Hope everyone had a great weekend! Well we sure did! We did lots of things that needed tending to. We took a drive to a larger town, about 2 hours away. Did some needed shopping, mailed some stuff using Fed Ex Shipping at Fed Ex Kinko's, had some dinner and visited some old friends of ours. Lil E and myself both got new boots too! She wanted another pair of pink ones, she has pink boots now. So I had to talk her into something else. I did let her pick between brown or black. She picked the black and red with hearts and Mommy got brown bomber colored. Both of our boots are Ariat's Fatbabys! They are truly the most comfortable boots ever!





Then today, I had a very productive day around the house. It is so cold her and very windy, that we are staying in. I am trying to keep with my goal of one new recipe a week. So I did that this week. I found the recipe from a friends blog, Heart3MyHome. It's for Green Chili Beef Enchiladas. I changed it a bit, I used tomatoes and green chilis in place of just the green chili's, and added some onion to the beef while it was cooking. Then the cheese that I mixed with the beef, I doubled that. (plus I did use the colby monterey jack cheese mixture, as that is what I had on hand.) Let me tell you, I have always made enchiladas and loved them, and I love our families traditional way, but these were really awesome! We all loved them! Lil E even ate every bite she had.

Then as I wanted to keep up with getting Healthier in 2008, I have been doing lots of things, to help with that. This weekend when we went grocery shopping, I bought pasta, but I bought a regular package and a package of whole wheat. Then I came home and mixed them together and placed in them in my large canning jars with lids. This way, each jar is ready for a dinner and it's half regular and half whole wheat, just until I get everyone to eat only whole wheat pasta. I do not want to follow some diet that is not a way of life, because if I do that the weight will just return the minute I stop. So we are making better choices about what we eat. I have even started buying the Plumrose Brand Bacon that is no sugar added and lower sodium. It is so yummy and always comes out crispy, no matter how you cook it. (Which is usually baked, as i don't like to stand and fry anything). So it's lots of things like this that we are doing.

Plus tonight I added crunches to my work out! This is very hard for me, after a previous injury my doctor recommended me not to do crunches or sit ups because of the strain. So I just started with 25 tonight. But I have to do something, after two major abdominal surgeries, the muscles are shot and it's yucky flabby! So I have to get that better! Plus I used my Gold's Gym Work out Ball and Resistance Bands too! So that is what I am doing right now! May not be a lot, but it is something and I know it will improve my life! That is the ultimate goal you know. Not only for myself, but my family and most importantly for God, as my body is a Temple, and needs to be treated with the most care!

Hugs and Blessings~

It's been a week filled with all sorts of things going on. I started the week off by hubby making me a cake for my birthday! What a sweetie he is! It's called the One Pan cake, and it's so yummy! Then he has been on a different work schedule this week, so dinner and everything has been at different times. Today it was very cold! We had a cold front blow in yesterday! Big time chilly! So today I made a pot of Taco Soup and corn bread to go with. It was delicous! I haven't done anymore scrappin', but I did work on organizing a cabinet in the kitchen. I hope to get back to really scrappin. Once I get in there, I can usually run through the lay outs, but I guess I loose my drive when I don't have a scrap buddy to ever scrap with. So I am thankful to have some online buddies to share with! Sure makes it much nicer! Hope everyone has a beautiful Friday and weekend! Hugs and Blessings

It has been busy for sure! I am working on getting back into a regular routine of scrapbooking. I worked on some tags for a swap this weekend. Here's a couple of them ......

I'm working really hard at getting my Lil Princess potty trained. What a feat it is. Nothing has been working, not the special treat, not the m&m, or other snacks. Not even for a big toy if you go potty for a week in the toilet. So I have been reminding her all the time, that big girls go potty in the toilet. Today I said ok, no pull ups at all. You are a big girl and you love big girl panties, so it's time to only use the toilet. The second half of the day was much better than the first. I'd praise her every time she would go in the toilet and she was so proud. Than when she saw daddy tonight and wanted to share with him what all she did, we had a really funny moment......

she asked her dad, since I am a big girl and need to tee tee and poop in the potty, can I go fart there too.

What a HOOT for sure!!! Remember it's the lil moments like that that bring a smile to your heart!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and that you all have a great week ahead of you! Our weekend was nice. It was unuasally warm and so we did take advantage of that and worked outside, and played a lot too.

I thought I'd share this wonderful cake recipe with you all. It is from a Taste of Home Magazine and one of the best cakes! Oh it's so yummy! It is always a huge hit when I make it.


Banana Nut Cake

Cake:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup mashed ripe banana
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted

BUTTER PECAN FROSTING:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dash salt
2 to 2-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup finely chopped pecans, toasted
Additional chopped pecans, optional



In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture, beating just until combined. Fold in banana and pecans.
Pour into a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
In a small mixing bowl, cream butter. Beat in the milk, vanilla, salt and enough confectioners' sugar to achieve spreading consistency. Stir in toasted pecans. Frost cake. Garnish with additional pecans if desired.


I am going to work on getting the scrapbook / craft room all back in order. It was a mess through the holidays, as I stored gifts in there, wrapping and shipping supplies and all! So I need to get with it, so I can get to scrapping again!

Blessings,

It's a true winter day, as I know it is across much of the Nation. It's cold and really windy here. Chill you to the bone. So I know that this weather tends to lead us to make those favorite soup recipes! So I thought I'd share a family favorite of ours. And it's so very easy!

Taco Soup –

1 ½ - 2 lb ground beef
2 cans ranch sytle beans1 can pinto beans
3 cans tomatoes
1 pkg of taco seasoning
1 pkg of ranch dressing

Brown the ground beef. Drain any grease. Add meat to a stock pot with all cans. Stir in both packages of seasoning mix. Heat thoroughly for about 25 - 30 minutes. Pour over crumbled tortilla chips and top with grated cheese. May also top with a dollop of sour cream!


Hope you and yours enjoy as much as we do!

WOW O WOW, we serve one awesome God! He is so much greater than I am! I can't tell you all how excited I am! We are being considered for adopting another precious baby girl! What a wonderful blessing from Heaven! Something that God knew all along and had a plan, even when I did not know it! I'm bounceing with Joy! Shouting Praises and Standing firm in I know she will be home to us very soon!

I am busy getting ready and planning. I have picked out her nursery set and set up the cradle in our bedroom! Will be working on setting the bedroom! I knew a Year ago that we were to have more kids! God spoke and I knew at that very moment that I was to be blessed with more than one lil sweetie!

I'm off to do some work in my scrapbook / craft room!

Hugs and Blessings!

I have been inspired by a very good friend, to post and stand accountable for my goals! I look back to a year ago and sure can see all the changes for the better in my life and I want more! They were handed to me, and now it's my time to get my butt in gear and take care of the rest! I want to grow my relationship with God. I want to let my Christian Light Shine in the world! I want to get healthier and that does include loosing some weight. the weight is not my main issue, I want to be healthier and have a better life! I need improve the quality of mine and help with some of my conditions. I want to have a more positive outlook and attitude. I want to be a better person and not let others affect me! I want to live for my family (hubby and daughter) and not for others. I am not going to let others influence me in a negative way. I want to spend more quality time with those dear to me. I want to meet our family goals! And I want to plan our 2nd wedding our way and make it as special as can be... And on a lighter notion, I want to try more new recipes and laugh more. I want to blog more faithfully. And I want to get all my scrapbooking up to date. So here's to a better 2008!!!!!