Grilling Goodness

1. If you had 10 hours at home alone, what would you do? Well, call me lazy, but I would sit around and read. I would probably take a long soak in the tub while I read, and I might even take a nap.

2. Do you have a fond memory of your dad? Many! One of them is when I was about 8, and my dad took me to a gig at a park where he was playing drums. I listened to the band, played, and we ate a delicious hamburger together. Fun times!

3. Do you prefer the pool or the beach? For scenery I prefer the beach, but for swimming I prefer the pool. I'm crazy like that!

4. What's the furthest you've driven for one day of fun? For one day of fun? That would probably be 3 hours.

5. Solid, clear solid, clear gel or aerosol? Deodorant of choice, that is. Clear solid

6. Do you tan or burn/peel? I usually pink up first, and sometimes I burn. Eventually I tan, but it takes my super white (sometimes called glow-in-the-dark white) skin longer to get any real color.

7. What's your favorite pasta-based meal? manicotti

8. Do you wax or pluck your eyebrows? Wax and I am in desperate need of going to the salon to get that done. Desperate need I say!

Friday Fill-Ins

1. It's cold and so I think I will go throw on my pink zip up hoodie sweatshirt.

2.This year I am planting green beans, cucumbers, jalapenos, green peppers and tomatoes.

3. My favorite health and beauty product is perfume. I love to smell nice, and right now my scent is Daisy by Marc Jacob. I am looking into buying some Laila perfume though, which is dubbed the 'essence of Norway.'

4. Last Sunday we took a nice long ride, and we drove around the neighboring areas.

5. Well, first of all I haven't the foggiest idea what to say, which is a complete first!!

6. My friend Deidre and her little daughter; those were the cast of characters in a recent dream and it was weird because Deidre wanted me to cut her daughter's hair. I did a horrible job in my dream. I still need to tell Deidre about that dream.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging out with friends at my house while we talk, watch the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movies, and eat some snacks, tomorrow my plans include going to the circus with hubby and our kids and Sunday, I want to go to church, relax, and get organized for next week!

It's Things Like This That Keep Me Blogging

Tonight I got a phone call from my relatively new friend, Jacquie. Whom I look forward to getting to know better, by the way. Anyway, she wanted to me to know that she has been reading my blog and really enjoyed the Empanada recipe that I posted recently. This is why I blog! I blog to share my life, no matter how mundane it may seem to me, with others, and I pray that they get something out of what they read. Jacquie obviously did, and I know my friend Sue has too because she tells me often that she enjoys reading my blog. I love you ladies! You are keeping me blogging. :-)

Thursday Thirteen~Letter N

13 Things About Me (& My Family) Beginning with the Letter 'N.'

1. New Year's Eve~Jeff and I have been together for 10 New Year's Eves, and we have never gone out on that night. Both of us actually prefer to stay in on that night. We all know a whole lotta drinkin' goes on that night, and I prefer not to take any chances. Now that we have kids, it is really fun to stay in, and have some fun family time. This year we partied it up with our kids, and at 9:00 pm we pretended it was midnight. Here are some pics from our night...

We had snacks/appetizers for dinner, and the kids really seemed to like this. Check out their fun party hats.

Meghan was cute in her little hat. it even matched her jammies!

The kids surprised Daddy with some silly string. We had to ring in the New Year right. :-)

Daddy got them back with a whole lotta tickling.

Ali was thrilled with her jammies that matched her American Girl Doll, and she posed for a priceless photo.

2. Nachos~My kids love to eat nachos the way my mom made them when I was a kid. You put the chips down on a plate, put slices of American cheese on top, and then you add some salsa. Heat them in the microwave, and then top them with sour cream. Simple and tasty. When I was a kid, my mom would also put some chopped green onion on from time to time, but my kids wouldn't go for that yet.

3. Nursery School~Ali & Josh have both gone to the same nursery school, which we actually call preschool. Josh just graduated from there last week, and now I probably won't have another child there until September of 2010 or 2011. I can't figure out if I will send Meg one year or two. Anyway, here is a picture of Josh at school this year. This was on a day that they had a pajama party, and his little friend is sharing her blanket with him, because we forgot to take his. Oops!

4. Nora Roberts~I adore her books! Many of her books have a touch of mystery, a dollop of romance, and a heap of wonderful characters...this is a recipe for a great story. I can't even say that I have a favorite Nora Roberts story, since I love them all so much. I don't even think I have ever read one that I did not like. Amazing! She rocks! The Lifetime channel has made several of her novels into movies. Most of them are good, but they are never quite as good as the book itself. Something is lost in translation.

5. Nintendo Wii~We got one for Christmas from my mom this past year. My son plays it constantly, and I have to tell him no quite often. It does make for fun family time though.

6. Naturewood~My kitchen is done in the Pfaltzgraff Naturewood pattern, which is one of Pfaltzgraff's top 5 patterns. I fell in love with this pattern right before we got engaged, and I was very blessed to get tons of it for our wedding shower. Most of it came from my three aunts that threw the shower, and I think of them fondly when I pull out a cool piece they gave me. Here are a couple Naturewood pieces I would still like to add to my collection.

7. Nieces & Nephews~Jeff and I have 3 nephews and 2 nieces. Sadly, we only live close to 1 nephew and 1 niece.

8. Nightgown~I prefer not to sleep in nightgowns. I always feel like I am getting wrapped up in them. I'm much more of a 2-piece pajama girl.

9. Neiman Marcus Dip~This is something my mom makes, and it is quite tasty. All you do is mix together the following ingredients...

1 1/2 pounds bacon, fried and crumbled
4-6 green onions, cut fine
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 little packs of pecans, chopped
Miracle Whip (enough to moisten and bind)

...and then you enjoy it over crackers. So tasty!

10. Naps~Ali & Josh don't take naps anymore, but Meggie, who is 2, still does. I love when I get to curl up with her in her bed and snooze right along with her. I hope she continues to let me do that with her.

11. North Carolina~I used to live in Charlotte, NC. My parents were living there, and I needed to move home for a bit. It is such a beautiful area. We actually lived right by this church...

It is Calvary Church. Isn't it beautiful? For Christmas one year all my mom wanted was for us to attend Christmas Eve service there, and it was a wonderful service.

12. Netflix~I love Netflix!! Especially since I learned that we can watch movies on the computer. I set the kids up with the laptop, or we all curl up in front of the laptop and watch a movie together. Quite nice! I especially love when they fall asleep in my arms watching a movie. So snuggly!

13. Nilla Wafers~There was a time when I couldn't get through the grocery store without stuffing Nilla Wafers down my young daughter's throat. This was back when I was only a mommy of one, and little Ali wasn't always a peach to shop with. I swear Nilla Wafers helped me keep my sanity!! I wish it were that easy now. ;-)

Join in on Thursday Thirteen, and don't forget to check back next week, when I look at the letter 'O'...it should be an outstanding time! ;-)

Our Menu For 5/25/09 to 5/31/09

Monday~Hamburgers on the grill, Macaroni Salad, & Chips
Tuesday~Cheese Quesadillas
Wednesday~Mini Pizzas
Thursday~Baked BBQ Chicken with Chicken Rice
Friday~Taco Salad
Saturday~Pancakes (before the Circus!!)
Sunday~Pork Chops, Peas & Fried Potatoes

~~~Food Holidays~~~

This week:

May 25th~National Wine Day
May 26th~National Blueberry Cheesecake Day & National Cherry Dessert Day
May 27th~National Grape Popsicle Day
May 28th~National Brisket Day
May 29th~National Coq Au Vin Day
May 30th~National Mint Julep Day
May 31st~National Macaroon Day

Next Week:

June 1st~National Hazelnut Cake Day
June 2nd~National Rocky Road Ice Cream Day
June 3rd~National Egg Day
June 4th~National Cheese Day, National Frozen Yogurt Day, & National Cognac Day
June 5th~National Gingerbread Day
June 6th~National Applesauce Cake Day
June 7th~National Chocolate Ice Cream Day

Monday Morning Meme

1. Rate the level of intensity you have about wanting to know God – no desire, low priority, curious, great desire, high priority, desperate to learn more. Explain your answer. I have gone through many phases, and I think right now I am at a "great desire" level, but I would say it is bordering on a "high priority". I want to live my life for Him. I desire to be more like Him, and I want others to see Him in me. I wish I had more time for Bible studies, prayer/quiet time, and stuff like that, but life with three young kids is super busy.

2. What’s one of your nicknames? How did you get that nickname? What do you prefer to be called? I really don't have any nicknames. People either call me Dawn or Dawn Marie, and I actually prefer Dawn Marie.

3. What do you have to have with you when you travel? Why? I love having a book to read, as well as my family or friends by my side. That's about all I have to have with me!

4. What do you think about reading books on an electronic reading device? Do you have an electronic reading device? Do you love it? Why? If you don’t love it, why not? If you don’t have one, would you consider buying one? Other than the price, tell us another reason why you might not want to own one. I haven't given that a try yet. I really enjoy holding a book in my hand. I know that probably makes me sound like a dork, and I am okay with that. I enjoy turning the pages, putting a bookmark to hold my place for later, and I even enjoy the smell of the paper. I just don't think I am ready to take the plunge into the world of electronic reading devices.

Grilling Goodness

1. Do you have a cell phone that allows you to check your email? Well, it would allow me to check my email, if I paid for that service. When I did have that option, I never used it, so I canceled it. No need to pay for something you don't use.

2. Have you ever caught a foul ball at a baseball game? Ummmm, no! I can't catch any kind of baseball. foul or not. LOL!

3. What foreign accent can you imitate the best? I am really not good at imitating accents. I guess I will go with Australian, but even that is rough.

4. Do you have plans for Memorial Day? Not really. My aunts are coming into town on Saturday, and we are going to cook out then. However, we don't have any big plans for Sunday or Monday.

5. Does your hair look decent if you let it air dry? Nope but I do it all the time! ;-)

6. When is the last time you went to a waterpark? Maybe 5 years ago. I used to love waterparks, but I am not as anxious to get in a swimsuit anymore.

7. Do you turn on your porch light every night? Nah! Jeff knows the way to the door. :-)

8. Have you ever had to call the fire department? Praise God I haven't.

Friday Fill-Ins

1. Moving is a real pain in the behind, so I never plan to do it again.

2. God's love is free.

3. My best quality is that I am kind. (I had to ask a close friend to find out my best quality. She says I am so many things, but above all I am kind and generous.)

4. I love to plan all the little details. Carrying them out is a whole other issue though.

5. In nearly 10 years, I have managed to meet the love of my life, marry him, graduate from college, have three children, support my hubby in his many business ventures, deal with the loss of a parent, and establish myself and my family within a community. I have been busy!

6. A vacation with just my hubby is what I need right now!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to the church to work on decorations for Vacation Bible School and hang out with friends, tomorrow my plans include taking my family to a show at the planetarium and spending time with my two aunts that are coming into town and Sunday, I want to go to church, relax, and possibly do my grocery shopping!

Tasty Thursday

We ate this meal this past Monday, and I was in heaven. They are delicious! My hubby and my oldest daughter both loved them too. I don't know if I did something wrong, but I wound up with extra meat mixture, which I froze for a later day. Works for me!

Empanadas~Quick & Easy Style

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef
1 garlic clove
1 teaspoon salt
1 (15 ounce) can fresh cut corn, drained
1/2 cup chopped onion
8 ounces grated cheddar cheese
1 cup salsa
2 (16 ounce) cans large refrigerated biscuits....I used the Grands buttermilk biscuits

Directions:

Brown the ground beef in a frying pan. Add the salt and garlic just before it is done. Let the beef cool.

In a large bowl, mix the corn, onions, cheese and salsa. Add the cooled beef; mix carefully.

Roll the biscuits out flat so that they are about 2-1/2 times their size. Place about 1/3 cup filling on one side of the circle. Fold the dough over the filling, like a turnover, and crimp the edges with a fork. Be careful not to tear the dough, and make sure to seal the edges completely, so that your filling does not come out.

Place on a slightly greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees until lightly browned. (I cooked them for about 14 minutes.)

Our Menu For 5/18/09 to 5/24/09

Okay, I realize I am posting my Menu Plan Monday on Wednesday. What can I say? I'm a slacker! ;-)

Monday~Empanadas...These were super delicious!
Tuesday~Taco Bell
Wednesday~Hamburger Chop Suey over Botan Rice
Thursday~Pork Chops, Peas & Fried Potatoes
Friday~Eating at our church because we are working on decorations for VBS
Saturday~Grilled Steaks and Twice Baked Potatoes
Sunday~Whole Chicken and veggies...both grilled by my hubby!

~~~Food Holidays~~~

This week:

May 18th~National Cheese Souffle Day
May 19th~National Devil's Food Cake Day
May 20th~National Quiche Lorraine Day & Pick Strawberries Day
May 21st~National Strawberries and Cream Day
May 22nd~National Vanilla Pudding Day
May 23rd~National Taffy Day
May 24th~National Escargot Day

Next Week:

May 25th~National Wine Day
May 26th~National Blueberry Cheesecake Day & National Cherry Dessert Day
May 27th~National Grape Popsicle Day
May 28th~National Brisket Day
May 29th~National Coq Au Vin Day
May 30th~National Mint Julep Day
May 31st~National Macaroon Day

Tasty Thursday~Applesauce Meatballs

Applesauce Meatballs

My mom recently made these at my house, and they were a hit.

Ingredients

• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 cup soft bread crumbs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 pound ground beef
• SAUCE:
• 1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed tomato soup, undiluted
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon Domino® or C&H® Granulated Pure Cane Sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon prepared horseradish
• 3 to 5 drops Worcestershire sauce
• 3 to 5 drops hot pepper sauce

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1-1/2-in. balls. In a large skillet, gently brown meatballs over medium heat; drain. Transfer to an ungreased 2-qt. baking dish.
Combine sauce ingredients; pour over meatballs. Cover and bake at 325° for 45-50 minutes or until meat is no longer pink.

Yield: 4 servings.


I didn't realize that Tasty Thursday was going to be a Memorial Day theme this week. Sorry! To make up for this, here are a few links to recipes that I enjoy on Memorial Day...or other cookout gatherings.

Veggie Marinade
Salami Pasta Salad
Mandarin Orange Salad

Ten On Tuesday

Ten Favorite Places To Shop

This list is not in any particular order.

1. Hobby Lobby~Any store that sells cake decorating stuff, scrapbooking supplies, holiday decorations, and home decor items is my kind of place.

2. Gymboree~I love their clothes! They hold up well, they look cute, and the don't make my 7-year-old daughter look 12. Look at this adorable swimsuit I recently got for my 2-year-old.
Also, my son loves this t-shirt I recently got him. He loves driving. He drives his sister's Viper around the yard, and he drives his Gator around the yard. He also likes "driving" games on the Wii. His grandpa once let him drive his truck out on the farm (steering only), and Josh kept asking Grandpa if he was "the best 5-year-old driver Grandpa had ever seen." He is a terror on wheels! LOL!
3. Sam's~I love buying things like toilet paper, laundry detergents, and cheese in bulk. I also love that they have good deals on books, magazines and seasonal items.

4. The School House~It is a teacher store in Peoria, and I swear I can spend hours in there. Just yesterday I bought a Judy clock, some play money, and a money game that is based on shopping. Oh, I also bought this thing to seal two 2-liter bottles together, so Ali can make that tornado-in-a-bottle she has been wanting to make.

5. Pampered Chef~I realize this isn't actually a store, but I do love their products. My favorite is the Measure-All Cup, which not only measures liquids, but it also plunges out solid ingredients.
I also adore my serving pieces, and I love getting them out for holidays and casual get-togethers. Aren't they great? I love the simplicity of them.


Oh, and don't get me started on the Trifle Bowl! The base comes off, which makes it easy to store. It can be used for yummy desserts, as well as beautiful centerpieces. Fun!
6. Children's Place~I love shopping here for kids clothes too. I can usually get a good deal.

7. Barnes & Noble~I can spend hours in this store just looking at cookbooks. If I hit the children's section and the cookbook section, I could be there from sunup to sundown. I also love their selection of journals.

8. Wal-Mart~I hate to admit this! It's not that I actually love Wal-Mart, but I love being able to get almost everything I need at one place. When you have young kids, this is a major bonus. I would prefer to shop at more mom & pop type shops, but the convenience and the price win me over every time I consider never shopping there again.

9. Target~It is a good thing I don't live too close to Target. I simply love that store! I love their kids' clothes, their seasonal decorations, their scrapbooking section, and their "cheap" section right in the front.

10. World Market~We no longer have one nearby, which makes me very sad. They have such unique and fun stuff. They have cool kitchen gadgets, which I love. They also have unique food, which you don't find at good ol' Wal-Mart. That store is just fun!

Heads or Tails

I haven't done Heads or Tails in a couple of weeks, and I have so missed playing. This regular blogging thing is difficult lately. Is anyone else struggling? Here's to me blogging on a regular basis again! ;-)

This weeks theme is...TAILS - "Rhymes with Ball"

Let's see, fall rhymes with ball. I once took a terrible fall. After a whole day of drinking and eating fruit soaked in vodka, I thought I was running outside to vomit. Who wouldn't need to vomit after a day like that? Yes, I was a classy lady. Anyway, instead of running outside, I ended up running into a basement...that didn't have stairs. Ouch!!

I don't remember getting out of that basement, but I do remember my dear friend having to help me get cleaned up. The basement was a gravel type floor, and I was a mess. My knees and face really took a beating. After I got cleaned up, we went out to a bar and did a bit more drinking. I even remember riding on the back of someone's motorcycle.

This all took place on a Saturday, and I started a new job as a teller at a bank on Monday. When I arrived at work, they were shocked at how I looked. They asked if I had seen a doctor, and I had to tell them that I hadn't. They insisted that I go get checked out, because they were afraid that I could have internal bleeding. I left my first day of work early. I think I really made an impression!

Now, I know that wasn't necessarily a good impression, and I also know that I am making light of this situation. It was a really dark period in my life. I was drinking far too often and far too much. I was lonely, and I was filling that void with alcohol. Sunday morning, after my fall, I went to church, which is something that I had been doing for awhile. I was struggling inside. I wanted Jesus, but I also wanted to keep drinking and partying the way that I was. This doesn't work though. The closer you get to Him, the more you realize that there are some things you have to turn away from.

This struggle continued for 2.5 years after my fall. It was a long journey for me, but I won't say that it was all bad. I had wonderful periods when I would hardly drink at all. I had other periods when I would drink, and it didn't seem to have too much control over me. However, there were still those other periods where the alcohol had way too much control over me. These periods were dark and scary for me.

What matters is that it has almost been 12 years since my fall, and alcohol no longer has any control over me, and it hasn't had any control in almost 9 years. I can now drink socially, meaning one or two, without any fear that it will regain control. I prayed often, and even though I had quit attending church, God helped me get through those dark days. He helped me see that if I wanted my relationship with Jeff to last, I was going to have to make some major changes. In these 9 years, I have grown closer and closer to Jesus...and Jeff. Both relationships have been amazing, but I am pretty sure that my relationship with Jeff wouldn't be as amazing without Jesus. There is the possibility that it may not be at all. Thank you Jesus for all that you have done for me!

Our Menu For 5/11/09 to 5/17/09

Monday~Kentucky Fried Chicken
Tuesday~Tacos & Guacamole
Wednesday~Spaghetti, Italian Sausage Links and Garlic Bread
Thursday~Empanadas
Friday~Mustgoes
Saturday~Individual Homemade Pizzas
Sunday~Whole Chicken and veggies...both grilled by my hubby!

~~~Food Holidays~~~

This week:

May 11th~Eat What You Want Day
May 12th~National Nutty Fudge Day
May 13th~National Fruit Cocktail Day
May 14th~National Buttermilk Biscuit Day
May 15th~National Chocolate Chip Day
May 16th~National Coquilles St. Jacques Day
May 17th~National Cherry Cobbler Day

Next Week:

May 18th~National Cheese Souffle Day
May 19th~National Devil's Food Cake Day
May 20th~National Quiche Lorraine Day & Pick Strawberries Day
May 21st~National Strawberries and Cream Day
May 22nd~National Vanilla Pudding Day
May 23rd~National Taffy Day
May 24th~National Escargot Day

Monday Morning Meme

1. Do you prefer writing on paper or a keyboard? Why? Care to hand write a short letter to us, scan it, and then post it to your blog? I like both, but I must say that I can type much faster than I can write. This is surprising considering I almost flunked typing class back in the day. Here is a little hand written note I wrote for you all...

2. If the shoes make the man (or woman), what do your shoes say about you right now? (Assuming you’re wearing shoes. Although if you’re not, that certainly says something, too.) Describe your favorite pair of shoes. Now tell us how they make you feel when you wear them. Well, I am not wearing shoes write now, and I think that says that I am laid back and "real." I don't feel the need to put on airs...or shoes. ;-) My favorite pair of shoes are actually my black Sudini boots. They are a mid-calf boot that zips in the back, and they are sleek, fun, and classy...in my opinion.

3. Who was your arch enemy in high school? Why were they your enemy? Do you think you could be friends today? Why or why not? I didn't really have an arch enemy that I remember. There was this one girl that always thought I was after her boyfriend. He was most definitely not someone I would ever have gone out with, so she had nothing to worry about. One day after school, she told me, "Keep your pu$$y in your pocket." I'll never forget that. I thought she was an idiot for saying something so stupid, but I was also afraid I might get my behind beaten. She was kind of rough.

4. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained one ability or quality, what would it be? How would this new-found ability or quality change your life? Without a doubt, I would wake up and be able to sing! I love to sing, and I have always wished that I had the ability to do so without making other people cringe. If I could sing, I would love to sing worship songs at churches. I would want to use my talent to spread God's word.