I've Become My Mother!: Bone Marrow Testing Kits Available

I've Become My Mother!: Bone Marrow Testing Kits Available

I've Become My Mother!: Bone Marrow Drive In The Works!

I've Become My Mother!: Bone Marrow Drive In The Works!

I've Become My Mother!: Be A Donor - Save A Life - An Urgent Request

I've Become My Mother!: Be A Donor - Save A Life - An Urgent Request

I've Become My Mother!: Help Save A Child - URGENT REQUEST

I've Become My Mother!: Help Save A Child - URGENT REQUEST

Warm Thai Chicken Salad

One of my favorite recipes...

1 TBSP vegetable oil
1 Clove garlic, finely chopped
1 Jalapeno chili, seeded and finely chopped
1 LB boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 1/2 inch strips
1 Large bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 Medium cucumber, cut length-wise in half then crosswise into 1/4 inch slices - 2 cups
2 Green onion, sliced
1/4 Cup lime juice
2 TBSP soy sauce
1 TBSP chopped fresh cilantro
2 TSP sugar
1/4 TSP pepper
Lettuce - your choice... I like Romaine
1 Cup dry roasted peanuts
1 Lime

Heat oil in skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Cook garlic and chili in oil 30 seconds, stirring frequently. Stir in chicken. Cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken is no longer pink in center. Add bell pepper, cucumber and onions; toss with chicken mixture. Stir in remaining ingredients except lettuce. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly; boil and stir 30 seconds. Remove from heat.

Divide lettuce among 4 plates. Spoon chicken mixture over lettuce, using slotted spoon. Drizzle liquid from skillet over chicken mixture and lettuce. Garnish with dry roast peanuts and lime slices...

** I got this recipe many years ago in Betty Crocker - Chicken recipes pamphlet..

I've Become My Mother!: Do Your Kids Believe In God?... Do You?

I've Become My Mother!: Do Your Kids Believe In God?... Do You?

I've Become My Mother!: My Daughters and I - Are Going Historical Part III

I've Become My Mother!: My Daughters and I - Are Going Historical Part III

I've Become My Mother!: My Daughters and I - Are Going Historical! Part II

I've Become My Mother!: My Daughters and I - Are Going Historical! Part II

I've Become My Mother!: My Daughters and I - Are Going Historical! Part I

I've Become My Mother!: My Daughters and I - Are Going Historical! Part I

I've Become My Mother!: I Have To Say This....

I've Become My Mother!: I Have To Say This....

We Will Sit At The Table And Have Conversation..

I have a roast in the crock pot.... Not sure why... I don't particularly care for pot roast... or any kind of roast for that matter... I do have a husband and kids to feed.. The kids are not fans either... not sure if the hubs is - mostly because it's not something that I typically cook... Lately we have been dining on "what you can find in the kitchen before anyone else finds it"... This meal has been a common occurrence lately due to mom being too busy to cook - the kids are too busy to eat dinner at the same time - and the husband is out of town more often than he is home... But tonight everyone will be here by 6:30 PM and we will sit down at the table together with plates, napkins, utensils, and conversation....

So tonight it's pot roast - I was walking through the grocery store this morning in search of something to make for dinner.. something that I don't have to spend too much time making...
I saw the big chunk of meat and voila... dinner was found... The meat also came with a little popper thingy that I can put into it to make sure I cook it correctly... that's a good thing...


Rump roast
2 large carrots
2 onions cut in half
3 red potatoes
1 parsnip (can't stand them - but the husband seems to like - yuck)
1 packet of savory pot roast mix....

crock pot it for 8 hours....

My eldest made homemade bread from scratch yesterday - if there is any left we can use it to sop up the gravy/juice....

5 Question Friday..

What is Your All Time Movie - one that you can watch over and over again? Pride & Prejudice

What is Your Favorite Treat? Anything salty and sweet together... Chocolate covered salty pretzels is always a winner..

What is Your Favorite Bible Verse? There are many but today it is: "For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.." Phil. 4:13

Favorite Morning Beverage? Lipton Tea.. It's funny - my father in law knows I am a tea drinker and almost every Christmas he gives me a box of flavored teas... I don't have the heart to tell him - I don't do flavor.... but his heart is in the right place...

Favorite TV show? A month ago I would have told you Gilmore Girls (even though it's long over) but today after I discovered NetFlix - My all time favorite TV show is Grey's Anatomy... Love the show!

What are your 5 answers to 5 Question Friday????

I've Become My Mother!: Struggling with kids and electronics.....

I've Become My Mother!: Struggling with kids and electronics.....

I've Become My Mother!: John Hopkins Update - Cancer...

I've Become My Mother!: John Hopkins Update - Cancer...

I've Become My Mother!: My Addictions...

I've Become My Mother!: My Addictions...

Can't Stand Bad Drivers!!!

One of my biggest bed peeves is bad drivers... You know the ones who pull into traffic super fast to get in front of you then proceed to drive 10 miles below the speed limit?... Or the one that stops 2 car lengths from the crosswalk at a red light... or how about the one who just sits there with the green arrow and after honking continuously to move he suddenly notices the turn signal right before it changes - leaving you stuck for the next green?? Aren't these drivers fun??

Nothing turns my potty mouth on more than dealing with bad drivers... When my kids are in the car - I try to be good... I really try... I call bad drivers Bubba.. It helps me from calling them something else.... My kids will often hear phrases like... "What the heck, Bubba?"... "Oh no you don't assssshoBubba?" I'm thinking you are getting the picture?

This video was sent me the other day and I had to laugh.. Mostly because it could have been me....

Enjoy!

I've Become My Mother!: Making A little Extra Money From Blogging

I've Become My Mother!: Making A little Extra Money From Blogging

Deep Fried Ice Cream with Bunuelos

This yummy treat is Always a winner - (very easy -a little less fattening than the "traditional" recipe) Try it out - You'll Love it!!! I promise....

Deep Fried Ice Cream

1 pint vanilla bean ice cream
2 bricks Mexican Ibarra Chocolate
bunelos - recipe below
1 can whip cream
4 cherries

Melt chocolate in small saucepan with two tablespoons of water over low heat. Blend chocolate until smooth. Place bunelos around the ice cream dish. Add ice cream and pour chocolate over top... Add whip cream and a cherry...

Bunuelos

3 flour tortillas
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cinnamon
1/4 cup vegetable shortening

In a skillet add vegetable shortening over medium high heat. Cut tortillas into triangles and fry until golden brown. Remove from skillet and place on a paper towel. Mix cinnamon, sugar and sprinkle over tortillas...

I've Become My Mother!: What Would You Do... Seriously?

I've Become My Mother!: What Would You Do... Seriously?

I've Become My Mother!: Facebook Daggers and Other Comments....

I've Become My Mother!: Facebook Daggers and Other Comments....

God Wasn't Done.....

Look at the picture above and you can see where this driver broke through the guardrail, on the other side of the culvert, where the people are standing on the road pointing... the pickup was traveling about 75 mph from right to left when it crashed through the guardrail. It flipped end-over-end bounced off and across the culvert outlet and landed right side up on the left side of the culvert, facing the opposite direction from which the driver was traveling. The 22 year old driver and his 18 year old passenger were unhurt except for minor cuts and bruises.. This was just outside Flagstaff, AZ on U.S. Hwy 100

Now Look below to the second picture........

This goes to show you if God isn't done with you... God ISN'T DONE WITH YOU!!!



See the truck - that little white speck on top?????

** email received from a friend

Guess What I'm Getting Today???

My mom had a routine mammogram last December - They found that she had breast cancer... She did not feel it on her self examine.. and even now she cannot feel it... Tomorrow - She is having a double mastectomy.. Her mammogram saved her life.... If you are over the age of 40 and/or have breast cancer and/or uterine cancer in your immediate family - Make an appointment today! It CAN save your life!

Don't Mess With Mama

Lab has baby squirrel pinned down... and ... Mama Squirrel sees it (from above)

Mama Squirrel Takes Action!

Dog gets it from Mama Squirrel and baby gets away!

Mama Squirrel consoles baby and..

Look at the dog's face.. This has to be what he is thining...

"What the hell just happened? Did I just get my ass kicked by a squirrel????

** email from a friend today...

18 Weeks To Go Till We Go East

So last night I was in the family room surfing the net on my IPAD while studying for my broker exam, watching TV with the husband, and chatting with the kids.. I was looking for things to do on my Mom and Daughters East Coast trip of a lifetime this Summer.... So far - I have DC planned... Lots and lots to do - Very excited... Still working on the NYC things to do list.... And last night I found a tour that my kids would LOVE... My oldest daughter is into paranormal stuff.. AND I found the ultimate tour - Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour in Salem, MA.. It's a night tour - which is perfect!!!! We will most likely take the Cemetery tour also - that tour is in the daylight... I am calling to today to make sure it still is open for business -Wish me Luck!

Only 18 More Weeks To Go.....

Did You Know? Part 2

Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and at the end of the recipe if you want a stronger taste of garlic ( I love garlic, sorry Dusty)

Heat up left over pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. this keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza.

Expanding Frosting - When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount.. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.

Newspaper weeds away - Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will NOT get through wet newspaper.

Broken Glass - Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.

No More Mosquitoes - Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away!

More Do you Know Tips To Follow

*Photos from Yahoo pictures

I've Become My Mother!: And The Band Played On - Give Away

I've Become My Mother!: And The Band Played On - Give Away

Choosing A Wife

* Sent to me by a friend - thanks Jan... Loved the laugh!

A man wanted to get married.. He was having trouble choosing among the three likely candidates. He decided to give them each $5000 to see what they would do with the money....

Candidate 1 - She spent the $5000 on a complete makeover.. she had her hair done.. new makeup. Bought several new outfits and dressed up very nicely for the man.. She tells him that she has done this to more attractive to him because she loves him so much... The man is Impressed...

Candidate 2 - She went shopping and bought the man gifts.. She bought new golf clubs, some new gizmos for his computer, and nice expensive clothes for him.. As she presents the gifts, She tells him that she spent all the money on him because she loves him so much... Again the man is Impressed...

Candidate 3 - She invests the money in the stock market. She earns several times the $5000. She gives him back his $5000 and reinvests the remainder in a joint account. She tells him that she wants to save for their future because she loves him so much.. And again the man was obviously very Impressed...

So the man thought for a long time about each woman and what she had done with the money he had given her... Then he married the one with the biggest boobs...

On a side note.... There is more money being spent on breast implants and Viagra today than on Alzheimer's research. This means that by 2040, there should be a large elderly population with perky books and lasting erections and absolutely no recollection of what to do with them.... I'm just saying....

Hope you enjoyed the Funny.....

**Photo from yahoo images

Did You Know? Part 1

Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster....

Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh longer and not mold.

Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.

Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.

For a yummy treat - make brownies as directed. Melt Andes Mints and pour over warm brownies...

More Tips tomorrow.... What do you think so far???

** Tips received via email from a friend.

I've Become My Mother!: Making Memories and Other Stuff

I've Become My Mother!: Making Memories and Other Stuff

I've Become My Mother!: My Baby Girl Turned 13!

I've Become My Mother!: My Baby Girl Turned 13!

I've Become My Mother!: We Put Our Kids On A 40 Day Electronic Time Out

I've Become My Mother!: We Put Our Kids On A 40 Day Electronic Time Out

I've Become My Mother!: Cowell Is Missed But I Do Love Tyler

I've Become My Mother!: Cowell Is Missed But I Do Love Tyler

In My Backyard Today..

We have solar panels on our roof... They heat the water in our home and the pool in the summer... The solar is turned off because it's Winter... But somehow the panels broke and we have a Niagara falls sized waterfall right outside our back door... Solar guy can't come out until tomorrow...


The filter for our pool is also leaking... There are 3 leaks springing from a crack... The pool guy can't come out until tomorrow... yep, he's the same guy for the solar...


While I was standing in the backyard looking at the leaks and getting annoyed... Our waterfall came on... It reminded me that I'm still very lucky...



This little guy came out to visit us last weekend - We have several generations of alligator lizards living with us...

Amazing Salvation: I've Been Married How LONG????

Amazing Salvation: I've Been Married How LONG????

Not Standing On A Peak...

Many years ago a wise woman told me how life worked... She said that there are many peaks and valleys. There will be days, months and sometimes years when I may be standing on a high peak - where everything was going good.... and there will be times in my life where things are not so good and I will be riding the low valleys... Thankfully in my life I have had many more peaks than valleys... I have been blessed... I have many things to be thankful for..... But I have to say that right now... today... I am not standing on a high peak.....

I really do not like Murphy.... You the guy with the Law thingy.. The saying: "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong" is holding court in life....

This song is from Buffy the Vampire Slayer - In the lyrics - she sings.. "Give me something to sing about.." Sometimes you just gotta have that pity party and then move on...

I've Become My Mother!: Cancer Is Attacking My Mom!!!!!

I've Become My Mother!: Cancer Is Attacking My Mom!!!!!

I've Become My Mother!: Sea World - Not As Magical As Before...

I've Become My Mother!: Sea World - Not As Magical As Before...

Braces Time

It's time for the kids to get pretty teeth... I'm sure they will be happy.. in about 2 years... We started this "adventure" last March but the husband had been laid off and now he's back to work and Now the torture fun begins...

I had no idea how much goes into getting braces on.. And of course the girls are now hearing from their friends that it is a painful process.... I was hoping that they would learn on their own that there is nothing to it.... Easy for me to say - I never had braces...

Nikki - Treatment is as follows...
1. Place comprehensive edgewise orthodontic appliances supported with a transpalatal arch to align teeth properly.
2. Removal of primary tooth #C - I'm thinking this won't be fun...
3. Surgically uncover the maxillary right cuspid #6, direct bond bracket and attach gold chain (huh?) to assist in orthodontic forced eruption... ( I really don't like the way that sounds... forced eruption... ouch...)
4. Utilize a facial orthopedic appliance with a high-pull headgear to correct/improve Class II dental and skeletal relationship.... (high-pull?)
5. May need a temporary orthodontic anchor screw(s) to facilitate leveling and alignment of the teeth.
6. Later, will need to remove the 3rd molars due to lack of adequate space for their eruption and function
7. Placement of maxillary and mandibular retainers at the completion of active orthodontic treatment: to be worn full time for 9 months, then reduction to part time - wear indefinitely... as in like forever?





Kara's treatment not so intense...

She has the same as Nikki EXCEPT the tooth removal... the surgical removal with the fancy gold chain... nor screws... I'm guessing she's a little luckier..




In the End they will both look more Fabulous!!!!

Dieting - Me and Dance 2......

Okay Day 1 - I was good... Day 2 - and Day 3 - I took a break.... Now day 4 - I'm back on track... I have no idea why I took that 2 day detour - especially since I just started.. Any hoo - the detour was not too bad...

Now to add some kind of exercise to my daily routine... hmm... Because I have Lupus (or maybe because I am overweight) my joints are not in the best shape... I can no longer jog or run for long distances.. I can walk.. So I will do that... But I want to do something more.... Okay - I can ride my bike... And I could go to the Club - we only pay an arm and leg to be members..... my kids use it... so shall I... But there has got to be more....

One of my favorite blogger LaVender Shedrick at MOMSWEB gave me a great idea.... I taped my daughter and her friend dancing to Dance 2 on the Wii - it was amazing... What a work out.. So my goal is to do normal workouts - like walking - visiting the club.. but I'm also going to (in the privacy of my own home when NO one is looking) try working out on the Wii... and when I reach my goal... I will post my video of the work out to Dance 2... LaVender said that she would like to see me do it and was giggling thinking about it... I have to laugh out loud... cuz it would be a funny sight to behold......

Here is the work out/ dance routine that I will Master... for all to marvel and laugh with me... Oh, the strange guy on the left in the back is my husband - he cracks me up... He had no idea I was video taping - he thought I was taking pictures... Ha

On A Quest To Lose Some Poundage...

I was married on February 11, 1989... On that particular day - my waist was 21 inches.. I weighed 105 with my clothes wet... I wore a size 2 in most clothes and I thought my thighs were fat.... Now several years later... let's just say.. I'm not that size any longer... Not even close.... About 16 years ago I became hungry and my appetite hasn't gone away... and neither have my thighs..... not by a long shot!

You never really know how big you are until you see a picture of yourself with people you thought were fat and you are the biggest one in the bunch... or when you go to the movies and both sides of the seat are pressing down on your sides... Then you know it's time to do something.... It's WAY past time to be doing something.... so Here goes...

I am taking my girls on an adventure this summer - we are flying from sunny California to Washington DC, Manhattan, and Boston... We are going to spend over 2 weeks exploring American history... and walking... and walking.. up hills... down hills... and the state my body is in right not - it'll kill me... especially if you throw in the heat and humidity that the East coast is known for in the Summer time... well you get my point.

I spoke to a nutritionist about Slim Fast and she said that it's one of the healthiest and fastest ways to lose weight... She said that the shake has all the vitamins and minerals I really need but to make sure to add fruit and vegetables to my menu.... Yesterday was day 1 and I made it - wasn't too sure if I would... Around 11:30 PM - the leftover pizza from the girls dinner was calling my name or was it the caramel topping.. I'm not sure... but instead of indulging - I made a cup of hot tea and went to bed......

Yesterday's menu consisted of:
2 shakes 190 calories each
2 slim fast bar snacks 120 calories each
1 banana
lean cuisine spaghetti dinner around 300 calories
total intake: 900

I plan on adding some exercise into my daily routine... walking and the Wii... I'll keep you posted...

Random Photos Through the Ages #6

I have this basket of photos - the basket is about 20 pounds and carries probably over 3000 photos - pictures before I became digital... My goal one day is to have them scanned into photo folders but to find the time to do this would be a major undertaking... For fun - I decided to close my eyes - stick my hand in and pull out 30 random photos and blog about each one.... So here I go....
This is a picture of my youngest daughter Kara and her gymnastic team when she was competing in gymnastics. She loved the sport until it became a job.. Training up to and beyond 20 hours a week... It amazes me how much the coaches expected from these little and very talented girls... She was in the 2nd or 3rd grade in this picture...

She won 2nd place in all the events and won 1st place in All Around... She is very competitive and this was a very good day...