Yankee, Misplaced

I can't believe I haven't blogged in over 16 months...

2010-01-17T21:34:00.002-05:00

Wow, so I was cleaning out some old files, photos, etc. on the desktop and I realized that it had been a little while since I blogged. Holy crap -- 16 months?~!

I sure hope I didn't lose my lone reader! ;)

tornadoes

2008-08-27T19:42:00.003-04:00

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A sign

2008-08-09T07:38:00.004-04:00

The Chapman family lost the youngest of their adopted children in a tragic accident earlier this year.

Believing in their Lord and Savior they prayed to God for a sign Maria was okay. God provided that sign the day after her death (forward to 4:53):

How GREAT thou art.

Works for Me Wednesday: Free VIN check!

2008-07-30T05:51:00.001-04:00

With gas prices being what they are today I know many friends and family members are hoping to trade in their SUVs and trucks for more economical, fuel-efficient vehicles.

On the two occassions my husband and I've been car shopping we went straight home and ran a Carfax report to ensure the vehicle we were interested in wasn't a dud. (CarMax runs one on ALL used cars and doesn't charge for it!)

Today, while reading MSN.com, I came across a GREAT find that's comparable (read: way better) to Carfax.com it's called VINcheck. This free (Hello, FREE!?) way to check out used cars for hidden histories of theft or damage is maintained by the National Insurance Crime Bureau, therefore, the information is accurate and reliable.

Honestly, I don't know if Carfax checks to see if a vehicle is reported lost or stolen, but THIS website does!

Free always "works for me" even if it's not on a Wednesday! :D

Check out Rocksinmydryer.net and see what other ideas Shannon's readers are offering!

WFMW: Fighting the Frizz

2008-06-18T13:23:00.009-04:00

It's summer in Hotlanta, ya'll, and you know what the means? Frizz.

Oh. My. Heavens. The frizz is bad, REAL bad.

I'm not a brand horse, but I have two products that I use in the summer to prevent my hair from looking like this:

or like this:

BioSilk Silk Therapy

and Herbal Essences' None of Your Frizziness Smoothing Balm

Both work *wonders* on my hair. It feels great and smells even better! The BioSilk costs a little more, but you can buy it at Ulta or your local drugstore for less than $12. Let me forewarn you: A little goes a LONNNNNNNNNNNNG way.

I paid $2 for the Herbal Essences and I was equally impressed with the results. I use a little more of this product mainly because it's texture is that of a squished bath bead, but I don't worry about using "too much" of the product because it seems to be more forgiving than the BioSilk.

** Surgeon General's Warning or a Girl Who Knows From Experience: Do not use both products together -- one or the other, people! :D **

Works for me! Go see Shannon over at Rocks In My Dryer and see what other helpful tips others are sharing! :D

5 Minutes for Mom and a freebie!

2008-06-08T14:27:00.002-04:00

I've been venturing out of my comfort zone these last couple of days and reading a few new blogs. One that I really like is 5minutesformom.com.

They (twin sisters: Susan & Janice) have product reviews, real life stories and wit. What more could a girl ask for?

How about a free Chicco backpack?

Check it out!

WOW Hits 1 -- I'd love me some!

2008-06-05T09:54:00.008-04:00

Shannon over at Rocksinmydryer.net is having a great Christian Music giveaway sponsored by WoW.

Head on over to see how you can win!

My wardrobe, or lack there of...

2008-04-11T21:35:00.012-04:00

Melanie over at Big Mama is having her first annual Fashion Fiesta!

If you've never been to her site you should check it out. On Friday's she offers sage advice on cute, trendy clothes and accessories. (I just wish you didn't have to be a size 2 to wear the clothes that woman finds!)

Any who...welcome to my virtual closet.

Monday through Friday I am an 8-5 girl. Granted, working for a state university at an "off campus" location has it benies. (Read: business casual, but IMHO it's more "as long as there aren't holes in it and you leave the Hooter's t-shirt at home" kind of atmosphere. Shhh, don't tell them I told you that.)

I used to wear skirts to show of my long, fairly shapely legs, but I think the last time I wore a skirt was the summer before I got married. Now my wardrobe consists of these pants, 3 pairs of black and one pair in charcoal gray. Or as my husband likes to call it "almost black":

And these pants(In an ultra daring shade of brown. *Gasp!*):

I have this shirt in red and black, then I have several similar 3/4 length sleeve V-necks (oh my!)in, you guessed it, black and red:

I have this shirt that I wear with my brown dress pants and the occasional pair of dark rinsed jeans:

In warmer weather I wear short sleeve version of the above cotton Ts and a pair of jersey knit capris.

I <3 shoes and accessories, but currently I only have 2 pairs of embellished flip flops in brown and pink and a pair or New Balance running shoes. (ha! that's a joke) I'm in desperate need of dress shoes and the only thing I can find that I like are these...and something tells me these won't work.

I'd have to break out of my comfort zone and buy a t-shirt in a color other than black or red.

Thanks for stopping by!

the latest in mobile technology is now at your fingertips

2008-04-01T14:48:00.003-04:00

Better than the iPhone?

The End Is Nigh

2008-03-30T21:44:00.006-04:00

Bailey and I were out doing a "quick return" yesterday and made a small detour at Payless.

While looking for appropriate work shoes, Bailey and I managed to find the "cutest shoes ev-ar."

"No, seriously, I've found the cutest pair."

So we counted to 3 and walked around the corner...

We had on the exact SAME pair of shoes.

I don't really need to point out that she's 10 and I'm just slightly over 21. :- ) However, she is going on 11, which we all know is, like, the next 21.

I'm a winner, baby...

2008-03-25T10:27:00.003-04:00

Woohoo ya'll! Look what I just won!

Works For Me Wednesday: Prolonging razorblades

2008-03-12T14:20:00.011-04:00

I was just amazed at how well this works, so I wanted to share it with my fellow WFMW-ers.

Instead of having to replace my razor blade every week, I'm able to go several weeks with the same razor blade before I feel the overwhelming urge to toss it!

When I'm done shaving in the shower/tub instead of letting it air dry, I rub the razor blade against my towel, or heat it with the blow dryer for a few seconds. According to Clark Howard the reason why our razor blades dull is soap and water residue; not all that hair!

I just love Clark's insight and crazy ideas, especially when they work for me! :- ) And this one will save me OVER $90 a year. ($8.95/4 razors = $2.24. 1 razor/week * 52 weeks = $116.48.) 1 razor blade @ $2.24 every six weeks for 52 weeks = $20.13.) $116.48 - $20.13 = $96.35.

Clark and his other readers say they can make a disposable blade or razor last for a year to 17 months! Can you imagine?! That's $2.24 (1 razor/17 months) vs. $170.24 (1 razor/week for 17 months).

Take a peak over at Rocks In My Dryer to see what other great ideas are being shared! :D

Home plate

2008-03-06T09:13:00.005-05:00

Well, this is certainly not a post I anticipated.

Shannon over at Rocks In My Dryer is debating on what to do with her china that she registered for when she and her husband got married. It's beautiful. I mean, REALLY beautiful, but she has *never* used it. Her dilemma is: toss (ebay)or save (pass onto her daughter)? I, for one, would keep it.

Anyway, so she pulled out her camera and started taking pictures of her dishes and asked that we reciprocate. Personally, I think she wants us all to look a-fool with her, and since I'm always willing to help out my fellow fool, here goes.

Our everyday dinnerware the hubs and I registered for 2 1/2 years ago; we eat off them EVERY night unless we're camping:

When we camp I use the plastic, day-glo green plates, bowls and 32 oz. cups you find at Walmart for $1.97. Of course, I can't find a picture.

This is the set my parents use for their everyday dining and I think it will always remind me of my mother:

Her formal dinnerware is beautiful and of course I don't have a picture.

Lately, I've been eyeing some tuscan-style plates:

Anyone else craving Shrimp Carbonara?

WFMW: Backwards Edition

2008-03-05T09:43:00.004-05:00

Oh, thank goodness!

Shannon over at Rocks In My Dryer is hosting her weekly Works For Me Wednesday and today it's backwards! I get to ask YOU the tough questions.

I love shoes. However my mama-jama feet are big AND wide. Yes, I was blessed with phonebooks for feet. Well not really, but it feels that way when I'm trying to buy shoes and they're either too small in length or they're squishing the piggies. *Oink*

Does someone know of a great website that sells trendy, attractive shoes at an affordable price. Before ya'll get crazy with the "OMW, how can she not know about xxxxx?" (Read: zappos.com or shoes.com or shoebuy.com) Let me assure you, I do know, however, there has never been an attractive pair of shoes for less than $90 on those sites in all my years of looking. Anything that fits (I'm an 11.5-wide *most 11s are too small and a 12 is too big*) and is reasonable ($60 or less) belongs in the nursing home's "lost and found" box.

Go ahead -- prove me wrong! I dare you. PUH-LEASE! :- )

It's been lovely...

2008-02-20T09:28:00.001-05:00

Johanna sent me this a while ago and it's never been more fitting than now.

I don't mean to complain, I really don't, but I'm getting cabin fever. BAD. I need my car back. I miss not driving myself to work, I miss not being able to run errands at lunch, I miss normal work hours. Don't get me wrong. I REALLY am thankful Jason has been able to tote me around the past few days, but a few more late nights and early mornings won't look good on this ol' gal.

Please pray Charlie Brown has my car fixed tomorrow, or I might have to steal a car.

Compassion International

2008-02-18T20:06:00.004-05:00

So I've been been faithfully reading BooMama's and Rocks In My Dryer regarding their trip to Uganda for Compassion International. Their stories and pictures tug at my heart and soul. I don't think I've been this moved in a long, long time.

I'm so thankful that God has been able to use this Compassion Bloggers to do works in his name.

Read their various takes on the same trip, look at the pictures, but most of all look at the lives that have TOUCHED them and not the other way around. Yes, they went there to do the Lord's work, but I think the Lord worked in them, too.

Carlos' "updates" made me cry. This one the most, maybe because I feel like I know Shannon or maybe because I have felt her enthusiasm and anticipation over the last several weeks.Sophie's sweetness and Shannon's compassion made me humbled.

I hope they do the same to you.

So we have an estimate…

2008-02-13T15:41:00.000-05:00

It’s $1875 for the labor minimum, but we could be looking at $2850, possible $4950.

Roughly.

I swear, I think I can hear God laughing.

I'm not sure I like you, 2008.

2008-02-09T11:26:00.000-05:00

This has been a trying year, thus far. Not necessarily in a good way, but I digress, because God always provides.

First, there was the "medical scare."

Then there was the pulled muscle.

Now, it's my poor Passat. 2008, you my friend, have JUST gone too far. As I type this my car is on the side of 316 with a broken timing belt. Jason says if we're lucky it'll be $800. If he'd have to go on gut feeling it'd be $2000, but if we're being kicked while we're down it'll be $4000 because apparently when your timing belt brakes you can bend the valves or break a piston or the head gasket. Niiiiiiice.

So, as I sit in my VERY clean house and prepare for THE baby shower of the year, my dear hubby is researching local repair shops and getting towing estimates. Oh, and our nice big IRS refund check that was going towards the last of our credit card "debt"? It's now going to the car.

Works For Me Wednesday: Themed Edition: Online Shopping

2008-02-06T11:31:00.000-05:00

You had me at shopping.

I love to shop. It doesn't matter if it's bargain hunting, shoe shopping, car shopping or back-to-school shopping. I think it's the thrill of the hunt. Looking for the best deal, finding something someone in my life will just love. L-O-V-E.

I'm a giver, folks, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I get kicks out of making others happy and while I am crafty, I do like to buy things for others.

Shannon, over at Rocks In My Dryer, asked us to share with others our favorite online retailer. I admit I don't do a whole lot of shopping online because I like to leave the hacienda and just get out. However, I don't like going to the "big box retailers" and riding the wave of crowds to look at DVDs and CDs. For that reason, and that reason alone, I wanted to find a place online where I could get consistently good deals on DVDs and CDs. (Hellooooo, I have 2 teenage neices who love watching the shows I grew up on as a "kid" *ahem* know-it-all-young-adult-if-you-please.)

Where do you find these at decent prices you ask? Certainly not eBay. Price gougers!

Enter Deepdiscount.com. It's my mecca for deals on DVDs. Even when things aren't on sale they're VERY reasonably priced. You say you have Netflix or Blockbuster and couldn't possibly need to buy another DVD ever again? Ha! I had both and tried to get a copy of one of my all time favorite movies. I was on a wait list for almost 8 weeks before they sent me a copy. When I received it, it was cracked in half. I sent it back, so they kindly resent me the same one 2 days later. Aaaack!

Any who, try them, you wont be sorry you did.

Affordable. Large selection. Fast shipping. And many, many times I've been given free shipping or they have a BOGO. Hello! BOGO?! Log on quick!

P.S. You're welcome

Wii are the champions

2008-01-14T08:18:00.001-05:00

Thank you God (& Nintendo) for allowing the meak to whoop some butt. I mean, inherit the earth. :- )

(Fischer beats Uncle Chris at a game of Wii Sports Boxing)

WFMW: Backwards edition!

2008-01-09T18:08:00.002-05:00

Shannon over at Rocks In My Dryer is hosting a backwards WFMW! Rather than sharing tips and ideas we get to ask questions that are plaguing our minds.

Important things like: Should I Eat Another Cookie? Does My Child Burping His/Her ABCs Qualify As Talent? and Why Does Gas Cost So Stinkin' Much? Are not things you'll likely get an answer for, but maybe, just maybe you'll find out how to organize your DVDs.

The question I have is cleaning my shower/tub.

Living in Georgia I'm prone to have red clay throughout my house. I can get it out of my carpet and clothing, but for the LOVE OF GOD and ALL THINGS HOLY I cannot get it out of my textured shower/tub!

I've tried cleaning with a scrub brush, tooth brush, cloth, Mr. Clean's Magic Eraser and a sponge, but I can't seem to get the red clay out of the grooves. I've tried using Pinesol, Bleach and Oxy! Fantastic hoping it would bubble and agitate the heck out of the clay; thus bringing it to the surface.

Someone, please, please help! It's driving me crazy.

WFMW: Backwards edition!

2008-01-09T18:08:00.001-05:00

Shannon over at Rocks In My Dryer is hosting a backwards WFMW! Rather than sharing tips and ideas we get to ask questions that are plaguing our minds.

Important things like, Should I Eat Another Cookie? Does Your Child Burping His/Her ABCs Qualify As Talent and Why Does Gas Cost So Stinkin' Much? Are not things you'll likely get an answer for, but maybe, just maybe you'll find out how to organize your DVDs.

The question I have is cleaning my shower/tub.

Living in Georgia I'm prone to have red clay throughout my house. I can get it out of my carpet and clothing, but for the LOVE OF GOD and ALL THINGS HOLY I cannot get it out of my textured shower/tub!

I've tried cleaning with a scrub brush, tooth brush, cloth, Mr. Clean's Magic Eraser and a sponge, but I can't seem to get the red clay out of the grooves. I've tried using Pinesol, Bleach and Oxy! Fantastic hoping it would bubble and agitate the heck out of the clay; thus bringing it to the surface.

Someone, please, please help! It's driving me crazy.

Works For Me Wednesday: Christmas

2007-12-19T13:32:00.000-05:00

It's Wednesday! Yayyy! Shannon over at Rocks In My Dryer is hosting another edition of Works For Me Wednesday with Christmas in mind.

These are some super simple things we do to reduce stress, create wonderful memories and spend quality time together. I had a wonderful childhood filled with so many memories that I want desperately to pass on to my (step)children and future children. Many of them are easy to do and cost very little to make.

We tend to get into decorating around here. My mother and I would go out into the woods of our home sometime during the Thanksgiving break and find greenery to add to the front door and porch. It usually cost us nothing, but an afternoon of quality time together. We'd cut low branches off living trees, taking care not to cut into the trunk of the tree and never taking more than we thought we'd use/need. When we got home, we'd trim the thicker branches with cutters and place them on the railings of the porch being careful to cover the branches. We'd take our white lights and wrap the railing tightly in one direction and come back in the opposite direction securing the greenery. Then we'd take the other greenery and create a swag over the door securing it to the cedar shakes and door jam of the house with a staple gun and weave white lights through it. We'd usually finish off the door with an artificial wreath with a big red or gold bow. I wish I had pictures to share, but unfortunately that was in the days of 35mm cameras and film! *gasp*

This year I expanded on that tradition and used my left over greenery and free scrub from a local nursery to create swags for my mailbox, my entry and garage outdoor light and the two double windows facing the street. It only cost me .99 for floral wire! Bailey and I simply arranged the greenery in an attractive (to us) form and wrapped it securely in green floral wire. We fluffed and added small filler to cover the wire and used red ribbon to create bows on the top! Bailey and I added pine cones to two of the swags and old Christmas ornaments to the others. I've gotten so many compliments and Bailey and I enjoyed our time together!

We didn't stop there! No, no, we did not! We created a garland for our mantle and laced it, too, with white lights and added Christmas ornaments to it. It looks so pretty at night and even makes that monstrous TV above the mantle less obtrusive!

The kiddos and I capped off the day afternoon by making the EASIEST, creamiest, most DE.LIC.OUS. peanut butter fudge I have EV-AH had. Yes, it was so good I dropped my r! ;)

1 cup butter, plus more for greasing pan
1 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 pound powdered sugar

Microwave butter and peanut butter for 2 minutes on high. Stir and microwave on high for 2 more minutes. Add vanilla and powdered sugar to peanut butter mixture and stir to combine with a wooden spoon. Pour into a buttered 8 by 8-inch pan lined with waxed paper. Place a second piece of waxed paper on the surface of the fudge and refrigerate until cool. Cut into 1-inch pieces and store in an airtight container for up to a week.

While we waited for the fudge to set we sat in the living room and strung tri-tipped beads onto pipe cleaners and bended them in various decorations to create: candy canes, wreaths, crosses, snowflakes and used ribbon to hang them on the tree.

Bailey has already commented how much fun that afternoon was. I pray *I really do* that she remembers times like this later on when she's a teenager and wants nothing to do with us! ;)

That "works for me" and I certainly hope it works for you!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours and God Bless!

Love,

Erica

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...!

2007-12-17T23:43:00.003-05:00

*** I have reposted last year's post because we're traveling for the holidays and it was not feasible to buy a tree and decorate the house to take it down on Dec. 23 or leave it up with 2 cats until the 5th of January.

Please take a look of what I would have done for the holidays this year and just pretend like we're partying like it's 1997...errr 2007. ***

&

Please grab a piping hot cup of cocoa and a warm cookie and make yourselves at home. I'm so excited to be a part of BooMama's Christmas Tour of Homes!

I taught my (step)daughter how to make swags, wreaths and garland with the scrub from the bottom of our tree and some freebies thrown in by a local nursery where we bought our wreath. It was so much fun putting together Christmas decorations for the new house and I hope it's a tradition we continue throughout the years.

I think my favorite piece Bailey and I made is the swag for our mailbox. It's so festive and was very simple to make. Bailey and I hunted for pinecones to dress up our greenery and topped it off with a gorgeous, sheer red bow. Best of all when I go to check the mail I get a wonderful whiff of Fraser Fir! :- )

We also made swags for the windows and the porch lights and garland over the front door which we laced with white lights and a cheerful stocking. I think it's very pretty, but unfortunately the pictures don't do it justice.

Brrrr, it's getting cold out here, come on in and let's head to the fireplace!

The kiddos and I made garland for the mantle, strung it with white lights and added christmas ornaments to finish it off. Please ignore my husband's house warming/Christmas present to us. He promises me it won't be above my beautiful mantle forever, but we'll need to hire an electrician to run the cable to another wall!

Here's a close up of it. I just love the way it looks in the living room with all the lights turned off except for the tree and the lights on the garland. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! :- )

Our stockings aren't hung yet because we're waiting to do that with the kids when they come back, but in the mean time take a look at our beautiful tree!

*edit: I just realized I never cut the top of the tree off where the bow is! I feel silly, now.*

Jason and I prefer white lights if you couldn't already tell! Every year since we've been together I buy an ornament that means something special to us. Here are a few of my favorites.

We got this one the day after our wedding when we were honeymooning in Bar Harbor, ME. It's a gingerbread man and woman with our names on it and our wedding date is on the back. They hang on a beautiful wrought iron hanger with a heart. Isn't it precious?

The next one is S'mores snowman. Jason and I love it; we both love snowman and S'mores, so he was an easy decision! We bought him at Stone Mountain Park which we frequent often!

A few years ago I taught Bailey and Fischer how to make very simple ornaments with the tri-tipped beads and pipe cleaners. We made wreaths, candles, snowman, snowflakes, candy canes and crosses. Here is a candy cane we made, unfortunately the crosses weren't as photogenic. The kids L-O-V-E-D making these. As a matter of fact while they were decorating the tree they asked if we could make more this year!

This is one of my favorites, although it was given to my husband and his first wife, but he kept it. I'm so glad he did!

Lastly, here is our newest ornament. We bought it when we took the kids to Maine for a week this summer. In case you didn't know: I'm a Mainiac (and proud of it!) and Jason and I go back to my home state as often as possible. We bought this in Boothbay Harbor. Jason loves lighthouses and it was such a fun trip. We can't wait to go back. We bought a new house shortly after we came back from this vacation and I was in hopes to buy a "new home" ornament, but I haven't found any I love. I guess I will have to keep looking and at least this time I'll get it on sale since Christmas is almost here!

Sorry, I didn't mean to ramble! Back to the tour! Here is an ADORABLE set of Christmas figurines that I got at an amazing bargain. Aren't they wicked cute? They are a snowman, Moose and Santa Claus and their current home is on my sofa table in the living room. My co-workers have already tried to sneak them home, but I put up a good little fight!

Lastly here are just a few Christmas-y odds and ends. One is a Santa pot that I normally have filled with tissue paper and homemade fudge for the holidays, but I haven't gotten around to that yet and the other is the latest project the kids and I have been working on. We're currently in the midst of baking up a storm of homemade goodies to give to some of my co-workers, dear friends and extended family. Lastly, just a few of our Christmas cards. My mother always had a stairway full of cards, since I don't have any stairs in my home I decided to hang them in the entry to the kitchen.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the sights, lights, stories and the Christmas goodies!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours and be sure to stop in at BooMama's and see at what all those wonderful ladies have done to their homes in preparation of our Lord's birth!

God Bless.

~Erica

A "Meme": That's what us Yankees call our french-canadian grandmother

2007-12-08T23:50:00.002-05:00

It’s Saturday so time for a fun meme. I saw this meme at The Happy Wonderer and decided to try it, too.

The rules are: for each question type your answer into Google Image and search. Pick one image from the 1st page results and post it in response to each statement.

1. Age at your next birthday.

2. Place you’d like to travel to.

3. Favorite Place

4. Favorite Objects

Photographs: A picture really is worth a thousand words

5. Favorite Food

6. Favorite Color

7. Nickname

My friends call me Boo and my step-kids call me "Wickey G" (They assure me it's as in wicked GOOD step-mom. "Wicked" means very or awesome in Mainiac speak. The kids know what side their bread is buttered on. ;) We have a really great relationship.)

8. Place where you were born

If you decide to play let me know so I can come visit.

I love me some Chicken & Rice...and oyster crackers

2007-12-05T10:38:00.000-05:00

It's pure coincidence that two of my favorite bloggers would be running recipe themes this week, so mine will be an all encompassing two-fer.

Shannon over at Rocks In My Dryer wants to know what's for dinner on Works For Me Wednesday and BooMama's Soup-tacular 2007 is just begging for some homemade Chicken & Rice!

I always manage to have these three ingredients: chicken stock (or bullion), veggies and chicken breast at our house, thus I can have "dinner" in pinch. I swear if Dr. G ever opened me up (I'm praying she doesn't, but if she did) she'd see chickens, clinging to vegetables, in a sea of broth. Well, maybe a more accurate visual would be clinging to vegetables like flotation devices while dodging buoys of fast food lunches, maneuvering around large masses of BBQ seaweed and the occasional iceberg of dessert. BUT, I do love me some chicken & veggies!

If you don't count rice as a vegetable (and you know you do it, too! Always trying to balance out your meal with rice and considering it "a side" like any other vegetable, even though it's a member of the bread/starch group) then my recipe requires *gasp* 4 ingredients and I should not be allowed to post EVER again. ;) *forehead slap* Oooh! Oooh! Unless you don't like onions! Aha! (But I do, so *pfffffffffbt*)

I digress.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Homemade Chicken & Rice Soup

ingredients:

2 chicken breasts (cubed or shredded)
2 cans chicken/vegetable broth
1/2 rice
1 medium (sweet/vidalia/yellow) onion diced ("optional")
pepper, oregano (to taste)

method:

In a large pot sautee your onions with 2 pads of butter or 2 turns of the pan with EVOO (in case you're not a Rachael Ray fan that'd be Extra Virgin Olive Oil) over low heat.

I wait until the onions turns almost translucent and start to caramelize to add the chopped (I "shred") chicken breast and let saute in pan with the onions.

Add 2 cans of broth and bring to a simmer. I usually dilute it with a couple of cups of water to reduce the salt content even more and spread out the number of servings. I like a 3:1 ratio of broth to chicken/veggies.

Add rice and reduce heat to a simmer. (I almost always julienne some baby carrots and put it in the pot when I add the rice.) Cracked black pepper & Oregano to taste.

The longer it cooks the better the flavor, but it will never be as good the first day as it is the second. It takes roughly a half hour to cook after the chicken is placed in the pot.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

This recipe is healthy, low sodium (if you buy reduced sodium broth like I do)and encompasses 3 of the 5 major food groups: meat, vegetables, starch/bread. I think it's only missing chocolate and dairy? ;) It's homemade (read: made with love) and takes all of 7 minutes to prep and 30-40 to fully cook the chicken (less if you shredded the chicken or if you used already cooked chicken!)

I serve it in big bowls, curl up on the couch and toss in a handful of oyster crackers and read. Or watch TV. Or both. While typing one-handed on the laptop. ;)

Best of all there is only one pot to wash! ONE. Dinner doesn't get any better than that! :- )

It Works For Me and it's Soup-er.

Come on, ya'll, soups on!

Heavenly scents and paint fumes...

2007-12-02T22:41:00.000-05:00

I stated a week or so ago that I had a hard time committing to a paint color and I finally was talked into “look, JUST look at samples.” So I pooh-poohed over the Hubs tangerine and melon choices and then I saw it from across the fluorescent lit aisle. Beautimous, fabulous, lovely. PAINT.

Caramel Sugar. I am so not kidding. Then another, Cinnamon Brulee. We left the large retailer *rhymes with clothes* and went home and watched us some SEC football because after all I am just "not ready."

Somewhere between hot cocoa and and warm gingerbread cookies I said, “I want them both.” The hubs said he wasn’t sure why I’d want either LSU or Tennessee since he’s a diehard member of the Bulldog Nation, but he smiled and we went back to “rhymes with clothes.”

I don’t know if it was HDTV euphoria or the possibility of the Dawgs making it to the Rose Bowl without making it to the SEC, but we proudly walked up to the paint counter and said “Caramel Sugar AND Cinnamon Brulee, please.”

It’s now 5 hours later and the bathroom is glowing in warm Cinnamon Brulee. I am in love. Yes, I am.

Creating a "designer" Christmas tree!

2007-11-28T15:27:00.000-05:00

I learned a neat little trick over the Thanksgiving weekend I thought I would share with you!

If you have an artificial tree spend a few extra minutes "wrapping" the tree in your lights. Start from the inside and work your way out, and back in. (This hides the cords.)

If it is done WELL it your tree will have:

1.) The depth it normally lacks.

2.) If your lights are "indoor approved" and you love the way the tree looks, you don't have to take the lights off when the season is over! Simply put your tree in storage AS IS and it will stay that way for many, many Christmases to come.

3.) No tangled lights, no major "fluffing" required

4.) Best of all: no having to remember how you did it last year when you just "LOVED" the way the tree looked!

(The pics were taken from the Lowe's website. ))

I hope this is a useful tip for ya'll, because it MORE than "Works for Me"!

Mi familia

2007-11-01T13:12:00.000-04:00

I. CAN'T. focus. My parents are coming for a visit.

Very, very soon. Like, in 5 days. (eek!)

This is a truly great event because: 1 - I love my family more than words can say. 2 - I live 1237 miles from home, but hey, who's counting? 3 - They've only been to "the south" one other time since I moved here. And 4 - my husband and I just bought our first home on August 27th.

In the words of an infamous child commercial star, "I'm too excited to sleep!" or work.

Now if only the rest of my immediate (and not so immediate) family would stow away in their suitcases... (It's a non-stop flight. They could totally make it.)

Enter to win a free PINK Dyson

2007-10-31T14:07:00.000-04:00

Click on the button below for a chance to win a free PINK Dyson.

Dyson gives $40 of each sale to help Breast Cancer Research!

Works For Me Wednesday!

2007-10-31T12:53:00.000-04:00

Ya'll, this is my second post *ever* & I am so excited it's for "Works For Me Wednesday" hosted by Rocks In My Dryer.

I've been lurking in blog-land for about a month now and I stumbled across Rocks In My Dryer by way of Dawn Meehan's blog, Because I Said So! The concept of this weekly post is for people to post their solutions to everyday quandaries and how it works for them. I have learned so many interesting tricks and now I get the pleasure of "Mr. Linky"-ing my own! :D

Ever heard the expression: always a bridesmaid, never a bride? Well that would sum me up if I wasn't already married. I do, however, have the extreme pleasure of "forever a hostess." Bridal, Baby, House Warming, you name it, I've planned it.

When organizing a shower it's really important to keep track of who attended, what was done and who gave what. Usually that gets scribbled on a piece of scrap paper or napkin by some family member or BFF when the presents are being opened. I can't tell you how many times I've tried to write a "thank you" note or an address on an envelope and had to send the handwriting sample off to the FBI for handwriting analysis. Well, okay, but you know what I mean.

If you have basic computer knowledge or half-way decent penmanship this is GREAT for you and the guest of honor.

I use Excel quite a bit for work, so naturally, I would create a spreadsheet with name, addresses and such. I am also printing out my invitations online, so I will use a "mail merge" to collate and print my invitations, envelopes and spreadsheet. I'll punch holes in my spreadsheet & place it in a pretty 3-ring binder. I then create a scrapbook page with the invitation and place that in front. All that is left to do is hand write the gifts received in the blank next to the appropriate guest. Your Guest of Honor will know: what the shower invitations looked like, who was invited, who was able to attend, what they gave and their addresses. All this at their fingertips! It's all inclusive and pre-made making their "thank you" a no brainer. This didn't take me ANY extra time to make and now they have a really great keepsake.

If your 'tech' challenged this also works with the big index cards that have the holes already punched in them. You can find a pretty day planner at Big Lots or Dollar Tree, remove the calendar/organizer and make a card for each guest invited. Then just slip a copy of the invitation into a sleeve or punch holes in it and place it on top of the index cards.

It "Works for Me" and I hope it works for you. Check out the other tips at WFMW!

Tag, you're it. Girl Confessional

2007-10-30T23:17:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I have no clue what to blog about now that I've finally set up my account. I've been wanting to do it forever, but now that I have, I have nothing to say. Typical Erica.

Here's a recent tag:

1. Is it cute when guys kiss you on your forehead?
Random guys? No. Husband or Daddy? Yes

2. A big poofy dress or a short party dress?
Who wants to look like a 'cupcake'? Dressing is meant for disguising your poof-iosity!

3. What would you do if you received a long love letter?
Be amazed..Jason isn't too big on writing anything bigger than 3 and 4 letter words! LOL

4. Group dates or single dates?
Mostly single, but Jason and I have fun when we hang out with T and Hank

5. Do you hate it when guys act different around their friends?
YES.

6. Are diamonds a girl’s best friend?
Nope, it's her man. Or her dog. One of the two, I forget.

7. Is your hair up or down today?
Down earlier, up at the moment

8. Do you straighten your hair?
Heck, no! Do you have ANY idea how long that would take???

9. Favorite mascara?
Clear -- can't see it if it smudges or clumps!

10. Do you get your nails done?
Usually --I stopped right before "the move". No need to get them ruined while packing/unpacking and building the fence(s).

11. Small or large purses ?
Larger than small, but not super large.

12. In your purse, what are your must haves?
Wallet, cell phone, keys.

13. Jeans or sweats?
jeans

14. Do you wear clothes/shoes/jewelry that’s uncomfortable?
Who doesn't??? I'm telling you people that's why we wore fig leaves.

15. Do you text message a lot?
Not usually and if I do it's almost always to Jason because he's in a meeting and is supposed to be working.

16. What would you do if you got pregnant?
I'd friggin' flip out! We've been trying for so long!

17. What’s your favorite color?
Green

18. Heels or flats?
Heels -- I love being 7" tall. *eye roll*

19. Did you ever cry during a romantic movie?
Yes

20. Would you ever leave the house without make-up on?
I do it all the time. LOL!

21. Walmart or Target?
Target

22. Do you wear collared shirts?
not usually

23. Do you like preppy boys?
I used to, than I married my nerd.

24. Do you think lip gloss is the best!?
Like for sure! Not.

25. Do you own any big sunglasses?
LOL! That would be a NO

26. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
10 minutes...tops. I wake up every morning looking like a super model, it takes a long time to make this look bad.

27. Do you like to wear band-aids?
No...I like to bleed like a sieve

28. Do you like skater boys?
Skaterpuds? That'd be a negatory.

29. Do you often wish there was something you could change about yourself?
My weight, my hair, my shoe size -- just a FEW things

30. Gold or silver?
White gold or platinum

31. Do you like to receive flowers?
Who doesn't?

32. Do you like surfer boys?
Dude. No.

33. Do you dress up for the holidays?
Used to, but Jason's family is very lax.

34. Do you like to wear dresses?
No, unless it's a wedding dress or I've magically shrunk to a size zero. Okay, a two.

35. On a scale of 1-10 how much do guys confuse you?
5 - Jason is usually pretty easy to read, but sometimes I just sit there and shake my head.

36. In the last 48 hours have you hung out with a guy?
Yes, Jason *~ ditto, Rebecca Wait! MY Jason or yours?! ;)

37. Would you date a guy shorter than you?
I have, but it wasn't comfortable.

38. Do you like to hold hands?
Yes, but Jason prefers to hold pinkies? Goodness knows why.

39. What is the youngest you would date?
I would have dated at 5 if my parents let me. Oh! You mean how much younger than me would I date if my husband allowed me to date? *hehehe*

40. What is the oldest you would date?
40 -- I like them walker/wheelchair bound

41. What do you notice when you first meet a guy?
Eyes, immediately followed by a glance of his left hand (wedding band check) and his butt. It's a* stellar* move.

42. Is it hot when guys sweat?
Whose guy? the hot sweat or stinky sweat?

43. What is the best physical feature in a guy?
On my guy..his butt. I mean his sense of humor. Definitely.

44. Do you like making eye contact?
Not usually. Non-confrontational.

46. Would you kill for chocolate?
No. It would have to be chocolate AND peanut butter.

47. Did you ever spend all day/night getting pretty for a guy?
Well, I did have an entrance to make. There was an aisle in the church and 100 or so guests.

48. On a scale from 1-10 how fun is shopping?
9.9998 without kids and with T. With kids and without T .0002

49. Do you freak out if you miss your favorite show?
No, but I do head to the water cooler for an update with Miss Debbie the next morning.

50. Do you yell a lot?
Yes. I'm mean.

51. Do you wear sweatpants/pajamas to school/work?
No. We have a DRESS code.

52. Have you ever dressed unlike yourself to impress a guy?
No. If I ever dressed unlike myself I think I would scare men more than I do now.

53. Do you write a lot of mushy love poems?
Yes, but I have to hide them from my hubby. He doesn't like it when I send Carlos love letters. He's jealous. *eye roll*

54. What makeup could you not live w/ out?
Concealer. (My husband snores.)

55. Do you fall in love easily?
I'm was a skeptic. One too many broken hearts and spent tears.

56. Do you have cramps?
Now? Yes, I do. Thanks for letting everyone know that it happens to be that time of the month. I'm sure everyone wanted to know that. >: (

57. Do you think you have the bestest friend ever?
Yeah. I married him, didn't I?