Musical Monday - Before He Cheats

It's time for Musical Monday - What moves you? hosted by Diane at Good Mourning, Glory! Be sure to go visit Diane for a fun blogging experience and tell her I said "hi".

When Carrie Underwood came out with this song I had to laugh - why? Because the only thing I could think when I heard the song was been there.... done that... Granted it was a really long time ago - way before I met my husband.... But heart break in a relationship can bring out the worst in people... I think there was lesson learned by my ex - to make sure that when he decides to cheat - make sure that his girlfriend's best friend isn't there..... and the lesson I learned was don't give your heart away so easily.....

Sopa de Tortilla

Today it is rainy in Southern California and nothing is better on a cold wet day is hot soup. This recipe was given to me by a friend that owned a Mexican restaurant in Long Beach, CA. She and her husband recently retired and closed their successful business after 40 years.... I hope you enjoy this - I know I do....

Ingredients

1 green bell pepper coarsely, chopped
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 small whit cabbage, coarsely chopped
1 tomato, diced
1 onion, coarsely chopped
4 carrots cut into 1/4 inch slices
4 medium zucchini cut into 1/4 inch slices
1/3 cup chicken base
1/2 tsp salt
1tsp oregano leaves
1 1/2 gallon water
6 corn tortillas cut into strips
8 oz grated jack and cheddar cheese
2 avocados.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Spray cookie sheet with vegetable cooking spray -Bake cut tortilla strips in oven for 10 minutes or until crisp, set aside. In a large pot add water, chicken base, and cook over medium heat until it comes to a boil. Add carrots, garlic powder, salt, oregano leaves, simmer for 5 minutes. Add bell peppers, onions, simmer for 5 minutes. Add zucchini and simmer for 5 minutes. Add cabbage, tomatoes and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Divide soup into bowls and top with tortilla strips and sprinkle with cheese. Garnish with sliced avocado.

Serves 10-12

From Spouses To Roommates | Amazing Salvation

From Spouses To Roommates | Amazing Salvation

Three Tween Girls Together.... Not A Good Thing | I've Become My Mother!

Three Tween Girls Together.... Not A Good Thing | I've Become My Mother!

Getting In Shape For The Summer

The Hanging Lakes

Okay - two days ago was the day.... The day that I cut all wheat, sugar, and unhealthy carbs from my diet... Summer is coming up and I am out of shape and ... well, let's just say I'm out of shape.... My goal is to take my girls back up to the Rocky Mountains and stay at the Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge - if you have not been there - you have got to put it on your list of things to do before you die....

There are some amazing hiking trails - there's one in particular that I want to enjoy... It's called the Hanging Lakes - it's 1000 feet up a very steep incline - but once you make it - it's suppose to be worth it... Here's a link to the trails and pictures too - it'll make you want to go.. The Colorado River runs right through Glenwood - to cross the street - you cross a bridge over the River - it's beautiful... breathtaking....

The Lodge is old - Doc Holiday once stayed there so the rumor goes (there's a hiking trail to his memorial).... The lodge does have one thing that no other lodge or hotel in the world has... The world's largest natural hot spring pool... The pool is open everyday of the year... Last time I was there - we discovered a webcam on their pool slide - my girls and I made a webcam date with the husband.... I called him from my cell and we waved and acted silly for him - we said good bye and jumped into the pool... Unknown to the girls and I - he continued to stalk spy watch us... Later that night we chatted and he asked how the girls liked their ice cream cones..... funny...

I am looking forward to some "mommy and daughters" time again - we have fun and we are making memories... We do enjoy "daddy" time too - maybe the next time...

Comparison Cell phone Shopping Made Easy

On my daughter's thirteenth birthday, my husband and I decided to get her a cell phone. I went to several different cell phone stores - AT & T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and some other names that I can't remember... Every store I went to had a line - I had to wait 32 minutes just to ask a simple question. What frustrated me the most was the fact the sales person could not answer my simple question - I wanted a plan that was cheap but could get my kid unlimited texting and a enough minutes to call me each month if she needed to .. The sales person gave me a generic mock up of fees with a bunch of add -ons... I wanted a simpler answer... I am too busy to stand around and I was getting pretty ticked off... I ended up buying her a pay as you go phone - and ended up paying double what I would have spent if I had just gotten her a plan...

As you know - I am the ultimate discount shopper - Anything that can save me money on the things I need - I'm there... Anything that can do the comparison shopping for me even better.... One of the best sites I have found for cell phone plans comparison is Billshrink.com. Bill Shrink is not affiliated with any one company so their comparisons are unbiased. The service is free too!

You really can find the cheapest cell phone plans on Bill Shrink - You answer a few questions about what you want in a cell phone plan and next thing you know - you have is a laundry list of different providers and their prices.. The average customer savings is $1500 - seriously... I know I can go a major shopping spree with that kind of savings...

One the great things about Bill Shrink is that the company does not make money unless we save money... How many companies can really say that? Bill Shrink has been promoted on CNN and ABC. The end result after working with Billshrink is that my daughter and I have a new plan with T-Mobile - 2 phones - 600 minutes - unlimited texting - free T-Mobile to T-Mobile calling and I have Internet on my phone... oh and we both got new phones to boot.. My husband has a company phone so we did not need to add him on.... Next year my youngest will turn thirteen and I am guessing -I'll be checking out Billshrink again...

My Grown Up Love Song....

It's time for Musical Monday - What Moves You? Hosted by Diane at Good Mourning, Glory. Be sure to visit her - she in an incredible mother, woman, writer, and artist. Thank you, Diane!

When I was in my first grown up relationship - I was so afraid to give my heart... I was so afraid to be hurt... again.. This song was dedicated to me on the radio back in 1988 - from that moment on..... I became a Billy Vera and The Beaters Fan....

Do you have a old boyfriend/girlfriend love song?

My Mini Backyard Resort

It's February in sunny but chilly California and my backyard thinks it's Spring... My whole neighborhood is doing the spring thing.... There are blooms on the trees and flowers everywhere. Today, I took a couple of pictures of my little backyard resort...

This is the view from my office window



These are the blooms that are popping up - crazy..





I like to pretend that we are lost in a jungle paradise...




Tomorrow it is suppose to rain....

My Daughter and I 80's style.... | I've Become My Mother!

My Daughter and I 80's style.... | I've Become My Mother!

Why Does Temptation Look So Good? | Amazing Salvation

Why Does Temptation Look So Good? | Amazing Salvation

My Birthday Wish For Kara | I've Become My Mother!

My Birthday Wish For Kara | I've Become My Mother!

Dear John -

I saw Dear John's first movie trailer back in October - it looked like my kind of movie - romance - a really hot guy Channing Tatum and the sweet girl, Amanda Seyfried from Mamma Mia!

Watch this movie trailer



My opinion matches the lady that was sitting behind me when it was over... "I am really mad I spent my money to see this - it's stupid...."

There you have it - Have you seen it? If so, what did you think?

The ABC's Of Me | I've Become My Mother!

The ABC's Of Me | I've Become My Mother!

Musical Monday - Womenizer

It's Monday and the time for Musical Monday - What moves you? Hosted by Diane at Good Mourning, Glory. I spend most of the week trying to figure out what song I want to post... This week was pretty easy - let me tell you why....

Saturday I was invited to a TV studio to see a show... I can't tell you anything about what I saw until a week from today - Monday 2/15/09. Actually, I can't say anything at all until around 8:01 PM on 2/22 - Pacific Time. You see, I signed a form that prohibits me from saying anything at all or I could run the risk of being penalized Five (5) million dollars - yes, you read that right... But what I can say is this.....

He's beautiful... but shorter than I thought
They were more beautiful in person
Drama drama drama
oh, and I won 2 Kings hockey tickets because I was the most "rowdiest" audience member - they wanted loud and I delivered.....

So - I will leave you with this song..... hmmm I wonder what I did... Can you figure it out?

They May Stray.. | I've Become My Mother!

They May Stray.. | I've Become My Mother!

Savings In Over 5000 Stores!!!

As many of you know by now - I am the "Savings and Discount" Queen.... I discovered the benefits of coupons and discounts when I had the delusion that being a cashier at Target would be fun - a nice break from the stress of the mortgage lending industry..... It was anything but nice..... I have earned a very high respect for cashiers... let me tell you. Not only are cashiers treated like 2nd class citizens - by the end of the day - their feet are in so much pain from standing for several hours that they can barely walk... I'm talking from experience... Needless to say that stint in the retail industry only lasted a couple of months... I will take the stress of Realtors breathing down my neck any day... seriously....

In my short-lived career in (crazy what the heck was I thinking) retail - I met people that brought coupons and saved a lot of money. I purchase the LA Times - Sunday edition now just for the coupons and every week I save in excess of $15-20 on groceries that I buy... no kidding...

In my quest to save more money I discovered savings coupons at Savings.com. At Savings.com - you can find discounts up to 50% off at Macy's.. Discounts at Kohls... and my all time Valentine's Day store - Harry and David's.... Love their Moose Munch! Can you believe there are over 5000 stores that you can find coupons and discounts to.... Crazy..

In addition to stores - you can find some great Restaurant coupons - many of my favorite restaurants are here! Chick-fil -A, Ruby Tuesday, Hometown buffet, and Pizza Hut.. You have got to check this out - a lot of savings is to be had here.... seriously! You can get a free dinner at Black Angus on your birthday - I'm telling there are some amazing coupons here.

Not only does savings.com have excellent coupons and deals for almost every store and restaurant imaginable - they have incredible coupons for Best Buy - I so wish I had found this site before I spent way too much money on our TV and computer! There are coupons that help you save in upwards of $1000.....

There are savings to be found through coupons in your newspaper.... on line... and many different blogs offer very good savings ideas... Here is another great tip from me to you..... If anything - click on this link Savings.com and see for yourself........

People Never Crumble In A Day - It's A Slow Fade

It's Monday and it's time for Musical Monday - What Moves you - Hosted by one of my favorite blogger friends Diane at Good Mourning, Glory! Be sure to visit Diane after you watch this music video.

Our children see and hear everything we do.... Many times, we don't notice how our bad behavior affects our kids.... I see it when I hear one of my kids talk down to the other - they sound like me and my husband when we fight... My dad yelled and cursed when he was angry - so do I.... It's something - I have to work on everyday.... every minute.... I don't want my kids repeating my actions....

The first time I say this video - I cried... How many times have you just wished for a do-over...? One moment in time if you had done something differently - how much better things could have been... When we give our self away to the wrong choices - it affects everyone.... not just us but the ones we love the most...

Be Careful Little Ears what you Hear....

Wondering When He'll Notice....

A while back my copier/fax/printer unit was acting up... basically it was not working. You see, I need my printer - I cannot do my job without my hefty laser jet printer... I had to use my ink jet printer and I went through 4 ink cartridges in one day - no kidding - over $25 each.... My husband had a lead on a laser jet printer/scanner - I would have it by the following week.. Okay that was 3 months ago... I had since fixed my laser-jet but not by very much... it still gets cranky...

In addition to a printer I use my scanner excessively... I had lucked out a while back and got a free 3 in 1 when I bought one of my old computers way back when... That thing has been a major power horse - it scans - it prints (the expensive ink cartridges) - it's reliable... until yesterday.... Now it has a huge line that goes through every scan... I called Canon and basically it would cost more to fix it than it's worth.... so in my immediate desperation - I went to Office Depot and bought a new 3 in 1 - this time I got a laser jet.. The scanner is fast and I hope reliable....

So my question is - how long till my husband notices it?

Before The New Printer - I know - it's messy - the nature of the business



After the New Printer

Saw This And Had To Share...

I don't think Michael Jackson was thinking this when he moon walked to Billy Jean...

These old geezers are something else.... a lot of fun!