Amendment!

Okay... so I am changing the book title. I think the book I picked was a little too ambitious for young moms to finish in a month! So sorry about that!

What I would like to do is have you all leave your ideas (top three books) for our first read, and I will pick from that. After our first book is done, we will go in alphabetical order, and that person will get to pick our book.

Also, I wanted to open this up to readers not just in San Diego (Erin... Amy...).. so I thought that we could post our discussion questions at the end of the month, and just leave our answers via a comment. Doesn't that sound easy enough??

So, leave me your titles asap so we can start on July 1st! :)

Here it is... the first book club assignment

So.. a few posts back, I was mentioning that I wanted to start a book club. I think it is a great way to get to know friends better, while stretching that mind!!

So, here are the rules. I will pick the first book title, then you must all run out and get it from your library (or you can purchase it, but that is highly frowned upon for the budget conscious!!) then we will have 1 month to finish it. At that time, we will plan a get together (coffee anyone?) and meet to discuss. This is a very cultural and respectable idea... and you all had better do it!!

Leave me a comment to let me know you are in, and we will get started. I am sure my book club will generate as much buzz as Oprah's so you'd better get your book!!

And the title is..... The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger... it is a long one, so get to reading folks. :)

I love my sister..

So, you know that friend that you can't go a day without talking to, who knows your favorite ice cream, what songs you like on their Ipod, and the person who makes you laugh without doing anything.. even when no one else thinks it is funny... Well that is my sister, Amy. She and I are best friends and are completely opposite, but love each other to bits! When we were little, we didn't get a long and I made Amy do lots of things that she didn't want to do. I would say those days are long over.. but last night I made Amy do something I would never do...

Eat some cancer fighting, virus busting, incredibly hot wasabi!!

And yes, I took pictures, but I could hardly stand still to click the shutter because I was laughing so hard. She did it just for me.. and also she is a sucker for dares and pain and all that kind of stuff....



Look at that chunk o' wasabi!! Huge, ain't it?



Ok... no turning back! She looks a little scared, don't ya think?



This is where she is starting to feel the burn.... No pain, no gain baby! She loves me a lot.



Just to let you know.. wasabi is a paste and it takes a lot to chew it down. She spent a good 2-3 minutes just working on it!! Her eyes are starting to shut down involuntarily from the heat...


At this point, I believe her words were... Oh my sweet Lord Jesus... :)


Finally I let her drink some water. She was crying from the wasabi, and I was crying from laughing so hard! Her virus has run for the hills and she will be cancer free forever... not that she had those problems, but you know.. just in case.

Good times Ame.. thanks. :)

Ewwwww.....

Just wanted to warn everyone that hadn't heard... Moran's beef is contaminated with E.coli... so umm, you are not supposed to eat it!! It was sold at Albertson's and Stater Brothers.

My mil had some in her freezer that she had purchased a while ago and the number's matched, so make sure to check your beef people!!

Hahaha

Anyone who can watch this video and not laugh... doesn't have a heart. I just want to squish this little Danish beeb!! :)

The power of laughter.. it's a good thing folks. :)

Brooke Fraser - Shadowfeet

Wow... this is one talented songwriter. She is part of Hillsongs United band.. but also a #1 pop star!!

She is able to write words that really speak to people. Amazing stuff!!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I luuurve Max Lucado. His books bring inspiration, contemplation, and tears, without fail. So, I found a site that has great quotes that are from Christian authors, past and present. I thought I would start sharing a few that speak to me. So today... read this and decide.. what will you choose?

"It's quiet. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming.

In a few moments, the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose.

I CHOOSE LOVE…

No occasion justifies hatred;
no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love.
Today I will love God and what God loves.

I CHOOSE JOY…

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.
I will refuse the temptation to be cynical…
the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see
people as anything less than human beings,
created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as
anything less than an opportunity to see God." - Max Lucado

A visit to the Islands....

Literally.. We went to Islands a few weeks ago to celebrate my in-laws 31st anniversary. They went to Hawaii last year, so this was in remembrance of that trip. I found out something new about Islands... they have a great drink menu inspired by the Tropics. You know why I didn't know... because I am so cheap that I can't stand paying 6.50 for a smoothie with rum in it!! And, yes, let's be honest, that is what a Lava Flow is.
Todd and I aren't drinkers (not that there is anything wrong with that!!) so Hannah and Todd haven't experienced the "you can't have that.. it is just for adults" line. Hannah wants to share everything.. so imagine her surprise when Grandma couldn't share her drink! If you know Hannah, you will know that her lower lip started to jut out, her brows furrowed, and there might have been a few fist pounds on the table...while I tried to tell her that I would make her a Hannah version when we went to the store next. She finally gave up the pity party and we enjoyed a nice (free.. thank you in-laws) dinner.
So, all that to say... here is my version of a Lava Flow. I think they call it a Volcano when there is an absence of rum!!

I added 1 can of coconut milk and about 4 cups of Coconut Pineapple juice together with ice. You can just use Pineapple juice... but I was at Henry's and they didn't have any. To make it a Lava Flow, a drizzle of strawberry syrup is supposed to suspend itself throughout the drink like lava (hence the name)... however, I am not that coordinated, so I just threw some strawberries in there. I am not a huge smoothie person, but this drink was a blend of creamy coconut swirling with flecks of strawberry, with the tiniest hint of pineapple, all icy chilled to perfection. I mean, yum!


A few little known facts about coconut...
- a substance in coconut milk has been shown to fight the HIV virus among others
- it promotes vascular (think veins) health
- it helps your skin look healthy and vibrant

A few little known facts about strawberries...
- they are packed with antioxidants
- they are an excellent source of Vitamin C and fiber and a good source of iodine, B6, copper and others
- they protect against macular degeneration

Why do I tell you all this? Because I think it is important to feed our families healthy foods that taste delightful, and you can feel confident knowing this is a "chock full of health" dessert! Make the Volcano.. tell me what you think! :)

Yet another plug for TJ's... and I will be done.. for now...

My kids are allergic to dairy. Well, more like sensitive to dairy. So, we don't drink cow's milk in our house. I never realized how inexpensive cow's milk was until I had to start buying substitutes. Soy Milk is cheaper than Almond Milk, but I don't want my kiddos having that much soy. And, we don't even need to talk about how Rice Milk tastes, do we??
So, Almond Milk it is. At the grocery stores, Almond Milk can run from $2.19 to $3.49 for a quart. Yikes!! Lucky for me, (and you) Trader Joe's carries Almond Milk for 1.99 a quart. So what, you say. That is only .20 cents a quart cheaper. Well, let's just add this up...4 quarts a week (which is what we use)equals .80 cents savings a week, which adds up to 3.20 a month. No.. that is not a big deal, but when you look at the savings yearly (nearly $40 bucks) that makes a difference. It is the little things you do weekly, that can save you money over time. Who wouldn't want an extra $40 in their pocket.

...And, my kids are 7 and 5.... if I buy this much milk until they are in college.. I will have saved almost $500 just by buying the cheaper version at TJ's!!

It pays to save people!!

Let's hear it for TJ's....

I have to say it. I love TJ's. It is a store that is full to the brim of good deals. I know, I know... not everything they sell is cheaper. But a majority of the stuff I buy there is... so sit down and listen to me! I have decided to start blogging about my good finds there, so check back often!

Trader's sells orange chicken in their freezer dept. Who doesn't love orange chicken?? It is a delightful concoction of crispy chicken bathed in a slightly spicy ginger orange sauce. YUM!! TJ's brand is $5.00 a bag. I usually get 2 bags for my family and a bag of rice at around $1.50. So, we are looking at $11.50 for an authentic, MSG free Chinese dinner. If I am feeling ambitious, I will mix peas, carrots, soy sauce and garlic (staples I always have) into my rice... and call it dinner!

I challenge you to find a cheaper Chinese dinner that feeds 5-6 people and is this good... go ahead... let me know if you do. :)

My belated Mother's Day

So, seeing as how my extraordinary husband is still currently seeking employment... I requested a weekend alone at my mom's instead of a gift. I wanted some time to sleep in if I wanted, wear my pj's all day, watch my Grey's in peace, drink a Chai Latte and not have to share it... and that is what I got.

I also was able to travel to downtown San Diego and get my hair colored by a wonderful stylist and the kicker... it was only $15 bucks!! (She was a student at the Paul Mitchell school... it is a really frugal way to get your hair did!!) My sister and I also went to a cute little restaurant on Clairemont Mesa Blvd. called "The Godfather." When you walk in, you can hear the signature song from the movie playing in the background. The room is dimly lit, yet you feel like everyone is watching your every move. Upon sitting down, you are served by waiters in tuxedoes. They bring a plate of freshly made fried zuchini medallions and your coke glass is never empty. My Portobello Ravioli was divine, and when asked by the sweet Italian chef if I liked my lunch, I heartily shouted my praise for fear of the mafia weighting my legs and tossing me in the fountain outside. Yeah.. it was that authentic!! You should go... no really.. you should!


So, I was able to arrive home refreshed with glossy carmel highlights (well at least...that is what I think they look like...) eager to see my beautiful, squishy children and snuggle on my AeroBed with my husband. Thanks babe!!

She's a redneck woman...

So Little Miss H has been loosing teeth left and right, all last week. Meaning the tooth fairy is broke! Well.. the tooth fairy was broke anyway because the tooth fairy in our house doesn't have a job! But that is another story.

I thought I would document the in between stages of the lost tooth escapades. This picture was the most hickville of them all... One lost on the top and one lost on the bottom. Isn't she a cute little redneck? :) So, now she fits in around these rodeo watching, hay chewing, 17 broken cars in the driveway kind of people!! Holla, Santee! :)

Seriously... Rachael Ray is copying me...

I don't watch her show all that often.. I just don't have the time, but that last two times she has been cooking.. it is stuff I have already come up with! The tacos and now the burger... What is that about?? The woman has spies. I am telling you, watch out! :)

She is making a meat and potatoes burger on her show today. That is a meal idea that is a little out there... Well, I submitted a recipe to a burger contest last year for a meatloaf and mashed potato burger!!!!! It might sound really weird, but my husband and son absolutely loved it. I have witnesses people.

I am just warning you all. Be aware of the spies!!

Speaking of Rachael Ray...

She made steak tacos on her show this morning!! This was posted before that... so maybe she happened upon my blog... and copied me! Yep, I bet that was it. :) Because we all know that she really needs my help.

Oh, and I have given up meat and all things related for a while... I keep getting sick, and I am sick of it. Vegan land here I come....

Probably should take down the pictures of the dead cow on my page, huh.

Fake Carne Asada Tacos..

I say fake because real carne is marinated for a while in wine or lemon juice and spices. I take the easy way out with this recipe. I hear you saying... "I can have carne asada tacos made and ready for my family in 30 minutes?" I say.. "Why, yes you can! Oh, and eat your heart out Rachael Ray!!"

You will need 1-2 pounds of skirt steak (think thin cut)
Montreal Steak Seasoning
2-3 Avocados
1-2 ripe tomatoes
1/2 white onion
1 lemon
Tortillas

Cheddar cheese and sour cream go well with these, but those are optional.

First, cut the steak into thin strips and trim the fat... why?? because it is better for you and doesn't taste very good in this recipe. Season with Montreal Steak Seasoning and put into a medium heated pan. (Go easy on the seasoning if you don't like it spicy... it has pepper in it)



Meanwhile, scoop out the insides of the avocados, seed and chop the tomatoes (to seed, cut off the top and gently squeeze out the seeds and don't skip this step because your guacamole will be too runny) and shred, yes, I said shred the onion. This makes great onion flavor without the big chunks of onion that most kiddos hate. Squeeze half the lemon over the bowl. Mix and mush together and add salt and pepper to taste.




The trick with most steak is to either cook it a really long time, or a fairly short time... since this is a cheater's guide to carne, we are taking the short route. The meat should cook for no longer than 3-4 minutes per side. Even if there is a little pink, take it out, place in another bowl and cover. It will continue to cook... you don't want tough carne meat!! Here's the real cheat... we are going to sprinkle the other half of the lemon over the cooked steak, instead of marinating...... same flavor pay off... way less time.

Assemble as you like and enjoy. We usually serve beans, but this is such a filling taco that you really don't need to. My entire family loves this and it is way less expensive and heart attack provoking than Hilberto's!! :)

It's gone...

I only had a two day migraine... Praise the Lord!! Seriously. :)

The migraine returns...

I have decided that I am not going to eat anymore!! Because I will inevitably eat something that causes a migraine... and suffer for three or more days. Pray for my children today... their mommy is fighting the beast in her head!! :)

Book clubs...

I love books, love to read, and love to talk about what I have read... don't you think that I should be in a book club??? I do!! When we were up in Washington, I had many friends that were in the same book club, and they all talked about it... in front of me... but I was never invited. Oh, sure, there were promises made that I would be invited, but that dang invite must have been lost in the mail, or... something.

You know what.... I felt like I was back in junior high again, and the popular girls didn't want anything to do with me. Even though I am a 30 year old woman, I still have flashbacks... they scarred me for life. However, since I am a grown up.. I better act like one.

So, I think I will start a book club... what shall we call it?? I don't know?? How about "The Book Club for people who weren't included in THE book club"... That might be too long.. and too flashback-ish (yep.. I made that word up) Well, I will figure out the title later, but if you want to read some books together, then let me know. We can be in the book club that the world forgot. Together. Forever. Oh, I mean until we don't want to read books anymore. :)

Their favorite breakfast..

What child doesn't love the sugared cereals, the buttered waffles, the pop tarts that are more like a cookie than a breakfast food. And, I too have given in to the little tyrant's pleas for the exciting new breakfast "thing". However, my children are school age, and I don't want them to be flying on a sugar high for their poor teachers. So, we came up with this breakfast. My almost 8 year old is a pro at making this, especially on those mornings when I can't get it together, which is often.. and well, that is a whole other blog entirely.

Are you ready for the ingredients?? Ok... one tortilla, one scoop of peanut butter, and about 15 chocolate chips. That is it. Let me demonstrate.

Spread the peanut butter over the tortilla... oh, and let me state that I usually use almond butter, but since I am living with people, I am at their discretion... and they buy Skippy!!


Sprinkle a few chocolate chips over the pb. Again, I usually use the dark chocolate chips from Trader Joe's... they buy Nestle.



Pop in the microwave for 15 seconds to melt together and you have one kid-friendly, lower sugar, and healthy breakfast. My son would eat this every day. We serve ours with a banana and milk (Almond for us) and I can feel good about at least one meal!
Tortillas are a wonderful invention for mothers. Fill them with whatever and kids will eat them... well, mine will. I have used them for pizza pockets, and just now Hannah had one for lunch with turkey and cheese and veggies. Let's all give thanks for the tortilla!!

P.S. My picky husband loves this breakfast too!

Need more blogs to read..

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