Yummy-Yummy!!

Brown Sugar Babecue Chicken Drumettes
2 c. ketchup
1 c. packed brown sugar
2 Tbs. worcestershire sace
2 Tbs. cider binegar
coarse salt and ground pepper
6 lbs. chicken drumettes, patted dry

In a medium bowl, wisk together ketchup, sugar, worcestershire sauce and vinegar, season with salt and pepper. Set aside 1 cup sauce for tossing raw chicken, use the rest for baking. Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds, line 2 rimmed baking sheets with tin foil. divide drumettes between baking sheets and toss with reserbed 1 c sauce. bake chicken intil opaque throghout, 30-35 min., rotating sheets and tossing chicken halfway through. toss baked drumettes with 1/2 c. sauce and serve with remaining sauce on the side.

Okay, so that was the original recipe. I used a couple of large chicken breasts that would feed 4 people. I halved the recipe, put some sauce on the bottom half of a 9x13 pan or smaller if needed, put the chicken in and covered the chicken with the rest of the sauce. Served it with potatoes or rice, & veggies. We covered the chicken with the sauce that was in the pan and it was really good. It would be really good if you were to do a party and serve as an appitizer when cooked with the drumettes or chicken cut into smaller pieces. Anyway, I hope anyone that reads my blog will enjoy this recipe.

Photo's of the kids

I took the kids to Kiddie Kandid this weekend and had their pictures taken. They are so cute!! Even though I am prejudice, they really are cute. Just go to kiddiekandid.com, and the sitting # is 034043394, and the sitting code is EW77D48.

Massage Therapy Test

So as many of you know I graduated from UCMT several years ago. Took the National Test 3 times and failed it. So, why bring up these happy yet painful memories? Well, today I called the school about taking the test again, just wanted to see how many hours I would need to work and how many continuing education classes I would need to have to keep my licence. Well, the lady told me about a test which will give me a licence, so I can work in utah and not get in trouble, it's pretty much the same as the other test minus a few things and I can work in Utah and it's a little less than the other test I failed 3 times before. So am I going to take it? UM YEAH!!! Let's just hope I pass this time.

Halloween

Thank goodness for sisters who always have their camera's, because latley it seems like I never have mine. My mom invited us to a halloween activity in Paradise that a friend of hers does. It was so fun, and Braxton loved it.

What a kid

Every time Braxton chokes on water, I ask him if it went down the wrong tube and he says yes. I asked him where the wrong tube is & he points to his left leg. I ask him where the water is suppose to go and he points to his right leg. When I ask him what's suppose to go to the left leg he says his food is. What a funny kid!!!

My Kids

Madi now can do peek-a-boo!! She's been doing it with her little pink moose and this morning she was doing it with her blanket as I was changing her bum. She's so darn cute. She's still not crawling, but she likes to stand and try to sit up by herself. She'll get up on one arm and try as hard as she can to sit up by herself. It's funny to watch her because she wants to do it so bad.
Braxton is way to funny. He's been watching "Dinasour Train" latley and he'll come up and tell me different facts about dinasours or something he learned from the show. He is so smart and takes everything in. He's so awesome and so fun!!

My baby

Madison is getting so funny. If I put cheerios, baby treats, etc in front of her she'll eat them. But if I give her noodles or something that I add to her baby food, she won't touch them. She knows that I'll just put them in with her baby food so she won't eat them. She's getting a temper. I don't know where she gets that from!! She's so cute. She is happy most of the time even when she's tired. I love her so much.

My Favorite Quotes From Braxton!!

1. "Mom/Dad, when I get bigger and buy my own house, can I live by you?"
2. "Are my socks on the right foot?"
3. While watching a few people smoke,"Mom, will those people turn into donkeys?" Now if you've ever watched Pinocchio, you'll understand why he asked this.
What ever goes on in my kids head I'll never know. But I will always love him.

Sleeping Pills???

It's 2:30 am and i've been awake for half an hour. Why you ask? That's a good question. I haven't been sleeping very well for a while. But hopefully it will change soon. It's very quiet in our house this early. No yelling, "Mom, mom, mom!!" Ha Ha!

Women's Reterat

Would anybody that actually reads this be intrested in participating in a womens retreat? If so, leave a comment or email me at amandashockey777@hotmail.com. 

It's ok to say no!

To Do, Or Not To Do--That is the Question

In this day and age, we are all bombarded by the roles we are expected to play, and the sheer volume and growing number of priorities in our lives. So how do we balance it all AND find time to work on the many projects and tasks we have to do?

One thing we all have in common is time, At the end of every day it all comes down to time. We can't change time. We can't speed it up or make it last longer. There are 24 hours or 1440 minutes in a day. There are only 7 days or 168 hours in a week.

Factor and remember work and a good night's sleep into that time. No matter what you say or do, there is nothing that is going to change that. So how do you want to spend that time? How do you go about determining whether a project or task really needs to be done?

1. Create a master list of all projects that need to be completed (big and small).

This list can be sub-divided many ways. You must choose the way that will work best for you. Some examples of approaches to sub-divide the list include: to divide your list by rooms or floors of your house, list by importance, put the projects into categories based on time involved in completing them, by the person who will be responsible for doing the projects, among others.

2. Establish your criteria to judge the importance of a project or task.

a. List all projects and tasks and sub divide them into categories such as important/unimportant or urgent/non- urgent.

b. Must this project or task be completed? Is it vital to the running of your household? Would the world end if it wasn't done?

3. Prioritize.

People, especially women, need to realize that we are not super people and cannot do everything. Therefore, we all need to have priorities.

a. Rank and label items according to priority. Make a to-do list for the day. Include some high, medium, and low priority items daily to help ensure many important projects are getting completed.

4. Subdivide large, complicated, or time-consuming projects and tasks into more manageable pieces.

a. A great example of this is writing a term paper. You don't just sit down the day before the paper is due and write it. Instead you need to choose a topic, perform the research, write notes, write a rough draft, edit, and write a final copy.

The same goes for projects in the home, such as organizing a pantry, bedroom or garage.

5. Mix fun and work together.

Give yourself lots rewards for all your hard work. Designate rewards such as a long, hot bath, a rest in your hammock or viewing an hour's worth of your favorite television program, as a reward for cleaning out your closet, organizing a junk drawer or weeding out your filing cabinet.

Play music while you're working, for fun and energy.

Make organizing a game. Play beat the clock.

6. Delegate projects and tasks

Allow others both at work and at home to help you with projects. I know it may seem hard to ask for help, but we need to allow others to help us from time to time.

If you are new at delegating, start small with simple tasks. Provide instructions on what needs to be completed. But be prepared that others are not going to do things the exact same way that you do.

Another tip: play into others strengths. For example, a person who is really good with their hands may be really useful with household repairs.

7. Learn when to say YES and when to say NO.

If what you're being asked fits into your priorities and schedule, your decision whether to say yes or no is pretty obvious. You're going to do something if you really want to do it.

But what if you're asked to give your time to run the pancake breakfast at your child's school, or to join a social club in town, or to work on a fundraising event in town?

It's OK to say YES when you WANT to say yes, but it's also OK to say NO when you WANT to say no. If you don't respect your time, nobody else will.

Luck, Luck, Luck.

So my goal for the next 2 weeks is to be up and out of bed by 6 am. Braxton has swimming lessons at 9 so that's a little motivation. My plan is to go running two mornings and I don't know the other days. Maybe read or get some housework done. Hopefully it will work.

Dinner?

Hamburger Stroganoff
1lb hamburger cooked, add onion, salt, pepper. When cooked, add 1 can cream mushroom soup and 1 c. sour cream. Serve over noodles. I also added mushrooms, because Braxton loves them. I don't like much beef so this worked out good for me.

Get Vertical

I thought this was a good idea. I may try it one day.

What Is Vertical Space?

Whether you work in a 200 sq. ft. office or a 2000 sq. ft. office, space is one of the most challenging problems that workers face today.

There never seems to be enough room for our 'stuff'. Have you thought vertical? Actually, there is a lot of 'hidden' empty space if you consider storage solutions that make use of space at the top of the wall.

Put up shelves or install a floor to ceiling bookshelf. Be creative. There are so many items that can be stored that do not need to be accessible on a daily basis.

Old information and records, certain supplies, and reference books can be stored on a higher shelf.

By storing those items at the top, you are creating more storage space for the items that you use everyday, making your routine easier and better planned.

Give it a try - I will be anxious to hear about your results!

If you tell Braxton to smile for a picture, this is what you get. What a funny little boy, kind of like his uncle Troy.

More Summer Fun

A couple of weeks ago we went to Salt Lake to the aquarium and then to Temple Square. The other picture is of Braxton floating down the river at Hyrum. He loves to be in the water.

Mommy's Girl

So Madi has started to say ma ma.

Salt Lake

I took the kids to the Living Planet Aquarium. Way fun!! Braxton had a blast. He saw jelly fish, snakes, spiders, octapus, "nemo" fish, trout, sharks & sting rays. We even got to touch the sting rays which felt pretty weird, but Braxton just giggled every time one came by and he got to touch one. He had so much fun. I would recommend going there. It only takes an hour or two. We also went to temple square which Braxton also loved. He thought it was cool to see the "Christis." We had a great day.

Summer Fun!!!

* Hit your ideal weight and stay there forever without feeling miserable

* Exercise and LOVE it

* Be free of depression no matter how severe or how long you've suffered

* Get rid of your panic attacks and stop obsessive behaviors

* Quit bad habits for good - and not miss them one little bit

* Live every single day with passion and purpose no matter what your age

Learn how to walk!

Yeah, I need to learn how to walk again, or at least get more cordinated when I walk. Last night I had my arms full and was going up stairs. We block have baby gates up so Penny, the dog, can't get into the carpeted areas of the house. We don't want her pooping and peeing on the carpet. So we have a gate by the stairs and a bucket to keep the gate up. So most of the time it's not a problem to step on the bucket and climb over the gate. Not last night. I even thought about asking Steve to help me carry some stuff up and I even thought about actually sitting my crap down to move it, but no. So instead I attempted to climb over the gate using the bucket. Didn't happen! I made it up, but I also made it down quicker than I wanted to. So now my foot and ankle hurt. They're not bruised, but they hurt. Not a good idea to attempt this at home.

I love this picture of Braxton. It's at his cousin's birthday party.

Summer Organizing Tips.

It's Summer--
Organize So You Can Chill Out

Summer can a wonderfully lazy time of the year, but that doesn't mean we can't be productive at the same time. Here are a few examples to help you organize so you can chill out this summer:

1. Plan your dinner first thing in the morning. Make it a crock pot or grill meal. Defrost your meat in the refrigerator overnight. Get your veggies washed and ready, early in the morning. Better still, cut and clean them when you return from the grocery store. Have your dessert planned--something cool and fresh. Some examples are fruit, pudding, Jell-o, or a simple scoop of ice cream.

2. Pre-cook or pick up a rotisserie chicken and use that for a dinner or lunch during the week. It's yummy and saves a bunch of time!

3. Do laundry in the morning. Before the heat of the day sets in, you will be done. If you can, hang clothes outside to air dry. There's nothing like fresh air sheets on a bed.

4. Use bath towels a couple of times before washing them. Have each person hold on to their towel for a couple of uses if possible. Designate a different color for each family member. If the kids are in the pool, have them put towels over the railings or a portable drying rack to dry, and use them over.

5. If you have plans to go to the beach, have everything packed up and in the car the night before--including non- perishable foods. If possible have all the perishable foods prepped and ready to grab from the refrigerator and placed in your cooler before you leave.

6. Plan some short distance (especially with the cost of gasoline) local places to visit. If possible take public transportation. Visit a local museum, or park. Pretend you are visiting a new city and look at it with 'new eyes,' even if you have been there before. Exhibits change often, or they could be a favorite exhibit that you enjoy seeing over and over again.

7. Have a picnic dinner one evening each week. Sit outside and have sandwiches--perhaps the kids can prepare them. Serve quick-to-prepare items like fruit salad or pre-made potato salad from your grocer. If the weather doesn't cooperate, have a picnic in the family room or living room! It is the 'being together' that is important.

8. Close your blinds or drapes on a hot day and keep the sun out. The house will stay cooler and you won't have to run the air conditioner all day.

9. Stow some decorations in the house away for the summer. The house will look more 'empty' and free for the summer. Less to dust and clean, and more time to play!

10. Plan on doing yard work either early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid working in the heat of the day. Remember to drink a lot of water to keep hydrated. Don't forget your sunscreen before going out in the sunshine.

11. Enjoy not having plans a few of days a week. Sleep later and just enjoy the day, read, or work on crafts. When you make your schedule for the week, leave a day or two open to just enjoy.

12. Have the kids' clothes laid out the night before going somewhere. That way there is no delaying in the morning, and you can get on the road to wherever you're off to without being late.

13. Have a movie marathon! Make a simple meal that includes finger foods, sit in the family room and watch movies together. Have each person suggest a movie and then all can vote on the ones to rent.

14. Each week, exchange a meal. Cook a double-size meal for your family and give half of that meal to a neighbor. Then your neighbor does the same for you.

Some of Oprah's reading suggestions.

For Your Book Club: Reader's Guides

Print discussion questions to get even more from the books of summer.

FICTION

Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
Read O's review
Start Chapter 1
Get the reader's guide

The Glister by John Burnside
Read O's review
Start Chapter 1
Get the reader's guide

Lime Tree Can’t Bear Orange by Amanda Smyth
Read O's review
Start Chapter 1
Get the reader's guide

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith and Jane Austen
Read O's review
Start Chapter 1
View illustrations from the book
Get the reader's guide

NON-FICTION

Columbine by Dave Cullen
Read O's review
Start Chapter 1
Get the reader's guide

A Pearl in the Storm by Tori Murden McClure
Read O's review
Start Chapter 1
Get the reader's guide

Peep Diaries by Hal Niedzviecki
Read O's review
Start Chapter 1
Get the reader's guide

Get O's complete summer reading list

Kind of New Pictures

Here are few pictures of the family, not so recent, but pictures none the less. The one with Madison and the beautiful pink head band if for Shelley.

Good Article

Top Ten Ways to Enjoy Being a Stay At Home Mom

by Tiffany Blom
Do It Yourself Gifts


I have been a stay at home Mom for over eight year now, and have grown to enjoy every minute of it!

It wasn't always this way, though. Don't get me wrongI love, love, love being with our children and watching them grow every step of the way. There is no other place in the world that I'd rather be. However, making the switch from being a full-time working woman to being a stay-at-home-mom is a big adjustment!

Gone were the days of taking care of myself first, and showering when I wanted to. I missed adult conversations, and the freedom that went along with having a job outside of the home.

Over the years I have discovered ways to enjoy each and every day that I am home with them, and avoid the isolation that sometimes comes with being a homemaker:

Top Ten Ways to Enjoy Being a Stay at Home Mom:

1. Create a routine. Make a time schedule for your days, and do your best to stick to it. I realize that it's not always possible with little ones, but if you can do it most days, it will help you from feeling so overwhelmed.

2. Don't lose your interests. Remember the things you like to do, and keep a some of them going. For the first few years I was at home, I completely lost myself. I would come to the section on a form that says "What are your hobbies or interests? What do you do in your free time?" and I realized that I didn't have any free time, and my hobbies had all taken a back seat to raising the children! I slowly incorporated my hobbies back into my life, even finding ways to get the kids involved with them, and I am a much happier person for it.

3. Just because you are a stay-at-home-mom doesn't mean you need to stay home! Sitting around the house with your children every day can get very lonely. Get out of the house and meet other moms, or just take your children places where you can interact with others. Since money is often a concern for single income families, look into free options to get yourselves outthe library, the playground, a Mommy's group, etc.

4. Make time for yourself each day. I know that this sounds impossible with all of your responsibilities, but I'm here to tell you that it is essential to your well being. Schedule "me time" any time of the day that it's most convenient. Don't do any housework or homework with the kidsthis time is ONLY for you! A half an hour to read a book or exercise will make a world of difference to your mental well being.

5. Connect with other stay-at-home-moms. Find forums and blogs on the internet where you can ask and answer questions and feel a sense of community with like-minded people.

6. Volunteer or find way to give to charity. Although you may not feel like you are contributing financially to the family (even though you are by saving on day care costs), you can still volunteer your time to get the feeling of contribution. Work at a nursing home a few hours a week, serve lunch once a week at a homeless shelter (or make the food at home to donate to the shelter), if you have school aged children then volunteer at their school, mow the lawn for one of your older neighborsthe ideas are endless! Not only does this make you feel great at the end of the day, it is also a great example to your children.

7. Schedule "date night" with your spouse at least once a month. Keeping in touch with your relationship with your husband is so important. You need to go out and be a coupleaway from the everyday stresses. Find some other Moms that will trade you hours of babysitting (you watch their kids one Friday night, and they watch your children the next Friday night) to save on the cost of a babysitter.

8. Don't try to be perfect. I've often felt like my house should be sparkling clean, my children should be dirt-free, and all my affairs should be perfectly in order---all because I don't work outside of the home. The truth is, that is not a reality for any stay-at-home mom. In fact, I think that it is even harder to be organized with your kids at home all day than if they were away at day care! So, don't sweat it if the laundry piles up for a few days, or the dishes go unwashed until the morning. The housework will always be there, but your children will grow up in a blink of an eye. Spend as much "fun time" as you can with them now.

9. Get a part-time job. After being home for a few years, I really started to feel guilty about not making any money for the family. The good news is, there are several part-time jobs that you can work a stay-at-home mom's scheduleyou, too, can become a WAHM (Work At Home Mom)! Start your own website or blog, watch other people's children (also a great social tool for your children who are at home), sell children's clothing or other items on an auction site such as Ebaythe opportunities are out there, you just need to look for them. Where there's a will, there's a way!

10. Remind yourself each day how fast your children grow. Visualize them being grown, and how you will feel when they leave the house. This automatically makes you savor every minute that you have with them.

About the Author: Tiffany Blom is the publisher of http://www.do-it-yourself-gifts.com , a website dedicated to creative and unique homemade gift ideas. She lives in Midlothian, Virginia with her four children, and husband of ten years.

Originally published on SearchWarp.com for Tiffany Blom Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Article Source: Top Ten Ways to Enjoy Being a Stay At Home Mom

What to do first?

Things I want to accomplish.....
1. Take an art class
2. Take a photography class
3. Own my own business
massage therapy
retreats
bed & breakfast
4. Learn to knit
5. Teach a homemaking class
6. Become more active
running
biking
tennis
7. Take swimming lessons
8. Take a pottery class
9. Fishing
10. Singing lessons (because I suck and I want to be able to at least be okay with singing in church)

Soaked

Braxton is quite the kid. He was outside with Penny, the dog, and he filled the dogs water dish up with dirt. So it was full of mud!! Lovley! So being the smart lady that I am, I went to the front of the house where the only water spout is and was going to wash it out, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! I took the hose off(we have a splitter hose thing on the original spout, so we can hook up 2 hoses, you get the point) and turned the one side of the splitter on and it came all the way off, hence spraying water all over. AWESOME!! Let's just say by the end of it Braxton & I were both soaked. I couldn't get the water shut off, so being the great wife I am I called Steve. Come to find out he was in Ogden. Can't get here really fast from there can ya. So I continued to attempt to shut it off for about 10 min. and called Troy, who was able to shut it off. Thanks Goodness. Family is great aren't they!

Yeah, Madison!

Madison rolled all the way over onto her stomach 4 times today!!!

See You At The Top

See You At The Top

There may be times when you feel
as if you have taken a million steps towards
your dreams, and acted on your plans, only to find
yourself in the same place that you began from.
At times like this, you must not give up.

You must continue on striving. Though you may feel
lost, bewildered, and alone, continue to believe
in yourself and reaching the top. Do not allow discouragement and
doubt to blur your vision and wash away
your dreams. Visualize your way beyond the
detours, standstills, and obstacles.

You will realize your dreams. You have
worked hard and taken so many productive
steps in a positive direction that you are bound
to succeed. Whatever the hurt of the moment
may be, it will pass. Tomorrow is always a
new dawn. Today, you must pause, rest, catch
your breath, and then look ahead. Each step
will bring you closer to your dreams.The
rainbows and the love that you deserve are in
sight. See you at the Top.

"Our worst fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'who am I to be so brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?' Actually, who are we not to be?

You are a child of God: Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

~Marianne Williamson, her book "A RETURN TO LOVE", 1992\

I don't know about anyone else, but this really applies to me. 90% of the time I feel so inadequate in so many ways. How does a person not feel so inadequate? How does one get over that feeling when it's been there as long as that person can remember? If one always feels left in the shadows, how do you get over that feeling. How does one not let others make them feel inferior?
Have you ever seen "You've got mail?" I feel like Meg Ryan's character, when I'm in a situation, I can never say what I want to say. I always think of good things to say after the fact. I can never say anything clever in the heat of the moment. When I need to come up with something to defend myself I can't do it. It doesn't come until later in the day or a couple of days later.

Something New

I think I want to do something like this in my bathroom. Our bathroom isn't very big so I'm hoping that something like this will work. It'll take some time, but I definatly want to do something new. What do you think?

Room By Room | Bathrooms | Super bathroom storage
1 of 10 Next >> + click to enlarge photo	Better Vanity Try these easy (and pretty!) ideas to boost your bathroom storage. Bath storage begins with a generous vanity. We picked this one for its solid doors, adjustable interior shelf, and deep lower drawer. The vintage-style shelf and medicine cabinet on the wall above provide even more space for bath and grooming necessities. Next: M

VACATION TIME

So our family is going on vacation to Zions on Friday. I as so excited!! I think it's time all of us get a little R&R. The last couple of years my family has rented a cabin in Star Valley, but this year we've decided to go south. When we get back I'll post pictures. Both Braxton & Madison are getting bigger and doing so much.

Help

I am in some need of some serious help. I am really lacking motivation to do much. If anyone would like to get out and get some exercise, I would love to have you join me. I am available monday's, tuesday & wednesday mornings, and thursday night and saturday evenings. So please leave a comment or email me if you would be intrested in getting out and getting a little exercise. I will have to take my kids some times, but I would still love to get out and get some weight off.

Ranch Chicken

Ranch Chicken

Ingredients:
6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 envelope ranch dressing mix
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tbsp ranch dressing
2 tbsp flour

Spray crock pot with non-stick cooking spray. Place chicken breasts in crock pot. In a small bowl, combine soup, ranch dressing mix, and water; pour over chicken. Cover and cook on low 8 hours or high 4 hours. Remove chicken from crock pot. Stir in sour cream, ranch dressing, and flour; replace chicken. Cover and cook on high 20 minutes.

Quotes

Make the commitment to live life and not just watch from the sidelines."

When you get to the top of the mountain, remember what you learned on the way up!

Shout Out For Moms!

I was reading a friends blog the other day and she had a post about a book that she says every mother needs to read. I definatly want to get it and read it. The title is: In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms, By: Dr. Laura Schlessinger.
Since going to school for massage therapy and being married and having kids, I know why I want to do massage therapy for women. Women really are the hardest working people in the world. We do so much for others, especially our children, and so little for ourselves. I want every mother that reads this(which isn't many) to know that I admire them and love them for their courage to do everything in their power to raise the best kids they can. It's not easy being a mother, but it's the most rewarding when you child gives you a huge hug and the biggest chocolate kiss ever. So I commend every mother, especially my own, because she did everything to make us feel loved and special.

More Summer Recipes

Chicken Caesar Wrap
Spin this classic salad on its head by combining its fresh ingredients into a tasty and easy-to-tote lunch wrap.

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes

INGREDIENTS
4 tortillas (10”-12”), heated according to package instructions
4 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 bag Caesar salad kit (lettuce, croutons, dressing and cheese)
Cracked black pepper, to taste
2 cups chicken, cooked and chopped

Consider these additional ingredients: Crispy bacon bits, sliced tomatoes, olives, roasted red peppers or minced anchovies

INSTRUCTIONS

1. On a clean working surface, lay out the four tortillas. In a small mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and garlic powder, then spread over each of the warmed tortillas with a spoon.
2. In a separate bowl, toss together your salad kit’s lettuce, croutons, dressing and cheese. Divide the salad among the four tortillas, placing the mixture slightly off center on the tortilla.
3. Evenly divide up the chopped chicken, then top each tortilla with the meat.
4. Once dressed, fold in the sides of each tortilla, then lift the end closest to you and tightly roll up the tortilla in a forward motion. Rest the wrap on its seam and slice in half on an angle.

Tip: Using a bagged salad kit helps you bring together this meal on the fly, but you can cut even more time off the clock by purchasing a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked, thickly-sliced deli chicken breast at your grocery store.

Tip: Looking for lunch? The layer of softened cream cheese keeps the tortilla fresh—and never soggy—making this wrap perfect for night-before preparation. Prepare your wrap, leave un-sliced and wrap tightly in plastic wrap for storage in the refrigerator. In the morning, lunch is simply a matter of grabbing and going.

Buffalo Chicken Wrap
Creamy bleu cheese cools down hot and spicy buffalo chicken in this sure-to-please wrap.

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes

INGREDIENTS
4 tortillas (10”-12”), heated according to package’s instructions
8 romaine lettuce leaves
1/2 cup celery, finely minced
1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and finely diced
1/3 cup chunky bleu cheese or ranch dressing
2 cups chicken, cooked and chopped
1/3 cup buffalo sauce

INSTRUCTIONS

1. On a clean working surface, lay out the four tortillas and place 2 romaine lettuce leaves in the center of each.
2. In a small mixing bowl, combine the celery, red pepper and bleu cheese dressing, then spoon generously over the lettuce leaves.
3. In a separate medium-size mixing bowl, combine the chicken and buffalo sauce. Divide the chicken evenly among the four tortillas, carefully spooning it over the vegetable mixture.
4. Once dressed, fold in the sides of each tortilla, then lift the end closest to you and tightly roll up the tortilla in a forward motion. Rest the wrap on its seam and slice in half on an angle. Serve your wrap with additional bleu cheese dressing and buffalo sauce for dipping.

Tip: Parlay your wrap into easy party food that’s sure to please the crowd. With a sharp knife, slice each wrap into 4 or 5 pieces, securing each with a toothpick inserted lengthwise across the pinwheel. Serve your appetizers with fresh celery sticks and addition bleu cheese dressing for dipping.

California Wrap
Inspired by the sweet, cool flavors of Japanese cooking, try rolling together crabmeat, rice and guacamole for your own variation on sushi.

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS
4 tortillas (10”-12”), heated according to package’s instructions
1 package (7 oz.) prepared guacamole
8 romaine lettuce leaves
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon prepared wasabi paste, or to taste
2 green onions, thinly sliced
2 cups white rice, cooked
2 cups imitation crabmeat, found at your grocery’s butcher station
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1 medium cucumber, peeled and sliced lengthwise

INSTRUCTIONS

1. On a clean working surface, lay out the four tortillas and spread each with a thin layer of guacamole. Top each with two lettuce leaves.
2. In a small mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, wasabi paste, soy sauce and green onions, then stir in the prepared rice. Evenly divide the rice mixture and spoon over the lettuce leaves on each tortilla.
3. In a separate small mixing bowl, lightly toss the imitation crabmeat with rice wine vinegar and spoon onto each tortilla alongside the rice. Lay 3 or 4 cucumber strips across the top of the filling.
4. Once dressed, fold in the sides of each tortilla, then lift the end closest to you and tightly roll up the tortilla in a forward motion. Rest the wrap on its seam and slice in half on an angle. Serve your wrap with additional soy sauce and wasabi paste for dipping.

Tip: If you have a ripe avocado on hand, omit the guacamole and use fresh avocado slices instead. You can also look in your grocer’s freezer for time-saving ready-cook rice.

Tip: As a nod to nori, a mild, salty seaweed used in Japanese cooking, try making your California Wrap with spinach wraps instead of plain tortillas.

Tip: Try tossing shredded lettuce with a light mix of mayonnaise, cocktail sauce and a squeeze of lemon, then place it on a tortilla and top with cooked shrimp.

Beef and Potato Wrap
Meld together classic flavors—rare, savory beef, sweet potato salad and tangy Italian dressing—in this simple sandwich substitute.

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes

INGREDIENTS
4 tortillas (10”-12”), heated according to package’s instructions
4 teaspoons coarse-grain mustard
8 romaine lettuce leaves
12 ounces rare roast beef, thinly sliced
4 teaspoons Italian dressing
1 cup prepared potato salad
Salt and pepper, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

1. On a clean working surface, lay out the four tortillas and spread each with 1 teaspoon of the coarse-grained mustard. Place two romaine lettuce leaves on one side of each tortilla.
2. In a small mixing bowl, lightly toss the roast beef strips in the Italian dressing, then evenly distribute the meat onto the four tortillas, spooning it over the lettuce leaves.
3. Divide the prepared potato salad into four equal servings and spoon onto the roast beef. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Once dressed, fold in the sides of each tortilla, then lift the end closest to you and tightly roll up the tortilla in a forward motion. Rest the wrap on its seam and slice in half on an angle. Heat up a jar of beef gravy and serve alongside your wrap as a savory dipping sauce.

Tip: Your local deli offers several varieties of roast beef. Typically, they’ll be happy to let you sample them so you can find your family’s favorite.

Tip: Keep changing up the flavor by considering these tasty ingredient substitutions: try replacing your potato salad with mashed potatoes, veggie salad or coleslaw. In lieu of Italian dressing, try smothering the roast beef in tangy steak sauce. When you’re wrapping up the ingredients, let your imagination run wild.

151 Things That Make Me Happy!!

These aren't in any particular order.
1. my family
2. the church
3. new notebooks
4. running
5. our dog
6. beautiful sleeping kids
7. new books to read
8. homemade bread
9. noodles and mashed potatoes
10. cold shower after a run in the heat
11. hot baths on cold winter nights before bed
12.AUTUMN!! need I say more?(October: the month to exhale the hot, stuffy lazieness of summer and inhale the cool, brisk life of fall.)
13. hot wassel at christmas time.
14. campfires and camping
15. pancakes
16. horses, and dogs
17. bike rides with Braxton
18. my moms strawberry jam and bread
19.baskets
20. massages
21. trying something new with my kids
22. baking/cooking with Braxton
23. when it's raining and you have nothing but baking to do.
24. listening to Braxton & Madison giggle!!!
25. scented candles
26. very rare moments by myself, even if it's in the tub or shower for 10 min.
27. disco music
29. music that's so powerful you just want to cry
30. smores
31. my moms homemade chili on a cold autumn afternoon(of course with her bread)
32. the sound of bagpipes.
33. corn on the cob and tomatoes from the garden'
34. kids swimming pools in the back yard.
35. CHOCOLATE
36. cookbooks
37. garage sale bargins
38. birthdays
39. sitting in a hot tub in the middle of winter
40. christmas trees (decorating them is fun to)
41. sledding in paradise
42. cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate
43. picnics in the canyon and on our patio furniture
44. sunrises and sunsets
45. tart lemonade
46. Grandma Bette's lemon pie or lemon bars (she makes them with lots of lemon flavor)
47. the library or bookstore.
48. our wood burning stove
49. our future wood burning cook stove that I hope to have one day. Why I don't know.
50. vacations
51. tea kettles
52. meals I don't have to cook
53. being outside
54. being in the woods, away from everything.
55. the cabin in the woods that I wish I had
56. homemade applesauce
57. going to the movies and having popcorn and mike & ikes
58. hand me downs
59. homemade soups, tomato, vegetable, cauliflower & broccoli
60. cast iron skillets and dutch ovens
61. leaves in autumn
62. going to bed to the sound of sprinklers
63. Grandma's homemade vinegar taffy
64. Grandpa's homemade scrapple
65. homemade doughnuts
66. piling blankets on the bed to help stay warm.
67. homemade gifts
68. old books and old things given to you as a gift from a grandparent.
69. cooking hot dogs over a fire
70. sweaters in autumn
71. hosting small parties or get-togethers with a few friends or family members.
72. doing something new in your house.
73. ordering pizza when you don't want to cook
74. a setting of serenity and comfort
75. North Carolina!!
76. suprise parties
77. baskets full of letter writing supplies
78. egg nog
79. having 5 different projects going on at the same time.
80. having a million ideas in your head that i'd like to accomplish.
81. making lists of the things I'd like to accomplish
82. actually accomplishing things on my list
83. swimming at the lake or a pool on a hot day, with no one around to see me in a bathing suit
84. warm robes and warm slippers on a cold saturday morning making breakfast.
85. listening to Braxton play outside with our dog penny
86. listening to Madison talking to whoever in the mornings
87. hiking with friends
88. the room I wish to have that is full of books(wall to wall books)
89. pay days
90. sitting on the Blue family front porch on the Catawba Indian Reservation SC, waving to everyone that passes by.
91. awesome friends that have stuck by me from day one.
92. music boxes
93. the ocean that i've only been to once, but hope to see again and play in with my kids
94. big fluffy towels when you get out of the shower
95. the idea of tea, even though i don't drink it. I guess i like tea sets and the idea of getting dressed up to spend an afternoon with the ladies.
96. tennis
97. houses by the lake with not very many people around
98. the smell of coffee
99. popcorn balls from two older couples at halloween time.( memories of trick-or-treating)
100. Rentfro Ice Cream
101. the ranch in malad idaho
102. Duke the horse at the ranch in idaho
103. light houses, i would love to go to the coast and see them. Don't ask me why.
104. being carried from the car to bed when we got home from grandma's house.
105. nutmeg graters, a friend's mom has one and I love it. We'd make pies and use the nutmeg grater. great memories
106. sparkling cider in wine glasses
107. journals or diaries
108. aromatherapy
109. binders for specific things, different subjects for each one. I have about 10-15 binders for several different things.
110. cake batter
111. card games, which i don't play enough of.
112. sidewalk cafes
113. donating blood
114. going out to dinner
115. someone else cooking me dinner at home
116. Christmas morning with my kids
117. dream books, books filled with treasures
118. The Star Spangled Banner!!!
119. strawberry colada's, virgin of course
120. picnic baskets, full of everything you need
121. japanese lanterns
122. walking up flights of stairs to get to the place you need to be.
123. clothes lines
124. hushpuppies
125 pickled eggs
126.business cards
127. big beach balls
128. drive in movies
129. root beer floats
130. moms malts
131. Grandma Robison's roses
132. southern hospitality
133. southern houses
134. babbling brooks
135. water fountains
136. meditation
137. the smells of autumn, baked goods, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.
138. antique hunting
139. thunder, when no one gets hurt.
140. frisbees
141. kites
142. norman rockwell art
143. pot lucks
144. nuturing your own spirit.
145. granola cereal
146. warm wool socks
147. fruit salad
148. spaghetti and garlic bread
149. relaxing
150. getting flowers
151. clinking of ice in a glass

Pretty Good

Awesome!! We complain about the cross we bear but don't realize it is preparing us for the dip in the road that God can see and we cannot.


Whatever your cross,
whatever your pain,
there will always be sunshine, after the rain....
Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall;
But God's always ready, to answer your call....
He knows every heartache, sees every tear,
a word from His lips, can calm every fear...
Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night,
But suddenly vanish, by dawn's early light...
The Savior is waiting, somewhere above,
to give you His grace, and send you His love.
May God fill your day with blessings!!


Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle!