This has been THE WORST winter for me......

I guess I jinxed myself by saying that I hoped I didn't get sick. I've really had it people, I can't handle being sick again, it seems that this cold or virus or whatever is just sticking around and taking it's sweet time playing musical chairs with us.

If it was just my family I would seriously think something was off, but it seems to be everyone around here and even some friends of mine in other states. What is going on??? Is it too early to start campaigning for Spring to arrive????

So I'm sitting here feeling absolutely awful, I haven't even been able to make it to anyone's blog, I'm hoping tomorrow I can. Went to bed last night just fine, was all happy watching American Idol and then I wake up in the middle of the night feeling congested.....should have been the first sign but since it kinda went away, I didn't give it another thought, until 2 hours ago, it's really hit me hard, now I'm completely congested, body aches and running a high fever. Doesn't even phase me that much anymore, I'm used to it by now.

Tonight though I'm doing what my grandfather used to do, a glass of warm milk with a shot of whiskey, I'll sweat like a pig during the night, but by golly I'll be all totally over it tomorrow. Sounds good to me. Hey a mother has to do what a mother has to do, I can't go driving around like this and chase after kids, everytime they start bickering over something my head feels like it's going to explode.

It's an early night for me, going to snuggle in bed with a good book since there's NOTHING on tv to watch, if I want I can pop in my movie "Lady in the Water" just hope it's good and keeps me entertained because watching General Hospital lately leaves me reeling and wanting to slap someone upside the head....*coughElizabethWebbercough* and let me tell you, I never knew a show could get me so riled up and frustrated LOL

Anyway, just because I'm sick doesn't mean you won't get a Slow Cooking Thursday, so you might as well be ready to jump right on in with your yummy recipes. I'll have mine up early morning to give you plenty of time to join in.

BTW, I haven't had a chance to check my email, so if anyone sent anything, you'll have to be patient with me ok??? I WILL get to it sometime this week, if not tomorrow then on friday.

I'm leaving you with some new pictures of my kiddos. They insisted on taking them this morning, and with cute faces like these, how can I say no???

God Bless everyone, have a great night and I'll see you tomorrow.

No Internet, and No Blogger make Sandra something something

If you ever want a freak out, just have someone mess with your internet for a few days. That's what happened to me.

I'm sure you're wondering where I've been since Friday, and as much as I wish I could tell you that I was off on some exotic vacation, getting a tan and sipping Pina Coladas, the truth is that I was here at home....sipping coffee and keeping my eyes from twitching because I.HAD.NO.INTERNET.

My modem decided to break on friday afternoon, which is really not a BAD thing, it did force me to realize that there is a life outside the internet and blogger....who knew???? LOL

Seriously though, it was a good break, a forced one, but good nonetheless, I was able to catch up on my reading and watch some movies too.

But I have to say, the minute the little green lights came on on my modem, I jumped for joy and made a mad dash to my computer. I was like a kid in a candy shop, oooohhhhhh oooooohhhhh where do I go first, what do I do, should I blog or surf the net, check email or get more books??? Pathetic isn't it???? What we have become since the invention of the internet. LOL

Anyway, like I said, I watched some movies, one of them was "The Celestine Prophecy" which I have read the books and thoroughly enjoyed. Curt has read them too and loved the books but he wasn't too thrilled with the movie, he kept reminding me that there are parts from the book that were omitted from the movie. Oh well, I didn't have internet at the time, I could care less what was missing LOL

I'm glad some of you enjoyed the trip to Switzerland, I had fun doing it and it's great learning about new places, so I guess I'll keep that going.

I wish I could stay and chat more, but I will have to leave that for tomorrow. Curt is sick with a cold, Nicholas is sick with a cold too and feeling horrible, and I think (I'm not sure) but I think they're trying to pass it to me again.....HECK NO, keep it over there far away, I've had my share of this for a while. Only thing I'm dealing with right now is one of those pesky cold sores...I find myself not wanting to talk to anyone so they don't stare at my lip. LOL

Anyway, I will chat more tomorrow, got kids to deal with and mommy stuff to do.
Have a great tuesday and don't forget American Idol!!!

The Greatest Places on Earth!!!

Welcome to my first "The Greatest Places on Earth" post. This week I pretty much took us on a tour of some of the most beautiful and exotic places on earth, and then since I was doing that, I figured I would share some pictures and video of my country Mozambique and also South Africa.

You guys responded so well, that I figured I would start doing a once a week feature where I could spotlight a country or city, share some information about it and maybe some visual too.

Since I'm all for including my family and having fun with the kids, I thought that it would be a great idea to have my kids learn something while watching me on the computer. We're also going to try and make a craft from that country, during the weekend, and then maybe share those pictures with you too. If I ever mention a place where you've lived or were born and you want to give us some additional info, please feel free to do so :)

One of the countries I've ALWAYS wanted to visit, was Switzerland, so that is where we are heading this morning. Grab your cup of coffee and hold on tight....we're about to go across the ocean and all the way to Europe.

SWITZERLAND

Switzerland may be neutral but it's far from flavourless. The fusion of German, French and Italian ingredients has formed a robust national culture, and the country's alpine landscapes have enough zing to reinvigorate the most jaded traveller.

Goethe summed up Switzerland succinctly as a combination of 'the colossal and the well-ordered'. You can be sure that your trains and letters will be on time. The tidy, just-so precision of Swiss towns is tempered by the lofty splendour of the landscapes that surround them.
Swiss folk culture includes yodelling, playing the alp horn and Swiss wrestling. We suggest you don't indulge in any of these after a night in a Swiss tavern. Do, however, take on some hearty traditional cooking - try rosti or the famed fondue.


Switzerland sits squarely in the belly of western Europe, landlocked by France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy. The Alps occupy the central and southern regions of the country and the modest Jura Mountains straddle the border with France in the northeast. The Bernese Mittelland - an area of hills, rivers and winding valleys - lies between the two mountain systems and has spawned Switzerland's most populous cities. Over 60% of the country is mountainous and a quarter of it is covered in forests.

People

63.7% German, 20.4% French, 6.4% Italian, 0.5% Romansch, 9% other

Religion

41.8% Roman Catholic, 35.3% Protestant, 4.3% Muslim, 1.8% Orthodox Christian, 11.1% no religion, 5.7% other.

Scenery

Aren't those just beautiful....I tell you, Switzerland has got to be one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Now how about a drive from Lausanne to Vevey?


To end our trip to Switzerland, I couldn't let you all go without a recipe, you know how much I love food, so I just wouldn't be ME without sharing some goodies with you right??

Pastetli

• 450 g (1 pound) puff-paste
• 2 tablespoons margarine or butter
• 1 shallot, hacked
• 1 clove of garlic, pressed
• 800 g (1.75 pounds) small mushrooms, cut into four pieces each
• 1 dl (3.4 fl. ounces) white wine
• 180 g (6.3 ounces) half and half sour
• 1 dl (3.4 fl. ounces) cream
• 1 teaspoon curry
• 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
• ½ teaspoon paprika, a small amount of nutmeg and cayenne pepper
• salt or spices

Bake 6 large heart-shaped pies made out of the puff-paste for about 15 to 20 minutes
Heat margarine or butter in a pot
Add shallot and clove of garlic, stew
Add white wine and mushrooms, mix, cover and cook for about 5 minutes
Increase heat, cook in open pot until half of the fluid has gone
Add half and half and cream
Add curry, worcestershire sauce, paprika, nutmeg, pepper and salt
Distribute the filling into the heated pies, serve immediately

Hints: You may replace part of the mushrooms with small pieces of veal.
You may want to prepare the pies in advance, but they have to be heated in the oven before the filling gets added.

Apfelküchlein (Deep fried apple cookie)

"Apfelküchlein" (deep fried apple cookie) taste great either warm or cold, with or without vanilla sauce.

• 4 or 5 sourish apples (e.g. Boskop or Jonathan)
• 120 g (4 ounces) white flour
• 40 g (1.4 ounces) grind hazelnuts
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• 4 tablespoons of sugar
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla sugar
• 1½ dl (5 fl. ounces) of apple cider
• Yellow of 2 eggs
• White of 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon of oil
• Juice of a lemon
• Deep-frying oil
• Some confectioner's or cinnamon sugar

1. Add flour, hazelnuts, salt, one tablespoon of sugar and the vanilla sugar to a bowl and mix well.
2. Add apple cider and stir.
3. Add yellow of 2 eggs and one teaspoon of oil and mix well.
4. Leave the dough alone for about 30 minutes.
5. Peal the apples and remove the core.
6. Cut the apples in rings, each about 1 cm (½ inch) thick.
7. Add 3 tablespoons of sugar to the lemon juice, sweep the apples and leave them alone for about 30 minutes.
8. Add a pinch of salt to the white of two eggs and stir until it is stiff, carefully mix it with the dough.
9. Heat the oil in a frying-pan to 190°C (375°F).
10. Dip one ring of apple at a time into the dough and fry it immediately in the oil on both sides until it is brown.
11. Drip off the oil.
12. Spread confectioner's or cinnamon sugar evenly over the cookies while they are still warm and serve them immediately.
13. But they will also taste good when they are cold, especially if you serve them with some warm vanilla sauce.

With that yummy stuff I say goodbye, and see you next friday. Remember to pack light, or heck, pack whatever you want, we're not even leaving the comfort of our homes right???

Slow Cooking Thursday!

I decided to update my banner, I figured with it being a new year, we needed a new one :) Please update your banners when participating ok???

Welcome to my weekly Crockpot Recipes Exchange. It's such a great way to share your favorite dishes or to learn some new ones to make for your family.

What do you think??? Do You have some great recipes to share, or perhaps you're looking for some delicious ones to give you a reason to pull out the ol' crockpot???

Time to pull out those crockpots and put them to good use. If you want to join in, just grab the banner and add your name to Mr Linky :)

I'm doing things a little different today, I decided to give you two recipes instead of one....if anyone wants to share more than one, they are welcome to do it.

BEEF IN MUSHROOM GRAVY

2 to 2-1/2 pounds boneless beef round steak
1 to 2 envelopes dry onion soup mix
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1/2 cup water

Cut steak into six serving size pieces; place in a 3-qt. slow cooker.
Combine the soup mix, soup and water; pour over beef.

Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or until meat is tender. Serve with mashed potatoes.

Yielf: 6 servings

MINISTER'S DELIGHT

1 can (21 ounces) cherry or apple filling
1 package (18-1/4 ounces) yellow cake mix
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup chopped walnuts, optional

Place pie filling in a 1-1/2-qt. slow cooker. Combine dry cake mix and butter(mixture will be crumbly); sprinkle over filling. Sprinkle with walnuts if desired. Cover and cook on low for 2-3 hours. Serve in bowls.

Yield: 10-12 servings.

JUST HOW DID YOU GET HERE???

Well before I tell you just how I got to this point in my life, why don't you come on in and make yourselves at home, I have coffee and I have cinnamon pancakes AND I promise to keep you entertained, for I'm about to give you a lesson, in love and life.....I think LOL

You know I've been asked that question so many times, and I figured since I'm on this mission of sharing my life and where I've been, I might as well explain just how I ended up in the USA.

Back in 1997, I had just started delving into the Internet and all the possibilities of being able to chat and interact with people from all over the world. I still remember the Mirc and Pirch chats, I would go into one and just sit and watch everybody else.....until one day, I decided to take a leap of faith and jump right in. One of the first people to talk to me was none other than my hubby. Yes you see where this is going right???

So 9 years ago, I had just started using the internet and becoming familiar with chat rooms. After lurking around for a few months, I decided to join MIRC Webchat. It was August 12, 1997.
After chatting for a few minutes with some people, I get a private message. It was Curt.
My chat handle was Koala, so his first question was "are you from australia?". LOL
I told him that I was not, that I was in South Africa, and we started chatting, we hit it off and during the next year we talked on the phone, wrote letters, emails, sent packages and photographs.
Now that may sound like your usual internet love match, BUT there was an obstacle. I was christian and Curt was a Pagan third degree priest. I told him that I was not comfortable with that and that nothing could ever happen between us while he was involved in the Wiccan/Paganism Religion.
I didn't give him an ultimatum, that wouldn't be my place to do so, but I was also not about to immerse myself into that belief.

And so it started. A whole year of questions, endless questions about the bible and why MY way was the best? Why MY God was the right one?
I felt overwhelmed, I loved him but I honestly did not know how to answer some of the questions, so before we talked everyday, I prayed to God to give me the right words to reach Curt. He obliged!!!!
I knew the right scriptures to quote, I knew the right things to say and I didn't give up. It took time and patience, but he is now a devoted Christian like I am.
One of the best examples of the power of God working in our relationship, was when Curt was deployed to Bahrain. He called me in the afternoon, and I was talking to him on the fax machine phone, which was plugged in to the power outlet.
We talked for about an hour, and when I got off the phone, my grandmother walked up to me.

Grandma: "What were you doing on the phone?"
Me: "Talking to Curt"
Grandma: "Really? Are you sure? How long have you been talking to him?"
Me: "Oh I don't know, maybe an hour? Why?"
Grandma: "Well I don't know how to tell you this but we have had a power outtage for the past hour, there's no way you could have talked to him on that phone"

I was stunned, I picked up the receiver and brought it to my ear, SILENCE!!!! The phone/fax machine was indeed dead.
Wow, to this day it gives me goosebumps to remember that. How amazing?
So exactly one year to the day we met, on August 12, 1998, Curt flew to South Africa and we got married.

One month later, I packed my bags, already pregnant with Jasmine, and moved to the States. I left my family, my house, my friends, everything behind. It was the scariest thing on earth for me, I was and still am, extremely close to my family, and leaving everything I knew behind was terrifying. BUT I did it, I held my head up high, I moved to where my husband was stationed and 2 kids and 2 dogs down the road, we are still happily married :)
I thank God everyday, for my life and my family!!!

So there you have it, now you know how I went from Johannesburg, South Africa to Idaho, USA. Isn't it just amazing how life works and the ups and downs and lefts and rights you take?

Before I go on, Barb I am so frustrated, I tried to get on your blog countless times yesterday and kept getting a 500 Error. 500???? What is up with that??? Anyway, I just want you to know that I'm going to keep trying today and hopefully get a comment in.

It wasn't just Barb either, some of the blogger sites were not working for me...anyone else have that problem yesterday? Or was it "pick on Sandra" day without me even knowing??? LOL

So since some of you showed interest in having a friday "Greatest Places on Earth" I decided to go ahead. I'm doing it as much for you all as for me, because I'm so thrilled just thinking that we can all go on a tour together, every week.....wouldn't that be awesome?
My kids are excited too, they get to learn about new places and see photos and video too, they're looking forward to where mommy is taking them.

I'm always trying to come up with a new way to spend time with the kids, a family activity that everyone will enjoy....and this is definitely a way to have them with me on the computer. We've decided that we'll get some popcorn and drinks, we'll watch the videos and learn about that country and then that weekend we will do a craft from that country. Don't worry, I'll share the pictures and if any of you decide to play along, you can share yours too, would love to see them :)

Don't forget about Slow Cooking Thursday tomorrow, can't wait to see all your recipes. As for me, I'm out of here, still trying to finish the pile of paperwork I have. BTW, my email is not working right, I can receive emails but I can't send any.....MSN is up to it's old tricks again.

Lori, for the Slow Cooker Thursday, I will have the post up tomorrow, all you do is enter your name and a link to your recipe post. The reason why you can't add your name to Mr Linky on previous posts is because he has it where the links get disabled the day after the post is up.

Anyway, ladies have a great wednesday, I'm heading out for the rest of the day, have tons of places to go and things to do.

Before I go though, I just have to say I LOVE American Idol, I laugh so hard at some of those people. What was UP with them yesterday, half of them you couldn't understand a word they were saying LOL Another one that cracks me up is Ryan Seacrest LOL The way he just sits there sometimes staring at them without saying a word.....boy do I love this show. Can't wait for tonight.

God Bless,

Would you like a glimpse of South Africa???

The past few days I've pretty much been on a worldwide tour, it's amazing how much you can visit through the Internet.

I've really enjoyed looking at videos and learning so much about different cultures and countries, and taking trips down memory lane with my own country Mozambique. So today, I thought I would take you on another trip.....this way to my second home country, beautiful South Africa.

Come on, what do you have to loose??? You don't even need to leave the comfort of your home, just sit tight and warm and grab yourself a cup of coffee or tea, then watch the video that I'm sharing with you. There are some pretty amazing people out there sharing their family vacation videos with the world. This is one of them and it features some of my favorite places in South Africa, including the Kruger National Park....I'm SO going there when I visit in July :)



Seriously, if you ever take a trip overseas, be sure to include South Africa, you won't regret it, it's a beautiful country and it has SO much to offer.

OK now moving on, to those of you that have blogs on Word press, I am having the HARDEST time posting comments. I went over and checked all your menus and could NOT leave a comment, I could type it out and hit submit and then it would just sit there for 10 minutes. I don't know what the deal is, but just wanted to let you all know that I had been by :)

I want you all to go check out one of my FAVORITE blogs. I've been visiting Fish Creek House Inn for months now, it's the first one I check every morning. I just love the pictures they share and OH.MY.GOODNESS the recipes are to die for. Until recently you couldn't comment on the blog but they've changed that...so you bet your behind that I've been enjoying leaving comments. Here's what the little blurb on the blog says:

The adventures of a bed and breakfast innkeeper in Montana. Explore the great outdoors, travel tips and of course recipes. Hang your hat and come on Inn!

It's always been one of my dreams to own a Bed and Breakfast so for right now I'm living vicariously through the owner of Fish Creek House LOL

I have so much paperwork to tackle today and I'm trying hard to motivate myself to do it, but so far it's just not working. I want to sit at the computer and play all day.....are moms allowed that??? Can you imagine ONE day where you don't do anything at all??? I can just picture it, the kids would be running around naked, they would be eating junk food and all the candy they could find, drinking soda, not taking a bath and my couch would be non existent because for some reason they believe that the couch pillows look better ON THE FLOOR. If I got a penny every time I picked up the pillows and returned them to their rightful place, I would be a millionaire.

My sweet friend Sarah asked me how I ended up in Mozambique and Portugal....so I thought I would share a little of the how's and why's LOL

I was born in Lourenco Marques, now known as Maputo. In 1976 when Independence of Mozambique happened many families left for other countries, a lot of them taking only what they could carry.....with all the tension and violence erupting around us, we left first for Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and then later to Portugal where we stayed for approximately 8 years, I'm sure my dad will correct me with the time lines and the dates, seeing as I was 2 years old when I left my country of Mozambique.

Below are some pictures of old Lourenco Marques...some from this wonderful site and others from google searches.

Lourenco Marques - Marginal (main road that runs along the ocean front)

Lourenco Marques 1959-1966

Anyway, when I was about 10 years old my dad got transferred to South Africa and that is where we've lived for the past 23 years. South Africa become my second home, it's the ONE place that I remember going through my childhood and then later school, being a teenager, first boyfriend, becoming an adult, working etc. So I consider myself to be lucky in that I got to experience SO many different cultures and I carry a little of them all with me. I guess instead of "I'm a little bit country and a little bit rock n roll"......I can say "I'm a little Mozambican and a little South African" of course I'm Portuguese too because Mozambique was one of Portugal's colonies. I guess I'm multi cultured, got the best of 3 worlds LOL


I think every friday I'm going to do a "Greatest Places on Earth" post....share different places, videos and pictures etc. It's something I've been thinking of doing for a while and what better place than my blog right??? This way if anyone has been to these places or was born in one, they can also come in and share their own interesting stories or memories :)

Hey, I'm all for taking a break from reality and letting my mind wander to a different place....I can just picture it, Egypt, Greece, Ireland, you name it, we'll go. If there is a specific place you would like me to mention just let me know and I'll see what I can find :)

Well my friends, I think this post has gone on long enough, I have to go tackle that huge mountain of paperwork and get some other things done around here. I will see you all tomorrow.

Tonight I'm fixing Steaks with Mushroom Cream sauce...I will have the recipe up on my food blog later today :)

GENERAL HOSPITAL

Jason tells Sam that trouble is brewing;
Spinelli looks for information on Alcazar's shipment;
Diane explains a plea deal to Alexis;
Dillon and Lulu become more suspicious of Alan and Monica;
Someone calls Shadybrook to check on Laura's condition.

AMERICAN IDOL

Week 2A: Auditions 3 The best and worst auditions, as the search for the next singing superstar continues.

DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER

Dog tries talking a fugitive into straightening out his life.

Put away laundry
File paperwork
Vacuum

Well it's Monday, BOO HOO!!!

I honestly don't understand how time flies by.....when I was a kid I remember the days dragging on, there would be times I'd be sitting there going "man when is it dinner time?"

Anyway, I started with a funny cartoon this morning, because that's how I FEEL every time I have to clean the bathrooms LOL

I sat down and rewatched the "Greatest Places on Earth" DVD....I just can't get enough of it. It's absolutely amazing how beautiful nature is and how much is still left unexplored.....do you know that there are over 250 000 different species in Madagascar and 70% found NO WHERE else on earth???

How cool is that??? I love watching IMAX movies, they're educational and I find myself learning new things, plus the kids and hubby love watching them too, so we get to do that as a family while learning at the same time. You know you're doing something right when you're 7 year old daughter turns to you and says "do you know that there are 289 different Octopus species?".

Yep, see those blinking eyes??? That was my reaction!!! I think kids are so much more advanced nowadays, I am NOT trying to call myself dumb, but at 7 years old I had NO CLUE how many Octopus species there were, all the names of the dinosaurs....and I certainly didn't walk around telling people I want to be a Paleontologist (yes that is what Jasmine tells everyone).

So before I go on, I want to share with you a video of Mozambique. You know that is where I was born, but not everyone knows where it is or what it looks like, and yesterday while browsing around YOUTUBE, I found a TON of videos. I actually had tears in my eyes, I miss my country and all it's beauty. I truly truly hope that one day I'll be able to go back and visit.



What wonderful memories it brings back....it's wonderful and weird in a way because I see places that I remember walking through, and now I'm seeing it on video and I know I'm thousands of miles away. How things change!!!

Anyway, I have housework to do and some other errands to run. I'll make this one short.

If you're interested in seeing my menu for this week, go look over at my Food Blog.

I'll see you all tomorrow, I'm heading out :)

For dinner I'm fixing Padre Island Shells, I'll have the recipe up on my food blog later today.

GENERAL HOSPITAL

Kristina watches as Alexis is arrested;
Alexis tells Sonny she has decided on Molly's future;
Ric shocks Alexis;
Jason finds that Sonny was targeted by a sniper;
Alcazar warns Jason not to interfere;
Father Ruiz defends Sam to the hotel manager.

WIFE SWAP

A fun-loving aspiring model from New York swaps lives with a conservative woman who helps raise her granddaughters on a Texas farm.

SUPERNANNY

Jo helps two marine biologists who cannot control their 3-year-old and 18-month-old sons.

Put away laundry
File paperwork and get Tax documents ready
Dusting

PREPARE TO GO ON A JOURNEY!!!

Definitely rent it! Worth the rental fee--very good movie!

I'm editing this post, so that I can participate in Motivated Mom's "Monday Morning Movie Review".

I gave it a Four Stars because I really enjoyed this documentary, the kids did too and I must say that I learnt a lot watching this :) Enjoy!!!

The Greatest Places on Earth!!!

It was one of my Netflix movies and I watched it last night.....you know there is something wonderful about sitting back and just watching a documentary sometimes. As much as I love action, drama and comedy and all sorts of fiction movies, occasionally I want to just watch something REAL and know that it wasn't made up or invented, there were no special effects added to it, which makes it amazing to see.

So IMAX, the Seven Greatest Places on Earth takes you to the mighty gush of the Amazon River; the foreboding icebergs of Greenland; the towering beauty of Iguazu Falls; the undulating sand dunes of the Namib Desert; the watery maze of the Okavango Delta; the diverse wildlife of Madagascar; and the indescribable majesty of Tibet.

I thought that with it being sunday and we're all home and warm and comfy, what would be better than to go on a journey without having to leave our homes? Consider it a Geography lesson courtesy of me and IMAX LOL

THE AMAZON RIVER

Click picture above for a video of the amazon

The Amazon River is the second longest river in the world, and the largest in terms of the size of its watershed, the number of tributaries, and the volume of water discharged into the sea. No bridge crosses the river along its entire length.

The Amazon and its tributaries flow through the countries of Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean 6, 437 kilometers (4,000 miles) from the Amazon's headwaters high in the Andes mountains of Peru. This huge watershed includes the largest tropical rainforest in the world as well as areas of dry grassland, or savannah.

THE ICEBERGS OF GREENLAND

Click picture above for a video of Greenland

Greenland is the world’s largest island and a land of extremes. Its diverse landscape is rich in culture, history and wildlife.

Greenland is the largest island in the world. Its northerly location, at the point where the Atlantic meets the Arctic Ocean, means that Greenland is surrounded principally by cold ocean currents, so the coasts are constantly being cooled. This, combined with the radiation of cold from the inland ice, gives Greenland its arctic climate.
The ice cap or inland ice covers 1,833,900 square km, equivalent to 85 percent of Greenland's total area, and extends 2,500 km (1,553 miles) from north to south and up to 1,000 km from east to west.

At its center, the ice can be up to 3 km thick, representing 10 percent of the world's total fresh water reserves.If all the ice were to melt, the world's oceans would rise seven meters.

THE IGUAZU FALLS

Click picture above for a video of the Iguazu Falls

Taller than Niagara Falls, twice as wide with 275 cascades spread in a horsehoe shape over nearly two miles of the Iguazu River, Iguazú Falls are the result of a volcanic eruption which left yet another large crack in the earth. During the rainy season of November - March, the rate of flow of water going over the falls may reach 450,000 cubic feet (12,750 cubic m) per second.

Situated in Iguazú National Park, some 20 km. from Puerto Iguazú in the north of the province, these falls are shared by Brazil and Argentina. Iguazú river is born in Paraná state in Brazil, and after crossing 1,200 km. on a plateau where it receives several affluents, it reaches a fault forming a crack in the interleaved layers of sandstone and basalt where the river runs.

THE NAMIB DESERT

Click picture above for a video of the Namib Desert

In the Nama language, Namib means “vast”, and this is no exaggeration. At 50,000 km², the Namib-Naukluft park is the largest conservation area in Namibia, and one of the largest in the world.

The parched Namib desert has orange dunes blown into razor-sharp ridges by the sand-shifting wind. The famous Sossusvlei sand dunes are the highest in the world at over 300 m, towering over their Arabian rivals, and just begging to be climbed barefoot.

Animals, insects and plants have adapted to live in this generally inhospitable region. Apart from infrequent rains, they rely on the sea mist that rolls far inland.

THE OKAVANGO DELTA

Click picture above for a video of the Okavango Delta, including a catfish
and a green mamba snake.

The Okavango Delta is the largest inland delta on Earth. Instead of flowing into the sea, the annual flood of fresh water flows inland, spreading over 15 000km² of the Kalahari sand in a maze of lagoons and channels.

The countless islands that emerge from its waterways give rise to several diverse ecosystems, which in turn are home to vast numbers of game and a myriad of bird species. The crystal clear waters support many kinds of fish. The area is a birder’s paradise.

The heart of the delta can be accessed only by air. Since it is an exclusive destination, it remains wild and relatively unpopulated.

MADAGASCAR

Click picture above for a video of beautiful Madagascar

Madagascar lies in the Indian Ocean off the southeast coast of Africa opposite Mozambique. The world's fourth-largest island, it is twice the size of Arizona. The country's low-lying coastal area gives way to a central plateau. The once densely wooded interior has largely been cut down.

Madagascar is home to more than 250,000 species of which 70% are found nowhere else on the globe.

There are more than 20 ethnic groups in Madagascar from the Indonesian-looking Merina in the highlands to Arabic Antaimoro on the eastern coast.

TIBET

Click picture above for a video of amazing Tibet

Tibet (Xizang), the Roof of the World, remained unknown to the world until the beginning of the 20th century. The massive, snowy land has exerted an awesome draw on travelers and adventurers ever since. Its majestic scenery, mysterious and exotic religious culture, and wonderful people, reward every tourist with an indelible life long memory!

Tibetan people are warm and hospitable. Tourists can visit local families and experience the daily life of Tibetan people. Holidays and festivals are the most important days in Tibet. Enjoying the local food and dancing with beautiful Tibetan girls are the most excellent ways to celebrate these joyful times.

Beside white snow capped mountains, verdant virgin forests, clean running rivers and tranquil beautiful lakes, the devotional pilgrim progress toward their places of worship by prostrating themselves under the sky and along the roads, making people humble and modest. Tibet, the lost paradise under the sky, is undoubtedly a place where the spirit lives!


I have to tell you, I really enjoyed revisiting these places, it's just wonderful to see such beauty in nature.

None of the pictures are mine (obviously lol) so credit goes to the great internet, online travel guides and the wonderful people that shared their personal videos on YOUTUBE.

Listen up peeps, I have a LOT to talk about.....

You might want to sit down and relax, I have a few things to share with you this morning. I have hot coffee and....well.....hot coffee??? LOL I would offer you some donuts, but there are none in this house, hubby and I are on a sort of a diet, just watching what we eat, cutting out snacks etc. I do miss a good donut, maple preferably....mmmmmm.


Anyway, come in and sit with me a bit, I have to tell you about my book. I finished it last night and I have no words to describe how much I enjoyed it. Lori Wick is one of my favorite Christian writers and she definitely delivers. My review for "The Proposal" is up on my Book Blog.....I think you all would love this book and I'm so eager to read the others in The English Garden Series.

Now since we're talking books, I want to point you in the direction of another great Christian writer, Donna Fleischer. She is a retired Air Force Vet and a Christian Book Writer and I'm thrilled to have found her through my dear friend Eden, she was discussing the book "Wounded Healer" from Donna's "Homeland Heroes" Series, and I thought "now THIS is a series I could really get into". Being a military wife I have a special affinity for anything military related and love a good book, so what's better than both in one huh???

After visiting Donna's blog, I found that she is offering a free book to all military or military spouses. All you need to do is go visit her at her blog, and then email her, she'll pop the book in the mail for you, AND she signs it too :)

Of course you can also order her books, which I plan on doing too. I'm sure I won't be able to just stop at Wounded Healer. So if you get a chance, go on over and say hi.

I managed to go around and leave comments on almost all my favorite blogs, unfortunately Blogger is ONCE AGAIN PMSing and it was painful yesterday and the day before. How frustrating, I understand it's free and all, but come on, at least work right. If I didn't make it to you yesterday, never fear, I'm on my way again right after I'm done here. (did that just rhyme? lol)

I have to tell you, I started feeling really sick yesterday afternoon, I was kinda of light headed, running a fever and felt nauseous. It felt like I had a bad cold, which doesn't surprise me, I know I still do and even though I'm taking medicine for it, it's not budging, I think the 4º weather every morning is not helping either. BUT, for some reason I got it into my head that maybe I was pregnant.....yeah my brain goes totally stupid on me at times.

Then I start thinking that there's no way I can be pregnant because I have an IUD (too much info? lol), but remember nothing is ever 100% so that just gets my mind working overtime. If I'm pregnant that means I get to put on all this weight again, no wait, I have a trip to Africa planned for July this would interfere with that and there is no other time we can go.....but if I'm pregnant that means I have to go through the bittersweet moments again, then I remember the miscarriages and then I remember that I'm getting too old to be pregnant and my body can't handle it anymore.

I tell you, I got myself into such a state that I ended up with a pounding headache and then I thought "WHAT THE HECK are you doing?"...."why are you worrying about something that is not even happening?" So I gave it to God, yes I did, uh huh, and I am mighty proud of myself because I didn't snatch it back either....I was too sick and overwhelmed to deal with it and honestly, I didn't WANT to think about it anymore. He gladly took it off my hands and now even though I still feel sick, I am no longer driving myself nutty thinking about little bambinos in my stomach.

Curt just laughs at me through all this because he knows how paranoid I get....when I told him I didn't feel well and maybe I was pregnant, he just laughed and said "Ummm yeah you don't feel well because you're SICK not pregnant". LOL
Thanks honey, you always know JUST what to say!!!

So it's saturday morning, I'm sitting here chatting to you all, Jasmine is on the other computer playing a game and Nic is watching Blue's Clues. Curt is at the gym, he is going everyday and he tells me that he feels so much better and is really enjoying it. Then he says to me the other day "why don't you start coming with me?".

I'm sorry, I'm a girl and when someone TELLS me that maybe I should go to the gym, I instantly get defensive and annoyed....are you telling me I NEED to go? Does that mean I'm fat, is that a nice way of telling me I could loose some weight? Meanwhile he's standing there with this look on his face like I've lost it LOL
Apparently he just wanted me to go with him because they have a place for the kids to play at......silly Sandra!!!

I really want to go but I'm one of those people that feels embarassed. I could loose about 5 pounds, but that means I actually HAVE to go to the gym, and then people will look at me and I'll feel self conscious. What is it with me??? I swear at times I wonder if I should have just been born a hermit....never seeing the light of day and never having to interact with humans LOL

YES I'm in a weird mood today, I'm sure you can tell, well those that have stuck with me this far, I'm sure I scared some off the minute I mentioned IUD.....I hope there weren't any guys lurking, they'll never be back LOL

Anyway, I think I've babbled enough, I'll let you all go before I waste the sanity you have. Here's to a great saturday, stay warm and Laura honey, I hope I the snow has stopped coming down.

God Bless,

Dinner tonight is Feijoada, you can get the recipe off my food blog. I love this meal because it reminds me of Portugal AND it's really filling too.




Whatever I can find, weekends are HORRIBLE when it comes to TV, unless you have a good movie to watch you're pretty much left with nothing on. I might just go read instead of watching tv.



Laundry
Mopping (yes I didn't do it yesterday lol)
Vacuuming bedrooms

IT'S FRIDAY, YAY!!!!

Avril Lavigne - Keep Holding On

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I just LOVE this song, it's from the movie Eragon and though I've always loved Avril Lavigne, this is by far one of my favorites of hers. Enjoy!!!

When I was in my early 20's I used to love fridays because it meant that I was going to be staying up late, hanging out with my friends and going to the clubs. The thought of it all was enough to put me in a giddy mood the whole day.

You know what??? That hasn't changed, I still get giddy over fridays, but for different reasons. It's amazing how much a person changes with time, because now I'm giddy over the fact that I can sleep in on Saturday morning LOL

See the difference??? I think we pretty much stay the same just that our interests shift and change according to where we are in that point in time in our lives. When someone would mention partying, going to clubs, dancing and drinking, I was ALL for that....nowadays, I just could not imagine doing that. I would probably be the party pooper sitting in a corner complaining that I'm tipsy after a sip of booze, OR that the music is too loud, there's too many people AND I could be home in bed reading a book.

Does that make me boring??? Some people would say so, I don't think it though, I think it just makes me NORMAL, makes me a mom and wife, different perspectives and different ways of thinking. Now I'm perfectly happy staying up late on a friday night, chatting with my friends online.


I look at pics like the one above and I start getting claustrophobic LOL
Seriously, what are those people thinking??? I mean you stand around there with a drink in your hand and you're bound to get pushed and shoved and bumped into, which would mean the drink would end up on your clothes instead of your mouth. I don't know, maybe I'm getting old, I just can't see that as fun LOL

In my partying years, drink on my clothes would mean we had a good time, but now it would send me rushing home to find the Stain Remover, if we leave it on too long it's NOT going to come out. LOL

I was so happy to see some new faces joining us for the Slow Cooking Thursday, for a while there I was thinking of stopping it because it doesn't seem like many are wanting to participate. So it's up to you guys.....do I keep it going or should we just let it go??? I'm fine with it either way :)

I just finished posting my Pork Chops and Potatoes recipe over at my Food Blog (complete with pictures) go on over and check it out if you're interested :)

Speaking of food, the other night Curt said to me "I think I need to put in for a voluntary tour to Korea, for a year"......I couldn't believe he had just said that LOL I must have had a stupid look on my face because he said "no seriously, I really should because it's the ONLY way that I can ever loose weight, you cook way too well and make really good food, I have no chance in hell if I stay here" LOL
I just had to laugh at that, hey, I'll take any compliment I can get.

I love cooking, what can I say, and I'm always around the kitchen making something, looking through cookbooks or coming up with a new recipe. I remember when I first started cooking I absolutely HAD to stick to cookbooks, I didn't know what ingredients worked well with others so the thought of an experiment or coming up with my own recipe, just scared the bejeebers out of me.

As time went by though, I got comfortable with food (a little too much for my taste if you ask me lol) and now I can pretty much throw a bunch of things together knowing that it will taste good or in the very least, be edible LOL

Well it's time to get some laundry started and finish some paperwork, I hope you are all enjoying your friday....if you're heading to a club tonight, have fun and have a drink for me. If you're staying home like I am, I'll be joining you, book in hand and blanket wrapped around my legs.




It's friday night which means "Homemade Pizza". The kids love helping me make it and it's a way to spend some time together as a family.
Hubby will have his usual Pepperoni and Mushrooms......the kids always want plain cheese pizza, and I have either Ham, Onions and Green Peppers, or a Veggie Pizza.




General Hospital

Alcazar tells Mr. Craig that Sonny must be eliminated;
Sam determines to get a job on her own;
Elizabeth fears that Lucky is reading too much into their dinner date;
Ric has Alexis put under surveillance;
Patrick asks Robin an important question

Weird Travels - Travel Channel

Alien Encounters UFO sightings around the globe

Most Haunted - Travel Channel

The Peterborough Museum in Cambridgeshire has a rich and varied past.

Laundry
Filing paperwork
Fixing kids computer
Sweeping and Mopping
Vacuuming
Dusting
Downstairs bathroom

Slow Cooking Thursday!

Welcome to my weekly Crockpot Recipes Exchange. It's such a great way to share your favorite dishes or to learn some new ones to make for your family.

What do you think??? Do You have some great recipes to share, or perhaps you're looking for some delicious ones to give you a reason to pull out the ol' crockpot???

Time to pull out those crockpots and put them to good use. If you want to join in, just grab the banner and add your name to Mr Linky :)

Who doesn't like Spaghetti??? It's pretty much a staple in many households, at least once a week we whip up a big pot of spaghetti, so what would be easier and better than putting all the ingredients in the crockpot and letting it cook all day???

MEATY SPAGHETTI

1 pound ground beef
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
8 garlic cloves, minced
3 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) Italian diced tomatoes, drained
2 cans (15 ounces each) tomato sauce
2 cans (6 ounces each) tomato paste
1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon dried basil
2 teaspoons dried marjoram
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Hot cooked spaghetti

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook beef and sausage until no longer pink; drain.

Transfer to a 5-qt slow cooker. Stir in green pepper, onion, garlic, tomatoes, tomato sauce, paste, sugar and seasonings; mix well.

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until bubbly. Serve over spaghetti.

Yield: 12 servings

Coffee anyone????

Alright come on in and sit with me, it's really really really cold outside, I start shivering just thinking of going out there soon. Is it too early to start calling for Spring???
I'm more than ready for it to arrive, not that I don't like winter but seriously after a month or two I'm done with it.

It's 4 degrees right now, yeah you heard me, I said FOUR DEGREES.....I went to go start the car to let it warm up, as I do each morning, and I couldn't open the doors LOL
I must have looked like an idiot sitting there pulling with all my might....*sigh* the things we do.

So here I am this morning, my hot coffee cup right beside me, trying to warm my insides and waiting on Nicholas to wake up. For some reason the past 2 nights he's been really fussy and restless, must be getting sick again......don't even talk about this cold or whatever it is that's going around, it seems to be staying here and taking turns going from person to person. Funny thing is that it's not just us, seems to be the norm around here.

Anyway, did you guys watch American Idol last night??? I was so thrilled that it's starting again, it's by far one of my favorites, I love the whole process of auditions and finding the next Idol....though I have to say that the auditions are what gets me hooked, there are some funny ones out there.
I may be in the minority but I actually like Simon, he has this certain charm about him *don't throw stones*, I know I know, I must be loosing my marbles, but I really do like him and he's hilarious. Harsh and really mean at times (I admit) but mostly just funny!!!

Definitely something to look forward to every week. If anything the laughs provided during the auditions are great. I can't believe that some people who obviously can't sing, argue with the judges and are so upset at the fact that they've been told they can't sing.....like the one that walked out to go get water in the middle of his audition then came back and sang exactly the same......or the girl singing like the lion from Oz....I mean, that's cute and all but not for an AMERICAN IDOL....sheesh!!!

I'm sure you've noticed the lack of pictures on my posts compared to a couple months ago, and the reason is that my digital camera has decided to just quit working...I mean it comes on but then I can't get the zoom or the shutter to work which leads to blurry pictures or black nothings.....I don't think that's what you guys want to see. I'm sure I'll get it fixed soon and then I can start sharing pics of the kids again, or the beautiful sunset, or my food, I think I miss snapping pictures right after dinner is ready, though I think the family is happy because I would make them sit there and wait for me to get done with the camera before they were allowed to touch the food.

I told you yesterday that I'm really enjoying Lori Wick, and for those of you who don't know who she is, she's an amazing Christian writer. The English Garden Series which is the one I just ordered from Paperbackswap, are just wonderful. I am reading the first book called "The Proposal"....if you follow THIS link to my book blog, you can see the other books in the series as well as a little blurb. It's one of those books that you pick up and can't put down, I find myself getting frustrated because I want to read and I can't LOL

Is there anything better than snuggling in bed, kids asleep, dead quiet in the house, and you're sitting there with a wonderful book just devouring the words. It's always been one of my favorite things to do, I'm glad that the kids love books as much as we do. The day we buy our own house there is definitely going to be a study, I can just picture wall to wall books, perfect place to hide out in for a day.

Nicholas is laying on the couch complaining that he doesn't feel good, so I think that's mommy's cue to get off the computer.

Don't forget the Slow Cooking Thursday tomorrow, seems that we're not getting as many participants as before so if you could pass the word around, it would be nice to have a lot of people sharing their recipes :)

Have a wonderful wednesday, stay warm,


Pork Chops is what's for dinner......some potatoes made the portuguese way. You fry the Pork Chops and when they're done you remove them from the skillet, add a little butter or water to make some gravy with the pan drippings......in a separate pot you boil some potatoes, then cut them into cubes....drop them into the skillet and let them sit in there for a few minutes to absorb all the wonderful gravy. It's really really good.
Going to serve a salad to go with :)



General Hospital

Elizabeth shares her dilemma with Jason; (UGH I can't stand this woman)
Lucky clashes with Maxie at Kelly's;
Jason has a feeling that Sam is hiding something from him;
Patrick appreciates that Robin bought him a couch;
Dillon allows Lulu to search for Rick's date book.

Montel Williams

Psychic Sylvia Browne answers questions about strange occurrences.

American Idol

Week 1B: Auditions Singers continue to audition for the judges

I'm so cold.......

I'm sitting here at the computer and for some reason, even though the heater is on and it's warm in the house, I'm still shivering........and my right hand, the one that holds the mouse, is constantly freezing, isn't that the weirdest thing???

I actually had to go grab a sweater because I couldn't stop the shivering. Either this house is really cold or my fever is coming back.....please please let it be the house.

So it's tuesday morning and it feels like monday....guess the whole long weekend thing just threw me off, at least it means one less day before the weekend right???

I just realized that it's also been forever since I've participated in a "Tackle it Tuesday" or a "Treasure Tuesday"...wow, it's been months actually, I will have to get myself on track again and start doing that. Honestly sometimes I feel like I'm running on empty, isn't it amazing how much a mom can do and how long she can go without crashing? Superwoman powers is all I can think of!

I've now ordered 10 books from paperbackswap and I can not wait to get them. One of my favorite book authors is Lori Wick, I just love her books. I started "The Proposal" which is book one of her English Garden Series. I'm SO hooked on it already, I read half of the book just last night and now I'm trying to pace myself so that I don't finish it before the other 3 come in.

This post is going to be super short, I have places to be and things to do, just wanted to check in and say hi :)

Hopefully I'll have a longer post tomorrow....take care everyone!!!

For dinner I'm making Onion and Potato Soup, it's one of those meals that you remember from your childhood. I love it and it's filling and comforting and just perfect for a cold day, like today.




General Hospital

Carly runs from the courtroom during the ceremony;
Maxie confesses her pregnancy charade to Lucky;
Lucky lashes out at Maxie;
Sam feigns ignorance when Tracy mentions Angela Monroe's name;
Skye kisses Alcazar;
Nikolas apologizes to Emily.

American Idol

Week 1A: Auditions
Judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson begin their search for the next singing sensation.

Legal stuff
Errands and Bills
Cleaning house

Oh the joy of sleeping in!!!

You know for a mom there is NOTHING more precious than those extra hours or minutes in bed, and thankfully I've been blessed this weekend with some good sleep. Saturday night I actually fell asleep at 10pm and didn't wake up until 8:30am, uninterrupted sleep without the usual bathroom breaks during the night.

I'm one of those that gets up at least twice a night, really, I don't know why my bladder can't just wait until the morning and it's frustrating to have to keep waking up for it. So you know when I don't get up, it's something new to me, it's a welcomed break LOL

Today I'm being lazy though, maybe I got too much sleep??? I better not say it out loud though because hubby will look at me and give me the "are you ever happy with anything?" look. Why yes, yes I am, but I am allowed to complain right.....not constantly but sometimes maybe?


I had NO luck whatsoever with the movies I had to watch, mind you I haven't gotten to United 93, I'm having a problem with that one, I really want to watch it but I also am dreading going back to that moment in time, it's bad enough that when a show comes on the tv, if it is anything about 9/11, it gives me a knot in my stomach and I end up crying through it....do I honestly want to put myself through that again??? Decisions, decisions!!!

So I sat down in front of the tv yesterday afternoon, that's not something that happens very often only because everyone (mainly the kids) seem to claim the big tv in the living room, and I have to resort to my bedroom if I want to watch something. Ugh, now that I've typed it out I realize how pathetic that sounds, I mean, I AM THE MOTHER right??? Aren't I supposed to be in charge and make the rules??? LOL

But whatever, anyway, I got the tv to myself and it's one of those big huge ones that make you feel like you're at the movie theater, plus throw in the surround sound and bowl of popcorn and I'm right THERE. I pop in "Reign of Fire" only to realize that not only have I seen it before, but I hated it the first time around.......how the heck did I get it again without even realizing it??? I'm thinking it has to do with the gorgeous pic of Matthew McConaghey on the front....yep, I'm blaming him for my moment of "dumbness".

I quickly remove that one and pop in "The Cave"....UGH, what the heck??? Talk about a stupid movie, I didn't like it at all.....so now I'm annoyed and I want to watch something dagnabit, I have the tv and I WILL MAKE USE OF IT. I pop in one of my Netflix movies "The Ghosts of ...." can't even remember...and the narrator is this woman with the most annoying monotonous tone I've ever heard, okkkkaaayyyyyy, take THAT one out and pop in the next one "The ghosts and witches of Olde England"....(see the pattern here, I must have been in a supernatural mood when I ordered these movies)....now I'm faced with a perky nasaly voice that is as annoying as nails on a chalkboard. Pop THAT sucker out too!!!

I GIVE UP, just take the tv back, it's become too stressful to find something to watch LOL

I decided to just go and make dinner, cooking has always been something that calms me down. I turn the radio on and cook, look through cookbooks or bake....it really is food for my soul. After 30 minutes, I had a wonderful Chicken Curry ready, the family raced to the table and devoured it....there's nothing better than sitting down to see everyone eating and having seconds and praising "this is soooooo good mommy"...."man, sandra this THE best meal on earth, definitely my favorite". Again, Food for my Soul!!!

I was looking for tickets for us for the upcoming Africa trip and ummm.....I don't know how I haven't had a heart attack yet? LOL
I don't know how anyone affords to travel overseas, I mean, even if it's just one person it's expensive, but when you have 4 tickets to buy, it's a LOT. We're looking at around $8000!!! *GASP* Lord help me! LOL
This is one problem that I am certainly putting in the Lord's hands and asking, or begging for His help with....I do know that in the end everything will work out, but now I have to literally force myself to let it go. It's not easy though, I do it constantly, I give Him something and within 5 minutes I'm inquiring about it:

Me - Ummm, I know you're busy and all that, but did you get to my problem yet?
Lord - Actually, no I haven't, why don't you just quit worrying about it, it's in good hands.
Me - yeah I know, but, I really would like this done like now.....you think you could push my issue to the front of the line?
Lord - Sandra, you need to be patient, remember that things are done in My time.
Me - Ok.....

*5 minutes later*

Me - So, I know it's only been 5 minutes, but I can't stop thinking about this, anything yet?
Lord - No, not yet, why don't you learn how to wait purposely?
Me - Hmmm ok, well look I'll just take this back and do it myself....

Why do I DO that???? I always give it to the Lord and then quickly snatch it back because it's not going fast enough for me, or it's not the results that I was waiting for, and I spend so much time worrying about it that I fail to see what I was to have learnt from it. I know I seem to have completely strayed from the whole ticket thing, but really I didn't, it's just an example of what I usually do when I say I will leave it in His hands.
Going to try REALLY hard this time to not interfere and to wait in His "Waiting Room" without pouting and whining and complaining.

Anyway, I better get on out of here, have to get lunch ready and then watch General Hospital, and then I'll be coming by to say hi to you all.

God Bless,

I'm about to babble for a while, be prepared!

We actually had a nice morning yesterday, we went out for breakfast, something we NEVER do. Go ahead, shake your heads and look appalled, but really, we're not the "get out of bed and head out for breakfast" kind of peeps.

Mainly because it's an expense which is not justified, and also because we're lazy, rather just pop some bread in the toaster and call it good. Man we ARE lazy.

But I woke up in the mood for a nice big breakfast, so we headed to AJ's Restaurant which have really good buffets, not that we got the buffet but whatever, just wanted to let you know in case you ever head that way. LOL
I had THE best omelette....goodness gravy is all I can say. It was called The Big West and it was filled with mushrooms, green pepper, onions and smoked ham....served with toast and tons of hash browns (really good ones too).

Ok now that I've made myself hungry again *sigh*, here I am munching on my toast and drooling over the eggs.....pathetic much?!?!? LOL

So anyway, we went to breakfast and then by Walmart, isn't that the cool place to hang out every saturday morning? I still remember when I was a teenager, the cool place was the mall, nowadays we chill out at Walmart bwhahahaha
We had a couple more errands to run, and then headed back home to drop off hubby and kids while I went grocery shopping and then by the library.


There's a very relaxing feeling about grocery shopping alone, at least for me, I don't have to be stressed over kids fighting or yelling at each other, or one taking off and me chasing them down the aisles with my purse in hand and all the while keeping an eye on my precious cart, lest someone come and steal my bananas or something.

I got all my groceries for two weeks, being military we get paid on the 1st and the 15th, so I go shopping for that pay period. I tried the once a week thing but found that I always ended up going back for something, so now I just draw up the menus and grocery list for those 15 days and rarely go back for anything, well, milk, but that's because Nicholas chugs it down like nuts. I'm surprised my poor son hasn't turned into a cow...or bull since he's male? You get the picture LOL

I've learnt that cooking from scratch and sticking to a menu, really does save a lot of money....so I'm able to get everything I need and not spend a ludicrous amount of money. Want to know how much I spent yesterday??? $150!!! Does that shock you??? This includes snacks, toiletries, cleaning supplies and all the food necessary for meals for the next two weeks....pick your jaw up off the floor, I'm not joking, that is exactly how much I spent.

Anyway, after the groceries and coming home to put them away (something I really really hate doing), I did some house cleaning while my meatloaf cooked away in the oven. Folded laundry, cleaned the bathrooms, did some dishes and then I sat down at the computer, the minute I did I felt as if my body went "AHHHHHHHHHH", my lower back actually ached and my feet were killing me, but that could have been from my stilleto boots....if I'm going to go shopping and do the mom/wifey thing, I want to at least look and feel good. The pain is well worth the effort in this case!!!! Just gotta remember not to repeat this all the time, my poor feet wouldn't be able to take it.

I sat at the computer and opened my Paperbackswap account, only to realize that I had 5 credits just sitting there, waiting for me to use. I literally jumped at that chance, I LOVE books and if you tell me I have some free ones, by God I'm going to use it.....so I got some Romance books:

Dancing at Midnight - Julia Quinn (one of my favorite Historical Romance Writers)

Her Highness, My Wife - Victoria Alexander

The Wallflower Series by Lisa Kleypas:
Scandal in Spring
It Happened One Autumn
The Devil in Winter

I will be putting these up on my book blog soon too, I can't believe it's been forever since I've update it at all. So look for that update, as well as my food blog update later today.

Now after doing all that, I called it at an early night and curled up in bed with some movies I had picked up at the library and some I rented at the Shoppette. First one I watched was "The Breakup" and can I just say DISAPPOINTED!?!?!?!?!

I guess I had thought this movie was going to be great but it really left something to be desired, it had some cute moments and some funny parts, but the end was just a big HUH? for me. Not at all what I was expecting, I think by the time the credits started rolling, I was just sitting there with a stupid look on my face wondering what the heck just happened.


So to quickly put that flop out of my mind, I popped in "Poseidon". Now THAT was a movie I enjoyed, mainly because I've always liked watching Kurt Russell and hardly ever see him on screen anymore, but it had action and Fergie singing???? LOL
Kinda threw me for a loop there, but whatever, it was pretty good and had some action which was great. Josh Lucas was one of the main characters and he's good plus very easy on the eyes....am I lame for that??? I mean, don't you ever find yourself watching a movie just because the main character is nice to look at???

I still have some movies to watch today:

United 93
Reign of Fire
The Cave

Wish me luck, hopefully they're good LOL
Is it just me, or is this post super long, I seem to be on an endless babble today, please feel free to walk away or tell me to just zip it already. I have days where I seem to have nothing to say and then there's days that if given the chance I will talk your ears off, or in this case, your eyes off since you're reading.

Since I love you though, I'm going to stop here and go take care of the chores I have left, then I can sit down in front of the tv and watch some movies. It's cold and cloudy and even though it's 11am, it looks like 6pm at night, that's how dark it is.

You all have a wonderful sunday, I'll see you back here tomorrow morning.

Hubby is going to be super happy today because I'm making Chicken Curry AND I'm using my new Curry powder that just arrived from South Africa....mmmm it smells SO SO good, wish we could send smells over the computer, well....good smells at least LOL



Putting away laundry
Cleaning upstairs bathroom
Watching movies (uninterrupted ones I hope)

Blame Canada!!!

I'm slow people, so I just found out that apparently it's De-Lurking week, and here I am on the LAST day possible, asking you all to just De-Lurk and give me a HI. Really I know there's people who read my blog but never comment, and that's ok, I do the same with some of my favorite blogs, but I invite you to just pop in and out, can you do that for this sickly person who is always behind on the cool blogland stuff?




Yep, it's all YOUR fault. Apparently some cold front coming in from Canada has turned us into walking popsicles. I'm freezing people, and I don't mean just a little cold and over exaggerating....it is seriously cold here. It started yesterday and I just brushed it off to me not feeling well, but then I saw the weather report and since I had to blame someone, I blamed Canada. LOL

It's currently 15 degrees but with the wind chill it's -20.....hmmmmm do I really want to step outside my warm cocoon and face the cold harsh weather???
Not really, why is it that on days like this the kids are fine and then on days when it's nice and warm outside is when they're actually sick and can't go to school??? I'm just saying you know!!!

I am up, I'm tired and I just want to crawl back into bed, why you may ask? Well I got up at 5:15 am, like the good little wife that I am lol, and I fixed coffee and pancakes for my husband so that he could eat before going to work. Wasn't that sweet of me??? I still feel awful, and I think the reason is that I let it go too long before I realize "Hey, I'm actually really sick shouldn't I be taking something?". Yeah not really condusive to a fast recovery if you ask me.

I think I should hibernating every winter, I could certainly put away the necessary food without even flinching, I'm ALL for eating. But it would also allow me to sleep for long periods of time (something moms are not allowed to do apparently), AND I would be able to not get sick all the time....I don't know about you all but from where I'm standing I only see Pro's to this Hibernation thing.

Don't you??? Look at the bear all snuggly and warm....the one thing I COULD do without is all that hair on my body LOL

I'm so irked, remember I posted my Portuguese Chicken Recipe yesterday, and then I said that I would take a picture and post it for you all right??? Well......before I could get to the picture the family had dug in and went about devouring it. COME ON, are you THAT hungry that you can't wait for a minute just for me to snap a picture??? Then they started spouting stuff like "just take a picture of my plate?"....."just take a picture now?"......Yeah I don't think people want to see that half eaten chicken leg or the pretty much empty serving dish.

Guess you guys will have to wait until the next time I make it, which should be soon since they raved about it and pointed out the fact that I don't make it very often.

Anyway, it's Friday, and I remember when I first started my blog, I had this feature called "Remember When???". Every friday I posted a funny or memorable story from my family, either from when I was just a wee little one or teenage years or whatever. I stopped doing it for.....well, I really don't know why I stopped LOL But anyway, like I was saying, I think I'm going to start it again, and I'm going to start adding a Mr Linky if anyone is drawing a blank for that day and wants to share a funny story with us.

This is one of the stories I shared back then.....I'm just reposting for you all, I KNOW that you guys didn't read it, unless you had the strength and patience to ever go back on my archives that far, if you did, I admire you. *Hats off*



This is one of those short funny memories that I will always have.

We were visiting my grandparents house in Johannesburg. We had spent the day there and when it got to late afternoon we were heading back home. My brothers and I got in the back of the car and my stepmother and dad in the front.

We all sit down and buckle up, and right before my dad starts the car he starts sniffing around, like something smelled really bad. My brothers and I say nothing and just look at each other. He turns around and says "WHAT IS THAT SMELL???".

He is met with the "I don't know, it wasn't me".

He continues to sniff around and again asks what the smell is. Then he says "you guys stink, good grief can't you wait til you get home, that's disgusting", and he is going on and on and on about it. LOL
We keep telling him it wasn't us, and my stepmom turns to him and says "you know, maybe it's you". My dad gets this insulted look on his face and says "No, NO it's not", but then just as quickly adds....."OH, ACTUALLY, it was me, I stepped in dog poop". HAHAHAHAHAHA

We about died laughing at him. If you guys could have seen the look on his face, all that insult at being told that maybe the smell was coming from him, and only to find out that indeed it was LOL

If you're reading this dad, just know that we will NEVER let you live that one down LOL

I tell you, till this day whenever we all get together that is one of the stories we tell and still laugh just as hard as we did that day, sitting in the back of the car.

I'm not putting up a Mr Linky today because I have no idea if anyone would be interested in playing along or not, if you are then I'll set one up :)

Well it's almost 7:30 am and I need to get Jasmine up and ready for school.

Have a wonderful weekend all,

SLOW COOKING THURSDAY!!!

Welcome to my weekly Crockpot Recipes Exchance. It's such a great way to share your favorite dishes or to learn some new ones to make for your family.

What do you think??? Do You have some great recipes to share, or perhaps you're looking for some delicious ones to give you a reason to pull out the ol' crockpot???

Time to pull out those crockpots and put them to good use. If you want to join in, just grab the banner and add your name to Mr Linky :)

I love Tetrazzini and I usually make Turkey Tetrazzini, but today's recipe calls for Ham instead of Turkey....enjoy!!!

HAM TETRAZZINI

1 can (10-3-4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup cubed fully cooked lean ham
1/2 cup evaporated milk
2 tablespoons white wine or water
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
1 package (7 ounces) spaghetti
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

In a 3-qt. slow cooker, combine the soup, mushrooms, ham, milk, wine or water and horseradish. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.

Cook spaghetti according to package directions; drain. Add the spaghetti and cheese to slow cooker; toss to coat.

Yield: 6 servings.

What is UP with Blogger?!?!?!?

I had the best of intentions yesterday, after I was done posting here, I grabbed my coffee cup and went about visiting you all.

Tried leaving comments and NOTHING.....I could not get Blogger to cooperate, must be that time of the month again.

It's SO frustrating, I must have written the same comment 3 or 4 times and couldn't get through, by the 5th blog, I just gave up trying.

I will try again this morning, so please don't think I didn't visit, I did, just couldn't say hi.

Well my voice is back, croaky and weird but at least people can hear me, though I don't know that they enjoy it, sounds like I was hitting the whiskey bottle all night long LOL
The kids just laugh at me and try to imitate me which is just hilarious.....especially when they've done something and I'm trying to sound all tough and mean then come out sounding like a cartoon character. *Sigh*

This is going to be a REALLY short post, seems that my cold is migrating south....started with a headache, moved to my sinus and now it's all in my chest, staying awake at night coughing is NO fun. What is it with coughing and nighttime, I mean I'm ok during the day, cough once in a while but nothing major, not those cough attacks that have me gagging and keeping the family awake. Think it's time for some Nyquil LOL

Anyway, I really wish I could stay longer but I want to run by your blogs and see if I can leave comments today, if not, I apologize in advance but I'll keep trying until I succeed.

I leave you with quote from the book I'm reading....it's something I have to keep reminding myself of and I've actually printed it out and hung in on my refrigerator.

God answers our prayers according to His infinite wisdom rather than our limited foresight.

For dinner I'm fixing the Portuguese Chicken and Rice, and yes, for those that asked, I've posted the recipe at my food blog.....go run on over and check it out :)


Filing paperwork
Changing Bed linens
Resting

I'm whispering today.........can you hear me now???

My voice is still not back, but at least it's now a whisper, I will have to stay away from the phone though can you imagine if I answer it??? "Helllooooooo" *whisper*....person on the line will think I'm a breather or a stalker. LOL

My answering machine will be working overtime today, so unless it's an emergency, don't bother calling my house, I am actually home today but I can't talk. *SIGH*

Things are quiet right now, it's 7am and the kids are still asleep, rather than fighting with them to get up and get ready, I've started letting them sleep until 7:30am, it helps that the school is not far because in 30 minutes, we're ready and out the door.

So I'm sitting here sipping my coffee and it feels weird that everything is dead quiet, I mean, I'm not complaining but it's something I'm not used to, usually there's dogs running around playing and barking, kids screaming and fighting, the tv blaring and the computers on......all the chaos that makes a home a home right???

For those that were looking for the "All Day Meatballs" recipe, it's been posted on my food blog. Later this morning I will be posting the other requested recipe for the Portuguese Chicken and Rice....can't wait for you guys to try it, it's actually my youngest brother's favorite and I remember him requesting it for his birthday.

Well I had to take a short break from posting to get Jasmine to school, there's nothing like sibling fighting first thing in the morning, gives you a rush of energy to last through the day LOL


Apparently, and this is for those who don't have children yet, when one of them decides to have the same cereal, cookie, fruit etc..as the other one, it's considered COPYING!!!

It means that a huge spat will break out. It's so confusing and after being a parent for 8 years you would have thought I had a clue to these things, but I really don't....it's always going to be a learning process for me.
Just when I think I have them figured out they throw another curveball my way, I must be the most clueless parent on earth LOL

Anyway, I'm going to end this post with my usual "What's cooking, watching, doing" and then I'm heading your way, that's right, you in the corner there trying to hide.....I'm coming by for a quick fly by comment, hope you're ready.

Have a great day everyone, see ya tomorrow.


For dinner tonight I'm fixing one of my Dad's favorite chicken dishes, it's also one of my favorites too, can't wait.




General Hospital

::Nikolas says he'll use a gun even if his baby is in the room.
::Sam tells Elizabeth to leave Jason alone.
::"I'm not going to do it!" Carly insists..

House

Before his date in court, House has something to say to Tritter (David Morse) as he treats a firefighter (Tory Kittles) who's shivering when he arrives at the hospital from a fire.

Laundry
Carpet Cleaning (I know, surprise surprise huh? lol)
Getting Paperwork Notarized
Paying Bills
Searching for my voice, if anyone finds it laying around, please send it on back to me

Welcome to Mario Kart!!!!

GRRRRRRRR!!!!! If I hear those words one more time, I'm going to throw up.

On Saturday morning the kids were complaining that they were bored, so hubby decided to pull out Mario Kart for them to play. It's something they've never played before, they're usually more into TV and computer games, so this was a big surprise and thrill to them.

The minute they tried it they were hooked. It's all they've done all weekend long, and I wish I could say that they did it nicely and happily but about an hour into the game, the sibling rivalry kicked into full gear.

Jasmine - I want to be Yoshi, no I WANT to be Yoshi!
Nicholas - I want to be Peach........
Jasmine - NO you can't be Peach, you're a boy, Peach is a girl, you be the monkey
Nicholas - I DON'T WANT TO BE A MONKEY, IT'S UGLY
Jasmine - I want to do the Moo Moo track or the Battle Mode
Nicholas - NO I want the train track

UGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Just pick a freaking track and a stupid player and MOVE ON!!!
Needless to say, sunday morning, I finally had it and packed the game away until they showed me that they could behave and quit the bickering.

They were on their BEST behavior for the rest of the day, so we brought the game back downstairs, let me tell you something, kids are WAY too smart for their own good. NEVER believe them when they say they promise to be good and not fight, because the game wasn't even plugged in again and they were already sitting on the couch arguing about the same thing..........(look above, word for word).

Only difference this time is that they KNOW the game will be gone for good, so the quickly zipped it and proceeded to enjoy the game.

So remember I've been battling a sore throat and a bad case of sinus??? This morning I woke up and have almost no voice, sounds like I was hitting the whiskey bottle all night LOL
I've had a really hard time this winter, seems that everytime I turn around I am down with a cold again.....think it's time to stock up on Airbone.

I wish I could stay on here and chat more, but I have to go photocopy all my tax returns for the last 3 years and then get them notarized to send to the INS. I'm so sick and tired of paperwork, I have papers and documents coming out my ears right now.

Hope you all have a great monday. I posted my Menu Plan Monday at my food blog, if anyone is interested in checking it out.

I'm leaving you with a little prayer that I think is perfect for where I am at in this point in time,

Father, I'm tired of all the nagging, complaining, whining, and wondering. I'm tired of all the fear and worry and feelings of unworthiness and misery. Forgive me for my weak, anemic faith, and help me get rid of all the negative talk and those discouraging thoughts. Renew my mind, enabling me to speak words of blessing and healing over my life and the lives of others. Remind me of Your power each day, and in Your grace allow those words of blessing to come to fruition.

Five Senses Saturday!!!

I have missed doing my Five Senses Saturday post, it's kinda weird to say that the last one I did was last year. Isn't that something???

I'm still having a hard time realizing it's a whole new year, I keep writing 2006 on everything and when someone tells me "it was last year" I start thinking of things that happened in 2005. LOL

Anyway, it's snowing outside, yep, woke up and the snow started coming down pretty hard, everything is white already and we're supposed to have these snow showers for a few days. I love it, but I really really don't like driving in it, so hopefully by monday it's subsided :)
I should be cleaning but instead I'm sitting here at the computer, coffee cup in hand, watching the snow flakes coming down and listening to my hubby and kids playing Mario Kart on the Tv. Life is good!!!!

Here in a few minutes I'm going to take a long hot bath, maybe it will help me feel better, this sinus infection is just horrid. I actually feel OLD today, what a scary thing at 32 years old. I mean, I wake up and my lower back is killing me, my sciatica is acting up, my sinus is driving me nuts and I'm cranky because I didn't get enough sleep........LOL
WOW, pathetic huh???

Anyway, I leave you with my Five Senses Post, hope you enjoy it :)


::Hear::



- Kids Playing
- Avril Lavigne "Keep Holding On"
- Tv playing in the background
- Rain on the rooftop
- Voice of my family on the telephone


::See::



- Snow covering the roads
- Ice covering my Durango
- Rush of Traffic on the Way to Boise
- The up and down movement of my kids chest as they sleep peacefully
- Raindrops running down the windows


::touch::



- My daughter's tight hug when I drop her off at school
- Clean silk pajamas rubbing against my skin
- Pages of the book I'm reading "Becoming a Woman of Spiritual Passion"
- Headphones on my head while I listen to music on the computer
- Hubby's kiss on my cheek


::taste::



- Popeyes Chicken
- Southern Comfort and Coke for New Years Eve
- The silky smooth taste of Caramel Truffle Coffee
- Chloraseptic Sore Throat Spray (eeewww)
- Ice Cold Water


::smell::




- Sugar Cookie Scented Candle
- Pork Roast cooking away on the stove top
- Devil's Food Chocolate Cake smothered in Fudge Icing
- Laundry fresh out of the dryer
- Papaya Shower Gel and Body Lotion on my skin

I'm SO glad it's Friday Ya'll LOL

Just had to add the Ya'll in there, for some reason it's stuck in my head.

I would invite you in for a cup of coffee, but I doubt you want my sinus infection and my sore throat, so today I'll be in here and you are much safer out there looking in. By the way, you might want to wipe down the monitor after you're done reading, I do NOT want to be responsible for passing on this cruddy cold I have.

Last night I was watching tv and this show called "Dallas Swat" was on, for some reason I became so intrigued with it, and stayed up late watching the Dallas and the Detroit Swat going about their days, arresting bad guys, doing narcotics searches and hostage situations. It is so interesting to see them at their best but also nerve wrecking.
I have the highest respect and appreciation for men and women in uniform and the dangers they face daily.

Well moving on, and I'm sorry if seem to babble and rant and be all over the place today, must be the meds I'm taking, can't seem to stop from rambling LOL

Thank you all for the recipes you shared in the Slow Cooking Thursday, I thought that I wouldn't get much of a response with it being right after the holidays, but I was thrilled to see the familiar faces pop up. You guys rock!!

I'm so frustrated with myself right now, for this week's menu, I had put in Slow Cooker Sausage Bean Soup, I was looking forward to trying it out and got all excited this morning, yeah, well I can't find the darn recipe!!! I have NO clue where I got the recipe from, but I mean, can't have been somewhere weird, I had it long enough to write down the ingredients and whatnot.....what the heck is going on??? Is someone stealing recipes without my knowledge? LOL

Improvise, Improvise, so I'm just going to make my Vegetable soup, it's so good and filling and perfect for today, it's freezing here and we all know that big ol' bowl of hot steaming soup just hits the spot.

I'm having the hardest time with my sinus, I think I have an infection because of the pain and burning, and I won't even mention trying to bend down to pick anything up, it feels like my nose and forehead are going to explode. But I'm on medication and hopefully this goes away fast, at least I have had Curt home to help me and to pick up Jasmine from school.

A couple of you mentioned Africa and how exciting it is, and it is WAY beyond exciting, I mean I haven't seen my family in 8 years and they haven't met my kids in person, just through photos and letters and the telephone. It will be great seeing everyone and going back home.

BUT I won't leave you all behind, because I'm going to update every day, and I'm going to have my digital camera with me, so in a way, you'll all be visiting South Africa too. You'll get to see the Kruger National Park and all the beautiful animals up close and personal, you'll see the places I grew up in, my school, my house, the town I lived in, the restaurants I was at, PLUS I'll be taking pictures of the food too, you can enjoy it all :)

So make sure you're up for a trip in July, I'm sure you won't want to miss it!!!

With that said, I need to get going, being on the computer is giving me a headache which in turn seems to make my sinus worse.

You all have a great friday and a great weekend. I'll be back tomorrow with my Five Senses Saturday, I've missed those.

SLOW COOKING THURSDAY!!!

Welcome to my weekly Crockpot Recipes Exchance. It's such a great way to share your favorite dishes or to learn some new ones to make for your family.

What do you think??? Do You have some great recipes to share, or perhaps you're looking for some delicious ones to give you a reason to pull out the ol' crockpot???

Time to pull out those crockpots and put them to good use. If you want to join in, just grab the banner and add your name to Mr Linky :)

Anyone in the mood for some meatballs???

PEPPERED MEATBALLS

1/2 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons grated Parmesan or Romano Cheese
2 to 3 teaspoons pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dry bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1-1/2 pounds ground beef

SAUCE

1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
2 teaspoons dill weed
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

In a bowl, combine sour cream and Parmesan cheese. Add pepper, salt, bread crumbs and garlic powder. Crumble meat over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1-in. balls.

Place in a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350º for 20-25 minutes or until no longer pink.

Transfer meatballs to a slow cooker. Combine the sauce ingredients; pour over meatballs. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours or until heated through.

Yield: 1-1/2 dozen

Ok whoever left the knife in my throat.....

I don't quite know WHY but I just want it out ok???? Really, it's hurting like heck!!!

So last night I went to bed and cracked my window open a bit....I always do that!!! Somehow though, it got really hot in the bedroom with the Heater running and then the freezing air coming in from the outside was enough to make me stay up all night, tossing and turning, feeling like someone stuck a knife in my throat and then walked away.

It's only the left side of my throat, but good grief, is there anything worse than a sore throat??? I think it's just one of those pains that really irks me, it's not unbearable just the nagging kind.

Anyway, school restarted this morning and Jasmine was MORE than ready to go back, I have to say, I was too. I see from the comments you ladies left me, that the whole sibling rivalry lasts for a lot longer....great, makes me feel peachy!!! LOL

So I'm in the process of getting my Green Card, it is such a lengthy and frustrating process, and what makes it worse is when you get told to resend paperwork that you've already sent in. That's where we're at right now, it's on hold until I resend some stuff, but if it was just a matter of sending it in, but no, the thing is that I have to get photocopies of everything, then have it notarized and not to mention the documents which are in Portuguese, and need to be translated first. UGH......I can't wait to put this all behind me.

We have a trip planned to Africa in July. Can't even begin to tell you how excited we all are, especially the kids, they've never been on an airplane so it's all new to them. Here's the thing though, it's a VERY long flight. Just the flight from the States to South Africa is 12 hours......hmmmm did someone say BENADRYL for the kids????
I just can't imagine 12 long boring hours with an 8 year old and 4 year old.

I'm almost back to normal, I think with school back on it will make it easier. It's so quiet in this house, no kids fighting over the tv and who gets to watch what, who's turn it is to get on the computer, who that toy belongs to, who gets to take their bath first and here's the best.......apparently you can NOT eat the same kinds of things because that is considered being a copy cat. BWHAHAHAHAH
My kids, I love them, but they crack me up!!!

I don't know if I'll make it over to your blogs today, I'm going to go lay down for a bit, watch my General Hospital and try to get a nap in. I'm thankful that my hubby is off this week, he's picking up Jasmine from school so I can get some rest.

Remember I told you I was starting that book by Donna Morley?? I have only read the first few pages, but I'm really enjoying it, I think it's going to be a good read.

She talks about Spiritual Lukewarmness, and that struck a chord with me, that's exactly how I've been feeling, and it's funny because when I go back and think of a few months ago, I was so in sync with God, I was reading and praying daily and pretty much devouring His word every chance I got. What did I get in return???? Peace!!!!

I had a sense of peace that no one and nothing could touch. Problems arose as they always do, but it didn't shake my faith and did not leave me in a bundle of nerves, a hump of fear lying in the corner.

" I can't attract others to Christ if I am not glorifying the Lord in all I say and do. "

How true is that?!?!?!? So yeah, this book is going to help me and I need it right now, I can't do it alone, I have let my worries completely take over. Sometimes it's like a Tug of War, that is how I imagine it in my mind. God and His Love on one side, and the sadness of being away from Christ on the other.....me just sitting there in the middle, not going either way, feeling each one pull me but not really taking that step to God's side. It's a sad and empty way to live....so I'm determined to change that this year.

Anyway, I need to get going, my head is starting to throb. I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday. I will be back tomorrow morning with Slow Cooking Thursday, I actually picked up 2 new books with TONS of great Slow Cooking Recipes, can't wait to share them with you all.

God Bless,

I'M ALMOST THERE.........

I'm slowly coming around and getting back into a normal routine. I swear these holidays are wonderful but completely throw me out of whack. The laundry is almost caught up, well, not put away, and that is something I put off for as long as I can.......ugh, I hate folding and putting it away, but it has to be done unless my family wants to live off of laundry baskets. Yeah, not really condusive to winning the "Best Homemaker" Award. LOL

The kids go back to school tomorrow and not soon enough for me, I love having them home but the fighting and complaining is just draining after a week or two. I honestly can't wait for EVERYTHING to be back to normal.

I just got done with my Morning Blog Drive, boy how I missed coming by and saying hello, seeing what you're all up. There seems to be a general consensus of, wanting do to better this year and attaining goals but not really wanting to call them RESOLUTIONS. I'm all for that, I was never one to make them, and the few years I did I think it was just peer pressure, everyone was doing it and I wanted to be in the moment too, so yeah, throw out some resolutions and then beat myself up over the fact that I didn't keep to any.

So here's what I'm doing, just going to TRY to do better healthwise, eat healthier, drink more water, MORE God in my daily life and try to be a better person in general. No pressure to do it, because I think the minute I label it as a TO DO or MUST DO, I rebel. I'm quite the rebellious one at times LOL

I'm still not sure when we're moving, they told us after the holidays, but now they moved someone in across the street. HUH?!?!?! Yeah that was my thought, why move in someone if you're moving people out to tear down the houses???

It is now 6pm, and I started this post at 7am.....see how I get sidetracked with other stuff???
I'm beat right now, I'm tired, I'm still not feeling well and Nicholas is still sick himself.....this cold seems to be making it's way around our household, need to stock up on medicine and cans of Lysol to get through it.

If you're here looking for a meaningful and thought provoking post, you might want to skip my blog and head on over to one of the other ladies who will definitely deliver for you. I unfortunately have no earth shattering news or words of wisdom, nothing that will make you ooohh and aahhh, unless getting through Mt Laundry ranks high on your list of amazing things. LOL

Here soon I need to give the kids their bath and start getting them ready for bed and back on a normal schedule. Nothing is worse than school breaks and staying up every night, it wears you out, I tell ya.

I'm going to call it an early night for me too, a hot bath, and then snuggle into bed with my book, I miss reading, that's something else that's completely fallen off the wagon of life for me. Which reminds me I need to go order more books from Paperbackswap, I have tons of credits available.

I better get a move on, have tons of clean laundry to put away and the more I procrastinate, the worse it is.

Have a blessed and calm night........oh and before I leave, I want to send a hello and big hug to my family in South Africa and to Bela, yes I know you read my blog too, my stepmom told me. :)

God Bless,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

And It Feels Like
By LeAnn Rimes
CodesAndLyrics.com

I just love this song, and love LeAnn Rimes!

Ok now I know for the next few weeks I'll still be writing 2006 on everything, and crossing it out and then rewriting 2007. It's just a normal thing that comes with a new year, I mean, we ALL do it don't we???

So we stayed home last night and it was just us four, so hubby and I decided to have a few drinks. I NEVER drink....I used to all the time before I got married and had kids, I would go out with my friends to the clubs and partied and drank and did the usual single life crazy stuff. I could pretty much drink any guy under the table. THAT WAS THEN, this is now......the poor old me just can't handle it anymore.

My favorite drink is Southern Comfort and Coke and the other one that comes close is Captain Morgan and Coke. I stuck to Southern Comfort yesterday, and it's weird but funny in a way, the minute I opened that bottle and took a whiff, I was INSTANTLY teleported to the club scene, I could almost hear the music, see the people and remember laughing and dancing with my friends. Amazing how smells, sounds and sights can take us back to a certain point in time.

Poor Nicholas tried to stay awake but by 10pm he fell asleep on my lap, so he got to ring in the new year asleep, something I've done oh, countless times.

So now it begins, the whole year ahead of us, what will happen, where will we be next time this year? I'm a bit of a control freak, no really, I just don't like not being able to control things around me, so when that clock strikes midnight I have this mixed feeling of YAY, we got through another year, and HMMMM what is going to happen this year? Control freak much?!?!? LOL

Anyway, I can honestly say that I'm BACCKKKKKKK!!!! I'm back to normal blogging and here in two days, things will be finally calming down. Jasmine goes back to school on Wednesday which is a good thing because if I have to put up with the sibling fighting and rivalry for just ONE more day, I will have to lock myself in my bedroom. At least hubby has this week off, and he said he will take her to and from school AND he wants me to sleep in every day. How I love that man!!!!

So since things are getting back to normal, I'm going to get my posts to the usual, including what I'm doing, eating, watching etc....also because it's monday, I'm going to post my Menu Plan for this week, not sure yet if Laura is hosting it today, but mine will be up nevertheless. So if you want to see what's cooking the our Household, go on over to my Food Blog.

I've started a new book today, called "Becoming a Woman of Spiritual passion" by Donna Morley. I can't wait to read it all, it's a book about Overcoming Challenges to Your Relationship with God.

"Spiritual Passion is what separates those who really want what God wants....from those who are merely going through the motions." Donna Morley

As I read the book I'll be sharing my thoughts and views, I feel that at times if I actually write it down it makes more sense....or I see something that I would have otherwise missed.

Well I better get going, I have tons of things to do today. The Christmas decorations are finally down, makes the living room look so much bigger and open....I'm a weird person, I love decorating during the holidays and getting the tree up, but once it's over and everything is removed, I breathe a sigh of relief.

Hope you're all having a wonderful first day of the year, I would give you my resolutions, but I don't have any, I found it's easier not to list them because that way I won't feel disappointed when I fail them all LOL

God Bless,


Dinner tonight is Pork Roast with Mashed Potatoes. You know the first time I made roast for my husband he wanted to know why I would make something that had to cook for hours. LOL



Laundry
Carpets
Dyeing my hair - yes those pesky greys are starting to show again.