The Whole Shebang

Time to Eat Enchiladas!

2010-09-22T13:13:00.000-05:00

Monday night I decided it was time to try a new recipe I had found - Black Bean Enchiladas. It was incredibly easy to make and tasted as wonderful as it smelled! After posting this picture of it on Facebook, I received several requests for the recipe. So, here it is!

Ingredients:

Olive Oil
1 Medium White Onion, Chopped
1 t. Ground Cumin
1 C. Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers Niblets Frozen Corn, Thawed
3/4 C. Old El Paso Thick 'n Chunky Medium Salsa
15 oz. can Black Beans, rinsed and drained
Monterey Jack Shredded Cheese
10 Corn Tortillas (6 inch)
1 can (10 oz) Old El Paso Enchilada Sauce

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray.
2. In a large skillet, heat oil (about 1-2 T.) in medium heat. Add cumin and onion and cook for approximately 5 minutes, or until onion is tender.
3. Add corn, salsa, beans and 1 cup of cheese.
4. Remove from heat.
5. Heat tortillas in the microwave until they are warm and soft - need to be very soft to prevent the tortilla from breaking.
6. Spread approximately 1/4 cup of bean mixture on tortilla. Then roll tortilla up and place seam down in the baking dish.
7. Spread the remaining bean mixture evenly over the top of the enchiladas, then cover with enchilada sauce.
8. Top with shredded cheese.
9. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbling.

That's it! It's an easy, easy recipe to make. If you are a meat lover like my husband then you can do like I did and mix about 1/2 pound of ground meat to the bean mixture. I also added 1/2 can of green verde enchilada sauce in addition to the regular enchilada sauce. Enjoy!

Fried Taters with Hotdogs and Fish Tacos

2010-07-19T01:38:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited right now! It is half past midnight and I'm up baking cookies for my hubby to take out on location tomorrow. Why does this excite me? Well, because I love to bake, and when Beau was working for the frac company here I would always make yummy treats for him to take so he and the rest of the crew could have something to snack on for the rest of the day. When Beau changed jobs that stopped because he was so far away. Now that he's back I am able to start doing this again - although I have to wait for big jobs to come up so there are plenty of guys to help him eat all the goodies. Okay, so that's why I'm excited.

Now, baking cookies has absolutely nothing to do with the title of this blog post. That's because it's not tied together in any way, shape or form - except for the fact that they both have to do with cooking. Okay - so tonight for dinner I made a new recipe from The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook - Fish Tacos. And, to go with it, I decided to make fried taters with hotdogs. I know, the main dish was healthy whereas the side isn't...I'm not sure about you but I think that makes a balanced meal. Actually, the reason I decided on fried taters with hotdogs is because I needed something my 2 1/2 year old would eat - or at least have an interest in eating. You will be happy to know that it worked! He loved the dish!

In response to the inquiries I had about the recipe on facebook, I have decided to include both recipes in this post in case you are looking for something new and unique to cook for your family at dinnertime!

Fish Tacos

Ingredients:
Mini Tortillas
1 lb. Fish, thawed (Your choice - I used Tilipia)
Seasoning of Your Choice (I used Creole Seasoning)
Olive Oil
Coleslaw with Orange-Cilantro Vinaigrette (See Below)
Fresh Pico de Gallo or salsa (Optinal)

Directions:
1. Lightly coat both sides of fish fillets with olive oil and season.
2.Lightly coat a skillet with olive oil and heat until oil sizzles.
3. Add fish fillet to hot skillet and cook - usually a total of 5 minutes is good (remember to turn fish every now and then).
4.Once fish is cooked chop into smaller pieces and place in a dish on the side.
5. Spread coleslaw with orange-cilantro vinaigrette onto a mini tortilla, top with cooked fish and pico de gallo.
6. Enjoy!

Coleslaw with Orange-Cilantro Vinaigrette

Ingredients:
1 Bag of Coleslaw (with green cabbage, red onion and carrots)
1/4 c. fat-free plain yogurt
1/2 c. light mayonnaise
1/4 c. 100% orange juice
3 T. white vingar
1 1/2 t. honey
1/3 c. freshly chopped cilantro
Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:
1. In a bowl mix yogurt, mayonnaise, orange juice, vinegar and honey.
2. Mix in the bag of coleslaw and cilantro.
3. Add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Refrigerate at least 3 hours - or to speed the process (like I did) you can place in the freezer for a shorter amount of time.
5. Serve and enjoy. This will stay good in the frige for 2-3 days.

Fried Taters with Hotdogs

Ingredients:
4 Average Sized Potatoes, peeled (can be any kind - russet, new potatoes, red potatoes, etc..)
3 Hotdogs, cut into small pieces
Olive Oil

Directions:
1. Pour ample amount of olive oil into skillet and heat until it sizzles.
2. Slice the potatoes into very thin slices - then cut slices into quarters.
3. Once the oil is heated, add the potatoes.
4. Turn the potatoes over every now and then.
5. Once the potatoes begin to brown on both sides, add the hotdogs.
5. Cook until the potatoes are soft and brown and the hotdogs are cooked through.
6. Enjoy!

I hope you enjoy these recipes. Please remember the first two were originally taken from The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook. I took the pleasure of amending these to fit my personal needs. This basically means I found a way to make it simpler. The last recipe is one that has been passed down from my mother to me - and I have a feeling it is a pretty common dish in Oklahoma!

2 New Food Favs!

2010-07-14T16:25:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I know that summertime is the time when we all (yes, I am too) go on a diet, and many of us don't like to discuss food while we're dieting. Well, I'm doing it anyways! Mainly because I've found two great healthy food choices for those of us who are dieting!

The first, I actually found a while back but the more I eat it, the more I love it! This is the Healthy Choice All Natural Entrees. The one I actually had today was the Portabella Spinach Parmesan. These yummy meals have no preservatives in them and are made with extra virgin olive oil, thus eliminating partially hydrogenated oils! Another great fact is that the pasta is whole grain pasta which provides me fiber. Oh, and the meal I ate today only had 270 calories with 5 grams of fiber, 12 grams of protein and only 2 grams of sugar!

Okay, so the next great food find I have for you was discovered last night while I was evaluating the new Greek Yogurt at WalMart. The Greek Yogurt is actually pretty good, but I found another kind of yogurt I thought I'd share with you. This is the new Fiber One Yogurt! Maybe it's been out for a while, I don't know because my yogurt consumption comes and goes in stages - right now I happen to be on a yogurt kick. So if you happen to have already discovered this, then feel free to quit reading. Anyways, the reason I'm pretty excited about this yogurt is that it has 5 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar and 3 grams of protein...but, the best part is it only has 50 calories! So, it makes great breakfast or even a perfect light snack!

So, there you have it. My two new favorite diet foods for summer! They're both easy and quick and can be eaten without a sense of guilt. Plus, they're healthy and actually taste great! If you haven't tried them, then you should give them a chance next time you walk by them at the grocery store.

Such a Short Trip

2010-07-12T11:14:00.000-05:00

Okay, well I'm just updating everyone with the fact that after a whirlwind weekend, we are finally back home. It was such a crazy weekend. We left Friday morning at 3am and arrived in Alabama at around 4:30pm. Then we spent all day Saturday visiting with family and attending my cousin's wedding that night. (The wedding was so pretty. It was outdoors by a lake, very small and intimate - such a gorgeous wedding and my cousin was beautiful!) Anyways, after breakfast with the family Sunday morning, we were back on our way home to Oklahoma. We made it home around midnight. So, needless to say I'm exhausted!

And, I'm here to report that our little man did wonderful on both of the long car rides. We brought movies, toys and snacks. And on Thursday night Beau even found a piece of plywood and covered it with some extra vinyl flooring to make him a little table so he could play with toys on. The movies and toys kept our little man entertained and he did take a few naps on the road too! So, no complaints here. Except our trip was way too short! I already miss my family and want to go back.

Interested in Amazon's First Fall Pre-Sale?

2010-07-06T16:35:00.000-05:00

Alright, I know it's been a while since I talked about this, but I'm a huge fan of Amazon! About 1 1/2 years ago I made a "mistake" and missed the deadline to stop my free Amazon Prime trial, which resulted in an accidental fee of like $80 for the next year. I have to say, that I'm SO glad I made that mistake! For the past two Christmases, I've used Amazon to buy many gifts - not to mention all I buy throughout the year.

Well, while Amazon Prime is one of my favorite services, that's not what this blog post is about today. Instead, I'm blogging about the fact that Amazon has launched a Fall Pre-Sale for the first time ever! So, if you're like me and enjoy partaking in the great deals found online then you have to check out this Pre-Sale! Perhaps you need some fashion gift ideas for Christmas...or you just need to update your closest for a reasonable price - then head on over and see what Amazon has to offer.

Long Drive Ahead

2010-07-05T16:36:00.001-05:00

Well, this coming Friday my family and I will be heading to Huntsville, Alabama for my cousin's wedding! While I am excited for the wedding and to see the family again, I am not looking forward to the 13 hour drive with my 2 1/2 year old chatterbox. I'm not at all worried about the first 6 or so hours of the drive as we're planning to leave really early while he's sleeping - it's the last 6-7 hours that I'm a little worried about.

I know I'm not the only one out there who has had the fun of driving a long time with a toddler. So, any advice you have would be great. Here's what I'm planning to do: First, we're riding with my mom and dad and they have a DVD player in the van - so, Hastings here I come! I'm going to stock up on movies my little one hasn't seen to keep him interested. I'm also planning on hitting up Dollar Tree or some other store that carries cheap toys. I will get a bag full of these cheap toys and periodically throughout the drive pull a new one out. Also, a must-have on my list is a bag full of snacks to help keep him content.

For those of you who are like me and don't have a lot of experience of traveling with children...or, maybe you do, but are looking for new road-traveling ideas to keep the kids occupied, I have found a great article with many ideas! You can read it here: http://www.wejustgotback.com/default.aspx?mod=tips_road.

Advertising Opportunity for Those in Direct Sales

2010-06-30T10:33:00.000-05:00

Okay guys,

As you all know, I have started a PLR website with another writer friend of mine. We are selling PLR articles to those who have online businesses and are constantly in need of new, fresh content. Well, what we are also doing is providing a free report to anyone who signs up for our newsletter. This report is called "A Guide to Making Extra Money From Home" and it is designed to educate our reades about the different ways they can earn extra money from home. One of the sections in the report is about Direct Sales Companies such as Pampered Chef, Scentsy, Usborne Books, etc... and we are offering to feature one representative for each of the direct sales companies below. I am going to explain in a little more detail for you about this opportunity and how it works.

What I am offering in this report is a chance for one representative from each company the opportunity to advertise for $10. How it works is you provide me the link to your personal website and deposit $10 into my paypal account and I will insert your individual link into the report under your company’s name. For example, a representative from Scentsy sends me $10 with her website link. I take that link and insert it in the report so when a reader clicks to on Scentsy to learn more about the company it goes to that representative’s website.
The people reading this report will be looking for ways to make money from home – therefore, they will be looking at companies with the interest of becoming a future rep or consultant, as well as, a customer. Aside from sending this report to my current subscribers, this report will also be the free report that people receive when they sign up for my newsletter both now and in the future – therefore, your business will continue to be in front of new readers on a daily basis!

There is only room for one representative and I will take the one who contacts me first. However, if you contact me and don’t send the $10 to the paypal account within 24 hours, then I will take the next representative in line. I will also send you a link to the free report so you can see that your website is the one featured for your company. The report will be available Thursday, so you will receive the link then.

I need a representative for each of the following companies. If you are a representative for a company that is not listed below and you would like the same opportunity, please contact me and I’ll add you! Email me at dcfreelancewriting@hotmail.com and put your company’s name and the current time in the subject line. Thank you!

Bath & Body

• Enchanted Potions

• Jordan Essentials

• Sensaria

Books/Educational

• Barefoot Books

• Bookwise

• Usborne Books

Candles

• For Every Home

• Gold Canyon

• Luminaries

• Mia Bella Candles

• Northern Lights at Home

• Scentsy

• Soylicious

Children/Toys

• Discovery Toys

• Noah’s Ark

Beauty

• aPriori Beauty

• Avon

• BeautiControl

• Botanical Swiss Skincare & Nutrients

• Jafra

• Mary Kay

• Nu Skin

• SeneGence

• Seriesse International

• Soul Purpose

• Votre Vu

Crafts

• Heritage Makers

Food

• Country Gourmet Home

• Dove Chocolate at Home

• Greeting Cake Company

• Gourmet Cupboard

• Homemade Gourmet

• Jerky Direct

• Kat’s Coffees

• Tastefully Simple

• My Harvest America

• Traveling Vineyard

• Two Sisters Gourmet

• Wild Tree

• Wine Shop at Home

Gifts/Basket Companies

• Cello in a Box

• Initials, Inc.

• Maddy Moo Creations

• La Bella Baskets

• Longaberger

• Thirty-One Gifts

Greeting Cards

• Send Out Cards

Health & Wellness

• Acai Plus

• Beach Body

• Drink Act

• Fruta Vida

• Fun Unlimited

• GBG Health Products

• It Works Marketing

• Juice Plus

• Million Dollar Body

• OnlyGreen

• Power Pops

• Reliv

• Shaklee

• Tahitian Noni

• Trivita

• US Aloe

• Vemma

• Vitamark

• Watkins

• Winalite

• Xango

• Yoli

• Young Living Essentials

Home

• At Home America

• Home and Garden Party

• Pampered Chef

• Princess Home

• Private Quarters

• Signature Homestead

• Southern Living at Home

• Entertaining at Home

• Tupperware

Jewelry

• AuraStella

• Cookie Lee

• GemStyle

• Gold Partying

• Guy & Eva

• Inspiranza Designs

• Jewels by Park Lane

• Jimer Jewelry

• Jolica

• Just Jewelry

• Kele & Co.

• Latasia

• Lia Sophia

• Lokelani Designs

• Marcia Miller Collection

• Premier Designs

• Silpada

• Stella and Dot

• Touchstone Crystal

Miscellaneous Products

• TamPogo

Romance

• Booty Parlor

• Brown Bag Party

• For Your Pleasure

• Love U Parties

• Passion Parties

• Pure Romance

• Slumber Parties

• Temptations Parties

Travel

• GRN

• Coastal

ANY COMPANY NOT LISTED IS WELCOME! CONTACT ME TO GET ADDED!

PLR Articles Today Grand Opening!

2010-06-14T18:24:00.000-05:00

Okay, so -FINALLY I can announce that the PLR article website I've been working so hard to complete (with the help of another talented writer) is finally up and running! Today we have announced our Grand Opening with a big sale. We are offering anyone who orders to save 15% by entering the coupon code "GRAND" at the checkout. Additionally, if you order $25 or more, then you will receive an extra 10% - for a total of 25% off!

Now, I know that not many of you have any idea what PLR articles are or what they can be used for. Well, PLR stands for Private Label Rights and what that means is that the articles you purchase in a pack are yours to do with what you want. We just require you don't sell them or pass them out to others. PLR articles are used for people who have websites that require unique content on a regular basis. For example, affiliate marketers who need to provide up-to-date information on the site or blog. PLR content can even be used to create eBooks, newsletters and special reports. The article packs may seem to be pretty cheap, but that is because they are sold to more than one person. On our website we have listed how many article packs we've sold of each pack.

If you need updated content for your website or blog, then visit us at www.plrarticlestoday.com! If you need a specific pack, then let me know and I'll make get it out to you. Just understand that if will be put up on the website for sale to others. To get the most out of PLR content, it is best to rewrite it so that it appears unique to the search engines. Also, find some related keywords and plug them in to help it rank higher in google.

So, that's my exciting news today! I hope everyone is having a great Monday and I will be updating y'all a little later in the week! And, for those of you who don't quite understand the whole business of Private Label Rights articles, I've posted a couple of helpful books below.

News! Come and Get It!

2010-06-04T08:52:00.002-05:00

Ah! It's already June 4th! Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday we were in disbelief 2010 was already here and now it's half gone. Well, as you've probably noticed - I have not posted in about 2 months. I'm such a slacker I know, but I've actually been really busy here lately.

In the past 2 months my freelance writing load has increased some and I've had time to start a couple of other big projects. I'm super excited about this because I'm in the home stretch with my first project. Another freelance writer and I have teamed up to create a PLR content website. It's not ready for business yet, but we are putting the finishing touches on it today and the first of next week - so hopefully, by next Friday we will have our Grand Opening! You can visit our website to find original and unique Private Label Rights content to use for your various websites or blogs! But, later to come on that once we're ready to open the doors.

I have also started creating some various affiliate marketing websites to help generate some passive income. I'm just getting those started, but am pretty excited about this new endeavor also. I am ready to start bringing in some residual income and this is a great way to go about doing it. So, those are the two new irons I have in the fire right now - and the reason I've been neglecting my personal blog.

I hope all of you are enjoying your summer so far! I will be updating you with the launch date of our PLR site next week sometime! Have a great and safe weekend!

Spring is Here - Let the Work Begin!

2010-04-23T22:52:00.004-05:00

I'm so glad that Spring has finally arrived! The past several months of winter and cold air has seemed like an eternity. Now that Spring is finally here, I have so much I want to do around the house.

When we moved into our home 4 years ago it was plain Jane. The house was built in 1983 and absolutely NOTHING had ever been done to it - on the inside or the outside. Well, okay - there may have been a couple updates several years before we bought it such as new vinyl flooring in the kitchen and bathroom, but that's about it. So, we have spent the past four year adding to its charm by landscaping the front yard, adding guttering, planting trees and painting and fixing up the inside as well. Last year, (when I realized that it was just silly to think we could raise a toddler in a home without a fenced in yard) we built a nice wooden privacy fence. Oh, and we also put in a new garage door this past winter too. Can you believe that the house still had the original wood garage door on it?!

So, this year is the same as the previous 4 - I have a list of things I want to do this Spring and Summer! We just planted some bushes in our backyard against the house. (This is the first bit of landscaping we've done to the backyard.) The next thing we are going to do is build a small platform deck off the back of our house. We just want an area that is big enough for the grill and a couple of chairs to enjoy company. Then I will also creat a flowerbed on each side of the deck where the new bushes are to make it more appealing.

Once the deck and flowerbeds are completed, I have decided we need to repaint our house. I imagine it still has the original coat of paint on it. The color is fine (it's a light tan to match our light brick), but it has definately seen better days. And, our front door faces the West so that afternoon sun has worn the paint down over the years. I'm going to be bold and replace the tan with a country shade of red. Nothing to bright - but not too dull either, somewhere in between. Our guttering, front screen door and garage door are all an off white/almond color. So, the red will be the main color, with the off white/almond as an accent. And to bring out our front door, I have decided to paint it black. I know - sounds bold, but keep in mind it is framed with an off white screen door, plus I have an off white wooden "Welcome" boot hanging on the door too. So, it will all look great together! At least it does in my head.

As you can tell, we have our work cut out for us this Spring and Summer! After all, isn't this what these two seasons are for? I guess I should add that my husband isn't nearly as excited about my plans as I am - but he'll appreciate all my "hard" work when it's finished!

Back to Earth

2010-04-13T09:42:00.003-05:00

Do you ever feel like everything is going along perfectly...almost too perfect? And then, BAM! You get slammed with something completely unexpected? Well, that's how my week has been - I know...it's only Tuesday.

My husband has been home now for almost a month, and I've loved every minute of it. Everything has been going great, but I've had that irritating feeling that it has been just too perfect and enjoyable. And yesterday morning something happened, aka "the incident," that brought my suspicions to light. It wasn't anything too terrible, but big enough to make me come back down to earth.

I know we've all been there at one time or another. Yesterday was not a good day. I spent the majority of the day and evening worrying. You see, I am a worrier. My husband can tell me 100 times everything will be fine, but I have to see the facts before I believe it. That's how yesterday was. However, today is a new day and I woke up with a feeling of hope in my stomach. I know everything will work out and be okay, it's just that when things like "the incident" happen, I tend to focus all my energy on the negative. But, like I said - today is a new day and with it come new possibilities and opportunities! All will be okay!

Many, Many Changes....

2010-04-05T19:36:00.002-05:00

Well! It has been months since my last blog post! I feel horrible for leaving everyone hanging. However, in the past 3 months, there have been many changes in my life - all for the best!

First of all, we got our little Bichon, now named Sophie, in mid-January. She has been a delight to our family. She and our 2 1/2 year old son have formed a tight bond. They follow each other everywhere making mischief wherever they go.

The biggest and most positive change just happened in the past month. As many of you knew, my husband had changed jobs at the end of October last year. The new job was great and my husband enjoyed it immensely. The only problem was that it required my husband to be gone for at least 6 days a week. In fact, it was not uncommon for him to be gone for 1 1/2 weeks before we would get to see him. So, after much prayer, thought and deliberation we made the decision for him to find a job closer to home where he could actually be home most nights. So, three weeks ago, my husband found a job back home and has been here ever since. It has been wonderful! No amount of money can compensate from the irreplaceable moments you miss when you are away from home - especially when there are children involved.

My freelance writing business has taken off. In fact, I have decided to expand it a bit and do some affiliate marketing with it. I am also going to be putting together a PLR website with another talented writer in the coming months. I am still so very excited to have finally found something that I LOVE doing - that can be done from the comfort of my home, while I spend each day with my son!

On Hold...

2010-01-11T23:53:00.002-06:00

So, last Thursday I found out we were going to be getting our new little puppy this Wednesday. I have to tell you, I really was excited! Well, today I received a call from the breeder informing me that the her Vet is on vacation until next Monday - so, we won't be able to get her until next week. Probably on Friday. Why? Well, when you are shipping a dog you have to have a vet check them over within 10 days of their flight.

Initially, I was pretty upset that I have to wait another WHOLE week, but now, I'm okay with it. This gives me just a little more time to decide on a new name for her. My husband grew up a "farm kid" and I was a "tom boy" - so, neither one of us were estatic with the name "Barbie." Since, last Thursday I have been scouring the internet for name ideas. I have one in mind that I love, and I really think looks like her - and naturally, it was not one I found on the internet. No, instead, I thought of it while laying in bed one night.

I'm thinking about the name "Sophie." What do you think? My husband likes this name - so no worries there. I feel 97% confident that this is the name for her, but just to be on the safe side, I'm still looking at other names to make sure there isn't anything I like better. I actually feel like I'm pregnant again, looking at name after name after name, making sure I find the perfect one for her....

Expecting A New Family Memeber!!

2010-01-08T16:37:00.003-06:00

I am so excited, but before I get to that I have to start from the beginning so you know why I'm excited. About 4 years ago, my husband and I began looking for the perfect dog for us. After researching many breeds, we decided on a Bichon Frise. They are wonderful pets because they don't shed, love people, don't have the "doggy" smell and are great for those with allergies. Plus, they are super cute and have charming personalities!

So, we found a nearby breeder and put a deposit down and a few months later, we got our puppy. Casper was a wonderful dog and we loved him dearly. However, when I became pregnant with our son, we decided to find him another loving home because we knew that he would not get the attention he deserved when the baby arrived. Bichons need a lot of attention and I felt that he shouldn't have to go without and would be happier with a family with older children. So, as painful as it was, we found him a new home and said good-bye.

My son is now 2, and my husband and I have missed our little Bichon terribly. So, we decided to start looking for another one. The only problem I had with Casper, was that I did not do enough research on the breeder we purchased him from. It turned out to be a very-nice-looking puppy mill. So, as a result his breeding was poor and he had several health problems that could have been prevented. So, this time I decided we were going to do this right and find a good reputable breeder - knowing this would ultimately cost us more up front.

Well, I found a breeder who has exceptional Bichons with equally exceptional bloodlines. So, we put a deposit down for a puppy out of a litter expected in July, 2010. This future puppy's father comes from the JR lineage - JR was the Bichon Frise who won Westminister in 2001! And the mother's parents were both imported from Brazil and have champion bloodlines also. The best part was that, considering the pedigree, the price for the puppy was not bad at all! The only downside was having to wait 7 months to get our puppy - I might as well be pregnant myself! lol.

Well, yesterday I received an email from the breeder telling me that due to health issues she is having to make the decision to move across the country to live with her son and his family. So, she won't be planning any more litters as she is needing to move by April 1st. However, she had 3 dogs that she thought I would be interested in. You see, she is having to find homes for all of her dogs - except 3. Well, she has a puppy named "Barbie" that is 7 month old, 90% housebroken and has the exact same bloodlines as the future puppy we had put a deposit down for! So, we agreed to take her - and, we get her next Wednesday!!

As you can see from her picture above, she is adorable! And, the breeder had kept her from a previous litter to breed because she adheres to the breed's standards! I am just so excited to be getting our puppy so much sooner - AND I don't have to potty train her, how cool is that? My husband and I are thinking about changing her name though. Do you have any suggestions?

We Survived...

2010-01-06T01:31:00.002-06:00

The holidays! And, if you're reading this, then you did too. I recently watched Four Christmases with my husband, and I can relate to the idea of just wanting to say "the heck with it all," and go on killer vacations at this time...but, I'm only 27 and haven't been around my family long enough to get that fed up yet. Give me time...because I'm sure, in a few more years, I'll be there! Please don't misunderstand - I love my family, but I am always ready for the holidays to end and life to go back to normal.

This year, life getting back to normal has not gone as smoothly compared to previous years as we've had a number of changes occur last year. The biggest change is that my husband has a new job, which has its pros and cons. The career change was a much needed change and that, as well as the compensation, has been well worth it. However, it has been a bit of a challenge because I do not see him as often due to long hours. The second difference is that I now have a 26 month old (2 years 2 months) running around the house, throwing toys, getting into everything and throwing random tantrums. Lastly, I have started a new career of my own. I have talked about it a little on here before, but in the middle of September, I started a freelance writing business and it has been going well ever since. I now have a website up and am getting my own clients and writing on a consistent basis.

Add all of those changes together and you get a chaotic post-Christmas. Here it is January 5th, 2010, and I am just now finding the time to blog - at 1:30 in the morning! But, things are finally starting to slow down again and get back to normal - whatever that is. My son and I are back into our normal daily routine of watching cartoons, playing, writing, eating and napping. Well, he's the one napping while I'm cleaning up the house and preparing it for another whirlwind of activity later in the afternoon.

I am excited about my newfound career and the pace at which I am working. Of course, I can only work part-time and successfully manage everything else in my home, but even my part-time goals have been exceeded. I am hoping this year to increase my work load a little and become a little more efficient with my time management. If anyone has any tips on how to do this with a 2 yr. old, please let me know! As far as my general goals are concerned, I will just be happy if I am able to keep my house in a somewhat orderly shape and presentable - at least 3 days out of the week!

New York Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries

2009-12-21T12:19:00.003-06:00

As the holidays approach many of us are searching for new recipes as well as presents. With all the parties that are thrown every year, we have a lot of baking to do and it can get pretty tiresome making the same treat 5 times in one week - at least that's how it is for me. I have to have variety when I bake - especially when I find myself in the kitchen so many times throughout the holidays.

Well, yesterday my husband and I attended our Sunday School party and every couple was supposed to bring something. So, naturally with the hustle and bustle of the holidays - I forgot. Until Saturday night. When I was out shopping. So, I picked up a magazine and found a recipe for strawberries stuffed with cheesecake AND dipped in chocolate! Could it get any better? I didn't think so, until I glanced at the recipe and saw how easy they were going to be to make. Of course, I enlisted the help of my husband...after all, he was going to be eating them too.

If you are looking for an easy and yummy treat to bring somewhere this holiday season then you simply HAVE to give these strawberries a try! The recipe is below.

Ingredients:
15-30 Fresh Medium Strawberries, washed and dried
1 8-oz. pkg. of Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 c. Powdered Sugar
1 t. Vanilla Extract
1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs
1 bar of milk chocolate, chopped (dark chocolate works too)

Directions:
1. Cut off the stem of each strawberry. Use a knife to dip out the center of each strawberry - creating a small cavity.
2. In a bowl, use an electric mixer to mix cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla extract together. Mix until smooth - then place the mixture in a pastry bag - or, if you're like me, put it in a ziploc bag and cut off the tip of one of the corners to squeeze it out of. Then, take each strawberry and fill the center with cream cheese mixture. You will want to mound it on top a little bit to make it pretty. Then place on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper.
3. Melt chocolate in a double boiler until it's smooth. Then dip the bottom of each strawberry in the chocolate. Return strawberry to wax paper and top with graham cracker crumbs.
4. Refrigerate strawberries to set chocolate. Serve.

These strawberries were amazing. The recipe says you should serve them within 6 hours of preparing them, but I made them the night before our Sunday School party and served them the next morning. It was probably at least 14 hours later and they were just fine. The key is to make sure the strawberries you use are fresh and don't have any soft spots. Enjoy!!

A Few Updates

2009-12-13T09:09:00.002-06:00

Okay, so my promise to blog at least 2-3 times a week has recently fell by the wayside. I feel terrible about this, but I have had so much going on that I've barely had time to sleep - let alone blog. However, I am on a mission to get this blog back in the shape I had envisioned it to be in.

I have had some exciting new developments in my business lately. I finally got my freelance writing website up and going and landed my first client within a week of publishing it online. I am also staying busy by helping other freelance writers with their overflow. I have to say that I am still really enjoying this new venture of mine. My plans are to let it grow and by the time my son is in school, I will be able to start doing this more full-time instead of going back to a traditional job.

Also, big news for my family and I is that we are expecting to add a Bichon Frise puppy to our family in late July 2010. I know - that seems like a long time off, but after our experience with our first Bichon and his poor breeding, which led to health problems, we have decided to do it right this time and go through a reputable breeder. We finally found one who is planning a future breeding with a male from JR's bloodlines (the bichon that won Westiminster) and a female whose parents, both of them, come from Brazilian champion bloodlines. The best part is that the price for the puppies is actually lower then what we had budgeted for! So, we have reserved a puppy from this litter...now all we have to do is wait.

We are very excited to be adding another Bichon to our family. When we had Casper, although he had numerous health problems, we fell in love with this breed. The Bichon is such a happy breed who loves being around people. They are non-shedding and don't have the "dog smell" like most other breeds. My husband and I got very spoiled by having a house dog that didn't shed or have the dog smell - so now, it is a requirement for a house dog. They can be an expensive breed to maintain though as they require regular grooming and can have allergies. However, if you've ever owned a Bichon Frise, then you know it is all worth it!

Well, so there you have it. That's what has been going on around here lately. I am actually thinking about starting a couple of niche blogs - if I can ever find the time for that. :) The two niche blogs I would like to start are about cooking and the world of freelance writing. Of course, they will have to be updated regularly and assuming I will do that, what do you think?

Wow - Time Has Flown!

2009-12-01T19:23:00.002-06:00

In the week and a half since I last blogged, there has been quite a bit of excitement around here. The Monday before Thanksgiving my parents, son and I went on a road trip to visit my brother and his wife as they were expecting their first child. They induced, but the little guy wasn't ready to come yet. So, after a full day at the hospital and 1 night in a hotel we came back home to prepare for the Thanksgiving festivities.

Thanksgiving was wonderful. My husband was able to be home (he works in the oil field) on Thanksgiving day and not work, which made it even better. Of course, what would Thanksgiving be without doing a little Black Friday shopping? I was ready to go shopping with my mother at 3 am, but my son had other plans. The poor guy started running a 104 degree fever at 1:30 am. Luckily we got it down after tylenol and a lukewarm bath, but he didn't get back to sleep until 2:30 am. So, I called my mom and cancelled our 3 am shopping trip. However, we did go at 8 am and I was still able to find the bargains I was looking for. My husband will be so excited on Christmas morning when he sees his gift!

We were also able to take advantage of the beautiful Thanksgiving day weather and put up our Christmas lights and set up our tree. My house is officially ready for Christmas now. Last year we were smart and invested in a pre-lit tree (after the holidays of course - when they were on sale!)....I have to tell you that I'm already thinking it was the best purchase we've ever made! You talk about saving some serious time...a pre-lit tree is the way to go! After my son went to bed, my husband and I decorated the tree and were actually able to sit and enjoy it for the rest of the evening. Ever since the next morning, I have been chasing my 2 yr. old around with the ornaments. What would Christmas be without a little bit of chaos though?

Well, tonight my brother and his wife had their first baby - a healthy baby boy! So, I am now officially an Aunt. It amazes me how God's timing works everything out. It was hard when we lost my grandmother before Thanksgiving, but with the birth of this new baby our hearts are beginning to fill with happiness again. :) So, that is what has been going on around here the past 2 weeks. I hope your holidays are looking to be as promising as ours!

In Honor of my Grandmother

2009-11-16T23:35:00.003-06:00

Well, these past few days have been especially difficult for me. Last Thursday at 6:45am, my mother called to tell me that my beloved grandmother had passed away. My grandma Della was 87 years old, in a nursing home and was in the final stages of alzheimers. I have to agree with those that think it is a blessing that the Lord took her now. Regardless, that does not make it any easier when I think of all the memories she left me with.

Some of my fondest memories are those with grandma Della in them. I can remember back to the summers when I would get to spend the night at her house. She and my grandfather would take me to the park where we could ride the train, the carosel and the little mini metal cars. Then the next morning, there would always be a walk to the donut shop just down the street where I always got donut-holes and grandma always got her cake donuts to go with her morning coffee.

As I got older, my brother and I would spend hours sitting at grandma's dining room table playing an array of different card games. Games such as SkipBo, Uno and Dallas. For those of you not familiar with the game of Dallas - it is a card game designed after the famous soap-opera "Dallas." Grandma was quite competitive during those many games - and so were my brother and I. We could literally sit there all afternoon and play those games.

Not long after those years, came my teenage years. Things got a lot busier for me and I wasn't able to spend as much time sitting at grandma's playing cards. Instead stock shows, band, work and boys took up the majority of my time. However, I would still find some time to stop by and talk with grandma. We would just talk about things going at school, work and of course my boyfriends. It was during these years that my grandmother and I became confidants and friends.

Like most mother-daughter relationships, during my teenage years my mother and I did not see eye-to-eye. Well, grandma Della was who I would go and tell everything too. She would often tell me that she had no idea why my mother was being the way she was. lol. And then, she would tell me stories from when she and her mother went through similiar situations. She would also tell me stories about my mother as a teenager. I learned a lot about how my grandmother was when she was younger during these talks. I learned that she and I shared many personality traits. Most importantly, during these years I came to recognize and appreciate how much my grandmother loved me.

When I went to college, grandma Della and I would keep in touch by writing lengthy letters to each other. Not just here and there, but often weekly. During my sophomore year in college, my grandfather passed away unexpectedly. The suddenness of it all caused my grandmother to have mini-strokes and sped up the Alzheimers process. She soon had to be moved to an apartment complex for senior citizens and shortly after that we began having to have a nurse come out and make sure she was taking her medications. It got so bad that within a year and a half after my grandfather passed away, that we had to put her in a nursing home. By this time, my grandmother was unable to continue writing letters to me - however, I continued to write to her.

As time went on, the trips to visit grandma at the nursing home became harder because Alzheimers made it difficult, and eventually impossible, for her to have a normal conversation with us. That's really when I began to lose the grandmother I had known. Although there were times when I would see that familiar sparkle in her eyes showing a hint of laughter. She eventually had to be moved from the general nursing home to the Alzheimers unit when the disease got to bad. By this time, she didn't remember who I was, which was hard - but although she couldn't remember who I was you could tell that she knew I was someone close. The few times I brought my son out with me to visit, she always wanted to hold him - and back when he was first born, and she held him he just layed in her arms and smiled at her while she tried to sing lullabies to him.

My grandmother was an important part of my life and she will be missed dearly. I am sad that my son and future children will never know her as I did, but all I can do is tell them as much about her as possible. And one day, when I become a grandmother myself, I can strive to create the lasting wonderful memories with my grandchildren that my grandmother helped create with me. It is a blessing that God did not leave her to suffer with Alzheimers long, just 6 years, and I know that one day I will see her again. Until then, she will remain in my heart full of memories.

1 Thing to Help Manage the Holiday Stress!

2009-11-09T13:40:00.003-06:00

It's November and the holidays are just around the corner. The holidays are so much fun, but they can bring on a lot of stress in our lives if we aren't careful. Why? Because at this time of year, demands start coming in from everywhere! Your kiddos will have multiple parties, plays, sports events and many other things expected of them at school. Which means you will have numerous things to prepare for whether it's just attending the event or baking cookies for everyone in the class. If that isn't enough, you also have to get your Christmas shopping done, attend various parties of your own, find time to prepare for family gatherings and dinners and continue your normal day-to-day activities!

While we're in the midst of it all, we find ourselves being stretched to the limit and wondering, who has time for this? The truth is nobody does! While there is no way to completely eliminate the holiday stress because there will always be school events, holiday parties and extended family to deal with, I have discovered that if I do one thing, I will have more time to concentrate on all the other stuff.

What is it? Dusting off the crock-pot and making a home for it on my kitchen counter...at least for the next 3 months! The crock-pot is an amazing invention and though I hate the space it takes to store it for most of the year, I absolutely LOVE it at this time of the year. There are so many recipes out there specifically designed for your slow cooker, all you have to do is find them and put it to use! I promise that you will love freeing up the time you would normally spend preparing dinner. Some of my favorite dishes to cook in it are: Gumbo, BBQ Pork Chops and a yummy Southwestern Chicken dish!

This morning I broke out the crock-pot and am trying my hand at Potato Soup! Judging from the smell wafting throughout my house, I haven't messed it up yet. I have included the recipe below if Potato Soup sounds good to you!

Ingredients:
3.5 lbs. potatoes, peeled & cut into cubes
1/2 C. chopped yellow and/or red sweet pepper
minced garlic to taste
1/2 t. ground black pepper
4.5 C. chicken broth
1/2 C. whipping cream or half-and-half
4 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 C. thinly sliced green onions - optional

Directions:
1. Combine potatoes, sweet pepper, garlic and black pepper in a 4-6 quart slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.
3. Mash potatoes slightly with a potato masher. Stir in whipping cream, cheddar cheese and onions. Serve! Makes 8 servings

Amazon Prime to the Christmas Shopping Rescue!!

2009-11-04T01:01:00.004-06:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween weekend! My little man is 2 years old and he was the most adorable Frankenstein you will ever see! Although he still didn't quite grasp the trick-or-treating part, his daddy and I had a blast taking him around to visit this year!

I love this time of year when Fall is officially here! Although it is by far one of the busier seasons, I just love the cooler air and the hustle and bustle of the crowds preparing for the upcoming holidays! I have discovered an amazing secret to help me with my holiday shopping. I actually discovered it by accident last year, and it literally saved me hundreds of dollars in taxes for my Christmas gifts.

If you haven't tried out Amazon Prime - it is simply amazing. I buy a lot of books from Amazon.com and I was offered the opportunity to try Amazon Prime out for free for 30 days. This amazing tool offered by Amazon gives you the option to buy a product form Amazon's own store for a set amount, but you get your item in 2 days for free! No shipping costs or taxes!

Well, last year my plan was to order a few books and cancel Amazon Prime before I got charged for a full year's worth of this program. Naturally, I log in a day late and have already been charged $75 dollars for an entire year! My dear hubby was a little upset with me over it, so I decided to get my use out of it for Christmas.

Amazon has a large selection of products ranging from books to clothing to camping accessories. So, about 80% of my Christmas shopping last year was done online with the click of a button. And 2 days later, I had the item in my hands! I am not exaggerating when I tell you I save literally hundreds utilizing this service. And to think it was all by accident! I actually have paid to renew my Amazon Prime account for another year - and yes, I plan on doing the majority of my Christmas shopping online again this year with Amazon.com! If you haven't tried this out - now is the time to do it. The free trial is the best if it's being offered. Just be sure to call and cancel BEFORE it expires!

Happy Shopping Everyone!

My New Favorite Toy...

2009-10-28T00:46:00.004-05:00

The Fridge Phonics Magnetic Set by Leap Frog has officially became my new favorite toy for my son! My little man turned 2 two weeks ago, and this was one of the gifts he received. If you read my blog regularly you have noted that I don't do very many product reviews. That's because before I put my name on a product I have to use it and be absolutely in love with it! Well, I am estatic about this Leap Frog product!

This magnetic set features a magnetic letter-reading base that easily attaches to your refrigerator door. All of the 26 letters are also magnetic. When you put it up on the fridge and see all of the colorful letters decorating your doors, it will remind you of the plastic magnetic letters we had when we were little. This set created by Leap Frog easily puts those original magnetic letters to shame. Once you turn it on, your child will pick a letter and place in the base and then push it. When the letter is pushed, the base will start singing a little song for the corresponding letter. The song tells the child what the letter is and also tells what sound(s) the letter makes as well. There is also a music button that, when pushed, will sing the Alphabet Song to your child!

I am not one who enjoys a lot of electronic toys that make a lot of noise, but educational ones such as Leap Frog's Fridge Phonics are gladly welcomed in my home. This toy will hold my son's attention for at least 20 minutes! Not only that, but he has already learned many of the letters and their corresponding sounds! If you have a child between the ages of 2 and 5, this would make a wonderful Christmas gift that they will benefit from tremendously!

Freelance Writing Update and a Few Other Notes...

2009-10-26T13:17:00.004-05:00

As you may have already read, I have started a freelance writing business. As of today, I have been doing this for a little over a month now and am happy to report that I have earned right around $150! This may not sound like much to you, but for a stay-at-home-mommy who is doing this VERY part-time, it is quite an accomplishment!

I have decided to create my own website, which I will be working on this week, to get my name out there and promote my services. The money is a nice bonus, but the truth is, I absolutely LOVE my new "job!" I am able to do it when my son naps and after he goes to bed. It provides me with something constructive to do and gives me a feeling of satisfaction after I meet my deadlines.

One of the cool aspects of it, is that I am constantly learning about a variety new things! Over the past month, I have learned about the differences between fiberglass and acrylic bathtubs, the benefits of organic shampoo, how mind-mapping software can be beneficial and so much more! I love getting up every day not knowing what I will learn next, it takes away the monotony of doing laundry, dishes and cleaning.

If you love to write and don't mind doing a little research, I highly recommend tapping into the freelance writing market. It's great for SAHM's like me, college students who want to earn a little extra money, or even women who want to make the transition to working from home and still make a decent income. If you have the time available, motivation, determination, and the necessary writing skills, you can easily make a full-time income by being a freelance writer!

Oh, for the Love of Soccer!

2009-10-20T10:33:00.002-05:00

This past weekend we celebrated my son's 2nd birthday. What a celebration it was with the entire family joining in on the fun. He had aunts, uncles, grandparents, great-grandparents, great-aunts and uncles, and cousins there - so there were a lot of gifts for him to open.

When it came to opening gifts last year at this time, he wasn't sure what to think. My how things change in a year. The presents were definately the hit of the show for him this year! It is amazing to me how much stuff they make for little ones now. Honestly, I do not remember having anything like the cool electronic toys they have now when I was little. Maybe, all parents are supposed to say that though. Our little man received a string-less/wireless guitar that works by laser light, lincoln logs, legos, building blocks, Mr. Potato Head, lots of tool related toys and many other wonderful, exciting, and noisy gifts!

He was pretty excited about all the above gifts, but the last gift he opened was what excited him the most....it was a $6 soccer ball his father and I picked out for him. We knew our little guy loves to play with any kind of sports ball or bouncy ball - in fact, our house is overrun with them...however, he did not have a soccer ball. So, we decided to go ahead and get him one. We knew he'd like it, that's why we saved if for last, but we had no idea it would be a show-stopper for him! He spent the rest of the night attached to the soccer ball, and if I would have let him, he would have slept with it too!

Isn't it incredible that in this technological world full of iPods, video games, and noisy toys, some of the most enjoyable gifts are still the simple ones...like a soccer ball?

From SAHM to Part-Time WAHM

2009-10-13T00:05:00.002-05:00

As you know, I am a stay-at-home-mommy who has a toddler running circles around her. I have been fortunate enough to have been able to stay at home with my son for two years now. I can't believe how fast time has flown by! I have loved every minute of it and every day when I'm able to make lunch for my son and lay him down for his nap afterwards, I am reminded of how truly blessed I am to be able to do this.

Well, over the past month I have not-so-gradually worked my way from the stay-at-home-mommy status to the work-at-home-mommy status. Since I have started this blog, I have re-discovered my passion for the written word and through that I have discovered how much fun it is to actually write! So, after reading through a few forums I discovered the world of freelance writing.

Now, I had never written anything major before, but a lot of people have complimented my writing so I decided to take a leap and answer an ad on a forum from a lady looking for content writers for her website. She started out giving me a weekly assignment of writing one 300 word article per week over one of the following subjects: parenting, environmental issues, or saving money. After the first couple of weeks, she informed me that she was impressed with my writing and then sent me 6 articles she needed completed in a week. After that she requested 2 travel articles from me and 3 rewrites. Keep in mind, this is in addition to the weekly website article I was continuing to write for her.

Over the course of two weeks I had gained a second client and had written a total of 13 articles - earning myself roughly $65! Therefore, I averaged $5 per article - while it may not sound like much, considering the very short length of the articles, it is a nice part-time income. I have to say that this has been the easiest $65 I have made from home. I learned to research during my son's nap times and write at night when he was in bed. So, it doesn't interfere with the time I spend with him during the day.

So, now you know how I have rather quickly transitioned from a stay-at-home-mommy to a work-at-home-mommy. I am no different then a lot of other women out there who have tried several work at home business such as selling Mary Kay, Usborne Books and several other products. While I loved each and every product I sold, I just didn't enjoy selling the products as much as I did using them. I have had a completely different experience with this. I don't mind doing the research and I love writing the articles and seeing the finished product. And the extra cash I'm earning while doing it is wonderful! Who knew working from home could be so much fun?