Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Count Your Blessings -- Day 22
I haven't been keeping up with this and there is a reason. But, regardless, today I am thankful for a safe trip back from West Texas. I am thankful that I got to spend time with my sister and niece. I am thankful that we got to eat at Cracker Barrel -- my all time favorite place to eat in all the world!! :) I am also thankful for my job which allowed me to buy the super cute Texas Tech Snowman Christmas wreath @ said Cracker Barrel, which will be proudly on display in my classroom. :) Finally, I am thankful that we are home, because that means I get to go get my sweet Maggie Mae tomorrow!! Yay!! :)
Friday, November 11, 2011
Count Your Blessings -- Day 11
Today, I am thankful for dreams. I had a dream last night about my Papa. It was Christmas and we were all together and he had on his red "Christmas" shirt. I feel like dreams are the closest thing we have to being able to be with the ones we love who have left us. I dream about my Mimi and Papa often. Even though I always wake up a little sad because reality sets in, I still feel like I have had a visit with them and it makes my heart smile to remember the good times. Even though I am not quite ready to leave this world, I know that someday I will get to spend eternity with them and I cannot wait!!!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Count Your Blessings -- Day 10
I am thankful that tomorrow is Friday! My favorite day of the week by far!!! I get to wear jeans to work and the chance of me donning a sweatshirt is probable! It also signifies five school days until THANKSGIVING BREAK!!!!! Whoo-hoo!!!! I am excited about that week off. I can't stop thinking about it, lol!!! I have plans to hang out with my fam, friends, shop, decorate and cook -- all my favorite things! I really love working for a school district!! Yay!!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Count Your Blessings -- Day 8 & 9
Well, I did not post last night because I felt really, really horrible. I came home and laid in my bed and was out by 8pm. But, I think all the rest did help because I felt better today, so I am thankful for that. I am also thankful for the time I did get to spend with Ty yesterday. We drove to Corsicana to run some errands, and even though I felt horrrible and was grouchy, he was still very sweet. He helped me buy groceries and even came home and put them away for me.
So, I am taking two "posts" to mention just how amazingly lucky and unbelievably blessed I feel to have my son in my life. I have never once regretted any decision I ever made regarding him and I am so glad that God chose me to be his mother. I was 19 and scared and didn't have a clue and questioned God more at that time than I ever have before or since. But, I understand truly what He meant when He said that all things work together for the greater good. I know I am obviously bias, but I have the best kid ever. Yeah, he is flawed...he doesn't like school that much and he doesn't do everything that I want him to do right then, but he loves God, he loves me and he is kind, considerate and compassionate. He truly is my best friend!!!
So, I am taking two "posts" to mention just how amazingly lucky and unbelievably blessed I feel to have my son in my life. I have never once regretted any decision I ever made regarding him and I am so glad that God chose me to be his mother. I was 19 and scared and didn't have a clue and questioned God more at that time than I ever have before or since. But, I understand truly what He meant when He said that all things work together for the greater good. I know I am obviously bias, but I have the best kid ever. Yeah, he is flawed...he doesn't like school that much and he doesn't do everything that I want him to do right then, but he loves God, he loves me and he is kind, considerate and compassionate. He truly is my best friend!!!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Count Your Blessings -- Day 7
Today, I am thankful that I am not full-blown sick, which is where I feel I am headed. I am thankful for over the counter medicine. I am also thankful that if I am getting sick, it is now, and not during Thanksgiving week. I have looked foward to having that whole week off since we got the calendar and I really, really want to enjoy it (without hacking up a lung or two as I did over Christmas break last year!) I am also thankful for the two very sweet janitor ladies who try very hard to keep our school clean and sanitized. They are the best!! :)
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Count Your Blessings -- Day 6
I am thankful for the opening prayer that was said this morning at church and the lesson, which was looking at Jesus as a humble servant. It continually amazes me that He went through what He did, just for me. I am so thankful that I have hope and that I am not lost. I am also thankful to my parents who raised me up to love our Lord, and that they came from Christian families as well! I am also grateful that I can read and have the Bible to read daily. :)
The Messy Chef
I found this recipe on Pinterest last night and decided to make it. It is a pumpkin bonanza at my house these days!! It just looked so easy and I had all of the ingredients on hand, except for the cake mix. So, after church this morning, I picked one up at Brookshire's. It cost me a whole 2.63 plus tax. This is about the cheapest recipe I have made all year!
I was going to take a picture first before I started, but I forgot, as I was trying to start laundry and defrost the salmon for lunch. I did get a pic of the afterwards. I will just admit that I have always been a messy cooker. :) For the longest time, my mom and I made a deal that if I would cook supper then she would clean up. It worked out for both of us because I love to cook & hate to clean and she was working and too tired to cook ususally. See -- getting along is all about compromise, lol!!!
Well, here is the recipe and the cake before it cooked and after. I made some adjustments in that I used chocolate fudge cake instead of yellow. We aren't big cake eaters here and dislike yellow cake at that. But, we can eat the heck out of some chocolate. Also, I put some ginger snap cookies in the food processor and used that instead of graham crackers. And, we don't like toffee, so I left that off as well. I honestly don't think it would be as good if we had used the yellow cake mix anyway, And, it really needed some vanilla ice cream to top it off. But regardless, it was great!
PUMPKIN DUMP CAKE
1 15 oz. can of pumpkin puree
1 10oz. can evaporated milk
1 cup light brown sugar
3 eggs
3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 box yellow cake mix
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted
1 cup coarsly chopped graham crackers or pecans
1/2 cup toffee bits (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 baking pan lightly with cooking spray. In a large bowl combine the pumpkin, evaporated milk, sugar, eggs, and pumpkin pie spice. Stir to combine. Pour into your prepared pan. Sprinkle your entire box of cake mix on top, followed by your graham crackers and toffee chips. Pour your melted butter evenly on top. Bake for 45-50 minutes until center is set and edges are lightly browned.
I was going to take a picture first before I started, but I forgot, as I was trying to start laundry and defrost the salmon for lunch. I did get a pic of the afterwards. I will just admit that I have always been a messy cooker. :) For the longest time, my mom and I made a deal that if I would cook supper then she would clean up. It worked out for both of us because I love to cook & hate to clean and she was working and too tired to cook ususally. See -- getting along is all about compromise, lol!!!
Well, here is the recipe and the cake before it cooked and after. I made some adjustments in that I used chocolate fudge cake instead of yellow. We aren't big cake eaters here and dislike yellow cake at that. But, we can eat the heck out of some chocolate. Also, I put some ginger snap cookies in the food processor and used that instead of graham crackers. And, we don't like toffee, so I left that off as well. I honestly don't think it would be as good if we had used the yellow cake mix anyway, And, it really needed some vanilla ice cream to top it off. But regardless, it was great!
PUMPKIN DUMP CAKE
1 15 oz. can of pumpkin puree
1 10oz. can evaporated milk
1 cup light brown sugar
3 eggs
3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 box yellow cake mix
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted
1 cup coarsly chopped graham crackers or pecans
1/2 cup toffee bits (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 baking pan lightly with cooking spray. In a large bowl combine the pumpkin, evaporated milk, sugar, eggs, and pumpkin pie spice. Stir to combine. Pour into your prepared pan. Sprinkle your entire box of cake mix on top, followed by your graham crackers and toffee chips. Pour your melted butter evenly on top. Bake for 45-50 minutes until center is set and edges are lightly browned.
Precooking
Postcooking
The Mess!
(some of that stuff I didn't even use for the dump cake -- I bought the frosting and the bread pans for something else)
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Count Your Blessing -- Day 5
I actually have a few today!!! Yay for having lots to be thankful for!
1). This blessing, I think, is the one that excites me the most! Tonight is when we "fall back!!" I love this time of year because it means I gain an extra hour of sleep. That alone deserves its own blog post! If you know me at all, or read any of my Facebook posts, you know I am a girl who likes her sleep! It is hard for me to sleep and I have to have the perfect conditions (absolute silence and darkness) -- so sometimes I do not rest well. An extra hour always makes me feel better though.
2). I got to watch a lot of TV today, and that has become a rarity. I caught up on all my Grey's that I've had DVR'd forever, as well as weed through my BH 90210 and watch those episodes I kept. All while in my favorite TTU pajama pants! (I also watched the TTU/UT game, but that was NOT my favorite time of the day, lol). I even watched "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" on TBS. Yay!!
3). I also had time to finish a book I have been working on for a while. It is called Look Back by Lisa Scottoline. It was a book I bought at the school book fair. It was an okay read. It was really good at hooking you in the beginning, got pretty boring in the middle and super predictable at the end. But, it was definitely different than anything I have ever read. Because I have finished this book, I can now finish the two Christmas books I have.
4). I used a recipe I found on pinterest to clean the microwave and it really worked!! In a microwave safe dish, take three cups of water and add in a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Cook on high for five minutes. The steam makes it easy to wipe out the microwave and the vanilla makes the house smell great!! I actually did not have any vanilla but did use orange extract and it was fabulous! I even wiped down the counters with it. The kitchen smelled liked the holidays!! I am thankful that other people are so crafty at making their own household cleansers that don't have harsh toxic chemicals!!
5). Last week Ty and I cleaned out his binder and we put away some papers he thought he didn't need anymore. Friday, I checked parent portal and discovered that yes, indeed, he did need them. So, we pulled them out tonight and he was going to do them. Yay for a mom who knew better than to throw any of that work away, and YAY for them being completely finished!! All he has to do is turn them in -- they will be late but at least they are not zeros.
I had a really good and productive day. I am thankful for that!
1). This blessing, I think, is the one that excites me the most! Tonight is when we "fall back!!" I love this time of year because it means I gain an extra hour of sleep. That alone deserves its own blog post! If you know me at all, or read any of my Facebook posts, you know I am a girl who likes her sleep! It is hard for me to sleep and I have to have the perfect conditions (absolute silence and darkness) -- so sometimes I do not rest well. An extra hour always makes me feel better though.
2). I got to watch a lot of TV today, and that has become a rarity. I caught up on all my Grey's that I've had DVR'd forever, as well as weed through my BH 90210 and watch those episodes I kept. All while in my favorite TTU pajama pants! (I also watched the TTU/UT game, but that was NOT my favorite time of the day, lol). I even watched "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" on TBS. Yay!!
3). I also had time to finish a book I have been working on for a while. It is called Look Back by Lisa Scottoline. It was a book I bought at the school book fair. It was an okay read. It was really good at hooking you in the beginning, got pretty boring in the middle and super predictable at the end. But, it was definitely different than anything I have ever read. Because I have finished this book, I can now finish the two Christmas books I have.
4). I used a recipe I found on pinterest to clean the microwave and it really worked!! In a microwave safe dish, take three cups of water and add in a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Cook on high for five minutes. The steam makes it easy to wipe out the microwave and the vanilla makes the house smell great!! I actually did not have any vanilla but did use orange extract and it was fabulous! I even wiped down the counters with it. The kitchen smelled liked the holidays!! I am thankful that other people are so crafty at making their own household cleansers that don't have harsh toxic chemicals!!
5). Last week Ty and I cleaned out his binder and we put away some papers he thought he didn't need anymore. Friday, I checked parent portal and discovered that yes, indeed, he did need them. So, we pulled them out tonight and he was going to do them. Yay for a mom who knew better than to throw any of that work away, and YAY for them being completely finished!! All he has to do is turn them in -- they will be late but at least they are not zeros.
I had a really good and productive day. I am thankful for that!
Friday, November 4, 2011
Count Your Blessings -- Day 4
When I have done the thankfulness posts in the past, I have always tried to find at least one thing from my day that I can be thankful for, that doesn't include the stuff that I thank God for everyday, such as my family and friends, my health, my job and the material things, like a car that runs, food to eat, a nice house, pretty clothes...all that kind of stuff. But there are just days when I have to set aside that rule and be extra thankful for certain things. Today is one of those days. I am glad I have such great friends. I am truly blessed by all my friends, who make me laugh, allow me to cry and accept me for who I am. I would be lost without them. Yay for friends!!!
Instead of a pic of me and my friends, I thought I would post a pic of my favorite show about friends. Well, actually, "it's a show about nothing"...but their random conversations remind of a few I have had with some of my friends over the years!! Also, I love how even at the very end, they were still together!
Instead of a pic of me and my friends, I thought I would post a pic of my favorite show about friends. Well, actually, "it's a show about nothing"...but their random conversations remind of a few I have had with some of my friends over the years!! Also, I love how even at the very end, they were still together!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Count Your Blessings...Day 3
Staying with the stress reliever/cooking theme a little...today I am thankful for the Food Network channel and more specifically the show Chopped (which I am watching as I type this). I have learned so much from this channel and this show. I love being able to taste a sauce that is a little bland and know how to fix it. I always say that I am not creative, but it's not altogether true. I think I am creative in my writing and in my cooking. I should have been a food critic...that (other than a librarian) would be my dream job!!
So, yay for food, television and the man who came up with the modern stove!!! :)
So, yay for food, television and the man who came up with the modern stove!!! :)
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Count Your Blessings...Day 2
Today I am thankful for stress relievers. I came home today, sort of early, because Ty wasn't feeling well and he had some work to do from when he missed school.
I was able to make "maybe recipe #1" -- otherwise known as three cheese tortellini with a pumpkin sauce, topped with fried rosemary and Parmesan cheese. These are the recipes I am trying out over the next few weeks to see what I am going to make myself for dinner on Thanksgiving.
I got the sauce recipe from a Martha Stewart pasta recipe I found online. I kinda followed it, but not really. The reviews said that it was really bland, and I hate bland food. So, I cooked the rosemary in the oil a little longer and I also added more cheese and a few extra spices. I put a little cumin, cinnamon, sage and black pepper. It actually turned out really good & even Ty said he thought it was really good.
I even enjoyed eating the pasta. The three cheese tortellini was super yummy!! With the sauce, it didn't seem as heavy. All in all, I think it was very relaxing to make my yummy "maybe" Thanksgiving dish.
Here are pics of the sauce and the pasta & then some plated up. De-Lish!!! :)
I was able to make "maybe recipe #1" -- otherwise known as three cheese tortellini with a pumpkin sauce, topped with fried rosemary and Parmesan cheese. These are the recipes I am trying out over the next few weeks to see what I am going to make myself for dinner on Thanksgiving.
I got the sauce recipe from a Martha Stewart pasta recipe I found online. I kinda followed it, but not really. The reviews said that it was really bland, and I hate bland food. So, I cooked the rosemary in the oil a little longer and I also added more cheese and a few extra spices. I put a little cumin, cinnamon, sage and black pepper. It actually turned out really good & even Ty said he thought it was really good.
I even enjoyed eating the pasta. The three cheese tortellini was super yummy!! With the sauce, it didn't seem as heavy. All in all, I think it was very relaxing to make my yummy "maybe" Thanksgiving dish.
Here are pics of the sauce and the pasta & then some plated up. De-Lish!!! :)
The sauce cooking -- the camera doesn't really do it justice. It looks pretty gross here, but it tasted very yummy!
Once the pasta was added....
All plated up...
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Count Your Blessings, Name them one by one...Day One
The past few years, I have taken time in November to post things that I am grateful for as my status on Facebook. However, in all fairness, I try to do that all the time, so I won't be known as a Debbie Downer to all my Facebook friends! It's so easy to get caught up in the everyday disappointments and discouragements that bombard us, but if we do take just those five extra minutes out of our day to reflect on what is good, it truly does restore a broken spirit. So, shout out to Brooke for giving me the idea to blog it instead of just post a status! Yay for friends!!! :)
I got the title for this series of posts from one of my favorite songs we sing at church. It is one of the very first hymns I can remember singing and it always makes me feel peaceful inside. I know that I am blessed beyond anything that I deserve and I am truly thankful to God for all that he has given me. So, with that being said...
Day 1
Today, I had to take Ty to the doctor for a follow up visit regarding his concussion. By the time we actually got to the doctor, I was in a pretty foul mood due to a series of incidents, which truly, in the grand scheme of things, weren't that big of a deal. I just chose to let them bother me. I was a little grouchy when we ate lunch at Chili's where even the Cajun Shrimp didn't lighten my mood, and then...
...we made a brief, unplanned side trip Home Depot.
We walked in and my first sight was the plethora of artificial Christmas trees on display, along with all the yard and other types of holiday decorations for sale. I literally felt my soul smile. It was my first (of many, I am sure) Chevy Chase seasonal moments. Ya know, the one in Christmas Vacation where he had worked so hard putting up the lights and was too goofy to realize the power source was in the garage. So he finally gets the lights to work on the house and the choir sings "hallelujuah" & tears of joy stream down his face.
In a sense, that is what happened to me.
My disposition changed immediately and I began to be glad that I was enjoying a beautiful day with my healthy, "concussed" child instead of being separated from him while we were at school. I pondered on the fact that four christmases from now, he will be one semester away from leaving me for good! I also thought how we should never take a day for granted because there are many people that are no longer in my life that I would give anything to just spend five minutes with again. So, I sucked it up & ultimately found the cutest musical Ferris wheel with all these adorably tiny little animals on it that plays about eight different Christmas tunes. Of course I purchased it and it is now proudly on display amongst the Fall decor -- I am seriously considering busting out the Christmas for my room and the bathroom like -- this weekend!! I never think that we have enough time to enjoy the Christmas decorations as it is.
So, for day one, I am thankful for the fact that stores are so anxious to capitalize on any monetary gain, that they don't even wait for Halloween to end before they bust out all the holiday decorations. Granted I have been perusing the aisles at Wal-Mart for a few weeks now, but today was different. Looking at the decor, smelling the winter scented candles and listening to my iTunes created cd's of Christmas cheer on the way home did me some good -- on a day when I really needed it.
Here is a snapshot of my musical Ferris wheel -- it is my new favorite decoration!!
I got the title for this series of posts from one of my favorite songs we sing at church. It is one of the very first hymns I can remember singing and it always makes me feel peaceful inside. I know that I am blessed beyond anything that I deserve and I am truly thankful to God for all that he has given me. So, with that being said...
Day 1
Today, I had to take Ty to the doctor for a follow up visit regarding his concussion. By the time we actually got to the doctor, I was in a pretty foul mood due to a series of incidents, which truly, in the grand scheme of things, weren't that big of a deal. I just chose to let them bother me. I was a little grouchy when we ate lunch at Chili's where even the Cajun Shrimp didn't lighten my mood, and then...
...we made a brief, unplanned side trip Home Depot.
We walked in and my first sight was the plethora of artificial Christmas trees on display, along with all the yard and other types of holiday decorations for sale. I literally felt my soul smile. It was my first (of many, I am sure) Chevy Chase seasonal moments. Ya know, the one in Christmas Vacation where he had worked so hard putting up the lights and was too goofy to realize the power source was in the garage. So he finally gets the lights to work on the house and the choir sings "hallelujuah" & tears of joy stream down his face.
In a sense, that is what happened to me.
My disposition changed immediately and I began to be glad that I was enjoying a beautiful day with my healthy, "concussed" child instead of being separated from him while we were at school. I pondered on the fact that four christmases from now, he will be one semester away from leaving me for good! I also thought how we should never take a day for granted because there are many people that are no longer in my life that I would give anything to just spend five minutes with again. So, I sucked it up & ultimately found the cutest musical Ferris wheel with all these adorably tiny little animals on it that plays about eight different Christmas tunes. Of course I purchased it and it is now proudly on display amongst the Fall decor -- I am seriously considering busting out the Christmas for my room and the bathroom like -- this weekend!! I never think that we have enough time to enjoy the Christmas decorations as it is.
So, for day one, I am thankful for the fact that stores are so anxious to capitalize on any monetary gain, that they don't even wait for Halloween to end before they bust out all the holiday decorations. Granted I have been perusing the aisles at Wal-Mart for a few weeks now, but today was different. Looking at the decor, smelling the winter scented candles and listening to my iTunes created cd's of Christmas cheer on the way home did me some good -- on a day when I really needed it.
Here is a snapshot of my musical Ferris wheel -- it is my new favorite decoration!!
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