Caring for My Chaos

On My Journey: Cataracts

2019-03-28T14:04:00.000-04:00

Along with my entire family, I wear glasses. I have for about 3 years now. I had noticed about two months ago that my left eye was really bad. I couldn't see anything out of it, just blurry blobs. So, I carried myself to the eye doctors, expecting to get a new prescription. He dilated my eyes because my left eye failed all the tests. Imagine my surprise when he tells me that at the age of 42, I have cataracts. I couldn't believe it! He said this is extremely rare, but does happen. I ended up leaving there with a referral to an eye surgeon instead of a prescription. Now I'm waiting to go see the eye surgeon. I'm a little nervous even though I know it's an easy, routine surgery. I will keep all you wonderful readers updated as this progresses!

Let's Talk Litter!

2019-03-17T11:55:00.000-04:00

**I received product in exchange for my 100% honest opinion. All opinions are my own**

Now I have never really thought about cat litter. I usually only buy the cheapest cat litter there is. I didn't care if it clumped, was clay, it didn't matter. Just as long as it kept the smell away. Because I don't care how cute your cat is, they stink. Bad. So, I was really interested to try this Fresh Step Triple Action Scented Cat Litter. I had tried to steer away from scented cat litters because I had found the cheap ones made the smell worse. This litter surprised me. Not only did it keep the smell away for the whole week, the scent didn't make the smell worse! It clumps very well. And easy clean up. It came right out of the box without having to beat the box all to hell. Kitty seemed to like it too. I think the smaller granules are easier on the paws. Overall, this was a win. I was happy and Kitty was happy. What more can you ask for? You can buy this on Chewy.com in a pack of 4 bags. It totals 42 lbs! (I had to get Bubby to carry it in for me lol) Go check it out for your little kitten!

What you should clean right now!

2019-03-02T10:14:00.000-05:00

We all know what this is. And I hope you clean it every time that you put a load of laundry in your dryer. But did you know that lint gathers at the opening on the outside of your house? And inside your dryer? You would be surprised how much is there. And this is a serious fire hazard. Every month, you should be inspecting the opening on the outside of your house and cleaning it. You can get a lint brush for only a few dollars at any store. I got mine at Ollie's for I think 3$. These are what they look like

I have the rounder looking one. The long one is better if you have the kind of lint filter that is inside the drum. Mine is like the one pictured on top of the post. Also, about twice a year you should detach the duct from the back of your dryer and clean that out completely. All of this will also help prolong the life of your dryer! It won't have to work as hard to dry everything. So go clean out those filters and ducts!

Fabulous Chewy!

2019-02-19T16:14:00.000-05:00

** I received product in exchange for my opinion. All opinions are 100% my own**

This month's choice was Tiny Tiger wet cat food! This comes in a 24 pack with three different flavors - tuna, salmon and whitefish. Since my own cat won't eat wet food, my grandcat was our guinea pig. Bean loved all three flavors! The portion size is perfect. The aroma wasn't too bad. A little fishy but not overpowering. I think this brand is perfect for the kitties. It is grain free and has chunks in thick gravy. Your kitty gets the protein he or she needs! If your kitty isn't a weirdo like mine and likes wet food, definitely check out
Tiny Tiger!

Caregiving Series-It's A Lot!

2019-01-30T18:55:00.002-05:00

If you are a follower of the blog, you know that my husband and I have gotten to the point in our lives that we are caregivers for his parents. For a while, it wasn't that big a deal; some cancer dr appts and keeping up with my father in law's care for his Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. But, right before Christmas, everything changed. My father in law had called and told me that his ankles were very swollen, which we had been told to let the dr know immediately if that happened. They instructed us to go to the walk in care clinic who instructed us to go straight to the ER. This started a whirlwind of hospital and doctors. He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, this on top of the leukemia and emphysema. He had to have 3 liters of fluid drained from one lung. The first hospital visit, they put him on blood thinners which interacted with his cancer treatment and made his blood pressure drop to 73/37. That ended up in another ER/hospital stay. Now, I am not only keeping up with the cancer dr, but the cardiologist, regular doctor, pulmonologist, and a urologist because they also found a mass on his bladder. I do believe that taking care of aging parents requires better organizational skills than a newborn. If you are in the same boat as us, than you know what I mean. Doctors, medications, appointments, it all can overwhelm you if you are not careful. I have my trusty calendar that is full of appointments, and my trusty phone that is full of information. I've even been giving thought to getting a small notebook to keep in my pocketbook to keep all the information that is needed in. What are some ways that you stay organized and on top of the wave of information that you have to have stored? Let me know in the comments any ideas that I haven't come up with yet. I'll keep you posted on how my father in law is doing. He goes for surgery in 2 weeks for that mass. That's with the urologist. I remembered! LOL

Another Chewy Win!

2019-01-24T14:25:00.000-05:00

**I receive product in exchange for my 100% honest review. All opinions are my own. **

Introducing Canidae Grain Free Pure Heaven snacks! As you can see from the picture, these were a hit. I chose the bison and butternut squash flavor. They loved it! I really like the size. I think it's the perfect size for a treat.

Not too big and not too little. The aroma is pleasing too. I hate when their treats stink. These are all natural and grain free, which makes me feel even better about giving it to them. You should definitely check these out! They are also available in salmon with sweet potato and duck with chickpea. Your doggies will thank you!

We Have A Winner!

2019-01-14T13:31:00.003-05:00

The winner of the Lotus Trolley giveaway was Elizabeth D.! Congratulations! Thanks to all that entered!

How About A Giveaway?

2019-01-06T11:01:00.000-05:00

I thought this would be a good way to kick off the year! Remember my post about the Lotus Trolley Bag? The one that saves tons of plastic bags from being used and are reusable? Well, this fabulous company has made produce bags too! These are very well made with cinch closures at the top. They come in different sizes and are reusable. No more fighting those flimsy plastic bags in the produce section! I've teamed up with Lotus Trolley to bring you this giveaway for a 6 pack of these awesome bags. Just enter below! The giveaway starts today and ends 1/12/2019. I'll be announcing the winner then! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Happy Birthday

2018-12-31T08:38:00.000-05:00

See that guy on the right? He's my favorite father in law and it's his birthday! He turns 83 today! This man was born to be a papa and I am so grateful he's in our lives! Happy birthday Pa!!!

Merry Christmas!

2018-12-25T08:50:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas from my family to yours! I hope every one of you have a fabulous day and that Santa was good to you. Give your loved ones lots of love and cherish the time with them!

New Food For The Kitties!!

2018-12-14T16:27:00.001-05:00

**I received product in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. **

This is my grandcat, Bean. He was our guinea pig since my cat is a jerk and won't eat wet food. Bean loved Hills Science Diet Adult Savory Entrees. I chose the variety pack and he went nuts for every flavor! There were turkey, chicken and turkey liver. I really liked the consistency; it seemed more like human food to me. And with Hill's, they make sure their food is as nutritious as it is delicious. They include vitamins, minerals and amino acids. I would highly recommend this for your cat!

Holiday Treats for the Pups!

2018-11-13T14:06:00.000-05:00

**I was given product in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own and my granddogs'**

Look at those good boys waiting patiently for their Merrick Fresh Kisses Holiday Mint treats! These treats are adorable. They look like little toothbrushes. And they really make their breath smell better. They are infused with mint breath strips. I have to say, Bolt liked these more than Bentley. Bentley could take them or leave them. He's not a minty kind of guy I guess. But Bolt loved them. These would make a great gift for the fur babies in your life this Christmas! Go check them out on Chewy.com!

Me and the Dreaded Middle Age Body

2018-11-03T16:42:00.000-04:00

As some of you know, I am over 40. Almost 42 to be exact. And a few weeks ago, I got it in my head that I was too overweight. If you consult a BMI chart and look up what I should weigh based on my height, I am morbidly obese. That says I should weigh 120. Let's just say I am no where close to that, nor have I been for quite a few years.
I decided to diet. I am horrible at dieting. I have a mean sweet tooth and no self control. But I bought my Slimfast shakes and started. I was miserable. And only lost 2 pounds. Then I had a realization. No matter what I do, this body will never be the body I had in my teens or even 20s. It has gone through too many changes. My hips will never fit into a size 3 again because I carried three children. They destroyed me. (Kidding) And now, after all those changes it's been through, we are headed into perimenopause. This realization changed my perspective immensely. I am almost 42. Do I want to look like a 20 year old? Nope. I'm going to start loving my body the way that it is because the changes my body went through produced three of the sweetest souls I know and I wouldn't trade that for anything. So, no more diets. I will make a conscious effort to stop eating like an unsupervised kid in a candy store, but I am not counting calories anymore. I'm feeling happier already!

For the Tummies!!

2018-10-29T20:00:00.001-04:00

We have a lot of stomach issues in this house. BothBubby and Doodle have been to a stomach doctor before. They never really were diagnosed with anything, but from time to time, their stomachs will be upset. I'm always looking for natural ways to relieve their symptoms. I was thrilled to find UpSpring Stomach Settle. These little hard candy- like stomach reliever is all natural. It contains ginger, spearmint, lemon and B6. It works for nausea, upset stomach, indigestion, gas and motion sickness. I tried one three other night when I had some indigestion and it tastes really good! I really liked it. And it helped my stomach quickly. I like you can give this at any age, as long as they are big enough to have hard candy. You can find them on Amazon and Wal-Mart. Go check them out!

Scalloped Potatoes!

2018-10-09T19:26:00.000-04:00

Here's another from scratch recipe that was just for Hunny! He loves scalloped potatoes but I have never tried to make them from scratch because I thought it was too complicated. Imagine my surprise when I went looking at recipes and found out that it was simple! Of course, I took a little bit from a bunch of recipes and made it my own, so here it is!

4-5 good sized potatoes sliced about 1/4 inch thick. I used red potatoes so I didn't have to peel them but feel free to use whatever kind you have on hand.
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup chicken broth
2 cups milk
2 cups sharp cheddar (I think you can use whatever kind of cheese you like, but we love cheddar)

Preheat oven to 400. Grease 13x9 inch pan. In medium saucepan, melt butter. When butter is all melted, whisk in flour, salt and pepper Let cook a few minutes until nice and bubbly. Slowly add chicken broth, whisking after each addition. Slowly add milk, again whisking after each addition. Let cook until thick and bubbly. Remove from heat. In your prepared pan, layer half the potatoes, half the sauce, half the cheese, other half of potatoes, other half of sauce, other half of cheese. Cover with aluminum foil and place in oven 30 minutes. Remove foil cover and cook 30 minutes more or until potatoes are cooked through.

Chicken Pot Pie Casserole!

2018-10-08T18:24:00.001-04:00

This is what was for dinner tonight! I have been going back to trying to cook more from scratch and trying new recipes. This one is a mash up kind of recipe where I took the idea of it from Taste of Home Most Requested Recipes and added my own spin. I made it a little simpler, with less chopping of vegetables. Here it is-

2 bags mixed vegetables
3 large chicken breasts cooked and cubed
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup butter
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups milk

Biscuit topping

2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 t sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter cubed
2/3 cup milk

In a 13x9 inch greased pan, mix the veggies with the chicken. Set aside. In a frying pan, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour. Let cook a few minutes. Slowly add the milk and chicken broth, whisking after each addition. Let cook until nice and bubbly. Pour over the chicken veggie mixture. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Add the butter, cutting it in until it is pea sized. Add milk and mix just until moistened. On a lightly floured surface, knead it 8-10 times. Pat out until it's 1/2 inch thick. Cut with 2 1/2 inch floured cutter and place biscuits on top. Bake in a 400 degree oven 20-25 minutes or until the biscuits are golden brown!

For The Kitties!

2018-10-04T18:17:00.000-04:00

**I received this product in return for my 100% honest review. All opinions are my own**

Now, I have seen these cat scratchers before and thought "How can cardboard hold up to a kitty scratching?" I have to say, I am impressed! Mishka went nuts for this! I think the catnip that comes with it helped, but she went to town scratching it and you can't even tell she did! There's no damage. Above is an action shot of her having fun on it. Plus this is double sided for it to last longer. It is also made out of recycled and recyclable cardboard. It's big enough for her to plop down and sleep on it too when she's worn out. There literally isn't anything about this that didn't impress me! I was even impressed that the catnip is made in North America. If you have kitties, go grab one at Chewy.com!

Lotus Trolley Bag!

2018-09-26T11:28:00.000-04:00

**I received product in return for my 100% honest review. All opinions are my own!**

Oh, my goodness, am I excited to share this! I know a lot of people are trying to be more green and use reusable bags when they shop. I would like to but the thought of carrying all those bags with me is such a hassle, I just give up and get plastic. Introducing the Lotus Trolley Bag System. This is such an ingenious invention. It's 4 heavy duty reusable bags that attach to each other with handles to keep them upright in your basket. Just carry it with you as shown above, put your groceries up on the conveyor, open this up and put your groceries in! Easy peasy!

Here it is in use! There's even a cooler bag, an egg holder and wine holders in there! They come apart so you can easily use one at a time if you want to. And it cut down on the time it takes me to bring all the groceries in. Usually it takes me at least 5 or 6 trips back and forth to get the whole lot in, but I was done in 3 with these. Plus these held a week's worth with no problem at all. I like that the handles are big too so it can go over your shoulder. If you want to stop using plastic bags, you have got to get this system. Please check them out on their website, Facebook, and Instagram!

Another Chewy.com Success!

2018-09-12T17:19:00.000-04:00

**This is a sponsored post. I received product in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own**

I love Chewy.com! I don't think we have found a product that isn't high quality! This month's is no exception. This month's choice was Greenies Pumpkin Spice Flavor Chews. As you can see in the picture, the pups love them. These smell heavenly and definitely make a difference in the doggy breath situation. The pups don't know that they are getting their teeth cleaned; they think they're just getting treats. These are just the right size too. Not so big that they get too full, and not too little where they feel cheated. There are other flavors of Greenies, but this flavor I thought was appropriate for fall. Everything has to be pumpkin spice now doesn't it? Why leave the pups out? Go check out these treats here and grab some for your pup!

Masterpan!

2018-08-30T17:02:00.000-04:00

**I received product in exchange for my 100% honest review. All opinions are my own.**

This is so exciting! Introducing the MasterPan! Cook up to three different things all at the same time in the same pan! Isn't that fabulous?
I received one of each of their products to try out. There is the 3 section skillet, shown here, the 2 section skillet and the deep grill. I'm in love with all three products. They are made from 100% die cast aluminum so they conduct heat evenly and are nonstick. And we even tried bacon on these, which always sticks and had no problems. They are covered with Xylan which is PFOA free and chemical free so you are safe cooking. These are very sturdily built; I'm really impressed with the craftmanship. All three have a grill section, which is fabulous. (Obviously the deep grill is all grill section) There is also a heavy glass lid that fits all three that came with them (NOrmally sold separately) and I really like that too. Nice and thick, with a handle that doesn't get hot. All pieces are oven and dishwasher safe, which is important in my house. If it can't go in the dishwasher, I have to wash it and I hate that! The Bakelite handle on each is detachable because the handle is safe in the oven up to 350 for 30 minutes, but if you need to keep it in there longer, it comes off. I think that's so convenient.
You can find their 5 section and 3 section pans on Amazon, or you can go and contribute to their Kickstarter campaign to receive one or more of these. These are really incredible pans and I highly recommend them. I think they would be good for college students especially. Definitely check these pans out!

Chicken and Squash!

2018-08-27T19:51:00.001-04:00

In our garden, we have an abundance of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and squash! Most of this has been eaten or canned in one way or another. I came up with this recipe the other night to use up some of the squash and it was a hit. It's extremely simple to prepare with little clean up if you use Reynold's wrap to line your pan. Plus it's a one pan recipe! Bonus!

4 thin sliced chicken breasts
2 medium yellow squash
Butter
Garlic salt
Pepper

Line your pan with Reynold's wrap and place the chicken in the pan. Sprinkle each side of the chicken with the garlic salt and pepper. Cut the squash into medium chunks and place around the chicken. Dot the tops of the chicken each with 2 pats of butter. Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes or until chicken is done. Everything will come out buttery and delicious!

Changes...

2018-08-22T12:15:00.000-04:00

There have been a lot of changes around this house this week. The biggest being that I do not have any more dogs around here. If you follow my Facebook page or Instagram, you know that we made the extremely hard decision Monday to have our beloved Kojack put down. He was 16 years old, we think, and was having trouble getting up and down here lately. I thought it was his hips but the vet thought it was arthritis in his back fusing the vertebrae together. Either way, he was in pain. And we couldn't keep him that way. He was also losing weight for no reason, which the dr said could be systems shutting down slowly. Me and the girls went to the vet with him and loved on him until the last breath. In my life, I've never had a dog as long as we had Kojack and he was such a sweet, kind soul.

Another change is Bolt went to go live with Izzie. Where we live, the dogs had become mostly outside dogs and he was unhappy. It wasn't fair to him to live on a chain, but we couldn't have him inside all the time with all the stairs we have in this house. So, he's living with Izzie until Doodle can move out and then she'll take him. He's adjusting well and loves his new brother, Bentley. The cat doesn't seem too thrilled with this idea, but hasn't hurt Bolt yet so we are happy.

So, it's been a rough week. And it's only Wednesday. Our cat is happy being the only animal getting loved on now. But, it's strange not having to take dogs out and in and feeding and such. It just takes some getting used to. Just another chapter closed.

I Made Pop Tarts!

2018-08-14T08:57:00.000-04:00

These are my homemade Pop Tarts! I found the original recipe on Sally's Baking Addiction but I tweaked it.
When I was reading her recipe, she had a note in it that her crust recipe had to have shortening in it. I did not have shortening on hand, all I had was butter. So, I used my trusty 2 pie crust recipe from my 1965 Betty Crocker cookbook!

The ingredients you need for it are:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cups shortening ( I used butter which works just as well. It just needs to be COLD)
4-5 Tablespoons ice water

The way I make my pie crusts is very easy. I use my food processor. I have an ancient food processor that I got when I was first married and it was a hand me down then. But, it works! So, first, you put in the flour. Then add the salt and pulse to get the salt all through. Then you cut the butter or shortening up into chunks and add to the flour. Then pulse until it's crumbly and the butter is the size of small peas.

Now, you take your ice water and turn your processor on. Drizzle the water into it until the dough starts to ball up. As soon as you have a ball, stop the water and the processor. You are now ready for the rest of the recipe! Cut the ball in half and refrigerate both halves.

You must refrigerate the pie crust at least an hour. More is preferable. Roll out one half into a 9x12 rectangle. Her recipe got about 9 pastries I think. Mine only did 6. But, you can always double or even triple the recipe. Cut into rectangles. Place on greased baking sheet. Brush the bottoms with an egg wash made from one beaten egg and about 2 Tablespoons milk. Place 1 T of filling in the middle of each rectangle. I did 3 with about 1/4 cup of sugar and 1-2 T cinnamon mixed together, for Bubby, and 3 with about a tablespoon of strawberry jelly in the middle for Doodle. You then roll out the second half and cut into rectangles to place on top. Brush with egg wash again and crimp. Poke holes in the top for the steam. Refrigerate the whole thing again.

This is what they look like before going in the refrigerator again. Notice the pink rolling pin in the background. That was my mother's rolling pin that she got as a wedding present, if I remember right. It has no handles left and has a dent, but it is the best rolling pin ever! And it's pink! What's not to love?

Preheat oven to 350 and bake for about 22-25 minutes or until nice and brown. Then you can frost with the glaze. She made it with 3/4 c powdered sugar, 1 T milk, 1/2 t cinnamon and 1/4 t vanilla. I think I'm going to make it without the cinnamon since I don't think that'll go with the strawberry. But, now I'm waiting for the kids to get home so they can tell me if they like them!

Canning!

2018-08-07T16:59:00.000-04:00

I know I just posted about salsa, but with our bumper crop of tomatoes, I have ventured into the canning arena. I have canned strawberry jam in the past, but this is my first time canning salsa. Now, there are the websites that tell you that you need to buy a canner and rack and such. I have never owned those. And have still canned with good results. Here's how I did it--

To begin, you must clean your jars, lids and rings. That is key. Everything must be clean, clean, clean so you get a good seal on the jar to protect your food! To prep the jars, I boil them for about 10 minutes with the rings. The lids I wash in hot soapy water. Then place on a clean dish towel until you're ready to use. Make sure your jars are upside down so nothing can get in them while waiting. Now you make your salsa! This is the recipe I used, which I took a little bit of the fresh salsa recipe that I had shared here and a little bit from two other canning salsa recipes that I had found. I mixed them all together and Hunny said it was really good.

4 medium tomatoes
1 red onion
1 green pepper
6 cayenne peppers (I use the seeds too)
6 cloves of garlic
1 bunch of cilantro
4 Tablespoons of lime juice
2 T salt
2 teaspoons oregano
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 cup sugar

The way I did it is to puree all the vegetables in my food processor before putting in the pot. This saves on chopping. If you prefer a chunkier salsa, then just chop everything roughly. After pureeing the vegetables and cilantro, place in large pot. Add the lime juice, salt, oregano, cumin and sugar and mix well. Bring to a simmer and cook about 10 minutes. While still hot, carefully ladle mixture into jars. This made 6 half pint jars. With a clean towel, wipe the tops of the jars carefully. Remember, clean, clean, clean. Place a lid on top and then tighten the ring to fingertip tight. Now place the jars in another clean large pot and cover with hot water. Make sure the water is hot so the jars don't break. Bring to a boil and boil 15 minutes. This is your processing time. Remove carefully from the water. I used hot dog tongs and a towel. Place on a clean towel and let sit at least 24 hours. While cooling, you should hear pops as the jars seal. This is a good sign. Now, your salsa is ready! They should keep up to a year.

Fresh Salsa!

2018-07-31T20:13:00.000-04:00

As you know, Hunny has been gardening up a storm and we have a bumper crop of tomatoes this year. He asked me the other day to come up with a salsa recipe and to try making it. So, I found one on Simply Recipes that is so easy to make and tasted delicious! I used the cayenne peppers that Hunny grew, but only put in one, so I was told that was not enough heat for him. What I love about making your own salsa is that you can tailor it to your tastes and make it hotter or milder, whichever you prefer! Plus, you know exactly what is in it since you are making it yourself. Here's the recipe-

2-3 medium sized fresh tomatoes (from 1 lb to 1 1/2 lb), stems removed
1/2 red onion
2 serrano chiles or 1 jalapeño chile (stems, ribs, seeds removed), less or more to taste (Like I said I used cayenne peppers. I liked it with one, but the next batch is having 4!)
Juice of one lime
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Salt and pepper to taste
Pinch of dried oregano (crumble in your fingers before adding), more to taste
Pinch of ground cumin, more to taste

1 Prep the tomatoes, chiles, and onions: Start by roughly chopping the tomatoes, chiles, and onions.
Be very careful while handling the chile peppers. If you can, avoid touching the cut peppers with your hands. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water after handling and avoid touching your eyes for several hours.
Set aside some of the seeds from the peppers. If the salsa isn't hot enough, you can add a few for more heat.
2 Dice or pulse a few times in food processor: Place all of the ingredients in a food processor. Pulse only a few times, just enough to finely dice the ingredients, not enough to purée. If you don't have a food processor, you can finely dice by hand. (I made ours more of a puree than just a dice. I think in her recipe it was supposed to be more like Pico de Gallo.
3 Adjust seasonings: Place in a serving bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. If the chilies make the salsa too hot, add some more chopped tomato. If not hot enough, carefully add a few of the seeds from the chilies, or add a little more ground cumin.
Let sit for an hour for the flavors to combine.