Blogging from my phone, and a recipe!

This will be an experience for sure! I already know it is going to be a challenge because I loaded these pics before I left for the day and decided that it couldn't be that hard to type the text in the middle of them; but i was proven wrong. yes i know that now i have not capitalized the last few letters needed, but you are just going to have to trust me on the reason why. i already have a picture out of place, and it is driving me crazy! now, on with the blog and done with the rant! i have mentioned before that i love seafood. that includes oysters. my husband loves them as well, the kiddos, not so much. but my youngest adores this stew. the above picture is all you will need. and since i have yet to figure out how to skip a line for a paragraph i will jump right into the recipe, with a huge grammatical apology.

take four slices of bacon(chopped) and add to a large stockpot. cook until a nice crisp. remove bacon and set aside. discard bacon grease from pot (but do not wipe out drippings). add 1 stick of salted butter. when butter is melted, add your oysters. i bought mine at sam's club near the fish. fresh, not frozen. (make sure tou take off the little hard plastic thingy....the piece that holds the oyster to shell..it's easy). sautee' oysters in butter and bacon drippings for about two minutes on med high heat. add a heaping teaspoon on salt and pepper (add more to taste if you like. we like a lot of pepper in this).

and you just thought you added the "healthy" part. now add 4 cups or heavy whipping cream and 2 cups of milk. stir in your bacon and let simmer for 15-20mins on med low. eat with saltines or serve along side a good dish of shrimp and grits!

oh, and sprinkle some chopped chives on top before serving :)

if you need a good dip for a New Years get together, whip up this super easy and delish dip! below is what you will need.

take your 2packges of 8oz of cream cheese soften and half cup of mayo (might put in a little more, i just spoon in).....whip together.

add one and a half cups of shredded cheddar cheese.  and continue to mix until well blended.


add your three chopped green onions.

i usually stop there, but decided i would make it a little more festive by adding a jar of chopped pimento to it.

so glad i did! just fold the pimento in.
(make sure you drain liquid from jar before adding)

add to a pie dish or a baking dish equivalent to such.

bake at 400 degrees for about 20 mins, or until it is really bubbly and gooey. sprinkle with about four pieces of cooked and crumbled bacon.  and serve with your favorite buttery cracker!

trust me, it is a crowd pleaser for sure! happy new year to y'all! enjoy!

A Merry Christmas....

hoping all you peeps had a Merry Christmas! We were busy little bees up until Christmas Eve.


Remind me next year, that even though I don't have a business to go to everyday, I shouldn't schedule something everyday of the week the week of Christmas (eek!)!

The girls had a couple of girlfriends over and we had fun, continuing to use up the rest of the fabric glue and goodies I bought for this.

We also decorated cupcakes, made our lunch and ate until our heart's content. Isn't that one excuse we use for the Holidays ;)

The Church we have been visiting, did not have a Christmas day service, but a Christmas Eve Celebration; and it was truly awesome.






I was so humbled by the Joy and Celebration of Thanksgiving for our Savior, that I couldn't help but well up with tears. Tears of Joy during the music, tears of Thanksgiving during the recognition of God's work in His children, tears of celebration as our youngest took her first communion, and just tears over a baby born.... to die..... to save me.




Christmas Morning Greeted us, and to much surprise, I was up before all the kiddos; the first in probably MANY Christmas years!

This year we had our tree in the living room......

I think the only people that enjoyed it being in that location were the ones driving by our house and our neighbors. It is usually in the "feasting area" of our kitchen, but we grew into a bigger table this years so we lost room for it. I learned: It created terrible lighting on an early Christmas morning for pictures. I don't like a flash and neither does my family. For different reason, but all the same, we don't like.And so with frustration, I gave up on adjusting my settings...it is what it is... Next year, we will have to make something work, because we love to sit by the fire in our kitchen, turn up the music, turn down the lights and gaze at the twinkling lights :)

(and for those of you wondering.... it is not a picture or some sorts of Buddha that Jillian received, but rather this....it's pretty cool, you should check it out! )

The girls then changed into their new pajamas and awaited for my mom and grandfather to join us for Christmas breakfast....

I read on Facebook later, that someone made the comment that their child said "Jesus must be pretty special to give every one else gifts on HIS birthday".......I think that sums it up pretty good, don't ya think.....










And if your not sure what I mean by that, it's simply this......



I am selfish, I am a sinner, I was someone that was separated from God because of my sin. By God's grace and mercy, He sent His son Jesus, born in this world on Christmas Day to save me from my sins. I still sin, but  He placed my continuous sins on Himself when He died on the Cross and then Defeated the Grave, by rising to life so that I may join Him in eternal life, when my body is sent to the grave one day. And He has done this for you too. I pray you believe this to be true :)

This causes great reason to celebrate. This causes great reason for joy. This causes great reason for thanksgiving.

Praying you and your family have great reason to celebrate........

who has time to read a blog!

Who has time to read a blog........


Rather yet, who has time to write one!




We have been super busy around here trying to squeeze in every last tradition! I hate to say.....



I feel a little rushed!


So much, that today, the girls and I made these.......

And I didn't take any pictures of the process. BUT...... it is super simple.



Follow the rice krispie recipe on box for Rice Krispie Treats (except, I add 6cups instead of 5 cups)

For Peanut Butter-

When your marshmallows are almost melted, add 2 TBLS of creamy peanut butter, mix and melt with marshmallows.

For Peppermint-

When your marshmallows are almost melted, add 1/2 tsp of Peppermint Extract (found on the spice aisle).  mix well with melted marshmallows before adding cereal.



Press in 9X13 dish and let COMPLETELY cool, I waited about 6 hours.

Cut into squares and dip half in melted Chocolate almond bark. Garnish the Peanut Butter ones with chopped Peanuts and the Peppermint ones with crushed Candy Canes before your chocolate hardens. Yummy!! Share with your neighbors :)

Now, off to Karate (why we tried to squeeze that in this week too is beyond me!)......

Enjoy!

Thinking of others.....

tomorrow I am going to be doing a project with my girl's 6th grade class........

I intended on them making tee shirts for themselves.....

But then, I started thinking.......

We all could branch out from doing things for ourselves.....

And think of others.......

So that is what we are going to do........

by sending them to a local ministry; and hopefully, bless a child.



Merry Christmas!

the little things....

This morning I sat down at my computer and these greeted me......

I know my little one lined these up just like this for some reason. Not sure if it was to put a smile on my face, but it did. :)


I also sit in my kitchen to enjoy the sunshine bursting through the windows in my "feasting area". :)

{could you tell, that I still haven't made slipcovers for the two chairs added to the table...nothing like a can of spray paint to help with the procrastination!!!}

I found these little birdies here ,{ well actually at their outlet store, so I only paid $1.00 for them}. I hadn't an idea what I was going to do with them, but I knew....... I WANTED THEM!

My oldest, BEGGED me this week to add presents under our tree......

So I gave in and wrapped and wrapped and wrapped yesterday. EVERY year, EVERY year I tell you; I wrap every gift in the same paper, and add a different color ribbon for the person to which it will make it's ownership with. And EVERY year, I still get asked, "which color is mine this year??"; in which I reply with the reminder that they won't know until Christmas morning.....



I love the little things, although; see this.........

I have a dog that INSISTS on sitting on the pillows of our sofa. She is a sneaky little devil and decides that as she hears me walking into the room, she will jump in her bed........ the bed I SPECIFICALLY placed by the tree and window, just for her to enjoy. Those little things, well, sometimes they drive me nuts......

But then, I look at things like this......

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...........and the pillows go away ;)


 miss this little booger! Send him back Caleb!



Hope you are enjoying the little things!