Week 38 & 39

                  I'm sorry its been 2 weeks! You know how life can get away from you. The seasons are changing. Its finally getting a little cooler here. Does everyone realize that there are only 88 days left until CHRISTMAS?!?!?!?! I have already started looking into what the kids want.

Just a moment... I need to say Happy Anniversary to my Husband. 5 years ago this week we married. I have been blessed ever since. I never thought I would find a man a good as my husband. I'm glad I snatched him up. He is my everything. He doesn't have a clue the effect he has on me. The smile on his face lights up the room. I just can't picture my life without him. Happy Anniversary!!!

I must admit  I have been in a BLAH mood for a few weeks. I have not wanted to work out. Anyone else feeling the same way? Is it the seasons change? But I am going to say I have not been sleeping well at night either. I have got to get back on the wagon. So of course what better day to start then a Monday!

UPDATE- My husbands grandmother Mimi Sam has FINALLY come home!!!! She's been home about a week now! She is doing great and glad to be home. Thank you for all your prayers! Love you Mimi!!

Adyson enjoying her Mimi's back scratcher! 

IOS7 Update- Anyone else having problems with Photo stream not loading to your computer? I'm trying to write this blog and figure out what is going with my phone. I had to sign out of iCloud on the computer and on the phone, and sign back in!Ok never mind that didn't work either!
If anyone has a anything to suggest PLEASE DO!!! Very upset that my photos are no longer saving to my computer!!! 

HOMEMADE- So yesterday I was CRAVING brownies. so I dug through Pinterest where I found a perfect recipe for brownies. They came out gooey, and thick and fudge like. Oh I had 2 when they came out of the oven. The best part is I know everything thats in them!!!! Best part is you can make up the dry stuff ahead of time and put in a ziplock bag and add wet stuff when you are ready to bake.

My dessert board on Pinterest. Keep in mind this is homemade. So the batter is much thicker then store bought.

My Version of Homemade Brownies-

2/3 cup cocoa
2 cup sugar
1 & 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
1 stick melted butter + enough vegtable oil to make 1 cup
1/4 water
1/4 vegetable oil (yes 2 different amount of oil)

Mix together. Grease 9x13 pan. bake 360 for 22-27 min depending on how gooey you want them.

Oh did I mention they were AWESOME!!!

So Adyson has been into Cat in the Hat lately. She read Green Eggs and Ham SEVERAL times over the last 2 weeks. So she decided she wanted to try to eat green eggs and ham. So I made some for her.

                             

So because my eggs and ham didn't look EXACTLY like the book she wouldn't eat them. But at least I tried. 



READING- I've read the Fifty Shades of Grey series- I LOVED IT! (Besides the obvious sexual content which is not a big deal to me) I loved how the story had a real purpose. 2 people who have issues and learn to work through them. I just had to see what all the hype was about. I really liked the actual story throughout the series! Which leads me to my next question of HOW are they going to turn this into a movie? Cause 75% of the first book Fifty Shades of Grey is sexual content. So it will be interesting. Oh & after reading the books I can NOT picture the cast they have hired for the roles in the movie.

Next on my reading list is Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson. The movie came on last weekend so I DVR'd it. So I think from now til the end of the year I'm going to read books turned movies. I'll read the books & watch the movies. I've always wanted to do this! Please post in the comments below for suggestions!

You can look me up on Goodreads
You can also be a Nook friend, trying to figure out how to throw a link out there but can't find one.

Anyone have any suggestions?

MOVIES- 

Life of Pi- I've tried to watch it 2 times & fall asleep within 15 minutes. I just don't understand what all the hype is about with this movie. 

Sorry this post is so short. I really need to keep better track of things and use the app on my phone. I know I have more to say, but nothing comes to my mind. Well until next time!!!! 

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Week 37 Its Football time!

                                     I hope everyone had a great week! Mine went OK. I had a few bumps in the road but I over came them. I have a love hate relationship with Fall. I love the idea of cooler weather, but with that comes preparing everything outside for the up coming winter. And me preparing to stay indoors for 4 months... UGHHHH... But I love FOOTBALL. I can't wait to see how my Seattle Seahawks do this year! GO SEAHAWKS! 


CRAFTING-  So last week to go with my Halloween Village for Grandma I also made her some decorative soaps for her bathroom. I shipped it Tuesday so she should get it this week! I wish I could be there when she opens it. 
I took the Glycerin Soap and melted it. It only took 1 small cube per soap(I bought a 5 lbs bag at the craft store for $18)

Then I added 2 yellow drops & 1 red drop of soap dye 

Then added the critters to the soap while the soap was still liquid.  

FARMING-  When the weather starts cooling off we start preparing for the winter. This weekend we made sure the hose pipes to the animal water was properly set up for winter. The electric cords for heat lamps ready to go. Also everyone got their Permethrin sprays. The cow stalls were cleaned out and muck dumped in the garden. 


 NO CHEMICALS-  I have done some pinning on Pinterest lately and I created what I feel is an AWESOME recipe for HOMEMADE cocoa! Pinterest Drinks So far I think its wonderful and simple to make. I had all the ingredients to make it. I read through all the different versions and tried a few. I tasted a few too. The ones that call for chocolate pudding mix in the cocoa I thought were a little gritty. So maybe the pudding doesn't dissolve? But I cut it out the 2nd time I made it, and LOVED it. I ALWAYS use milk instead of water to make hot cocoa, I love the creamy texture when I use milk. I haven't tried my recipe using water but its good with hot milk or coffee! 

Please understand when you make something HOMEMADE it does taste a little different then the commercial brand.  It took about 2-3 times of drinking it to "adjust" to the flavor now I love it!

My Homemade Cocoa (You can make this easily in bulk.)

Equal parts-

-Powdered Sugar
-Powdered Milk
-Unsweetened Cocoa
                                                                        


Mix all together. I measure out just over 1/4 cup of cocoa mix to 1 cup hot milk/coffee. Enjoy!!!!



MOVIES- 

Beautiful Creatures- is a great movie. Reminded me a little bit of Bewitched (the 1960's TV series) because her family doesn't approve of the relationship to a "mortal". It was a nice movie. 

End of Watch- WOW the language in this movie! Its basically the show COPS turned in to a movie. I liked the idea behind the movie very real scenes. I liked it, just NOT for young ears.When your 15 year old says " wow this movie has some language," you know its bad.

 READING- I know I'm in so much trouble. I still haven't read a book. Its been 3 weeks now? I'm going to start 50 Shades of Grey tonight!!!!

MUSIC-  I know I'm in trouble for this too! I am scheduling time to do this, this week. I'm tired of putting it off. I want to learn some Christmas music this year.

 GAMES-  Where's my Water? and Turtle Trek have become Adysons favorite games. When Jackie came home this weekend he introduced Adyson and Brittany to Minion Rush. Now all 3 of them are addicted to it! 

 SMOKE FREE----- ON SEPTEMBER 17 IT WILL BE 2 MONTHS SMOKE FREE!!

ENERGY EFFICIENT-  So is it just me trying to be energy efficient or is everyone trying? I am doing my best to switch out light bulbs to the new energy ones as the old bulbs blow out. But I HATE the new bulbs. To me they are not bright enough? Is anyone else having this problem? Please tell me I'm not the only one. I have tried the "bright" and the "day light" bulbs they just are not bright enough for me. What do you think?

I wanted to give a my daughter a shout out HAPPY 15 TH BIRTHDAY BRITTANY!!!!! I love you and I am very proud of you! I am glad to have you in my life. 

Brittany and Noah. We took them to Red Lobster for her Birthday! 

Until next week, enjoy yourself and life! Don't let moments pass you by. 

Week 36 Can't wait for Fall!

                    It has been an interesting week for sure. Brittany had an off week for football and trying to get back on a regular schedule was almost impossible. I LOVE long weekends but the short "work" week messes me up, big time. I can not wait for the weather to start changing. I can't wait to use my crockpot more. I need to get in a better habit of using my crockpot. I did get an AWESOME craft project done this week. That was my biggest accomplishment this week. 

Oh by the way guess what guys? There are only 108 days until Christmas!!! Can you believe it? Santa is doing it LAST MINUTE THIS YEAR! 


 NO CHEMICALS-  I still have 2 bottles of Lysol bathroom cleaner left then I will be making my own. I can't wait. I have found a wonderful book I shared with you earlier this year Pinterest. I love this book. I can't wait to start trying some recipes. 

HEALTHY EATING-  Brittany is doing great with cooking dinner 2 times a week. I think she is actually starting to enjoy it. Although on Friday we forgot to pull anything out of the freezer for dinner so she cooked Tuna Helper. Not the healthiest but she did good following the directions. 
I think this year I am going to make homemade cocoa for the kids instead of buying that junk stuff from a box. I have been looking for some good homemade recipes, if anyone has any let me know! I have a drinks board on Pinterest

I'm still trying to find some more smoothie recipes, you can see mine on Pinterest

READING-  I still haven't a read book. I'm falling behind. Since They haven FINALLY decided to turn 50 Shade of Grey into a movie and have chosen the cast maybe I will read that. 

My Exercising- I did get up and exercise two times this week, even though it was a short week. The other days I was up and at it in the cow stalls, mucking.... Well someone has to do it. I fell off the ab work out too. So starting Monday I will start back on day 12 of my ab workout. 

 FARMING-  I was comparing pictures of the Girls (Hamburgerella & Steaktesssa) from when we got them in January until now and how much they have grown. The girls can't be more different, its funny. Rella LOVES bananas peelings and all, but Tessa will only eat the banana. The girls wouldn't leave me alone when I went out to muck stalls. I had to block the way of the stall with the muck cart.

Hamburgerella back in January.

Steaktessa & Hamburgerella in January

Hamburgerella in July... She has gotten so big.

CRAFTING-  So you guys have heard me mention the birthday present that I wanted to make for my grandmother. Well over the last week I completed a Halloween Village for Grandma! I am so proud of it. I had so much fun doing this. It was much easier then I ever thought it would be. I bought Christmas houses last year on sale (after Christmas) I spray painted all the people and houses black. Used a touch of chrome spray paint on the tops of the houses to give it a mystical feel. NO ONE BETTER TELL MY GRANDMOTHER!!! I'm mailing it this coming week, so she has plenty of time to get it set up and plenty of time to have it displayed!

My kitchen table for the last week covered in crafting things.

 

The start of  the cemetery & headless horse man!

The town sign, it says "Happy Halloween"

 

 

The village completed. 

Well until next week, enjoy your time with your loved ones. Time goes by so quickly and you forget what is really important in life. We come and go so quickly no one gets to know anyone anymore. Stop and smell the roses. Don't let life pass you by. 

REST IN PEACE KATHERINE APPLEBY

Week 35 Its September

                        I can't believe its already September!!! I hope everyone had a great week and long weekend! Its been a really long week for me this week. We got a phone call a week ago that my husbands grandmother died. REST IN PEACE KATHERINE APPLEBY. So My husband has been home all week. I LOVE having him home, just wish it was under different circumstances. We have also had Brittany's Powder Puff game my husband got to see it too! She did so much better this week!!! We also bought a new vehicle this week. So I have been a busy girl!

FAMILY TIME-   We had a blast watching Brittany at her game. She is getting the hang of the powder puff football! We had so much fun cheering her on!!! I posted the links below to watch some of the video clips! 

Youtube

Then Adyson and daddy decided they wanted to play make up! They had a great time. 

 

Then we also had movie night of course. Remember I am VERY behind in my movie watching. We watched... Adyson decided she needed a hide out to watch her movies!

The Rise of the Gaurdians- which was awesome!

The Dark Night Rises- Yes another Batman movie, it was OK. 

 



















 I'M STILL SMOKE FREE!!!!!!!  Almost 1.5months!!! 

EXERCISE-  I only got up 2 days this week and worked out, and I'm feeling it. I've been so out of sorts this week. I haven't done my ab workouts either. I will get back on the wagon Tuesday, and I'll hit it hard. 

 EATING HEALTHY- We were doing great until this weekend. I still made hummus! When I announced that it was RELAX weekend everything went out the window. You gotta give me some credit I've been eating healthy and doing great since JULY... So give me a break will ya?

Hummus-

1 can pinto beans -drained & rinsed
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup tahini (sesame seed paste, found in the "international food isle in grocery stores)
1-2 TBS of ranch seasoning
pinch of black pepper

Put everything in the food processor and blend until creamy! Hummus in general has become my favorite snack! You can add it to sandwiches instead of mayo, add it to your breakfast sandwiches too! 

Follow my Pinterest snack board for more recipes! 

Brittany has done an awesome job cooking dinner! I think by now she can cook chicken, hopefully next week I can talk her into something else, HAHA! She made REAL mashed potatoes and backed chicken!

 NOW FOR MY NEW  VEHICLE---  We have been looking and shopping for about 6 months for a bigger vehicle. I wanted something with 3rd row seating so we can COMFORTABLY drive on road trips to Florida and other family vacations. It gets cramped in a Mazda 3...for 10hrs... So we now have a BEAST to ride in thanks to my wonderful husband.

YES  I got an ARMADA!!!!! I've wanted one for a while now. I finally got my wish! We bought it used which is fine with me. Its a Nissan Armada.... I even got in SEAHAWK BLUE!!!! I wanted the Armada for the room, Nissans run for forever, me to it looks better then a Ford, I love the way the 2nd row seats fold, need I go on? Did I mention its MINE so my opinion is all that matters! 

 READING-  I didn't even pick up a book this week, with everything going on I was lucky to read the owners manual of the Armada. So wait a minute, I did read a book. It was an awesome book HAHA! I am still trying to decide what to read. 

CRAFTS-  At some point this week I am going to the craft store and buying paint and brushes to start my Halloween project of making a Halloween Village. I will also be on the look out for more village pieces. 

Oh My guess what I found out in the back yard this week? A funnel Spider. You know I couldn't help myself I had to feed her!  I fed her a small grasshopper! She is about the size of a HALF DOLLAR!  I've heard they are good for the garden and help control bugs so since she serves a purpose she can stay. 

 

Well until next week, hope everyone has a great week!