Lunch at Costco - Winner!

Went to Costco with Camille to get my addiction fix.  There were no boxes of the sweet abrosia!  (Gasp!)

So, we walked through the store and ate all the samples instead!  It was lunch time and we really got our eat on!  Here are some of the sweet morsels we sampled:

trail mix

potstickers

chicken enchiladas

turkey sausage

polish sausage

Progesso soup

roast beef

greek salad and chips

breads

energy drink

trim diet drink

v-8 splash

cream puffs

It was a great lunch!   I have a question.  Since I don't normally do the sample thing, I was interested in watching how others did.  Do you:

Stand in line longer than a minute to get a sample?

Eat or drink the sample while standing in front of the sample table?

Listen to the sweet, patient, sample person tell all the benefits of the product before leaving?

Say "thank-you?"

Go back again? 

Just in case you're wondering about the lack of Benefiber....I went out of my way to another Costco and found some there!  I was so excited, not just because it was there, but it was only $2.99 a box!  That's a savings of $6.00!  I bought 5!

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The winner of the "Grill It" Cookbook and M&Ms is:
Yvonne!
I'm sure you'll want a few Benefiber pixie sticks too!!

Going the Extra Mile

Today, while at work, I texted my two youngest and suggested they straighten the house. When I came home from work, I walked in to my empty house that smelled....clean!  It looked clean.  Jo had scrubbed the kitchen floor, cleaned off counter tops that I hadn't seen for over a week, washed the dishes, folded clothes, cleaned the living room, and vacuumed the carpet.

I found this in the middle of the kitchen table.

And that's not all!  He had a 1/2 gallon of chocolate milk for me in the fridge!  And it's not even my birthday!

Talk about going the extra mile! Thanks, Jordan.

One more!  Our monitor gave up the ghost yesterday.  I mentioned it to my friend, Karen (Kazzy's Ponderings).  She said that she had one at her house that was not being used.  I picked it up on the way home from work.  I realized I didn't have the right cord so I called Karen.  She not only found the cord but actually delivered it to my house and helped me install it! 

 Another extra miler!  Thanks, Karen!

I am truly blessed!

Today is a great day!!!

Name That Tune

I loved watching that game show! The contestants would be given a clue to the song that the band would play. Then they would tell the host how many notes it would take before they could guess the song.
Here is a rendition of the game. Mr. Cy was the host AND the band. Here's the clue.
"This song is on Beatles Rock Band." How many notes will it take you to guess?



Don't ask how many notes I needed. All I can say is it's a good thing Em started singing!
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Thanks for all your positive comments about Em's new glasses. Tuesday was the first day she wore them to school. She returned home feeling a little sad because of some negative comments that had been said to her. Her mother had her read all of your comments. It made her day!

Ready? Giveaway!

Ready for Spring? I received this wonderful Garden book from AnnMarie at "An Old Fashioned Girl" and I love looking at the pictures of the beautiful flower gardens. Makes me excited to do some planting in a few months!

Thank you, Ann, for being so generous.

Ready for the next birthday installment?

I have two handsome sons-in-law whose birthdays we celebrated this month.

Andy and Vili are the same age.

Andy's married to our oldest daughter, Candice. His birthday is actually on New Year's Eve but we can count that as a January birthday. And yes, there is some confusion with the 2 Andys.  We have Andy the Elder and Andy the Younger.

Vili is married to our 3rd daughter, Jill.

He celebrates 2 birthdays.  One that his mom insists is his birthday and the other one, a month later, is on his birth certificate.  I think the records in Tonga are not very reliable.  I'm siding with his mom, she should know when he was born!

I hope that both of my sons-in-law know how much I appreciate their kindness and patience with their family.  They're the best!

Ready for visiting another blog?  It just so happens I'm a guest blogger for Camille. Come visit me at "Make It Work Mom" and see how Camille takes a day off!

She's sticking her neck out on this one!  It's a good thing she gets the last edit on the post.

Ready for a Giveaway? 

I found this cookbook at Barnes & Noble in the clearance bin.  When I took it up front to check out, it rang up the full price.  The manager was called to check it out and said that since it had the clearance sticker, they would honor it.  This cookbook is filled with delicious recipes that are cooked on a grill.  Pizza, flatbread, chicken, pork, fish, turkey, beef, and vegetables are the stars of this book!

Since Spring is just around the corner, (wishful thinking) you'll be ready to grill like a pro after perusing this book!

And - what better treat to munch on, while planning your next barbecue, than these?!

To enter this giveaway of the recipe book and M&Ms, leave a comment.  If you're a follower, you'll automatically be entered twice.  Giveaway ends Saturday.

See you at Camille's!

Was It The Uniform?

Saturday night, Andy and I used some Outback gift certificates that our generous friends gave us for Christmas. Before we left the house, Jo-Man, who was doing Army Guard for the weekend, called to ask what we were having for dinner.  He had been given some time to leave Camp Williams to have dinner.  We invited him to join us at Outback. 

When Andy and I arrived, Jo was standing outside the restaurant in his uniform and had already gone in and put his name down and was told that it would be an hour wait.  He  told us that he wouldn't be able to wait that long and handed me the pager.  At that moment the pager vibrated and the lights came on. We walked in to the very crowded restaurant.  We were seated at a table after only an 8 minute wait.  We joked that it was Jordan's army uniform that got us in so quickly.  The waitress then brought out 2 loaves of bread instead of one and we were given a full rack of ribs and the waitress made sure we knew that we would only be charged for a half order.  We decided that we'll take Jordan with us to dinner on his army weekend from now on if that uniform really DOES work magic!  I hope that if he's deployed it will still work magic and keep him safe!

Beat the January Blues!

January can be a rather hum-drum, depressing month but when it's filled with birthday celebrations, it takes on a new personality.

These first two birthday buddies were both born in Texas!

 We'll start with my mother-in-law, Lynette.  Even though her attempt at curing my cough went awry, I still love her and enjoy her company. She has a fun sense of humor and an infectious laugh.   She has the greenest thumb in the west!  Every plant she touches grows bigger and better, (she IS from Texas, after all) whether it's in her yard or inside her home.

Just a little story that always makes me smile whenever I hear the song, "Wind Beneath my Wings."  Every year my FIL's family had a Christmas party at a local church in Salt Lake City.  My in-laws would drive up from Arizona, when they could, to attend the party.  One year a cousin had his ailing father come up front and sit in a chair while this cousin sang "Wind Beneath My Wings" to his dad.  The cousin was getting emotional as he sang, as were some of his siblings and his mother, while his father sat in the chair looking indifferent.  Lynette leaned over to me, and in a voice that was conspicuously louder than a whisper, remarked, "I drove 800 miles for THIS?"  She then threw her head back and laughed her infectious laugh.  It was a great moment...for some!

You're the best, Mom, Happy Birthday!

Next in the birthday line-up is my very own Dad!  He too has a great sense-of-humor!  It doesn't matter where he is or who he's around, he always has a quick wit and a fun remark or two that puts everyone at ease.  He has always said, "You can't trust a beady-eyed Texan. (whatever that means)  He worked hard as a brick contractor all of his life, providing well for his family.  I have great memories of camping, waterskiiing, and vacations with my family and feeling safe because Dad was there.

Here we are at my wedding reception.  Doesn't Dad look handsome - kind of like a movie star.  You'll notice we had the same color of hair.  We still do!  ;)  Dad can do lots of things.  He is quite a cook - from breads to main dishes - he does it all.  He has written short stories that are delightful to read.  (Good thing there's spell check on the computer) He has taken on a new endeavor since Christmas.  He's learning to play the piano!  He and Mom are still very much in love and they are fun to be around.

Dad. you're amazing!  I sure love you!  Happy Birthday!

The Eyes Have It

It has been said that the eyes are the windows to the soul. 

When the eyes get to the point that others can see more clearly IN than you can see OUT, it's time to get 'em fixed!

This is the Divine Miss Em.  She's in 2nd grade. 

Last month, the school nurse informed her parents that Em failed the vision exam.  She was taken to the eye doctor, who examined her eyes and declared them beautiful but needing help. 

Here she is with her glasses.  Doesn't she look adorable? 

Speaking of getting fixed.  Henry had a little surgery today.  He's doing juuusst fine!  This picture was taken right after he got home.
Look at HIS eyes.  Can you look into HIS soul?   Can you tell what he's thinking?  Yeah, me too.

Even though he usually sleeps in the garage, the vet said he should stay in the house for 24 hours.  

I'd be wise to sleep with one eye open!

Charity

What is the difference between heaven and hell?  asked the student.  "In hell," said the teacher, "all the people are gathered around a big table filled with food.  They can smell the food and touch the food and hold the food, but they cannot bring the food to their mouths because their arms are stiff and their elbows are locked."
"Yes, that is hell," said the student.  "And what is heaven like?" 
"In heaven," said the teacher, "all the people are gathered around a big table filled with food.  They can smell the food and touch the food and hold the food, but they cannot bring the food to their mouths because their arms are stiff and their elbows are locked."
 The confused student asked, "So what's the difference between heaven and hell?" 
"In heaven," the teacher answered, "the people learn to feed each other."

This parable has been told in numerous ways but with the same outcome.  We must help each other if we want to be happy.  The blessings come to us and to those we help as we reach out to one another. 
The situation in Haiti is devastating and heart wrenching. It's hard to see pictures of the suffering and grief etched on the faces of the Haitian people.  There are opportunities to assist financially but if that's not possible, praying for those people will bring succor from a greater source. 
We usually don't have to look much further than our own home, neighborhood, or community to offer relief.  At times we will be the ones to be fed by others, other times we will be the ones to feed.  

Let us remember - "Charity Never Faileth."

The Gig is Up!

Remember Henry? 

Henry's an outdoor cat or, I should say, a garage cat since the weather has been cold.  After Henry had made his way into our lives, we wondered if he might be a female and thought it funny that this pretty little girl cat was named Henry. 

After a while, Henry had a voracious appetite and started getting fat.  We wondered if she was old enough to be pregnant.  The thought of having kittens around here was appealing to some and appalling to others. We started bringing her in the house more, giving her some milk with egg - not just the cheap, dry, catfood; after all, she might be eating for 5!  She was loving all the pampering!

 The other day, we noticed that Henry looked a little different in a certain area.  Could it be that she really IS a male?  We looked on the internet and found a site that explained how to tell the gender of a cat.  We checked Henry.  Henry you really ARE a boy! 

He looked sheepishly at us and I put him outside.  That voracious appetite means he'll be a big ol' Tom cat!  He's going to spray the odorous urine on everything to mark his territory!  I can't have that!  Henry has an appointment to be neutered.  We'll be fine with his new found gender...I hope he will be too.  The Gig is up!  How dare he trick us like that!  (I'm so embarrassed)

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My thoughts and prayers are with the people in Haiti.

Healthy Body - Keen Mind

In our school district, we have a Healthy Lifestyles program where we are encouraged to take care of ourselves physically and mentally through eating good foods, exercising daily, brushing and flossing our teeth,(yeah, we have to be reminded to do that!) maintaining our weight during the holidays, relaxing and taking time for ourselves and getting a preventative exam (we get a $35.00 gift certificate to the local mall when we get our exam) 

We earn water bottles, sweat shirts, work-out shirts, and other incentives when we are in compliance.

We get emails throughout the month to encourage, inform, educate and remind.  One email mentioned that exercising was “training for old age”.

The professor who sent this said that he felt the younger years were the time to keep in shape to enjoy your older years both physically and mentally.

 One idea to keep your mind keen in your older years is to give your mind a good workout everyday. Elderly who do crossword puzzles, Sudoku, read, and other mind joggers keep their mind active and healthy.

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Here are some quotes he sent in the email that I'm beginning to relate to!

I've sure gotten old! I've had two bypass surgeries, a Hip replacement, new knees, fought diabetes. I'm half blind, can't hear anything quieter than a jet engine, take 40 different medications that make me dizzy, winded, and subject to blackouts, have bouts with dementia, have poor circulation; hardly feel my hands and feet anymore, can't remember if I'm 89 or 98, have lost all my friends.

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But, thank goodness, I still have my driver's license!

I feel like my body has gotten totally out of shape, so I got my doctor's permission to join a fitness club and start exercising. I decided to take an aerobics class for seniors. I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down, and perspired for an hour. But, by the time I got my leotards on, the class was over.

Reporter interviewing a 104-year-old woman:
"And what do you think is the best thing about being 104?' the reporter asked. She simply replied, "No peer pressure."

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It's the beginning of a new year!  Here's to our health!

Saturday Cooking

I found three great recipes that I'm willing to share!  They don't all compliment each other but that's OK, they'll be fine together in this post.

This recipe is from Kraft Food and Family. It has a secret ingredient that makes these meatballs delicious!

Meat Balls

2 lbs ground beef (to cut down on fat, you can use ground turkey)

1 box Stove Top Stuffing Mix for chicken

1 1/4 cups water

2 eggs

Combine all ingredients together.  I used a large spoon and it mixed up nicely.

Line 2 jelly roll pans or large cookie sheets with aluminum foil.  Spray with cooking spray.

Scoop out with a medium sized ice cream scoop. Put 16 on each baking sheet.

You may notice that these baking sheets are smaller than designated. It's a long story so I won't go in to it.

 I got 40 meat balls.

Bake at 400 degrees for 16 minutes.

These meatballs are ready to go in spaghetti sauce, gravy, or to be frozen for later use.

I put a sauce over them.

Sauce

1 bottle chili sauce (I used a 12 oz. jar that I bottled myself)

1 jar peach or apricot jam (the recipe called for peach, I have apricot. It was delicious)

1 envelope dry onion soup

Mix together in a medium sized pan.  Place on stove top and bring to a simmer.  Place meatballs in the sauce and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.

Serve immediately.  These would be good in a crock pot if you were having a finger food buffet or you could serve with rice on the side. 

This next recipe came from my good friend, Lorie.

Cranberry, Jalapeno, Cilantro Spread

1 bag  fresh cranberries

1 small bunch green onions (remove 2 onions from the bunch)

1 jalapeno, seeds removed

1 handful cilantro

1 tsp. cumin

1 cup sugar

Blend together in a food processor.  I blended until it was mixed and chopped most of the way, then added the cup of sugar and continued to process until well mixed and chopped.

Put cream cheese on a plate.  Spoon spread over top of cream cheese and eat with tortillas or crackers of your choice.

If you're concerned about it being too hot, perhaps KJ will convince you that it's good!

I Wanna Hold Your Haaaannnddd....

KJ loves Beatles Rock Band! What she lacks in vocal training, she makes up for in enthusiasm!

Have a Happy Friday!

Cure-all

Shortly after Andy and I were married, I came down with a bad cold. The cough was deep and annoying. One day, while at my in-laws house, my mother-in-law heard my cough and offered to give me some of my father-in-law's prescription cough medicine. Since I was tired of coughing and didn't want to seem disrespectful or unappreciative, I took her up on her offer. She opened the bottle of the menacing-looking potion, took a serving spoon and poured the thick, golden liquid up to the rim of the spoon. She warned me that it might not taste very good. Not wanting to seem like a wimp, I opened wide and took every last drop of that elixir! I couldn't believe the horrific, burning, gaggy, taste! Tears streamed down my face, I ran to the bathroom crying and scratching my tongue to get the taste out of my mouth. (So much for making a good impression) I spit and gagged and couldn't get my breath. My mother-in-law watched in horror and confusion. She said, "I know Clint didn't like the taste of it but he never acted like this!" She smelled the remaining contents in the bottle, then, with authority in her voice, she called out, "Who put the dog shampoo in this medicine bottle!" We've had a good laugh over it since, and I must admit, I didn't cough after that dose of medicine...I didn't dare!

I hope you all stay healthy this year!

Candy Bar Game

The candy bar game is the game we play on New Year's eve or whenever we want a rip-roaring time.
You will need a bag that isn't see-through for each person.  The bigger, the better!

At least one pair of dice is required.  Depending on how many people are playing, you may want to have 2 pair of dice going at once.

Of course you'll need some of these.  Again, depending on how many people are playing will determine how many candy bars you'll want.  Don't just stop with candy bars.  You can throw in some pencils, notebooks, socks, small toys, lotions.  Whatever you have lying around the house or that you got on sale!

Make sure there's something that people are going to want.  (Ours was a large bag of peanut M&Ms and a belt with a seat belt buckle) It makes the game more exciting!

Now, grab some of these,

and these,

and these - and get the game started!

Put all your goods in the middle of the floor and everyone sits in a circle around the pile of treasures. The first person rolls the dice.  If he gets doubles, he gets to choose something from the middle, put it in his bag, then  rolls again.  If he gets doubles again, he gets to choose something else then rolls the dice one last time.  If he gets doubles 3 times in a row, he has to dump his bag (this is where the crying comes in)

If you don't roll doubles you just pass the dice to the next person.  All this is done quickly and you'll want to keep an eye on what others are putting in their bags because you can ask for that item when you roll doubles.

BUT beware! If you ask for something out of someone else's bag and they don't have that item, you dump your bag!  See how much fun this is!

Towards the end of the game, it's good to start allowing 7's and 11's to choose an item from the middle or out of another bag.  The rule we have is the person who rolls a 7 or 11 can't roll again.

When the game is over, we make sure we still like each other and we share the bounty with those who didn't get so much!  Have fun with your family and friends!