{ Sunset and Sensitive }

That title made no sense huh?

Well sunset because I'm about to share with you some beautiful sunset pictures I took about two hours ago.

And sensitive, because that's how I'm feeling tonight, extra whiny and yucky. Let me just say that I wish Aunt Flo would take her nuisance and go bother someone else. Or even better, quit bothering me PERIOD. No pun intended! *snicker*

It's the week before she arrives and I find myself bloated, eating every 2 minutes and feeling like my breasts weight 50 lbs. It's uncomfortable and it makes me cranky and pissy. I hate feeling this way.

But I got Midol and I got chocolate, so I'm good to go....Oh and I got a stunning sunset to boot.

So before I go into a huge pity party for one, I'll save you all the trouble and just show you pretty pictures and while you look at them, I'm going to hunt down the other chocolate bar and drown out my hips complaining about the calories.

Tonight, I'm having a ball and indulging in fattening snacks, chick movies and trashy novels.

I'll emerge sometime tomorrow morning, feeling much better.

{ Cooking Thursday }

Won't you join me and share with us one of your new recipes, or an old family favorite, you can even throw in a recipe for homemade soaps or detergents (just remember to specify).

For the guidelines, you can go here.

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Bacon, Honey Mustard Chicken

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I like the thin sliced so that I don't have to pound it down)
Bacon (I do 2 slices per chicken breast)
1/2 c. honey
1/2 c. Dijon mustard
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 t. paprika
1/2 t. salt
pepper to taste
American cheese slices (1 per breast)

Preheat oven to 400 F.

Mix together Honey, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, paprika, salt and pepper, in a medium bowl.

Rinse chicken breast and pat dry. If you didn't get the thin sliced breasts, then pound the chicken breast between 2 sheets of wax paper until about 1/2 - 3/4 inch thick.

Add chicken to the marinade bowl, swish around a bit to cover completely and set aside.

Fry the bacon in a skillet, remove when cooked and set aside.

Keep the bacon grease in the pan. Pour off the excess marinade and fry the chicken, 3 pieces or so, at a time, for about 2 minutes on each side or until nicely browned.

Transfer to a baking sheet covered in foil. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes, then remove. Place two pieces of bacon on each chicken breast, then top with a slice of cheese.

Return to the oven for another 5 minutes until cheese is melted.

Serve immediately.I served mine with garlic mashed potatoes. YUM!

{ Kung Fu Magoo Review and Giveaway }

When supervillain Tan-Gu invites the world’s most notorious bad guys to his island fortress to compete in an Olympic-style tournament of evil, the fate of the free world hangs in the balance. For the Anti-Evil Task Force there’s only one man who can stop Tan-Gu and save mankind: Kung Fu Magoo!

This feature length film stars the beloved Mr. Magoo and his 12 year-old nephew Justin as they dodge giant robotic spiders, ninjas on jet skis, and Tan-Gu’s mutant “Beasteens” (half animal, half teenage girl!) -- and that’s before the Evil-lympics even begin! With competitions like the 100-meter Destructive Rampage, Laser Cage Wrestling, and the Evil Egg and Spoon Race, Justin must work double-time to help his uncle stay in the competition and avoid danger at every turn.

Featuring the voices of: Dylan Sprouse, Cole Sprouse, Alyson Stoner, Chris Parnell and a special guest appearance by Kenny Mayne.

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I was asked to review this movie and I immediately said yes, because I can vividly remember Mr Magoo, do you remember him?

Quincy Magoo (or simply Mr. Magoo) is a cartoon character created at the UPA animation studio in 1949. Voiced by Jim Backus, Quincy Magoo is a wealthy, short-statured retiree who gets into a series of sticky situations as a result of his nearsightedness, compounded by his stubborn refusal to admit the problem. Affected people (or animals) consequently tend to think that he is a lunatic, rather than just being nearsighted. In later cartoons he is also an actor, and generally a competent one except for his visual impairment.

I watched it with my kids and I thought it was really cute, the kids enjoyed it too, especially Nicholas, he thought the whole Kung Fu thing was funny.

Here is the trailer:

Now if you're interested in getting your hands on a copy for your kiddos, or even for yourself, you're in luck.

The wonderful folks over at the Morris + King Company have offered two copies for me to giveaway here on the blog.

All you have to do is leave a comment and a way for me to contact you, you will receive the DVD straight from the company so it's imperative that I can get a hold of you as soon as possible after the contest ends............May 5th.

Contest is open only to US and Canada!

Good Luck!

{ 3 weeks, just 3 weeks left }

For what you may ask?

Well, 3 weeks left until school is done and summer begins for us. I'm BEYOND thrilled, because it means sleeping in late, staying up late, hanging out with no expectations and no schedules to follow, enjoying the fresh air, walks and picnics and having fun with my kiddos.

This school year has just flown by and I can't believe that in a few months, as school returns, I will have a second grader and a six grader. Oh boy!

So yeah, I was looking at the calendar earlier today and just couldn't believe that we only have 16 school days left.

But anyway, enough about that.

I spent the day pottering around as usual, doing a little ironing and a little planting

I don't know why I do this every year because let's face it, we all know my "thumb of death".

I almost feel bad for these little seedlings, if only they knew what was ahead *tee hee*

But I'm persevering, I don't like quitting and I don't like feeling like I can't do something, I tend to push through and plow ahead until I conquer whatever is in my way.

After all my housework was done and the plants were well....planted.....I sat down to watch a little tv on my laptop. Remember that YouTube channel I mentioned for all the great paranormal shows?'

Well I started scrolling through all their shows and couldn't even decide where to begin, but I finally settled on Sensing Murder. It is a show from New Zealand, very much like the Psychic Detectives show on Court TV, or the other Forensic Psychic shows. Man how many times can I say show in one paragraph?

It was very interesting and I watched quite a few episodes. So if you're into that kind of show, you might want to check it out.

So let's see what else did I do today?

Oh, I got a few books in for review and some from Paperbackswap, now one of those I was so excited to get because I've been wanting to read it for a while.

Hattie Big Sky

Alone in the world, teen-aged Hattie is driven to prove up on her uncle's homesteading claim.
For years, sixteen-year-old Hattie's been shuttled between relatives. Tired of being Hattie Here-and-There, she courageously leaves Iowa to prove up on her late uncle's homestead claim near Vida, Montana. With a stubborn stick-to-itiveness, Hattie faces frost, drought and blizzards. Despite many hardships, Hattie forges ahead, sharing her adventures with her friends--especially Charlie, fighting in France--through letters and articles for her hometown paper.

Her backbreaking quest for a home is lightened by her neighbors, the Muellers. But she feels threatened by pressure to be a "Loyal" American, forbidding friendships with folks of German descent. Despite everything, Hattie's determined to stay until a tragedy causes her to discover the true meaning of home.

Download Chapter One

Now tell me that does not sound like a great book? By the way, if you've read it, let me know what you thought, and if you haven't yet, maybe you can find a copy and read it WITH me.

Now you're all caught up with my day so I'm going to leave you and go round up the kids, throw them in the shower, check to make sure their homework is done and then get my babes into bed.

I think I'll go start my book, even though I've just started the Sophie Kinsella one LOL But you know, I can have 2 or 3 books going at once and not get confused and as much as I'm loving that book, I just am dying to read Hattie Big Sky.

I hope you all have a restful night.

{ Gross....just plain gross }

There are certain things that totally gross me out, like mice (ugh can't even say it without cringing) and other creepy crawlers, but mostly mice and anything that resembles mice. If it's small and hairy and squeaks while it zips past you, it's just BAD.

For a reason though, I think that the things that most creep us out are usually the ones we tend to have more encounters with, like say, for instance, this morning.

I went out into the backyard to grab the fallen lemons from the tree. It's something I do often around here, there is just way too many lemons on that poor tree and she likes throwing them around when she gets tired of holding them all in her arms.

So there I was, basket in hand, all smiley because the weather was phenomenal and I'm walking around the tree, looking under and around....grabbing a lemon, checking if it's fine or if it's gone mushy etc.

Out of the corner of my eye I spot something grey and furry and for some reason, I'm having that whole inner fight with myself "it's a mouse, RUN"....... "Oh stop, it's probably one of the pugs and what kind of an idiot will you look like running into the house, what will the neighbors think?"

But I just couldn't keep from looking over there and now I wish I hadn't. I really wish I had followed my first instinct to just run as fast as my chicken legs could take me.

It was a mole, a dead mole. It was on it's back and all I could see were these ginormous yellow teeth the size of a pinky finger and about that thick too. GROSS.......GROSS!

I don't know how it died, fact is I didn't bother checking or asking questions, it was a drop-the-lemons-and-run-into-the-house-as-fast-as-you-can-while-screaming-and-shivering moment.

I waited until Curt woke up and sent him to dispose of the dead nasty bugger, all while thinking that maybe my dreams of one day owning my own little farm, were just a silly notion, I mean I'm not at all familiar with farm work but I'm assuming there is furry little rodents and big toothed moles and when they die you gotta take care of them right?

I'm grossing myself out just retelling this story, fact is I think I'll have nightmares about this tonight, I can't get the teeth out of my head, it's absolutely disgusting and the worse is knowing that my back and front yards have TONS of these little gross animals running around. Lord help me.

All Curt had to say was "be thankful you didn't step on it". COME ON....that's just.....excuse me while I break into goosebumps and shiver for about 5 minutes.

So anyway, that was my morning, needless to say I kept to the inside of the house for the rest of the day, I don't even want to look in that direction, it's like it's taunting me, I can just picture this small mole with his huge teeth and half sticking out of the ground, going "Sandra.....Sandddddrrraaaaa look at my big TEEF". BLECH!

Let's talk about better things shall we?

Like the awesome discovery I made at Goodwill two weeks ago and totally forgot to tell you.

For the longest time I've been wanting to get blue and white china, the really pretty ons, so imagine my surprise when I found 5 dinner plates for $2. Yes all five for $2. YAY!

Currier and Ives Dinnerware.

Aren't they beautiful? You may have noticed them in some of my food blog shots, like this one for tonight's dinner. Another great recipe from Trisha Yearwood's cookbook. Cowboy Lasagna. Yeehaw!

Ok I'm all done bugging you for now, I'll let you go enjoy some Lasagna while I go put away laundry, or I may just get lazy and leave that for tomorrow while I grab my book and snuggle on the couch.

{ Happy Homemaker Monday }

<a href="http://familycorner.blogspot.com" title="hhm by jasnicmommy, on Flickr"><img width="150" alt="hhm" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4452676258_fbde55c90f_m.jpg" width ="200" height="150" /></a>

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Beautiful, warm, blue skies.


Things that make me happy:
Hearing my children say things like "you are the best mom and dad in the world"


Book I'm reading:
Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella - LOL she is hilarious, I enjoyed all of her shopaholic books but hadn't yet read this newest one. It's so funny.


What I'm enjoying on TV:
Battlestar Galactica - Maybe I'm getting old or something, I remember loving the original series as a kid but now I'm finding it hard to get into this one. I may just give up
ParanormRUs2 Channel on YouTube - I love ghost shows and this guy only uploads paranormal shows from all over the world, LOVE it, could spend hours on that channel.


On the menu for dinner:
Cowboy Lasagne


On my To Do List:
Iron and put away laundry
Change bed linens
Sweep
Spring Clean the living room


New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Didn't try any last week, but I'm trying Trisha Yearwood's Cowboy Lasagne tonight and will have the recipe on the food blog later.

In the craft basket:

Granny Square Blanket
T-shirts for restyling

Looking forward to this week:
Not really anything specific, but I do want to try and get some pictures of the jets taking off and landing. Last time I was supposed to, ended up not going.


Tips and Tricks:
Peel potatoes over the sink instead of the trash.....just put a paper towel in the sink and then peel them over the paper towel. When finished just fold the towel up and quickly throw it in the trash. No sore back from bending over.


My favorite blog post this week:
Toy Soldiers at Kat's blog. She always has such inspiring posts.


Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
Acorn Pies - Really sweet blog


No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):

Lesson learned the past few days:
One I've been learning the past month......that kids grow so fast and no amount of whining and complaining and begging the Lord to keep them little, will stop that. Yes I know, I'm an idiot like that LOL


On my mind:
The amount of dental work I need to get done, and all because I have weak teeth. My out of pocket expenses when it's all done is going to be $7800. LOL Yeah, I may just go for dentures at this point LOL


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."
John 6:35

{ Birthday Girl }

11 years ago I was embarking on one of the most important, happiest, stressful, scariest, heart wrenching journeys of my life.

I was a young girl, a newly married wife, and a woman about to become a mother for the first time.

I clearly remember the day Jasmine was born, it will forever be ingrained in my mind, not only for the tough birth but because it changed everything, it changed ME, it changed US!

She is beautiful.....

She is funny....

She is all about keeping in touch with her friends.....even those she hasn't seen in years.

She's growing into a stunning teenage girl, it pulls at my heartstrings...

If only there was a way to describe how much we adore this child, if only she knew what she meant to us....

She loves her brother, and yes they fight but she would go to the ends of the earth to protect him and him her. I love that about them.

She's quirky and naughty and silly and emotional at times....

She's daddy's girl, he's wrapped around her little finger and she knows it. Look at her expression....

She's everything to me, my little baby girl turning into a woman, making me smile, making me proud and making me cringe at the thought of her growing up so fast....

We love these children and we sometimes find ourselves doing the silliest of things to bring a smile to their faces....

It's all about them.....

But today was all about her. I hope she continues to thrive and continues to show off her independent and carefree personality. She has the world at her fingertips and we have no doubt that she will go far.....

But for tonight, she's still our baby girl and until the clock strikes midnight, NO ONE can say otherwise.

{ Will the world end in 2012? }

Will the World end in 2012? by Raymond C. Hundley, PH.D

In Will the World End in 2012?, Raymond Hundley, PhD, gives a Christian evaluation of the ten most prominent apocalypse theories causing 2012 mania.

In the first millennia after the birth of Christ, nestled in the mountains of Central America, the Mayan people gazed at the stars and calculated days, months, years, and even the future. Their calendar, more sophisticated than any the world had known, indicated an abrupt end of time, December 21, 2012. The future they predicted is now upon us.

“There have been 149 apocalypse predictions between AD 44 and 2009,” says author Dr. Raymond Hundley. But will it really happen? In this stirring, balanced, and well-researched book, he evaluates the ten most prominent apocalypse theories and gives a surprising answer to the question everyone is asking.

His knowledge and insights lead to compelling conclusions . . . and a heartfelt call for all of humanity to look upon Jesus Christ as it seeks clarity and peace.

If you would like to know more information on the book and where to purchase a copy, please click here.

My thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book, it's a subject that is talked about so much lately, even my little 7 year old has asked me many times if the earth really is ending in 2012.

It's on everyone's mind, are the rumors true? Will it really end or is this just another hoax?

I love that the author Dr. Hundley tackles the top ten “end of the world” predictions for 2012. Each prediction gets its own chapter: The Mayan Factor, Solar Storms, CERN and the Large Hadron Collider, The Predictions of Nostradamus, The Reversal of the Magnetic Poles, Collision with Planet X, Earth’s Alignment with the Galactic Plane, Eruption of the Super Volcano, The Web Bot Project, and Religious Predictions of the End of the World.

Very interesting read, my husband enjoyed it too as he loves these kind of subject matters.

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I received this complimentary book from Thomas Nelson for review purposes.

{ Five Senses Saturday - April 24 }

::Hear::

- Hummingbirds flapping their wings

- The dryer drying the clothes
- Movie playing on the tv
- The clicking of my keyboard keys
- Pugs barking out back

::See::

- Amish Grace
- My floors sparkling after being mopped
- Dark gloomy clouds in the sky
- Jasmine's happiness in anticipation for her birthday
- My hands wrinkled from washing the dishes

::touch::



- The smooth bowling ball
- The cold wet glass of water
- The bubbles in the bath tub
- My children's soft faces
- The soft comforter as I get into bed



::taste::



- Hot Corn Dip
- Baked Spaghetti
- Alexia Crunchy Snacks Onion Strips (YUMMY)
- Ice cold diet coke with a slice of lemon
- Chocolate cake



::smell::

- Bounce Dryer Sheets
- Sweet Pea Jasmine Oil on the burner
- Freshly cut orange slice
- Olive oil and garlic frying in the skillet
- White Diamonds perfume

{ Postcard Exchange Giveaway }

Wow! I am so thrilled with all the amazing postcards that came into my mail box, it's like every day was Christmas.
Thank you all so much for taking part in this exchange, it's been wonderful being able to receive and send snail mail and getting that excitement when reaching your mail box and seeing a handwritten note from someone. You guys rock!

By the way, I sent out tons and I think I got everyone covered, but if you sent me a postcard and have not yet received one from me, please, please send me an email with your info and I'll make sure to pop one in the mail ASAP.

So here we go, a list of the great postcards I received:

• Bermuda
• Nevada
• Stratford-upon-Avon (England)
• New Hampshire
• New York
• Japan
• Ohio
• Washington
• Oregon
• Colorado
• Wisconsin
• Virginia
• Michigan
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Missouri
  

They are stunning and I have learned so much about each State and Country. I'm bouncing around ideas in my head on how to display my postcards, I might use a big frame and arrange them all in there in a cute way.

Whatever I do, I promise I'll take pictures and show you.....these postcards have become one of my treasured possessions!

Alright so now for those that participated, I'm going to hold a contest, up for grabs is an Arizona Themed Goodie Box, it's a surprise and you won't know what is in there.

This contest is open ONLY to those that participated in the Postcard, so leave me a comment if you did and I'll enter your name into the giveaway.

I'll use Random.org and draw a winner next Friday, 30th.

Good Luck!

EDIT: Conny, I'm so sorry, I added yours :)

Forget me Not Winner!

I used Random.org and the winner is

#2 - Sheila at Knitscookscrochets

Congratulations Sheila!

{Cooking Thursday }

Won't you join me and share with us one of your new recipes, or an old family favorite, you can even throw in a recipe for homemade soaps or detergents (just remember to specify).

For the guidelines, you can go here.

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CROCKPOT MACARONI AND CHEESE
Credit: Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood
Serves 12

8 ounces elbow macaroni, cooked (I didn't cook mine, just threw it in with everything else)
1 12 ounce can evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups whole milk
2 large eggs, beaten
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
1 teaspoon salt
dash of pepper
2 10 ounce bricks sharp cheddar cheese, grated (about 5 cups)
dash of paprika

In a large 4-quart crockpot sprayed with cooking spray, mix the macaroni, milks, eggs, butter, salt, pepper, and all but 1/2 cup of the grated cheese.

Sprinkle the reserved cheese over the top of the mixture and then sprinkle with paprika. Cook on low heat for 3 hours and 15 minutes.

Turn off the crockpot, stir the mixture, and serve hot.

{ It's cloudy out here }

and the perfect day to indulge in some home cooking.

I have to tell you, I love Trisha Yearwood's new cookbook and if you've been following my food blog, you would know that.....because for the past week I've made tons of her recipes.

I can't even pick a favorite, it's ridiculously good but my hips are starting to scream and I'm starting to freak out.

I love you Trisha, but go easy on me, I don't need to gain 20 lbs right now.

Here's what's been going on in my kitchen, prepare yourselves cause I am not responsible for any drooling that may occur which may inadvertently ruin keyboards and laptops etc. You've been warned *wink*

Twice-Baked Potatoes (Enough said, potatoes and me are *likethis*)

Sweet and Saltines (Lawd have mercy)

Hot Corn Dip (should be named Hot CRACK)

Baked Spaghetti (this was ridiculous, I have never had such a good baked spaghetti)

Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese (Kill me now, I hate mac & cheese but OH MAN)

Any sympathy for me yet?

I can't even think straight, my eyes skim the kitchen counter and see that book and I start drooling, you know when you get that weird sensation in the back of your jaw, that *gotta have something good now* feeling?

Yeah, I'm past that, I'm considering giving myself and Trisha a couple name, like Sasha or something. I'm beyond help.

But that's why I'm posting this here because I figure, I shouldn't suffer enjoy this alone.

So go on, go check out the recipes, go make them for your family, then come back and tell me what you think, tell me I haven't lost my mind and that the recipes really are all that and a BIG bag of chips.

Just don't say I didn't warn you. I found myself hogging the crockpot mac and cheese last night, and I've been known to hide Sweet and Saltines in my bedroom for a late night snack. I'm in trouble!