Kansas Day (dirt dessert)

It's Kansas Day! Made up this yummy dirt dessert for Tanner to take to school today! Again, allrecipes.com - dirt dessert II recipe. I made this same thing for his 3rd birthday party & put in the back of a dump truck, it was really good!

Short haircut

Posting some pictures of my hair b/c it's so hard to find pictures out there when you are looking to do something to your hair! I have had a couple of bad cuts from atwo different hairdressers that I've gone too & now having to let things grow! I went to a friends hairdresser, Penelope, a week or so ago & she cut some of the mess up & has said that I am to let it GROW now until April! Gotta love a bad haircut, or two! Unless you'd seen what I had up close & were really looking at my hair with me showing you or as a hairdresser, you probably wouln't just be able to tell...It looks pretty good in these pictures, thanks to Penelope's work with the scissors...

Cute project

So I saw this cute project at Hobby Lobby & went home to create one myself! LOVED the pink, black & white so I even went so far as to use the same color scheme they had on theirs!

LMAO...I am a lot like Kate Gosselin I guess!

OK, so I started looking for a picture with her hair, thinking of cutting the back top really short like hers...Anyways, I ended up on this blog that someone else has on there & found this:
So yesterday’s episode — Color Me Gosselin. Why are you taking your kids to the Crayola Factory if you don’t want them to get dirty, or clean up after them, or use markers??? Kate, the reason your kids are having meltdowns is because you don’t let them do anything. And it’s not just me who feels this way – just ask your husband. He seems to think markers are fine.

While I am on the subject of markers – they are called washable for a reason. Last week I came home to find my precocious pooch with a chewed up purple Crayola marker. There was purple everywhere – on my cream rug, on his white paws, and all over my very expensive, very large tan micro-suede sectional sofa. But here is the real kicker – it washed right out! HA! Who would of thunk washable markers would just wash out!

I am a bit of a freak myself with letting Tanner use markers b/c I don't want him to get dirty! Or his clothes, LOL! He's 3! I need to let it go, I know. I am careful what I put him in for school, or I try to be, and I know that I can't get upset if he comes home dirty b/c it means he's having a good tiem! Also, the teacher's don't have time to try & keep him as clean (ANAL) as I do. This part of the gals post made me laugh too!

And the damn blue glue won’t kill them either. Do you really think that Crayola would supply toxic, hazardous and stain-inducing materials for their young patrons to use?

People make me laugh! There are so many great things out there to read for entertainment or inspiration now with the internet, it's fantabulous!

What a great quote...

I was just "blog hopping" and found this great quote!

Maya Angelou : The ship of my life may or may not be sailing on calm and amiable seas. The challenging days of my existence may or may not be bright and promising. Stormy or sunny days, glorious or lonely nights, I maintain an attitude of gratitude. If I insist on being pessimistic, there is always tomorrow. Today I am blessed.

Thanks Ali! Check it out...

http://aliedwards.typepad.com/_a_/2009/01/around-the-room-baby-a.html

Help for hives

So, after suffering through these stupid hives for 20 days, the Dermatologist had me try Allegra Zantac. I took one of each last night & today when I woke up - no red splotches after my shower & so far (it's 11:50) no itching! AND, I havne't taken any Benadryl yet today! YEA...so, if you get hives that nothing seems to help (had a week's worth of Prednisone and a Prednisone shot that did nothing for me) ask your Dr. for Allegra & go grab some Zantac! I go back in 2 weeks to see her again & then we'll figure out what to do. Hopefully I can stop the pills before then though! Who knows...I will just have to wait & see. Just happy to be itch free!

French Onion Soup

OH SO GOOD! Yep, another All recipe dish made it's way into the rotation tonight! French Onion Soup Gratinee is the name & it was submitted to all recipes by Jersey Tomato. For 15-16 years I've been afraid to try making French Onion soup & now I have no idea why! There really wasn't anything tricky to it at all! The amounts below for for 4, I cut in half but it was still enough for 3. Also, I only used 1 small-med sweet & 1 large red.

INGREDIENTS
4 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt
2 large red onions, thinly sliced
2 large sweet onions, thinly sliced
1 (48 fluid ounce) can chicken broth
1 (14 ounce) can beef broth
1/2 cup red wine
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 sprigs fresh parsley
1 sprig fresh thyme leaves
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
4 thick slices French or Italian bread
8 slices Gruyere or Swiss cheese slices, room temperature
1/2 cup shredded Asiago or mozzarella cheese, room temperature
4 pinches paprika

DIRECTIONS
Melt butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Stir in salt, red onions and sweet onions. Cook 35 minutes, stirring frequently, until onions are caramelized and almost syrupy.
Mix chicken broth, beef broth, red wine and Worcestershire sauce into pot. Bundle the parsley, thyme, and bay leaf with twine and place in pot. Simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove and discard the herbs. Reduce the heat to low, mix in vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Cover and keep over low heat to stay hot while you prepare the bread.
Preheat oven broiler. Arrange bread slices on a baking sheet and broil 3 minutes, turning once, until well toasted on both sides. Remove from heat; do not turn off broiler.
Arrange 4 large oven safe bowls or crocks on a rimmed baking sheet. Fill each bowl 2/3 full with hot soup. Top each bowl with 1 slice toasted bread, 2 slice Gruyere cheese and 1/4 of the Asiago or mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle a little bit of paprika over the top of each one.
Broil 5 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown. As it softens, the cheese will cascade over the sides of the crock and form a beautifully melted crusty seal. Serve immediately!

Alfredo & Blackened Chicken

Two different recipes from All recipes made for a really yummy dinner at the Yankovich house! First I took an alfredo sauce from a recipe called Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo submitted by starburst11 & just made the sauce.

1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
3 cups milk
1 cup half-and-half
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
8 ounces shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese


Melt 4 tablespoons butter in the skillet. Saute onion, 2 tablespoons garlic and mushrooms until onions are transparent. Stir in flour, salt and pepper; cook 2 minutes. Slowly add milk and half-and-half, stirring until smooth and creamy. Stir in Parmesan and Colby-Monterey Jack cheeses; stir until cheese is melted.

This was A LOT of sauce, so you might want to cut down. Oh wait, I just noticed I was making sauce for 8! No wonder it was so much! hahahaha...

Blackened Chicken was a recipe submitted to all recipes by Karena (this is for 2)

1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet. Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat for 5 minutes until it is smoking hot.
Mix together the paprika, salt, cayenne, cumin, thyme, white pepper, and onion powder. Oil the chicken breasts with cooking spray on both sides, then coat the chicken breasts evenly with the spice mixture.
Place the chicken in the hot pan, and cook for 1 minute. Turn, and cook 1 minute on other side. Place the breasts on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 5 minutes.

Mine took more like 25 or 30 minutes in the oven. Also, I don't have a cast iron skillet so I just used my normal skillet & it worked fine.

An article worth reading as we say goodbye to Bush today

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/17/IN0B159A69.DTL


And this came from a newspaper in California!

Angel on her shoulder

Thank goodness my sister had an angel sitting on her shoulder as she drove down 69 HWY last Thursday afternoon. From out of nowhere a piece of metal about the size of a shingle came flying through her windshield, hit the steering wheel & fell to the floor. Her hand was sliced, glass flying & covering her but she managed to keep control of her car and was able to get to the shoulder. She called 911 and soon the police and abulance showed up. They told her in the ER that had that come up just about an inch higher & hit her, she'd of been dead. THANK GOODNESS for the angel sitting on her shoulder! I don't know what I would do without my sister.

Walking amoung the clouds.......

Casey's kidney's had gotten worse and what we knew was coming, came today. I am so glad that God led me to Mom's house yesterday so that I got to see her one more time and to tell her goodby. She was such a great dog! It feels like we've just lost a little more of OK, Grandma & my time at home with Mom. The way she came into our lives and when she came in was at such an incredible time when she was needed! I will sure miss Casey and am not sure how Tanner will react the next time when we go over and she's not there. Loved that sweet sweet dog!

Tips for a happier life...really needed this today!

Tips for a happier, healthier life!

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day & smile as you go. It’s the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
4.. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'
5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy, and the 3 F’s Faith, Family, Friends
7. Make time for prayer. It provides us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured from plants.
11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk.
14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive, present moment.
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
17. Try & pay an honest compliment to someone you wouldn't normally.
18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
28. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
29. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
31. Envy is a waste of time.. You already have all you need.
32. The best is yet to come.
36. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for _____. Today I accomplished ______.
37. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
38. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life, so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

Chocolate ugly Cake

OK, so tried this cake from Tastefully Simple in Dec of 2007 & had I known it was going to be SO good, I'd of bought one or two more! Found this recipe on someone's blog yesterday when I was goofing around on the internet. May have to give it a try just to see how it compares!

Copycat of Tastefully Simple Chocolate Ugly Cake

1 (515 g) box chocolate cake mix
3 eggs
1 1/3 cups water
1/2 cup cooking oil
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups hot water
1/2 cup cocoa powder

Preheat oven to 350° F. Lightly grease a 9"X13" baking pan. Stir together the cake mix, eggs, water, and oil until combined; set aside. Combine marshmallows and brown sugar; set aside. In another bowl, combine cocoa powder and 2 cups hot water. Combine marshmallow and cocoa mixtures and pour into the greased 9"X13" pan. Spoon prepared cake mix evenly over all. *** DO NOT MIX TOGETHER. *** Bake for 45 minutes. Cool completely in pan and then flip onto a platter. The cake should have a wonderfully rich layer of chocolaty pudding type sauce on top.

Notes: I used Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge cake mix, Hershey's cocoa powder, and storebrand (Safeway) marshmallows. I also did not flip the cake over since I don't have a rectangular platter; I just scooped out the cake from the pan with a spoon. The cake comes out light and fluffy, which I didn't really expect, but is incredibly awesome.

It really is pretty ugly.

Love her!

Saw this cover this morning & I can't believe how great Britney Spears looks! I really do like her...Just think she had a rough time there for a bit & made some bad decisions. She seems like she's really taking control of her life & herself again. Good for her! She's got those two beautiful little boys & is very talented. Would hate to have the life in the spotlight as she's got to deal with. You make a mistake, or two, as we ALL have & everyone suddenly is judging you when it's really none of their business. Anyways, really love this cover!

Love the snow, but geez...

This morning's drive into work sucked so bad! Seriously, had I looked outside & seen it before I started to get ready for work - we would be at home! On my way to take Tanner I was sliding all over the place! Then, I pulled off the highway once I was on my way b/c I could see it was pretty backed up & decided I would stop off for more Benadryl for my hives/rash that is STILL here (coming and going) for over a week now! So, I can hardly see out of my windows b/c the temps are so cold outside that you can hardly get it to melt & stay melted and have ice on the scrapers. Ended up pulling in back at hte house to look for a scraper & found one. So, decided to get back on the road & make what is normally a 20-25 minute drive anyway...sliding all over the place, sweating from the heater even though I had my coat & scarf off - forgot deoderant so that was nice...Over and hour later & praying that I don't get in a wreck & don't get a ticket for wrecking - I made it in! I am now just wishing I'd of stayed home b/c of the neckpain that I have today and my itching! But, I was feeling guilty at the thought of staying home without Tanner. Although, it would have been a really nice time to try & get some fun projects done! Oh well...better not to waste a day on myself for something like snow! I would also have liked to have kept him home with me so we could walk outside in it & at least have a little fun in the cold! Maybe it will stick around and we can go outside tomorrow! Wonder if chad will have to plow tonight...Sure hope not! We were going to go out to dinner since Tanner is going to see Dog Hotel with Grandma Suzette! Bring on a Margarita...seriously craving one! Have been for a few days now. Chad asked me what was going on with me last night when I said I really wanted one. Just realized that I don't have any tequila at the house though b/c we used it on New Years Eve so I wouldn't have been able to fix one last night as I'd thought about at one point. Sure hope this day gets better...guess it's not the day that's causing the problem. It's my outlook! Need to find something positive to read, stop & take a deep breath...RELAX.

Teriyaki Chicken Pizza

Think it sounded better than it was. I don't think it had that much flavor for me. My mother in law & husband liked it more than I did. Never did tell the hubster that it had Feta cheese! He wouldn't have touched it if I had! Anyways, another recipe from my favorite recipe website - allrecipes.com THink next time I would cut the chicken smaller (as suggested by my husband, I may need to take a chopping class) and cook it in the teriyaki rather than the pineapple juice. Also, think I would use a different crust, not sure I liked the flavor of the Boboli crust with this one. I did love the sweet onion cooked in olive oil & added some mozarella cheese in addition to the cheddar and Feta.

INGREDIENTS
1 (15 ounce) can pineapple chunks - drained with juice reserved
2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into bite-size pieces
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 (10 ounce) cans refrigerated pizza crust dough
1 cup teriyaki sauce
1 small sweet onions, thinly sliced
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup crumbled feta cheese

DIRECTIONS
Combine reserved pineapple juice, chicken, and garlic in a small baking dish. Cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Remove chicken from pineapple. Saute chicken and garlic in a very hot pan, so that the chicken browns just slightly.
Roll out pizza dough on a 16 inch pizza pan. Bake dough for approximately 7 minutes, and then remove from oven. Brush dough with a thin layer of teriyaki sauce, then a layer of the onion, and top with Cheddar cheese. Then top with chicken, reserved pineapple chunks, and feta cheese. Bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.

A good little cookie!

Have you tried this great new Girl Scout cookie!?

Random thoughts...

Peanut really should not be mixed with noodles. I have decided I really don’t think I like that flavor – Thai food.

I love being at home! Curled up on the couch with a movie and a warm blanket!

My son has the best smile ever! (And laugh too)

I miss some of my old haircuts. Am not happy with what I have right now! She really did a number on my hair last Saturday…UGH!

I love beef, and ham & chicken…How could you not like meat? It’s just so good, when it’s been cooked the right way! I want a hamburger from Town Topic or a big steak from J Alexander’s (I’d even settle for Outback right now) or a pulled pork sandwich from Oklahoma Joe’s!

Green is such a great color! All shades of green. It just makes you happy! Green grass, green leaves…green gum, green beans, broccoli, lima beans…Salad. Money! Green, it really is a great color isn’t it?

Sprinkles, they make me happy! I really love sprinkles. They are kind of like confetti, I just love it/them for some reason.

Fives...

5 things that drive me crazy:
1. When people put those wings & crazy “fast & the furious” type things on their cars
2. Bicyclers on the road
3. Hearing other people chomp their gum
4. When people expect you to drop what you are doing for them
5. When kids pull everything out, move it around to other places in the house or get into places and/or touch things that they have no business with


5 people I CAN NOT stand (that I don’t know)
1. Oprah Winfrey
2. Jerry O’Connell
3. Ann Curry
4. Shaquille O’Neal
5. Obama

5 most beautiful famous women
1. Gwyneth Paltrow
2. Ashley Judd
3. Kate Beckinsale
4. Gwen Stfani
5. Demi Moore

5 most beautiful famous men (boy this one was HARD!)
1. Mark Wahlberg
2. Johnny Depp
3. David Beckham
4. Patrick Dempsey
5. Ryan Reynolds

5 websites I love to go to
1. Kodak Gallery
2. Allrecipes
3. Ancestry
4. Family Fun
5. Facebook

5 people I would love to meet:
1. Drew Barrymore
2. Britney Spears
3. Ellen DeGeneres
4. Mary J Blidge
5. Ashley Judd

5 favorite words:
1. Serendipity
2. Superfluous (not that I’ve ever used it in a sentence, I just like the way it sounds)
3. Fabulous
4. Devotion
5. Smitten

Days of the week in order of how I like them: (not that I want them to be changed up this way…)
Saturday (my day at home to do whatever I want & spend with Tanner & Chad)
Friday (closest day to the weekend & that means I don’t have to get up for work in the morning)
Thursday (it’s almost Friday)
Sunday (another day at home, but you start to dread the work so not my favorite day) Wednesday (the week is half over!)
Tuesday (usually not as tired as you were the day before
Monday (usually tired from the fun/busy weekend)

5 movies I LOVE:
1. Serendipity
2. The Family Stone
3. Sliding Doors
4. Love Actually
5. The Notebook

5 movies that I really like for some odd reason and I watch them over and over!
1. 28 days later
2. Shaun Of the Dead
3. 28 weeks later
4. Norbit
5.

5 perfume scents that I love:
1. Eternity
2. Paris Hilton (pink & black bottle)
3. Sensual Amber
4. That new one by Gwen Stefani
5. Love Spell

5 things that make me really happy:
1. music
2. Tanner & Chad
3. pictures
5. knowing that it’s MY DAY & I don’t have to go to work

5 favorite snacks:
1. nuts
2. ice cream
3. Skittles
4. plain M & M’s
5. chips or crackers

5 places I’ve been that I would love to go back to:
1. Frontier Ranch
2. Arizona to see my Grandparents (have only been able to make the trip once)
3. Disney World
4. Alaska
5. San Francisco

5 places I’ve never been that I would love to go:
1. Ireland
2. Disney Land
3. Up in the north eastern states
4. Canada
5. Hawaii

The love of a child and losing them

I can not even imagine how John and Kelly Preston are getting through their days right now since having lost their son Jett 11 days ago. When I heard that evening, Jan 2, 2009, on the news my heart ached for them. No parent should have to experience a loss like that at any age, but I'm sure at the young age of 16 and losing your child it hurts even more.
My Grandfather experienced the loss of a child, but my Dad was 51 when he passed away. I know my Grandpa said he still misses my Dad everyday so I can only imagine how rough it will be for the Travolta's. As they said on their website, "We want all of you to cherish your loved ones and your friends like there was no tomorrow, to live your lives to the fullest by contiuing to help one another, and to be true to yourselves".

Favorite photography!

She's, April, on Etsy & her company name is creativeapples. April's photos are on a nice, heavy cardstock & the prints are a great quality! April has always worked with me to create exactly what I have wanted for cards & even magnets! You can see more of her work on flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/rottnapples/ Check out her work! REALLY great stuff!

Scrabble...obviously not MY game!

OK, so with my score of 25 at the end & the others in the 100's I came to the conclusion that this is not my game!

Quotes that I found & loved...

I always know God won't
give me more than I can handle,
there are times I just wish
He didn't trust me quite so much.


Experience is a wonderful thing,
it enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.


Dogs Have Owners ~ Cats Have Staff

Check out this darling necklace my sister ordered for me, I just LOVE it! I am always getting compliments on it too. Etsy, a favorite spot that I like to shop from frequently! Check it out...this is just one of the many wonderful sellers!



http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=79574

Easy Honey Mustard Mozzarella Chicken

YUM!






Another recipe from Allrecipes.com for dinner. This one's a keeper! Thanks "Sarahbea" for posting on there! I did make one change as done by another reviewer & cooked our bacon in the frying pan before placing on the cooked chicken & putting the cheese on.

INGREDIENTS
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
3/4 cup honey
1/2 cup prepared mustard
lemon pepper to taste
4 slices bacon, cut in half
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Place the chicken breast halves in a baking dish, and drizzle evenly with honey and mustard. Sprinkle with lemon pepper.
Bake chicken 25 minutes in the preheated oven. Top each breast half with 2 bacon slice halves, and sprinkle evenly with cheese. Continue baking 10 minutes, or until chicken juices run clear, bacon is crisp, and cheese is bubbly.

What to buy, what to buy....

OK, so I have money in my pocket and as usual it's burning a hole! I NEED TO SPEND...SPEND...SPEND!

Through the great new blogs that I've been following, I found a couple of websites FULL of wonderful stuff that I am just in love with! Papertrey Ink and More Than Ink

I can't wait to get on line & shop shop shop for some new things to create!

A new favorite song...it just makes you feel good!

Something Special by Colbie Caillat

I found a way to be everything
I dreamed of
And I know it to me that I will become
Who I want to be
And I finally found it
And I’m taking the long way out
Cause its gonna be
Something special to me
Something special to me

Chorus
Days go by and I’ll grow stronger
It takes time but i’ll never let go
Days go by and I’ll try harder
To make it mine

Its something special to me x3

I found so many things
I dreamed of
And I know it to me
That I will become
Who I want to be
And I finally found it
And I’m takin’ the long way out
And its gonna be
Something special to me
Something special to me

Chorus
Days go by and I’ll grow stronger
It takes time but i’ll never let go
Days go by and I’ll try harder
To make it mine

Its something special to me
More than I hoped for
More than I dreamed of
This is how it should be
More than I hoped for
More than I dreamed of
This is how it should be


Days go by and I’ll grow stronger
It takes time but i’ll never let go
Days go by and I’ll try harderTo make it mine

Its something special to me (8x)

Happy birthday to me...

#36! What a great way to start 2009! We went out for dinner at Wil Jenny's with family & then back to the house for cake (2 of them!) and presents. What a great birthday I had this year with about 30 birthday wishes on FB, emails & e cards all day long!

2009 is going to be a great year!

Happy New Year!

May it be a year full of good news, good health & fun times for you and your family!