Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Frigidaire Window Air Conditioner 6000BTU DEAL
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
Patrick Picklebottom and the Penny Book
Nickelodeon PAW Patrol: Pup-tastic Halloween
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Mrs. Geraldine's Ground Beef Casserole
Mrs. Geraldine's Ground Beef Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 (15 ounce) cans tomatoes
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 1/4 cup chopped bell pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped celery
- 1 (8 ounce) cans mushrooms
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar or 2 tablespoons sweet pickle juice
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 (10 3/4 ounce) cans cream of mushroom soup
- 1/4 lb sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 (6 ounce) packages angel hair pasta, cooked, this is an estimated size bag- the original recipe called for 1 small bag
- 1 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
- salt and pepper
DirectionsBrown meat in large skillet or Dutch oven,
Add onions, pepper and celery and simmer for 15 minutes.Add tomatoes and tomato sauce, mushrooms, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce.Add salt and pepper to tasteCook in skillet for 1 hour.
I found it here: Mrs. Geraldine's Ground Beef Casserole
Friday, April 12, 2013
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Kiki's First Fish
Monday, April 30, 2012
Kiera is Engaged
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
My Five Year Old Daughter and Her Children are Moving In
While we drive to the Junior High:
Kiki: Maybe I should save all this money do I can buy a house.
Me: Houses cost ALOT of money honey. More than you can count.
Kiki: Oh
Later, Kiki: Mommy, when I am a mom I am going to live with you.
Me: Why? So I can help with the kids?
Kiki: no.
Me: Because you love me so much?
Kiki: No.
Me: Then why Kiki?
Kiki: Because I don't have enough money to buy a house.
Love her!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Kitchen Aid Breast Cancer Awareness Goodies
A friends at work have me an awesome Anniversary present today! Looky!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Paper Golf Anyone?
Nathan, my little brilliant 12 year old, apparently was bored after he completed the mock testing at school yesterday. He created this elaborate paper ball golf course. The double with the ramp and chute certainly would be a challenge.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Should I Read my Oncology Report?
At work last week a customer and I talked at great length about it. She had the same exact cancer and diagnosis as I did. I enjoy that. I do.
I was chatting with a group of friends on Facebook about my urge to read the Oncology reports I never could get myself to read all the way through. The last time I tried I got three paragraphs into the first page and read "extremely high chance of disease recurrence" I was in tears for days. I mentioned to my friends that maybe I should read them through because maybe the doctor changed him mind later on. A Sweet friend replied. "Maybe GOD changed his mind! You are here with us, you are healthy! Why get all depressed because of what someone said 6 years ago!?!" and another great friend said "Will reading this enrich (my) life in some way? Do (I) feel like there is some need behind reading it? Is there a reason it would be worth." Another suggested I "make (myself) a cake and celebrate!" another "agree(d). Live life to the fullest."
Don't I have marvelous friends??? I do. I know I do. No looking back, move onward. Enjoy life to it's fullest. I heard that 90% of what we worry about never happens anyhow!
ps... I love you ladies!
Friday, January 13, 2012
Six Year Cancerversary
Today is Friday the thirteenth of January, 2012. On Friday the thirteenth of January, 2006 I was five months pregnant with my fifth child getting a biopsy on my breast. As you know since you are reading this blog the results would come back Monday as positive for Stage II Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, followed by surgery, then induced childbirth, chemotherapy and radiation.
Honestly, these last six years have seemed like about 15. It has been a challenge but I am grateful that I am able to continue to be a part of my children's lives.
Here's to another forty years cancer free!
Saturday, December 17, 2011
My all time favorite cookbook
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Helping a Friend with cancer
- Keep positive. Please don't say, “My grandmother died from cancer three years ago.” How will that help her keep a positive attitude?
- Help her compile a list of people she want to keep informed of her treatment process. It can be very daunting letting everyone know how you are doing and how many more treatments you have to have. There are many free blogs and websites patients can use to allow their family and friends to keep updated. Ask if she would like you to call or email all those on her list after appointments, etc.
- Offer to drive her to her appointments and offer and go in to her consultations to take notes of what the doctor says. Survival just becomes the norm and you get home and wonder what was even said. I had a great oncologist and they gave me lots of literature but the answers to your personal questions that nasty “chemo brain” just wipes from your memory the second you walk out of the oncology office.
- Pay attention. After my first chemo treatment I became to depressed and suicidal. I have NEVER been like that. I was too scared to say anything but eventually I did. Apparently my medications were reacting badly. My oncologist changed my medicines and whalla all those awful thoughts and fears disappeared immediately. Super, super scary. Really! Medications scare me now that I know how they can affect your mental state!
- Run errands for her. The “brain fog” or “chemo brain” is relentless so ask and remind. Bill payments, monthly errands, school commitments...
- Take her laundry home with you to do at your convenience (and so she won't feel like she has to entertain you while you do her chores). Especially if she has had breast surgery. It took me a good two months before it didn't hurt to switch loads after my surgery.
- Volunteer to have someone there to get her kids off the school bus or pick them up from school the first few days after each chemo treatment. If possible make arrangements for homework help and playdates for yournger children.
- Arrange for dinners to be delivered to the family. Freezer meals to keep on hand or hot meals delivered on specific days. Even purchasing the groceries to cook a specific meal can help illicit help from other immediate family members to help out in the kitchen. Avoid overwhelming smells and spices, they can trigger nausea.
- Bring the woman a cup of coffee the day after her treaments. It is too easy to stay in bed and skip that morning coffee then here comes that caffeine withdrawal headache to make things worse!
- Make a sign for her to put on her front door (Do not Disturb Please, I am resting). So important!
- Ask her to be honest and tell you if there is a particular individual she would rather not have help out or volunteer to care for her home or family. Then you can run interference for her.
- Arrange for housework and lawnwork that needs to be tended to. Don't forget to arrange to get the garbage out to the curb.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Celebrating through Photographs
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Thank you Lowes
We participated in the Build and Grow work shop this morning. Here.are three of the kids police cars.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
DIY Feather Extensions
Miranda just celebrated her eleventh birthday this weekend! Yay Miranda! One of the things she wanted with her birthday money is a feather extension. We went down to the Antique store and she picked out a feather and had the worker crimp the bead into her hair. She looks ADORABLE. Now I want one! It was 12.99 for one little feather!! AGH!!! McLaughlin Designs has a great tutorial on how to do your own feather extensions!! HERE along with links of where to purchase supplies! Go check it out!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Sad momma First child off
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Swimmer Eaten by Shark at Galveston Beach
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Fingerprint-a-phobic
Perhaps I am the only person on this earth with the fear of leaving behind fingerprints! I have searched for information on this subject for several years. I have never committed any crime so fear of getting caught is not the issue. I fear people retrieving my prints and using them for... something? I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Pre Law/Justice Studies with emphasis in Criminal Justice I understand about fingerprints.
I admit I do have several OCD tendencies. I have admitted it here on my blog as well, well I kinda make fun of it. As I was doing research on this and I realized I have not always been like this.
I think it began with a traumatic event. I was married for 17 years and then divorced. After the divorce he began stalking me. He broke into my home on a daily basis, peeked in windows and doors, knocked on windows and doors at night, unscrewed light bulbs outside, placed kitchen knives in my children's rooms, put a baby monitor under my dresser (and would stand next door at night listening to the receiver) sawed bolts off the windows I had bolted shut, unlocked windows and left them cracked so he could gain entrance, went through our dirty laundry and caller ID daily and followed my every movement at work and around town.
I came home for lunch from work one day and discovered him crawling across my kitchen floor on hands and knees with the window cut open, screen off and blinds pulled down. Scared the crap out of me! I called the police as he crawled back out the window to the back yard. He tried to jump over the fence but finally stopped. He begged and pleaded for me not to call the police and please "don't do this to" him, Really?? He stripped off the surgical gloves he was wearing, tucked them behind the fence post, and sat on the ground begging me to let him go.
When the officer arrived and cuffed this man pointed out the gloves. The officer made me SWEAR to never ever ever drop that restraining order ever - the officer said that "that man" would eventually kill me. After all, what kind of man would wear surgical gloves when breaking into a home if he did not plan on some kind of bodily harm. Especially since his fingerprints were all over the house he had been living in, with whom I share four children.
Why didn't I think of this before? That HAS to be it. I used to LOVE wrapping presents. I lacked one art history class in college to minor in art and fingerprints are all over art. It never bothered me before. I sure am not going to let "him" win out by me continuing with this fear. So I am deciding right here and now....this phobia is over! Right now. Now that I know what caused this fear I can control it right?
Lord Jesus give me strength to not allow fear to have control over me.
2 Timothy 1:7- For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Psalm 56:3-4 - When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
Friday, July 22, 2011
My review of my youngest daughter Kiera
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Swimming Pool Games
Battleships and Submarines - Divide the group into two teams. Each team has a “base” against the wall of the pool, opposite each other. The battleship team comes off the wall and taunts the submarines into chasing them. The submarines push off when ready, swimming underwater and try to touch/tag the battleships before the battleships reach base. If the sub is successful, the battleship switches sides and the sub gets a free walk/swim back. If the sub is unsuccessful, the sub must swim back to its side. However, if the sub has to come up for air and the battleship splashes the sub, then the sub switches sides! The point of the game is to try and get everyone on your team.
Belly Flop Contest - Kinda self explanatory! Get your contestants, find a prize for the winner, and have the audience judge by applause, according to: Judge on 3 categories: Form/Creativity, Pain and Air
Bumper Boats - Have about 5-6 sturdy tubes – “Bumper Boats” - for as many players as you have in the pool. This is like Bumper Cars at a fair or carnival, only in water. Tell the kids to kick off the sides of the pool and try to knock as many people off their “boat” as possible. Last one floating wins.
Crocodile Hunter - Get a big inflatable croc and choose 3 volunteers who will each have 60 seconds, by themselves to do the best show of croc wrestling in the pool. Give points for creativity, death rolls, etc.
Gator - Have one person designated as the “gator.” He or she treads water in the DEEP END of the pool while all other participants are standing on the side. The leader will then yell “gator!” and at that point, the players standing on the side of the pool have 30 seconds to successfully jump in, swim to the other side of the pool, and get out without being tagged by the gator. Anyone who is tagged in the first round has to join ranks with the “gator” and try to tag the swimmers in the next round. The game goes until there is only one person who has not been tagged.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
World's Best Chicken Fingers
Breading Mix:
1 box of Jiffy Cornbread mix
2c flour
desired amount of Cajun seasoning
desired amount of salt
Dip thawed chicken strips into flour mixture then an eggwash (eggs, milk, salt (and dash of hot sauce if so inclined) then back into the flour mixture.
Flash fry at medium high on a burner then place on a wire rack on a cookie sheet and finish cooking in the oven at 350 for about 25 minutes. I have to double this for my tribe! I always cook five pounds at a time too. It comes out crunchy and tender as can be. Serve with honey mustard salad dressing,of course.