BEHOLD YOUR NEWEST RESIDENT!!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ME, CONGRATULATIONS TO ME...........I can NOT begin to express my joy right now, it's like a hundred pounds has been lifted from my shoulders. Yes you read that right, I did my INS interview and was approved, I'm now a Permanent Resident of the United States and I couldn't be happier.

To some it may seem like no big deal, but when you're born in a different country and come over to the States looking for a new beginning and a new way of life, something like getting your Green Card is HUGE.

I don't think I need to tell you that I love this country as if it was my own....obviously the fact that my husband and children are born here is also a plus BUT that's not the only reason. I truly believe that this is the place to give my children the best education and future they could ever have, and now I can do that.

Image credit: GettyImages

Anyway, after my interview yesterday my hubby took me and the kids to Red Lobster for lunch, to celebrate. I'll be honest, we all know this restaurant is not exactly cheap and it's not one we go to often, if we did we would be broke LOL
Since it was a special day we made a special exception.....here's a question for you all.....is there ANYTHING in that place that is not good??? I mean seriously, could there be anything served that would make one gag or be disappointed??? I have yet to find ONE thing I don't like about it. Not only is the service excellent, the wait is minimal and it's amazing food.

I had the Broiled Seafood Platter (Tender bay scallops, garlic shrimp scampi and stuffed flounder). HEAVEN is the word that comes to mind....to wash it down I got a Long Island Iced Tea. BIG NO NO for a SAHM who does not usually drink LOL

You can always spot who the SAHM's are, they usually walk in all stressed out and disciplining the kids, "sit down, be still"....."please just color with the pretty crayons"...."would you PLEASE not go under the table". After a drink they're the ones sitting there with a goofy smile on their faces, constantly planting kisses and hugs on their kids and laughing when a piece of biscuit goes flying across the table. Or was that just me?!?!?!?




After lunch we went to the mall so I could run to the bookstore. I picked up Fannie Flagg's book called "Welcome to the world Baby Girl".

Once again, Flagg's humor and respect and affection for her characters shine forth. Many inhabit small-town or suburban America. But this time, her heroine is urban: a brainy, beautiful, and ambitious rising star of 1970s television. Dena Nordstrom, pride of the network, is a woman whose future is full of promise, her present rich with complications, and her past marked by mystery.

I also picked up another one called "The thing about Jane Spring" by Sharon Krum.

There’s something eating Jane Spring. At thirty-one, she has everything a woman could ask for and seemingly everything a man could long for—great legs, brains, rising star status in the Manhattan D.A.’s office—but she just can’t find a man who’ll fall madly in love with her. Men are always lining up to ask her out, but for some reason no one wants a second date.

So Jane resolves to change her tack, but what is it that men really want in a woman? One snowy night while watching a Doris Day marathon on cable it hits her: Doris Day always got her man. Trading her nondescript black pantsuit for petal pink Chanel and pearls, Jane dyes her hair, stops cursing, softens her voice, paints her nails—even her apartment—and embarks on a fun-filled journey to find the smart, sweet, gorgeous, capable, ambitious, courageous, loving, adoring, hard- working man of her dreams.

You know me I can't go near a bookstore without buying more books, it doesn't matter that my TBR pile is overflowing and threatening to take over the house, but whatever, as long as there's books all around I'm a happy camper.

It was a great day and I'm extremely happy so that is what matters right????

While visiting my favorite blogs this morning I see that the wonderful Laura from "I'm an Organizing Junkie" and Irene at TheGreenGreek tagged me for a meme, the same one, then I went over to Bev at "Blessed Beyond Measure" and she had also tagged me for it, how funny is that.....it's been forever since I was tagged so I'm really excited to do it.

Here are the rules: Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. You need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!
So, here are 7 things about me you do not know already!

1. I actually HATE talking on the phone and will do a happy dance when I loose a number (yes I know it's wrong but I can't help it LOL)

2. When I was about two years old I grabbed a glass bottle and broke it, cutting my thumb open, til this day my right thumb has a scar and a little bit of the tip missing....gross you may think, but you don't even notice it.

3. My paternal grandfather was a mechanic with Caterpillar Machines, those HUGE tractors. My maternal grandfather played guitar for one of the well known Portuguese Fadistas in Portugal. Fado is the national song of Portugal.

4. I used to be a radio DJ in South Africa and also sang for the portuguese community, I actually recorded a few songs and have sung in front of thousands of people. Don't ask me to do it nowadays because I absolutely REFUSE to LOL

5. I'm totally in love with anything medieval, victorian, edwardian.

6. When I was in school in south africa, I was the Deputy Head Girl for the primary school I attended. You can read more about Head Girls/Boys, Deputy Head Girls/Boys and Prefects over here.

7. My ideal summer day is spent sitting on a beach front restaurant, overlooking the ocean, drinking a cold cold beer and eating a platter of seafood.

Wow that's my 7 already, that was fast....I'm not going to tag anyone because I've noticed most people have done this meme, if you haven't and would like to go for it, just let me know so I can come read yours.

Alright, it's saturday and I have a house to clean and then at noon a birthday party to take Jasmine to at the Bowling Alley.....since we all love bowling so much, Curt and Nicholas and I will be eating lunch there and bowling while she's at the party. Will have pictures later :)

Have a great saturday, God Bless,

Hodgepodge of things today............

Well if you're looking for a deep or thought provoking post, you're definitely in the wrong place. You know I love reading blogs with those kind of posts but it's just not me, I'm very....ummmm I almost said ditzy LOL but no, not ditzy, just not into the whole important really deep writing thing.

You know that when you visit my blog I'm usually blabbing about a bunch of things in one post, I can go from cooking to cleaning to budget to kids throwing up, going on vacation, military, christian, reading....you name it, it WILL be talked about LOL

Anyway, I'm not able to do a long post this morning, I'm actually in the middle of getting all my paperwork ready for my interview with the INS...yes you read that right....THE INS. I'm in the process of getting my Green Card and I have an important interview today. This is the thing though, I'm not nervous I'm just really curious....what exactly are they interviewing me for???

Is there some sort of standard or mold that all US Residents need to fit??? Am I applying for a job??? What kind of questions are they going to ask??? It's all very mysterious and unnerving *so much for not being nervous about it*

What if they don't like me, will they just pick up a huge stamp and slam it on my application with the big red word "DENIED"??? If I let my mind wonder I will drive myself, and you, completely nuts.

Anyway, as I said, I'm leaving here in about 10 minutes but I wanted to drop by and say hi real quick.


A couple of things, I posted a new recipe on my food blog, if you're interested in trying a No Bake Twinkie Cake, then run over and check out the recipe. It's super easy and really good.
While you're there check out my Six Can Slow Cooked Chili, I tried it last night and it was a hit here with the family.

Heather had her surgery to remove a brain tumor, she is doing good right now, so please continue to keep her in your prayers.

Don't forget about my Book Giveaway, the post is below, you have until sunday to enter and YES I will mail it to ANYWHERE in the world.

Kelli is having her Show and Tell Friday, don't forget to pull out your favorite treasures and share it with everyone, mine will be late today as I won't be home for the rest of the day.

Well ladies wish me luck, I'm heading out for the rest of the day, I did visit some of you already but those that I didn't get to I will come and say hi tonight.

Have a great friday everyone, God Bless,

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,