Family Reunion

Sorry the posts have been few and far between the last few days.  My mom was here for several days and we had a family reunion yesterday.  Needless to say, it's been a little nuts around here, and my house shows it!  I promise things will get caught up between today and tomorrow.  So, when you see several new posts coming your way....no worries, thats just the slacker catching up!!  :)

I mentioned we had a family reunion yesterday, and let me tell you the South Georgia heat was horrendous!  Im pretty sure im still suffering from all the heat we endured yesterday (talk...about...a...HEAD...ACHE!).  However, it was super seeing family! 

As with any family reunion you have to cook your booty off before you go!  And, since we have become regular "BBQ-er's" (wait, is that a word...it is now!) we took a smoked Pork Butt and homemade Loaded Potato Salad (complete recipe at the bottom of blog). 

The first time we had this potato salad was at a local BBQ restaurant (I canNOT express to you just how much my family LOVES...yes, I said it, LOVES BBQ)!!! About the time we got back in the car to leave the joint, Christopher said you HAVE to figure that one out!  We were hooked.  So, I did, and it runs a close race with the restaurant's!! 

This particular potato salad has a lot of steps, and can be time consuming...but, it is TOTALLY worth it.  In addition to boiling potatoes (REMEMBER, make sure EVERYTHING you do with potatoes, you do with COLD WATER ONLY)...

You also have to chop green onions...

Finally, you have to make HOMEMADE BACON BITS (YUMM!!!)...

I know, this sounds like a lot to do just to make potato salad...but I promise, it is totally worth it.  You will also add some shredded cheddar cheese and mix all together with nothing else but RANCH DRESSING! 

Christopher also grilled 2 Pork Butts (which I cannot give the recipe out for...sorry, its a secret!)!  But I will give you the recipe for my homemade BBQ Sauce!!

HOMEMADE BBQ Sauce

-1 1/2 Cups Brown Sugar (you can use either dark or light...whichever you prefer, I ALWAYS have light on hand)

-1 1/2 Cups Ketchup

-1/2 Cup Red Wine Vinegar

-1/2 Cup Water

-1 Tbl Spoon Worcestershire Sauce (WE ALWAYS USE French's...it's very THICK)

-2 1/2 teaspoons ground mustard

-2 teaspoons Paprika

-1 1/2 teaspoons salt

-1 teaspoon pepper (you can use more if you want it a little more spicy)

1.) Mix all ingredients in a bowl and wisk until sugar is disolved.

2.) Store in an airtight containter.

Loaded Potato Salad

-1/2 of a 5lb bag Red Potatoes (more if you are feeding an army!)

-1 bunch green onions chopped

-1 pound Bacon

-1 Bag shredded Cheddar Cheese

-Ranch Dressing, to taste

-Salt

-2 Tbl Spoons Oil (whatever you have on hand, I usually keep Olive Oil around)

1.) Wash, peel, and dice pototes into big chunks.

2.) Place pototes into pot with cold water and salt water.

3.) Bring potatoes to boil and cook JUST UNTIL FORK TENDER.

4.) Dice bacon into chunks.

5.) Place bacon chunks and oil into skillet and cook bacon until brown.

6.) Wash, and dice Green Onions.

7.) When Potatoes are fork tender drain and place in bowl.

8.) Once potatoes have cooled down slightly, place potatoes in fridge to cool COMPLETELY (THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, you do NOT want the pototes hot or your cheese will melt and as good as melted cheese is, it's NASTY in this recipe).

9.) Once pototes have cooled, add bacon bits, green onions, and cheese.

10.) Mix in Ranch Dressing (enough to combine all ingredients and to your taste).

11.) Cool and enjoy!

HAPPY 'MOMMYING" :)

Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll

I just have to share this picture becuase this is how my morning started out! 

Not only did he have this on his head (which used to, at one time, house 4 puzzles!), but, he had the 4 puzzles (and ALL THE PIECES), and the shape sorter (and ALL THE PIECES) all over the living room floor!  WHEW!!!  By this point this morning, we had been up since about 5:15 am!  Im pooped just thinking about it!

Gigi (my mom), came today to stay with us for a few days and she blessed us with a trip to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island.  If you are in the Golden Isles area (Georgia) and you haven't been yet, I highly recommend it!  It's not the largest facility, but it is very informational (great to teach youngsters about sea life etc, and Sea Turtles (clearly!).

The center is actually 2 separate buildings.  The first building you enter is semi museum like, in that it is very educational.  You actually get to take on the journey of an actual Sea Turtle, and by the end of the journey you get to see how long you actually lived as that Sea Turtle!  (I won't say how long we lived as a Sea Turtle...I will just say that Harper was picking out our stamps and therefore we were not an elderly Sea Turtle!)!!!

Once you make it to the second building, you have arrived at the Sea Turtles.  This is hands down our favorite building!!!

 

Here, you not only get to see the Sea Turtles that are being rehabilitated, but you also get to observe them actually feeding and taking care of the Sea Turtles.

If you have children, (of any age) and they like animals, I truly believe you would enjoy a visit to the Sea Turtle Center!!!

After we got home, I got to thinking about how I can incorporate the Sea Turtles into our learning time and started doing some research on the Sea Turtle Center's website and realized that they have a Kids Section on their website!!  I have not only included the link to the kids section but here is a link to downloadable coloring pages!!!  They have an online activities section for older children as well!!  They also have a section where older children can put together puzzles online!!!  Finally, they have a section where older children (probably school aged or better) can learn Sea Turtle related vocabulary words!!!  WOOT WOOT!!! Gotta love the learning opportunities here!

HAPPY 'MOMMYING'!!! :)

BATHTIME FREEBIES TUESDAY

So in my house Daddy has taken over bath time.  The main reason this happened is my little guy hated when mommy washed his hair!  Daddy was absolutely FORCED to do it one night, and to much dismay the little man didn't whimper...not the first cry...or whine...nothing!  So, Daddy subsequently took over bath time...which did not hurt my feelings one bit!  This gives me free time to do whatever I feel like doing!!! (WOOT WOOT!!!  High Fives!!!)

I said in an earlier post today that I would be sharing some "freebies" with you along the way so im going to go ahead and share a few with you tonight! 

Most of the freebies I share will probably be from the website Freebies 4 Mom...and if you haven't checked out her website, I urge you to do so (she has tons of useful information on there)!  But, you don't have to I will share the links I find to good freebies etc.!  Or  some of them may from other random websites I find sharing links to free things!

Hopefully I can help you out by finding these freebies and then sharing with you...we will call the freebies I find...BATHTIME FREEBIES!!!

The first thing I want to share with you is a Free Heart Pendant Necklace from sneakpeeq.com. This offer is for new members only.  All you have to do is join the website sneakpeeq.com (which is the equivalent to social media for shopaholics!!!)! Once you join (which is LITERALLY as easy as signing in with your Facebook Account) then click on "see my reward".  Instantly the pendant pops up.  You have to "peeq" to see the price...which will be FREE!!!  The shipping will be $1.00...however, if you click on "earn free shipping" this will require you will have to share the info with your FB friends (you have to do this a few times) but then your $1.00 shipping charge will be $0.00!!! You do NOT have to put in any credit card info at all...JUST your address!!!!

I signed up last Wednesday, and by Saturday I had my necklace in my mailbox!  WOOT WOOT!! 

I also found this freebie tonight, free set of cosmetic brushes by LancrOne.  ALL you have to do is "LIKE" them on Facebook (just type LancrOne in the search portion of your FB page to find the company).  Once you have liked them, you will see the section that says "Free Cosmetic Brushes".  Simply fill out the form with your name, address, and email address and voila your done!  However, if you will also "SHARE" their company page on your FB wall, then you will also get a free bag with the brushes.  To do this, all you have to do is, from the main wall of LancrOne, click the button to the immediate right of "message" and then click on "SHARE" then everything else is automatic!  WOOT WOOT!!!

One final BATHTIME FREEBIE for you tonight!! A free sample of Hugo Boss for your man!!! ;)  Just click on the link (BTW: all purple words are links!!!) and then click on order free sample and fill the form out!!

These three BATHTIME FREEBIES wont necessarily make your life any easier, however, they may just make you smile!!  They did me! :)

Happy 'Mommying' :)

Rainy Tuesday

Well, you all know the weather has been absolutely FANTASTIC the last few days.  If you are unaware, then I will fill you in: we are experiencing Tropical Storm Debby!!!  I just love rainy days! (can you hear the sarcasm in my voice?!)

We have had an extreme amount of rain the last month or so here in our area.  Actually, we have had so much rain that my front ditch had standing water in it for the longest time (talk about stink!  and mosquito infestation!)! It finally dried up and guess whats back for a visit?!  You got it!  The standing mosquito infestation in the ditch!!!

Actually, to be exact, we had 2.5 inches of rain yesterday, and 3 inches already today (as of 3:30pm).  For a grand total of 5.5 inches of rain in less than 48 hours!!!  And its still going strong!  WOAH!!

I personally believe that rainy days call for something special...like SOUP!  I love soup...just not canned soup!  :)  I remembered at lunch time that I had some yummy rice left over from last nights dinner (I will post the recipe for this rice at the bottom of post). I kept thinking "what can I make with that rice" (I absolutely love rice or pasta of any sort!).  I decided to improvise some homemade chicken and rice soup...and wowee, it was superb!!

*I appologize now for lack of pictures....next time I will take LOTS of them!*

I grabbed a little left over chicken stock I had in the fridge and dumped it into a small pot.  I added some water and the rice I had left over to the liquid and started warming to a simmer on medium-low heat. 

Meanwhile, I thawed 2 frozen chicken tenderloins in a small pan with a tad olive oil.  Once they were thawed enough I added a little salt, pepper, and garlic powder to both sides of the chicken tenders, and cooked them until they were completely done.

Once the chicken was cooked through I cut the tenders into small bite size pieces and added to my simmering liquid.

To be 100% sure everything combined well I turned up the heat to medium/meduim-high and boiled for just a few minutes (4-7 mins maybe).

I let it cool off and ladel into my favorite bowl (ok, ok, it was actually a kiddie bowl...but worked GREAT!).  I also finished mine off with a little parsley (my grocery store carries freeze dried herbs, found usually in the produce section...a GREAT alternative to traditional dried herbs from the baking aisle.  They taste way better than regular dried herbs...almost as yummy as fresh....but they do NOT go bad like fresh herbs!)

Chicken ~n~ Rice Soup

-1 1/2 Cups Chicken Stock (I used leftover stock in a box)

-1/2 Cup water

-1 1/2 Cups Rice *already cooked* (Recipe below)

-2 Chicken Tenderloins

-Salt, Pepper, and Garlic Powder(to taste)

-2 Tbs Olive Oil

-Fresh Parsley to Finish (I used Freeze Dried Parsley)

1.) Combine Stock and water in small pot.

2.) Add Rice and bring to a simmer on medium-low heat.

3.) Cook chicken in oil, salt and pepper, and garlic powder.

4.) Once Chicken is cooked through dice chicken into bite size pieces and add to liquid.

5.) Turn up heat to medium/medium-high and bring to boil for 5-7 minutes.

6. Let cool and ladel into favorite bowl.

7.) Finish with Parsley.

!!!ENJOY!!!

*NOTE: This recipe made just enough for Harper and I with a little leftover...adjust quantities for larger crowds!*

 

Dinner Rice

-3 Cups Water

-1 1/2 Cups Rice

-1 Packet Lipton Onion Soup Mix

1.) Disolve onion soup mix in water in large enough pot.

2.) Bring to a boil on high heat.

3.) REDUCE HEAT!!!

4.) Add rice and stir to combine.

5.) Cover and SIMMER (VERY IMPORTANT TO ONLY SIMMER) for 20 mins or until rice is done.

6.) Fluff with fork and enjoy!

*This is a great rice recipe to enjoy with chicken, pork etc. in place of plain rice!*

*NOTE: DO NOT ADD ANY SALT TO WATER OR IT CAN TURN OUT TOO SALTY IN THE END*

Happy 'Mommying' :)

New Blog Vision

Ever since I started blogging (which I have NOT been very regular with...sorry) I KNEW I wanted a definite vision for my blog...but I never had one! So I was just sharing random things...sorry?!  However, recently I read an article in the MOPS magazine I recieved about a mother who shared a funny parenting moment.  Then it hit me...DO THE SAME THING.

How often does something funny or something not-so-funny happen throughout the course of our days as mommies and we dont share it because its embarrassing or a little off color?!  Well, not any more!!!

I plan to share my funny, embarrassing, and maybe a few not-so-funny moments with you !  DISCLAIMER: PLEASE DO NOT JUDGE OR GOSSIP ABOUT ME OR MY FAMILY WE ARE NOT PERFECT CREATURES...YET!!!  :)

I also hope to share some more cooking and homemade activities, and some freebies I have found online with you! 

My hopes is that my experiences as a mom will give you a laugh, and that everything else I share will make your life a little easier!

Happy 'Mommying'! :)

P.S. I considered deleting my older posts but I believe I am going to leave them as they define how I came to perfect my blog!

My Journey to Emotional Freedom!

Ok, so I have been the worst blogger in the world the last few months.  My blog background is STILL a Christmas theme…PATHETIC (FYI, I did change the background RIGHT before posting this!)!!!  Someone kick me in the butt and get me in gear please!  I am so grateful to have the few readers and followers that I have reading my blog.  When I started blogging it was more of a way for me to share my experiences with you guys and potentially pass along a good recipe or tip occasionally.  Now I feel like I want my blog to take a turn for the better.  I want my blog to change someone’s life.  So, I hope you will forgive my laziness and keep reading and recommend it to others.

The last few months I have listened and re-listened to Joyce Meyer’s “Why Do I Feel the Way I Feel” CD series.  The series is all about controlling your emotions and not letting them control you.  I have to be completely honest with you and tell you that I suffer greatly from letting my emotions get the best of me.  The series has truly opened my eyes to this fact and has helped me tremendously in controlling my emotions.  Now, that being said, I would be a complete hypocrite if I didn’t tell you that I still have TREMEMDOUS work to do in this area of my life…NEWS FLASH: I am not perfect! Oh wait, you guys knew that already huh?! J

My breaking point was, and still is, my relationship with my husband.  I have held on to hurt, anger, and resentment towards Christopher for a few years now and my actions have impacted my relationship with him in ways I never thought it would.  I knew, and KNOW without a doubt in my mind, that I absolutely must change me in order to change my marriage.

My goal is to live a life managing my emotions and not allow them to manage me.  My goal is that my life will be full of decisions based on what I know is RIGHT not based on what or how I FEEL.  I hope and pray that I will be completely forthcoming with you guys and that I will be transparent which in turn I genuinely pray will help change your life!

So, that being said, let finish our day making positive decisions for our life based on what we know is RIGHT now by how we feel.  “I do not have to feel like doing the right thing, in order to do the right thing!” Joyce Meyer.

Santa

Wednesday we took Harper to Savannah to see Santa for the FIRST TIME (well the first 'in person' time)! 

FYI: the Bass Pro Shop has Santa every year and you get a free 4 x 6 picture with Santa!!!  WAHOO for free!!

We had a blast watching H see Santa for the first time.  I kind of figure that he would scream and holler but much to my surprise...he went straight to Santa!  He laughed and 'talked' with Santa for a while took a GREAT picture! 

Harper and Uncle Len looking at fish!!!

Harper look at fish!!!

Driving a boat!!!  I want one daddy??

This one speaks for itself! :)

So, for now I leave you with this....Have a blessed Christmas season!