Motivational Monday.....

Sunday's Faith.....

My Reward!!!

I've set my weight loss goal, that I WILL reach.  And my reward is going to be HUGE!!!  So if you see me out, keep me focused on the REWARD!!!

Yep, A nice Jeep Sahara!!!!

Recipe Review... TGIF!!!!

Hello friends... I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.  I have to say, mine was great!! Mac enjoyed a nice visit with his dad and I got to have some much needed "mommy time".  Overall, great holiday!

On Christmas Eve with my family I decided to take the Jalapeno Creamed Corn recipe that I had found via Blog Her on Pinterest.  It was very easy to fix with minimal ingredients, however, it was NOT a hit.  More like a mushy, creamy mess!  It tasted way too sweet for all of our taste.    It will not be making a return visit.

I haven't explored Pinterest too much in the past couple of days.  I joined Weight Watchers on Wednesday so I've got to adjust my recipes to fit that now.  I'll post the good ones that I find.  I have a long way to go to get to the goal I want to reach---but the pay off will be AWESOME!!!

It's Friday!!!  I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!!!

Merry Christmas Friends!!!!

Remember the reason for this day...  Enjoy your families and friends..

Happy Christmas Eve......

Wow, can ya'll believe Christmas is almost over with??  Where did this year go?  I finally finished all my shopping on Saturday and can you believe I did not have to go to Hoover or the Galleria at all this year!  Avoiding that traffic truly made my Christmas!  Tonight we are going over to my brother's to celebrate our family Christmas.  I think my parents will be so surprised with the gift that we got them this year.  I'll tell ya'll about it later in the week...   I have to bring a veggie dish, and thanks to Pinterest, I found one I think everyone will enjoy... It's Jalapeno Creamed Corn from the Blog Her site.  I may have to use a little less jalapeno's since my niece's don't really do spicy...  But I still think it will be tasty...  The recipe is also super easy....

 
Ingredients:

1 Stick (1/2 cup) of butter, room temperature
8 oz. of cream cheese, room temperature
2 cups of sharp cheddar cheese
3 jalapenos, seeded and finely diced (or more if you like some heat).
3 cans (11 oz. each) of white shoepeg corn, drained

Mix all ingredients together in a 13x9 pan.  Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  Stir before serving...

Simple and looks tasty!!


Now after a fun filled night with my parents and my brother's family, I'm going to come home and watch my all time favorite Christmas movie...   Can ya'll guess what it is???

Merry Christmas friends...  We are all truly blessed....

Sunday's Faith....

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend...

TGIF!!!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!  Let the last minute shopping begin!!!

Recipe Review---Bakes Chicken Fajitas Recipe

I fixed this dish on Monday night and I have to say it was AMAZING!!  And so simple!!  The ingredients were very simple to find at Publix and I had all of the spices needed.  I doubled the chicken amount so I could have leftovers for work this week.  And I think its going to taste even better....

Ingredients:

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into strips.  (I used the ones Publix already had in strips)
1 (15oz) can diced tomatoes (I did not use this, but used 2 cans Rotel diced green chilies and tomato's)
1 (4oz) can diced green chilies
1 medium onion, sliced
1 large bell pepper seeded and sliced (I also used a red pepper here as well)
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp garlic power
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp salt
12 flour tortillas

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Grease 13x9 baking dish.  Mix together chicken, tomatoes, chilies, peppers, and onions, in the dish.  In a small bowl combine the oil and spices.  Drizzle the spice mixture over the chicken and toss to coat.  Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes.  I did a little longer since I added more chicken,,,   Serve with the warmed tortillas and enjoy...

I found this recipe via Pinterest at Six Sixters Stuff...  Check them out!!!

Still Determined to Make One.....

I know making my rag quilt was last years goal---that I didn't complete.  And I so want to make one!!!  I found this very easy tutorial on Pinterest via a blog called The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking. Her instructions look very simple to follow.  So I'm thinking while Mac is with his dad during Christmas and I  have nothing but "me time" ahead.  Why not practice making my quilt!  I have most of the supplies I need and with all the Christmas sales, I might can get the rest on sale...  PLUS, it will help keep me from missing Mac so much...  Maybe...

If you have a minute pop on over to The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking, she has some wonderful ideas....

I will post pictures when I start it.....  Wish me luck!!

Motivational Monday....

Sunday's Faith....

Yes Please....

TGIF!!!

We made it!!!  Enjoy your weekend friends....

New Crock Pot Recipe.... YUM!!

With the hope of cold weather approaching, I think this Pinterest recipe will be good for the weekend.  And it's in the crock pot which is even better of course!!  I found this on CreativeDomestic.com...  Very cool blog...  Check her out....

Ingredients:

5 cups of chicken broth (boxed or can)
one 10.75oz can crean of chicken soup
1/2 cup onions chopped
1/2 cup celery chopped
1/2 cup carrots chopped
1/2 cup green onions, sliced
one 15oz. can of whole kernel corn drained
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 cup Egg Noodles
2 cups cooked chicken--chopped or 2 cans canned cooked chicken


Add everything but the noodles and cooked chicken to the crock pot on Low for 5-6 hours.  The last hour turn on High and add noodles and chicken.

Enjoy....

Concert Day!!!

Very excited to be taking my favorite man to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.  Mac and I haven't a date night in a while...

"Just Gotta" Type of Week....

Do you ever tell yourself, "just gotta make it til Friday" or whatever day of the week that ends your craziness  for that week??  Well I do that all the time.  I think it's a "short term goal" thing or it could just be hitching a ride on some part of my "crazy train" that just gets me through the week.  I don't know, but I'm going to be saying it all the way til Thursday.  I love this time of the year, but why does it have to get so scattered, smothered and covered with "to do" list?   Go here, get that, order this, fix that---and on and on..  Just a side of crazy sometimes!  But through all this, I'm grateful for all the craziness.  My family and friends are awesome and have kept me going through alot of this years ups and downs...  Love ya'll..

I never made that quilt I wanted to make this year.  BUT, I taught Mac how to drive---and those memories will last a lifetime...  I also haven't reached my "goal weight"--- that magic number that is always in my head.  BUT, I had dozens of  lunches and dinners with family and friends that were worth every calorie.  So that "magic number" will just have to roll over to next year along with making that quilt.

So, for now, I just gotta make it to Thursday....

Motivational Monday...

I LOVE to read....

Sunday's Faith...

Hope everyone has a great day....

Motivational Monday...

Always Read.....

Sunday's Faith...

I hope everyone has a great day....

TIDE TIME!!!!

ROLL TIDE!!!!

T.G.I.F!!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!!!

What I'm Reading This Week....

So I finished Bethenny Frankel's book Skinnydipping---it was a very fun read.  I loved the main character, Faith Brightstone.  The book also had a great flow and kept me totally interested all the way through.  If you want a "light" read, check it out...

If you followed most of the nation and read Fifty Shades of Gray trilogy, well then you might like my latest read.  It's called Bared to You:  A Crossfire Novel by Sylvia Day.  A friend of mine at work told me about and said it was very good.  And very similar To Fifty Shades.  So I figured I would give it a try.  I'll let you know if its worth the download after a few chapters...

To view either of the books at Amazon, just click on the links....

What I'm Reading Now.....

Most all of my friends know that my reading taste is all over the place.  I can be reading about the Amish one minute, then flip over to Erotica the next.  Or some gripping true story or page turning murder mystery.  I will read just about anything.  I normally find my books either from "word of mouth" or just going to Amazon and looking at the latest books they recommend I read.  If I had to pick one author that stays with me and I can bank on her books being good---it would be Diane Chamberlain.  You just can't go wrong with her books.

The book I'm currently reading, however, has really proven to be very good and quite funny.  But I kind of expected that just from seeing her on her TV show.  It's Bethenny Frankel and she is FUNNY..  The book is called Skinnydipping.  It follows Faith Brightstone after she graduates from college and enters the "adult" working world.  In Los Angles.  Bethenny really makes the character very witty and funny, with a tang of smart ass tied in.  I love her...  There has not been a dull moment with this book.  If you liked her on Bravo, check out the book....

Click here to visit Amazon and read more about it...

New Blog Alert....

I found this through one of the books I'm reading, and loved it.  So much so I now follow her on Facebook and Twitter!!  I have added a link to it on my right sidebar.   The blog is called The Single Woman.....

The book I was talking about is called The Single Woman's Sassy Survival Guide by Mandy Hale.
Very good read..  Single ladies everywhere should read it!!!

Motivational Monday....

Sunday's Faith...

Hope everyone has a great day...

Iron Bowl Baby!!!!

I'm finally off work for an Alabama versus Auburn football game!!  Better know as the Iron Bowl...
We all know who I want to win...  So ROLL TIDE!!!

But remember it's still just a game....  We all have to get up the next morning and go about our NORMAL lives...   I just want a good game and no injuries!!!

Black Friday!!!

I purposely make sure I work this day just about every year!  Saves me a fortune and my sanity from all the craziness...  I remember driving by Best Buy last year when I got off and their were people sleeping in tents to get certain items.  And the crazy thing is these stores are only given like 5 of the item!  Craziness!!!
Well if you are venturing out today---have fun and mind your southern manners!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful family and friends that I'm so thankful for..  I will be spending the day with my work family---but they are loved just as much too!!

Internet and Dating???

Did I ever think I would be saying those words as they pertained to ME??  Well, not at all.  However, I'm saying them now as I re-enter the dating world at 44.  Crazy Scary!  The dating world has changed so much since I left it over 18 years ago.  We met dates back then through work or a friend.  And or the occasional date we met in the bars.  So at least you had an actual "visual" of what you were attempting to date.

Today, it all revolves around a cell phone or the internet.  Period.  Most all of your friends are married and have been for a long time.  So their "single friend" quota is pretty low for you to meet someone through them.  Now you can look into church groups as an option, and I haven't ruled that out.  I just like to work extra on the weekends if I do----which leaves me watching my DVR of Joel Osteen...  And single men in my area don't flash on the bottom screen advertising they are ready to date...  So, it turns you to the internet.  And there lies a HUGE adventure.

Well, you can make it an adventure or you can do what I should have done the day I created that user name.  GET INFORMED!!  Trying to meet someone online takes research.  Yes, they may have a cute picture and their profile may describe the "fairy tale" you have been looking for your whole life.  But stop your self right then and there---and read this book.  The Rules for Online Dating:  Capturing the Heart of Mr. Right in Cyberspace by Ellen Fein and Sherrie Schneider.  This book really clarified just how do get started and what to do when you get that first response back from your "ad" as the book calls it.  After reading this, I guess you can say my expectations are higher for the men that I do talk to.  It has also made me much more aware of things that I need to change.  It's not going to be easy starting over at 44, but that doesn't mean I have to settle or lose "myself" in a man. Patience is key in this playing field I have learned.  So, while you are waiting for the infamous "You've Got Mail" notification---think about your standards and what you want out of a man.  You may want to give him that "date zero," but you will know from our "intuition" we have if he gets to go on Date One and so on.

Another great book out there which has also been made into a movie is by Steve Harvey called Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man.   I read the book and bought the movie.  Loved them both.  And he is spot on with everything he says. This book also reminds you of how a man is supposed to treat a lady.  Kinda "old fashioned, old school" you will see when you start reading it.  I  also recommend doing the exercises that both books talk about.  This way you have an idea of what you are looking for and those little "flags" can go off when you don't get it.  Then be polite, but move on.  Like I keep saying, I'm 44 years old---I don't have to do something I don't want to do, and why waste your time or his.  I'm not looking to remarry, just someone who makes me laugh and enjoys a nice dinner or night out.  So, look at what you want and aspire to get that.

But read these books!!!

Favorite Things #2

I love Christmas time... And I absolutely love Yankee Candle's Sparkling Snow candle....

Right now they are running a special buy one, get the other one half off... 

Motivational Monday....

Sunday's Faith...

ROLL TIDE!!!

TGIF!!!!

Cool Idea

I just found this on Pinterest---a favorite place of mine...  I have got to find one of these for Mac's room.  Such a good idea!!!

Its a toothpick holder but used for Q Tips!!!

Awesome!!!

Fingers Crossed....

I'm so excited!!!  I may get to take a "mommy weekend" in December..  The ex may come back for a visit with Mac!!  If he does, I think I just might head to the mountains for the weekend.  Merry Christmas to myself!!  It will only be two days, but it's better than nothing...  Fingers crossed...

Christmas Favorite Thing #1...

Can you believe it is almost Christmas?!?!?!?  Where has this year gone?  Mac and my family are always asking me what they can get me for Christmas around this time of the year.   I've decided to just list a few of my "Favorite Things" so they will have some ideas.  Now Oprah's list also helps me out!  She finds the coolest things!!

Here is my first one..  Mac and I both can use it---Multi---Functional!!!  It is a Jawbone Jambox Wireless Bluetooth Speaker.  I love this!!!  Just sync it with your Iphone music and listen anywhere...
Love it!!

Motivational Monday...

Sunday's Faith....

TIDE TIME!!!!

ROLL TIDE!!!!

TGIF!!!!

Are you ready for the weekend?!?!?!?!

Have a great one friends!!!

This Months Books.....

I'm a huge fan of Joel Osteen.  I believe he is a wonderful speaker and motivator.  When I have days that I feel like "Debbie Downer"---I turn to one of his Sunday sermon's and am guaranteed to feel better by the end of it.  His web site provides a lot of testimonials on what this fabulous book, I Declare,  has done for other people in their lives.  I have started reading it as the last thing I do before I close my eyes in bed.  Last night I even went to bed before my ambian kicked in so I would "remember" what I was reading!!!
I actually bought the book on this one, but if you want it via Amazon---just click here for the link.

Ok, Joel is my bedside book---my daytime new read is another book by Steve Harvey called Straight Talk, No Chaser.  His first book Act Like a Lady Think Like a Man (the movie was great by the way) had me rolling on the floor but also thinking how correct HE was!!  Not many, if any of my friends are re-entering the dating world so I'm on my own on this new venture.  Plus things have drastically changed since I was single---so I need all the help and advice I can get!!  And if it makes me laugh along the way---even better!!!

Now I know these books are two TOTALLY different extremes...  But I think they balance each other out...

Let me know what you are reading.....