WHO'S THAT GUY??

That guy is my amazing husband!  Now, before you roll your eyes and exit out of the blog, I encourage you to read about someone who has successfully followed his dream.  I'm not sure how many people are given the opportunity to pursue a dream they have had since they were a child, but Ed was able to begin his dream catching journey back in 1999.

Picture a kid about 10 years old with giant black headphones on...sitting in front of the television set....various boxes set up in front of him (to mimic a radio station sound booth)...while watching Ron Chapman's live televised radio broadcast.  Ed's actual dream was to be a radio DJ, but that has never quite panned out for him (and not for lack of trying).  Ed has been to broadcasting school, worked in promotions at ESPN radio, recorded several commercials (that have been played on the radio), among pursuing various other radio opportunities, but unfortunately, radio is very hard to get your foot in the door and pretty much pays peanuts when you're just starting out.  We feel like God has just closed the door to radio right now.

Ed started his DJ career at age 17 literally spinning records in the DJ booth at his family's skating rink...Broadway Skateland...in Mesquite, TX.  From there he worked in various clubs around DFW.  Ed joined the United States Navy in 1987 and served for 11 years.  While he was in the Navy, he was able to stay active in entertainment by co-hosting a nightly news/variety television show on the USS Valley Forge.  In 1999, Ed moved to the social side of the DJ world and founded Ed Petty Productions.

How did he get started as a mobile DJ?  Ed was asked by our former pastor and his wife to DJ their daughter's wedding in August 1999.  When Ed began his mobile DJ career, he had nothing...nada...zilch!  To do this wedding, he used our home stereo equipment, and may have even borrowed a microphone from the church.  Little by little, as I worked overtime for the extra money, Ed was able to purchase his own equipment.  To train himself in the industry, he shadowed a friend and former roommate of his who had been in the business for years.  Slowly but surely things started coming together.  The first "official" event Ed did was our neighbor's nephew's 16th birthday/halloween party.  On a side note, I dressed up Max and Lindsay to the nines like clowns that year and they were SOOOO mad at me for making them go to a teenage party dressed like that!

Ed has been a mobile DJ for almost 13 years now and he loves it!  His favorite events are weddings, but I've heard he's good at all of them.  I purposely don't give my opinion about Ed for obvious, what could potentially be biased reasons.  I listen to what others say about him and I read his client feedback.  People really do think he's awesome and I'm so proud of him!  I'm so glad that the kids and I have been able to take this journey with him.  We have had some really slim times around here, but God has always carried us through and provided for us!

He is currently working for LeForce Entertainment.  Please check him out at www.leforcedfw.com or www.djedpetty.com.  As I mentioned earlier, weddings are his favorite events, but he also does school functions of all sorts, corporate events, mitzvah's, any kind of party you can think of...he's even DJ'd a bridal shower!

Collette :)

Then

Now

I just had to add this photo...Lindsay and Max are going to kill me!

Personal note to my sweetheart:  Ed Petty, I'm so thankful God allowed us to find each other.  You are one of the hardest working people I know and the best husband and father a family could ask for.  Baby, I'm amazed by you!  I love you so much! 

P.S.  I knew you were talented when you made that mixed tape for me for our first Valentine's Day!

Meatball Sliders, Bagel Pizzas, and Homemade Trail Mix

Meatball Sliders

1 package frozen homestyle meatballs
1 small jar grape jelly
1 package Sara Lee dinner rolls

Place the meatballs in a medium-large saucepan.  Dump the grape jelly on top; stir until all meatballs are coated; cover.  Heat on medium-low heat for about an hour.  I've seen some recipes that add chili sauce (or something similar) to this meatball recipe, but I've never tried that.  Heat the rolls in the microwave (or oven is fine).  Open up the rolls, place about 4 meatballs on the bottom half, place the top half of the roll on the meatballs. 

I found these awesome fries at Kroger called Crispy Stix.  They cook at 425 for about 15 minutes (package says 13 minutes, but I add some time).  When they come out of the oven, I sprinkle them with seasoning salt.  Yummy!


Bagel Pizzas

6 plain bagels (everything bagels would be yummy)
1 small jar pizza sauce
12 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
Topping ideas:
mini pepperonis
sausage crumbles (near the pepperoni)
canadian bacon, chopped
green olives, sliced
black olives, sliced
mushrooms, sliced

Open bagels.  Place face up on a baking sheet (I was only able to fit 6 halves on a baking sheet).  Turn oven to broil.  Place baking sheet with bagels under broiler until lightly browned; remove from the oven and reduce heat to 400 degrees.  Top with a couple of tablespoons of pizza sauce (not too much or the bagel will get soggy).  Top with about 1 ounce of shredded cheese (not too much or you won't have room for other toppings).  Place desired toppings on top of the mozzarella cheese.  Put baking sheet on the second rack in the oven for about 10 to 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.  These are good with a small salad.  They are very filling!

Homemade Trail Mix

The boys 4th grade class filled up their marble jar, so they voted on how to celebrate.  They chose D.E.A.R. (drop everything and read) and puzzle competitions.  They got to bring a pillow or pillow pet, a snack and drink to school today.  We decided to make a homemade trail mix for their snack, which included the following:
colorful goldfish crackers
peanuts
raisins
mini m&m's
pretzels
white chocolate chips
semi-sweet chocolate chips
cookie crisp cereal

Happy Eating!

Collette :)

Homemade Chicken and Dumplings

After collecting the boys from school on Thursday, I was going to stop by the store and grab something for dinner.  It surprises some people that I don't have all of my recipes memorized, but I don't, so I took a quick look at Pinterest before leaving the school.  I had just pinned a new recipe for chicken and dumplings the day before, so it was right at the top of my Soup, Salad, Sandwich, and Bread board.  I realized I had everything at home to make the recipe work, so I didn't have to stop by the store...yay!

Traditionally, a whole chicken is boiled for "real" chicken and dumplings, but I decided to go the healthier route and use the skinless, boneless chicken breasts I already had.  When I boil chicken, I add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of a variety of herbs and spices from my cabinet...garlic salt and/or garlic powder, onion powder, celery salt, seasoned salt, lemon pepper, dried marjoram, dried thyme, ground mustard, crushed rosemary, chipotle chile pepper powder (just a smidge of this), parsley flakes, ground red pepper (just a smidge), cajun seasoning, Emeril's Original Essence, and ground black pepper.  I know this probably sounds like a horrible hodge podge of ingredients, but it makes a very yummy chicken broth after the chicken boils.

Chicken and Dumplings

Ingredients
2 cups flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 pinch salt
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup milk, a bit less than 1 cup
10 chicken bouillon cubes
5 - 6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
Lots of herbs and spices

Preparation Instructions
Add the chicken and spices and herbs to a large stock pot.  Cover with plenty of water.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium and let semi-boil for about 30 minutes.  Remove the chicken from the broth and set aside.  Add the 10 bouillon cubes to the chicken broth.
In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a fork or pastry blender. Stir in the milk, mixing with a fork until the dough forms a ball.
Heavily flour a work surface. You’ll need a rolling pin and something to cut the dumplings with. I like to use a pizza cutter. I also like to use a small spatula to lift the dumplings off the cutting surface.
Roll the dough out thin with a heavily floured rolling pin. Dip your cutter in flour and cut the dumplings in squares about 2″x2″. It’s okay for them not to be exact. Just eye ball it. Some will be bigger, some smaller, some shaped funny.
Use the floured spatula to put them on a heavily floured plate. Just keep flouring between the layers of dumplings.
To cook them, bring the broth to a boil.    Drop the dumplings in one at a time, stirring while you add them. The extra flour on them will help thicken the broth. Cook them for about 15-20 minutes or until they're not doughy tasting. Cut up the chicken while the dumplings are boiling.  Add the cooked chicken to the pot and you’re done!  You might need to add a little salt to taste.

Print Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

Happy country cooking!

Collette :)

Happy Belated Valentine's Day!!

This year, the boys didn't take the traditional Valentines to school.  They had to bear the brunt of my relationship with Pinterest.  :)  I didn't borrow ideas from Pinterest...the ideas just motivated me to try something of my own.

I was in the pantry one day and noticed the box of hundreds of popcorn bags I've had forever.  I don't even remember why I bought them in the first place, but I use them every now and then for little projects.  We've been going through a stage looking for our favorite buttery popcorn, so we have several bags of microwave popcorn not being eaten.  I also had an unopened large bag of M&M's.  Light bulb!  I did purchase some clear plastic treat bags and Valentine heart tags with silver twist ties for the M&M's to complete this Valentine "project".

I slipped a bag of microwave popcorn in each popcorn bag, separated the M&M's into the plastic bags, wrote on the tags, twist tied them around the plastic bags, placed the M&M's in the popcorn bag, folded the top, printed some labels that say, Just "popped" in to say, "Hope you have a great Valentine's Day!!!!" and stapled them on with colored staples.

While in the store a few days later, I saw packages of Valentine facial tissue, and thought of a really cute idea to go with them for Jonathan's Valentine's.  I packaged the tissue with some candy, printed out labels that say, "sniff, sniff...won't you be my Valentine?", and stapled them to the top.

For the boys' class party, I decided to make several sweet treats for the class (pictured below).  For the snack at the party, one of the other room moms (thank you, Kathy Pollard!) provided some delicious iced sugar cookies (from a bakery in Sachse or Wylie...I never can remember the name of it), and I brought strawberry Crush in a bottle.  The cookies and Crush were a huge hit with the kids!

Cherry pie heart tarts, Valentine chex mix, milk chocolate/white chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate chip cookie dough truffles dipped in milk chocolate and white chocolate, and milk chocolate and white chocolate dipped strawberries with sugar sprinkles and white nonpareils

Cherry Pie Heart Tarts
(This recipe makes 20)
4" heart-shaped cookie cutter
5 packages refrigerated pie crust (2 - 9" crusts in each package)
2 cans cherry pie filling
3 egg whites whisked with 3 teaspoons water
Frosting and Decorations
2-1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon softened butter
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
red food color
colored sugar

Instructions
1.  Heat the oven to 400° and cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2.  On a floured surface, roll out the piecrust to a 1/8-inch thickness. Use a large heart-shaped cookie cutter (ours measures 4 inches wide) to make pairs of hearts, gathering the scraps and rerolling the dough as necessary (I didn't do this part...I got 4 hearts from each 9" round and fed the leftover to my junkyard dog outside).

3.  For each tart, spread cherry pie filling in the middle of a heart, leaving a ½-inch margin on all sides. Brush the egg mixture around the edge before placing a second heart on top. Use the tines of a fork to seal the edges, then brush the tops with the egg mixture.

4.  Bake the hearts on the prepared cookie sheet until their edges are just beginning to brown, about 15 minutes. Let them rest on the sheet a few minutes, then move them to a rack and let them cool completely.

5.  Whisk the first four frosting ingredients in a medium bowl, adding more water a teaspoon at a time if needed to make a smooth, creamy frosting. Add a few drops of food coloring and mix until well blended. Spoon the frosting into a ziploc bag, snip off a corner, and squeeze it onto the tarts. Top them with colored sugar.

Print Cherry Pie Heart Tarts Recipe

Valentine Chex Mix
9 cups Rice Chex cereal
1 cup white vanilla baking chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup Valentine M&M's
1/4 cup red and/or pink jimmies sprinkles

1.  In large bowl, place cereal. In small microwavable bowl, microwave baking chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on High 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted and smooth. Pour peanut butter mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated.
2.  Place 1/2 of the cereal mixture in 1-gallon food-storage plastic bag. Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper or foil to cool, about 15 minutes.
3.  Meanwhile, stir candies and sprinkles into remaining cereal mixture. Spread on waxed paper or foil to cool, about 15 minutes.
4.  In serving bowl, mix both cereal mixtures. Store in airtight container.

Print Valentine Chex Mix Recipe

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
Melting/dipping chocolate (NOT candy melts)

Directions:
In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy, beat in vanilla. Gradually add the flour; mix well (if you don't add enough flour, the truffles will not hold together when dipped in chocolate; also make sure your chocolate is cool enough before dipping). Add condensed milk; mix well.  Stir in chocolate chips. Using a cookie dough scoop, drop dough onto waxed paper and place in fridge for about 1 hour.
Remove from fridge and roll into balls. Place back into fridge for about 1 hour. Melt Chocolate, dip balls, coating evenly.

Print Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles Recipe

I packaged all the goodies in clear plastic treat bags and put them in really cute Valentine treat boxes I found on sale at Hobby Lobby.

Happy Belated Valentine's Day!

Collette :)

P.S.  The chocolate chip cookie dough truffles are so yummy!!!

Tomato Avocado Mozzarella Salad

I mentioned this salad in yesterday's blog From My Very Heart of Hearts, so I thought I would post the recipe with pictures.  I got the idea from Pinterest, but I tweaked it some.  I'm not actually posting a recipe...I posted the ingredients and instructions under each picture.  Enjoy!  It was delicious!!

1 avocado, peeled and chopped

2 roma tomatoes, chopped

2 mozzarella string cheese sticks

1/2 tsp Italian seasoning, 1/4 tsp garlic salt, 1 tsp olive oil, 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

Mix well...serve with buttered sourdough bread

Print Tomato Avocado Mozzarella Salad Recipe

Happy Eating!

Collette :)

From My Very Heart of Hearts

I wrote this post on February 5 (I think).  I've been debating on whether or not I was going to post it.  I've read it and re-read it.  It's very personal, but I'm going to go ahead and post it in hopes that it might help others dealing with addictions.  Keep in mind, I was very emotional when I wrote it, so some of it may sound like babbling.  I didn't go back and change anything when I re-read it...I wanted it to stay as is while I was dealing with raw emotion.  I did post an update at the end on how I'm doing 10 days later.

Today is the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women Day.  This is American Heart Month and the #1 killer of women is heart disease.  More women die of heart disease than all other cancers combined.  With this said, I LITERALLY had a "come to Jesus" meeting this morning in my car on the way home from taking the boys to school.  I sobbed all the way home and told God that I cannot make the necessary changes in my life without His strength.

I have almost 150 pounds to lose to be at a healthy goal weight for my body structure, age, and stature (according to my doctor).  That is a whole other person!!!  That number seems absolutely impossible, but I realize I have to take it one day at a time.  Really in my case, it's more like one ounce at a time, one second at a time.  I'm not sure you can even begin to understand my addiction to food.  Of course you can see that I have one by looking at me, but knowing the battle that exists inside me is another story.

I eat when I'm hungry, when I'm not hungry, when I'm bored, when I'm happy, when I'm sad, when...ever!  I've tried Weight Watchers (which has definitely been the most successful for me thus far), but I always, always, always go on a huge binge within the first month or two.  I love Weight Watchers, because I don't have to give up anything I love.  I just have to learn portion control.  That's basically what their system teaches you...portion control!  And if you love food as much as I do then you take the daily points you're given and cram the most food in them as possible...which ends up training you to eat healthier in the long run, anyway.  The healthier foods have the fewest points.

Since this isn't a commercial for Weight Watchers, I'll move on.  I refuse to have surgery to lose weight.  I'm not knocking anyone who has....more power to you...you look great!  I just personally don't want to do it.  I worked for the American Heart Association for almost 10 years...I know WHAT I'm supposed to be doing - I'm just NOT doing it!  Why?  Well, sometimes I just don't care if I'm fat, then when I do start caring, I just....and this is where my thoughts stop.  I don't know what I just do when I start caring.

I can hear some of you now..."Don't you want to be around for Ed and the kids?"  Yes!  I do!  But the addiction outweighs the desire.  I know!  It's sad!  It's horrible!  I'm only human!  Poor Josh Hamilton caved this week...at least I'm not in the public eye of criticism.  People fail!  Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."  I am trying, though.  I have made better decisions today related to my eating habits.  I just ate a tomato, mozzarella, and avocado salad and I'm starving.  But instead of getting up to go to the kitchen, I sat down to write...to vent....to get out some of this frustration. <applause>

I know how the addiction was created.  I can't change how things happened in the past.  I can only work on the future and changing me.  Thank you for listening.  I hope this helps any of you that might be struggling with your own demon of any addiction.  If you're sharing my tears right now, I understand.  Stop what you're doing...reach out to God through prayer and scripture.  If someone you know is struggling with an addiction, help them, support them, be there for them, pray for them, love them.  It's okay if you don't understand.  God doesn't ask to us understand everything, but He does ask us to love.

So, first and foremost, I'm working on my eating habits and Lindsay and I are each trying to drink a gallon of water a day.  Secondly, next week I'm starting to walk with a friend 3 days a week.  Prayers are accepted....advice or ideas on how to change are not.  Thank you.

We'll call this a "before" picture...hopefully

Love,
Collette :)

P.S.  I've lost a few pounds!!!  Yay!!  Celebrate with me!  I've been working hard to make better choices and not eat as much...I give ALL the credit to God.  He listened and He's giving me the strength I need to do this.  Honestly, it's not as hard as I thought it was going to be.  One morning I was in Walmart and I WAS STARVING!  Normally, I would have just grabbed a soda and candy bar, but 1) I'm trying to be conscious of maintaining a normal blood sugar, and I knew that would shoot it out the roof and 2) I just know better and I very easily talked myself out of it.  Instead, I went to McDonald's and got an Egg McMuffin (they're a fairly low point breakfast on the WW scale) meal with a bottled water.  Now, I'm going to lay it all out here...I did eat the hasbrowns, but I still came out better than if I had chosen a coke and candy bar...cuz we all know I would have gotten the king size.  Also, my friend and I have been walking (picture of my new shoes below...Skechers Tone Ups).  We started last week and walked Monday-Wednesday-Friday.  This week we walked today and are going to attempt to walk tomorrow and Friday to still get in our 3 days.  The first day I didn't even make it 15 minutes.  The second and third days we probably came closer to 25 minutes and today we walked for a full 30 minutes!!  And mind you, this isn't easy for me as overweight as I am.  My legs and feet hurt like crazy the entire time I'm walking, but I push through!!

These are my new walking shoes...I just found them in orange, so I'm a little bummed about that

I saw these while I was looking for a picture of my new Skechers Tone Ups and these are specifically for walking, so I may have to splurge on them in a few weeks!

Thanks for your prayers and support!!

2012 Milestones #3, 4 and 5...Cheer Competition!!

Milestone #3

Lindsay has been a cheerleader at Garland Christian Academy since she was in 6th grade.  In fact, when tryouts came along at the end of her 5th grade year, she had absolutely no desire to be a cheerleader.  I really wanted her to try out, but I didn't want to push either, so I mentioned it once or twice, then let it go.  One afternoon, a fellow 5th grade mom called to let me know the cheer coach wasn't holding tryouts for the next year's middle school squad....just show up and you're on the team.

I was apprehensive about approaching Lindsay with the idea, because she already told me she wasn't interested and I didn't want to seem forceful.  I told her that she could just try it and if she didn't like, she didn't have to do it.  We were talking about it just now, and she told me the only reason she even agreed to try it was because she knew I wanted her to cheer.  She also said she wasn't interested in the first place, because her expectations were different from reality.  I guess she had never really paid attention to cheerleaders....she didn't realize they would have cute uniforms and go to cheer camp and cheer at all the games.

Every year the girls usually have 2 cheer competitions (one in December and one in February) with CCA (Christian Cheerleaders of America).  They've been at different locations, but they're mainly held at Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie.  Last Saturday, February 4, the cheerleaders competed in two cheer competitions.  The morning competition was with CCA at SAGU.  This was Lindsay's final competition with CCA as well as her last time to compete or perform at SAGU as a high school student (milestone #3).

She was elbowed during one of the stunts as you can see below....

About 5 minutes after it happened

About 24 hours after it happened...it also bruised above her eyebrow

Milestones #4 and #5

The GCA cheer squad competed in the Texas Showdown Championship Cheer Competition for the Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders.  Not only was this the first time in the history of the GCA cheer program to cheer for any other assocation besides CCA (milestone #4), this was also Lindsay's very last high school cheer competition (milestone #5).   Lindsay was very honored that her coach chose this year's cheer squads to compete in an FCC competition; however, it was very emotional.  At least she has something to show for the day!!

Making wonderful memories with my beautiful daughter....

Collette :)

Yummy to my Tummy....Sour Cream Potato Salad

I know better than to rant and rave about my potato salad, because sure as I do, you will make it and think it's the most disgusting mess on planet earth.  But that's not going to stop me from ranting and raving about it.  I love it so much that I only make it once or twice a year so I don't chance getting burned out on it and when I do make it and there are leftovers....I will eat my potato salad for breakfast!!!

I was going to save some and eat it while I was writing this post, but I couldn't control myself and had the rest of it for lunch yesterday.  The only reason I even made potato salad in February (we all know that this mayonnaise-based delicacy was designed for hot summer picnics) was because Ed was craving it and I absolutely cringe when he buys that junk from the store (sorry if I just offended anyone). 

So I was meandering through Wal-Mart the other afternoon trying to decide what to have for dinner when I remembered that we had some frozen breaded chicken patties at home...lightbulb!....chicken patty sandwiches (small hamburger buns, breaded chicken patties baked in the oven, mustard, hamburger pickle slices), Bush's canned baked beans (because I didn't feel like making my homemade recipe), and my yummy to my tummy dreamy creamy Sour Cream Potato Salad.

I'm showing a picture of it, but it is really hard to make potato salad look good in a picture.

Sour Cream Potato Salad

6 medium potatoes
4 eggs, hard cooked
2/3 cup  mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup zesty Italian salad dressing
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup dill pickle relish
1-1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

1.  Wash potatoes with skins on.
2.  Place potatoes in large stock pot and cover with water a couple of inches above the potatoes; salt the water generously.
3.  Bring water to a boil over medium-high heat and let boil for 30 minutes or until tender; they have probably been in the water too long if they start breaking open.  I don't boil them on high because it's too rough on the potatoes.
4.  After they are finished boiling, drain the potatoes and let them cool completely.  I set mine out on my cookie rack so air circulates around them.
5.  Boil the eggs...place the eggs in a medium-sized saucepan and cover with water.  Bring to a boil and let boil 5 to 7 minutes.  I don't have any particular tips or tricks on this process...it seems like mine turn out different every time.  I think the fresher the eggs, the easier they are to peel.  But one thing I do is drain them after they are finished boiling, then let them sit in ice water for a few minutes before I try to crack and peel them.
6.  In the meantime, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, salad dressing, lemon juice, pickle relish, salt and pepper in a medium bowl and mix well; refrigerate while you're working on the potatoes and eggs.
7.  After the potatoes are cooled completely, peel and cube them; place them in a large mixing bowl.  I cube mine different sizes because I like some of the potato to mash up a little, but I still like some chunks.
8.  Chop the eggs, but do not mash them; add them to the potatoes.
9.  Pour the dressing over the potatoes and eggs and mix well.  Try not to mash all the potatoes while mixing...again, I like some chunks remaining after a good stir.
10.  Serve immediately or refrigerate then serve.

Print Sour Cream Potato Salad Recipe

I like to use 7 to 8 medium potatoes, then make a double dose of the dressing mix.  Do this version if you like it extra flavorful.  I wish I could just bring you a bowl of the heaven I made!  Hope you enjoy!

Happy Eating!

Collette :)

Forgotten Trip To The Grocery Store

I will preface this post by stating that I DO still make my kids' school lunches, because I'm momma and that's what I do.  The kids are all old enough and capable, but they do plenty around here for me...plus I just want to do special things for them while I still can.  And if they make their own lunches, then I can't slip my special daily notes in there for them!

I do have some mild OCD in certain areas, but leaving the dishes until the mornings is NOT one of those areas.  If I have cooked the night before, I'm usually too pooped to worry about cleaning up the kitchen before I go to bed.  The boys take their showers at night and because they're twins and they fight over everything, we literally have a chart posted on the hall closet door so the boys can mark who takes a shower first each night.  The one who doesn't have to shower first gets to pick which level of the dishes in the dishwasher they want to put up (top or bottom) from that morning when I did the dishes.  Of course this opens up the dishwasher for me when I'm cleaning the next morning and yes, they do pick the easiest one.

As I'm standing at the sink rinsing off dishes, I realize that I forgot to go to the store over the weekend.  Well, forgot is kind of stretching it.  I kept putting it off, putting it off, then I eventually forgot.  So as I stand there, I start trying to think of things I have around the house.  I could see that there wasn't enough bread for all 3 of them to have a sandwich, so I would have to figure out something else.  I look in the pantry and eyeball the Campbell's Chunky Soup in there and decide to do that for the boys.  Lindsay hates sandwiches, so when she finds out they get soup, she'll probably be ticked that she got stuck with the sandwich.

Then I head to fridge in the garage to get bottled water and open the door to find we are completely out of bottled water.  I see cream soda for the boys and Mountain Dew for Lindsay.  I don't think I've ever given them soda in their lunch, but remember I said earlier that I'm trying to be creative.  I stuck them in the freezer so hopefully they won't be room temperature by lunchtime.  Hope I don't forget them!!

I guess I need to make a grocery list and head out this morning.  We've been cleaning out the fridges, freezers, and pantry over the last several days.  I could not believe all the stuff we had around here to eat!  I guess everyone is ready for some home cooking around here this week.  I know I am!

Hope you have a super day!

Collette :)

Hopefully Helpful Household Hints #1

I know we cannot be the only household guilty of letting bread sit in the bread box too long, so I've had to get creative over the years to salvage pre-moldy, yet stale bread.  My kids take their lunch to school almost daily, so I buy at least 2 loaves of bread a week.  When we get to the end of the week, I have anywhere from 4 to 6 pieces of bread remaining in a loaf.  I don't refrigerate my bread or it would probably last longer.  I just prefer fresh bread for their sandwiches.

Anyway, those 4 to 6 pieces of bread sit in the bag in the bread box over the weekend (unless we've eaten sandwiches) and by Monday morning, they're no good for the new school lunch week.  So, I've come up with some ideas I thought might be worth sharing.  If you have other ideas, please comment!

1. Toast (most obvious?)
2. Freeze to add to your holiday stuffing or dressing
3. Make peanut butter sandwiches as a special treat for your outside junkyard guard dog who never gets any attention unless you go out to feed him or get in the car (I know...it's sad, but I do talk to him and  love on him when I'm out there...he would just prefer to be indoors with the others)
4. Cheese toast - lay your bread on a baking sheet, top with Cheddar (or your favorite kind of melty cheese...Cheddar is my favorite); turn your oven on to broil then place the baking sheet in the oven until the cheese is melted and a tad bubbly; my mom likes to toast her bread in the toaster first, then lay it out on the baking sheet, add the cheese then place in the oven so both sides of the bread are toasty, but I prefer the soft side (your preference)
5. Sugar Toast - now this is a poor man's meal, but yum so good!!!  butter one side of your bread slices, sprinkle with a generous amount of white or brown sugar, lay the bread pieces on a baking sheet, turn on your oven to broil, place the baking sheet in the oven, remove when the sugar starts to brown (if you leave in too long, the sugar will burn)
6. Cinnamon/Sugar Toast - blend cinnamon with white or brown sugar to your taste then follow the directions for sugar toast above
7. Freeze the bread until the ducks return to the ponds in your area then thaw and make a day of feeding the ducks with the kids (or a romantic date with hubby or wifey)
8. Make homemade croutons using this recipe:  http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1743,151190-248199,00.html
9. Homemade bread crumbs - let the bread dry out on a baking sheet for a day then throw in your food processor to make bread crumbs (add seasonings for seasoned bread crumbs)
10. If you're a cook that likes to add a couple of slices of chopped bread to your meatloaf mixture, then use the stale stuff
11. Make homemade french onion soup using this recipe: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1648,128179-249195,00.html
12. Make bread pudding using this recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/the-best-bread-pudding-recipe/index.html
13. Grilled cheese sandwiches (I add ham or turkey lunchmeat to my grilled cheese sometimes); some people like to eat grilled cheese with tomato soup...I'm just not a big fan of tomato soup
14. French Toast
15. Make a yummy quiche using this recipe: http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/cheese-onion-bread-souffle-10000001038756/index.html

I hope you're able to try some of these ideas!  And don't be afraid to try something new...the dog will also eat your mess ups!!!

Collette :)

2012 Milestone #2...JBU!!

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Lindsay, Hannah, Katie, Sheena @ JBU College Weekend November 2011

I'm attempting to track our family's milestones this year (along with recipes and other tidbits) through blogging.  Yesterday, Lindsay received a phone call from her admissions counselor at John Brown University (it's in Siloam Springs, AR if you're unfamiliar with the school) letting her know she was accepted!!  We are so excited!  It is her first college choice, but we are still waiting to hear back from the other colleges where she's applied.....Oklahoma Baptist University, Abilene Christian University and Houston Baptist University.

Lindsay first visited JBU in the winter of 2010 (her sophomore year) and returned for a second visit in November 2011.  I took her and 3 of her friends to visit the college during a college weekend.  I pulled a calf muscle prior to the visit, so I couldn't do much walking and was unable to do any of the parent activities, but I did get to see the college campus and it's beautiful.  I took some pictures, but they certainly don't do the campus justice.  And I love the Siloam Springs community.  It is definitely a college town and the people are very friendly.

Lindsay plans on getting her Bacherlor's Degree in Psychology and staying at JBU to get her Master's in Counseling.  JBU has their own student counseling center just off campus.

College Weekend JBU Trip....November 13-14, 2011

Choctaw Casino Durant, OK (phot op only...no gambling!)

There's always a stunt when you have a group of cheerleaders

Ever heard of the Carrie Underwood song "I Ain't In Checotah Anymore"?  The first 2 lines of the lyrics are:

Where 69 meets 40
There's a single stop light town

Most of the route to Siloam Springs in on Highway 75 which eventually becomes Highway 69.  At the point that I realized we were going to be crossing over 40....ding ding ding....another photo opportunity!  So we landed the Caddy near the stop light where 69 meets 40, the girls jumped out and I snapped a bunch of photos.  And yes...the spirited child in the pictures is Lindsay.  :)

The next set of pictures were taken at JBU....

The girls unloading their stuff...they stayed in the Mayfield Residence Hall with their student ambassador

The girls and their student ambassador (I sat in the car and cried for about 10 minutes after dropping them off.  I was preparing myself for what it will be like when we actually take her to college  :(

Many of ay's classes will be in this building

Lindsay's so good at performing arts, I'm hoping she gets involved

I was driving around the campus and saw this bench....I pictured Lindsay sitting here studying one day

Sanctuary and performance center

Cathedral of the Ozarks

Cathedral of the Ozards (side view)

Admissions Building

Student Counseling Center

Mayfield Residence Hall (where ay is requesting to stay)

Mayfield Residence Hall

There is absolutely no significance to this picture related to JBU other than I was out driving the back roads of Siloam Springs and this steer was just staring at me, so I had to pull over and take a picture  :)

If you're interested in this history of JBU, you can visit http://www.jbu.edu/archives/timeline/

Congratulations, Lindsay!  We are so proud of you!!!!!!  We love you so much, sweetheart!

Mouth-Watering Meatloaf

A few posts ago, I mentioned that I would eventually get around to posting my newest meatloaf recipe.  I realize meatloaf isn't the classiest cuisine, but don't groan until you've tried this one.  I actually NEVER order meatloaf from restaurants, but I will eat my homemade recipe.  I've changed it up 3 or 4 times in the last 15 years.  This newest recipe is my favorite so far.  If you try it, I hope you enjoy.  And it's kid-friendly!


Mouth-Watering Meatloaf

3 pounds ground beef (I use 73/27 blend and drain off the residual fat)
1 cup crushed french fried onions
1 cup crushed seasoned croutons
8 ounces tomato sauce
2 eggs
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons A-1 steak sauce (I like the thick and zesty blend for this recipe)
1 envelope onion soup mix

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl.  Roll up your sleeves, remove your rings, watches, and bracelets, wash your hands and dig in!  Yes....you must mix the meatloaf mixture with your hands!  You can try a spoon, but it doesn't blend near as well.  I like to spread my meat mixture into a metal 13x9-inch baking pan, because it doesn't take as long to cook and I can fit it all into one pan.  If you do use this method, bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes.  If you use meatloaf pans, you'll probably want to separate the meat mixture into 2 pans.  I would leave it in a 350 degree oven for at least 30 minutes then check it.  It will probably take at least 45 minutes to cook thoroughly (depending on your oven).

Print Meatloaf Recipe

I mentioned that I use the 73/27 blend of ground beef then drain off the fat.  There are pans that have been manufactured that automatically drains off the fat for you and you're not having to try to prevent the hunk of meat from flying out of the pan while you're draining.  My next kitchen purchase is a Kitchen Aid stand mixer...after I recover financially from that purchase, I plan on buying the magic meatloaf pans.

If you're not scared of meatloaf, I hope you will give this recipe a try.  Enjoy!

Happy cooking!

Collette :)

2012 Milestone #1...Lindsay's 18th Birthday!!

As I mentioned in my post titled "An Exciting Year", our family has many milestones this year.  Today, we've hit our first one for the year....our daughter's 18th birthday (I'm starting this post on her birthday [Wednesday, January 11], but I'm sure I won't actually finish it and publish it for a couple of days).  I can't believe it's been 18 years since I gave birth to this beautiful young lady.  I was 21, unmarried, and very scared when I found out I was pregnant.  I remember praying that God would allow me to see my child accept him as his/her personal Savior (which was my prayer for all my children), and that he or she would grow up to be a godly young person and adult.  The Lord is so faithful and answered these prayers.

When Lindsay was about 7 years old, she came home from VBS one day thinking about where she would go when she dies.  She had heard others talk about remembering a time they asked Jesus into their hearts, but she couldn't put her finger on a specific time in her life.  As she was sitting in the easy chair in the living room that day she asked Jesus into her heart.  What a day!  Lindsay has definitely grown to be a godly young lady and is certainly wise beyond her years.  There are so many times I feel inadequate even trying to have a conversation with her.  She's extremely knowledgeable about the Bible and strives to apply it to her life. 

I love her sense of humor...there isn't a day that goes by that she doesn't make me laugh.  Most importantly, as busy as she is these days, she still makes time to sit down and talk to me and spend time with me.  She still loves to come home and tell me about her day, go to the grocery store with me and take me shopping with her (when I'm willing to go...I HATE shopping).  She even comes into the kitchen more often now to help me cook (probably because she realizes she needs to figure out how to cook some things to survive.)  :)  Oh!  And of all things, she's talked me into doing Just Dance with her on the Wii quite often.

So, what did we do to celebrate?  She asked me to serve her breakfast in bed, and I said that would be fine.  I honestly can't remember a time when I've done this for the kids.  She placed an order from McDonald's, so I had planned on getting up about 6:00 a.m. to get everything done.  Well, of course, I overslept so her breakfast in bed dream still hasn't come to fruition.

I made her some owl cupcakes to take to school and hand out during lunch.  Apparently they were a big hit!  Yay!  I got the idea from Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/).  It's a site to display your likes, dislikes, wants, needs, hopes, dreams, etc. via electronic billboards....if you haven't checked it out, I suggest you do.  Warning:  it's very addictive!  The green cookies are mint Oreos.  I wanted to find some Oreos with pink filling, but I couldn't find them.  Both stores I went to were sold out.  I think it's a berry-flavored filling.

Then, because I knew the kids at school would devour ALL of these cupcakes, I also wanted to make her something to have at the house as well.  My husband is strictly a white cake, vanilla frosting kinda guy, so I made him a batch of white cupcakes and frosted them with the colorful frosting I had remaining from the owl cupcakes.

I wanted to make Lindsay cupcakes that she really likes and one of her favorite flavor combinations is strawberry cake with chocolate frosting.  It didn't sound very good to me at first, either, but I finally tried them and they're pretty good.  She also likes strawberry ice cream with chocolate sauce poured over it.  I guess the concept is the same as a chocoloate-covered strawberry.  I also made chocolate-covered strawberries....milk chocolate drizzled in white just to eat and white chocolate drizzled in milk chocolate as toppers for the cupcakes.  I realize my strawberries aren't the most attractive, but they are delicious!

Okay, so that's that for the birthday sweets.  Now for dinner....I don't know how Lindsay came to love Red Lobster so much, but it has become an annual birthday tradition for her.  We had a large group for dinner this year.  Ed's Aunt Shari is in town right now and was visiting with us, so we invited her to come along as well as my mom, my adopted sister Sara and her daughter Emily.  Lindsay had a sign language program at church so she had to leave dinner a little early, but that gave me time to run home and bake her cupcakes, dip the strawberries and wrap her gifts!  Yes, my nick name is Last-Minute Lucy.

She specifically requested Just Dance 3 (Wii) and some CDs from Amazon for her birthday.  Ed forgot to stop and get her gift earlier today while he was out so we had to make a run to Best Buy on the way home from Red Lobster.  I guess I'm not the only Last-Minute Lucy in the family.  The CDs didn't arrive in time for her birthday, but we did have other gifts for her.  In addition to Just Dance 3, Ed also got Summer Party (also a Just Dance product).  I got her a lamp that she had picked out for her dorm room and some Starbucks drinks, microwave popcorn and a pack of gum.  I just made a cute little gift basket out of the last 3 items.

So I think she had a good birthday this year.  I'm still going to have a combined family party for her with Ed's family and mine (and maybe a few friends).  I guess I need to get busy planning that now!  Happy Birthday to my sweet baby girl!  I love you, Lindsay!

Happy party planning!

Collette :)