Friday nights are probably my favorite time of the week. Well. Maybe second favorite. I think I like Saturday mornings where I can sleep in until whenever the most. And since I've been such a {self proclaimed} sucky Mom, I decided that when I left work I needed to do something to get the weekend started right. Idea = playing at the park. Kids liked it, so off we went. Scooter. Helmet. Football. Soccer ball. Drinks. Jackets. Man, that was one of the best ideas I've had in a long time. Soccer. Timed races on the scooter and running. Crawling around all the play structures. Even a crash on the scooter. We had fun. And it was about them. And about family. And that makes this Momma's heart very, very happy.
A quick trip to Taco Bell and then plopping our butts on the floor and couches in front of the tv.
Oh yeah. THIS. has. been. {fantastic}
Weekend. started.
Enjoy.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Frito Pie - the real Frito Pie
Okay, so apparently "Frito Pie" doesn't mean the same thing every where you go. I learned this the hard way when we first moved to the DFW area. I was excited to see it on the menu somewhere and ordered it ready - salivating for the deliciousness that I was going to have placed in front of me shortly. Ummmm. Then it landed and I looked at it and the person who delivered it and asked, "What's this?" I received an answer of "Frito Pie. Isn't that what you asked for?" Well, yes and no. I did order that but this certainly isn't what I expected. Now I know that I can't be the only one who gets disappointed when you order and it comes totally different from everything you know!
So ... the very first time I experienced Frito Pie was at Lackland AFB, Texas, when I was first stationed there after Basic Training and Tech(nical) Training. There was a mini restaurant across the street from the building I worked in. I was hooked after only the first time having eaten it. {Heavenly goodness.} So the way they do it down there, and that I expect it to be and how I make it at home is like this ...
~ San Antonio style Frito Pie ~
Place some bagged salad mix in a bowl or plate (size of your choice). Add fritos (and don't skimp on generic here, people!). Scoop warm chili (with or without beans, but I like with) on top. Top with shredded cheese, diced onion, diced tomatoes, sour cream, and/or avocado to your tasting.
I guess it sounds a lot like a taco salad, but it's better. Fritos are much better than tortilla chips and it uses chili instead of ground beef or turkey. So the not so good version that I found here is just chili, fritos, cheese and maybe onions. Ummmm. No. While that does have fritos in it, it's called "chili" people. Seriously. What is wrong with people these days?! {Wink}
So. The next time you need to add something to your menu, try my fave Frito Pie - San Antonio style Frito Pie, that is. You can be good and serve this as clean as you'd like (minus the Fritos, of course). And I hope that you'll enjoy this. It's really one of our family faves. Great for weeknights, especially if you have a lot going on because you really only have to heat the chili and dice tomatoes/onions. Otherwise it's open this and put some onto your plate/bowl. Can't get much easier than that now can you?!
Ole!
So ... the very first time I experienced Frito Pie was at Lackland AFB, Texas, when I was first stationed there after Basic Training and Tech(nical) Training. There was a mini restaurant across the street from the building I worked in. I was hooked after only the first time having eaten it. {Heavenly goodness.} So the way they do it down there, and that I expect it to be and how I make it at home is like this ...
~ San Antonio style Frito Pie ~
Place some bagged salad mix in a bowl or plate (size of your choice). Add fritos (and don't skimp on generic here, people!). Scoop warm chili (with or without beans, but I like with) on top. Top with shredded cheese, diced onion, diced tomatoes, sour cream, and/or avocado to your tasting.
I guess it sounds a lot like a taco salad, but it's better. Fritos are much better than tortilla chips and it uses chili instead of ground beef or turkey. So the not so good version that I found here is just chili, fritos, cheese and maybe onions. Ummmm. No. While that does have fritos in it, it's called "chili" people. Seriously. What is wrong with people these days?! {Wink}
So. The next time you need to add something to your menu, try my fave Frito Pie - San Antonio style Frito Pie, that is. You can be good and serve this as clean as you'd like (minus the Fritos, of course). And I hope that you'll enjoy this. It's really one of our family faves. Great for weeknights, especially if you have a lot going on because you really only have to heat the chili and dice tomatoes/onions. Otherwise it's open this and put some onto your plate/bowl. Can't get much easier than that now can you?!
Ole!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Valentine's Day ... ooh la la!
Okay ... so I have a plan for tomorrow to surprise my kids many times throughout the day. I'm soooo excited!! I went to Target today (thanks to getting the ad via email) and picked up some of the $9 movies - I mean, hello ... $20 movies on sale for $9 is a great deal. ESPECIALLY when some are newer releases! I got REAL STEEL and CAPTAIN AMERICA for the boy, and CARS 2 and KUNG FU PANDA 2 for the girl. I also grabbed a bag of Hershey's Kisses (in the festive pinks and silver) to splatter around the counter top around their gift bags in the morning. I'm going to have it out ready for them in the morning. I'm also serving some PINK HOT CHOCOLATE thanks to finding the recipe in last week's issue of Woman's World Weekly magazine. (I'll share the recipe at the end of the post.) I also decided that since I have heart shaped sandwich cutters, I'm going to do some French Toast in the shape of hearts. All of this will be the {beginning} of the surprises for the day!! Then I'm going to make their lunches (which I NEVER do) and I'll again use the sandwich cutter to cut their pb&j (their fave) into hearts, so that's surprise #2 for the day. I also picked up some strawberries and melting chocolate (the kind in a container that you nuke in the microwave, to be found in the baking aisle of your grocery market) to do some dipped strawberries for dessert and that's surprise#3 for the day.
I really can't tell you how fun it has been to come up with all of this - literally all since about 1pm today - and less than 4 hours later I'm good to go with all of it and giddy with excitement! This is so not me, but it sure is fun. I mean I like to do fun, cool things and surprise my kids, but normally I don't get this many ideas ESPECIALLY all at once. Okay, I've had the hot cocoa idea for over a week, but the rest fell in place today. Now there is one thing that I wanted to do but can't ... on Pinterest I saw heart shaped CoolWhip (splat it down, try to flatten and freeze then use cookie cutters to do whatever shape you want!) but couldn't find a heart shaped cookie cutter at either Target or Walmart today. So. Ixney that idea. I think the kids will be in awe of the pink hot chocolate and not worry about (what they don't know they are missing) in heart shaped CoolWhip. {hee hee}
Pink Hot Chocolate -- Woman's World Weekly magazine, February 13th issue
In small pot, heat 2 cups milk over low heat until steaming. (Do not bring to a boil.) Place 1/2 cup white chocolate chips in bowl; carefully pour in milk. Whisk in 3 Tbspn maraschino cherry juice and 1/2 tspn vanilla extract. Divide between two mugs and enjoy! Serves 2.
So as I close, I want to wish you and yours a very happy and love-filled Valentine's Day tomorrow. Hug and kiss those you love, tell them as well as showing them, and may your heart be filled with love and joy as you share the festivities with those you care the most about.
I really can't tell you how fun it has been to come up with all of this - literally all since about 1pm today - and less than 4 hours later I'm good to go with all of it and giddy with excitement! This is so not me, but it sure is fun. I mean I like to do fun, cool things and surprise my kids, but normally I don't get this many ideas ESPECIALLY all at once. Okay, I've had the hot cocoa idea for over a week, but the rest fell in place today. Now there is one thing that I wanted to do but can't ... on Pinterest I saw heart shaped CoolWhip (splat it down, try to flatten and freeze then use cookie cutters to do whatever shape you want!) but couldn't find a heart shaped cookie cutter at either Target or Walmart today. So. Ixney that idea. I think the kids will be in awe of the pink hot chocolate and not worry about (what they don't know they are missing) in heart shaped CoolWhip. {hee hee}
Pink Hot Chocolate -- Woman's World Weekly magazine, February 13th issue
In small pot, heat 2 cups milk over low heat until steaming. (Do not bring to a boil.) Place 1/2 cup white chocolate chips in bowl; carefully pour in milk. Whisk in 3 Tbspn maraschino cherry juice and 1/2 tspn vanilla extract. Divide between two mugs and enjoy! Serves 2.
So as I close, I want to wish you and yours a very happy and love-filled Valentine's Day tomorrow. Hug and kiss those you love, tell them as well as showing them, and may your heart be filled with love and joy as you share the festivities with those you care the most about.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Playing catch up ...
Sooooooooooooooooo ... it's been a {few} days since I last blogged. Oopsie! Time. There just isn't enough of it. Don't you agree? If only we could stop the clock - WHEN THE KIDDO-KA-DINKS are asleep or at school or something so it's just "Momma time" - and get done all that is needing to be done ... laundry, Spring cleaning, organization. Crafting time, painting, chilling out with a magazine. I mean, the sky's the limit. I'd enjoy some time to just do what I needed to do without constant bickering amongst the kids, and all their shenanigans. Some of the things I'd do would be:
So I feel as if my life is in complete chaos lately. Obviously if there isn't enough time to get it all done, right?! I just have this strong desire that I {HAVE} to get my house in perfect order before the end of the year, with stuff being gotten rid of and organized in the best way possible. It's just time. I've done this to myself from procrastinating over the past few years, but can no longer do so. It's just TIME. Add to this mongo list of things to do the fact that work has been chaotic and stressful, stealing my energy to do the things I need and want to do outside of work, and my kids not behaving the way that I'd like them to. You know, the way that they should and the way that their Momma raised them and somehow they have forgotten it all and act the way they want to. {Ugh!} I tell ya ... STRESSED is the one word I would use to describe my life for the past few weeks. And it's time for this unwanted visitor to take notice and shove off!!!!!!
Anywhoosers ... I've not finished the laundry room; haven't touched it since almost two weekends ago when I last blogged. I did, however, move all of the crafting supplies from my master bedroom to the craft room. I know, I know. It's about time. It's only been my room since August. Hee Hee. It's still a work in progress. Much like the laundry room is turning out to be, or the fact that my Christmas tree is still up and decorated in the living room. {Hush!} I only had some storage and I moved it in the same configuration as it was and set it on this one wall where it fits perfectly, but I have SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much more that I need to find the {perfect} storage for. If there is such a thing. Perfect. But I managed to get every single thing out of my bedroom. It looks so weird! So empty. I do still have all of the stuff in my closet, too, and I'd like to get it out and into the craft room. It's going to be interesting and take a lot of planning. DEFINITELY will need to use the vertical space! Not just for pretty stuff but also for functionality, too. I'm working on the design as I can. I've been eyeballing a desk system from IKEA that I think would be amazing for that room! I plan to do a full wall's worth and a separate desk area for sewing. I think it's going to be AMAZING when it's done, but want to do it as cheaply as possible and still have it looking good.
So much to do. So little time to do it.
- scrapbook
- sew - like quilts and fun pillowcase dresses
- assorted crafting things to decorate my house
- DIY refurbishing of furniture
- gardening
- organization of EVERY nook and cranny in my house
- read every magazine that I have on hand
- massive amounts of baking
- cooking all kinds of fun, fantastic things that would "ooh" and "aah"
- spend more time with friends
- and anything else I could think of along the way!!
So I feel as if my life is in complete chaos lately. Obviously if there isn't enough time to get it all done, right?! I just have this strong desire that I {HAVE} to get my house in perfect order before the end of the year, with stuff being gotten rid of and organized in the best way possible. It's just time. I've done this to myself from procrastinating over the past few years, but can no longer do so. It's just TIME. Add to this mongo list of things to do the fact that work has been chaotic and stressful, stealing my energy to do the things I need and want to do outside of work, and my kids not behaving the way that I'd like them to. You know, the way that they should and the way that their Momma raised them and somehow they have forgotten it all and act the way they want to. {Ugh!} I tell ya ... STRESSED is the one word I would use to describe my life for the past few weeks. And it's time for this unwanted visitor to take notice and shove off!!!!!!
Anywhoosers ... I've not finished the laundry room; haven't touched it since almost two weekends ago when I last blogged. I did, however, move all of the crafting supplies from my master bedroom to the craft room. I know, I know. It's about time. It's only been my room since August. Hee Hee. It's still a work in progress. Much like the laundry room is turning out to be, or the fact that my Christmas tree is still up and decorated in the living room. {Hush!} I only had some storage and I moved it in the same configuration as it was and set it on this one wall where it fits perfectly, but I have SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much more that I need to find the {perfect} storage for. If there is such a thing. Perfect. But I managed to get every single thing out of my bedroom. It looks so weird! So empty. I do still have all of the stuff in my closet, too, and I'd like to get it out and into the craft room. It's going to be interesting and take a lot of planning. DEFINITELY will need to use the vertical space! Not just for pretty stuff but also for functionality, too. I'm working on the design as I can. I've been eyeballing a desk system from IKEA that I think would be amazing for that room! I plan to do a full wall's worth and a separate desk area for sewing. I think it's going to be AMAZING when it's done, but want to do it as cheaply as possible and still have it looking good.
So much to do. So little time to do it.
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