Collage Post

Tonight I was going through our photos trying to come up with a cute collage of the kids throughout the  years. Only to find out that it seems we started our family in 2008... This is the year that things seem to have fallen into place or shall I say the year I decided to document our gorgeous creatures in all their glory! I tend to sit back and freak out a bit over the fact that I do not have the four them all together before then... 

I mean what kind of mother am I too not have photographed them all together since the beginning! This must mean I fail at motherhood right!? Of course not, it just means that at some point I decided this was important to me and I wanted to make it a point to get it done! If nothing else decide what is most important to you and then do it! No excuses! Make it happen!

PS This is an old post back from 2013, that I never published. Not sure why, but enjoy!

Mexican Cornbread

This is one of my families favorite recipes! We made it for the first time for Jeremy's birthday last year. This was after he asked me to make something similar that had not turned out so well. Imagine that happening at my house! lol So I was really excited about how well this turned out after that mishap. 

I have doubled the original recipe (link at bottom) and tweaked it to fit my family best. This casserole does come out with a bit of a "wet" consistency, but it is still wonderful imo! Let me know what you think! :)

Ingredients:

1lb ground beef
2 cups cornmeal
2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
2 cups milk
1 onion
2 jalapenos
1 can Rotel
1 can cream style corn
2 cups cheese (divided)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350'. Coat 9x13 glass baking dish with butter or cooking spray. Cook ground beef in skillet until done.

In a large bowl combine the cornmeal, baking soda, salt and stir well. Then add the eggs, milk, onion, jalapenos, rotel, corn and 1 cup of the cheese to the cornmeal mixture. Stir in the ground beef. Pour into the greased 9x13 dish.

Bake approx 1 hour. Remove from oven and top with remaining cheese. Place back in oven to melt cheese. Serve with sour cream or salsa!

Changed up the recipe a bit, but original credit goes to Mom's Mexican Cornbread!

"Frito Salad"

Ingredients:
Frito's
Cheese
Tomato
Lettuce
1 tsp Cumin
1 cup Beef Broth
1 medium Onion
2 shredded Zucchini  
1/4 cup Chili Powder
15 oz can of Kidney Beans
28 oz can of Diced Tomatoes
Garlic powder, Salt and Pepper to taste.
1.5 lbs Ground beef or Turkey which ever you like best.

Directions:
Brown the ground beef and onions together until meat is cooked all the way through. While the meat is cooking add the chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Once the meat and onion mixture is done, mix in the broth, shredded zucchini and diced tomatoes. Cook for about 20 minutes on medium heat.

Mash up 1 cup of the beans and add to the mixture along with the rest of the can. Cook for about 10 more minutes until it is heated all the way through. Cut up your lettuce and tomato for use as garnish.

We layered all these ingredients together kind of like a Frito pie/Taco salad type of dish! I loved this dish because my whole family enjoyed it and I was able to sneak in some Zucchini with out anyone noticing! We doubled this recipe since we have a teenage boy and wanted to have some leftovers. The original recipe as is should feed a family of five for one dinner.

Chicken Pot Pie Muffins

Ingredients:
Oregano 
Garlic powder
Canned biscuits
Salt and Pepper
Shredded cheese
1.5 lbs shredded chicken
10.5oz can Cream of Chicken soup
3 cups frozen or canned mixed veges

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400'. Pour the mixed vegetables, cream of chicken soup and shredded chicken into a mixing bowl. Season with oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste. Mix thoroughly!

Lightly grease your muffin pan and place one biscuit into each cup, pressing around the sides until it rises up to the top.

Then fill with the chicken mixture and place in the oven for 15mins.

I would check it at about 12 minutes. This would also be the perfect time to add a little cheese to the top! We made some of ours with and some without cheese.

I did not come up with this idea myself, although I did tweak it a bit for our family. I have to give credit to BevCooks at Tablespoon.com!

Colorful Eggshell Crystals

Things you will need for this experiment! Table Salt, Water, Eggshells, Small Pan, Food Coloring and a Disposable cup or any cup that you clean thoroughly!

Save used eggshells, making sure that at least half the shell is intact for each. Place the eggs shells into an egg carton, they will stay in this carton for several weeks. Boil water and add salt until no more salt will dissolve into the water. Pour a small amount of the salt water into a cup, preferably one you can throw away. Then add food coloring to make whatever color you want. Pour the colored/salted water into the shells and fill about halfway up.

 Put the egg carton up somewhere safe, that it will not get bumped or knocked down. This experiment will take several weeks to complete so put them up somewhere high and forget about them.

Dreams Can Be Scary

Lately Spunky has been having a lot of bad dreams and every morning she spends at least 10 minutes telling me about them. I find if we let her talk it out she has an easier time letting go of the fear. Today after being stuck in the house for days, due to rain (which never happens in June in Texas) we decided to break out all the craft stuff. 

While trying to think of something to make, Princess looked over at Spunky and said "I know how to make a dream catcher! Let's make one so it will help keep your bad dreams away!" It was so sweet and Spunky was very excited! It was really neat for me as well, to see them get along and try to help each other. Lately it seems like these moments are few and far between!

 

Spunky's Dream Catcher!

She loves it!

Princesses Dream Catcher!

Very proud of her design!

Black and White Wednesday #10

 

 

To participate in Black & White Wednesday, please visit these awesome blogs Like Christmas Everyday and Me As A Mother.

Wordless Wednesday

Using Lola as a headrest!

For more Wordless Wednesday participants check out these wonderful ladies: For The Love of Baby, Frugality Is Free, Clairejustineoxox, Living At The Whitehead's Zoo and 5 Minutes for Mom!

Saturday PhotoHunt: Creative

Everybody loves pipe cleaners, even the big kids! lol This is one of the "crafts" we did over Spring Break, anything to keep them occupied! ;)

For more photos and this weeks PhotoHunt check out The Saturday PhotoHunt.

Friday Fill-Ins

Hi all, another week is almost over and it is time for yet another weekly installment of Friday Fill-Ins! Janet asks the questions and my answers are underlined. 

1. These three words describe my significant other: adorable, funny and brave!

2. The feeling you get when you are done with laundry is a delight!

3. Oh, how I adore my time alone (whenever I get it)!

4. One can never know what can happen if one takes time to be friendly.

5. Inevitably, it is you and no one else who is responsible for your words and actions!

6. My mother is someone who never ceased to encourage me.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching movies and making homemade pizzas with the kiddos, tomorrow my plans include picking up T-man for is weekend and taking all the kids on a hike and Sunday, I want to relax and maybe read some of my book! :)

For more Friday Fill-Ins participants click here!

Black and White Wednesday #9

To participate in Black & White Wednesday, please visit these awesome blogs Like Christmas Everyday and Me As A Mother.

Wordless Wednesday

For more Wordless Wednesday participants check out these wonderful ladies: For The Love of Baby, Frugality Is Free, Clairejustineoxox, Living At The Whitehead's Zoo and 5 Minutes for Mom!

What are some of your traditions?

1. Finish this sentence - The last book I read and enjoyed was.... 
Flight of the Nighthawks part of the Darkwar Saga written by Raymond E. Feist (it's part of a series). If you have any interest in Fantasy and or Science Fiction you will enjoy these books. Here is the link to his website Crydee.com in case you are interested!

2. Do you have special Victoria Day (Canadian) or Memorial Day (US) traditions?
We live in the US, so we have Memorial Day. We really don't have any traditions except to remember and discuss the fallen soldiers, the soldiers that currently fight for our rights and how lucky we are for their sacrifices.

3. If you could invent something to make your life simpler, what would it be? 
Wow this really got me to sit down and think! Hummm something that would help me meal plan! I need something to help me plan meals around ingredients I can buy and cook in bulk.

4. What is your favorite recent blog post? 
 It's a silly one, but I had fun writing it and the experience was a hoot, click here to read it: Easter, Pooping Animals and Silly Grandma's!

5.And the bonus question: Have you ever ridden on a motorbike?

Come join in the fun! Visit Acting Balanced to check out Monday Quiz About Me!

Friday Fill-Ins

Hi all, another week is almost over and it is time for yet another weekly installment of Friday Fill-Ins! Janet asks the questions and my answers are underlined. 

1. When we watch Ax Men I can't help, but laugh at these guys!! Spunky even asked what language are they speaking? lol

2. I am going to head to bed, finally!

3. It'll be nice once school is out and we can relax a bit more.

4. Venice, Italy is a place I always wanted to visit, but haven't yet.

5. When I'm sad I am quiet; when I'm happy I am the opposite!

6. I love helping out and learning about my community.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching The Devil Inside. Gonna try to watch it alone cause the hubby does not want to, we shall see how that goes... lol, tomorrow my plans include going to a friends baby shower and picking up T-man for our weekend... and Sunday, I want to just hang out cause this next week is going to be another really busy one!

For more Friday Fill-Ins participants click here!

We don't bite, unless you ask

1. Finish this sentence - The best thing about this past weekend was... 
enjoying a few drinks while making homemade PB cookies Saturday night and watching the new Underworld.

2. When company drops by unexpectedly what do you serve? 
Company never stops by unexpectedly, ever... weird!

3. How old were you when you got your first cell phone?
Wow 28 yrs old, I was old, at least in today's standards.

4. Where do you blog? 
At home on my PC, tried on my phone it just makes me mad so yea... lol

5. Bonus Question: What is the stupidest thing you've ever done at a bar?

Come join in the fun! Visit Acting Balanced to check out Monday Quiz About Me!

Happy Mother's Day!

"Nobody's Like You, Mom

Nobody's quite like you, Mom.
You're special in every way.
You cheer me up, you fill my cup
With tenderness, come what may.
Nobody loves me like you, Mom.
No matter what I do,
Good or bad, happy or sad,
You support me; You always come through.
Nobody's equal to you, Mom.
With you in my life, I'm blessed.
I love you so, and I want you to know
I think you're the very best!"
By Joanna Fuchs

Saturday PhotoHunt: Scoop

The kiddos "scooping" out their pumpkins for Halloween this year! Gotta love it, dad gave them gloves!

For more photos and this weeks PhotoHunt check out The Saturday PhotoHunt.

Friday Fill-Ins

Hi all, another week is almost over and it is time for yet another weekly installment of Friday Fill-Ins! Janet asks the questions and my answers are underlined. 

1. What a beautiful night, even with the storm!

2. We need the rain... right?

3. It's no surprise, but this past weekend T-man went home early... again...

4. Meal planning this week wasn't easy, but I did it!! :)

5. I like to try and cook at least one new dish a week!

6. We are young, by Janelle Monáe is one of my most favorite songs!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching The Vow with the man, tomorrow my plans include taking Princess to her academic contest and then all the kids to see their dad for the night and Sunday, I want to just hang out and take the kids swimming.

For more Friday Fill-Ins participants click here!

Black and White Wednesday #8

Sweet Smiley! Not our pup, but a friend's. She is adorable. :)

To participate in Black & White Wednesday, please visit these awesome blogs Like Christmas Everyday and Me As A Mother.

Wordless Wednesday

This past Thursday was Bigfoot's birthday. He turned 15... I just cannot believe it has been that long since I held him in my arms as a little baby! We waited till Saturday to do the cake (brownies) since T-man was at his mom's.

The kids ready for Bigfoot to blow out his candles!

I love this photo!

Our silly family, anytime is a time to mess with each other! lol

After the candles were blown out! ;)

I threw the last few in here to demonstrate the weirdness I have to live with! LOL! ;)

Jeremy being goofy, gotta love Princesses facial expression!

Princess the crazed brownie eater!

T-man LOVED the brownies! ;)

Click photos to enlarge

 

For more Wordless Wednesday participants check out these wonderful ladies: For The Love of Baby, Frugality Is Free, Clairejustineoxox, Living At The Whitehead's Zoo and 5 Minutes for Mom!