love Dare.
I have been married since 1989 and most of my marriage I was extremely unhappy... not because I married an awful man... I actually married a wonderful man...it was because I did not know what love was... real love... unconditional love..the kind of love God wants me to have towards my husband. Looking back on the way I have treated Dusty these past years, I feel shame and regret... shame because he deserved my love and regret that I wasted so much time being unhappy that I missed out on years of attainable happiness.
When I watched the movie Fireproof - I saw myself in both characters and I also saw Dusty... every marriage has their little quirks.... the movie was the first step for me to look at the wife and mother I had become and I was not liking the reflection.... After a few weeks of a Fireproof study and watching the movie - I bought The Love Dare I had to really make a commitment to myself to follow it... I truly felt that this was my last chance... for a miracle.... We were at such a bad place in our marriage.... we couldn't talk to each other without starting a battle.....instantly our defenses went up whenever one of us would say something.... we became room mates that really did hate each other...
The first two weeks were the most difficult for me... Dusty had his defenses up and brought up things that I had said and done in the past... awful things I had said.... I had hurt him for so many years and he was angry......one morning in particular during The Love Dare..... there was a major turning point...in our marriage... Dusty was just so angry and I did not argue back... I did not defend myself.. I let him say the things that was building up in him..... I know he was surprised that I did not argue back... I quietly told him - that I understood his anger..... but I had not done anything wrong in the past two weeks.. I have done everything right... at least I was trying too... and Dusty stopped and realized I was right and we were okay... The following weeks were good and bad... It took a while for Dusty to get to a place where he could trust me.. Trust that I was seriously committed to "us"
I can't say this is a quick fix and your marriage will be perfect.... but I can say that I love my husband today.... he loves me today....we haven't fought in months....seriously.. when we disagree we talk it out.... He still does things that irritate me...but you know what...living with someone...that is bound to happen... I have also noticed that when he uses his sarcasm towards me- which is something he is working on - he is quick to apologize... This Mother's Day was so joyful because of my "new and improved" marriage....everything is better.....
Marriage is a beautiful mystery created by God, joining two lives together as one.. Love is a choice and I choose to love my husband.....
If you want to experience my Love Dare journey you can go to my blog I've Become My Mother and see for yourself the rewards and difficulties I faced...just go into the archives.... I would love for everyone to have the rewarding experience I have had.. God is good... He is good ALL the Time..

Lobster Enchiladas

This is an Awesome Dish for a party of 12-15......

2 pounds Lobster tail
2 medium tomatoes diced
1 large yellow onion diced
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter unsalted
2 doz Flour tortillas
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp oregano leaves
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 cups heavy whipping cream
8 oz jack cheese grated

In a large skillet heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and saute until tender. Add tomatoes, salt, garlic powder and oregano leaves. Saute for additional 2 minutes. Add lobster meat and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes. Melt butter in a separate medium skillet over low heat. Dip flour tortilla in butter on both sides. Fill with lobster mix and roll up. Put into a 13x9 glass pan and continue doing same with remaining tortillas. Pour whipping cream over the top. Sprinkle with cheese and bake in a 350 degree oven until cheese melts.
**optional garnish with green chilies

Something Is Popping Up In My Backyard

One of the best things about living in So.Cal is the year round good weather.. We have been able to maintain a beautiful Oasis in our own back yard.. About six years ago we changed our backyard into a tropical paradise....at least in our opinion. There have been many happy times spent in our yard... from birthday parties, 4th of July parties, and bachelorette parties... We have taught our children how to swim...and our dog how to surf....
Today as my husband was trimming the plants and flowers....he came across the beginning of new growth for one of our Sago Palms.... We can't wait to see it bloom... Already many of the tropical flowers have bloomed and the yard smells like a Hawaiian Luau.....

My Flowergirl Is Getting Married Part II

My beautiful, talented, and very smart niece Kristin is getting married to a wonderful man named Josh next month and today I threw her a "Honeymoon" Shower..... To help her get ready for her after wedding day fun.... The gifts she received were sexy indeed...I'm thinking Josh will be a very happy man while cruising the sea in the Caribbean....
The women enjoyed mimosas, strawberries, and sandwiches galore.... the sun was shining and the weather was balmy and laughs could be heard throughout the neighborhood....
Where do the years go? I ask myself... I don't remember getting older.. so when did she?
My flower girl is getting married......

Overstock.com - Try It You'll Love It!

Search Overstock.com for:




One of my favorite places to shop is Overstock.com.

I have bought cameras, movies, bedding, and many other things. The prices are less expensive than in the stores and shipping is only $2.95 per order... That's it! They carry everything you can imagine.. sports equipment, furniture, video games, and much much more... and shipping is just $2.95! You CANNOT beat this. I still love Ebay for selling all my old clothes and videos...but Overstock.com is where I buy my fun things. Last Christmas, I purchased majority of my families gifts off of Overstock.com and everyone was extremely happy. Each daughter received a camera and reconditioned IPODs they could not tell the difference but my wallet did...
Take my advise and try it out..... I am sure you'll be a fan just like me. In today's tough financial times, it's nice to be able to get a good deal... for the shipping cost of $2.95 for the ENTIRE ORDER! Happy stocking!

Pacifier Liberation Day

Both of my kids were pacifier (binky) babies. I had no problem giving my kid a pacifier when they could not find their thumbs... I gave them binkies right after they were born and both took to them right away... I know the binky is responsible of many quiet nights in our home.... When one of the girls would cry out at night we'd walk into their room and sure enough she had lost her binky.. We took care of that problem.. we put in around ten binkies so she would always be able to find one and comfort herself back to sleep.

Kara would have three binkies her hand and on in her mouth. She would rub one of the binkies against her face before she went to sleep at night.. When the girls became too old (in my opinion) to walk around with a binky in their mouths - we made a rule that the binkies stayed only in their bed.... we were lucky because that was never a problem.... except when one of them was sick - I would let her have the binky out of bed...it soothed her and that is good.

When the girls each turned three - no more binky... We started talking about throwing away the binkies about two weeks before their birthday..... So when they turned three they would big girls and that they should throw them all away.... So when each of their big days came both of my daughters were ready to take the next step into Big Girl World.. They gathered up all of their binkies and threw them in the trash... we would pick up our daughter and do a dance through the house - kind of like a conga line... no more binkies yeah..... no more binkies yeah.... Kara/Nikki is a big girl today...yeah...
Silly I know....but neither one of the girls ever looked back.... I think because we talked about it and they took part in the planning of the liberation of the Binky Day - it became something to look forward to and not dread....

PS. the binkies did not do any damage whatsoever to either one of my kids teeth... I had asked my dentist about binkies and he said more damage is done by thumb sucking and having a bottle at bedtime....

How To Help Baby Sleep Through The Night.

On Becoming Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep (On Becoming. . .)
This book saved my sanity...... When I first became a mom, my daughter would sleep during the day and cry at night... I was so tired... and cranky... I wanted to cry.. I remember one night holding my dear baby and watching the sunrise.. neither one of us had gotten any sleep that night....
The second week of motherhood my friend Kim called... she had a baby about three months before me.. I just cried on the phone to her. "I can't sleep...I don't think I'm cut out for this mommy gig " well she told me to hang on tight and she was coming over... She said that her daughter was sleeping through the night at 8 weeks... really sleeping through the night... going down at 10:00 PM and not waking until 7:00 AM...that sounded like Heaven to this girl...
Kim's secret was this book On Becoming Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep (On Becoming. . .)
In the book was a sample schedule that you can start right away with your newborn baby.. and it went to up older babies... it told me everything I needed to know..... seriously... How much and often to feed the baby, secrets to keeping the baby awake, when to put the baby down for a nap.. and when to know when it's time to get up.... When I followed these simple instructions, my daughter started sleeping through the night at seven weeks..... My youngest daughter by four weeks..
The schedule was a great boiler plate for me to work off of... and when she got to be closer to two months - I started the "sleep through the night" training....
The first few days was tough... for example when you know the baby is fed, clean, and not sick and she cries - I would go into her room and not pick her up. I would just pat her on the back for a few seconds and say go to sleep sweetheart... the letting her cry was the tough part... I would cry in my bed listening to her cry... Of course, I would not let her go for more than 10-15 minutes without sticking my head in the door and saying softly go to sleep baby.. mommy loves you..... The reason behind letting the baby cry in small increments is that she learns to comfort herself... and that my friend is a good thing... a very good thing..and having about ten pacifiers in the crib did not hurt either!
The book helped me to understand the difference between a hungry cry and I want to be picked up cry... When she slept through the first night - I woke up in a panic and ran to her room and there was my sleeping baby..
One great thing about this program is that both of my girls loved taking their naps... they never cried.. at least at home... and they always woke up happy... with naps being a good experience for them they tended to play in their cribs later until I got them up... That was great...
I hear horror stories from friends about their child or someone else's child not sleeping through the night at one year.....two years... that would make mommy irritable and baby not happy either... a child needs their sleep and so do mommies...
One real cute story... I had a friend that was pregnant and Dusty my husband told them that they have to get Babywise... and I saw her eyes glaze over... I know pregnant women and new parents get really tired of all the unsolicited advise they get... but Dusty kept going...they'll sleep through the whole night, it makes life easier...and blah blah blah... About 2 months later my friend's husband calls me....he says I'm desperate... none of us have slept in five weeks... What is the name of that book...I'm going to get it NOW... He did.. one month later, I called to chit chat and they said the book saved their sanity too and baby, mom, and dad were doing good... real good.
So if you know a friend that is having her first baby.. or second... get her this book.. she'll be thankful.....I promise... On Becoming Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep (On Becoming. . .)