planning ahead.

made last night while watching big love on dvd.

there's something to be said about planning ahead.

i think i am going to punch two holes on the side

and thread a lolli through.

because everyone needs a sweet on valentine's day!!

& because it's monday again:

curry and white rice

pork loin with mashed potatoes

crockpot turkey pot pie, only it'll be chicken 

sun-dried tomato chicken breasts with roasted potatoes

bbq brats and brotchen with steamed veggies 

soup and sandwiches

enjoy your monday...

and happy new year's eve!!

we are having family over for a night of 

board games, appetizers and desserts.

wish

me

luck.

progress.

i'm thinking my hair will be long enough

to highlight by valentine's day.

which makes me verrry happy.

thats all.

:)

yest comments:

thanks for the compliments on my home, gals.

i am looking forward to getting enough pics 

for a home tour by the end of the week...

don't ration your passion.

just thought i'd throw up a few pics

of the casa for reference.

i think we've decided to re-paint an old

dresser of ours and put it here...

that way maybe it'll look a bit more tidy.

here's where i scrap...

i stand mostly, put my table up on bed risers.

chriselda don't look, there's an alien on my scrap table!!

here's where i surf the 'net

pay bills

write grocery lists

and drink caffeinated beverages.

my favorite part of my corner

the cork board.

i found that quote

"don't ration your passion"

in W magazine this month.

love it.

okay, i'm off to hang curtains.

and hopefully get some pics of a clean bedroom!!

christmas on the concho.

we took a roadtrip yesterday.

it was good to get the heck outta dodge

for a day.

i wanted to go see the lights on the concho

and it was the father-in-law's 55th b-day.

we took him to zentner's daughter...

it was a nice visit, the lights were so pretty, 

and we had a lot of fun laughing at auggie 

the doggie

as he sat his fat butt down to eat.

this is the funniest thing to me

i had never seen a dog sit down to eat!!

tomorrow will be spent taking down the tree, 

i brought home a wonderful family heirloom

and i need to make room for it!!

i will take pics just as soon as everything is 

in it's rightful place...

hmm.

better not hold your breath...

until then,

be well friends!!

an xmas post on boxing day.

yes he is

yes she does

hope your day was merry.

ours sure was.

a giggle, the small stuff and menu plan monday.

lots to post today!!

the giggle:

he wanted to make it look like he was there.

such a sense of humor.

still feeling sick.

it's turning into a cough.

dangit.

anyone else excited about ashley's 

new project?

can't wait.

because as you can tell, i am all about 

the little things.

honey crisp anyone??

i created a LO last night that

documented my appreciation for 

boxed graham cracker crumbs.

sure the LO is really about my girl one's first experience

in the kitchen learning how to make our fave holiday treat

but i was sure to throw in the tid-bit about how i am glad

there was no mess from graham cracker crumb-making.

:)

also, i should mention these pages are the same color irl.

they just didn't photograph that way and i was too lazy to hook

up the scanner.

& last but certainly not least:

my menu-

bbq burgers, pinto beans and creamed corn

christmas dinner

grilled cheese and tomato soup

baked peri-peri chicken and potato wedges

chicken, rice and broccoli bake

now to decide when it'd be best to fight the crowds.

i'd better get going.

merry christmas eve, y'all!!

crafty christmas eve eve eve.

i had the nephew and niece yest.

for 6 hours.

my hat's off to you mothers of pre-schoolers

and toddlers.

and twice to those who have one of each!!

i had completely forgotten how little you can 

get done while they are awake!!

planned a few activities, since idle hands 

are the devil's playground... :)

but that backfired.

sugar+preschooler=HYPER preschooler!!

anyhow.

that was yesterday.

today i am not feeling well.

early present from the half-pints maybe?

throat is itchy and nose is runny.

so i'm off to try and sleep it off

so that my christmas is not spent drunk on nyquil.

be well, friends.

finished.

i joined my first ATC swap the other day on sistv

and by today i was finished.

23 cards 

lots of paint/ink

valentine theme

i am so proud of how they turned out...

that was the most i have put into a project 

in a looong time. 

i am usually a 

one-or-two-steps-and-call-it-done

kinda gal.

sidenote:

i've been in the process of trying to purge my supplies

but everytime i think i won't need something

it ends up being my saving grace for the next LO

(or in this case project!!).

what to do??

i really hate how messy this area looks

especially because we have an open floor plan

and it's just about the first thing you see when 

you open the front door.

blech.

i'd love a nice cabinet to put it all in...

or perhaps a dresser i can paint/fix up?

i repeat: blech.

any thoughts? ideas?

minimalist.

crappy scan.

but i wanted to share my 

approach to scrapping everyday life.

at least my most recent approach.

i want to get things done.

i want to scrap, but don't have lots of time.

so i'm bringing minimalist back.

:P

see, the way i see it, 

one day my grandkids will ask about me

and wonder what gammas likes and dislikes were.

perhaps they will look back and laugh that gamma 

thought it necessary to scrap about an apple!!

however, if this is the case, they really 

should try the honeycrisp.

they are my new fave for a reason.

mmm mmm

sorry pink lady, i've got a new love now...

hometown tourist.

have you ever just wanted to be a tourist in your own

hometown?

with nothing to do yesterday and nothing but time on 

our hands we headed to down town san antonio.

you know

remember the alamo

and all that jazz.

it didn't take much for the girlone to convince us

to take a ride on the riverwalk boat...

it was a good ride with lots of interesting facts like:

this tree continues to grow out of this wall because 

no one bothered to remove the roots after san antonio's 

worst flood (1921) deposited them there.

it's actually growing in the restaurant as well...trying to

reach the door!!

 

also because of the flood 

this tree is host to another tree 

(complete with roots!!)

how cool is that?!

and did you know carol burnet was born here?

in this very hospital?

i had no clue she was even texan!!

okay, it's time to begin my day.

have a good one y'all!!

yest comments:

thanks gals. sometimes it feels as though i have 5 kids

and not just 2...

but at the end of the day 

everyone knows they are cared for!!

busy night.

last night i had two events to attend.

first up was bekahboo's choir concert.

she did phenomenal!!

so proud.

then, as we were leaving,

we decided to head over to the field house 

to catch part of crabigayil's basketball game.

i love watching those varsity girls play.

they are fierce.

we ended up catching the whole game- 

they started late!! 

love it when things work out like that.

it's very important to me that i do these 

things for my siblings, 

it'll be six months 

this sunday, since their daddy died.

he was the one who attended all of their games, 

all of the open houses, all of the concerts.

it breaks my heart to think that if i don't go, there 

would be no one in the bleachers for them.

it's been a rough holiday so far.

i'm hoping it'll get easier.

anyhow.

here's to siblings sticking together!!

*sidenote: eDUBB won the game HOLLA*

challenged.

holy moly it's a christmas miracle!!

i scrapped last night

while the hubster watched the spurs game

we won't mention the outcome of that game...

anyhow.

i've been following a few challenges...

emily's mini art journal on her blog

and the project runway challenges on 

the sistv message boards.

i really want to start the challenges on

hmitm 

and i am already planning on starting the 

2007 DW calendar prompts again.

i started that last year, but somehow got to jan 29 

and abandoned it.

i swear, sometimes i have the attention span of a flea.

speaking of which.

i was going somewhere with that train of thought...

i am caught up.

on em's challenges

and on the project runway challenges.

woo hoo!!

i tried to set the scanner up so i could

share them online, but apparently

the old gal didn't want to play with the big mac.

so instead here's a yucky pic 

of a page i am pretty happy with.

:P

yest comments:

spazz-i agree, i do breakfast so much better when it's in the afternoon/evening!!

sandra-thank you. happy holidays to you too!!

colleen-googled the story, how cool that it began with a tai chi dude!!

natalie- you sure can!! we always share food. (my sisters & brothers are always here!!)

br@ndy- welcome back hon!! i've missed ya!!

it's monday again.

and i am menu-planning

while i enjoy my first cup of joe.

this week looks like this:

quiche with simple green salad

curry and jasmine rice

chicken strips and mashed potatoes

breakfast for dinner (eggs, pancakes)

bean chalupas with mexi rice

yest comments:

jen: but i'm the good kind of evil. because you will appreciate this recipe when your lil man comes up to you at eleven p.m. the night before a school function and tells you he needs to bring something to the school party tomorrow. (it happens!!) lol

colleen: now that sounds delish!! i hadn't heard of the bucks pay it forward...that would have been so cool to see/be a part of!! where was it??

katrina: oh, i can't let the girls go free for long. i am the one who was always more comfortable sleeping in her bra!! (that is until it all went south and i had to start buying underwire bras!!) lmao

okay i'm back.

took yesterday off...too much to do.

plus i had a mini break down in the a.m.

which told me i needed some down time.

it starts today.

i am doing nada.

nothing.

well, mostly nothing.

basically i am doing only the things

i want to do. ha!!

i'm happy to report the cake was yum.

a little dry in my opinion, but it got a lot

of compliments.

i have another recipe share today...

i know i should pace myself, but i am so

happy these suckers are so easy and so YUM.

they are so easy, in fact, that if you

were to, i don't know...

drop the whole first batch INTO the

oven when you already cleaned up a huge coffee

maker disaster which set you back about fifteen

precious minutes- & they are precious because you barely had

time to throw these together in the first place...

you would still have time to break down, slobber

and cry on your hubby's shoulder, 

clean up the mess and start all over again.

you'd also still have time to shower (!!)

and get out the door with plenty of time to spare.

comprende? :P

easy peasy peanut butter cups

ingredients:

1 stick of butter

1/2 C brown sugar

1/2 C granulated sugar

1/2 C creamy peanut butter

1 egg

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/4 C flour

method:

cream together first 5 ingredients

in a separate bowl, mix together last 3 ingredients

now combine the flour mixture into the butter mixture

little by little until blended.

roll into 1" balls, place in pam-sprayed mini muffin tin

bake at 350 F for 8-10 mins

as soon as they come out of the oven, place a 

reese's mini cup or hershey's kiss in each, let cool.

remove carefully and enjoy!!

i have...

about ten minutes before the 

red velvet cakes 

will be ready to come out

of the oven.

i am not so confident about

these cakes, peeps.

the recipe called for buttermilk 

and cider vinegar

(among other things)

which were not so appealing to me.

i usually fight with the kiddos

over the beaters.

but the way that stuff smelled

didn't appeal to any of us.

okay.

so i've wasted about two mins

babbling.

here's the recipe:

really-really good spinach artichoke dip.

ingredients:

1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened

1/4 C mayo (NOT miracle whip) i think miracle whip is yuck anyways...

1/4 C grated parmesan cheese

1/4 C grated romano cheese

1 clove finely minced garlic

1/2 tsp basil (dry)

1/4 tsp garlic salt

1 (14 oz) can artichoke hearts- drained & chopped
1/2 C frozen spinach- defrosted, drained WELL, chopped

1/4 C grated mozzarella cheese

method:

cream together first seven ingredients.

add the artichoke hearts and spinach. mix well.

just before baking top with the mozzarella cheese.

bake at 350 F for 25 mins or until top is browned.

this freezes well...just don't top with mozzarella until

you are ready to bake.

also, you can use 1/2 C grated parmesan if you 

don't have any grated romano on hand.

serve with sliced french bread 

or with plain tostitos.

YUM!!

let's begin.

christmas party tomorrow

at my mom's.

today will be filled with cleaning,

baking

and decorating.

basically i'll be martha freaking stewart.

only mexican.

:P

i am preparing my gal pal's 

famous artichoke dip today,

so there'll be one less thing to 

do tomorrow.

want the recipe?

'tis better to give.

sorry y'all

there was a post to go with this title!!

it just got trapped in my head...

yesterday got busy.

but i did pay for the car behind 

me at the bucks.

they only ordered one drink!!

ONE.

but i am sure they were 

willing to give a smile to strangers

because of the unexpected kidness they 

received.

second thing to get me in the mood for 

christmas?

baking.

pumpkin bread.

gingerbread.

and peanut butter cookies.

mmm.

now that's holiday spirit.

what a cute idea!! 

rudolph the red nosed chevy!!

as you know, it hasn't felt like

christmas to me...

maybe it's because the weather 

hasn't been what i think it should be.

or maybe it's the fact that i never get 

to listen to christmas music.

it could also be the fact that i have

NO clue what to get my hubby...

what do you get someone who 

already has every gaming thing he wants

and really doesn't have any other hobbies??

hmm.

anyhow.

i made a list of a few things i can do 

to bring on the spirit of christmas.

first on my list:

the next time i am in the drive thru

at the bucks (let's face it, it'll be later today)

i plan on paying for the order

of the car right behind me

as well as my own.

that should be a start.

bring on that christmas spirit!!

menu plan monday.

first, because every post deserves a picture:

then:

thanks to the wonderful jen
i have adopted the monday menu plan.
you can read about it
at the organizing junkie's blogaroo.
it's a great idea
to make life around here easier,
and lately i am all about easy!!

so.

here is this week's menu:
(it's better for our family if i don't assign a day)

lemon rotisserie chicken with mashed potatoes, brown gravy and rolls
shredded chicken tacos, mexi rice and refried beans
spaghetti, green salad and garlic toast
BBQ (turkey sausage/boca burgers), baked beans and corn
parmesan chicken with white rice and peas/corn

hope this helps some 

stuck-in-a-rut momma.

i know they exist because i am

often times

stuck in a dinner rut!!

:P

non-fat carmel latte.

i've found a suitable replacement 

for when i can't get to a starbucks.

stopped by borders yesterday

i could have gotten a non-fat CDL

from the bucks

but that meant i would 

have to walk to the other side of the 

shopping center to do that.

call me lazy.

or call me quick on my feet.

either way i enjoyed this yummy treat!!

(and i got to browse michael's, to boot!!)

you can quote me.

i love quotes.

words.

one liners, zingers.

witty or silly

happy or thought provoking.

love them

i made this little book in australia.

when i noticed my little spiral notebook

was quickly becoming a quote book rather than

a grocery list/errands notebook like i'd planned.

just thought i'd share!!

have a happy saturday y'alls.

i am off to my little brother's 

first basketball game!!

oh yum indeed.

yesterday's crockpot recipe 

was yummy!!

i think i used too much water in the first step

1/2" really is enough it would seem!!

so the sauce was a wee bit runny

but it was still goood.

i am not the type of gal to 

talk up a recipe 

and then not share it...

so here's the dish:

chicken marinara over noodles

ingredients:

4 chicken breasts, sliced into thick chunks 

(try to get most of the fatty stuff off)

1 tb butter, melted

1 pkg dry italian dressing (mix packet)

1 jar marinara sauce (i used cheap heb brand)

1/2 c whipping cream

(i also added a little jar of ragu pizza sauce)

method:

pour 1/2" water into crockpot.

place chicken chunks into crockpot.

drizzle melted butter over chicken.

sprinkle italian dressing mix over chicken.

cook for 2-3 hrs on hi.

pour in marinara. 

(this is also when i added the pizza sauce)

let cook for 1-2 hrs on low.

one half hour before eating

add whipping cream, stir.

serve over noodles, wide egg or spiral.

i chose egg noodles. 

i also topped it with a little mozzerella

and a few whole black olives.

i love back olives!! 

global warming.

how can one not miss a sky like this?

i'm on the hubby's mac daddy.

(he's updating the big mac to leopard.)

found some left over pics from australia.

le sigh.

i'm missing it today.

not to say that today hasn't been good.

i have yummy smells 

coming from the crockpot

and 

i got to finish season one of big love

but the moment i sat down and saw all of these

pics treasures

i started to miss it.

chalk it up to the weather.

it's like in the 80's here

and i kind of expected that our

warm christmases had ended the 

moment we left oZ!!

hmm.

yest someone flashed a 9 mm at us on the road.
i was not impressed.
thought a lot about my feelings on gun control
and other political stances, which exhausted me.

overslept this morning.
still got the kids to school on time. ha!
finally shaved my legs. :)
have most of my christmas cards addressed.
and most of the shopping done.
and wrapped.
started a  new book. 
tomorrow i scrap.

happy list.

i rec'd my first christmas card

of the season yest!!

thanks joce!!

found this on my camera

photo by the boyone.

bought this yest.

for the girlone. 

i hope she loves it 

as much as i loved mine

when i was her age!!

found took the time

to clip coupons.

chriselda: note the bff necklace

on my desk.

i promise i'll get someone to

snap a pic today!!