Boys, boys,boys

Coupon Booklet for Thomasville/Tallahassee

2011-07-21T18:15:00.000-07:00

LIVING SOCIAL has a wonderful offer today! GO check it out HERE. For $10-you get a booklet FILLED with freebies and coupons good at Thomasville and Tallahassee restaurants, golf courses, Funstation, grocery stores and pizza places! There are even FOUR $5 off coupons for Winn Dixie on any $5 or more order! Most Publix will take these too..Want to score an even better deal? You can get THREE booklets for $20. The total value is ...this is not a typo...$3,000!!! GO get yours!!

CAKES AND COUPONS WORKSHOP!

2011-07-06T11:12:00.000-07:00

Cakes and Coupons!

Come sample homemade Key Lime Pound Cake while learning about coupons!

Not extreme hoarding-real life savings!

The Winner’s Church

4004 Coleman Road North

Valdosta, GA

Saturday July 16 at 2:00 pm

A fun workshop facilitated by Amy Webb, founder of the Krazy Kool Koupon Klippers a 450+ member group and 3 year couponer.

$10 fee (paid at door) covers instruction; slice of homemade cake and beverage.take home folders full of helpful info, and membership into “Amy’s Savers” a private closed Facebook group where you will get ongoing help and support!

Call or text 379-6183 to reserve your spot!

Cakes and Coupons

2011-07-01T05:30:00.000-07:00

Key Lime Sour Cream Poundcake

My first Cakes and Coupons Seminar last night went great!! In a little over an hour, almost a dozen (including my supportive husband) coupon newbies and i discussed the hows, wheres and whys of coupons. I am so thankful that the class will continue on-line as long as anyone needs help in a small private group on FB. The cake? It was a hit!! I love the taste of a homeade-not overly sweet, buttery sour cream pound. I also love the tart coolness of a creamy key lime pie. The two combine beautifully! I wrapped up lots of babycakes for people to take home!! We all shared a large cake and cold drinks. Call or message me if you have a some friends who would like me to bring Cakes and Coupons! to you! 8-12 people make for a good size class!

Spinach and Feta Pierogies with Beefy Alfredo

2011-06-09T12:03:00.000-07:00

Anyone who really knows me knows I have been honing my couponing skills and also that I love to cook good meals for my family! This is a filling, healthy one "pot" meal that only cost about a buck a person.. Last week Mrs. T's Pierogies were on sale BOGO(buy one get one free) AND I had a couple of $1 off coupons..so I grabbed 2 boxes. I choose the Spinach and Feta thinking they would be yummy and more nutritious than the plain potato and cheese ones. Everyone in my family(well-except my 3 yr old-but he will come around) loves spinach! I also still had some Philly cooking cream on hand~ bought when it was on sale(used a coupon.~was very inexpensive). I have never cooked with pierogies-but they are cute half-circle shaped pastas(think ravioli) stuffed with creamy mashed potatoes and other good stuff. If you don't like ground beef, or can't eat it, try ground turkey or chicken...or even shrimp!
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 mild onion(slice thin)
1 clove garlic-minced
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon Tabasco hot sauce(opt)
a couple of slices -cut up(about 1/4 cup) any cheese you have on hand-I had Colby Jack
1 container Philly cooking cream(garlic or Italian cheese)
1 box Mrs. T's Pierogies (any flavor)-find in freezer section

Pour the pierogies into a large dish .Cook the onion and garlic a few minutes. Brown beef and drain. Add in the milk, cream, and cheese~ stir well. Season with black pepper, Tabasco and salt to taste. Add onions and garlic back to pan. Mix well to combine. Pour over pierogies.{at this point-you can refrigerate and bake later) Top pan w/ foil and bake at 350 for 40 minutes. Serve w/ a cold salad.if desired!

Coffee!!

2011-05-31T08:22:00.000-07:00

I really am excited about the latest Groupon ! It is for wonderful coffee shop, Grassroots, in downtown Thomasville. They roast their coffee beans in the shop and make wonderful drinks using our local dairy's milk products! For $10~you get $20 worth of whatever you want in the store! I LOVE that you can take your Groupon to Grassroots and swap it for a $20 gift cared to use on multiple visits! YAY!!
If you have never tried Groupon-check it out-just click and start saving BIG! It is all legit and free.

Wanna save some Money Honey?

2011-05-31T07:22:00.000-07:00

Stacking…this is when you use a store coupon and a manufacture coupon on the same item. Publix will take 2 coupons on one item.

Example: Juicy juice-cost is $2 on sale-use a manufacture coupon for $50 off and a Target coupon $1 off-OOP (out of pocket) cost will be 50c.

· Internet coupons-If you hit the back arrow or backspace-you can usually print 2 of the same coupon. Most sites allow a maximum of 2.

· HARVEY’S is the place to save on meat! You can often buy ground beef for $1.59/lb! They also have GREAT wed specials and often good deals on produce.

· all*you magazine. This magazine is wonderful y’all! It is full of great coupons, bargaining tips and recipes. It is available only at Walmart or even cheaper~get a monthly subscription!

· Rain Checks-here is the deal-LOTS of people are trying to save money-when a really good deal is out there-the item you want may be sold out.

Go to customer service on the way out and ask for a rain check that you can use when that item is restocked-hold on to any coupons that go w/ the deal! Watch you coupon expiration date!

Most people make a list of the groceries they need and head to the store. What you have just done is make a list of everything that is not on sale. All groceries have a "rock bottom low price", Most areas they follow a cycle roughly 6 weeks long. That means if we see a rock bottom price this week then buy enough of that item to last 6 weeks.

http://amywebb.moolala.com/deals/valdosta

2011-05-17T07:22:00.000-07:00

MOOLALA is a great way to save lots of money!! It is very much like Groupon. you save 50- 90% off services, restaurants, concerts....and so much more! Moolala was conceived as a way to combine the hottest space on the web (Daily Deals) with the most powerful marketing force ever (word of mouth). Rather than spending millions of dollars on traditional marketing and advertising, MOOLALA designed a system that rewards users really well when they do the marketing!! Moolala offers an incredible deal from a local or online merchant every day. Each deal will save you 50-90% off retail. When you subscribe, these offers are delivered directly to your email inbox each morning. (If you prefer, you can subscribe to deals via Facebook or Twitter, and you can always see the latest deal at Moolala.com.)

If you receive an offer you like, you can purchase it easily online. The next day they send you a link to print your voucher. You then use the voucher to redeem your deal. It’s that simple!Go to~http://amywebb.moolala.com/deals/valdosta to get started!! Change location to see more deals.

Best of all, these deals are brought to you totally FREE. There’s absolutely no cost to subscribe.

A Tale of 6 Cereals

2011-05-08T07:11:00.000-07:00

A Tale of 6 Cereals

Once upon a time there was an unaware Mama who had three growing boys who she could not fill up. She tried to feed them oatmeal. They did not eat it. Next she pushed apples and bananas; they ate but were still “hongry”. Mama then bought cereal~ lots of cereal. They liked that, but the unaware Mama spent $27 bucks on 6 boxes in only a few weeks. At $4.50 a pop-the cost of just cereal was nuts!

The broke Mama took herself to a couponing class and learned to buy cereal the smart way!! Only one trip to buy 6 boxes saved her a WHOPPING TWENTY-ONE DOLLARS!

HOW:

The cereal was on sale Buy One Get One (we are down to $2.25) and she used a Target (store) coupon for $1 off each box, (down to $1.25) and a 75cent off 3 boxes Manufacture coupon. (down to $1.00)-per box!!!

That is $6 for 6 boxes. The now AWARE and happy Mama spent the whopping $21 she saved on a new pair of shoes. Woo-Hoo!! J

Just keep swimmin', swimmin', swimmin'......(Dori the blue fish in NEMO)

2011-03-29T06:07:00.000-07:00

"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination are omnipotent." Calvin Coolidge

Develop good character, focus on the big picture and stop making excuses.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life.

Live. Laugh. Love.

2011-03-28T19:31:00.000-07:00

Logan being silly

What a funny picture of my sweet Logan. Lately, he has been seeing how much he can get away with. Basically, just being plain naughty, This picture is special to me. Only about an hour after taking it, Logan got nearly all that pretty wavy hair cut off. That is right....OFF. He already looked just like his daddy-now he really looks like his daddy's childhood pics. It is super short-a tiny bit longer on top that the side/back. When I get over the shock of it, I will take his picture. It is so odd-but he looks so different-that he almost seems like a little impostor. He is still a cutie-pie and we are all crazy about him.

Keep A Sense Of Humor

2011-03-12T06:41:00.000-08:00

When everything else fails...LAUGH. While it is easy to laugh when everything is going good, it is important to keep laughing in times of adversity. Nothing can improves improves emotional health like laughter can. It relieves stress and helps to put things in perspective.

When things go wrong..often life is teaching us a lesson we need to learn. Be grateful for times that you wish had not happened, for these times can help you grow into a better person.Ask yourself, "Did I actually fail. or did I have unrealistic expectations?" Try to not fall into the trap of blaming others and at the same time, try to not beat yourself up all the time. It's okay if you fall~we all do~as long as you learn something as you get back up. Get back on your feet. Keep trying. Keep laughing. Keep living.

more baby boy

2011-03-08T06:16:00.000-08:00

It is amazing how much Logan has gown in the past 2 years.

Amazing, heart-breaking, exciting and wonderful.

Thank you Lord, for the blessing of this sweet child.

our baby boy

2011-03-08T06:07:00.001-08:00

Logan Clyde

Ain't he sweet?

Don't let him fool you, though. Just ask Eli.

Blueberry Scones

2011-02-27T09:07:00.000-08:00

Isn't that scone pretty? My sweet baby gave me the yellow daffodil in the background. He said he was givin' it to me "buzz i love you So much" Little boys are the best.:) Shhhh-it came out of my next door neighbor's yard. Sorry Miss Pat!
I love these scones-not too sweet-but sweet enough to satisfy a sweet tooth! Perfect hot out of the oven with coffee for breakfast. Perfect as a mid day snack or try one topped with ice cream for a decadent dessert! Ready to get baking? Here we go!

2 cups self rising flour
1 Tb sugar
1/2 stick margarine or butter-cold
1/3 cup cream (I used equal parts buttermilk and Italian Sweet Cream coffee creamer-cause it is what I had-you could also use half/half)
2 eggs -lightly beaten (one egg if you want a less dense scone)

Preheat oven to 400.Combine flour and sugar. Using 2 butter knifes or a pastry cutter-cut the margarine/butter into the flour mixture.In small bowl-mix eggs and cream.Make a well in the center and pour liquid into the dry. Gently mix until combined-just until it comes together. Turn out until floured counter and form a rectangle. Using a sharp knife-cut into triangles.Place on baking sheet that you sprayed with just a little cooking spray. Bake 15 -17 minutes. If you like-dust the tops with powdered sugar. Enjoy!

Maggie

2011-02-24T17:46:00.000-08:00

Meet Maggie~the sweetest beagle pup ever!

Logan says several times a day "Mommy, I love my new puppy!" I tell him "She loves you right back!"

Tony's Mexican Pie

2011-02-23T19:53:00.000-08:00

This recipe is dedicated to my wonderful husband who I love to cook for. He always seems to enjoy my cooking and always tells me how much he appreciates my efforts. I think he and the boys will enjoy this recipe I created-mixing a couple I found after looking at recipes for Mexican dishes tonight. I love you Cornbread!!

1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated crescent rolls

1 pound ground beef

1 can black beans (drained)

1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix

1 small can Rotel tomatoes w/chilies(drain most liquid)

1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
8 ounces shredded Mexican-style cheese blend
1/2 (14 ounce) bag tortilla chips, crushed

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Lay crescent dough flat on the bottom of a square cake pan and bake according to package

directions.

Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add bean, Rotel and taco seasoning and stir together well. When dough is done, remove from oven and place meat mixture on top, then layer with sour cream and cheese, and then top off with the crushed nacho chips.Return to oven and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, or until cheese has melted.

Swagbucks

2011-02-21T17:03:00.000-08:00

This is good news for you because if you sign up for Swag Bucks today, you can get 80 Swag Bucks just for signing up! You get 30 Swag Bucks when signing up normally but until Monday February 28th at 11:59 PM EST, you can get an additional 50 Swag Bucks with the code 3rdBirthday31.
http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/amyywebb

On Monday the 28th, Swag Bucks will be doing all sorts of celebrating with new features to its site, including:

A New & Improved Redesigned Swag Bucks Blog
A SwagCode Extravaganza! with 5 Different Swag Codes Throughout the Day
Enhancement of the Friend Feature on Swag Bucks
A New Product that Will Redefine the Way Search is Use

2011-02-19T08:17:00.000-08:00

hey everyone! I just got back from

a REALLY good Publix trip!

As you see above-couponing is worth the time.

I spent $50.35 and saved $106.60! Yay!!

This was the most I have ever saved and it felt great.

I had $27.27 worth of vender coupons and $30.25 Store coupons

Combined with this weeks BOGO'S and other sales of $49.08-this was a great week.

Stretch that Nickel baby!

2011-02-19T05:26:00.000-08:00

I have at least a dozen good friends who love to save money and have learned how to use coupons on a regular basis. About a year ago, my
'very good best friend' drug me to one of these classes. I left early and was aggravated at myself for wasting the $10 for the class. Thinking' " I will never do this! There has to be some sort of trick to really making this work...besides, I shop wisely already!". Well...in a few months I gave it a go-now I almost ALWAYS go to www.southernsavers.com before heading out.There are soooo many great couponing web-sites out there. You can find tons on Facebook, or leave a message for more sites. My favorite is SS. Before shopping, I head to Southern Savers, go to the Publix link-then the weekly ad. She shows what is on sale and links each item to either a Sunday insert coupon and/or a printable internet coupon. here are more of my favorite tips.

Grocery shop a few times a week if you can-break your lists up so that you spend around $25-$30 (AFTER COUPONS)-so that you can use a $5 off (Rite Aid/ Dollar General/Target or Publix) each trip. You can usually find these on-line. The Dollar General prints on their receipts.

Stacking…this is when you use a store coupon and a manufacture coupon on the same item. Publix will take 2 coupons on one item.

Example: Juicy juice-cost is $2 on sale-use a manufacture coupon for $50 off and a Target coupon $1 off-OOP (out of pocket) cost will be 50c.

· Internet coupons-If you hit the back arrow or backspace-you can usually print 2 of the same coupon. Most sites allow a maximum of 2. here is where being a facebook aholic pays off...be-friend manufactors/frugal websites and other couponers. They daily post freebies, coupons and giveaways. Jump on these-sometimes they go fast!

· HARVEY’S is the place to save on meat! You can often buy ground beef for $1.49-1.59/lb! Chicken for 89c/lb! They also have GREAT wed specials and often good deals on produce.

note:I know it is not very lean-but if you brown and drain the fat-it really is pretty good. I buy at least 5 pounds and break up into 1 ½ size packs and freeze. This amt. works well in most recipes. It is good meat and makes great juicy burgers!

· all*you magazine. This magazine is wonderful y’all! It is full of great coupons, bargaining tips and recipes. It is available only at Walmart or

get a monthly subscription.

· Rain Checks-here is the deal-LOTS of people are trying to save money-when a really good deal is out there-the item you want may be sold out.

Go to customer service on the way out and ask for a rain check that you can use when that item is restocked-hold on to any coupons that go w/ the deal! Watch your coupon expirations!

Lastly, get together with other couponers to swap/trade coupons you don't use. Thankfully, I don't need any more diaper coupons so I am hoping to trade them in soon!

Red Velvet Cupcake Recipe

2011-02-13T11:28:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is a perfect time to whip up these delicious cupcakes for your sweetie! My 4 boys love cupcakes.. The pretty red and white of these are a great way to say "I love you". Red Velvet is full of chocolaty goodness and a little tang from the buttermilk...topped with sweet cream cheese. Yummmm...

3 C. self rising flour
¾ C. (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs, room temperature
6 Tbsp. red food coloring
3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa
1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract
1 ½ C. buttermilk
1 ½ tsp. vinegar

½ tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place muffin liners in muffin tins and spray them with cooking spray.

In large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Add eggs until well-combined.

In a small bowl, whisk together the red food coloring, cocoa, and vanilla. Add to the batter and beat well. Next, add the buttermilk. Stir again. Next, add the flour little by little. Beat until all ingredients are fluffy and well-combined without over mixing.

. Add the baking soda to vinegar-add to mixture and stir

Pour the batter into cupcake cups and fill them 2/3 full. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool.

Frosting:
2 8-oz packages cream cheese, softened and cut into small pieces
6 Tbsp. butter, softened and cut into small pieces
1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract
5 C. confectioners’ sugar

Cream the frosting ingredients together until smooth. Use to frost your yummy red velvet cupcakes after they’ve cooled completely.

A Chilly Picnic and Dentist Day

2011-02-10T08:48:00.000-08:00

Logan at the park

We had a big day yesterday. Logan's 1st dentist visit. To hopefully keep dentist visits a positive experience, I decided to make the boys a picnic lunch and squeeze in a park trip before the teeth cleaning. It went great. The train even came by (the track is really close) the picnic table as we ate our bologna sandwiches. Logan loves to play at the park and when it warms up, we will go weekly. By the way, he did great and had no tooth decay! YAY!

Chicken and Veggie Stew with Dumplings

2011-02-10T05:52:00.000-08:00

I just love my crock pot. Today, my sweet 3 yr old is still snoozing, it is damp and chilly out...just a perfect day for this recipe. While Logan sleeps-it took me 10 minutes tops to cut a few veggies and throw the rest of this stuff into the crock pot. Want good dumplings? Do not over-mix the batter and to drop the batter onto very hot, bubbling liquid. That way the dumplings begin cooking immediately and don't get soggy. You can be creative and add 1-2 TB basil, dill,parsley, thyme or tarragon to the dumplings. Just pick one please-you don't want too much green in these or they will be weird. Trust me. Fresh is much better-but dried is ok in a pinch. Just use about 1/2 the amount. I like this one pot meal-it has protein, lots of vegetables and some starches to fill up your family.
Cook Time: 8 hours

Ingredients:
1-2 potato, peeled and chopped
3 carrots, sliced
1/4 onion, chopped (NOTE:there is only a little onion because the crockpot really intensifies onion flavor!-a little goes a long way)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup chopped celery (if you have a celery hater aka a 12 yr old-chop REALLY (*wink*) small.
14 oz. can ready to serve chicken broth
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1 fresh bay leaf(Optional-but be sure to remove later) 1 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 2" pieces
1/4-1/2 pkg. frozen baby peas(optional)
1-1/2 cups Homemade Biscuit Mix
1 Tbsp. snipped chives or dill or one of the other herbs mentioned above
1/2 cup milk
2 Tbsp. butter, melted

Preparation:
In a 4 quart crockpot, mix potato, carrots, onion, garlic, and other veggies. In medium bowl, combine chicken broth, flour and seasoning and mix until smooth. Pour over vegetables in crockpot. Add chicken.

Cover crockpot and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours until chicken is thoroughly cooked and no longer pink in center. Add peas and cover again. Cook on HIGH for 20 minutes until peas are hot. I forgot to add peas later-I added with other veggies and am not gonna go fish them out. They will be just fine.:)

In small bowl, combine baking mix with herb, milk, and melted butter and mix just until combined. Do not over mix.

IMPORTANT!!If you don't have any baking mix, combine 1-1/2 cups self rising flour and 1 tablespoon snipped chives(OR dill, parsley, tarragon, thyme..) in a small bowl. Melt 6 tablespoons butter and mix with 1/2 cup milk; add to flour mixture and stir just until combined. See? Crisis averted!

Drop dumplings by tablespoons onto hot, bubbling chicken mixture in crockpot. Cover and cook on HIGH for 20-25 minutes until dumplings are cooked through, fluffy, and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Serve hot and enjoy!

Groupon

2011-02-07T07:26:00.000-08:00

Have you heard about Groupon ? I have heard of it but just jumped on board today. Think of it as a group deal for a bunch of people. Daily (most deals look like they run about a week) a new deal will be available. The cool part is you look at deals in your area. They may be in your town or nearby city. I was very excited to see my local fresh cheese shop for todays deal $20 of Sweet Grass Dairy for $10!! Woo-Hoo! Also available is another 50% deal for Strings and Beans-a popular music/coffee shop in nearby Moultrie. Live in Tallahassee? How bout $5 for $10 worth of Cold Stone Creamery? Check it out. No yearly fees or anything like that-just great deals every day. Are you in? I am!!! Click on the word Groupon or the link below to check out deals in your area.

http://www.groupon.com/r/uu21052329

I AM NOT LISTENIN MOMMY!!!

2011-02-05T10:47:00.001-08:00

Chicken Nachos and an Apology

2011-02-05T08:33:00.000-08:00

I have been a bad blogger. I think my last post was in July. I am ashamed.So very sorry and ashamed. No excuses~I have been neglectful and to make it up to all of you, I am sharing a awesome recipe. :)
Are you excited? I hope so! I am!!!
Great for a snack or even a meal. The past month or so, I have been trying to eat a little healthier and think most of us can make little changes to take a little better care of ourselves.

ChIcKeN NaChOs!!
About a half bag of baked tortilla chips (I like Baked Tostitos)
2 cups cooked shredded chicken (poached works well)
1 can rinsed and drained (reduces sodium 40%) black beans
1 cup salsa
1 1/2 cup Mexican Cheese blend or Pepper-jack cheese-shredded
Sliced jalapeños (optional-but soooo good!)
Guacamole-1/4 cup (optional-but sooo-ok you get the idea)
sliced scallions(again..sooo....)

Heat oven to 350 -Line bottom and sides of large baking dish or cookie sheet w/ chips. Scatter chicken and beans over chips.Spoon salsa over beans(spoon guac if you like it over the salsa) and top w/ cheese. Sprinkle scallions and jalapeños over top.
bake at 350 for 15 minutes and serve hot! You can also dollop a little sour cream on top after removing from oven. YUM!!!

Grilled Pork Tenderloin w/ Green Tomato-Pineapple Salsa

2010-07-07T15:41:00.000-07:00

Here is a great Summertime recipe I found in my All You Mag. A friend of mine has given me several green tomatoes-and although we love them-we are a little tired of them fried.

2 med green tomatoes-cored/chopped
1/2 small onion, chopped
1 tea. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1/4 fresh pineapple/about a cup(ok to sub canned-but try to get fresh)
1/4 cup cilantro/fine chopped (optional)
whole pork tenderloin(about 1-1 1/2 lb)
clove of garlic-thinly sliced
salt/pepper

Combine 1st 6 ingredients and chill till ready-can be made a day ahead covered and refrigerated.
Make small slits in tenderloin-insert garlic slices until well studded.Season w/ salt and pepper.Grill until reaches 160degrees F-lightly browned and no pink inside-about 40 minutes.Let pork rest 10-15 minutes.
Season salsa w/ a little salt and pepper-top w/ cilantro if desired.
Slice tenderloin thin and serve with cold salsa.

Light Summer Pasta and Laughter

2010-06-26T20:58:00.000-07:00

After a FABULOUS evening with two of my most favorite people, I felt inspired to share a great recipe for a tasty, meatless pasta dish. This is a light yet filling meal, perfect for a balmy summer evening. Pair it with good friends who make you giggle and maybe a crisp green salad for the perfect meal. I am lucky to have such friends-friends who remind me that when parenting three wild boys gets overwhelming-there is always a chair at their table for me. Thanks Rebecca and David...

SPINACH, SUN DRIED TOMATO and ARTICHOKE PASTA

12 ounces Pasta (any Short Shape Like Penne, Or Bow Ties)
12 ounces,Marinated Artichoke Hearts
⅓ cups Oil-packed Sun Dried Tomatoes, Thinly Sliced
1 Tablespoon Sun Dried Tomato Oil
5 ounces Baby Spinach
3 Green Onions, Sliced Into 1/2-inch Pieces
½ cups Feta or fresh Mozzarella Cheese
Salt And Pepper

Preparation Instructions

In a large pot, cook the pasta according to package directions. Remove the pasta from the water and drain just shy of al dente. (The pasta will finish cooking in the sauce.) Turn the burner down to medium heat.

Return the pasta to the pot and add the artichokes (including all of the liquid from the jar), the sun dried tomatoes, and the sun dried tomato oil. Stir everything together until the artichokes are heated through and the pasta has absorbed most of the liquid, about 3 minutes.

Add the spinach and cook until wilted, stirring frequently, about 2 minutes.

Transfer the pasta mixture to a large serving bowl. Add the green onions and cheese. Stir to combine.

Season to taste with salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper.

2010-03-10T17:46:00.001-08:00

http://swagbucks.com/refer/amyywebb

2010-02-10T10:44:00.000-08:00

On a ride in T'ville-we saw this...hummmm..."FRYIES". Maybe the "D" stands for the grades they made in school!! Oh My Goodness. hahahaha....
Here is my sweet middle child with his silly mom at the red light-we were having a great Sat.

2010-02-10T10:43:00.001-08:00

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Easy Jumbalaya

2010-01-18T13:53:00.000-08:00

Want a new recipe? I decided to build on a box of Red Beans and Rice I had in the pantry. It turned into a Sausage jambalaya that was quite tasty. Along with a Spinach salad-it made a healthy and filling meal for my 4 men and myself. We even had leftovers for my lunch! This is a cheap meal too- costing a little over $1 a serving It really was delicious. My oldest, Zach, said it was better than the jambalaya he had when we were on vacation at Callaway Gardens.

Ready? OK!! here we go...

Ingredients:

1 TB oil (olive or Veg is fine)

1 to 1.25 lb fresh mild sausage

1 small or half med. onion (chop small dice)

1 small bell pepper and 1 small jalapeno pepper-take out seed and veins(very small dice)

1 box Zatarain's Red Beans and Rice

1 can whole tomatoes-do not drain-use liquid

few dashes hot sauce

black pepper-to taste

1)Brown cut up sausage in 1 TB oil with onion and peppers in a big frying pan. If you don't like onion-just leave out. Add can of tomatoes (undrained), hot sauce and a sprinkle of pepper. Let simmer while your Bean/rice cooks (15 min)

2)Cook Beans and rice in separate pot as per package directions. In place of one cup of water-use a cup of liquid from your tomato/sausage mixture. This is important-or you will end up with too much liquid in the end. We wouldn't want that., now would we? Cut back the cooking time about 5 minutes. Don't worry-it will cook more in step 3.

3) pour bean/rice into sausage/tomato mixture and cover. Cook on low 10 minutes stirring often.

Enjoy! If you don't like or can't eat onions or peppers-then leave then out! Feel free to use what ever type onion/pepper/tomato you have on hand. If you want more spice-try the hot sausage and /or up the hot sauce.

NOTE: hate or can't eat sausage? Try Chik breast instead!! Also adding/subbing 1-2 lbs shrimp would be wonderful. Just be sure to add the shrimp during last 2 min of cooking and don't overcook them.

SwagBucks

2010-01-16T15:22:00.000-08:00

Anyone want to earn free points for searching the web and entering codes? It is legit, easy, fun , free....all that good stuff. Give it a try-they don't ask for credit cards or anything else questionable. In a few weeks-I have almost enough for a free $20 gift card to either Target or Amazon. If you are on Facebook-it is even easier to do. One friend saved up enough for a laptop. Think green stamps of the 70's-but much better. Just click on the link on the right-after you feed the fish. :)

Chez Duckie

2010-01-14T14:30:00.000-08:00

Logan loves to cook. Today the Publix Preschool Club mailed him a free apron! He wont take it off. It has the Publix mascot (a dragon) on it and fits great. Thanks Publix. :O)

BRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!

2010-01-04T07:17:00.000-08:00

Baby it is COLD outside! I have on my thickest socks and my feet still feel like ice cubes! Down in the deep south, we are spoiled when it comes to wintertime weather. Today is will not get above 40 according to my informed, wishes he was an employee of the weather channel, husband.:o)

Since we don't plan of leaving home on this chilly morning, maybe we will do some penguin activities. By we, I mean baby duck and myself. click HERE to see some cute ideas for penguin activities, pictures and fun facts. NOW-will somebody PLEASE close the freezer door??!?!? brrrrrr!

2010-01-01T10:55:00.000-08:00

http://www.starfall.com

A friend told me about this wonderful interactive educational site. My 2 year old loves it. If you have a 2-7 year old-go check it out. I really like the ABC section. Making learning fun and interesting is the name of the game. Start by clicking on "ABC" and go from there or click on the pumpkin. Reading is such a wonderful gift.

another cool site for little ones is knee bouncers. It keeps BD in giggles

http://www.kneebouncers.com

WHEEE!

2009-12-31T06:37:00.000-08:00

WHEEEE!!!!!!!!

Baby Duck's favorite Christmas toy was his brother's pop-up book light. Then yesterday, the toy of 2009 arrived! The little tikes Endless Adventure Easy Store Jr Play Slide. Big name for what is basically a good and sturdy little slide. Perfect for toddlers. I go it from a really user friendly site for online toys. BD has been on glued to the thing since yesterday! If you have an 18 month-4 or 5 year old, you must get one. The slide is well made and can be used indoor or out. I was a tad nervous when the box said those three words parents fear "adult assembly required". It was almost funny when I discovered that meant popping one little bar into a latch. Removing the latch folds the slide for storage. BD liked the slide folded up and turned over-now the beloved slide was a boat! Not only does he like sliding and climbing on the slide, he loves when his favorite stuffed dog (bobbydog) takes a turn. It makes a cool ramp for all his cars and truck, too. All this climbing and sliding is great for his balance and coordination and is a fun way to use all that energy, so Mama is very happy. Yay for EAESJ Play Slide!

I made The Birmingham News!

2009-12-24T10:13:00.000-08:00

In the blog world, I have met some pretty cool people. When my new friend, Christie, asked me if she could share one of my frugal posts, I was really excited! If you want to check out her helpful blog click HERE. She shared my Reindeer Food post today! She is a blogger with The Birmingham News and has many wonderful ways to help us save our money and our sanity. :o)Being a Stay-Home-Mom in this yucky economy has lead me to becoming quite fugal indeed. Couponing, watching for sales on-line and off!! All us moms need to stick together to stretch our pennies.

It is fun to make new friends and blogging has opened up doors to interesting people all over the world. If you want to try it, I promise you will enjoy it. Online journaling about the things and people you love is a wonderful stress reliever and a way to build a support system of good friends in this high tech world.

WHITE CHRISTMAS "SOUTHERN STLYE"

2009-12-20T11:46:00.000-08:00

My Sweet Boys in the Cotton Field!
Was that a Boll Weavel??
"Mama! I pick-et-ted cot-tin!"
Big Brothers Are the Best
E..aka "Rent-a game"

Goals for the New Year

2009-12-20T07:46:00.000-08:00

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't overdo. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Pumpkin Cheesecake with Ginger Pecan Crust

2009-11-19T11:12:00.000-08:00

Crust

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup (40g) chopped crystallized ginger
1/3 cup (54g) pecans
1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, cold & cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 tbsp cold water

Filling

1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or 1/2 tsp ginger and 1/4 tsp cloves)
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/4 lbs (567g) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 tbsp cornstarch
4 large eggs, at room temp.

To make the crust

Position oven rack in the center and preheat oven to 350F. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9x3 inch springform pan. Wrap the outside of the pan with 2-3 layers of aluminum foil.

Place the flour, sugar, salt, ginger, and pecans in the bowl of a food processor. Process until the pecans are finely ground. Add the cold butter cubes and pulse until the mixture forms coarse crumbs. Add the cold water slowly until the dough just comes together. Press the dough into the bottom of your prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the crust just starts to brown. Cool crust completely on a wire rack.

To make the filling

Reduce oven temperature to 325F. In a bowl, whisk together pumpkin, heavy cream, vanilla, spices and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese on medium-low speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the sugars and beat on low speed until smooth. Mix in the pumpkin mixture, then add the cornstarch and mix until just blended. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and do a final mix by hand to make sure all the ingredients are well incorporated.

Pour the filling in the cooled crust. Set the still wrapped springform pan in a large roasting pan. Carefully pour enough hot water into the large pan to come 1 inch up the sides of the springform pan. Bake for 70 to 80 minutes until the center is set but still a bit wobbly.

Remove cheesecake from water bath to a cooling rack. Carefully remove the foil and run a thin knife tip around the edge of the cake. This will loosen the cake and help prevent the top from cracking. Cool completely at room temperature. Refrigerate the cooled cheesecake for at least 4 hours before serving.

Another thought to ponder.....

2009-11-03T18:23:00.000-08:00

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we stare so long at the closed door that we don't see the one that has been opened for us." --Helen Keller

Whatcha cookin Good Lookin?

2009-11-03T18:18:00.001-08:00

Chicken Meatloaf

1 pound of ground chicken
½ cup carrot chopped in FP

½ cup onion-chopped in FP
2-4 garlic cloves garlic cloves -minced

1 cup marinara sauce

Sea salt

1 T. Worcestershire Sauce

1 T hot sauce ( I like Tabasco or Texas Pete brand)-optional-but really good
Freshly ground black pepper
1 cup of oatmeal
2 eggs

¼ cup Ketchup
Preheat oven to 400 F.

In a large bowl squish together ground chicken through eggs . The best way to do it is just get your hands in there and mix! Keep squishing until the ingredients are completely blended.

Once everything is mixed, press the mixture into a loaf pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Add the ketchup to the top and spread out to cover the top.

Use Muffins Tins for faster cook (about 16-18 min. The individual portions also look really cute. Well, as cute as meatloaf can look, I guess . :O)

Bake for 35-45 minutes or until chicken is done through.

Fall Fun

2009-11-01T12:20:00.000-08:00

When you ask this one what his name is, the usual response is "Baby Duck"

This was the obvious choice for his Halloween Costume!

We went to the Fall Festival at Gatlin Creek and he rode the Kiddie Train at least 5 times. Then, we went to a few houses on our street. He said "Twick-Tweet" a couple of times. Friendly little guy that he is, he walked on inside 3 times to the delight of our neighbors. Hope everyone has a wonderful November. I will try to post more often. Life has been busy lately-and I think I burned out on blogging a bit. Our big news for this week is that my 13 year old will be going on a Science Academy trip all week. Please pray for traveling safety for them. Also, my sweet mom is closing in on the end of Chemotherapy -so please pray for her to continue to heal.

Lazy Day Crock Pot Chicken Chili

2009-09-21T17:15:00.001-07:00

1 tbsp of olive oil
1 lb ground chicken
1 small chopped onion
1-2 ribs celery
4 cloves of garlic
1 sm green pepper
1 sm can mild green chiles
1 can white northern beans
1 can corn (optional)
1 jalapeño (seeds and ribs removed)-diced very small
1 can diced tomatoes
1 tea. cumin
1 1/2 tea chili powder
2 tea black or white pepper
a squeeze of lime
1 tea salt
warm pan, add olive oil, brown chicken, add all chopped veggies, cook til almost transparent, add to large crockpot, add tomatoes , add beans and seasonings, cook on low in crockpot for 10 hours or on high for 6 hours...feeds a few hungry people or 5 -6 polite ones.

Apple Turnovers

2009-08-28T16:42:00.000-07:00

You will need:
4-5 cooking apples ( I used a combo of Granny Smith and Golden Delicious)
1 Teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup sugar
splash of apple juice
small flour tortillas
2 cups vegetable oil-heated in large frying pan

Cut up apples into bite size pieces and mix in cinnamon, sugar and apple juice. You can add about a tablespoon H2O-if you don't have any juice. Cook over low heat until apples are soft and liquid has thickened. About and hour or so.
Now you are ready to make your turnover. Using a pastry brush-paint around the edge of a tortilla with water. You can also use a spray bottle to spray the edges/ The goal is about an inch or two around the edge being very moist. spoon about 1 1/2 Tablespoon of cooked apples in the middle. Fold over with about an half an inch under-lap. With a fork fold back over the extra little bit and crimp the edge together. This is a little tricky and if a little bit of filling oozes out-don't freak-Just put it back!
Now fry in hot oil ( Med-High)about 3 min a side. Only turn once. Drain on paper towels. While still hot-sprinkle w/ a little sugar or cinnamon sugar. Serve warm plain or w/ vanilla ice cream.

yeild: 8-10 turnovers. best served hot or warm. Also can be reheated the next morning for b'fast.

Seagulls

2009-08-24T14:26:00.000-07:00

When we go to the beach-we love to feed the seagulls. The are amazing-the way they swoop down with perfect precision to scoop up their treat. No fear they have-only the desire for one more snack. No concern if the rest of the birds get their fair share. No realizing they have had enough. Kinda reminds me of some people that I know......

Southern Savers Link

2009-08-22T05:55:00.000-07:00

http://souternsavers.com

This is a wonderful site for saving money using coupons!

With a little time and thought-You can do it too.

Logan-16 months old-In November

2009-08-21T10:27:00.001-07:00

This is a repost-Logan was about 16-17 months old. He is such a sweetheart.

Quote of the week....

2009-08-19T11:34:00.000-07:00

"Forgiveness is the healing of wounds caused by another. You choose to let go of a past wrong and no longer be hurt by it. Forgiveness is a strong move to make, like turning your shoulders sideways to walk quickly on a crowded sidewalk. It's your move."

Coupons are Cool

2009-08-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

$2 off new fruit drink!! Just click on the ad to the right that says "Fruit2Day-No Sugar Added"

It looks like a great new product. About little over a month ago I went with my BFF to a couponing class. Rebecca and I giggled in the back of the class..I left a little early and we both never thought we would do the "couponing". Well...that was then. A few days later-I thought I would put some of the tips to use and give it a go. I have been getting the hang if it-but still don't quite understand how some of my friends are saving 80-90% on their total grocery cost. Yes-I did say 80-90. On most trips to Publix I am saving about what I spend. By that I mean, for example, if I spend $50-usually I have manufacturer coupons, store coupons and get enough store specials to save about $50-sometimes a bit more or less. Watch for buy one get ones and try to find a coupon for that product is one of my favorite tips. Also-buy one product-get something else free coupons. Yesterday I got Pamper diapers-had a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon PLUS another coupon for free wipes with pampers purchase. That meant a savings of $4.50 on the diapers and $3.80 wipes for free. That all together saved me about $10.

Another great tip is get the key at Harveys...the savings key. Go on Wednesdays for some great deals. Go online to get more coupons too...they are easy to find. Harvey's always has great deals on meat. I like to re bag my meat in 1 1/2 lb freezer bags and freeze for future meals. The coupon lady taught us to stock up too. Get a few coupons for a cheap cereal. You say no storage? Get creative-stick it under the bed. Unopened-cereal lasts a long time folks . Try it-it takes a bit of thought and time-but saving money is making money. In this economy-we all need to stretch our bucks. :o)

OH-I moved the link for the fruit thing-look below-you may have to click on the arrow! Also-I was $2 off-but it changed to $1 off-WHAT??? still-looks tasty-real bits of fruit and whatnot.

St Joe beach 4th of July 2009

2009-08-18T18:24:00.000-07:00

"Logan-I just gave you a juice box, I am not getting another one!"

"OH NO"

St Joe Beach on the 4th of July is so much fun.

Medbank? Again? Are you for real?

2009-08-13T05:06:00.000-07:00

See me in the pic above? I am sayin bye-bye to the MedBank for the 2nd time. Thats me on the right lookin very happy. On the left is Rebecca who asked me come back the end of July.....
Well-I worked for 2 years at the Lawson Neel Medbank part-time 2002-2004. Then a few years after working in the school system-they wanted me to give being a director a shot. So after a couple years of that-I thought I was finished helping people get their medications. WRONG. Rebecca called and asked, "you want to work a few hours a week, Amy?". No-Not really-but I do love helping people..could use a little extra $$$ w/ the holidays around the corner.....so here I go again. Just on Thursday and Friday mornings. Logan will be a MMO at FBC. It is going to be good-a reason to get up a little early and put on some make-up. A little time helping somebody else who really needs medicine. Know anyone on a long term med without insurance who really can't afford an expensive med? Tell them to contact their doc for a referral or call the LNMB.

I better get Logan up and head that way!!

My Sweetheart

2009-08-13T05:04:00.000-07:00

Mothering Advice from a Friend

2009-08-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

Everyday we have ups and downs with our kids. Everyday I have to remind myself that the most important job I have is the job of being a mom. I want to be more patient, understanding and loving. Hopefully, my boys know that I am trying to be the best mom I can be. Some days I feel like I "blew it". The key , I think, is to keep trying each day to be the sort of nurturing mother my kids deserve. A good friend sent me this advice on mothering today. She has three boys~ranging in age from 17 to 21.

"Savor every moment, embrace their individuality and keep an open mind as they grow and experience life on their own terms! I've learned through them that struggles and independence really do make them stronger and better equipped as men! God has truly blessed me with 3 great sons but with very unique and drastically different personalities. At the core of each boy is a sweet, loving and intelligent soul. I am so thankful for each one." Thanks Dawn-I needed to hear that today.

Pray for your kids. Pray with your kids. Help them grow into independent strong people. Love them unconditionally-and let them love you. Show them in little ways you care and never give up on them or your self.

Quote of the week....

2009-08-04T11:03:00.000-07:00

" Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. "

"We must let go of the life we planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us."

Whatcha cookin Good Lookin?

2009-08-04T09:55:00.000-07:00

Last night I invented a great new recipe. I decided to build on a box of Red Beans and Rice I had in the pantry. It turned into a Sausage jambalaya that was quite tasty. Along with a Spinach salad-it made a healthy and filling meal for my 4 men and myself. We even had leftovers for my lunch! This is a cheap meal too- costing a little over $1 a serving It really was delicious. My oldest, Zach, said it was better than the jambalaya he had when we were on vacation at Callaway Gardens.

Ready? OK!! here we go...

Ingredients:

1 TB oil (olive or Veg is fine)

1 to 1.25 lb fresh mild sausage

1 small or half med. onion (chop small dice)

1 small bell pepper and 1 small jalapeno pepper-take out seed and veins(very small dice)

1 box Zatarain's Red Beans and Rice

1 can whole tomatoes-do not drain-use liquid

few dashes hot sauce

black pepper-to taste

3) pour bean/rice into sausage/tomato mixture and cover. Cook on low 10 minutes stirring often.

NOTE: hate or can't eat sausage? Try Chik breast instead!!

Hummingbird Cake

2009-06-25T12:31:00.000-07:00

This is from her book Paula Deen Celebrates! My grandmother made this cake-it is so moist and wonderful. You have to try it.

3 Cups self-rising flour

2 Cups granulated sugar

3/4 Cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup chopped pecans

2 very ripe large bananas – mashed

1 can (8oz) crushed pineapple

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp ground cinnamon

4 large eggs, beaten

ICING RECIPE

1 pound box confectioners’ sugar

8oz package cream cheese- room temp

6 tbs butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tbs milk, more if needed

1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 325*

Grease and flour three 8 inch round cake pans. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, oil, 1/2 cup pecans, bananas, pineapple, vanilla, cinnamon and beaten eggs. Stir well until smooth.

Pour batter into the 3 pans and bake for 26-28 min, or until tops spring back. Let cool in pans for 10 min. Then cool on racks completely.

Make the icing by mixing the sugar, cream cheese, butter, vanilla and 1 tbs milk in a large bowl with an electric mixer. Mix until smooth. If needed add more milk, 1 tsp at a time for proper spreading consistency. Ice between each layer and on the top and sides. Sprinkle the top with pecans. Keep refrigerated.

The beach, the boys and the fig bars

2009-06-22T04:35:00.000-07:00

We are home from a great trip to Daytona Beach. This was the first time in several years we went away as a family for more than a weekend. Six beautiful, fun days at a ocean front condo. Tony and I laughed at how Eli was bursting with excitement as we drove into Daytona Tuesday. Zach and Logan were all smiles -we all knew this trip was going to be special. We ate out every night, but took advantage of our small kitchen for breakfast and some lunches. Tony bought 2 big boxes of fig newtons along with some other snacks. We laughed about them being old people food. Secretly we all liked them. The condo was basically 2 rooms and worked out great. I don't think I could have endured the one tiny bathroom for more than a month-but for six days it was alright. The resort had a spa and I enjoyed a massage on our second day. Somebody needs to tell that massage chick that she doesn't have to talk the whole time about her issues. Good grief. Another highlight was that the boys went para sailing 1000 feet in the hot humid air. Elia and Zach were simply beaming for the entire rest of the day. Now that Logan is nearly two, he has learned the fun one can have splashing in the kiddie pool. One cute little girl proclaimed to her daddy "this is Logan-he is gonna be my best friend forever". Logan just looked at her like she was nuts.Back and forth we went from the beach to the pool to the room. Logan would cling to Tony or me on the beach-it was a bit overwhelming for the little guy. The pool was more his speed. There were 4 pools and 2 hot tubs. A kiddie area with the fountains and shallow waters suited him just fine. As I watched Zach and Eli play in the waves or slid across the shore on thin boards, I again was reminded how quickly they grow. From the baby pool's shallow cool water to surfing the waves-well, it ain't far my friend. After a Father's Day brunch at Cracker Barrel we came back to real life in Tville. Which, by the way, is pretty good.

sorry for the dark pic-I would remove it but I cant seem to for some strange reason..oh well. If you look closely-you can see the parrots on the boy's shoulders-they are real.

Peachy BananaBerry Muffins

2009-06-12T08:07:00.000-07:00

This is my own recipe that I created a yesterday. I had bananas that were on their last leg (well if they had legs) and leftover peaches I had cut up the night before to top ice cream. I also had about a cup of fresh blueberries. Eli wanted blueberry muffins, so I thought I would combine all my fruit to make a new type of muffin. A Taste Of Georgia is one of my favorite cookbooks, so I found a good banana bread recipe and adapted. If you know me, you know this is very typical of the way I operate!! The result is a moist, sweet and very good muffin. The nuts are optional-but I really like the crunch and protein they add.

Amy's Peachy BananaBerry Muffins

Oven: 350 for 20 min

1 stick butter

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk (2% or whole)

2 ripe bananas, mashed

2 med or 3 small peaches-cut up and topped w/ 1 T. sugar-let them sit to soften

1/2 to 3/4 cup blueberries (blackberries also would be good)

2 1/2 cup self-rising flour

1/2 tea good vanilla-don't buy that imitation crap

1 /2 cup nuts-I used sliced almonds-pecans would also be good

Cream butter and sugar, Add eggs and beat well. Add mashed bananas and peaches, flour and milk, vanilla and nuts. Gently stir in berries. Spoon into paper lined (and Pam sprayed!) muffin tins.

Top with a few extra nuts on each. these look pretty and are so tasty.

bake until golden on top ans springs back when top is touched.

mini muffins-about 11 min...med muffins 20-22 min..large muffins..27-29 min.

* these freeze well *

Goodbye Old Friend....

2009-06-08T13:01:00.000-07:00

Today a good friend from HS was laid to rest.

Her name was Celeste. She and I were in choir together, we shared classes, we shared friends. She was warm and wonderful. Incredibly smart, she was an awesome lawyer in Atlanta. She was the kind of person who brought people together. A matchmaker who loved to see others happy. I wish we had stayed in touch. I wish she didn't have to suffer with cancer for a year. The little girl in the picture is her god-child who she loved. Goodbye Celeste. We will all miss you. Our lives were better because you were our friend.

Eli

2009-06-06T09:36:00.000-07:00

My dad and Eli had a special bond. Daddy just "got" him.

Eli is a big-hearted kid with enough energy for 10 kids.

He is rough, tough and wonderful.

Logan hugging Julio kitty in the back yard

2009-06-06T09:23:00.000-07:00

Goodbyes

2009-06-06T07:16:00.000-07:00

What we have once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we deeply love becomes a part of us. ~Helen Keller

Eight summers ago, my wonderful father left this world. Although I can no longer eat a Dove ice cream bar(with almonds) with him, or laugh with him at something funny one of the boys said; he is still a part of my life. I think about him almost daily. then there are some days it just hits me. The "he really isn't gonna come walking in the door,is he" feeling. Today is one of those days. Maybe because I was reminded yesterday how precious life is. How quickly it can be taken away. How we have very little control over the when, the wheres, the hows. Hopefully, when my times comes, I will be surrounded by people I love. My friend Celeste was. She passed away peacefully yesterday with her husband and parents beside her. Celeste was an amazing young woman...today would have been her 40th birthday. I wish we had stayed in touch. From what I have learned from our mutual friend, Laura, she was a wonderful attorney , a loving wife and a great friend to many. She was the kind of person you were lucky to have on your side. Someone who went out of their way to help others. Many will miss her~ she will be a part of us now~and we are better for knowing her.

I know my dad lives on in me, in my brothers, our kids. My younger brother sometimes makes faces that look just like my dad. It is comforting yet breaks my heart a little. As much as I long for him to walk in the door, I do know that I will see him again one day. Until then, I am going to try to live my life in a way that would make him smile. I am going to love these wild children of mine and cherish each day I am given. Growing older with my family is a gift to be appreciated. Goodbye Celeste, if you see my daddy today-tell him it is your birthday-I bet he gives you a Dove bar.

Zach's Pecan Pie Muffins

2009-05-31T08:03:00.000-07:00

I thought I would do something I really like doing - blog hopping. I came upon this recipe at RecipeZaar for pecan pie muffins. The comments were all raving about how they resembled pecan pie and everyone was giving it a 5 star rating. With only a few ingredients I thought I had nothing to lose by giving them a try. I'm telling you - if you have the ingredients in your house - make them now and then get ready to make a second batch. They really do have a pecan pie type of taste to them with a muffin texture. So good. They're minis and pop right out of the mini muffin tins and directly into your mouth. It's funny how that works. I had to throw them in freezer bags immediately otherwise today could easily have been a 3000 calorie day - noooo problem. My oldest son, Zach, said these are his new favorite muffin.

Ingredients:

1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted

1/4 cup dark Karo syrup or molasses
2 eggs

Process:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F
2. Combine everything in a bowl
3. Spray 2 mini muffin tins about 3/4 full
4. Bake 18 minutes for mini muffins/ 22-24 for med size

will yield a dozen med size.

Could it get any easier

Amy's Banananana Nut Muffins

2009-05-28T12:04:00.000-07:00

1 egg
1/3 c. milk
1 c. mashed bananas (2 or 3 med. sized)
1/2 c. vegetable oil
2 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt

1/2 teas. vanilla
1/2 c. chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease bottom of 12 medium muffin cups. Beat egg, stir in milk, oil and bananas. Stir in remaining ingredients all at once until flour is moistened. (The batter will be lumpy). Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes.

2009-05-26T17:05:00.001-07:00

I have noticed some drug companies charge to do patient assistance program paperwork for clients. As a former director of a non-profit that does this service free of charge, I have a problem with this. People that really need this service can not afford to pay for this service. Nor do they need to!Dear friend, please be careful, some companies charge close to $100 for this service. There are many non-profits who will do this paperwork for free. You can also do them yourself . If you need help, ask a nurse in your doctor's office. A minimal fee of less than $10 per Rx is understandable if you can afford that. Click on the comments for more info from my good friend Suzanne.

Bloggin, bloggin, bloggin

2009-05-21T11:22:00.000-07:00

I started this blog to primarily show my kids off to the grandmothers, to share some recipes and just to journal some of my life. I did not expect to meet other "bloggers", but gratefully I have. Their blogs have allowed me a a sneak peek at their lives and being a curious person, I love it. It is a support system in a way-new friends all over the globe. Most in the states and a few over the big pond. I lau ghed at the funny pictures..have cried a few times at the raw stories they share. I thank you Brook, Aly, Sue, Monty. I also thank my stepsis for the peek into her twin -filled life. Oh and to the Lauderbacks , who are missionaries in Costa Rica, thanks for bringing us Thomasvillians along for the adventure.

One of my newest blogging friends is a kind man named Monty..here's part of a recent post I enjoyed and learned from..enjoy...

"We all live in an environment that is so full of stimuli that no one can perceive everything that's there. So we all selectively perceive what's there, through our own individual filters. We can take the stimuli there and derive happiness and joy from them, make lists of things that make us happy; or we can take different stimuli from the same environment and decide we are useless, worthless people, and find all kinds of justification from the past to support the contention. Another way to look at this is some people are choosing to be happy, and some aren't. Are we influenced in that decision by our emotional unconscious? You bet. Can we do something about that? You bet.

Look yourself in the mirror and start finding reasons why you like yourself, and tell yourself out loud those reasons. Daily. Be redundant. It's called positive affirmations. I like myself because I do kind things. I like myself because I saved a bee from Jake today (true). I like myself because I tell my wife I love her every day, and mean it. People like hearing this too it seems.

There's lots more. Here's what doesn't work. Hiding. Problems don't go away. Pretending there's nothing wrong. Same as hiding. If you need help, go get some. Really. But you need to work But it is so worth it. Imagine being happier. Here's what Mel wrote today:

"No matter what results you get, the only real failure is when you stop making the effort.

When you are mistaken, you can learn.
When you are knocked down, you can get back up.
When you find that you've veered off track, you can correct your direction.
When you discover that circumstances have changed, you can make adjustments.
What a shame it would be to stop just one effort short."

Now, I'm not Mel, I'm not going to start wearing heels and pantyhose, and I don't have a British accent, which I am sure are messy character flaws. I'm not a therapist, and I am not much different than the next person. But I laugh a lot. If you are one of my friends who are suffering from a lack of confidence, or know you are awesome at an intellectual level but not an emotional level, or think that you lead a boring life because you're so boring, or you can't be loved because the people who loved you left you; I'm here to say that I love you, and you don't have to change for me, nor lose weight for me, you're perfectly valid for me the way you are. Please validate yourself, because other people are wrong. There's no time like the present to start because life's a banquet and we don't want to starve. Come join me at the banquet table, please."

Out for Mexican

2009-05-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

The 4 boys...Sushi, Rent-a-game,Baby Duck and Mon's kid.

Rent-a-game is so athletic.

BD wanted to sit up high too.

We had a great time at Dinner yesterday with my cousin Monica and her two wonderful kids.

Monica is an incredible person. I just love her. She is open, loving and brave.

She and I are going to get out crews together again very soon. The kids all got along great and the food was yummy. Monica's beautiful daughter, Em, passed her learners test! She will be the on the road now-so watch out!!

Summer Feet

2009-05-15T05:19:00.000-07:00

Alright ladies, it's that time of year once again!!! I think we need to be reminded of a few things. So my sisters, PLEASE, raise your big toes and repeat after me below....

The Open Toed Shoe Pledge
As a member of the Cute Girl Sisterhood, I pledge to follow the Rules
when wearing sandals and other open-toe shoes:

I promise to always wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over
andtouch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides andtops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps.

I will go polish-free or vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and chip-free.
I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe.

I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow.

I will shave the hairs off my big toe. I will also shave my legs while at it!

I won't wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker,
mother,sister tells me the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck itthere.

If a strap breaks, I won't duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck it back into
placehoping it will stay put. I will get my shoe fixed or toss it.

I will not live in corn denial; rather I will lean on my good friend Dr.
Scholl's if my feet need him.

I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low
price of $4.99 even if my feet are small enough to fit into the kids' sizes. This is out of concern for my safety, and the safety of others. No one can walk properly when standing in a pool of sweat and I would hate to take someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle.

I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell
and begin to look like Vienna sausages.

I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworker when she
asks meif her feet are too ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell her that her toes are as long as my fingers and no sandal makes creepy feet lookgood.

I will promise if I wear flip flops that I will ensure that theyareactually flip and flop, making the correct noise while walking and I will swear NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearing them.

I will promise to go to my localnail salonat least once per season and
havea real pedicure (they are about $35and worth EVERY penny).

I will promise to throw away any white/off-white sandals that show signs ofwear... nothing is tackier than dirty white sandles.

Well, maybe sandles and socks :P

I would have...should have....

2009-05-12T05:28:00.000-07:00

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the “good” living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television, and more while watching life.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.”
There would have been more “I love you’s.” More “I’m sorry’s.”
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute… look at it and really see it… live it… and never give it back.
Stop sweating the small stuff. Don’t worry about who doesn’t like you, who has more, or who’s doing what.
Instead, let’s cherish the relationships we have with those who DO love us.
Let’s think about what God HAS blessed us with.

-Erma Bombeck

Take a moment

2009-05-08T05:13:00.000-07:00

Slow down and take a moment today. I mean really slow down and really take a moment. We live in such a "I want it now" society. We are rushing here and there, not even noticing anything around us at times. With 3 kids-there are days I really could use one of those clones. "You go to the ballgame with Eli, AmyClone # 1, while I go to the band concert, OH and AmyClone#2-at the ballgame-you chase Logan around"

Yeah, its a busy life. So, we have to make ourselves S..l..o..w....d..o..w..n. Take a few breaths and enjoy the world. All the birds were singing this morning at my house, and as I sat down for a minute, I was reminded how wonderful life is. So often I miss the smell of fresh cut grass or the lovely symphony the birds are serenading. The green of the trees and grass, the feel of a cool breeze. Take a moment-not to think, but to experience the beauty around us. Send a thank you to the Lord for blessing us with this moment. Just for a moment-be a human BEING-not a human doing.

More boys and beach pics

2009-05-04T11:55:00.000-07:00

Baby Duck at the beach

Logo smiling at Sushi. Just a swingin. and snakin.

Thanks Bubba for being such a good big brother.

A Little More on the SAHM subject...

2009-04-27T10:42:00.000-07:00

I realized I had a little more to add. Please do not get me wrong....staying at home with your kids is great and wonderful and of course being able to witness all of the "firsts" and just being there as they grow up. But depsite what others tell you it can hard as hell. I would give my left arm to go back to work somedays! lol! Just to get away from the house. It's the noise-and yes-the boys. When Logan is screaming, going through the no stage and rebellion stage even before he is 2.Sometimes I wonder "why again did I quit the job I really love?" an "Going to work would be a nice break!" Then at the end of the day when most people are stressing over traffic, deadlines, lesson plans, beating it to daycare to pick up a child at 6:30p.m. who has been sitting there since 7:00 a.m.: you get to put your kids in a bath, have their dinner ( a home cooked one at that) and tuck them into bed it all seems worth it. Snuggling up and reading abook with my little guy and KNOWING that he is safe-that is the perfect job. The bigger house, the nice car, trips can all wait. Right now I have a baby to kiss.

Stay Home Mommy

2009-04-27T10:23:00.000-07:00

When someone asks me what I do, I tell them I stay home with my children and I'm not in the least ashamed or embarrassed. I have learned that most people who don't think much of stay-at-home moms (SAHM) don't know what's involved and how much a family benefits and appreciates what we do. My children are only young once; I can get job later. Sometimes when I tell people that I am a SAHM,they say "Oh, so you have no education?" (I have a BS degree and social work experience), or "No skills, huh?" (I used to write million-dollar grants and teach special ed). I am comfortable with my answers, but a lot of other people are not. They think my education is going to waste. I answer those people with "I'm raising my children, and teaching them. What better use of my skills?" I do realize that this is a personal choice and everyone has to decide what is best for their family. If you do place your child in daycare-please stop by unanounced several times before placeing your child. And PLEASE trust your gut if something feels wrong. If you are able to afford a nanny, or someone who only watches 1or 2 kids, that isthe way to go. The smaller the ratio-the more one on one attention your baby will get.

I know that my baby Logan will only be little a painfully short time and I want to be the one showing him the world. The bond we have is not for sale at any price. So am I angry or resentful? No, just sad that some people dont realize that in a time like this-Mommy does know best.

2009-04-21T11:33:00.001-07:00

Butterfinger Cake

2009-04-09T11:19:00.000-07:00

1 box German Chocolate Cake Mix-cheap brand works best

· 5 Butterfinger candy bars

· 1 jar caramel ice cream topping

· 1 can sweetened condensed milk

· Cool Whip for topping (or real whipped cream-add 3 TB powdered sugar)

· Chocolate Syrup

INSTRUCTIONS

Bake the cake according to package directions and in a 13 x 9 inch

pan. When it's done, and while it's still hot, punch holes in the

cake and pour the sweetened condensed milk over the top making sure

some of it sinks in the holes.

Do the same with the caramel ice cream topping.

Sprinkle on some of the broken candy pieces.

When it's cool, spread the Cool Whip topping on the top, and then

sprinkle the rest of the broken bars. Then drizzle more caramel all

over and then drizzle chocolate syrup in a zigzag pattern

Silly Boys

2009-03-28T13:24:00.000-07:00

BD in the pot...........

Sushi man showing BDn how potsittin is done...

"Like this BD! See Bubba in the pot??"

Rent-a-gamei showing lil bit the ropes on the beach

Fun at the Beach!

2009-03-28T13:05:00.000-07:00

Baby Logan laughing on the beach

Zach being silly "what'd i do??"he seems to ask

Logan on the boardwalk

in the sand

Logan and Daddy heading out to the water

Hey Good Lookin-Whatcha got cookin?

2009-03-25T16:58:00.001-07:00

In these frugal days, I get a kick out feeding my family filling, somewhat healthy yummy meals that are easy on the pocketbook. One favorite is the following. I serve it with mashed potatoes or rice and a green veggie. Butter beans work well and are Tony's favorite-but broccoli or green beans are also good. Today I found potatoes on sale-under 3 bucks for a 5 lb bag. I am happy cause mashed taters and gravy are one of my favorite foods. The trick to good mash taters is -make sure you cook long enough-bout 20 min. add margarine or butter(bout 1/3 a stick) after draining. Oh, when you drain-keep the potatoes in the pot-the heat will take care of any liquid. After mashing w/ a hand mixer a few min-DONT OVER MIX-add 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup milk that has been heated a minute in microwave. trust me-it makes a difference. Plus, that is what Tyler Florance once said on his fancy cookin show. I think it was him . hummm, may have been Emeril.

CUBED STEAK AND GRAVY IN THE OVEN

thanks to Stephanie who taught me this much easier method of cooking "country steak"

If like me-you have made cubed steak by frying it a few pieces at a time then making a gravy-you be happy to get a great tasting southern dish w/ out the extra fat. popping grease and time standing at the stove.

ok-salt and pepper the steak-go easy on the salt-the gravy has a buncha sodium

flour it well.put in a baking dish

In a small bowl, mix together a "McCormick" gravy mix-or thicken some beef broth if you don't like to use those things

Poor over the top-now you can top w/ thin sliced onions-I don't-cause my boys are picky

cover w/ tinfoil

Bake 45 mins in a 350 oven

that is it-It will make a great gravy-nice and thick from the flour on the meat. The meat is very tender. Hope you try!!

I got a pound of cubed steak that will fed our family for less than 4 bucks-the taters and butter beans were also on sale. Fed a family of 5-including Logan who ate a bunch of beans for less that 3 bucks a person. Banana nut bread for dessert that was also very cheap to make. You can feed a good meal to your family w/ out a lot of money or time at the stove. :)

My mom's cancer journey

2009-03-06T07:58:00.000-08:00

Hey everybody!! Since several of you have expressed concern about my mom's health, I thought I'd take a few minutes to give an update. She is doing very well considering everything. Her attitude has been very good on most days-even remarkable during some tough days...

Last summer Mom found a lump. She was sure it was nothing..but it was something. In a matter of days she was down in Jacksonville scheduled for a radical double mastectomy. After the surgery , we were all devastated to hear the doctor say it the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. I think I can speak for my brothers when I say we thought the cancer must be everywhere. The type cancer she has is very aggressive, so Mom opted to do the 6 months of chemo-every Tue for 30+ weeks. She has completed that course and she began radiation this week. She called me yesterday and was doing pretty well. Putting aloe on the area treated will help with the skin damage. For those who dont know, radiation is horrible on the tissue-basically it cooks ya. Not pretty-but it kills those nasty cancer calls. SHe will have radiation for 6 weeks. Five days a week. Fred, her husband, has been very faithful to be with and support her during all this. Mom is having everything done in Jacksonville, so the stress of being away from home is tough. We are all so thankful that recent tests have had good results...however all this mess will take time to recover from. We know she will be fine though, and we love her more than she will ever know.

Today I am asking for prayers for my courageous mom. Please say a short prayer that the treatments will not be too painful, the recovery swift.
Thanks and call your mom if she is still around. Now that I'm a mom, I see how tough the job is. Mom's make mistakes, but they love us like no other ever will.

No No Doggie

2009-02-25T12:44:00.000-08:00

Poor Judgement. Defiantly poor judgement or maybe just stupidity. "What did you do Amy?" you may so sweetly inquire. I will tell you. Across the street lives a family that raises dachshunds. Growing up we had a wonderful weenie dog named Charlie. Charlie would not harm a fly...well.

I should have known better but I got a dog bite today. Across the way are 6-7 cute weenies, some long hair some short, all sort of colors. Beside their home is a neighborhood pond home to a big beautiful white duck. Logan loves to be pushed in his car to see the duckie( aka the quack quack). On the way to the pond we pass by the dogs in their chain fence yard. Most of them were barking as they have barked at me many times. I stupidly thought they were saying "hey!! It good to see ya! Come closer!" no. They were not saying this at all! They were saying "hey idiot! Don't come close or we will bite your butt!!!" SO here I go sticking my hand out for them to smell me. "See doggies, Im sweet!" Apparently sweet enough to eat! CHOMP! One of the dang mutts came at the back of my hand like a viper. He didn't let go very fast and it hurt like you know what. I went home to clean/ lick my wound. My message is-don't trust even the cutest of dogs. Animals can attack and they seem to especially like the flesh of stupid moms.

P.S. I went to Urgent Care and got a tetanus shot. Oh..ELi says the duck's name is Henry.

My boys playing at home

2009-02-10T19:49:00.000-08:00

Rattlesnake Roundup in Whigam, GA

2009-01-31T12:40:00.000-08:00

Zach and Eli eating (oh my) gater tail and fried snake.

Logan had chicken and Fries by the way.

Zach and Eli jousting. They had a blast while Logan and I watched.

We had a great time.

Jellybean and my boys

2009-01-30T10:56:00.000-08:00

Jelly is a good kitty most of the time.

Logan thinks Zach hung the moon....

Logan having fun at home with Mama

Just a few random facts about me............

2009-01-29T10:21:00.000-08:00

1. I was blessed to be born into a family that loves each other-no matter what
2. I was blessed to marry into a family that prays together and supports each other-no matter what.
3. I think we all need to hug more and let people hug us.
4. 16 years ago I married my best friend. He makes me laugh. He is the most thoughtful, intelligent and loving person on Earth.
5. I have to have a latte and /or a piece of dark chocolate EVERY week.
6. For years my dad would come to my house EVERY Thursday and spend ALL day with me and my boys. He would make lunch and I would run an errand or two. I miss him so much. He was a rock.
7. My dad taught me to "rise above it" and "lighten up". My mom taught me that if you put on a little lipstick and brush your hair-you feel better.
8. I do not like yard work-not any kind-but sometimes I plant something and watch it turn black. :)
9. I think newborn babies smell like heaven.
10. I love to cook and bake-I got addicted to Food Network during my labor with Zach which was 26 hrs. That includes 3 hours of pushing while my mom was yelling at my Doc to give me a c-section. Thanks Mom.
11.I believe there is hope for everyone. I know He loves us all. I know HE paid my debt and rescued me from death.
12. God blessed me with 3 wonderful fun-loving kids.
13. In the 4th grade I got paddled for fighting with a mean boy named Keith...
14. My 2 brothers let that mean boy know, after school, who's sister not to EVER touch again.
15. I did the "I can'tdecide what to major in" 6 year B.S. program. I still dream that I have one more test to take. I have a degree in Psychology, by the way. Nursing and Music school were not for me.
16. My mom is battling cancer right now and I am so proud of her fighting attitude. She is my hero.
17. I just joined Beth Ss SS class at FBC Beth is so cute and smart. I miss my old class-but needed a change.
18. I love how fog looks in the trees early in the morn, the way my little one looks in his PJs and he way my husband looks at me.
19. I love the smell of fresh plowed peanuts and fresh ground coffee.
20. One day I am going to Key West and do nothing for a week-or two-or three.
21. I play the guitar and sing often-mostly kid's songs. I have sang solo several times at church-very scary.:)
22. I tried selling cheese straws, pecan pie and candles-all were too much hassle.
23. I would love to have a bigger house and new furniture-but we are putting those things on hold while I take care of my baby. Logan and I are loving being together more.
24. I was very shocked to find out I was having a baby back 2 years ago. My 10 an 12 year old thought I was kidding for a month. My husband is still in shock. Logan has been pure joy.
25. I have amazing luck at meeting wonderful people and making friends with them.

This is a journey not a race.................

tell someone you love that you love them today~ don't waste a moment being mad or regretful.

Logan and Jazmine

2009-01-27T15:35:00.000-08:00

I have always loved animals. Just ask my mom~countless times growing up, I would come home with a pitiful stray . Even in college I would have a bird, hamster or kitten to take care for. Taking care of animals and people is just who I am.. Logan and Eli seem to gravitate most toward furry friends. Zach tolerates them. besides our chocolate lab, we have a beautiful cat , Jellybean. Jelly rewards us often with a fresh kill-bird, squirrel, mole even an occasional lizard or snake. Jazz is almost a year and a very bouncy dog. She really wants to be a good dog and I think she will be one day. Logan really seems to like her and she loves him. Especially when he shares his cookies with her.

Medication Warning!

2009-01-16T09:11:00.000-08:00

Dear friend, please be careful, some companies charge close to $100 for this service. There are many non-profits who will do this paperwork for free. You can also do them yourself . If you need help, ask a nurse in your doctor's office. A minimal fee of less than $10 per Rx is understandable if you can afford that. Click on the comments for more info from my good friend Suzanne.

Bathtime 4 Logan

2009-01-12T17:14:00.000-08:00

Logan in the tub

Logan loves bath time

2009-01-12T16:46:00.000-08:00

Zach and Eli working together

2009-01-12T06:53:00.000-08:00

Zach getting some help from Eli in maling film canister Rockets. You would be surprised at how high (over 15 feet) the top flies! They worked well together and had a great time watching what happens when chemicals react!
My boys love to do science experiments and usually learn something in the process.

Logan at Grandma's

2009-01-12T06:42:00.000-08:00

On Christmas Day, we went to my husband's mother's home around 11:00. Zach and Eli had awakened their baby brother aroung 7am so when we arrived, Logan was sound asleep. We laid him on the guest bedroom bed where he slept through lunch and into gift unrapping time! Everyone checked on him every few minutes, and we were all excitd when he finally lifted his curly little head. He was excited to see his grandparents, unlcles, aunts and all his cousins. He had a great day and was a joy to be around. He had a great time later with my side of the family-but tuckered out around 6. He managed to stay out of the pond and loved his new car!

Logan singing and playing in toybox

2009-01-07T14:20:00.000-08:00

2009-01-07T14:00:00.000-08:00

Logan tells the car "No No!"

2008-12-29T15:15:00.000-08:00

Logan and Eli have fun with the r/ c car. Watch Logan set the car straight at the end.

Christmas 2008

2008-12-29T15:06:00.000-08:00

Please ignore the date-I forgot to reset the date on my camera. Christmas went by so fast this year. All my family was well and really enjoyed being together. Logan loves his new Radio Flyer car. My big boys are having fun playing Rock Band on their wii. Tony and I hope to instill in them the truth that Jesus is the greatest gift.

Tony in Hartsfield

2008-12-29T15:04:00.000-08:00

I have been married to my best friend for 16 years. We dated for over 4 years, so I feel like we have always been together. He is the kindest, smartest and funniest person I have ever known. What I love the most about him is the kind of Christian daddy he is. He is gentle but firm when he has to be. Not afraid look silly nor afraid to discipline; weather playing or teaching-he is a pro. A harder working man I have yet to meet. He works 6 days a week-often not getting home until 8 o'clock at night. If you think all car people are shady and untrustworthy, then you have not met Tony. See for yourself, he works with Bosch in Valdosta, Georgia. He will treat you with the respect and honesty you deserve. I know God blessed me with a rock of a husband. We are very different and that is a good thing~we balance each other out. I am always amazed at how supportive and patient he is.

of course there are some days I could wring his neck, he will always be the great love of my life... and I am his.

Logan dancing in his car seat.

2008-12-28T17:02:00.000-08:00

Logan

2008-12-28T15:42:00.000-08:00

Christmas fun

2008-12-27T13:15:00.000-08:00

Click on the Collage to enlarge images..

Christmas Eve family brunch

2008-12-24T13:20:00.001-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Every Christmas Eve for the past few years, we load up the boys and drive south to Tallahassee. In about half an hour we arrive at our favorite breakfast place, the Cracker Barrel. We really enjoy this time together each year. Since Tony works long hours and rarely has a day off, it is special for us to be together for a simple meal. Zach is a really big breakfast lover, and I always impressed at him finishing the Mamma's B'fast. Eli is my child who really loves to go anywhere, so he practically pushes us all out the door. I think Logan's favorite part of the trip was riding on the horse in the gift shop. I take that back...he kept looking around at Mama, Daddy and his brothers; grinning from ear to ear. He was thrilled that his whole family was together. Me too, Logan. Me too.