Fryin' Up The Bacon

Wednesday already?

2009-09-09T09:44:00.003-04:00

My how time flies...I can't believe it is already Wednesday, much less the ninth of September. Did summer just get started? Well, it seems that way. Summer always goes much too quickly.

Well, today is soap day. Meaning I'm almost out of laundry detergent so I had to make a batch. If you are looking to save money, you should really try this. I can make about 4 to 6 batches (depending if I use any of the supplies for other cleaning projects) with one box of borax, one box of WASHING soda and a few bars of soap. AND each batch fills up 4 empty laundry bottles. The supplies cost me about the same price of one of the "name" brands of detergent. Hm, same price and I get tons more laundry detergent.

Here's the recipe I use:

LAUNDRY DETERGENT RECIPE
Hot water
1/2 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1/3 bar Soap (grated)

In a large pot, heat 3 pints of water. Add the grated bar soap and stir until melted. Then add the washing soda and borax. Stir until powder is dissolved, then remove from heat.
In a 2 gallon clean pail, pour 1 quart of hot water and add the heated soap mixture. Top pail with cold water and stir well.
Use 1/2 cup per load, stirring soap before each use (will gel).

You can also add some scent if you want to. I think I'm going to go to Michael's (craft supply store) and buy some of the scents they sell for making hand soap. That should work well. I've also heard that you can just add some essential oil to scent the detergent.

Well, I've got to run. I promised Rylie that I would have some fresh baked chocolate chip cookies for her when I pick her up from school. Usually I have a ton of "chips" in the freezer but all I have right now are butterscotch and white chocolate and she wasn't going for either one of those. My girl likes her CHOCOLATE...lol.

See ya later!
Jill Marie

My apologies...

2009-08-24T10:22:00.005-04:00

It's been a long and busy summer and Rylie and I have been very busy. Okay, okay...so most days we woke up, put on our suits and headed for the pool. We also planted a vegetable garden and worked in the yard a bit.
Rylie lost one of her fillings and we had to make an emergency visit to the dentist. Usually she does pretty well but that day she just screamed and cried. We had to put her in the papoose (sp) because she was moving so much. That is just so pitiful, to see your baby in restraints like that.
Yep, it's been a busy summer, although nothing was as busy as the past 5 days, or so. Let's see, last Wednesday we had steak for dinner. A piece seemed to get stuck in my throat. I wasn't too worried because this has happened, in the past year or two every, every couple of months. Usually I just stand over the garbage disposal and let whatever slide up my thoat. Well, I did that...all night long. And all the next day. I couldn't even keep water down. Even if I sucked on an ice cube, it would take just a minute and I'd be gagging again.
I went to the clinic and the doctor said it was GERD (acid reflux). He gave me a presciption for a medication to stop me from throwing up. I'm not even going to say how I was suppose to take it, but I couldn't keep anything in my stomach so I'm sure you can guess. Then a half hour later I was suppose to take a Nexium. Well, I still felt "gaggy" so I waited an hour. I took the Nexium and up it came. I took it again and it popped back up to say hello. After the third attempt I just gave up.
Ray got home and took me to the ER since it had been 24 hours since I had been able to drink any water we were a little worried about dehydration. They took x-rays and said I would need to stay overnight and have a scope put down my esophegus the next morning. Well, Ray and I had some pretty BIG plans for the next day (Friday). The doctor called specialist and explained the situation and he said he and his nurse would come in that evening. So at about 10pm I was sedated and they popped this scope down my throat.
They found the impacted food and removed it. They also informed us (I don't remember, I was pretty high from the demerol and whatnot) that I have a hiatal hernia in my throat. Apparently that makes my thoat real narrow and I have to take very small bites and chew very thoroughly.
Friday morning arrived and Ray, Rylie and I got dressed and headed for the courthouse. We were getting married. We had our birth certificates, drivers licenses and I had my divorce papers. Unfortunately, I was missing one page...the one with the judge's signature. Oops!
Luckily, the clerk was able to call the county clerk in Wood County and verify that the divorce was finalized on Feb. 29, 1996. Yea! It was a go. So we went downstairs and met a very nice minister who married us on under a tree on the front lawn of the Lucas county courthouse.
Then today is the first day of kindergarten for Rylie. I am a bit worried about her. She doesn't eat much breakfast and she isn't used to getting up so early. I hope she is okay. I also feel a wee bit guilty because everyone said I was gonna be one of those mom's who cry. I didn't.
Instead I came home, cleaned the front bathroom, did two loads of laundry, cleaned Rylie's bedroom (thoroughly) and am sitting her catching up. I don't know, maybe it will hit me later. It's not like I don't care. I'm worried about how she will do, if she is hungry, if she is tired and whether or not she will make friends. I just haven't cried or had a breakdown like everyone predicted.

Here's a song for Rylie's big day. "Fireflies" sung by Faith Hill.

Before you met me I was a fairy princess
I caught frogs and called them prince
And made myself a queen
Before you knew me I'd traveled 'round the world
I slept in castles
And fell in love
Because I was taught to dream

I found mayonnaise bottles and poked holes on top
To capture Tinker Bell
And they were just fireflies to the untrained eye
But I could always tell

I believe in fairy tales
And dreamer's dreams
Like bedsheet sails
I believe in Peter Pan
And miracles, and anything I can to get by
And fireflies

Before I grew up I saw you on a cloud
I could bless myself in your name
And pat you on your wings
Before I grew I heard you whisper so loud
life is hard and so is love
Child, believe in all these things

I found mayonnaise bottles and poked holes on top
To capture Tinker Bell
they were just fireflies to the untrained eye
But I could always tell

I believe in fairy tales
And dreamer's dreams
Like bedsheet sails
And I believe in Peter Pan
And miracles, and anything I can to get by . . .
And fireflies
And fireflies . . .

Before you met me I was a fairy princess
I caught frogs and called them prince
And made myself a queen
Before you knew me I'd traveled 'round the world
AndI slept in castles
And fell in love
Because I was taught to dream

Well, have a great day and I promise to try to get back into the swing of things on here.
Jill Marie

Home Remedy and my take on the final American Idol performances

2009-05-21T09:27:00.006-04:00

Happy Thursday! I like Thursdays...they seem so cheerful to me. Especially when they come before a 3 day weekend. =)

Here is a home remedy for a cough with mucus:
Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1/2 tsp. each of ginger, ground cloves, and cinnamon. Filter. Sweeten with 1 tsp. honey and drink.

Did anyone else watch American Idol? We did and I can't tell you how happy I am that Kris Allen won. I was really cheering for Danny Gokey, but I liked Kris too.

One Tuesday, their final performance, I was a wee bit ticked off with the final song. It was one that Kara DioGuardi (the new 4th judge) co-wrote. It seemed to be a song written just for Adam Lambert. Even Kara admitted that it had been written in a key too high for Kris. It appeared as though they had written a song perfect for Adam and made to help Kris fail. And oh how Kara glowed after watching Adam's performance of her cutesy little song. It wasn't too hard to see that she had written this with only Adam in mind. But Kris did his best and after almost 100 million votes he won American Idol.

I don't want to take anything away from Adam. He has a great voice and I think he'll do great on a big stage (Broadway). Kris and Adam are just two very different performers. You'd go see Adam if you wanted to see a huge performance, a big "show". If you want to feel like someone is singing to you, like your hanging with the guy...then you would go see Kris. Kris reminds me of someone like John Mayer, where Adam reminds me of...sorry, but I kept thinking this every time I saw him sing and I have to be honest, he really reminded me of a drag queen. You know, like he was putting on this really big show. While Kris just seemed more REAL and honest in his performances.

I'm sure I'll get more than a few hate-mails if any of the Adam fans find me here in my little blog. I really don't mean any disrespect by it, but that is honestly what I kept picturing in my mind when I would watch him sing. His performances were just so "showy" and that's what I would think of. Where Kris just seemed more authentic with his performance.

Yeah, I'll admit after watching many of Adams performances I would sit there and say "wow, what a show" and "that boy can really scream high". But when I would watch Kris sing it almost always touched me in some way and it always left a smile on my face. I think it would be really cool to see him perform live and watch him just sing on with his acustic guitar (maybe a few back up instruments). Kris has the ability to touch you with his voice without needing to scream and screetch or put on a big "show" and that is what I like about him the most. Plus, that lil' boy is cute too. LOL

Well, I hope ya'll have a happy and safe holiday weekend.
Hugs,
Jill Marie

It's all child's play...

2009-05-20T09:31:00.002-04:00

Good morning. Yesterday was just way too busy and I didn't have time to get on the computer and make a post. So today I wanted to give ya'll those recipes for childrens activites that my neighbor gave me. These are for clay, paint and paste made right in your kitchen. The kids will have fun working on projects and helping make the art supplies too.

RECIPES FOR CHILDREN'S PLAY

BOILED PASTE
1 cup flour, Add cold water until water and flour is as thick as cream. Simmer and stir for 5 minutes. Add wintergreen for nice smell. Add food coloring for nice color. Store in refrigerator in airtight Jar.

BRUSH PAINT
Liquid starch and a little food coloring mixed together. Use a pastry brush ,or paint brush. Or Mix soap flakes and a little water to make paste. Add food coloring. Store in baby food Jars.

CHEMICAL GARDEN
Mix 6 Tbsp, each of bluing, water and salt. Add: 1 Tbsp. ammonia. Mix well and slowly pour over 3 or 4 small rocks or coal in an old pie pan. Crystals start to grow very soon and continue to grow as long as liquid stays. You may add a few drops of food coloring to rocks.

COLORED DOUGH
3 cups flour 2 tsp. food coloring 3/4 cup salt 1/2 cup water
Sift flour and salt together Into a pan. Mix coloring and water and add gradually to flour and salt mixture. Knead as you would bread dough until mixture is smooth and easy to handle. When not In use, place in plastic bag and keep in cool place.

FINGER PAINT
Mix flour and salt with a little water to make a paste like thick gravy. Add food coloring. Used best on shelf paper.
OR
1 can shaving soap (non-mentholated). Mix powdered paint or food coloring for desired color. If soap begins to dry add a few drops of water or more soap. This paint cleans up easily with 9 paper towel and washes off clothes and hands easily.

MODELING CLAY
2 cups flour, 1 cup salt and a few drops each of: oil of cloves
and food coloring, and water. Mix flour, salt and cloves. Add
food coloring to water and then add to flour and salt. Can be
stored In plsatlc bag for a month. Don't refrigerate.

NO COOK PASTE
1 handful of flour, add water (a little at a time). Mix until
gooey, It should be quite thick.

PLAYDOUGH
1 cup salt 1 1/2 cups flour 1/2 cup water 2 Tbsp, food coloring Mix all ingredients together thoroughly in a bowl. Can be stored for weeks in a plastic bag or covered Jar in refrigerator.

SALT CLAY
In the top of a double boiler put:
1 cup salt, 1/2 cup cornstarch, 3/4 CUP cold water
This mixture will thicken quickly. Place on waxed paper to cool before making your project.

I apologize for any typo's. I scanned the paper and saved it to my computer. Unfortunately, the scanner didn't recognize some of the charaters and I had to try to catch them all and correct them.

I was in the kitchen making Rylie's breakfast yesterday when the doorbell rang. It was the FedEx lady. She had a nice little delivery for me. It was the Wave Petunia's I won in a contest last fall. I was so excited, I just couldn't wait to get them planted. I planted most of them in the middle of the yard around one of the water features (I'd really like to re-do that one) we have.

I'll have to take some pictures of the flowers once they take ahold and get busy growing. I am so excited about summer! On Monday I went and bought a few vegetable plants and put them in the garden...after I made it a wee bit bigger. LOL So from seeds I have 3 kinds of radishes, carrots, lettuce, green beans, spinach, cucumbers and onions. From the nursery I have zuchini, squash, watermelons, cantaloupe, banana peppers and habeneros. Mmm, I can't wait until it is time to start harvesting some of those goodies.

I'm off to finish some things and then hopefully enjoy a beautiful day.
Hugs,
Jill Marie

Baked Ziti

2009-05-18T08:08:00.003-04:00

I was trying to figure out what recipe to share with ya'll today when I got an email from our neighbor with a recipe she had promised to send me.

BAKED ZITI WITH SPINACH
Ingredients
* Salt
* 1 pound ziti
* 1 pound hot Italian turkey sausage, casing removed
* 1 medium onion, chopped
* 3 cloves garlic, chopped
* 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
* 6 ounces pesto
* 15 ounces ricotta cheese
* 1 (9-ounce) package washed spinach
* Butter, for baking dish
* 2 cups shredded mozzarella, plus more for topping
* 1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan, plus more for topping
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add ziti and cook until al dente. Drain in a colander.
In a large skillet over medium heat, saute turkey sausage. Add onion and garlic and saute until the sausage is cooked through. Use your spoon to break up the sausage while it cooks. Add the can of diced tomatoes and pesto and let simmer for 10 minutes.
Add the ricotta cheese, spinach, Parmesan and mozzarella to a large bowl, and stir to combine.
Butter a 4-quart baking dish, add the cooked pasta, then sausage mixture and cheese mixture. Top with a sprinkling of mozzarella and Parmesan.
Bake until completely heated through and golden and crisp on top, about 20 minutes.

Sounds delicious to me. And...I have spinach planted in the garden so soon I'll be able to add FRESH spinach. Yum!
I also went and found a really simple recipe for those of you who have to work and need to put a dinner together quickly. Just add a veggie and/or a salad and some hot garlic bread or rolls and your ready to go.

EASY BAKED ZITI
Ingredients:
1 box ziti noodles
1 jar spaghetti sauce
ricotta cheese
shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions:
In a large oven safe dish, pour in the whole jar of spaghetti sauce. Add ricotta cheese, mixing as you go, until the mixture turns an orange kinda color. Meanwhile, cook the whole box of ziti noodles according to the instructions on the box. When they are cooked and drained, dump them into the dish with the spaghetti sauce/ricotta mix. Stir so all the noodles are covered with the sauce. Cover the whole mixture with a layer of mozzarella cheese. Bake in preheated oven at 350* F until mozzarella cheese is melted.

I often forget to buy garlic bread so I put some cheap dinner biscuits on the pan and lightly spray the tops with butter flavored cooking spray and shake a bit of garlic salt on them. It's a quick and easy way to flavor up the package of 33 cent dinner biscuits I get at Aldi's.

It looks like it is going to be a very nice day here ((keeping my fingers crossed)). I've got some laundry to do, a garden to check on (we had a freeze warning last night, ugh) and I might try to find the time to make some salt clay for Rylie today. The same neighbor who gave me the Ziti recipe sent me a page of homemade paint and clay recipes. I'll have to put some of them on here at some point.

Have a great day everyone!
Hugs,
Jill Marie

Cleaning Tip & Home Remedy

2009-05-14T08:36:00.003-04:00

Good Morning! Since I was busy crying with pain last week, over my kidney stone, I've been spending most of this week trying to catch up on household chores. So here is the tip I should have posted on Tuesday.

Smelly Shoes: Simply fill a tube sock with kitty litter, baking soda, or tea leaves; tie the end closed; and place the filled socks in the shoes when you're not wearing them. These sachets can be used over and over in any kind of shoe.

And here are some home remedies for dealing with morning sickness. If you are a first time mommy you should know that morning sickness is just a "morning" thing. It can hit you any time of the day, or all day long.

Morning Sickness

Keep a snack by the bed to eat before you lift your head from the pillow in the morning. Then, get up slowly.

Make sure your stomach is never completely empty. Carry fruit, cheese and/or crackers around with you to nibble on throughout the day.

Mix 1 tsp. each fresh juice of mint and lime, and 1 Tbls. honey. Take 3 times a day.

Eat a high protein snack before bed at night.

Eat a diet high in carbohydrates and protein, low in fats.

Sniff a fresh lemon peel.

Avoid strong odors and stuffy or smoky rooms.

Suck a piece of peeled ginger root.

Drink red raspberry leaf, peppermint, squaw vine or spearmint tea.

Drink ginger tea made by boiling some ginger root in water. Strain it and add honey to sweeten.

Try taking your vitamins later in the day.

If you are vomiting a lot, try limiting your diet to a single food, one that you know you can tolerate. Add one additional food per day as you can tolerate them.

Everyone is different and what may work for one person may not work for someone else. The most important thing is to make sure your baby is getting enough nurishment. Be sure you discuss the morning sickness with your doctor. Let him know what you have tried and whether or not anything is working for you.

I hope ya'll have a great day. It looks like another gloomy and wet one here. Blah... =(

Hugs,
Jill Marie

Olive Garden Salad & Bread Sticks

2009-05-11T08:07:00.004-04:00

Forgive my absence. I had to go to the doctor and ER last week. Another bout of kidney stones. I can't even begin to describe the pain and the pain meds make me loopier than usual. =)

Saturday my daughter, Samantha, took me out to lunch with her boyfriend and his mother. We went to Olive Garden. My main entree' was alright, but I still love the salad and bread sticks the best. I looked around online and found these recipes to share with ya'll today.

Olive Garden Salad Dressing
Ingredients
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup white vinegar
1 tsp vegetable oil
2 Tbls. corn syrup
2 Tbls. Parmesan cheese
2 Tbls. Romano cheese
1/4 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. parsley flakes
1 Tbl. lemon juice

Olive Garden Salad Mix
1 bag American blend Dole Salad
4-5 slices red onion
4-6 Black olives
2-4 Banana peppers
1/2 cup croutons
1 small tomato, quartered
Freshy grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a blender or processor until well blended. If this is a little too tart for your personal taste, add a little sugar.

Olive Garden Breadsticks
Ingredients
1 Loaf unfrozen bread -- thaw in bowl at room temp
Pam
Garlic powder
Dry oregano leaf -- rub to a powder between fingers

Directions
When dough is soft enough to knead, spray your fingers with Pam or oil and knead just until you can shape into cigar-sized pieces (about 8 to 10). Place these 3" apart on Pam-sprayed cookie sheets. Let rise in warm place until doubled - about 1-1/2 hours. Then holding Pam (I use butter flavored Pam for this) about 8" from sticks, lightly spray top of each and then dust with garlic powder and oregano. Bake at 375 for about 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan on rack to serve within a day or two.

Mothers Day was a really good day. Ray made me breakfast in bed...really! LOL It was a great start to the day. I had bought wooden picture frames about two weeks ago and had Rylie paint them for her grandma's, so we had those to give them. So that morning Rylie and I went to the nursery and bought a planter for both grandmothers.

Ray, Rylie and I spent the day working outside and whatnot. Then we took our mom's to Red Lobster for dinner. We only go there about once every 3 or 4 years so, of course, we made pigs of ourselves. It was delicious. I think, if I let him, Ray could eat two of the Ultimate Feasts all by himself. LOL

By the way, did anyone watch the Celebrity Apprentice? OMGosh...I could not have been more annoyed. When we first started watching the series I kept ignoring Ray and the smart alec comments he would make about Joan Rivers and her daughter, Melissa. However, several weeks ago that ol' hag Joan started showing her true colors and let me tell you, she is a very ugly person inside. I believe if you lifted up their shirts you'd see the umbilical cord which still has Melissa attached to her mommy.

Joan attacked another woman, Annie Duke (a famous poker player) week after week. All because she thought Annie had "betrayed" her daughter. Give it up Joanie...it's a flippin' game! I'm sorry, I never saw the scene where anyone swore allegiance to her precious lil' Melissa. What the heck? But apparently when you "betray" that old woman's daughter you better be prepared to be viciously attacked by an old vile mouthed plastic faced viper that wears a ton of make-up.

I guess I expected a little more class from an old woman like Joanie. For someone who thinks she is so much better than everyone else she behaved like pure trash! I'll just say this, I am a mother of four, I shop at Aldi's and live in a double wide and I believe I have more class in my little finger than ol' Joanie has in her entire body. Joan Rivers may have won the Celebrity Apprentice, but I'd give the award for grace and class under attack to Annie the poker player. Annie also appears to be a much better business person too.

Old Joanie was also infamous to attacking Clint Black, accusing him of being egotistical. OMG, is that calling the kettle black or what?! I don't think I've ever seen anyone as egotistical, nasty, vile, and sure of their superiority than old lady Rivers. Just my opinion.

Anyway, I'm hoping for a nice day here. I'd really like to get outside and work in the garden.

Have a good one!
Hugs,
Jill Marie

Bisquick Dinner Recipes

2009-05-04T08:47:00.002-04:00

Good morning! When David, Sammi and Chris were small I used to make this first recipe a lot. It is one that is on the back of the Bisquick box. We'd top it with ketchup and mustard. Sometimes I'd even make some french fries to go with it. The Betty Crocker site has a lot more Bisquick recipes if you wanna check out some more.

Impossibly Easy Cheeseburger Pie
1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 oz)
1/2 cup Original Bisquick® mix
1 cup milk
2 eggs

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 9-inch glass pie plate with cooking spray.
2. In 10-inch skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain. Stir in salt. Spread in pie plate. Sprinkle with cheese.
3. In small bowl, stir remaining ingredients with fork or wire whisk until blended. Pour into pie plate.
4. Bake about 25 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Bake 30 to 35 minutes.

Impossibly Easy Taco Pie
1 pound lean ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 package (1 ounce) Old El Paso® taco seasoning mix
1 can (4.5 ounces) Old El Paso® chopped green chiles, drained
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 cup Original Bisquick® mix
3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese (3 ounces)
Old El Paso® salsa (any variety)
Sour cream, if desired

1. Heat oven to 400ºF. Grease 9-inch pie plate. Cook ground beef and onion in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain. Stir in seasoning mix (dry). Spoon into pie plate; top with chilies.
2. Stir milk, eggs and Bisquick mix until blended. Pour into pie plate.
3. Bake about 25 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake 8 to 10 minutes longer. Cool 5 minutes. Serve with salsa and sour cream.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft) Increase first bake time to about 28 minutes.

Special Touch-Top it like a taco! Pile slices of this zesty pie high with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, sliced green onions and sour cream.
Substitution-For a zippier flavor, chop a jalapeño chili and use it instead of the green chilies.

Quick Cheeseburger Bake
1 lb (at least 80%) lean ground beef
3/4 cup chopped onion
1 can (11 oz) condensed Cheddar cheese soup
1 cup Green Giant® Valley Fresh Steamers™ frozen mixed vegetables
1/4 cup milk
2 cups Original Bisquick® mix
3/4 cup water
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 oz)

1. Heat oven to 400ºF. Generously grease rectangular baking dish, 13x9x2 inches. Cook ground beef and onion in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain. Stir in soup, vegetables and milk.
2. Stir Bisquick mix and water in baking dish until moistened; spread evenly. Spread beef mixture over batter. Sprinkle with cheese.
3. Bake 30 minutes.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft) No changes.

Bisquick Chicken Pot Pie
2 cups frozen veggies, thawed
1 cup cooked chicken, or 1 can chicken
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup Bisquick
1/2 cup milk
1 egg, beaten
Save Recipe

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix veggies, chicken and soup in a glass pie plate. In a separate bowl, mix the Bisquick, milk and egg. Pour batter on veggie mixture. Bake for 30 minutes.

Of course, if you're on a tight budget, or just extremely cheap (like myself), you don't have to use the Bisquick brand. I use a generic baking mix, along with everything else generic, and it is just as good.

When Ray's oldest daughter lived with us, we liked making the Chicken Pot Pie. However, we were not crazy about all the veggies, so we just added corn and potatoes. Mmmm. After the second or third time of making it that way, Ray informed us that he didn't care for it. He always ate it though, he said by the time he got home he was just hungry and ate whatever was for dinner. I love the fact that we will just eat whatever I make with no complaints. So unlike our youngest, Rylie Jo, who will eat one thing this week and hate it next week.

By the way, I'd like to make a little product recommendation. Last week I bought a bottle of that stuff call "Cool Blue Agent", or something like that. It's made by Listerine. It has a cool little measure thing right at the top of the bottle. The kids just slowly squeeze the bottle and it measure exactly how much you need into the neck of the bottle. If they squeeze too much, the excess goes back into the bottle. The kids swish it around in their mouth for about 30 seconds and it will leave a blue stain on their teeth showing them where they really need to concentrate on brushing.

Rylie really enjoys using this stuff and now makes of point of remembering to brush her teeth. She will even go into the bathroom in the middle of the day to brush now, without my having to tell her to do it. I just have to count to 30 while she swishes the stuff in her mouth.

I don't know if this will work the same way for other kids (getting them to brush more often), but it's worth the $3 or $4 to give it a try.

I went to take a look at my garden the other day. I am so flippin' excited. It's been less than a week and I've got radishes popping up. I can't wait to get everything else planted. Mmmm, fresh veggies. My neighbor isn't doing a garden this year so she gave me some of her fresh oregano to put in my garden. I also have fresh chives growing out there. Wow, let me tell you, those chives are awesome and I don't have to do anything to keep them. They just keep coming up like crazy.

Well, I've got a lot of laundry and cleaning to do today, so have a wonderful day and I'll see ya later.
Hugs,
Jill Marie

Home Remedy--Insect Bites

2009-04-30T10:10:00.002-04:00

Well, spring is here and that means that soon we'll be spending more time outdoors and most of us will be getting bit or stung by some pesky insect or other.

Insect Bites
*Mix water with cornstarch into a paste and apply. This is effective in drawing out the poisons of most insect bites and is also an effective remedy for diaper rash.

Try to wear less perfumes as many insects will drawn to you by the scent. At our house we use rubbing alcohol to stop the itch of skeeter bites, but you should only do this before you start scratching. If you've already broken the skin and then put on the alcohol...yeoouch...it is really gonna burn.

Bee Stings
*Use meat tenderizer-Mix water with cornstarch into a paste and apply. This is effective in drawing out the poisons of most insect bites.
*Make a paste with crushed aspirin and water and apply liberally to the sting.
*When you get a bee sting spit in some dirt and make mud. Apply the mud for 15 minutes this helps bring the stinger quickly and helps the pain go away. Great idea to try if your away from home, camping, hiking or whatever.
*Sprinkle an alka-seltzer tablet with enough water to make it fizz and lay it directly on top of the sting. In a couple of minutes the pain should go away and the swelling should go down.
*If you have a cigarrete nearby break it open, wet the tobacco & apply directly onto bee sting, it relieves the pain and avoids swelling.

Another remedy, that I had never heard of, but read about, was to place childrens benadryl directly on the bee sting. Hmmm. Well, there is a lot of information out there. A lot of different remedies passed down from generation to generation.

If you have a remedy for bee stings, ways to keep bee's away, or skeeter remedies, etc., please leave a comment and let us know what your family finds most effective. Thanks!

Have a great day.
Hugs,
Jill Marie

Salsa Pizza Recipe

2009-04-27T07:38:00.003-04:00

Good Monday Morning! I hope ya'll had as beautiful of a weekend as we did around here. Here's a tasty sounding pizza recipe from good ole Betty Crocker.

Salsa Pizza with Cheese Crust
1 pound lean ground beef
1 1/4 cups Old El Paso® Thick 'n Chunky salsa
2 cups Original Bisquick® mix
1/4 cup mild salsa-flavor or jalapeño-flavor process cheese spread
1/4 cup hot water
4 medium green onions, sliced (1/2 cup)
1 cup shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese (4 ounces)

1. Heat oven to 375ºF. Grease large cookie sheet.
2. Cook beef in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until brown; drain. Stir in salsa; remove from heat.
3. Stir Bisquick, cheese spread and hot water until soft dough forms. Turn dough onto surface dusted with Bisquick; roll in Bisquick to coat. Shape into ball; knead 5 times. Roll into 14-inch circle; place on cookie sheet.
4. Spread beef mixture over crust to within 2 inches of edge. Sprinkle with onions. Fold edge over till it meets the beef mixture. Sprinkle with cheese.
5. Bake 25 to 28 minutes or until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted.

Serve With-Garnish the pizza with chopped tomato and shredded lettuce.
Substitution-Use the jalapeño-flavor process cheese spread if you prefer a spicier crust.

Anyone else thinking the same thing as I was after reading that recipe? Like adding some cheese to the crust before folding it over? Or I also though about just making the crust, cutting it into squares and folding it over cut up pieces of string cheese, or some other yummy centers, baking and serving as appetizers or hor d'oeurves (sp). Along with some dipping sauce...Mmmm.

Well, as I already said, it was a beautiful weekend here and I made the most of it. I went and got some good top soil and cow manure and worked them into my vegetable garden. I also expanded the garden by about 4-5 feet. I may have to add some more footage though. Last year my garden was so crowded and I want to try planting even more this year. Having fresh veggies right outside our door was just wonderful. I can't wait to start planting and then harvesting. Yum!

Have a beautiful week!
Hugs,
Jill Marie

Home remedies for heartburn

2009-04-23T09:32:00.003-04:00

Good morning! Here are a few home remedies that may come in useful if you suffer from heartburn. Always keep in mind that frequent heartburn may be a sign of an ulcer and you may want to discuss your symptoms with your doctor.

Heartburn
*Almonds- can relieve heartburn. Eat several almonds when heartburn symptoms persist *Lemons- can prevent heartburn. Cut a lemon into thin strips and dip in salt. Eat before meals to prevent heartburn.
*Lemon rind can also be eaten to prevent heartburn.
*1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in 1/2 glass of water sipped during a meal. It may sound bizarre to ingest an acid when you have an acid problem but "there are good acids and bad acids.
*Drink a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water for immediate relief.

Well, I am back on the nicotine patch and going to give the quitting smoking another try. We'll see how this works out this time. Stress seems to be my big trigger for not being able to stick to the plan. Although, now that I am thinking about it...I wanna smoke. Grrr.

Okay, I've gotta get moving here. It looks like a lovely day outside and sitting here in my office is not my idea of fun on a nice day. LOL

Hugs!
Jill Marie

Tuesday cleaning tip

2009-04-21T09:16:00.002-04:00

Well, spring is upon us and if you're anything like me, that means the cleaning bug is going to hit you. When I clean I tend to move furniture and change everything around. Which means there will be flat spots on the carpet from heavy pieces of furniture. So here's a quick little tip to deal with those flat spots.

Smashed Down Carpet: To make the carpet stand back up after moving a piece of furniture, place an ice cube on the spot. As it melts, the piles will go back up.

Actually, the carpet in our home is at least 30 years old and it's pretty flat all over, lol. The only way to make it look only 25 years old is for me to steam clean the entire carpet. Which reminds me, it's about that time again.

The weather this week is suppose to be pretty yucky, so I might just clean the carpets and give the house a real good cleaning. Friday and Saturday it is suppose to be up in the 70's, so if I get the house good and clean I can play outside and not feel too guilty.

I had so much fun playing in the gardens last weekend. It was beautiful outside and I was able to get all the flower beds cleaned up and mulched. Samantha gave me some pavers and I used those to make a pathway through the garden. This weekend I'm hoping to get the vegetable garden prepped. I also want to put some stakes and chicken wire up for the beans and cukes to grow up on.

Just a few more weeks, some steady warm weather and I'll be able to start planting seeds. Yipee! Last year I the only thing I didn't have luck with was the lettuce seeds, so I don't think I'll try those again. I did buy some green bean and carrot seeds and am hoping I'll be able to get those to grow. I'll plant those along with the cukes, zucchini, squash, tomatoes and melons (they were mini melons and very yummy). And of course, I have to decide if I want to use some of the space for Rylie to grow her own pumpkins.

Well, I've got some laundry to finish up and cleaning to get started.
Have a great day!
Hugs,
Jill Marie

Easy Recipe for Chicken Quesadillas

2009-04-20T08:46:00.003-04:00

This recipe seems easy enough. I found it at Simple and Delicious and the total prep and cook time is approx. 30 minutes. If your not thrilled with the idea of using "spicy" tomatoes, I'd try using regular diced tomatoes and a package of taco seasoning.

Ultimate Chicken Quesadillas
Cheesy quesadillas filled with a mixture of tender chicken and spicy tomatoes;

Ingredients
No-Stick Cooking Spray
1/2 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 can (10 oz each) Ro*Tel Mexican Diced Tomatoes with Lime Juice & Cilantro, undrained
1 cup shredded Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese blend

Directions
Spray large skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium heat. Add chicken and undrained tomatoes; cook 10 minutes or until chicken pieces are no longer pink in centers and liquid is evaporated, stirring frequently.
Spread chicken mixture evenly onto bottom half of each tortilla to within 1 inch of edge. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the cheese over chicken mixture on each tortilla. Fold each tortilla in half to cover filling.
Clean skillet. Spray with additional cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat. Cook quesadillas 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown on both sides. Cut into wedges to serve.

I also found this recipe at All Recipes for Churros if you want to make it a Mexican dinner night.

CHURROS

1 cup water
2 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 quarts oil for frying
1/2 cup white sugar, or to taste
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine water, 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar, salt and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Stir in flour until mixture forms a ball.
Heat oil for frying in deep-fryer or deep skillet to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Pipe strips of dough into hot oil using a pastry bag. Fry until golden; drain on paper towels.
Combine 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon. Roll drained churros in cinnamon and sugar mixture.

I also found another recipe using a can of flaky rolls at RecipeZaar, click here Easy Churros, to check out that recipe.

I spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday working in the yard. Getting the gardens cleaned out and ready for planting and putting a lot of mulch out. The weather was absolutely beautiful and, as a matter of fact, my back was even sunburned. I can't wait for it to warm up a wee bit more and stay there so I can begin planting flowers and veggies.

I'm so excited. I'm waiting for my petunias to arrive (I wrote about winning them last October) from entering an online contest. I wonder if I saved that email because it looks like I should be receiving another confirmation before they ship out the flowers.

The main thing I have left to do in the gardens, besides planting, is getting some more cow manure and top soil to mix into the vegetable garden. I also need to buy some stakes and chicken wire. I want to put the chicken wire up in the back of the garden for cucumber and beans to grow up. Last year I had vines growing all over the place and I want to see if it will be better growing up the wire.

I've never had any luck growing pumpkins, but maybe I'll give Rylie her own little patch so she can try growing her own pumpkin for Halloween. I think she'd really enjoy it. She's always wanting to help me in the yard with the gardens. She has her own little shovel and I have to keep a close eye on her or she'll just start digging my stuff up and say something like "look mom, I'm your helper." LOL

Well, have a great week.
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Cleaning shower doors

2009-04-14T09:12:00.003-04:00

Morning ya'll! I hope this week finds everyone happy and healthy. Here are a few cleaning tips to try the next time you go in to tackle the job of cleaning the bathroom. Personally, I hate trying to clean the shower. We have a big garden tub so they gave us this little square shower in the corner. When I'm cleaning the door it is hanging open, over the carpet, and cleaning goo just drips all over the floor.

Of course, I could always stand inside the shower, with the door closed, to clean it. Except then I am stuck inside this 30" x 30" space with cleaning fumes. It is very claustrophobic and I cough continuously from the odor of the cleaning supplies. Ick! Besides, just one or two showers later and the door is all cloudy with gunk again. Anyway, here are some tips for trying to get those shower doors all sparkly clean.

To clean shower doors...

1)Try using Resolve® carpet cleaner on clear shower doors to remove soap scum. (I've heard this is suppose to work well.)

2) Make ammonia solution of 1/2 C. ammonia in 1 gal. water. Pour solution into a spray bottle. Spray the shower door. Use a sponge or stiff bristle brush to scrub. Rinse well.
Warning: Keep room well ventilated while working! Ammonia can irritate your skin, so wear gloves while cleaning with this solution. Ammonia and bleach form a toxic gas when mixed together. Do NOT mix the two cleaners!

3) Vinegar works well on soap scum, especially hot vinegar. Try heating up vinegar in the microwave, clean the microwave (as the vinegar will have loosened any stuck on food) and take the vinegar to the bathroom to clean the soap scum from the shower curtain and walls.

Don't forget, if you have a cleaning tip or a cleaning brand that works great for you, be sure to leave a comment and let everyone else know. Thanks!

BTW, I made a post, not too long ago, about cleaning your fridge with a half & half mixture of warm water and white vinegar. When Rylie and I cleaned out the fride a few weeks ago we used that mixture and it worked really great. I think it even helped with that "fridge" odor.

Have a great day.
Hugs,
Jill Marie

Some recipes from Pillsbury

2009-04-13T09:54:00.003-04:00

Good Morning! Here are a few recipes from Pillsbury using their Grands Biscuits. Of course, if you're budget minded (cheap) like me, you'll just buy the cheap generic biscuits for 33 cents a container and use them in place of the Pillsbury brand.

Heck, in the first recipe I could get away with a real cheap dinner. Just 33 cents for the biscuits and the generic dogs for 79 cents and then add a bag of generic chips for 99 cents and I've got dinner done for just $2.11. LOL Okay, maybe I'll throw in a can of generic beans for 49 cents. Heck, I'm still under $3.

Grands Corn Dogs
1 (17.3-oz.) can Pillsbury® Grands!® Refrigerated Golden Corn Biscuits or 1 (16.3-oz.) can Pillsbury® Grands!® Refrigerated Buttermilk Biscuits
8 teaspoons ketchup
8 teaspoons mustard
8 hot dogs

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease cookie sheet. Separate dough into 8 biscuits. Press or roll each to form 6 1/2-inch oval.
2. Spread each biscuit with 1 teaspoon ketchup and 1 teaspoon mustard. Place 1 hot dog in center of each biscuit. Roll dough around hot dog; seal ends and edges well. Place seam side down on greased cookie sheet.
3. Bake at 350°F. for 15 to 18 minutes or until golden brown.

Sloppy Joe Biscuit Pot Pies
1/2 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion (1/2 medium)
3/4 cup Green Giant® Valley Fresh Steamers™ frozen mixed vegetables
1 teaspoon packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon dry ground mustard
3/4 cup chili sauce
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 Pillsbury® Grands!® Frozen Buttermilk Biscuits (from 25-oz bag)
2 teaspoons milk, if desired
1/2 teaspoon sesame seed, if desired

1. Heat oven to 400ºF. Spray 8-inch skillet with cooking spray. Add ground beef and onion; cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until beef is thoroughly cooked. Drain.
2. Stir in frozen mixed vegetables, brown sugar, mustard, chili sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are crisp-tender.
3. Spoon beef mixture into 2 (1 1/2-cup) ungreased ovenproof bowls or ramekins. Top each with frozen biscuit. Brush each biscuit with milk; sprinkle with sesame seed.
4. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until biscuits are deep golden brown.

Grands Biscuit Taco Cups
1 1/2 lb. lean ground beef
1 (15-oz.) can spicy chili beans, undrained
1 (1.25-oz.) pkg. Old El Paso® 40% Less-Sodium Taco Seasoning Mix
1/2 cup water
1 (16.3-oz.) can Pillsbury Grands!® Refrigerated Golden Corn or 1 (16.3-oz.) can Pillsbury® Grands!® Refrigerated Buttermilk Biscuits
4 oz. (1 cup) shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded lettuce, if desired
1/2 cup chopped tomato, if desired
1/2 cup sour cream, if desired
1/2 cup Old El Paso Salsa, if desired

Heat oven to 375F. Brown ground beef in large skillet over medium-high heat until thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently. Drain.
Add chili beans, taco seasoning mix and water; mix well. Reduce heat to medium; simmer 10 minutes or until ground beef mixture is slightly thickened, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, spray outside bottom and sides of 8 (6-oz.) custard cups lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Separate dough into 8 biscuits. Roll or pat each biscuit to form 4 1/2-inch round. Place rounds over outside of sprayed cups; press to fit over bottom and part way down sides of cups. Place cups, upside down, in ungreased 15x10x1-inch baking pan.
Bake at 375F. for 14 to 16 minutes or until deep golden brown. Remove pan from oven. Carefully remove biscuit cups from custard cups. Place biscuit cups, right side up, in same baking pan. Spoon beef mixture evenly into each cup.
Top with cheese, lettuce, tomato, sour cream and salsa. 8 taco cups

Meatball Bubble Biscuits
1 (12-oz) can Pillsbury Golden Layers Refrigerated Buttermilk or Flaky Biscuits (I bet Grands would work)
10 frozen cooked Italian meatballs (about 5-oz), thawed, each cut in half
2 (1-oz) sticks string cheese, each cut into 10 pieces
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup marinara sauce

Heat oven to 375. Separate dough into 10 biscuits. Separate each biscuit into 2 layers. Press each biscuit layer to form 3-inch round.

Place 1 meatball half, cut side up, and 1 string cheese piece in center of each dough round. Wrap dough around meatball and cheese, pressing edges to seal. Place seam side down in single layer in ungreased 8 or 9-inch round cake pan. Sprinkle evenly with Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning and garlic powder.

Bake at 375 for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and biscuits are no longer doughy in center. Remove from pan. Serve warm biscuits with warm marinara sauce for dipping. 20 servings

Cheesy Sausage Calzones
1/2 lb bulk Italian pork sausage
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 (10 ounce) can 95 biscuits) Pillsbury Grands
2 ounces (1/2 cup) shredded mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 cups tomato pasta sauce, heated

Heat oven to 375. In medium skillet, combine sausage, onions and bell pepper; cook over medium heat for 10 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink, stirring frequently. Drain. Cool 10 minutes.

Separate dough into 5 biscuits. On ungreased large cookie sheet, press each biscuit to form 6-inch round. Top half of each biscuit round with sausage mixture and cheese to within 1/2 inch of edge. Fold dough over filling; press edges firmly with fork to seal.

Bake at 375 for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm calzones with warm pasta sauce for dipping. 5 servings

Mini Pizza's

One can of Pillsbury Grands biscuits
Pizza or spaghetti sauce
Mozzarella cheese
Any additional pizza toppings

Flatten Pillsbury Grands biscuits to the thickness of crust you desire. Add sauce, cheese and toppings. Bake at 400º F for approximately 12 minutes or until crust is brown, and cheese is melted. This is a great dish for kids to help with.

What, you want dessert too? Okay, open a package of biscuits, flatten one and add a dollop of pie filling. Fold it over and seal the edges. Drop into hot oil and cook until golden brown. Sprinkle with a little bit of sugar when you take it out of the oil and...Viola! Individual pies.

Have a lovely Monday.
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Home Remedy -- Headaches

2009-04-09T07:55:00.002-04:00

Morning ya'll. Here are a few tips you can try to relieve a headache without medication.

Headache

*Eat 10-12 almonds, the equivalent of two aspirins, for a migraine headache. Almonds are far less likely to upset the stomach.
*Drinking two glasses of Gatorade® can relieve headache pain almost
immediately -- without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional "pain relievers."
*Hot OR Cold compress applied directly to the area of pain. I've read comments that say hot compress and I've read comments that say ice packs work to relieve pain. I'm going to guess that it depends on the person and what type of headache they have. I remember years ago, my doctor told me to alternate cold and hot compresses for my migraines.
*Drink lots of water. As much as possible, stick to the eight-glasses a day recommended amount of daily water intake. Water cools down the body and so when you feel a major headache, drink up to get rid of it. This relates to the tip to drink Gatorade. Dehydration will cause you to have a headache or hangover. Drinking 6 to 8, eight oz glasses of water a day may help you to avoid the headache and it is just good for you from everything I've heard.
*Watch a funny movie. Laughing is supposed to stimulate the release of serotonin and it is believed to relieve headaches.
*Tension is a major cause of a lot of headaches. Try to de-stress as much as possible. I usually find that my tension headaches start in the back of my neck and go up my head. Find someone to give you a gentle, but firm, shoulder and neck massage. If you've been sitting for a long period of time and feel a headache starting, get up and stretch your muscles a bit.

I've also read that a common problem for women is a headache that comes days before their period. This is usually felt as a pain directly behind the eyes. Some suggest that to get rid of this headache, women should eat foods that are rich in zinc, especially those that come from lean proteins such as lean meats.

I hope this week has treated everyone well. Sunday here is supposed to be sunny and with a high 53 degrees. That would be nice but I certainly won't hold my breath. With my luck it will be overcast, windy and bring a few snowflakes, lol. Oh well, we'll just wait and see. Although I do hope it is warm. Rylie loves to dress up in dress and it would be nice if it were warmer for that.

Speaking of Miss Rylie, she has a dentist appointment today so I better get off here and get some stuff done before I have to get her ready for that.

Have a wonderful Easter weekend.
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Scratches in wood surfaces

2009-04-07T08:08:00.003-04:00

Scratches on Wood Surfaces

Take the meat from a pecan (for darker wood) or a walnut (for lighter wood) and break in half. Rub the meat of the nut across the scratch. There is a natural stain in the nut meat that fills in the scratch. Go in the direction of the scratch and try to stay within the scratch as the nut meat may darken the surrounding wood.

Eyebrow Pencil – Eyebrow pencil comes in many colors, and will often conceal small scratches. Match the color carefully, and follow the direction of the scratch.

Crayons – Children’s crayons can also be used to fill a scratch, if you have the right color. You have a bit more leeway with these, as they are wax, and can be removed if needed.

Shoe Dye or Shoe Polish – Shoe polish comes in a myriad of colors these days. Either the liquid, or the paste forms can be used to fill a scratch. If using liquid, use a fine brush to apply. If using the paste variety, a cotton swab can be useful.

Iodine – If you have mahogany woodwork or furniture, iodine often works well to hide scratches. For brown or cherry mahogany, use iodine that has turned dark. For lighter woods, such as maple you can dilute the iodine with an equal amount of denatured alcohol to cover scratches. In each case, paint the iodine carefully in the scratch with a fine brush and allow to dry. If it is too light, apply another coat. Always err on the side of lightness, as it is easy to darken an area further, but more difficult to lighten it!

If these don't work for you there are commercial products you may want to try. Stain pens, pencils, etc. Check with your local fix-it shop or Home Depot store.

Once you have darkened the scratch to match the surrounding wood, all you need to do is wax or polish the wood, and the scratch will be gone.

I've used the meat from a nut trick several times and it tends to do a pretty good job. Just be sure to wax or polish the wood. The table I used this trick on was used a lot and I needed to repeat, but then I hadn't waxed the spot either. Oops.

Well, I am 24 hours smoke free. Yea? Grrr. I crave it so badly. I'm proud to have made it this far even. But I just want to sit and have a smoke so much. I'm not even gonna try to guess how much junk I ate yesterday in trying to avoid running to the store to buy a pack of smokes. Instead I went to the store and bought peppermints, twizlers, peanuts, those mini jaw breakers and a big bag of wintergreen Life Savers.

I predict if I manage to quit smoking for good that I will weigh in at a hefty 200-something or other. Bllllppphhhhttt! Sorry, but as you may be able to tell, I am not in a very pleasant mood this morning. I want a CIGARETTE! Okay, done with my tantrum, lol.

Have a nice day...even if mine sucks and my body is screaming at me. =)
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Easter desserts

2009-04-06T08:38:00.002-04:00

I'm taking the easy way out today. Rather than posting some recipes, I'm giving some links to some Easter dessert recipes. I've chosen these sites because they give some cool recipes and have some great pictures showing you the finished product or how to cut the cake to look like a bunny.

The first site comes from CountryMom.com with her Easter Bunny Cake.

Next is the Betty Crocker site with their Easter Bunny Cake.

Then I chose the All Recipe website with their page full of Easter Desserts. They have cakes, cupcakes and cookies.

I also found this website called Homemade Dessert Recipes with a lot of Homemade Easter Desserts. I'm going to try one of two from there. I love old recipes.

Saturday they had an Easter Egg hunt down at the community club house. I took Rylie and we went with another couple and their daughter, Rylies friend Caitlin. The girls had a lot of fun, even though they only found one egg each. Apparently, when they let the kids take off for the hunt, the older kids ran through the little kids area and snatched up a lot of their eggs.

So Chris, Caitlins mom, and I decided to have our own little hunt. We bought some little plastic eggs and filled them with treats. Then we hid them in the yard. We told the girls that the Easter Bunny had been going down the street and when he heard they only got one egg each he hid some more eggs. The girls had so much fun.

Of course, on the way home Rylie turned to me and said "The Easter Bunny hopped down the street and left us more eggs? Mom, you left them eggs." I knew she had seen the eggs in that white store bag. So I told her that Chris and I had a few eggs for them, but the Bunny saw us and left a lot more eggs for them. She seemed satisfied with that answer.

I hate to admit it, but I'm really not in the mood to do the big holiday dinner this year. It is such a huge chore for me do all by myself. Everyone else gets to sit around, munch on appetizers or goodies and visit with each other, while I'm busy in the kitchen either cooking or cleaning up by myself.

It's hard because I really enjoy having the whole family together, but it is so much work, a bit expensive and I don't feel like I really get a chance to enjoy it. At least, not until I've spent several hours cooking and prepping, then another 30-45 minutes cleaning up after everyone. Then a lot of the time, the kids have to leave to go to another parents house for dinner before I even get out of the kitchen.

Maybe it is just all the family drama that has gone on this year that has me feeling like not doing it. I don't know, maybe I'm just a burnt out and I'll feel more like doing something the next time a holiday comes up.

I've tried to explain the religous meaning behind this holiday to Rylie but it's a bit hard. She just looked at me like I was making no sense at all. Then she asked me about the Bunny and what kind of things he was going to bring her. Perhaps, the fact that we've gotten so far away from the true meaning of Easter has a bit to do with my lack of desire to host a family dinner. I don't really know, perhaps I think I'm just in a wee bit of a blue mood currently.

Maybe I'll just do a small little dinner for Ray, Rylie and myself. I've already gotten some things to do baskets for Ray and Rylie on Easter morning. I think a nice quiet day for the 3 of us sounds just perfect. Then we can do whatever we want that day without having to worry about entertaining other people. Or cleaning up the house before and after a big get together. Sounds perfect to me.

Have a blessed week.
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Home Remedies--Hay Fever

2009-04-02T08:20:00.003-04:00

Well, spring is quickly approaching so this is a good time to post this information about hay fever.

Hay Fever
Hay Fever also known as nasal allergies, pollinosis or seasonal allergic rhinitis is a collection of symptoms. Hay fever is an allergy to dust, pollen or dander in the air. It mainly causes allergy to the eyes and nose. Hay fever is seasonal; however it can last throughout the year if the allergens are present in the air throughout the year. Spring and fall are the two main seasons for hay fever.

Hay Fever Symptoms
Some of the symptoms of hay fever are as follows Coughing, Headache, Itching of nose, mouth, eyes, throat, ear and skin, Red and watery eyes, Runny and stuffy nose, Impaired smell, Sneezing, Sore throat, Wheezing, Fatigue and trouble in sleeping

Home Remedies for Hay Fever
*Steep 1 tsp. fenugreek seed in 1 cup water, covered, for 10 minutes. Drink 1 cup a day to help hay fever symptoms.
*Freeze-dried nettle capsules (Nettle tea also works) Nettle is a blood-cleanser. Similar results may also be found with Chinese Scullcap.
*Add some honey to boiled minced grapefruit and lemon. Have this solution three times a day.
*To stop irritation in your nose, apply little petroleum jelly inside your nose.
*Boil chamomile in water and inhale fumes from the water.
*To "cure" hay fever...from what I've heard...take a tablespoon of LOCAL honey every morning and evening. I heard this second hand and after doing this for 2-3 years someone "cured" their hay fever.

Other Suggestions for Hay Fever
*Avoid going out early in the morning or late in the evening. At this time pollen count in air is comparatively more.
*Avoid using nasal spray continuously for three days. It may increase congestion of nose.
*Avoid smoking and air pollutants.
*After being outside for a long time during the day, wash your hair to avoid inhaling pollen that falls from your hair onto your pillow.
*Wind-dried clothes can become pollen catchers, put clothes in a dryer, or hang them inside to dry, to keep them pollen-free.
*Keep your house and car windows closed and your air conditioner on during spring, summer and fall months. If you don't want cooled air, at least flip on the fan setting. The fan will filter out the offending pollen. During the pollen season, you should clean your air conditioner filter approximately once a month.

A local furniture is having a 5 day sale this week. Rylie's mattress is shot so I'm heading over to the store today to get her a new one. They advertised twin size mattresses for $69. Sounds like a deal (dang near a steal) to me. I got her mattress from a friend nearly 15 years ago when the ex and I first separated. It was a hand-me-down mattress so I don't know exactly how old it is. However, it feels like it is at least 30 years old. One of those mattresses where you can feel every flippin' spring in it.

I'm sure that a $69 mattress isn't going to be the best, but as long as it last for another 10-13 years, I'll be happy. I just wish I had the money to shop for new living room furniture too. Ours is a mish-mash of hand me down stuff. Nothing matches and most of it looks like it's about to fall apart.

I've also got my grandmothers old dining room table. It has 4 leaves that can be put in to make it much bigger. But it really needs to be refinished and I have to find a little wheel for the center leg. I'm hoping to get that table refinished and fixed when Rylie starts school in August this year.

Well, I guess it's about that time. I want to get some things done around here before her Highness, Rylie Jo, wakes up.
Have a beautiful day.
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Cleaning Tip--How To Get Rid Of Roaches

2009-03-31T08:49:00.003-04:00

Well, I've never had a problem with roaches (((knock wood))) and I hope I never do. However, here is a tip I found for getting rid of the pesky lil' boogers.

Roach Problem: Combine equal parts boric acid (a powder sold in hardware stores and drugstores) and sugar, mix well. Sprinkle in crevices and, if building or remodeling, between walls before putting up plaster board. Put the powder in jar lids; place lids behind the fridge and under sinks. CAUTION: Keep mixture away from children and pets. If ingested in large quantities, or even in small amounts over several days, boric acid can be harmful.

I read that and thought "there has got to be more information than just that". So I went online and found a great article on WikiHow, Get Rid of Roaches. The article gives several more options on ways to get rid of roaches and how to keep them away. There is even a chemical free way to kill the roaches, although it will not get the ones you don't see.

Have a great day!
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Monday Morning Recipes

2009-03-30T08:37:00.002-04:00

Well, this past weekend I was wandering around the big ole Internet and found a few recipes that I want to try and thought I would share them with you. The first is a salad recipe from Kraft and the other two are lemon dessert recipes, one from Nestle and the other from Betty Crocker.

GARDEN VEGETABLE CHOPPED SALAD
6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1 cup chopped broccoli
1/2 cup matchstick-cut or shredded carrots
1/2 cup KRAFT Light Ranch Dressing
1/2 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Cheddar Cheese
3 slices OSCAR MAYER Center Cut Bacon, cooked, crumbled

TOSS lettuce with broccoli, carrots and dressing.
TOP with cheese and bacon.
Shortcut--A 10-oz. pkg. of torn romaine lettuce will yield 6 cups-- just what you need to make this flavorful salad.

OLD-FASHION LEMON BREAD
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
2/3 cup (5 fl.-oz. can) NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk
1/3 cup olive or vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel (about 1 lemon - reserve lemon for later use)
LEMON SYRUP (recipe follows)

Directions:
PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease and flour 8 x 4-inch baking pan.
COMBINE flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Beat eggs, evaporated milk, oil and lemon zest together in medium bowl. Pour egg mixture into flour mixture. Stir until just combined. Pour into prepared pan.
BAKE for 55 to 60 minutes or until wooden skewer inserted in center comes out clean. Using the skewer, poke numerous holes in the hot bread, piercing all the way to the bottom. Slowly drizzle the hot Lemon Syrup over the bread (Syrup will soak into the bread). Cool on wire rack for 15 minutes; run knife around edge of bread. Remove bread to wire rack to cool completely.
LEMON SYRUP:
COMBINE 1/3 cup granulated sugar and 1/4 cup lemon juice (1 lemon) in small, heavy-duty saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, for about 5 minutes or until sugar is dissolved and a light syrup is formed.

LEMON CREME CUPCAKES
Cupcakes
1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® yellow or lemon cake mix
Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box
Filling
3/4 cup Betty Crocker® Whipped vanilla frosting (from 12-oz container)
1/2 cup marshmallow creme
Frosting
1 container (12 oz) Betty Crocker® Whipped butter cream frosting
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup Betty Crocker® star decors OR sprinkles OR decorations of your choice

1. Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Make and bake cake mix as directed on box for 24 cupcakes, using water, oil and eggs. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
2. By slowly spinning end of round handle of wooden spoon back and forth, make deep, 3/4-inch-wide indentation in center of top of each cupcake, not quite to bottom (wiggle end of spoon in cupcake to make opening large enough). 3. In small bowl, mix filling ingredients. Spoon into small resealable food-storage plastic bag; seal bag. Cut 3/8-inch tip off one bottom corner of bag. Insert tip of bag into opening in each cupcake; squeeze bag to fill opening.
4. In medium bowl, stir together 1 container butter cream frosting, the lemon peel and lemon juice. Frost cupcakes. Sprinkle with stars or other decorations.

Have a beautiful week. (((crossing fingers for spring-like weather)))
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Home Health Remedy for hangovers and more pictures

2009-03-26T09:21:00.003-04:00

Happy Thursday! One more day until the weekend...yippee skippy. LOL

Hang Over
Eat honey on crackers. The fructose in the honey will help to flush out the alcohol in your system.

*We use to eat something like a peanut butter sandwich before going to bed. Be sure to drink plenty of liquids the next day as part of the problem may be dehydration.

Well, let's see how this works today. I decided to just upload pictures to Flickr and then post them on here. That way I only had to wait once for all the pictures to upload rather than waiting for each one to upload on Blogger.

The speaker at the graduation ceremony started off by telling us that the new secret weapon of the Army wasn't any gun or tank. It was the soldiers, our sons. Then you could hear gun fire and tanks starting up. This is a picture after a tank had come zooming from our left and one had come from the other end of the stands to the right. They criss-crossed in the middle and the show began. When the tank stopped about 9 boys came out of the back of it. (There is actually only room for about 4 people back there) David was one of the first ones to come out. He was a part of this group that was called the Super Squad. It was so exciting to see him in action. (My child is the 4th from the left in this picture)
And I must confess, a bit scary too. Okay...it was terribly frightening to see my child in full combat gear with a huge ole gun in his hands. The same hands that use to sit and patiently draw such exact and well defined pictures when he was only 3 or 4 years old.
So all these soldiers were walking towards us and stopped right in front of us. Luckily, David had told us where to sit the day before and we got some really good pictures.
Yep, that's my little boy. And yes...I was standing there crying and crying. I can't explain the wide range of emotions I was feeling. And the fear of what may come. Not just for David, but for all those young men standing before us. It was really an overwhelming moment for me. When the speaker got done explaining what responsibilities each soldier had and about his weapon they all backed up into this formation and then they started back to the tank in groups of 2 or 3. It was such a neat thing to see.
After this the platoons marched in and there was a lot more that the speaker talked about and the inspection of the troops. I don't remember a lot of it because my mind was wandering a bit. I had so many thoughts going through my head.
These are the troops as they walked around the field past the grand stands. This was the last graduation ceremony to be held at Sand Hill. There was a Museum built and from now on all the graduations will be held there.

After we left Fort Benning we went up to Gretna to stop for a visit with Ray's brother, Tom, and his wife, Jeni. It was a great visit and we got to see the new house they bought a few years ago.
This is a view of the sunset from their back deck, just off the kitchen. Isn't it beautiful?

We left on Sunday afternoon to head for home. Unfortunately, we took a wrong turn somewhere, or something, and ended up going through the mountains rather than around them. That put us 60 miles out of our way. Although we did get to see some pretty scenery. It was really beautiful and so unlike the flat landscape of Northwest Ohio. Except instead of getting home around 10pm we got in about a quarter after 12.

Well, I need to get busy around here. Today is Rylies 5th birthday. We are taking her and her little friend, Caitlin, to dinner at Chuck E. Cheese tonight. She is so excited. I hope she is not too disappointed in her birthday gift. A few outfits for the warmer weather and a CD.

Have a beautiful day.
Hugs!
Jill Marie

More pictures from our trip to Fort Benning

2009-03-25T08:12:00.015-04:00

So when the blues ceremony was done, we were able to take David for the afternoon. The original schedule had been that we were to have him back by 9 pm. However, the married couples had an orientation that lasted an hour so they decided that we should have the boys back by 8 pm. I guess since the married soldiers were losing an hour of free time they decided that the single soldiers should miss out on an hour too. Although we later found out that their Sgt. had told the boys they had to be back by 9 pm.

David was just thrilled to be riding in a car where he wasn't bouncing around in the back of a vehicle with a bunch of other boys. We left the base and went to eat lunch at a Golden Corral. We had the best waitress there, she was so friendly and really fun.

After that we headed back to the hotel. We wanted to give David and Jill a chance to talk and catch up...some alone time. The night before we had seen this huge house from the balcony of our hotel room, so Ray, Rylie and I decided to take a walk over there and check it out. The picture is the front of the house, which has been turned into an antique shop. It was absolutely beautiful, both inside and out. It was built in 1884 for a family and at one point was a home for wayward girls and was also a funeral home at some point in time.

This place was huge and just filled with antiques and some newer items too.

This is a picture of the intricate carvings just inside the front door of the house.

This is the ceiling of the dining room. Yeah, I can't see my brood eating in a room like that. LOL I can see it now, we'd have grand kids trying to climb those beautiful cases that line the back wall.

This is a close up of one of the doors on the shelves in the dining room. They are all lead glass. Are they just beautiful? Just imagine...those have been there for over a hundred years and they are still absolutely gorgeous.

Rylie standing next to a fireplace that was in one of the bathrooms.

This is a view of the house from the side. I believe the women at the store said that little sun room was added later. "Little" sun room, lol. There was nothing little about this house.

After we toured the home/antique shop and Jill & David had a wee bit of alone time, we went driving around. We checked out a big Army supply store called Ranger Joe's, the new museum just outside the gates of the base and the big PX which is inside a little mall.

At Ranger Joe's, Rylie decided that she just had to have an Army outfit like her big brother. Well, the fatigue jacket and pants were $35 and the hat was $10. So we got her this little outfit (tee shirt, fatigue shorts and hat) all for $30. She really liked it until she looked in the mirror and said "I look dumb", then she wanted to change back to her other clothes. So that look on her face is not her "soldier girl" face. No it's more like "I hate this outfit and my mom won't let me change clothes". LOL She kept throwing the hat on the ground until a few people mentioned the cute little soldier. Then she put the hat on every time we got out of the car, just like her big brother did.

Oh, we also bought Rylie a set of dog tags. They say:
Blossom, Rylie
Rank: Princess

This uploading of pictures is taking way too long, so I'll post pictures of the final graduation tomorrow.

Have a wonderful day.
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Cleaning the refrigerator

2009-03-24T08:29:00.011-04:00

Good morning! Before I go into the trip or post any pictures I want to give ya'll these tips for cleaning your refrigerator.

Cleaning A Refrigerator

*Wash with a solution of equal parts water and white distilled vinegar.

*Or you can make a cleaning solution of 1/4 cup baking soda to 1 quart of warm water. Baking soda is a great sanitizer, brightener, and odor remover. You do not need to rinse off the baking soda unless you've used enough to leave a residue. Then you may wish to wipe it off with a clean, damp rag.

If you're going to deep clean on your refrigerator, you will want to remove all items making sure to either store perishables in another refrigerator or in a cooler, and place similar products together on your counter.

Remove all shelves and drawers, and them in the bathtub. Use your cleaning solution of choice or hot soapy water to wash down the inside of the refrigerator. If you use the soapy water mixture, you will need to wipe it off with a clean, damp towel to remove all traces of soap.

Give the drawers and shelves a scrubbing with a stiff brush or plastic scrubby, rinse well, shake off excess water, and dry. Then put them back and replace the food items.

If you use ice trays this is a good time to give them a good cleaning too. After having cleaned the inside of your refrigerator, be sure to wipe all jars, bottles, cans and other containers with a paper towel or clean cloth before putting them back. Rinse and wipe fresh fruits and vegetables before replacing. Line the drawers with paper towels for easier cleanup.

The trip down to Fort Benning was a long one but so very worth it. We got to Columbus, Georgia at about 10:30 PM on Wednesday night. Rylie has gotten car sick on trips that were over an hour long so I asked the pharmacist what I could give her to help with it. He recommended Benadryl. Apparently the ingredient in it helps with motion sickness.

Between the boredom of the car ride and the benadryl, Rylie slept a lot of the time. She was really well behaved for such a long trip.

We got up early and went to Fort Benning for the "Blues Ceremony" on Thursday. David looked so good standing there in his platoon. I don't think I've ever seen my son's face looking so chiseled and grown-up.

David is in the second row from the left and the 3rd one from the front. That fella with the olive green hat is drill Sgt. Cook. David really admired Sgt. Cook. I think he wants to be just like Sgt. Cook when he grows up. :)

They talked a bit about the boys and what they had done and what the Blue shoulder ribbon means. I didn't hear most of it, lol. I was too busy looking at my little boy who had been turned into this soldier. Then they gave us five minutes to walk down, put their ribbon on, talk to our son's and get a few pictures.

Rylie was so excited to see her big brother, I thought she was gonna choke him and then you know the Army would be after us for wounding their "property". LOL

And of course, Jill couldn't wait to get her arms wrapped around her fiance. Doesn't she just look so happy?

The proud Mom and her baby boy. LOL

David in the middle with his buddies Fording and Jones. I'd tell you their first names, if I knew them, but they all just call each other by their last names or nicknames.

And this is David with Sgt. Cook. These guys look so good in their uniforms. They told us at the orientation meeting that morning that our sons would be different than when they went there and they were right. Not just their physical appearance but we had sent our boys to basic training and they were sending back these men. I can't put my finger on any one thing but I can sense it, ya know?

I'll be back tomorrow to post some more pictures from the graduation ceremony on Friday. It was such an awesome thing to see.

Have a wonderful day.

Hugs!

Jill Marie

Tip for unsticking photographs

2009-03-17T09:46:00.002-04:00

Here's a quickie before I get going.

I'm sure we've all done it. Found some old photographs that have become stuck to each other, and of course, at least one of them is the front of the photo. So you try to ever so gently peel them apart and rip the face off of ole uncle Bob and your left with a white patch where his face used to be.

Try the hair dryer. Use it to slowly heat the sticky up and then ever so gently try to peel them apart. I can't guarantee it will work, but it is definitely worth a try. Good Luck.

Well, I have lots to do, so have a great week and I'll see you next week.
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Dessert Recipe

2009-03-16T08:19:00.003-04:00

Good morning! I had gotten this recipe a few weeks ago and kept forgetting to post it. Of course, now I forget where I found this one but nevermind, it sounds really yummy. Mom used to make apple crisp and it was so good, I hope this comes close to hers.

French Apple Dessert

Streusel Topping
1 cup Original Bisquick® mix
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons firm butter or margarine

Filling
6 cups thinly sliced peeled tart apples (4 to 6 medium)
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup Original Bisquick® mix
3/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 eggs

Topping
Ice cream or whipped cream, if desired

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with shortening or cooking spray. In small bowl, mix 1 cup Bisquick mix, the nuts and brown sugar. Cut in 3 tablespoons firm butter with fork or pastry blender until mixture is crumbly; set aside.
2. Spread apples in baking dish. In medium bowl, stir remaining filling ingredients until blended. Pour over apples. Sprinkle with topping.
3. Bake about 55 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean; cool slightly, about 30 minutes. Serve warm if desired with ice cream.

High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Heat oven to 375°F. Use 5 cups thinly sliced apples. Decrease 3/4 cup Bisquick mix in filling to 1/2 cup.

Try these favorite varieties of apples for baked pies and desserts: Empire, Regent and Spartan.
Serve this yummy apple dessert with scoops of frosty cinnamon ice cream!

Okay, I have the portable DVD player and some movies for Rylie ready to go. I made a "road trip" CD with some fun (and favorite) songs. I have my camera and video recorder batteries chargin up as I speak (write). I've got Rylies bag and mine mostly packed. I also keep removing the un-necessary items that she keeps putting in, such as a tiara, etc. Yeah, leave it to my child to want to wear her princess tiara to her brothers AIT graduation. I don't even want to know why she packed her little dance leotard with the skirt on it.

I've printed out directions from our house to the hotel and from the hotel to the Army base. I have no idea where our Atlas is. We haven't used it in 6 years and who knows where it could be. Probably in one of the old cars we've gotten rid of.

Today I have to run some errands and pick up last minute things and some lunck meat. I also have to thoroughly clean the house. I hate coming home to a mess, ugh. I want to get all the laundry done before we leave because we'll be coming home with a weeks worth of dirty clothes that I'll have to wash.

What else? Oh, I know there is plenty that I am forgetting. There's always something.

Well, I've got plenty to do so I better get moving.
Have a beautiful week.
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Bread braids

2009-03-15T11:45:00.006-04:00

Usually I get up early Sunday morning and fix a big breakfast. It's usually bacon and eggs, maybe some sausage gravy with biscuits or a pancake breakfast. This morning I slept in and just didn't feel like making a big ole breakfast so I grabbed one of the loaves of frozen bread dough that I had thawing in the fridge and improvised.

I used a knife to cut off slices, about 3/4 to an inch thick. Then I layed them down and cut two slices in them from about a quarter of an inch from the top all the way down to the bottom so that I had 3 strands coming from the top. Then I braided the strands of dough and pinched the bottom so they stayed together. I placed them into the hot oil in the pan on the stove and let them come to a nice golden color.

When they were down I placed them on a paper towel on a plate and them them cool down. Then I dipped them in some powdered sugar glaze I had made or I tossed them into some plain white sugar. (The picture is of some of the ones I made this morning.)

Ray and Rylie loved them. Ray liked them because the were good "dunkers". Rylie liked them just because they were something special and, of course, sugary. LOL

Well, I am busy trying to make sure I get everything we need around and ready to go for our trip on Wednesday. I just want to get on Map Quest and make sure we have some directions on how to get directly to the hotel.

Have a blessed day.
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Home Remedy--Gum stuck in hair

2009-03-12T09:19:00.002-04:00

I'm sure most of you have heard these tips before, but they are worth posting. If you're a mom then you've either had a child with gum in their hair or you will have at some point in time. LOL I had this happen to me once at a child. Apparently I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and it was in my hair when I woke up. Mom just grabbed the scissors if I remember correctly.

Gum in hair

*Soak the gum-coated hair in Coke® and it should wipe out easily.

*Use peanut butter. I know it sounds gross but it really works.

*Try vegetable oil. I've heard that using any kind of oil will quickly and safely remove gum from hair. Vegetable oil, baby oil, olive oil or vaseline.

I've used the peanut butter tip on one of my older kids when they were little. I used the vegetable oil to get very sticky gum off of Rylies face and hands. They really do work. Just make sure that, which ever tip you use, you wash their hair well afterwards. LOL

Well, less than a week to go until I see my boy. I am so flippin' excited. I guess they are all done with training and are just doing "recovery" now. Whatever that is, lol. I have to goals on this trip, to get my son and bring him home...and to stop at a Sonic's. I've never been to one. We don't have any up here, but I always see their commercials and I'd really like to stop and have lunch at one. LOL

Have a good day.
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Cleaning tip--pet stains on carpet

2009-03-10T09:20:00.002-04:00

If you have one of those little dogs that get easily excited and tend to tinkle on the carpets, this cleaning tip will come in handy for you.

Pet Urine on Carpet:
First, blot up what you can with paper towels. Then, with warm, soapy water and a clean cloth, blot the area clean; rinse with clean water; blot until dry. Next, combine 1/3 cup white vinegar with 2/3 cup water and dab it on stain; rinse with clean water; blot until dry. Once the area is totally dry (at least 24 hours), sprinkle entire carpet with baking soda or rug deodorizer; vacuum after a few hours.

Lucky me, I'm allergic to cats and dogs, lol. It's weird because we had a dog the entire time I was growing up and my allergies didn't develop until I started having kids. Now I can't even go into a house with a cat or my eyes start to swell and it looks like someone beat the crap out of me.

Just eight more days until we leave...YEA! I started packing yesterday. Hey, a gal has to get a head start on these things. I've got to pack for both myself and Rylie and double check Ray's packing. =)

Have a great day!
Hugs!
Jill Marie

My favorite sandwich recipe

2009-03-09T13:33:00.002-04:00

I loooove reubn sandwiches. Mmm, they are the best. I used to make them and wrap them in foil and bake in the oven. But this recipe calls for grilling it on the stove. I'll have to try that, sounds a bit easier than my way. Oh, and I found the other recipe at the Pillsbury website, it looks pretty yummy too.

Traditional Reuben Sandwich
Preparation time: 10 minutes if ingredients are ready and at hand. Makes one sandwich.
Ingredients:
2 slices of Rye bread
2 tablespoons Thousand Island dressing (or to taste)
Corned beef (5-6 ounces, thin sliced)
1/3 cup Sauerkraut
Swiss cheese (2 slices of quality cheese)
Butter at room temperature

Spread 2 slices of rye bread lightly with Thousand Island dressing
Top one slice with a slice of Swiss cheese
Put a layer of sauerkraut over the cheese, then top with sliced corned beef and then a slice of Swiss cheese
Top with the second slice of rye bread, dressing side down
Butter the rye bread on the outside with soft butter and grill the sandwich in a skillet until both sides are golden brown and the cheese is melted
Remove from skillet, cut sandwich in half and serve

Easy Reuben Sandwich Slices
INGREDIENTS
2 cans (8 oz each) Pillsbury® Crescent Recipe Creations™ refrigerated flaky dough sheet
2 tablespoons Thousand Island dressing
4 oz thinly sliced deli corned beef
4 slices (1 oz each) Swiss cheese
1 cup sauerkraut with caraway seed, well drained (from 14-oz can)
1 tablespoon horseradish mustard
1 egg, beaten
2 teaspoons sesame seed

DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 375°F. Unroll 1 can of dough onto large ungreased cookie sheet. Spread Thousand Island dressing on dough to within 1/2 inch of edges. Top with corned beef, Swiss cheese and sauerkraut.
2. Unroll remaining can of dough on work surface. Spread mustard to within 1/2 inch of edges. Place mustard side down on sauerkraut. Press edges with fork to seal. Brush with egg. Sprinkle with sesame seed.
3. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until deep golden brown. Cut into slices to serve.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): No change.

I can't wait! Just nine more days until we leave to see David! YIPPEEEEEE!!!
I've already started packing...is that weird? Well, I've got lots to do this week but I'll be back. I'm not sure that I'll be posting at all next week...maybe a quickie on Monday. But then I'll be back the following week for sure.
Have a wonderful new week!
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Home Remedy--Healthy Toenails

2009-03-06T08:38:00.006-05:00

Good morning. Here are a few tips for healthy toenails. At the very least, your toes will smell very nice with most of these remedies, lol.

Fungus on finger or toenails

*Use Vicks Vapor Rub-Take a nail file and run it over the surface of the toenail. Rub it both horizontally and laterally to make uneven grooves in the top of the nail.
Then rub Vicks Vapor Rub into the top of the toenail. The grooves will help keep the Vicks on the toenail. Do this for several days/nights in a row as often as you can.
The Eucalyptus in the Vicks will kill the fungus on the nail.

*Tea tree oil serves as an effective home remedy foe toe nail fungus, as it is a natural antiseptic that helps a great deal in fighting with fungus. Take some undiluted tea tree oil and mix a few drops of olive oil in it. Apply this mixed oil on the affected toenails.

*For healthy toenails, soak your toes in Listerine mouthwash.

*In warm water, add some apple cider vinegar and mix well. Soak your toenails in the water for about 15-20 minutes. Thereafter, dry your toes completely.
Apply a mixture of tea tree oil and lavender oil on the toenails using cotton balls. Do it 3-4 times in a day. This remedy is very effective in curing toenail fungus.

*Soaking the affected nail(s) with distilled vinegar kills off the fungus rather quickly. Apply daily after bathing and let the vinegar dry thoroughly before dressing.

Well, just 12 days until we leave for Ft. Benning. They gave the boys their cell phones back. David sent some pictures to his fiance and she printed them out and brought them over for us. I can't believe how great he looks. He had really put on some weight since he graduated high school. But he looks so good now. So grown up...

In the second photo he looks just as surprise as myself, at how much weight he has lost. But he really looks good and I just can't wait to get down there and see my boy in person. So different from that 13 year old boy that let his hair grow long and was playing the drums. My first born is all grown up and it is making me feel a wee bit old.

12 days, twelve days...288 hours, and we will be leaving. YEA! Even Rylie is excited about it. Every day she says "Mom, we're going to see David tomorrow", lol. I showed her with her fingers and mine how many more days it would be till we left. She looked at me, held up two fingers and said "No, two days Mom." LOL I wish!

It's adding up to be a bit expensive, but hopefully we will be able to borrow a mini van. The rental is just waaaaaaaaay too much for us to do at this time. We need to keep all our expenses down as much as possible. We did pay about $7 more, per night, than the cheapest rate I was able to find for the hotel. However, the one we got offers a free full breakfast, so that will save us money in the long run.

Have a really wonderful weekend.
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Tuesday cleaning tip--Ovens

2009-03-03T08:37:00.002-05:00

Good Morning. Is it really only Tuesday? This week seems to be going a bit slow around here. I've got this chore coming up, actually I should have done this already, lol. Here are some tips for those of us without a self-cleaning oven.

AMMONIA
Every few weeks, fill a small glass bowl with ½ cup full-strength ammonia, place it in a cold oven, and close. Let the liquid stand overnight. The next day, remove the bowl of ammonia and wipe loosened-up grime with a wet sponge. The ammonia can be saved and re-used if stored properly.
*Ammonia is a very strong cleaning agent and I would recommend making sure the children are not in the room when you are doing this. Also, be sure to store it where the kids cannot reach it.
(I remember being a child and finding my Aunt Alice's ammonia on the steps to her basement. Being curious I opened it up and took a big whiff of it. LOL You can be sure I never did that with any bottles ever again.)

HEAVY DUTY HOMEMADE OVEN CLEANER
1t Liquid dish soap
1t Lemon juice
1-1/2t Bleach
1qt. Warm water
Mix all ingredients in bucket or bowl and apply solution (with a sponge) to the oven's cavity. Allow to sit for 45-minutes and then scrub clean. Rinse well!

NATURAL OVEN CLEANER RECIPES

VINEGAR RECIPE
5T Baking soda
3 drops hand soap or liquid dish soap
4T White vinegar
Mix above ingredients until they form a thick paste. Apply paste to inside of oven and scrub with sponge. Wipe clean and rinse thoroughly.

CITRUS CLEANSER
Use equal amounts of lemon juice and salt. Apply paste to stubborn stains and allow to sit for 3-5 minutes. Scrub with brush and wipe clean.

TOUGH STAIN REMOVER
1c Salt
1c Baking soda
1c Water
Make a paste using the ingredients above and apply it to the inside of the oven. Close door and heat oven to 500-degrees for 60 minutes. Turn off oven and allow to cool. Wipe debris from oven using a moist sponge. Rinse well.

NATURAL SCRUB CLEAN OVEN SOLUTION
4T Baking soda
4T Hot, steamy water
Make a paste with the above listed ingredients and apply it to the oven's cavity using an old toothbrush or soft-bristled cleaning brush. Allow solution to sit for 1-minute. Scrub with brush until oven is clean. Rinse with water and sponge until no traces of baking soda remain.

*You can remove all cleansers from the oven by rinsing with vinegar and water.
*Always wear rubber gloves if using chemical-based solutions.
*Wiping the oven after each spill will eliminate the need for a big cleanup later.
*Use aluminum foil to avoid a mess from accident boil overs, greasy run-offs, and spills.

Of course, I'm sure there aren't many of you out there like me...dealing with an oven that is 30 years old. Well, at least it works. Maybe if I show it some love , by giving it a good and thorough cleaning, it will start showing me some love and hit the right temperature. LOL A gal can always dream.

Have a terrific day!
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Easy Recipes

2009-03-02T07:48:00.003-05:00

Good Monday morning! Here are some quick and easy recipes for those evenings when you just don't really feel like cooking. I got the first two recipes from the Dollar General website.

SPEEDY TUNA BAKE
1 pkg. (7-1/4 oz.) Macaroni & Cheese Dinner
½ can (8 oz.) mixed vegetables
1 can (6 oz.) white tuna in water, drained, flaked
8 RITZ Crackers, crushed

PREPARE Dinner in large saucepan as directed on package, adding vegetables to the boiling Macaroni water for the last 2 min.
ADD tuna; mix lightly.
TOP with cracker crumbs just before serving.
SUBSTITUTE: ¼ cup French-fried onion rings for the crackers.

TACO BAKE
1 pkg. (14 oz.) Macaroni & Cheese Dinner
1 lb. ground beef.
1 pkg. (1-1/4 oz.) Taco Seasoning Mix
¾ cup sour cream
1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 cup of chunky Salsa

HEAT oven to 400°F.
Prepare KRAFT® Deluxe Macaroni & Cheese Dinner as directed on package.
While Macaroni is cooking, cook meat with taco seasoning as directed on package.
STIR sour cream into prepared Dinner; spoon ½ into 8-inch square baking dish. Top with layers of meat mixture, 1 cup cheese and remaining Dinner mixture; cover with foil.
BAKE 15 MIN.; top with salsa and remaining cheese. Bake uncovered, 5 min. or until cheese is melted.

These last two recipes aren't quite as quick and easy as the first two were. I found them at the Pillsbury website and they just sounded good to me.

SOUTHWESTERN CHEESE-STUFFED CHICKEN ROLL-UPS
1 container (8 oz) chives-and-onion cream cheese spread
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/3 cup drained Old El Paso® pickled jalapeño slices (from 12-oz jar)
1/2 cup canned (drained) Green Giant® whole kernel corn
6 Old El Paso® taco shells (from 4.6-oz box), coarsely broken
3/4 teaspoon chili powder
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/4 lb)
2 tablespoons LAND O LAKES® Unsalted or Salted Butter, melted
1/2 to 3/4 cup buttermilk
3 tablespoons honey
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend (4 oz)
1 2/3 cups Old El Paso® Thick 'n Chunky salsa
2/3 cup sour cream

DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl, stir together cream cheese, garlic powder, jalapeños and corn; set aside.
2. Place broken taco shells in resealable food-storage plastic bag; seal bag. Crush taco shells with rolling pin until coarsely ground. (Or, place broken taco shells in food processor bowl with metal blade; process until coarsely ground.) Pour crumbs into shallow dish; stir in chili powder.
3. Between pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper, place each chicken breast, smooth side down; gently pound with flat side of meat mallet or rolling pin until about 1/4 inch thick. Spread butter over one side of each chicken breast.
4. Place about 1/3 cup cream cheese mixture on center of buttered side of each chicken breast; roll up chicken. Pour buttermilk into shallow dish. Dip chicken rolls in buttermilk, then coat with crumb mixture. Insert toothpick to secure. Place in ungreased 8-inch square (2-quart) glass baking dish. Drizzle with honey.
5. Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in center. Sprinkle with Mexican cheese blend; bake 4 to 5 minutes longer until cheese is melted. Serve with salsa and sour cream.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Heat oven to 375°F.

OOEY-GOOEY TURTLE
1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated sugar cookies
1 bag (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)
3 cups Fisher® Chef's Naturals® Chopped Pecans
1/2 cup LAND O LAKES® Butter
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 jar (12.25 oz) SMUCKER'S® Caramel Ice Cream Topping
1 cup graham cracker crumbs (16 squares)

DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Press cookie dough evenly in bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch pan.
2. Sprinkle 1 cup of the chocolate chips and 1 1/2 cups of the pecans over dough; lightly press into dough. Set aside.
3. In 2-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Stir in brown sugar, caramel topping and graham cracker crumbs. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Pour over crust in pan; spread evenly. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup chocolate chips and 1 1/2 cups pecans.
4. Bake 25 to 32 minutes or until edges are deep golden brown and pecans are lightly toasted. Cool on cooling rack 30 minutes; loosen sides from pan, but do not cut. Cool completely, about 3 hours longer. (For firmer bars, let stand an additional 2 hours.) For bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Bake 27 to 34 minutes.

Rylie had her first birthday party to go to on Saturday. When the invitation arrived it happened to be a Disney Princess Party Invitation. Well, Rylie decided that she had to go dressed as a princess. So she wore her Cinderella dress and a little crown with matching earrings and ring.

I got her in the car and had to run by the convenience store before going to the birthday party. As were walking by the glass fronts of the soda coolers, I saw her turn and blow a kiss at the cooler. I asked her who she was blowing a kiss to and she told me "Me! because I'm so pretty." Okaaay, either I've done a really good job of raising a little girl who is self-confident and loves herself, as we all should. Or I've raised one of the most vain little girls in the Northwest Ohio area. LOL Since I've seen her show sympathy and compassion for others, I'm gonna go with the self-confident train of thought here.

Have a fantastic Monday.

Hugs!

Jill Marie

Thursday Home Remedy - Facial Masks

2009-02-26T07:40:00.006-05:00

Well, last Thursday I gave you some recipes for homemade facial cleansers. Today I'm giving you some homemade facial mask recipes. I hope someone finds these useful.

FACIAL MASK RECIPES
Apple Facial Mask (oily skin that is acne prone) Mix 1 medium size apple (grated), 5 tablespoons of honey to make a mask. Smooth over skin then let sit for 10 minutes, rinse off with cool water.
Banana Facial Mask (dry skin) Mash 2 bananas with a fork...don't over mash or it will be too runny. Add some honey* if desired. Smooth over skin, let sit for 10 minutes, rinse off with cool water.
Peach Facial Mask (normal skin) Cook 1 peach until its soft, mash with a fork, add 1 Tbs honey and oatmeal until its a thick consistency. Apply to skin. Let sit for 10 minutes, rinse well with cool water.
*Oatmeal is highly absorptive, hypoallergenic, and helps to soften skin. Oats have the best amino acid balance of all the cereal grains (amino acids work as water-binding agents in skin care products). Oats have also been clinically shown to help heal dry, itchy skin. Oat grains and straw appear in shampoos, dusting powders, moisturizers, and cleansing bars and more.

Last night we were invited over to Ray's eldest daughter's (Stephanie) new house for dinner. Ray worked on the garbage disposal and then we sat down to a taco dinner. Ray really liked the cheese nachos. Steph used Doritos to make them and they were pretty good, even if they were slightly burned.

I was playing with Kaden (now 8 months old) while Ray worked on the garbage disposal. He is such a sweetheart! He has these big beautiful eyes that just light up whenever he smiles. Aubreigh (just turned 2 in December) is such a pickle and just cracks me up. When she doesn't like what someone says she gets this look on her face, then she points at them and starts telling them off. Of course, she has the prettiest curly red hair to go with that attitude too and such pretty blue eyes.

After dinner Stephanie and Joe got out the Rock Star game and showed us how to play while the kids played in the toyroom. We had a lot of fun with the game and I have a feeling that game is going to find it's way into our house in the not too distant future. Daddy said he wants to see me playing the drums, lol. I had enough trouble with the guitar. Silly ol' man. We must have been having a lot of fun because before we knew it, it was 9:30 pm and time for us to go.

Well, I've got some things to do around here before that baby girl wakes up. Have a great day and this Rock Star (I'm gonna have to come up with a stage name, lol) will see ya soon!
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Cleaning & Organizing your bedroom

2009-02-24T12:08:00.002-05:00

Thank goodness I had this post already to go. Rylie is ill again today so I'm just popping on real quick to do this. I can't stand to have the bedroom a mess. I noticed years ago, that just by making the bed every day, the bedroom appears twice as clean as it did before that 2 minute chore. So my tip to everyone would be to make your bed every morning, it's a quick and easy way to make the room look cleaner.

Here are some tips I found last week (when I was attacking our room) at the Home Made Simple website.

Assess the Mess
The first thing you’ll need to determine is what you use your bedroom for and if that is affecting its cleanliness and organization. Maybe you’re the type of the person who lives in your bedroom, tackling activities from yoga to paperwork. Or perhaps your bedroom is a place you tend to dash through leaving clutter behind as you move on to the next part of your day.

Either way, you just need to remember one rule: your bedroom should only be used in the morning when you get up and at night when you’re going to bed. This cuts down on excess items and keeps it as a space for sleeping, relaxing and romance. Chances are, you can do most or all of your activities elsewhere in your home and come up with a routine that helps keep clutter off the furniture and the floors.

Cleaning Surfaces - Begin your big bedroom clean up by removing clutter from all horizontal surfaces in your room: floors, bed, tables and chairs.

Use these tips to help get you started:
Make your bed: Taking a few minutes each morning to make your bed will help you get in the habit of keeping your room in order in general. Treat your bed as a refuge and prepare it for the next time you will use it. Try not to cover your bed in laundry, piles of worn clothes, bags or other items that will keep it from appearing inviting.
Off the floor: If your shoes are overflowing onto your floors, look into adding shelving, an over-the-door shoe holder or rolling boxes for under the bed. Organize your shoes by color and season for easy access. If you choose to keep your shoes under the bed, pick out the next day’s pair the night before so you don’t have to search around.
Bedside basics: Your bedside table may have accumulated a few things you don’t need on a daily basis. Hair accessories, glasses, books, magazines and medicine will all find a home there. Clear any unnecessary items off your table so you don’t feel surrounded by clutter when you go to sleep and wake up.
Put clothes in their place: Avoid using your floor, chairs or other bedroom furniture as a hamper. Hang up clothes you plan to wear again immediately, install hooks to hang up pajamas and robes and keep a hamper, laundry bag or basket in or near your closet for dirty items. Double hampers or baskets are wonderful tools for immediately sorting whites and colors.

The Best Bed - The bed itself should be as comfortable and inviting as possible, so try our ideas for keeping your linens in line and organized.

Smart Set up: Place the head of your bed against a wall and in direct view of the door or a window to help to make it feel stable and grounded while also governing good airflow.
Bed skirt savior: If your bed skirt is dragging the floor, getting dusty or looking askew, employ the help of bed skirt pins. These simple spiral pins are available at home goods stores and without any sewing or cutting, can keep your bed skirt from shifting or drooping.
Curtail your collection: You really only need three sets of bed linens per bed: one in use, one in storage and one in the laundry. It is a good idea to have a few extra pillowcases, especially if you find a unique pattern you love. They tend to wear out faster than other linens.
Storage solutions: If you do prefer to have a wider variety of lines for different times of the year, such as flannel for winter, try storing excess linens under the bed or in a chest at the end of the bed. Make sure to remove linens from the dryer while still warm to prevent wrinkling. Store in a cool, dry place and use a pillowcase as a holder for each group of sheets to help keep them from getting separated. Label shelves or boxes with the season and type.
Classic and Comfy: For a clean, classic look that’s also easy to maintain, limit your throw pillows to one large pillow for the center of the bed or two smaller pillows to set in front of each of your regular pillows. This will make your bed look cozy, yet uncluttered.

Bedroom Routines - Come up with a system that helps you stay organized and keeps your bedroom clean with a couple of simple tips for morning and night.

Avoid the morning rush: If you tend to be in a rush in the morning and end up making mess searching for shoes and accessories, set everything out the night before. Try installing a hook to hang your chosen outfit and designate a space on your dresser for a basket or container where you can place smaller items like jewelry and socks.
Bedtime ritual: A set bedtime routine will help you wind down and prepare your mind and body for sleep. Everyone has specific activities that will help them relax, but taking a bit of time each night to tidy up and freshen your space will not only help keep it clean and organized, it also makes the bedroom more conducive for sleeping. Stick to your routines and organization plans and your bedroom will be a place for relaxing moments and sweet dreams.

Now, go clean and organize that room. Set some candles on the dresser and then mess that nice looking bed up tonight! =D LOL

Have a great day!
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Recipes

2009-02-23T08:14:00.003-05:00

Good Morning! I hope ya'll had a great weekend. Here are two quick and easy recipes, one is for dinner and the other for dessert. I hope you enjoy them!

Beef & Salsa Skillet
1 lb. lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1 jar (16 oz.) chunky-style salsa (2 cups)
1 can (15 oz.) kidney beans, undrained
1 can (7 oz.) whole kernel corn, undrained
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 1/2 cups Original Bisquick® mix
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese (2 oz.), if desired

1. In 12-inch skillet, cook beef over medium heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in salsa, beans, corn, tomato sauce and 1 teaspoon of the chili powder. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low.
2. In medium bowl, stir Bisquick mix, remaining 1 teaspoon chili powder and the water until soft dough forms. Drop dough by 6 spoonfuls onto simmering beef mixture.
3. Cook uncovered 10 minutes. Cover; cook 8 minutes longer. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover; cook about 2 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Substitution: Use ground turkey breast instead of ground beef for a lower fat dish with the same great taste.

Chocolate Cherry Cola Cake
1 jar (10 oz.) maraschino cherries, drained, 1/4 cup liquid reserved
1 box devil's food cake mix
1 cup cherry cola carbonated beverage
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 container (12 oz.) whipped white frosting
1 cup marshmallow crème
24 maraschino cherries with stems, well drained, if desired

1. Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Spray bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with baking spray with flour. Chop cherries; set aside.
2. In large bowl, beat cake mix, cola beverage, oil, eggs and 1/4 cup reserved cherry liquid with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed beat 2 minutes. Stir in chopped cherries. Pour into pan.
3. Bake 35 to 43 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
4. In small bowl, mix frosting and marshmallow créme until smooth. Frost cake. Top each piece with 2 cherries.

Special Touch: For chocolate-dipped cherries, melt 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon shortening in microwave; stir. Dip well-drained cherries with stems into chocolate; refrigerate to set.

We had a pretty good weekend. Friday night we went to a surprise 50th birthday party, which was held at a bowling alley. It was Rylie's first time bowling and she really loved it. We found a little 6 lb. bowling ball and she did pretty good. No bumper pads in the gutter lanes either. AND she even got a strike, all on her own. YAY Rylie! She was so proud of that.

Saturday was our "lazy day" and we spent it just hanging out at the house. Samantha and her boyfriend, Kyle, came over in the evening. Rylie talked them into a game of Hide-N-Seek, lol. The four of us played while Ray was on the computer. Actually it was kind of fun. Hey, it's playing those kind of games with your kids that keeps you young. And besides, I think I was the best hider. LOL

Then Sunday was our family dinner day. I made a ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, rolls and Candy Bar cake. Everything turned out real good, although the cake was a bit rich tasting. Just very chocolaty. Oh, I should give ya'll that recipe too. It's an easy one and something different to try.

Candy Bars Recipe
Ready in: 30-60 minutes
Serves/Makes: 15

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1 package devil's food cake mix
1 cup butterscotch chips
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup coconut
1 cup chopped nuts
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk

Directions:

Heat oven to 350F degrees. In large bowl, cut butter into cake mix with fork or pastry blender until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over bottom of ungreased 15 x 10 x 1-inch pan; press lightly. Sprinkle with butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, coconut, and nuts.

Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over all ingredients. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes, or until light golden brown. Cool 45 minutes or until completely cooled. Cut into bars.

Well, than playing a few games of Apples to Apples with the kids, that was about the extent of our weekend. After the kids and grandbabies left, we sat down to watch the Nascar race (boring Fontana this weekend). That was about it.

Have a good day!
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Home Remedy--Facial Cleanser

2009-02-19T15:52:00.003-05:00

Hey ya'll. Here are a few recipes for homemade facial cleanser.

Facial cleanser
*Mix 2 Tbls. cornstarch, 2 Tbls. glycerin, and 1/2 cup water until smooth. Heat in a small pan placed in a water bath inside another pan. Heat until thick and clear; it will have the consistency of pudding. Do not boil. Cool completely, Use in place of soap to cleanse your skin. (If mixture is too thick, you may thin it by adding a little water, 1 Tbls. at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.)

*For a gentle facial cleanser mix 1/2 cup oatmeal or cornmeal and plain yogurt (add enough yogurt to form a paste). Smooth over entire face avoiding eye area. Wash off with warm water.

*Oat and Brown Sugar Scrub- Mix 2 Tbsp. ground oats, 2 tsp. brown sugar, 2 Tbsp. aloe vera and 1 tsp. lemon juice in a clean bowl until you have a smooth paste. Gently massage onto damp skin, and rinse off with warm water. You can triple the recipe for a fantastic smoothing body treatment. **Ground Oats: use rolled oats and a clean coffee grinder or blender to grind the flakes to a fine powder.

Well, I've been tearing our bedroom apart, cleaning, washing curtains, etc. and I suppose I better get back and finish putting it all back together. Woohoo! Too much fun, all in one day, for this gal to handle. LOL

Hugs!
Jill Marie

Tuesday Cleaning Tip--Car Odors

2009-02-17T09:19:00.002-05:00

Good Morning! Here is a quick tip for removing odors from you vehicle. Well, besides the tip about making the hubby take a Beano before eating his world famous Blazing Hot Chilli. LOL

Odor-free Car: Place a few briquettes of charcoal under the seat of your car to absorb odors and keep it smelling fresh. Make sure to use the type WITHOUT the starting fluid on them or your car will smell of fuel.

I wish I had known about this little tip when David played hockey. Goodness, you haven't smelled stink until you smell a hockey bag. Ugh! Gross. Sometimes my little trunk was too full and we threw it in the back seat for the drive to the arena. That was some stink that would really gag ya. LOL

Wish us luck. Today I am taking Rylie's application over the The Winterfield Academy. I hope she gets in. I don't know what we will do if she doesn't. TPS is just not an option. I should have taken the application over last week, but with Rylie and I both being sick, I just couldn't do it. {{{Crossing my fingers, throwing some salt and knocking on wood.}}}

Well, have a wonderful day.
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Monday Recipe--Casseroles

2009-02-16T08:50:00.002-05:00

Yea! for casseroles. We can throw them together the night before and then pop them in the oven when we get in the door. Then before you know it, it is time to sit down and listen to your picky eater say "what's this 'spose to be?" LOL

Cheesy Potato Casserole
INGREDIENTS:
1 pkg. frozen hash browns, thawed
1 container low-fat sour cream
2 tbsp. chives
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cups chopped ham
1 large pkg. shredded cheddar cheese
1 pkg. potato chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix hash browns, sour cream, chives, onion, ham and half of the cheese.
2. Spray large glass casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Pour in hash-brown mixture and cover with the rest of the cheese.
3. Top with potato chips and cook for 35 to 40 minutes until top is golden brown.

Pepperoni-Pasta Bake
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 to 3/4 lb. rotini pasta
1 12-oz. pkg. sliced pepperoni
1 can mushrooms (optional)
Your favorite spaghetti sauce
4 to 6 oz. grated mozzarella cheese

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta, and spread it evenly in the bottom of an oven-safe casserole dish. Arrange pepperoni slices and drained mushrooms on top of pasta. Pour spaghetti sauce on top. Top generously with cheese. Bake for 17 to 22 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

Chicken Chow Mein Casserole
INGREDIENTS:
6 boneless chicken breasts
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom and roasted garlic soup
2 tbsp. soy sauce
1 can Chinese water chestnuts
1/2 cup celery
1/2 cup onion
1 can bean sprouts
1/2 cup cashew nuts
1 can Chinese noodles

1. Cook the chicken and cut into bite-sized pieces; place in a mixing bowl.
2. Mix the soups and the soy sauce together (add more, if desired). Add the rest of the ingredients, except the Chinese noodles, and mix. Place in a large, ungreased casserole dish.
3. Cook the covered (you may use aluminum foil) casserole at 300 degrees for 1 hour. Fifteen minutes before serving, place the Chinese noodles on top to heat through.

Turkey Noodle Casserole
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 pound egg noodles, cooked
1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 shallots, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
Salt and pepper, to taste
3 cups cooked turkey breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 1/2 cups broccoli
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 1/2 cups grated Gruyere cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the cooked egg noodles into a 10x7 inch casserole dish. Whisk together the flour and 1/2 cup of the chicken broth, set aside. Place the olive oil in a large skillet and heat over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic, cook stirring until soft, about one minute. Add the flour/ broth mixture to the pan, stir to mix together. Add the remaining chicken broth, milk, nutmeg, thyme, lemon zest, salt and pepper, cooked turkey, and peas.
2. Pour the sauce over the noodles and use a spoon to mix together and smooth out the top. Sprinkle on the Gruyere cheese and bread crumbs. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven until casserole bubbles and the top crust is browned--about 8 to 10 minutes.

Everyone seems to FINALLY be over the flu bug here at the house. We had thought Rylie was okay, then we went somewhere and she started puking again. Sigh. So we came home and settled her down on the couch with her pillow, the puke bucket and a glass of room temperature 7Up. The next morning she was fine again, thank goodness.

I got two phone calls from David this weekend. He let us know that the medical problem he was concerned about was nothing to be worried about. Wait a minute...what?! Oh, yeah...he didn't tell Momma about it, he told Ray and told him not to tell me until they knew for sure what was going on. I'm kicking the kid in the shin for that when I see him. I had a feeling something was up and I thought it was medical. Thank goodness it was not the big C, which is what they initially thought it might be. {{{Huge sigh of relief}}}

Well, I am off to print out some articles on the Daytona 500 to send to David and a few other things for him to read. Ya'll have a great day.
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Better late than never, Thursday home remedy

2009-02-13T09:41:00.004-05:00

Mornin' ya'll. Here are a few tips for dry skin that may come in helpful for some.

Dry Skin
*Combine 1 cup oatmeal, 1 cup warm water, 1 Tbls. vanilla extract, and 1/2 cup baking soda in a blender or food processor until you have a smooth paste. Pour this paste under the running water while drawing the bath. Very soothing to dry, itchy skin.
*To relieve dry patches, massage in vegetable shortening like Crisco. Sounds gross, but it is emollient rich and full of vitamins and replenishing oils. It is also preservative and fragrance free.
*I've always heard, and I do this, that taking a very hot shower in the winter causes dry skin to be even worse. So I take a warm shower, then while I'm still in the shower I put on some Mineral oil. Then I rinse with cool water. Be careful not to spill the oil on the bottom of the shower as it will, of course, making it very slippery. Cold water on the skin is a great wake me up in the morning too. =) Very "refreshing".

It has been a doosie of a week. My body finally gave in and joined Rylie in the latest flu bug to hit the area. All I can say is...Ohmahgoooosh. This thing has no sense of pity and hits everyone differently. Rylie was puking none stop for 1 and a half days. Poor baby couldn't keep any bit of liquid down. Not even the any of puking stuff they gave us at the last Dr. visit. I'd give it to her and within minutes she'd be expelling it. Luckily, she didn't get the garwsh awful diarrhea that hits some.

When it finally hit me and took over my tummy I was violently ill. Mine started with a killer headache on Monday night. The "butt puking" hit me Tuesday morning. Followed by the tummy puking later in the morning. Let me tell you, being nauseous while your child is constantly puking...avoid it if possible. LOL Poor Rylie, it would hit her so hard and quick, she sometimes didn't have the time to roll over and hit the can. Poor Mom...lot's of laundry to do.

By Wednesday in the early afternoon we were feeling a bit better, but then I started to get this garwsh awful pain, in my upper back area, right around my lungs. Especially when I coughed. I began to think that I may have inhaled some nastiness during my vomiting. It just got worse and worse as the day went on. I was not able to sleep at all. Every time I layed down my breathing became very difficult. Then around 1:30 am, or so, it didn't matter whether I was laying down or not. My lips were getting tingly and the tips of my fingers. I looked in the mirror and the outer edges of my lips looked purple. I thought I had the beginnings of pneumonia or something like that.

I finally woke up Ray and told him that I needed to go to the ER. The drive seemed to take forever and my breathing seemed to become more and more difficult. I honestly thought I was going to pass out before we got there. I was sucking and sucking in air and it felt like I was barely getting anything. Luckily, once we got there, they got me right back to a room very quickly. From what they told me later, they thought from all my symptoms, that I may have a blood clot on my lung.

First they put me on all the monitors and did an EKG. I kept telling them it wasn't a heart attack, but they said the symptoms are different in men and women. They sent me for a cat scan (I don't even want to know how much that is gonna cost) and that's where they found what was going on. My lungs looked fine, however the wall surrounding my chest area was swollen. I have pleurisy. Great...I'm not exactly sure what that means, but they gave me some meds and a breathing treatment and I felt much better. So they sent me home with an inhaler, and 3 prescriptions. Hopefully, I will be over this thing quickly because the pain is just terrible. The good news, yes, there is good news...I lost 6 pounds during those 2 days. LOL

Now, the pain medication they prescribed was percocet. Let me tell you, I am not very good with pain meds. They tend to hit me twice as hard as they do other people. So this stuff makes me a bit loopy and nauseous. But the pain is pretty bad, so if I don't have to do any driving I'll be taking the stuff. The other good thing is that the quesiness the pills give me will keep my appetite down. LOL Well, they say to be positive and look at the good side of everything, right?

Okay, well I'm sure I've bored you enough with our sicky stories. Oh, by the way, yes, it did hit Ray. He had just the "bad booty" stuff for one night and he was better in the morning. Good thing, because I would not have been able to deal with him being terrible sick too.

Have a great day and stay healthy!
Hugs,
Jill Marie

Cleaning quickie--no wax floors

2009-02-10T11:33:00.001-05:00

Hey ya'll. Rylie is puking today and I am fighting the urge to do so, so this is it.

No-wax floors: To wash no-wax floors, add ½ cup of white distilled vinegar to a half-gallon of warm water.

Have a good day.
Jill Marie

Monday Recipe---3 Cheese Baked Ziti

2009-02-09T08:17:00.004-05:00

Good morning. I know, I have been MIA for most of the past week. Things have just been so crazy. But I'm here now and I've got this recipe for 3 Cheese Baked Ziti. This sounds good and it sounds like something that you could put together the night before to put in the fridge and throw it into the oven when you get home from work.

Three Cheese Baked Ziti
1 Pkg.(15 oz.) part-skim ricotta cheese
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 package (16 oz.) ziti pasta, cooked & drained
1 28 oz. jar pasta sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 oz.)

Preheat oven to 350. In large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, eggs, and parmesan cheese; set aside. In another bowl, thoroughly combine hot pasta and pasta sauce. In 13x9-inch baking dish, spoon in 1/2 of the pasta mixture; evenly top with ricotta cheese mixture, then remaining pasta. Sprinkle with mozzarella. Bake, uncovered, 30 minutes or until heated through.

This past week was just too crazy for me and I couldn't seem to find the time (nor the inclination) to get on here and make any post's. Tuesday Ray ended up coming home from work and insisting that I go to the ER. It appears, that in my old age, I am developing some rather odd allergies. The ER doctor said that I had an acute allergic dermatitis. To what? We're not really sure as I didn't try anything new over the weekend. No new soaps, detergents, etc. The only thing I had, that I had never had before, was one teeny tiny sip of my nieces blue raspberry soda. All we can think is that maybe I was allergic to the blue coloring or flavoring.

They gave an IV (major ouch! that nurse was so bad and spilled my blood all over the place) with meds that seemed to help a lot. By the next morning the swelling and all had gone almost completely away. Within a few days I was able to put my ring on again.

Thursday I took my mother in law back to the hospital for another day of physical therapy. I grabbed a book on my way out of the door. I figured I would enjoy my hour of peace and quiet to the max. I haven't been able to sit down and just read since last summer. Maybe next time I'll take one of my counted-cross stitch projects. I haven't worked on any of that since I was pregnant with Rylie. Of course, my eye sight has changed so much in the past 5 years, I'm not even sure I'll be able to see the thread. lol

I really need to get in and get my eyes examined. I know my prescription has changed...a lot. But the exams are just so fippin' expensive. There is always something else we need to spend the sixty dollars on. Like electricity or heat or groceries. LOL I keep saying, one day, one day...we'll see.

Saturday Ray, Rylie and I went to Winterfield Academy for a meeting and tour of the school. Rylie starts kindergarten next year and there is just no way I can send her to Toledo Public Schools. We really liked what we heard and plan on submitting and application and I am hoping, beyond hope, that Rylie will get into this school. Their school is based on four "philosophies":
1. Academics-They will do everything to make sure your child is learning what they need. They test throughout the year and if your child is weak in certain areas, they will re-teach if needed. If your child is extremely bright and bored, then they will set up new things to challenge your child.
2. "Morals"- At the beginning of the month they have an assembly and introduce a new "moral characteristic" like courage or wisdom. They then continue the use of the word in the classroom during that month. It has nothing to do with religion, it's about teaching the kids how to be a good person. I really like this aspect of their teaching philosophy.
3. Student Responsibility-They want the kids to learn to become responsible for their own actions . Or lack thereof. If your child keeps forgetting to bring in their homework, they don't want you to pick up the slack and bring it in. They want the children to learn to be responsible for themselves and take the consequences for themselves. I think this is a good thing to teach. How many young people today think that the world owes them something? That they should just "get" just because? You have to work for what you want and that means being responsible. Yes, it does sound a little strict or disciplined...but that is what I think so many kids today are missing in their life. Discipline and structure.
4. Parental Involvement- Every child's family is required to volunteer 10 hours at the school. I think that this is so important. How can our children realize how important their education is if we aren't involved in it? That works fine for me, especially since I don't think I will go any farther away from that school than the parking lot for the first week. LOL

Another selling point for us on the school was their level of security. You cannot enter the school without going through the Main Office. Once you arrive in the office, your drivers license will be swiped. If anything comes up on the license, they will know about it and you may not be allowed to enter the school. I love the fact that they take the safety of the children so seriously. If they screen the parents and visitors so closely, can you imagine the screenings of the teachers and workers at the school?

So I've got Rylie's application all filled out and I am hoping, hoping, hoping that she is accepted and will be going to school there this fall. If she is accepted, then she will spend a partial day there in May so she can experience a school setting. Then they will have some days during the summer when the kids (kindergarten) can come in and spend some more time there and become adjusted to the new environment.

They also gave us a list of things that they like the children to know when starting kindergarten. Rylie knows most of it, so it will give us some things to work on here at home this spring and summer. She is starting to get real excited and loves to talk about her new school. She is being extremely helpful around the house too. Showing us how she is a "big girl" and ready for school now. It is too cute.

Sunday we had "Sunday Dinner" and we had a lot of fun. We are going to try to have all the kids and grandbabies over every other Sunday for dinner. Just a day to catch up with everyone, have dinner and play some games. It was a real good day, even if all the kids couldn't make it. I want to look for a new game we can play the next time. So if ya'll know of a good board game or card game for group, please make a suggestion. This time we played Apples to Apples and it was a lot of fun.

Well, I better get off of here and get started with laundry. Ya'll have a wonderful day and I'll see ya later.
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Help, please...

2009-02-02T13:05:00.002-05:00

I am going itch crazy. This is weird. Yesterday I seemed to develop an itch on my right hand, between my ring finger and middle finger. The area was red, hot and very itchy. Eventually it became a wee bit painful as I could feel the skin stretching. It is slightly swollen.

Today I have developed the itch on my left "pointing" finger and a bit on the small finger. Now, here is where it gets weird. I have a small area of swelling and itch near the outside corner of my left eye. Also...near my tail bone. It feels hot, swollen and itchy.

I can't figure out what this is. Does it sound like an allergic reaction? Dermititis? Eczema? I always tell the kids, "just don't itch"...ha! This is killer! I just can't itch enough. I've tried calling the doctors office, but I don't think anyone is in today. I'm about to get some sand paper and start tearing it all up!

Thanks for any advice or suggestions anyone can make. I'd really appreciate it.

Itchingly,
Jill Marie

Monday recipes-Pork chops, Chicken & Tater Tots

2009-02-02T08:45:00.002-05:00

Good Morning! It's a bright, new, shiny week. Slap on a happy face and be ready for anything, right? I'm trying on a new positive attitude, how does it look? =D LOL
Okay, here are some entree recipes I found that sound interesting. I hope one of these sounds tempting to at least one of ya.

Breaded Baked Pork Chops

6 pork chops
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
2 egg, beaten
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups Italian-style seasoned bread crumbs
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup white wine

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Rinse pork chops, pat dry, and season with garlic powder and seasoning salt to taste. Place the beaten eggs in a small bowl. Dredge the pork chops lightly in flour, dip in the egg, and coat liberally with bread crumbs. Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the pork chops 5 minutes per side, or until the breading appears well browned. Transfer the chops to a 9x13 inch baking dish, and cover with foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour. While baking, combine the cream of mushroom soup, milk and white wine in a medium bowl. After the pork chops have baked for an hour, cover them with the soup mixture. Replace foil, and bake for another 30 minutes.

Serve with stuffing, hot rolls and a vegetable.

Saltine Fried Chicken

30 saltine crackers
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons dry potato flakes
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 egg
1/4 cup vegetable oil
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Place crackers in a large resealable plastic bag; seal bag and crush crackers until they are coarse crumbs. Add flour, potato flakes, seasoned salt, and pepper to bag and mix well. Beat egg in a shallow dish or bowl; heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. One by one, dredge chicken pieces in egg beat, then place in bag with crumb mixture, seal bag and shake to coat. Reduce heat to medium and cook coated chicken in skillet for 15 to 20 minutes, turning frequently, until golden brown and juices run clear.

I've used saltine crackers and sometimes goldfish crackers as chicken coating. This is the first time I've heard of adding potato flakes. I'll have to try it, but I'll have to buy the flake taters for just that use as I never make instant taters. I just don't care for the taste of them.

Tater Tot Casserole

1/2 pound ground beef
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
10 3/4 fluid ounces skim milk
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 (14.5 ounce) can French style green beans
1/2 (32 ounce) package tater tots

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a large skillet over high heat, brown the ground beef and drain fat. Stir in condensed cream of mushroom soup, skim milk, garlic salt and green beans. Pour the mixture into a medium-sized casserole dish and layer with the tater tots. Bake in preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until tater tots are browned and crispy.

Things have been going pretty well around here. Just a little over a month and a half until David graduates from AIT. Hopefully, we'll be able to afford to go. I think I'll just cry and cry if we can't go. We are planning on going, but work has been real slow and sparse here. Ray only worked one day last week. So if we don't have the money come March...well, there's not a lot we can do about it. But I can tell you I will be broken hearted. I've heard that seeing the boys graduate is one of the most touching things you could see and it is a moment I do NOT want to miss. I wonder if the family would have me commited if I tried to hitchhike to Georgia. Probably. Well, I guess it is what it is. I'll just have to try to keep a positive outlook until March.

I've got a letter all ready to send to David, short of the postage. I guess I better add a note and tell him he ought to tell them he needs a flight back home. That way if we can't go down, he'll already have a ticket to get back here. I hate this. I know he was really looking forward to us coming down and the drive back with us. We were going to stop by his uncles place in West Virginia for a quick visit on the drive back. Now, thanks to this economy, everything is up in the air. Is it too soon to want to cry? Cuz I sure feel like it.

Happy face, positive thoughts...it's still not too late for things to make a turn. Right?

Have a good day.
Hugs,
Jill Marie

Home Remedy--Diarrhea

2009-01-29T13:37:00.003-05:00

Okay, it's one of those things we don't want to talk about, but it happens to all of us at one point or another.

Diarrhea
*Eat boiled sweet potatoes seasoned with salt and pepper before bedtime to cure chronic diarrhea.
*For some people eating blueberries works very well.
*Get BRATTY. BRATTY is an anagram for bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, tea and yogurt. It's recommended that diarrhea sufferers follow a diet that consists solely of these foods until the condition has been alleviated, since these foods have the effect of adding bulk to the intestines--thus relieving runny stools. Additionally, the pectin in applesauce should help firm bowel movements, and the beneficial bacteria present in yogurt can help restore the ecology of an ailing stomach.
*Buttermilk is one of the most effective home remedies in the treatment of diarrhea. Buttermilk is the residual milk which is left oven, after fat has been removed from curd by churning.
*Cardamom-Take about 1/4 teaspoon of powder of cardamom seeds and boil them with tea water. Add a bit of sugar for taste and drink.
*Water, Sugar and Salt Solution-This solution is an essential medicine for diarrhea. It is effective treatment for adults as well as for children and infants. Add lime juice (sour/sweet) or orange juice to taste. For adults, a mixture of 1 liter of water , 1 teaspoon of salt and 8 teaspoons of sugar is good for curing diarrhea. For children, 1 liter of water is added with ¾ teaspoon of salt and 8 level teaspoons of sugar.

I hope ya'll have a good day.
Hugs,
Jill Marie

Soap slivers

2009-01-27T10:16:00.005-05:00

Good Morning Ya'll. I went to my tips and was going to just post a tip for a mothball substitue which involves using soap slivers. Of course, that got me to thinking about "soap slivers". There has to be other uses for them, right? I personally save my slivers and then melt them in the microwave and make a new bar.

Mothball Substitute: Take your leftover soap slivers and put them in a vented plastic bag. You place the bag with seasonal clothes before packing them away. Not only will the scent prevent them from moth harm but also they'll smell great when you pull them out.

I've been saving my soap slivers and re-using them. I either melt them and make a new bar or had an idea of putting the slivers into "re-cycled pantyhose", knot the ends and then place into your suitcases when your not using them to keep them fresh smelling. Also put them in your sock drawer, underwear drawer or lingerie drawer. Here are some more idea'a and recipes for re-using your soap slivers.

Save the soap slivers and add water, then slowly melt them down on the stove and use as liquid soap. Or melt them down without water and pour into greased jar lids or anything you want to use for the a mold and you have new bars of soap!

Place Pieces In A Scrubbie-I will take all the leftovers and collect them for a while. Then I take apart one of those scrubbie things most people now use in the shower (I can buy a pkg. of 4 of them at the dollar store), and put the soap in there, and tie it up. I would think cheesecloth would work, too, but I haven't tried it. It works well for the kids since the sudser already has soap in it.

Use the little soaps to write on glass. If your car is for sale, or if you have a shop window, you can write on the glass for an easily removed message. Or write a love note to your sweetheart on the bathroom mirror some morning.

Shave the soaps down and melt in a mold, in your microwave, to create a bath-sized bar. Add soap fragrances (such as lavender)and a bit of oatmeal for mild sloughing qualities. Use yourself or give away as gifts for the holidays.

Shave down and add glycerin. Melt in the microwave and keep in a jar for a homemade liquid hand soap.

Repackage Hotel soaps in nice little fabrics and ribbons that match your guest bathroom, and put out when you have overnight visitors. Tell them they can use them or take them home. It's a lovely little gesture.

Place opened soap in an old sock, and hang it in the shower. it makes a wonderful body scrubby that lathers effortlessly. Keep adding used soap slivers at will.

Shave down and use in powdered form for handwashing delicate clothes.

Here are some more tips (basically the same ideas, but perhaps different recipes) I found for re-using soap slivers at this page :

1. To make soap on a rope, sew up a drawstring bag, say, out of an old washcloth, and deposit your soap bits inside. Next, throw in a couple of tablespoons of dried herbs, like chamomile and lavender plus a couple of tablespoons of medium ground oatmeal to act as a skin softener. Hang the bag from your showerhead and it’s ready to use.

2. To recycle your soap scraps into new bar soap, place 2 cups of grated soap scraps in a saucepan and cover them with water. Let them soak for 24 hours, giving them a stir every now and then. Next, bring the pan to a boil, remove it from heat and add a tablespoon of vegetable oil for each cupful of soap soup. Pour the mixture into molds–milk cartons work great. After they’ve hardened, you can cut them into smaller bars, but let them cure for two weeks before you use them.

3. To make gel hand/body soap, put the soap bits in a jar of hot water and add some lemon juice and glycerine. Shake well, and you’re done.

4. To make a cleaning gel, place 2 cups of grated soap bits in a saucepan, covering them with water. Wait 24 hours, stirring the soap soup now and then. After 24 hours, bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce to a simmer and then whisk or mash the mixture to completely dissolve the soap. Remove from heat and allow to cool. For each cup of soap gel in the pan, add two cups of talcum powder and two tablespoons of mineral turpentine. Mix the concoction well and store in a wide-mouth container with a tight-fitting lid. This super-soap can be used as a general purpose household cleaner as well as a laundry aid.

5. To make an all-purpose stain remover, put 4 cups of finely grated soap bits in an enamel or stainless steel saucepan along with 3 tablespoons of eucalyptus oil, one cup of methylated spirits and one cup of boiling water. Alan then says to, “Stand the saucepan in a larger pan of hot water over a medium heat, stirring the mixture until it turns clear.” After that, you’re to poor the soap into molds–again, empty milk cartons work best–and let them cool. You can cut them into small bars later, but you should wait 4 weeks for them to fully harden. When it’s time to remove a stain, moisten the bar and rub on the offending spot and then launder as usual. Probably because of the methylated spirits, this recipe is particulary good for removing grease stains.

6. If you feel a bit more decadent, you can turn your soap leftovers into yummy honey and oatmeal soap. To do so, place 2 cups of grated soap scraps into a saucepan, cover with cold water and let stand 24 hours. Then, add 2 tablespoons of honey and simmer, stirring occasionally until the soap melts. Remove the pan from the stove and then stir in 1 cup of medium ground oatmeal and 2 tablespoons of glycerine. Mix well and then pour into molds. After they have cooled, you can cut them into smaller bars, but let them cure about 6 weeks before you use them.

I am just sitting here laughing at myself and how much of a tightwad I must be. I decided to do a little math, just approximations, and this is what I came up with. Let's say you use a brand new bar of soap every other week (26 bars) and you pay, let's say 50 cents a bar. So that little sliver may cost at most 5 cents (and that's probably stretching it). So 26 bars times 5 cent's = $1.30...hm. And I'm saving those little slivers to save money. I am such a flippin' tightwad! LOL Oh well, at least I can laugh at myself. I'd rather be "thrifty" than wasteful.

Have a good day.
Hugs,
Jill Marie

Swiss Steak Recipe

2009-01-26T09:08:00.002-05:00

G'morning ya'll. Today I have a recipe for Swiss Steak.

Swiss Steak
Ingredients:
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon Hungarian sweet paprika
salt and pepper to taste
2 pounds beef round steak, cut in 6 to 8 serving-size pieces, pounded to tenderize
1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon Canola oil
1 large garlic clove, minced
2 ribs celery, thinly sliced
2 to 3 cups thinly sliced onion
2 cans (14.5 ounces each) tomatoes, or 4 to 5 medium tomatoes, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup beef brothPreparation:

Combine flour, thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Baste steak pieces with Worcestershire sauce, then dredge in the flour mixture. Heat oil over medium-high heat and brown steak pieces about 5 minutes on each side. Transfer steak to slow cooker/Crock Pot. Sprinkle garlic and celery over steak, then add the sliced onion and tomatoes. Pour beef stock into the hot skillet to loosen brown bits; pour over steak. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours (on high 4 to 5 hours).
Serves 6 to 8.

You could serve this with egg noodles and/or mashed potatoes and a veggie. Maybe a simple little salad and some warm dinner rolls too. Dinner rolls are big at our house. Rylie is such a picky eater so sometimes she'll just eat the roll and push the rest of the food around her plate. (((sigh))) I can only make the food, unfortunately I can not force this child to eat. Believe me, I've tried manipulation, intimidation (not scary, just no dessert, etc.), and sending her to her room. Nothing works with this child. I've even tried fixing her a seperate dinner if I don't think she'll like what we're having. But now, suddenly, out of the blue...she doesn't like hotdogs either.

What?! Hotdogs were her absolute favorite, for awhile there I was wondering if she could live on just eating those dogs. Now, she won't even eat those. OH LAWD! I think I may have a flippin' veggie-tarian on my hands. LOL

Well, have a wonderful Monday.
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Home Remedy--Dark Circles Under Eyes

2009-01-22T07:33:00.003-05:00

Here are a few home remedies to try out, before you go spends a lot of money on a store product, for dark circles under your eyes.

Dark circles around eyes

*Make a paste out of 1 tsp. tomato juice, 1/2 tsp. lemon juice, a pinch of turmeric powder, and 1 tsp. of flour. Apply around eyes. Leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing.
*For under eye circles and wrinkles, mix a drop or two of honey with 2-3 drops of fresh lemon juice. Apply to the area under the eye. Leave it on for about 15 min. to 1/2 hour and it seems to work.
*Squash a banana and put a little on your eye before going to sleep. The potassium will help your eyes. In the morning when you wake up, wash it off and your dark circle is gone. You have to keep doing this every day!
*Boil some water and place 2 tea bags inside. Take out tea bags, allow them to cool. Lay back and place tea bags over the eyes (close eyes first - one on each eye) for about 15 minutes. This will ease black circles under your eyes caused by lack of sleep.
*Apply vitamin K cream. Although studies haven't looked at the use of topical vitamin K for dark circles under the eyes, preliminary studies have found that vitamin K may help with bruising.
*Vitamin C helps to strengthen blood vessel walls.

The following is a list of some of the causes of dark circles:
*Allergies
*Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
*Heredity — dark under-eye circles can run in families.
*Lifestyle factors, such as smoking and drinking alcohol and caffeinated sodas.
*Nasal congestion (which dilates and darkens the veins that drain from your eyes to your nose)
*Pigmentation irregularities — these are a particular concern for people of color, especially blacks and Asians.
*Sun exposure, which prompts your body to produce more melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color.
*Thinning skin and loss of fat and collagen — common as you age — which make the reddish-blue blood vessels under your eyes more obvious.

The MayoClinic website also suggests that you try the following.
*Cold. Try a cold compress, two chilled teaspoons or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a soft cloth to temporarily reduce dilated and discolored under-eye blood vessels. Or, try a cooled, used teabag.
*Extra pillows. Elevate your head with two or more pillows to prevent puffiness that develops when fluid pools in your lower eyelids.
*Extra sleep. Although short nights don't usually cause under-eye circles, a lack of sleep makes you paler and more hollow-eyed, so shadows and circles you already have are more obvious.
*Dark glasses and sunscreen. Although a tan might hide dark circles in the short term, in the long run, the extra pigment it produces can make circles worse.
*Saline washes or sprays. Rinsing your sinuses with a saltwater solution (mix 1/4 teaspoon sea salt with 2 cups warm water) or over-the-counter saline spray can help relieve nasal congestion.
*Cosmetics. Hundreds of skin creams that claim to reduce or prevent under-eye circles crowd department store and drugstore shelves. The results of one well-publicized study showed that a cream containing vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin E and retinol was moderately effective in treating under-eye circles.
*Camouflage. The right concealer can do just that — hide dark circles. If the circles under your eyes are bluish, use a peach-colored concealer, not one that's white or gray. And avoid scented products and those containing salicylic or glycolic acid, which can irritate delicate eye tissue, making redness and swelling worse.

I also came across an interesting article that said "Eat kidney-balancing foods. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, a bluish cast under the eyes are due to an imbalance in kidney energy." I followed the link provided and found that the recommended kidney balancing foods are: Lobster, Sardines, Shrimp, Clove, Dill seed, Fennel, Pistachio, Raspberry and Walnuts.

Sounds like a good enough reason to have to eat shrimp and lobster, lol. Have a great day everyone.
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Tuesay Cleaning Tips--The Microwave

2009-01-20T08:28:00.002-05:00

Good morning. Here are some tips for cleaning your microwave and keeping it smelling fresh.

Microwave Filth: Food splatters all over the inside of your microwave and cooks itself on after time. To easily remove this mess, place a sponge soaked in water or just a dish filled with 1/2 cup water in the microwave. Cook on high heat for 2 minutes. The filth is now ready to be wiped right off - no scrubbing!

You can also used vinegar to clean the microwave. Boil a solution of 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar and 1 cup of water in the microwave. Will loosen splattered on food and deodorize.

Microwave Odors: Keep a cup of baking soda in the microwave between uses to keep potatoes from smelling like bacon or other unusual combinations!

Well, it's Tuesday...blah! Or as Rylie likes to say "boooooring". I don't know where she picked up that word. It's funny how kids learn words and use them. Rylie will us the word "boring" when I tell her to do something she doesn't like or why something needs to be done. So since I don't care for Tuesdays, let's just say it's boring. Which it is. At least Mondays are the beginning of a new week. Wednesdays are the "over the hump" day. Thursdays are a little more fun since the following day, Friday, is the beginning of the weekend. Saturdays and Sundays have always been good because they are "the weekend". Which means Tuesdays are just plain ol' "booooring". LOL

Well, I've got to go. I need to finish another letter to David so I can get it sent out today. I need to go and find some neat little things online, that I can print out, and send to him.

Have a great "boooring" Tuesday!
Jill Marie

Monday Recipes--Casseroles

2009-01-19T07:49:00.004-05:00

"Mom, what are we having for dinner?" If her response was "A casserole", aw dang it, I thought. I was (and still am) a bit weird about having my food touch each other on my plate. So a casserole, where everything is all mixed together, was not my idea of a good meal. However, these days I am the mom and it is my job to fix all the meals. As Rylie would say "boooooring". LOL

A casserole serves several purposes for me. It is usually fixed in one pan which means less to clean up, and it is the whole meal right there in one dish so there is no need to decide what side to make with it. I can just throw it all in one pan and then make some biscuits or a salad to go with it and I am done. I'm also not quite as queasy about all the food together (depending on what foods are in it) and I'm okay with eating a casserole these days.

Here are a bunch of casserole recipes I picked up over at the Better Homes and Garden site recently. I hope you find one that sounds tempting to you.

Upside Down Pizza Casserole
Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1 15-ounce can Italian-style tomato sauce
1-1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (6 ounces)
1 10-ounce package refrigerated biscuits (10 biscuits)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large skillet cook beef until no longer pink, stirring frequently. Drain off fat. Stir in tomato sauce; heat through. Transfer mixture to a 2-quart rectangular baking dish. Sprinkle mixture with cheese.
2. Flatten each biscuit with your hands; arrange the biscuits on top of the cheese. Bake in the preheated oven about 15 minutes or until biscuits are golden. Makes 5 servings.

Mexican Style Chicken Casserole
Ingredients
2 10-3/4-ounce cans reduced-sodium condensed cream of chicken soup
1 10-ounce can diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained
3/4 cup chopped green sweet pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
1-1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
12 6- or 7-inch corn tortillas, cut into thin, bite-size strips
3 cups cubed cooked chicken*
1 8-ounce package (2 cups) shredded cheddar cheese
Tomato slices (optional)
Sliced green onions (optional)
Directions
1. Combine soup, tomatoes with chiles, sweet pepper, onion, chili powder, and black pepper; set aside.
2. To assemble, sprinkle about one-third of the tortilla strips over the bottom of an ungreased 3-quart rectangular baking dish. Layer half of the chicken over tortilla strips; spoon half of soup mixture on top. Sprinkle half of the cheese and another one-third of the tortilla strips over the soup mixture. Layer with remaining chicken, soup mixture, and tortilla strips.
3. Bake, uncovered, in 350 degree F oven about 45 minutes or until bubbly around edges and center is hot. Remove from oven; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. If desired, top with sliced tomatoes and green onions. Makes 8 servings.

ToTote: Cover tightly after sprinkling with cheese. Transport in an insulated carrier. If desired, transport tomatoes and green onions in an insulated cooler with ice packs.
*Note: About 1 pound boneless chicken breasts will yield 3 cups cubed cooked chicken; 1/2 pound yields about 1-1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken
For 4 Servings: Prepare using method above, except assemble in an ungreased 2-quart square baking dish. Bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree F oven about 35 minutes or until bubbly around edges and center is hot.

Hot & Cheesy Chicken Casserole
Ingredients
3 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 14-oz. pkg. frozen broccoli florets
2 cups cooked rice*
1-1/2 cups frozen peas
1 10.75-oz. can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 10.75-oz. can condensed fiesta nacho cheese soup
1 10- to 10.5-oz. can diced tomatoes and green chilies
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper (optional)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (2 oz.)
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (2 oz.)
1 cup crushed rich round crackers
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place chicken in bottom of 3-quart rectangular baking dish. In large bowl combine broccoli, rice, and peas. Spread mixture over the chicken. In medium bowl combine cream of chicken soup, nacho cheese soup, diced tomatoes, milk, and crushed red pepper. Stir in 1/4 cup of the cheddar cheese and 1/4 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Pour mixture over broccoli mixture in baking dish. Sprinkle crushed crackers evenly over all. Top with remaining cheddar and mozzarella cheeses.
2. Bake, uncovered, 35 to 40 minutes or until topping is golden. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

* If you do not have leftover rice, cook 2/3 cup long grain white rice or brown rice in 1-1/3 cups boiling water for 15 minutes (40 minutes for brown rice) or until water is absorbed.

Eight Layer Casserole
Ingredients
3 cups dried medium noodles (6 ounces)
1 pound ground beef
2 8-ounce cans tomato sauce
1 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 8-ounce carton dairy sour cream
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup chopped onion (1 small)
1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, cooked and well drained
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (4 ounces)
Directions
1. Grease a 2-quart casserole or a 2-quart square baking dish; set aside. Cook noodles according to package directions; drain and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet cook beef until brown. Drain off fat. Stir tomato sauce, basil, sugar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper into skillet. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
3. In a medium mixing bowl beat together the sour cream and cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Stir in milk and onion. In prepared casserole or baking dish, layer half of the noodles (about 2 cups), half of the meat mixture (about 1 1/2 cups), half of the cream cheese mixture (about 1 cup), and all of the spinach. Top with the remaining meat mixture and noodles. Cover and chill remaining cream cheese mixture until needed.
4. Cover casserole or baking dish with lightly greased foil. Bake in 350 degree F oven about 45 minutes or until heated through. Uncover; spread with remaining cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle with the cheddar cheese. Bake, uncovered, about 10 minutes more or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
5. Makes 8 servings
6. Make-ahead directions: Prepare as directed through Step 3. Cover with lightly greased foil and chill in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes or until heated through. Uncover; spread with remaining cream-cheese mixture. Sprinkle with the cheddar cheese.?Bake, uncovered, about 10 minutes more or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 10 minutes before baking.

Broccoli & Chicken Casserole
Ingredients
4 ounces dried medium noodles
2-1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken or turkey
1 10-ounce package frozen chopped broccoli, thawed
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1 10-3/4-ounce can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup skim milk
1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese (2 ounces)
1 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Paprika
Directions
1. Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain well.
2. In a 2-quart casserole stir together noodles, chicken or turkey, broccoli, and green onions.
3. In a medium mixing bowl stir together soup, milk, cheese, basil, and pepper. Stir into noodle mixture.
4. Bake, covered, in a 350 degree F oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with paprika. Makes 6 servings.

Make-Ahead Tip: Prepare casserole; cover and chill up to 24 hours. Bake as above.

Butternut Squash Bake
Serve as a vegetarian entree' or as a side dish with beef.
Ingredients
1-1/2 lb. butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut in 1-inch cubes (3 cups)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
8 oz. dried extra-wide noodles
4 Tbsp. butter
6 shallots, chopped
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 8-oz. carton mascarpone cheese
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley, snipped
1 cup panko (Japanese-style) bread crumbs or soft bread crumbs
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. In bowl toss squash in oil; place in oiled 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Roast, uncovered, 30 minutes, until lightly browned and tender, stirring twice.
2. Meanwhile, in Dutch oven cook noodles according to package directions. Drain; set aside. In same Dutch oven melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. Add shallots; cook and stir over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, until shallots are tender and butter just begins to brown. Stir in lemon juice.
3. Add noodles and squash to shallot mixture. Stir in mascarpone, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan, 1/4 cup parsley, and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and black pepper. Transfer to greased 2-quart oval gratin dish or baking dish.
4. In small saucepan melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter; stir in bread crumbs, remaining Parmesan, and parsley. Sprinkle on noodle mixture. Bake, uncovered, 10 minutes, until crumbs are golden. Serves 8.

Hamburger Pie
Ingredients
1 recipe Mashed Potatoes or one 24-ounce package refrigerated mashed potatoes
1-1/4 pounds lean ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion (1 medium)
1/4 teaspoon salt
Dash black pepper
2-1/2 cups frozen cut green beans, thawed
1 10.75-ounce can condensed tomato soup
1/2 cup shredded process American cheese (2 ounces)
Directions
1. Prepare Mashed Potatoes*, if using; set aside. In a large skillet cook meat and onion until meat is brown and onion is tender. Drain off fat. Add the salt and pepper. Stir in thawed beans and soup; pour into a greased 2-quart rectangular baking dish or casserole.
2. Spoon Mashed Potatoes in mounds on bean mixture (or, if desired, pipe potatoes using a pastry bag and a large star tip). Sprinkle cheese over the potatoes. Bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree F oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until mixture is bubbly and cheese begins to brown.
3. Makes 6 servings

*Three Mashed Potato Options:
1. Use four servings refrigerated mashed potatoes
2. Prepare 4 servings instant mashed potatoes according to package directions, except reserve the mil. Add egg and season to taste with salt and pepper. Add enough reserved milk so potatoes are stiff enough to hold their shape.
3. Make mashed potatoes using 5 medium potatoes.

Deep Dish Chicken Pot Pie
Ingredients
1 recipe Pastry Topper
1 cup chopped leek (3 medium) or onion (1 large)
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
3/4 cup sliced celery (1-1/2 stalks)
1/2 cup chopped red sweet pepper (1 small)
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1-1/2 cups chicken broth
1 cup half-and-half, light cream, or milk
2-1/2 cups chopped, cooked chicken
1 cup loose-pack frozen peas or frozen peas and carrots
1 egg, beaten
Directions
1. Prepare Pastry Topper; set aside.
2. In a large saucepan cook leek, mushrooms, celery, and sweet pepper in hot butter over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in the flour, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper. Add broth and half-and-half all at once. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Stir in chicken and peas. Pour into a 2-quart rectangular baking dish.
3. Place pastry over chicken mixture in dish. Turn edges of pastry under; flute to edges of dish. Brush pastry with some of the egg. If desired, place cut-out pastry shapes on top of pastry. Brush again with egg.
4. Bake, uncovered, in a 400 degree F oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Let stand for 20 minutes before serving. Makes 6 servings.

Pastry Topper: In a medium bowl stir together 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in 1/3 cup shortening until dough pieces are pea-size. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon cold water over part of the mixture; gently toss with a fork. Push moistened dough to side of bowl. Sprinkle an additional 3 to 4 tablespoons cold water over remaining flour mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with a fork until all dough is moistened. Form into a ball. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a 13x9-inch rectangle. Using a sharp knife, cut slits in pastry to allow steam to escape, or, if desired, use a small cookie cutter to cut shapes from pastry.

Have a wonderful Monday.
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Already?!

2009-01-16T11:17:00.003-05:00

I cannot believe that it is already Friday again. Has it already been a week? I feel like I haven't slept in a week. I feel like I haven't gotten a thing done all week. I am tired, so tired.

I apologize for missing days and post's on here. Suffice it to say I've been a wee bit distracted and have not gotten a lot of anything done lately.

Good News---I got a letter from David yesterday. He has been promoted to Squad Leader. I am so proud of him. I don't know much about the service, but I would have to guess that they must have seen something special in him to do that. I'm sure that it's wonderful each and every time someone in the service gets a promotion or special recognition. I just think how great it is that even in Basic Training they saw something special in David and recognized it. This Mom is just bursting with pride.

More Good News---I just heard that my nephew, who is serving in Korea, will be promoted to Tech Sgt. I know his Dad and Cathy are just as proud of him too.

Finally, good news, we've been needing it around here.

In other news, the little thing on my computer is telling me that it is currently -11 degree's outside. BRRRRRRRR! The heater just keeps running and running and it is still cold in here. I'm getting ready to close all the bedroom doors and just huddle up with Rylie in the living room under a big comforter.

Have a good weekend and stay warm!
Jill Marie

Beyond crazy...

2009-01-12T12:53:00.004-05:00

Friday night Ray and I went to his work's company Christmas party. It's always held after Christmas because people have less going on then. His brother who works with him, John and his wife, Cathy, went too. We took separate cars and stopped by their house when we went home.

Imagine our surprise when they found their 17 year old daughter missing. Her dinner was on the table and she hadn't taken a coat. The only thing gone was her purse and cell phone. The police were called and a missing person report was filed when we were unable to locate her anywhere.

We spent the entire weekend making calls and searching for her. Saturday seemed like an day of endless calls and waiting for return calls. Cathy and I spend a lot of time crying and trying to support each other. Sunday morning I got up and got 100 copies of a missing child flyer made up and delivered them to all kinds of places. More calls. More searching the computer. More waiting for return calls. And more calls. It was emotionally exhausting.

We finally got a different name thrown at us late Sunday evening. No last name, just a first name this time. Wow...lets make it hard, huh? More searching on the Internet and I found two guys in Facebook with the same name. I did some searching and phone calls. I finally got a name of a street. Ray and John went there this morning and waited for officers to arrive. Courtney was found inside and returned to her parents. As of right now, they are downtown dealing with the legal side of it all.

If the information I have is correct and this guy is 20 years old...well, he has a LOT of explaining to do. Not to mention the relative who knew all a long where she was and did NOT tell anyone! I know who not to trust, especially with my child, from now on. This family went through hell thinking that someone had snatched this girl and were doing terrible things to her. ANYONE who had ANY information is less than a fleck of the white on dried dog poo. I'd use stronger language, but I think you get the idea. Let's just say I will have absolutely no respect for or trust for this person/people ever again. Their behavior was just despicable and absolutely UNFORGIVABLE!

I will never ever understand someone IN THE FAMILY having knowledge about her whereabouts and not telling anyone! Her mom and dad were going through hell! UGH! I know, because I was there and I was feeling the fear and terror too, and I'm not even one of her parents. I feel nothing but disgust towards the person who lied to us and told us they knew nothing while they knew where she was the entire time!

Jill Marie

Home Remedy--Dandruff

2009-01-08T07:37:00.004-05:00

When my youngest son was little he had a terrible problem with dandruff. I found this remedy and tried it on him. Although he hated the smell, it worked great.

Dandruff
Pour distilled white vinegar onto the hair, as close to the scalp as you can manage; massage into the scalp; and allow to dry for several minutes before washing as usual. Repeat daily until the dandruff disappears, usually within a few days.

Last night I played around with my Paint Shop and posted a few pictures from when we took David up to Detroit Airport in my photo blog, Jill Marie's Memories. I miss that boy and hope he is doing well. They have some very big training coming up and I know he was a little bit worried about it. One of the training procedures is when they are going to be put into a forest (or something) for 3 days and they can't sleep for the entire 3 days. There are also some rifle and live ammunition trainings coming up.

I know he is a bit worried about the rifle exercises because of his lazy eye. His eye is the reason they first denied sending him to basic training. He got letters from his congressman, high school principal and an optometrist and sent them in. He won his fight to get in, but I have a feeling he has to work really hard to stay in. He just has to make it a few more weeks, till he graduates from basic and begins AIT. Hopefully, once he completes basic he won't have to worry about them sending him home.

I am so proud of him for finding something that he is so passionate about. Something that he is willing to fight for his right to do. Can you imagine? This young boy fighting for his right to serve his country when there are so many who would try to come up with every excuse not to? I've heard of some families who said they would send their children up to Canada if the draft came back. How could I not be proud of my son, his moral character, his sense of values and patriotism? When I think of it all...I feel as though I am about to burst with pride and love for this child of mine.

Samantha is proving to be a child...yes, at 20 years old I still consider her a child...that I am very proud of too. She bought her single wide in September and is making it into a very nice little home for herself. She got a new job and is looking into getting another part-time job. I worry that she is going to over work herself, but then I wonder how many parents can say that these days. Then job she got was through an agency, so they continue to take their "take" out of her earnings. Which means she is making less money and that is just not a good thing during this economy. She got a call back for a part-time job at Tan Pro, or some place like that. I hope she gets the job but I hope she doesn't have to work there for long.

Christopher, my youngest son, seems to be going through one of those teen stages. He will turn 17 in February. His teachers say that he is an extremely smart boy. He is even in advanced Biology. Yet he doesn't do the work necessary to maintain a passing grade. Although when he does bother to do homework the teachers tell us that it is A and high B work. It is extremely frustrating. It one of those things where I look at this child and wonder how someone so smart can be so.....grrrr! Well, you know..."unintelligent".

Miss Rylie, the baby, just can't seem to shake the cold she picked up shortly before Christmas. The poor thing is so congested and she wakes up almost every two hours. I told her dad that I had that schedule when she was a baby and now it's his turn. LOL She is just tired a lot and very grumpy. Yep, a real joy to be around. I feel bad for the lil' pumpkin. She was slow to talk and a real mumbler and with this cold it feels like old times. It is so hard to understand her because of the congestion. I keep asking her to repeat herself and she just gets frustrated and says "neber bine" (never mind). Poor baby, it was easier for me to understand her gibberish than her "cold" speak.

So that is what is going on around here. Oh...me?! I'm just trying to get everything done in the mere 24 hours I am granted in a day. I don't know, does anyone else think the hours got shorter in 2009? It sure seems that way to me. I get up, do all the things that need to get done (or at least try to) and before I know it...it's time to start dinner. Where the heck are the day's going?!

Take care and have a beautiful day.
Hugs!
Jill Marie

2009, what a pip

2009-01-07T07:19:00.005-05:00

I just haven't been able to find more than a few minutes to get one and make a decent post. Yesterday I had to get up early to get baby girl and myself around and take David up to the Detroit airport and it seems like we were just running all day. The same thing with Monday. I didn't even get home that day until almost 4 pm and then I was rushing to get dinner done.

Today I have a few minutes here before I have to go do a few things and then get Rylie up again and run a few more errands. Hopefully we will be home before it's too late in the afternoon. However, I won't hold my breath on that...unless I feel like being a pretty shade of blue.

Since I wasn't able to post a cleaning tip yesterday I'll do it today. I hate cleaning the hood over the stove. Our's is a big one because the stove is in the middle of an island. It gets to be a real mess and cleaning it up is even messier. All the goo just plops down on the stove and island...gross stuff.

Kitchen Grease: I recently had to clean the hood of the stove exhast fan, it was covered with grease and accumulated dust. The cleaner I had wasn't doing much good, just gunking it up and slightly moving it around. So I put a little dishwasher powder on a wet sponge and used that. It worked great! It cut the grease and the powder acted as a mild abrasive without scratching the finish.

We'll see how well this works now that I am making my own dishwasher detergent. I hope it cuts the grease as well.

To get grease off of kitchen cabinets use vinegar, that wonderful all-purpose natural cleaner will clean and remove cabinet buildup. If the cabinets just need a regular cleaning, a solution of half vinegar and half water should do the trick. For more stubborn dirt and buildup, try straight vinegar. A paste made of baking soda and water makes a formidable scrub and helps remove a lot of the grime. Even club soda and lemon juice can be applied.

Try using a natural cleaner like the vinegar before using a cleaning product. Some of the things you buy at the store are too strong for wood cabinets and may remove the finish. If you have to use a store bought cleaner be sure to use it on a hidden part of the cabinet first. You may need to dilute the cleaner with water so it doesn't remove the finish. Also, be sure to use a soft sponge and nothing that will scratch the cabinets.

Well, happy over the hump day. I can hear the trash truck coming and I see a few bags of gift wrap papper that were left in my office that I have to rush out there.
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Meatloaf Recipe

2009-01-05T09:38:00.005-05:00

Well, David goes back to Ft. Benning tomorrow. It's just hard to believe that the time has gone that quickly! What a birthday present...blpppphhhht! Yeah, yeah...I turn another year younger today. As you may have guessed birthdays, my own that is, are not a favorite thing of mine. It's just hard when I continue to stay "29" and my own kid just turned 23. How in the heck did that happen?! Who gave these kids permission to get older and start having families of their own?! Oh, someone is getting grounded...

Anyway, since David leaves tomorrow I am having him and his fiance' (he got engaged over Christmas to the sweetest girl and her name is Jill too!) over for dinner tonight. I wanted to make an "all American" dinner. NO! Not hotdogs...lol. So I am going to make meatloaf. I've tried a lot of recipes over the years, but I haven't found one that I really liked. So I decided to got on a search and found this one that claims to be the "Best Ever Meat Loaf". We'll see. Here's the recipe if you'd like to try it too.

Best Ever Meat Loaf

1 (10 3/4 ounce) can Campbell's Condensed
Cream of Mushroom or Golden Mushroom Soup
2 pounds ground beef
1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup water

Mix thoroughly 1/2 cup soup, beef, bread crumbs, egg, onion and salt. Shape firmly into 8 x 4-inch loaf; place in shallow baking pan. Bake at 375 degrees F for 1 hour 15 minutes.

In saucepan, blend remaining soup, water, and 2 to 3 tablespoons drippings. Heat; stir occasionally. Serve with loaf.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Swedish Meat Loaf:
Add 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg to loaf. Blend remaining soup with 1/3 cup sour cream; omit drippings and water. Serve over loaf; sprinkle with additional nutmeg. Garnish with thinly sliced cucumber.

I know I haven't been in here much lately, but things have been pretty busy around here and we've been spending lots of time with our beautiful children and the grandbabies. I still have to go through pictures and stuff. I'm just getting my house back in order. Things are just starting to return to normal and I haven't even had time to play with my new photography stuff Ray got me for Christmas.

Oh, my baby did well by me. I do love that ol' man. He got me some backgrounds, including a Chromakey and background CD's. A rechargeable battery for my camera and just all kinds of goodies. He say's that when I go into business he only wants 10 percent. LOL I still have a lot of reading to do and want to make some homemade lighting stuff and whatnot. But the background stand and backgrounds will get me off to a real good start. I'm gonna use it tonight to take some pictures of David and Jill2. Yes, I said Jill2...I think thats what we're gonna have to start calling her. Christmas was just way too confusing for this ol' lady. LOL

Have a beautiful week and Hugs!
Jill Marie

Tuesday Cleaning Tip--Removing Ink Stains and other stuff

2008-12-30T11:26:00.002-05:00

I found this tip for ink stains years ago and have been using it since then. It really works well.

Ink Stains: The best way I have found to get out ink stains is to put rubbing alcohol on the stain - it disappears! This must be done before washing.

For ink on the wall, you can try using alcohol. Sometimes it works for me and sometimes it doesn't work as well. Perhaps it depends on the ink. When the alcohol doesn't quite work I will wipe the ink marks with bleach and they disappear.

If you have run out of alcohol, try using a baby wipe to remove the ink stain. Baby wipes usually have alcohol in them.

I've also used hairspray when I had run out of alcohol. Hairspray also has alcohol it in and works well at removing ink stains.

If you've tried everything to get ink off the wall and it just won't budge, then your last resort may have to be to re-paint that area. Be sure to prime the spot first though. If you do not use a primer the ink may just bleed through the new coat of paint.

Things have been a wee bit hectic around here. We had Christmas at my mothers on Saturday and it was a blast. Then David had a 23rd birthday party at his house on Saturday night. Sunday I took Stephanie and Samantha down to Bowling Green to shop at Steve & Barry'. The store was closing and it was their last day. We got some mega awesome deals. I bought 5 pairs of jeans, 3 shirts, a skirt and a purse for Rylie and only spent 11 dollars. Wooohoooo! Then the girls and I went shopping at the Goodwill where we found some more great deals.

Yesterday I took my car into the body shop. It was hit while it was parked on the street about 2 weeks ago. Luckily, it was hit by an honest person and they had insurance. I should have the car back at the end of the week. In the meantime, I am driving a Buick Lucerne that the insurance company is paying for. I love this car...I wonder if they'll take my ole Bonneville instead and let me keep this beauty. LOL

Rylie is doing much better. She still has a head cold that just won't go away. She is using it to her full advantage though and getting away with murder with her father. The past 6 months of her sleeping in her own bed has been thrown out the window by her (insert sarcastic voice here) ever intelligent father. He's created this problem by allowing her to climb into bed with us and now expects me to rectify the situation. Of course, as usual, he allows her to do whatever and spoil her and then makes me be the bad guy and put my foot down to fix his "bleep"-up. Grrrr! I am more than a little annoyed with him at the moment.

Other than that...things are just peachy. LOL
Have a beautiful day.
Jill Marie

From Our Family to Yours...

2008-12-24T08:32:00.000-05:00

Homemade Glass Cleaner

2008-12-23T08:25:00.003-05:00

Good Morning! I thought since I was making my own laundry detergent I would look for some other cleaning "recipes". Here are a few that I found for making your own glass cleaner.

Home Made Glass Cleaner
1 cup rubbing alcohol, 1 cup water, 1 tablespoon vinegar
OR for non toxic glass cleaner you can try the following
one fourth cup vinegar to one quart of water (one tablespoon of corn starch is optional)
OR
one cup vinegar to five cups of water
OR
one eighth cup vinegar to one cup of water or
OR
one half cup vinegar to one gallon water.
OR
You can also do a mixture of one cup vinegar to one cup of water with a few drops of lemon juice mixed in.
OR
1/2 TSP Liquid Castile Soap, 2 C Water, 1/4 C White Vinegar, Essential Oils (optional)

Re-use your old spray bottle for your homemade cleaner.

BTW...It's the day before the night before Christmas and I'm being really, really good. LOL Any other ole farts out there that remember that song?

Well, I ended up taking Rylie to the ER yesterday. Her doctor isn't IN this week...grrrr. She was doing ok, but she went to take a drink of room temperature 7UP and within minutes she was tossing her cookies again. Except she didn't have anything in her tummy to toss. Poor baby.

I got worried that if she just kept throwing up and couldn't even keep liquids down that she would get dehydrated real quickly. She even started to throw up while they were doing the initial check of her vitals, but there was absolutely nothing in her tummy. First, the doctor gave her a dose of zofron and then gave her a popsicle to see if she could keep it down. If she hadn't, then they were talking about giving her an IV. Thank God she was able to eat that lil' green popsicle without puking. Basically, they diagnosed her with "acute gastritis", gave us a prescription for zofron (expensive chit!) and sent us home.

She slept almost all day. She was awake for little spurts here and there. She may have been awake for a grand total of 7 hours and that includes the 3 hours in the ER. Poor thing was just so lethargic, it was just pitiful and broke my heart to see her that way. Then about 8 pm, or so, I realized that she had only tinkled once all day long. She had drank a few sips of soda here and there, but I couldn't get her to drink much at all. Finally, I got her to drink a few more sips of soda and eat a popsicle and she peed a lil' bit.

If I can keep getting the liquids into her and keep her tinkling, keep her fever down and she doesn't throw up...we may be good. I hope. She has waited so long for Santa to come and visit, I just hope she gets over this quickly and is able to enjoy the day. Right now she is just miserable and I feel terrible for her. I'll be sitting there rocking her and she will start mumbling in her sleep and I know she is in pain and feels just awful and then I feel the tears welling up in my eyes. It's hard when your child feels so bad and there is nothing much you can do to help.

BTW...I wanted to post a picture of David when we first saw him, but my luck ran the same as usual. When we spotted him coming down the stairs...my camera battery was dead. So no picture. Aw well, at least he is home. He does still have some visual reminders of his "clinch drill" two weeks ago. A fading black eye. The clinch is when they had to go 4 one minute rounds with, I think it was berets or something. They could only defend themselves. Sheesh...the craziness they go through. But David is really loving it and talks well of the group of guys he is working with. Most of them anyway...you know there are always a few who thought it would be easy and they don't work as hard and end up getting the whole group in trouble.

But my baby is home and the whole family will be together for Christmas. (Hopefully, everyone will be healthy too.)
Well, I'm not sure when I'll get a chance to get back on here again, so I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. Stay warm and safe.

Hugs!
Jill Marie

Monday Recipe

2008-12-22T14:43:00.002-05:00

Hey, just got on quick found a tasty little recipe at BHG and gonna run back out of here. Rylie is really sick today and I want to keep a close eye on her. Fever, tossing her cookies, Doc say's just a stomach virus, but the poor thing is just miserable.

Almond Sweets
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup cooking oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 recipe Almond Icing
Small multicolored decorative candies (optional)
Directions
1. Preheat Oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a cookie sheet; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl stir together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl combine eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla; beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined. Beat in as much of the flour mixture as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour mixture.
3. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheet.
4. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; cool.
5. When cookies are cool, spread with Almond Icing. If desired, sprinkle lightly with multicolored candies. Makes about 60 cookies.
6. Almond Icing: In a medium bowl stir together 1 cup sifted powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, and 1 to 2 tablespoons milk to make icing of spreading consistency. If desired, tint with food coloring.
7. To store: Place in layers separated by waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store iced cookies at room temperature for up to 3 days. Freeze undecorated cookies for up to 3 months. Thaw cookies, then decorate.

Have a good day and hopefully Baby girl will be feeling better tomorrow and I'll be able to spend more than a few minutes on here.

Have a great day and stay warm.

Jill Marie

Finally, some good news

2008-12-19T17:11:00.004-05:00

I've won something again. That makes it twice now that I've won something online. How cool! I can't remember ever winning anything before and now twice within the past 4 months. The other prize was the Wave Petunia's that should be arriving in a few months. Maybe the big Publishers prize is next for me. (((crossing fingers, knocking wood and throwing salt)))

Today I won a prize from the Disney Community. Just for posting my homemade gift recipes on their boards. It's a Tinker Bell DVD. Perfect because my girls and I love Tink! My nickname for my oldest daughter is stinkerbell. LOL Don't worry, Rylie has a nickname too. I call her Mimi because she is a mini-me.

Here's a link to the Disney Page announcing the winners if anyone is interested... http://family.go.com/community/secret-santa-giveaway/

Besides that the best news of all is that David is coming home tomorrow. As of now, his flight is due in to Detroit at 11:40 pm. Grrr, the weather and roads really stink right now. He is gonna try to see if they can change it around and get him directly into Toledo.
Have a good night.
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Colds, coughs and asthma relief remedies

2008-12-18T08:36:00.003-05:00

Here are a few home remedies you may find useful.

Cough relief-
Soak almonds overnight. Remove their skin. Make a paste of these almonds with little butter and sugar. Very useful for a dry cough.
Hot tea with lemon and raspberry jam, drink as much as possible
Drink hot milk with honey at bedtime for cough relief.

Asthma relief-
Express the juice from garlic. Mix 10 – 15 drops in warm water and take internally for asthma relief.
Drink a glass of 2/3 carrot juice, 1/3 spinach juice, 3 times a day .
Mix 1 tsp. honey with 1/2 tsp. cinnamon and take it at night before going to bed.

Common Cold relief-
Garlic juice made by adding few drops of garlic oil to a teaspoonful of onion juice and diluting it in a cup of water is helpful for common cold.
Ginger tea or a teaspoonful of ginger juice taken with equal quantity of honey brings relief from common cold.
*(Found this one too...) For dry and stuffy nose, try normal saline or salt water nasal drops made by adding 1/4 teaspoon of table salt to about 4 ml lukewarm water. Make a fresh solution every few days keeping it in refrigerator. Use a clean dropper to instill 1 to 2 drops in each nostril about 3 to 4 times daily for common cold. (However, I cannot imagine putting cold drops in my nose. You can buy simple saline nose spray at the pharmacy, if you don't want to use cold drops.)
Recipe for a cold and flu soup-
Sauté 6 crushed cloves of garlic in 1 tsp. vegetable oil until golden. Pour in a quart of beef or chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and whisk in 2 egg whites. Beat together 2 egg yolks and 2 Tbls. distilled white vinegar; pour this mixture into the soup. Season with salt and pepper and top with croutons, if desired.

Has anyone ever heard of a fella named Edgar Cayce? If not you may want to click on the link and read a bit about him. Apparently, he came up with many remedies and a lot of them work. I don't know where you would find a lot of the things that go into these remedies, perhaps a health food store or something like that. Here is a link to a recipe for a herbal cough syrup he came up with...Cayce Cough Syrup Recipe.

Well, I was writing a whole lot more, but decided this was not the appropriate place for that. I'll have to think that out elsewhere.
7 days to go.
Have a great day.
Jill Marie

Tuesday Cleaning Tip--Gum and a little something FREE

2008-12-16T08:07:00.005-05:00

Good Morning. Just nine days until Christmas morning and for me, just 4 more days until David gets to come home from basic training for Christmas. I am so excited! I can't wait to see my little boy. In the meantime, I'm sure we all have lots of cleaning to do before the 25th arrives. What? You found gum stuck in the carpet? Here's a quick tip to help:

1) Place a bowl of ice over the gum and let sit till the gum becomes hard, take a hammer and hit the gum. It should break apart and come off the carpet.
2) I've used peanut butter to remove gum from hair...and I've read it works on the carpet too. Of course, then you will have to get the peanut butter out of the carpet. Better than gum I guess. Do I need to tell ya'll that I use the creamy peanut butter? LOL
3) When I was out of peanut butter one time (I know, how could a mommy not have peanut butter in the house?) I decided maybe it was the oil in the p.b. that got the gum out of hair. So I tried veggie oil and it worked! So try rubbing some of that into the gum and see if it comes out.
4) If the none of those tips work, try dry cleaners solvent, pour a small amount onto a rag and rub over the gum, it should come right out of the carpet.

Of course, if you've used anything, other than plain old ice, on the carpet you will want to be sure to clean it well afterwards.

Ya'll are waiting to hear about the FREE thing aren't ya? When is she gonna stop yapping and tell us how to get something for FREE? LOL I said a "little something" remember...it's not a real big deal.

It is MP3 downloads from Amazon. I collected my Pepsi Points and used them all on songs. I also signed up to receive the newsletter and right now they are doing something called the 25 Days of Christmas. Giving away a free song every day until Christmas. Today's free song is "Angels We Have Heard On High" by the Brian Setzer Orchestra. They also have a section that they keep all the time on their Special MP3 Deals page called Featured Free Songs. When you go to the page scroll all the way down and you will see the Free Songs section.

Have a terrific day and stay warm!
Jill Marie

Chicken recipes and I hope it's not true about bad luck coming in 3's

2008-12-15T08:05:00.005-05:00

Good Morning! I was reading and found some yummy sounding recipes for chicken from Tyson. Of course, if you're like me...cheap, that is...you won't just use Tyson Chicken, but whatever you can find that is on sale.

CARMELIZED ONION & GARLIC CHICKEN
4 Tyson® Fresh Split Chicken Breasts with Ribs or 4 Tyson® IFF Chicken Half Breasts
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 medium onions, sliced
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

1. Preheat oven to 450°F. Spray 12 x 8-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Heat oil in medium nonstick skillet over medium-low. Add onion and garlic. Cook and stir 6 to 8 minutes or until soft. Stir in sugar and vinegar until dissolved. Cook and stir 7 to 9 minutes or until liquid evaporates. Remove from heat.
2. Wash hands. Place chicken, bone side down, in baking dish. Wash hands. Spread onion mixture evenly over chicken. Cover loosely with foil. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until done (internal temp 180°F).

BROWN SUGAR-RUBBED CHICKEN

4 Tyson® Fresh Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts or 4 Tyson® IFF Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts with Rib Meat
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons onion powder
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon chili powder

1. Preheat grill to medium-high. Combine sugar and spices in a resealable plastic bag. Wash hands. Add chicken to bag, one piece at a time, shaking to coat. Transfer to plate. Spray on both sides with nonstick cooking spray. Wash hands.
2. Grill chicken, turning frequently to avoid burning sugar, 10 to 12 minutes or until done (internal temp 170°F).

Serving Suggestion: Serve chicken with corn bread, coleslaw and barbecue sauce for dipping. Refrigerate leftovers.

Tip: To substitute Tyson Individually Fresh Frozen® Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, rinse off ice glaze and pat dry before placing in bag with spices and increase cooking time by about one-third.

Serving Suggestion: Serve with steamed broccoli and parsleyed potatoes. Refrigerate leftovers.

Tip: To substitute Tyson Individually Fresh Frozen® Chicken Half Breasts, simply rinse off ice glaze and increase cooking time by about one-third. Boneless, skinless breasts may also be used for this recipe.

CHICKEN BREAST SUPREME

4 Tyson® Fresh Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil or 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1-1/2 tablespoons butter or 1-1/2 tablespoons margarine
3 tablespoons green onion, chopped or 3 tablespoons fresh chives
1/2 lemon, juice only
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1. Wash hands. Flatten chicken breasts to 1/4-inch thickness. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Wash hands.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon each oil and butter in a large nonstick skillet to high. Cook chicken 4 minutes per side or until done (internal temp 170°F). Remove chicken to serving platter; keep warm.
3. Add green onions, lemon juice, parsley and mustard to skillet; cook and stir 15 seconds. Add chicken broth and stir until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in remaining butter.

Serving Suggestion: Pour sauce over chicken. Garnish with lemon wedges and sprigs of fresh parsley. Serve with wild rice or rice pilaf, sautéed yellow squash and steamed green beans. Refrigerate leftovers.

Let's see what else is going on around here? Oh, that's right. Yesterday I had to take Rylie to get her hair cut. Not that her father, or I, wanted her hair cut. However, when a 4 year old takes scissors off my desk and cuts her hair on her own...well, there wasn't much choice in the matter. Luckily, it wasn't too bad. The woman suggested we take about an inch and a half off the length and then blend the shorter areas in with it.

It looks nice actually. Rylie definitely has my hair, pin straight and extremely fine. This new cut seems to give her hair a wee bit of body. (Dang, my fingers are dyslexic this morning. I have to keep backspacing and fixing everything.)

I am just about done with all the Christmas shopping. I still have a few gifts to get for the exchange at my Mom's Christmas. However, that isn't until the 27th...so I may even wait to pick them up on the 26th...yes, I am cheap...so what? LOL

Let's see what else...oh, my car. As Rylie keeps saying "Poor Mommy, her car got hit." Yep, it was snowing on Friday evening and I went over to Samantha's house, parked my car in front and went shopping with her. We got back and my car had a big ole dent in the driver side door. Luckily for me, it was a driver with insurance. It was an older woman who had been at her son's house across the street. When she pulled out she hit my car. They knocked on Sammi's door but we weren't there so she told her son to have me call her.

I felt bad for her because she kept apologizing and saying what a stupid thing it was and all. Saturday morning she called back and let me know that the insurance company would give me a call. I talked to them and then took it to our car place and they told us how much it would be. Whew! Thank goodness she has insurance. I'm waiting to hear back from the insurance company about the claim and find out when I can take it in to get fixed. I hope it is soon, because it is a real pain to try to get that door opened.

So there is Rylie's hair...1st piece of bad luck. Then my car...number 2. I hope that old wives tale about bad luck coming in 3's isn't true.

Oh, Sugar Shack! I just realized that the notebook I've been using to keep track of Christmas gifts I've bought and recently mis-placed...is the one where I wrote the claim number! Dang! I've got to find that notebook. It has to be around here some where. I hope...

Well, I am off on a scavenger hunt, I guess. Have a great day!
Jill Marie

Home Remedy--Constipation

2008-12-11T07:40:00.004-05:00

Good Morning here are a few remedies for constipation in adults and children.

Constipation (In adults)
Eat a few black licorice sticks.
Take apple pectin.
Make sure you're getting enough Folic Acid in your diet.
Drinking ginger tea will help start a bowel movement.
One tablespoonful of corn syrup added to 8oz of water.

Constipation (In Small Children)
Soak 6-8 raisins in hot water. When cool, crush well and strain. When given routinely even to little infants, it helps to regulate bowel movement.

I can't believe how much stores will charge for one of those cookie mixes in a jar. Anywhere from $7 to $15 dollars. Sheesh! You could just buy a jar at the dollar store and make your own and print out the instructions on your computer.

Supplies You Will Need:
1 Ball® Wide Mouth Quart Glass Preserving Jar
1 Ball® Collection Elite® Platinum Wide Mouth Lid with Band
Or any decorative Quart sized jar

Ingredients You Will Need:
2-1/2 cups flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup minced candied orange peel
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ginger
1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon cloves

Step 1, Getting Started:
Read all instructions before starting. Assemble all supplies and measure all ingredients.
Step 2, To Prepare Layered Mix-in-a-Jar:
1.) COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt. Place mixture into a quart jar. Firmly pack flour mixture in jar using a tamper. Combine candied orange peel and raisins and layer mixture over flour mixture, gently pressing to make an even layer. Place light brown sugar in jar and pack firmly with a tamper.
2.) STIR together granulated sugar, ginger, cinnamon, allspice and cloves until evenly blended. Layer sugar mixture in jar. Adjust cap. Makes base for one recipe of Orange-Raisin Ginger Cookies.

Instructions to Include with the Jar of mix:
To Prepare Orange-Raisin Ginger Cookies
Makes about 2-1/2 dozen cookies
Ingredients You Will Need:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup mild flavored molasses
1 large egg
1 cup granulated sugar 1.) REMOVE mix from one quart jar, keeping layers separate. Beat butter, light brown sugar and granulated sugar mixture until light and fluffy, using an electric mixer. Beat in egg and molasses.
2.) ADD remaining dry ingredients, mixing just until evenly combined. Form dough into a ball and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate dough until firm, about 2 hours.
3.) PREHEAT oven to 350º F. Remove dough from refrigerator. Shape dough into 1 1/2-inch balls. Roll each cookie ball in granulated sugar to dust, optional. Place cookie dough on parchment lined baking sheet 2-inches apart. Bake at 350º F for 10 to 12 minutes

I also have a few drink recipes you can make. I've made the cafe au lait recipe in the past and given it as a gift and people really seemed to like it. I don't like coffee so I can't really tell you whether it's any good or not.

Cafe Au Lait Mix

Combine 6 oz, instant non-dairy creamer (1 1/2 cups), 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, 1/4 cup instant coffee crystals, and dash of salt. Store in airtight container. Makes 2 cups mix.

Directions to pack with mix: For one serving, mix 1/4 cup mix with 2/3 cup boiling water.

Now I usually give these in a canning jar, or save some small jelly jars, add the directions and your ready to give!

Spiced Mocha Mix

2 cups sweetened cocoa mix
1/3 cup instant coffee crystals
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Combine cocoa mix, coffee, and cinnamon. Stir thoroughly. Store in airtight containers. Makes 2 1/4 cups mix.

Directions to pack with mix: For one serving, combine 3 Tablesppons mix with 2/3 cup boining water in a cup.

Hot Tea Mix

1- 9 oz jar orange flavor breakfast drink powder (1 1/4 cups)
3/4 cup iced tea mix with lemon and sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Combine all the ingredients and mix well. Store in airtight containers. Makes 2 cups mix.

Directions to pack with mix: For one serving, combine 2 tablesppons mix with 1 cup boiling water in a cup.

Hot Choco Coffee Mix

2/3 cup Granulated sugar
1/3 cup Cocoa
1/4 tsp. Ground cinnamon
1/4 cup Instatnt coffee granules

Measure sugar into small bowl. Sift cocoa, cinnamon and coffee granules into sugar. Stir. Store in plastic bag or jar with tight fitting lid. Makes about 1 cup mix.

Directions to include: Heat 1 cup milk in large mug in microwave on high for about 2 minutes or until very hot. Add 1 1/2 Tbsp. mix. Stir. Serves 1.

Well, I hope someone found something useful here today. Have a great Thursday and remember just 2 weeks until Christmas!
Hugs!
Jill Marie

Tuesday Cleaning Tip--Shoo fly, shoo!

2008-12-09T07:28:00.006-05:00

Anyone else ever have a little gnat problem? Those tiny boogers can be a real pain in the hiney to get rid of. Here are a few suggestions I found for ridding yourself of these uninvited houseguests.

Mix apple cider vinegar with baking soda, it makes a very intoxicating aroma, and if you set it on the counter for a day or two, all the gnats get in there and die! Be careful, as the baking soda will react with the vinegar and foam up, add very little at a time!

You can also try mixing 1/2 cup of vinegar and 1 tablespoon Dawn dish detergent. The gnats will be drawn to this, eat and die.

Also, if you have a bottle of wine, leave about 1/4 inch left in the bottom. Then leave the bottle on your kitchen counter for a day or two. They are attracted to it, drink it and die! The bottom of your bottle will have a ton of dead gnats in it!

Ray's daughter, Aimee, told us recently that she was having a problem with them too. She was getting so annoyed with them and she had a bottle of Windex close by so she grabbed it and sprayed the nearest gnat. She said the little thing dropped to floor and kind of turned an ugly red and died.

I tried my generic window cleaner and it didn't seem to work as well as she said the Windex did. So I got to thinking the generic probably has more water than alcohol. Hm, so I poured some alcohol into an empty mini-bottle and tried that. Yep! Them little boogers dropped to the floor.

I still kept a tiny glass with cider vinegar in the kitchen and bathroom to attract the gnats. When I would see them all sitting on the edge of the glass I'd spray it with the alcohol and down they would go.

The gnats seem to be drawn to windows, mirrors and the television...all of which are usually brightly lit areas. So be sure to keep you Windex handy, but out of the reach of small children.

You can also put these clear sticky things up on your windows and mirrors if you'd like to. I found them at Wal-Mart. I can't remember what they are called, but I found it in the bug spray area. They come in a package of 3 and are clear plastic strips with a sticky side that has an aroma that attracts fly's. You just pull off the sticky covering and hang them on your windows or mirrors. They'll just pull right off when your done using them.

I kept one on the bathrooom mirror as I saw a lot of them in there. It got covered with those little boogers. Every morning I'd go in and take a "dead gnat count". I never did think of it at the time, but the gnats are really attracted to tomatoes. I wonder if I had put a dot of ketchup in the center of the sticky area, would I have gotten a lot more and more quickly?

By the way, yes you will get these nasty lil bugs if you have trash sitting around, or fruit sitting on the counter too long. However, they will also come in via your plants if you bring them in from outside at the end of the summer. I wasn't sure how I kept getting them and then I read that little bit of information and it all clicked. Apparently they get in the dirt and will just come in with your plants.

I found an article and video on how to get rid of gnats if they've made a home in your plants soil. You can check it out here How to get rid of gnats/eHow.

Have a happy Tuesday!
Jill Marie

I made it...

2008-12-08T09:37:00.002-05:00

I almost forgot to tell ya, last night I finally got around to trying two of the homemade detergent recipes I posted last month. I gave the information in the post, Homemade soaps... and just hadn't gotten around to making it until last night. I made the dishwasher detergent and the second recipe for laundry detergent.

I ran the dishwasher last night and am pleased to report that the dishes came out just as clean as when I use store bought detergent. I made the laundry soap last night and am washing a load of clothes as we speak. I can tell you this, I used Ivory soap in my mix, and the detergent itself smells nice and fresh. Like...well...soap, lol. I also was able to make enough to fill 2 empty 78 oz laundry soap bottles, and then a wee bit more.

Ray is freaking out that I was going to use Borax and Super Washing soda in the dishwasher. "On our dishes? Isn't that like SOAP?" Uh...what did he think dishwasher detergent was? It's not like it doesn't get rinsed off. Duh...

So he is all worried about using soap/detergent in the dishwasher, but then he asked me if the laundry detergent I made would really get the clothes clean. Am I missing something here? He thinks this stuff is too harsh for our dishes, but won't clean the clothes... What did he think our great grandmothers used before they began making Tide and all the other stuff? My philosophy is that NEW does NOT always mean better.

Yeah, it may save me the 20 or so minutes a month to just buy the soaps. However, I'll gladly spend that 20 minutes every month to save the money I'd be spending on detergents at the store. Matter of fact...there's an idea. I should start a "Soap Jar". I'll put the money that I would have spent on detergents in there. Then when I need to buy some more borax, washing soda, or bar soap...I'll take the money out of the jar. I bet at the end of the year I have a pretty penny saved up. Yeah, I'm gonna have to do that. Let's see, I'll just take an average on what detergents cost. So, for laundry soap...say $5 for every 78 oz jug will go into my jar. For dishwasher detergent, I get the cheap stuff, so $2 for every container I make will go into the jar.

Oh...Momma is gonna get a new pair of shoes and then some, by the time next year rolls around. WooHoo!

Quick Dinner Recipes & a lil' something to think about

2008-12-08T07:51:00.003-05:00

Good Morning! I found a bunch of less than 30 minute recipes on Better Homes and Gardens and picked a few to share with you this morning. I picked a hearty meal that Ray and most men would probably like and a few that just sounded interesting to me. I hope you find one that you might want to try too.

Potatoe Topped Beef Bowl
Ingredients
1 lb. ground beef
1 16-oz. pkg. frozen mixed vegetables
1 8-oz. pkg. shredded cheddar cheese (2 cups)
1/4 cup snipped fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley
Salt and ground black pepper
2 cups instant mashed potato flakes
2 Tbsp. butter, melted

Directions
1. Preheat broiler. In extra-large skillet brown beef over medium-high heat; drain off fat. Stir in frozen vegetables. Cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through. Stir in half the cheese, half the parsley, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.
2. Meanwhile, in large bowl combine 2 cups boiling water, potato flakes, and 1 tablespoon of the butter. Stir until smooth. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.
3. Divide beef mixture among four 16-ounce broiler-safe dishes. Top with potatoes; sprinkle remaining cheese. Broil 3 inches from heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until cheese is melted. Drizzle with melted butter; sprinkle with remaining parsley. Makes 4 servings.

Flat Iron Steak with BBQ Beans
Ingredients
2 boneless beef shoulder top blade (flat iron) steaks, halved (1 to 1-1/4 lb.)
2 tsp. fajita seasoning
1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/3 cup bottled barbecue sauce
2 to 3 tomatoes, sliced
Corn bread (optional)
Pickles jalapeño peppers (optional)

Directions
1. Preheat grill pan over medium-high heat. Sprinkle steaks with fajita seasoning. On greased grill pan, grill steaks 8 to 12 minutes for medium rare (145 degrees F) or 12 to 15 minutes for medium (160 degrees F).
2. Meanwhile, in medium microwave-safe bowl stir together beans and barbecue sauce. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. Microcook on high (100 percent power) for 3 minutes, stirring once.
3. Serve steaks with sliced tomatoes, beans and corn bread. Top with pickled jalapeño slices. Serves 4.

Maple-Glazed Chicken With Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
1 1-lb. 8-oz. pkg. refrigerated mashed sweet potatoes
1 lb. chicken breast tenderloins
2 tsp. steak grilling seasoning blend, such as Montreal
2 Tbsp. butter
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup sliced green onion (about 4)

Directions
1. Prepare sweet potatoes in microwave oven according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, lightly coat chicken with steak seasoning. Heat butter in large skillet over medium-high heat; add chicken. Cook 5 to 6 minutes until no longer pink (170 degrees F), turning once halfway through cooking. Remove from skillet; cover and keep warm. Stir maple syrup into hot skillet; cook 2 minutes. Stir in green onions.
3. Divide chicken and potatoes among 4 plates. Drizzle with maple syrup mixture. Serves 4.

Balsamic Pork And Dumplings
Ingredients
1 16.9-oz. pkg. frozen potato-and-onion-filled pierogi (potato dumplings)
12 oz. green and/or wax beans, trimmed (3 cups)
1 1 lb. pork tenderloin
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary (optional)

Directions
1. Cook pierogi and beans in boiling water according to package directions. Drain pierogi and beans; divide among serving plates.
2. Meanwhile, slice pork into 1/2-inch thick medallions. Gently flatten pork slices by hand to 1/4-inch thickness; lightly sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add pork. Cook 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until no pink remains. Transfer to serving plates with pierogi and beans.
3. Drain fat from skillet. Add balsamic vinegar to hot skillet. Cook, uncovered, 1 minute or until reduced by half. Drizzle over pork, pierogi, and beans. Sprinkle with chopped rosemary. Serves 4.

I got this mailing today from Daily OM. It sort of fit with a graphic I worked on this weekend so I'm including that picture with it.

December 8, 2008
The Joy Of Being
Celebrating The In-Between Times
While celebrations are intended to honor life’s more momentous occasions, much of real life tends to happen during the in-between times. While moving from one moment in time to the next is seldom considered a significant occurrence, it is during those in-between times that we are most in tune with life’s most profound, albeit simple joys. Between birth and death, triumph and sorrow, beginnings and endings, we enjoy innumerable experiences that often happen unnoticed. These times are just as worthy of celebration.

The in-between times are seldom about landmark moments. How you choose to celebrate them or which moments you choose to celebrate is up to you. You may want to celebrate the simple facts that you are alive and that every day is a chance to spend time with the people you care about or do the work that you love. Then again, when you look at the good that exists in your life, many reasons for celebrating the in-between times may become clear: a cup of your favorite tea, a beautiful sunrise, a good book, and the smell of fresh air can be reasons for celebration.

Celebrating the in-between times can be as easy as paying special attention to them when they do happen, rather than taking them for granted. It’s your focus of attention that can turn an in-between time into a celebration. You can also pay homage to the in-between times by slowing down and allowing yourself time to look around and allow your heart and mind to take in all of your life’s wonders. Far too often, we can let those simple moments of awe pass us by. The in-between times are when life happens to us between the pauses that we take to honor our milestones occasions. Without the in-between times, there would be no big moments to celebrate.

I think back to when my older children were young like Rylie and how much I missed out on by being so wrapped up in "just getting through the day". I was a young stressed out mother just trying to survive with 3 young children and (at that time) a husband who was gone more than anything else. I had someone once tell me that, even though I was married, I was basically living the same sort of life of a single mom. The husband often left the house in the morning and didn't come home until late at night. Of course, I was so naive, I didn't learn till much later that he wasn't always working.

So I remember those special moments, the celebrations. And I remember the sad times too. Repeated visits to the hospital (sometimes 3 times in the winter season) when Samantha's asthma became so bad she just couldn't breath. Losing family members. The highs and lows are pretty much ingrained on your being. It's those little moments, the daily things we take for granted. Things I wish I had taken the time to write down for the future (which is now the present). What quirky, loving or funny things (things that only happen once in a lifetime) did I lose along the way because I was too busy trying to survive and didn't take the time to cherish them in the moment?

I keep saying I need to go back and take tidbits from my online journals, things I've written about what Rylie did or said, and make a journal to print out. Things we can look back on and reminince about. I mean, let's be realistic, Rylie came along later in my life and it is highly possible that I may not be there to tell her children cute stories about their mommy. If I print out the stories I've written about her, about me and Ray, they will have some stories in my own words whether I'm here or not.

Perhaps, that is a new weekly entry I need to start doing. Like on Wednesdays or Fridays, whenever, I could write about some of the stuff Rylie did that week, or something. Then immediately after that print it out and start a little Journal file. I don't know. I know that I have a ton of stories fromt the old AOL journal that I need to track down and copy. That is part of the reason I was so worried about losing my entries, it would be a little like losing my diary.

Well, I guess I've rambled enough for one day.

Have a wonderful Monday!

Jill Marie

Child torture...read more to find out about it!

2008-12-05T08:13:00.006-05:00

Good Morning and a very happy Friday to ya'll! Yesterday Rylie woke up early, I took a shower and we decided to get some Christmas shopping done. We went out about 10:o0 am, or maybe a bit earlier. We hit Kohls, to return a few things and pick up some others. Then we went to Gander Mountain, where I didn't find what I was looking for, blah. Dick's Sporting Good's was next, I found 1 of things I was looking for, but it was twice the price I was willing to pay. Then it was Target, where I didn't find what I was looking for, but did pick up a couple bed pillows and Rylie tried on some Christmas dresses. At Wal-Mart I finally found a few things I was looking for and at a decent price. (Sorry to the American workers, but we are on a budget here and those cheap prices really help us out.)

After paying at Wal-Mart we wandered over to the little Subway there and had lunch. I was pleased to see Rylie actually eat most of her sandwich. She is such a picky eater and even when she does eat it doesn't seem like enough to fill a mouse. (See lunch time photo's below. LOL)

Then we went to our last store, the new Burlington Coat Factory. I found several gifts there. Rylie tried on about 6 dresses there. She is such a girly girl, lol. She loves clothes and she loves to wear dresses. I need to get as many pictures of her at this stage as possible. I am sure there will come a day when she refuses to wear dresses. Right, Samantha? LOL

The dress she loved the best, and me too actually, is so pretty. It's a scary thing for me though as it is all cream colored. I keep picturing the first glass of red fruit punch going down the front of it. YIKES! What did I do? Well, I couldn't help it. She looked so pretty. Every time she went out of the dressing room, to look in the 3 way mirror, she would do a full spin to see how the dress looked when she twirled. LOL She is way to funny and predictable. You will never guess what the name on the tag of the dress is...too ironic considering who this dress is for. It's made by "Cinderella". How perfect is that?

Okay, here are some pictures of Rylie from our day.

Let me explain a bit about the last picture. A few days ago I wrapped a few presents to put under the tree. I just love the way a tree looks with gifts under it. Well, I was smart enough to only wrap 2 for Rylie and only told her about the 1 wee box (the one you see in the picture). It's just a little $1 puzzle.

Well, that little box has been driving her nuts! She will sit next to the tree and look at it. Then she'll finally pick it up and shake it. Then the nagging begins, "Can I open this? Please, please! Just one. Pleeeeeeease Mom!" Ohmahgosh! LOL I just wanted to encourage that little thing called anticipation...I didn't even consider that even that one tiny box was way too much for a 4 year old to endure for 24 days. LOL We finally told her that if she was very, very good this week that she could open that 1 gift on Friday night. (Yeah, we caved. But hey, it's just a $1 puzzle.)

Well, after finally got home yesterday, around 3:30 pm...ohmahgoodness...did we really spend 5 and 1/2 hours shopping? Whew! Anyway, I was on the phone talking to Daddy and lil' Miss Rylie wandered over to the tree. Yep...adoring her wee gift again. Finally she picked it up and started shaking. LOL I really can't believe she hasn't figured out it was simply a puzzle. It's too funny to watch her face as she contemplates this little wrapped wonder.

I've got to buy more things that make noise when shaken. LOL Ohmahgosh! Did I just kind of admit to wanting to "torture" my child even more? There's no "kind of" about it! Yep...I do want to. LOL

Anyway...so there I am talking to her Daddy and watching her with the wee wrapped wonder whilst she ...did I just say whilst? LOL WHILE she shakes it trying to figure out what it is. Let me just say, that at this point the little box has been under the tree for 3 days and it looks like it's been there a few months. LOL So she's shaking the box, I'm smiling and shaking my head when suddenly she starts "petting" the box. It was too funny! She's just sitting there staring at this precious little box (remember, it's a dollar store puzzle) and petting it as lovingly as if it were her beloved little puppy.

I'm still talking to Daddy while I'm watching this lovable little joy of my life when suddenly I see her raise the box to her face. I think she even sniffed it (did I just mention something about a puppy?) and then suddenly I see her lick it several times! O-H-M-A-H-G-O-S-H!!! Did I just claim this strange little creature as the joy of my life? LOL Yeah...uh...that strange little bit of her personality comes from her fathers side.

Yep...I got me a gift shaker. A gift petter. Even a gift sniffer. But a gift...licker?! She continued to beg me to let her open the gift. I continued to nicely deny her. She finally feel asleep (on my grandma's rocker) holding her wee wrapped wonder. I think she was petting it until she finally feel asleep. LOL Oh, the embarrassing stories that will go with that picture as she grows up.

After dinner Rylie tried on her dress for Daddy and I decided it was time to take some pictures by the tree. I remembered a Photo Challenge and went online to read about it only to find out I had just about an hour to get it entered. I worked on a picture a bit and finally made an entry in my photo journal. It's here if anyone wants to take a peek: My Photo

I wasn't very pleased with the picture I chose or how it looked, so I ended up playing on the computer last night (till about 1:30 am) and got this picture done too.

I just like the way it looks much more. I like the profile of her face and the fact that she is looking directly at the tree and the way the glow of the lights reflect on her face and dress.

Well, later in our evening about 9 pm, or so, I felt bad about dragging that poor child around to all the stores. She came to me and crawled up in my lap and said her head hurt. I felt her forehead and sure enough, my baby is running a low grade fever. I gave her a couple acetaminophen for the pain and fever. Poor baby. I hope she isn't getting the flu.

She was still awake when I went to check on her at mid-night. Just laying there, looking all sad and pitiful, and just breaking my heart. It hadn't yet been quite 4 hours, but she was still in pain, so I gave her a half dose and prayed she could finally get a bit of sleep. I'm gonna go check on my wee one as soon as I get done with this entry. I don't want to wake her though because I'm sure she needs all the sleep she can get. I just pray she feels better today.

Have a good day and I hope you got a wee giggle today from my "gift licker".
Hugs!
Jill Marie

P.S.
I'm thinking about having postcards made with the picture of Rylie and the tree and sending them out as our Christmas cards. I'll have to go to Walgreens and see if they can do that.

Home Remedy--Conditioning Hair

2008-12-04T06:43:00.002-05:00

Good Morning and Happy Thursday (Yea! it's almost Friday-Day). Here are a few tips for those who have dry and/or damaged hair.

Condition Hair

Use a can of beer to condition hair.

Cool whip will condition your hair in 15 minutes. (Good to know if you ever get involved in a cool whip fight. I'd rather eat it that cover my hair with it.)

Mayonnaise will condition your hair; it will also (allegedly) kill lice. (Thank goodness I haven't had to try it for that second use...yet...knock wood. "thump-thump")

Olive oil or coconut oil are really good for conditioning extremely dry or damaged hair. You will want to use an amount that depends on how thin or thick your hair is and how dry it is. You can leave on your hair from 5-15 minutes and some people even leave the coconut oil on overnight.

A nourishing conditioner for dry or damaged hair which can be used for all hair types: Separate the white of an egg from the yolk, whip it to a peak. Add 1 Tbs. water to the yolk and blend until the mixture is creamy. Then mix the white and yolk together. Wet your hair with warm water, remove the excess moisture, and apply the mixture to your scalp with your fingertips. Massage gently until the froth is worked into your scalp, then rinse the hair with cool water. Keep applying the mixture until it is used up and then rinsed until all of the egg is washed away.

I have a friend that moved to Hawaii several years back. The wind, sun and salt water did a real number on her hair. Finally, someone told her to use olive oil to deep condition her hair. She said it worked wonders for her. Well, I have thin and really fine hair, but in the summer it gets really dry, so I tried it and it does work very well. I would just say that if you have hair like mine, you might want to do this the night before and just leave it on a few minutes. Then next morning shampoo your hair as usual. It does leave my hair a wee bit "oily" feeling and looking immediately after using it. (Duh Jill...it's OIL! lol)

I can't believe I have so much of my Christmas shopping done already. WhooHoo! Now it is mainly finding something for the boys (mine and the girls significant others) and stocking stuffers. Unless I decide what I got for the girls is all wrong...I'm thinking about doing a few returns...we'll see.

Well, I've got to get going. I want to get some things done before the wee one wakes up.
Have a blessed day!
Jill Marie

Tuesday Cleaning Tips

2008-12-02T07:58:00.003-05:00

Good Morning! Here are a few tips you may find useful.

Freshen Laundry Basket: Place a fabric softener sheet in the bottom of your laundry basket (remember to change it weekly.) You can also simply sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom of your basket and that will help absorb the odors as well.

First, if you're trying to find ways to stretch the budget, cut your dryer sheets in half. Just half a sheet should provide you with the same static cling protection as a full sheet. There are so many uses for used fabric softeners so keep a little ziploc bag near the dryer and put them in there rather than throwing them away. Then you can just pull one out as you need it. Below are a few suggestions for using the used dryer sheets.

Pick up pet hair
Pet hair can get a pretty tenacious grip on furniture and clothing. But a used fabric softener sheet will suck that fur right off the fabric with a couple of swipes. Just toss the fuzzy wipe into the trash.

Lift burned-on casserole residue
Those sheets will soften more than fabric. The next time food gets burned onto your casserole dish, save the elbow grease. Instead fill the dish with hot water and toss in three or four used softener sheets. Soak overnight, remove the sheets, and you'll have no trouble washing away the residue. Be sure to rinse well.

Freshen drawers
There's no need to buy scented drawer-liner paper; give your dresser drawers a fresh-air fragrance by tucking a new dryer fabric softener sheet under existing drawer liners, or tape one to the back of each drawer.

Do away with static cling
You'll never be embarrassed by static cling again if you keep a used fabric softener sheet in your purse or dresser drawer. When faced with static, dampen the sheet and rub it over your pantyhose to put an end to clinging skirts.

Wipe soap scum from shower door
Tired of scrubbing scummy shower doors? It's easy to wipe the soap scum away with a used dryer fabric softener sheet.

Repel dust from electrical appliances
Because television and PC screens are electrically charged, they actually attract dust, making dusting them a never-ending chore, but not if you dust them with used dryer softener sheets. These sheets are designed to reduce static cling, so they remove the dust, and keep it from resettling for several days or more.

Do away with doggy odor
If your best friend comes in from the rain and smells like a ...well ...wet dog, wipe him down with a used dryer softener sheet, and he'll smell as fresh as a daisy.

Tame locker-room and sneaker smells
Deodorizing sneakers and gym bags calls for strong stuff. Tuck a new dryer fabric softener sheet into each sneaker and leave overnight to neutralize odors (just remember to pull them out before wearing the sneaks). Drop a dryer sheet into the bottom of a gym bag and leave it there until your nose lets you know it's time to renew it.

Prevent musty odors in suitcases
Place a single, unused dryer fabric softener sheet into an empty suitcase or other piece of luggage before storing. The bag will smell great the next time you use it.

Buff chrome to a brilliant shine
After chrome is cleaned, it can still look streaky and dull, but whether it's your toaster or your hubcaps, you can easily buff up the shine with a used dryer softener sheet.

Use as a safe mosquito repellent
For a safe mosquito repel-lent, look no farther than your laundry room. Save used dryer fabric softener sheets and pin or tie one to your clothing when you go outdoors to help repel mosquitoes.

Abolish tangled sewing thread
To put an end to tangled thread, keep an unused dryer fabric softener sheet in your sewing kit. After threading the needle, insert it into the sheet and pull all of the thread through to give it a nonstick coating.

There is so much going on in this country and across the world at this time and it sure does seem petty to be sitting here writing about recipes, cleaning tips, etc. My heart just isn't in this right now. Today I am thinking of a little 2 year old boy (Moshe Holtzberg) who watched as his mother and father were murdered in Mumbai. I think of this child screaming for his "mommy" and my heart breaks for him and all the children like him.

Perhaps I am just an idiot, but I do not understand all the flippin' violence in this world! How in the heck can a terriost attack be of benefit to ANYONE? Do people really believe that after they kill innocent people that others will say "Oh, it's all so clear now. I understand why they did that." Do they really believe they will influence others to believe the same as them by killing?!

So many of these senseless deaths are in the "name" of religion. Can you believe that? I can't! What sort of religion tells you to kill others that have a different belief or religion than yours? That's not religion! That is fanatical politics! Mindless idiots following the ideology of some psycho fanatic.

I don't care if you're an Israeli, Palestinian, Protestant, Catholic, Wiccan or if you pray to a freakin' Volkswagon Beetle...I do not believe that any God would want one person to kill another in His name. Life is a precious gift from God, not something to be taken lightly. I don't care what you're fighting for, there is no reason to resort to violence and murder. Without compassion we are nothing more than animals. Worse than that, because even an animal will only kill for substanance.

I am so disappointed in the human race and what we are willing to do to those who believe differently than ourselves. I pray that instead of being so disgusted and angry that I can learn to pity and pray for those who know nothing more than to attack and spread their vile hatred in these ignorant displays of violence and murder.

So for today I leave you with my wish for a peaceful life for little Moshe, and the families of the other victims. May they find strength in their religion, support from their communities and love throughout their life.

Jill Marie

Monday morning recipe

2008-12-01T08:09:00.003-05:00

Good Morning! I hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving and extra long weekend. Everything went well here except for the fact that I forgot...don't ask me how...to make mashed potatoes. I think the fact that Ray stepped into the kitchen to make sweet potatoes really threw me off my game. LOL Yeah, I'm gonna go with that excuse.

Not that it really mattered since there was so much food besides the forgotten mashed taters. We had so many leftovers it was ridiculous. We ate turkey all weekend and still have some left. There were enough desserts to feed a small army. Even though I sent some of the cookies and treats home with the kids, there were still a lot sitting here.

Okay, so time for another recipe/meal idea. This one is for Southern Fried Chicken and an Apple Pie Cake. Mm, sounds good.

SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN

Ingredients:
4-5 lbs. chicken parts
4 cups salt brine (recipe below)
1½ cups buttermilk
1 tbsp. salt
1 tbsp. pepper
1 tbsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. onion powder
1 tbsp. paprika
1 tsp. ground sage
1 cup flour (to dredge the chicken)
Oil or shortening to fill skillet ½ inch deep

Directions:
1. Make the salt brine by dissolving 1/2 cup salt in 4 cups of cold water.
2. Place chicken parts in a large glass bowl, add enough salt brine to cover, cover with plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator to soak overnight.
3. The next day, drain off the salt brine and add 1½ cups buttermilk to the bowl. Allow the chicken to soak in the buttermilk for a couple of hours (or until ready to cook) turning the chicken several times to make sure all the pieces get to soak.
4. To make the breading: Add salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and sage to 1 cup of flour.
5. In a very large, heavy skillet, add vegetable oil or shortening to ½ deep, and heat over a medium flame. Be careful of overheating or you'll burn the flour coating, but if the oil isn't hot enough it will soak into the coating (making it greasy). Test the temperature by dropping a pinch of flour into the hot oil. If it sizzles right away without smoking, it's perfect.
6. Dredge each piece of the buttermilk-coated chicken in the seasoned flour and place them skin side down in the skillet. Do not to crowd the pieces in the pan to achieve the best all-over crispiness.
7. Cover the pan with a loose fitting lid to vent some of the steam and cook to a deep golden brown (approx. 15 min.). Turn the chicken over with tongs and cook an additional 15 minutes or until deep golden brown. Chicken is done if the juices run clear and there is no sign of pink near the bone.
8. Drain the cooked chicken on a wire rack over a baking sheet. Serve on a warm platter.

Serve the chicken with some mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans and biscuits.

If you don't want to make mashed potatoes then Cheesy Hash Browns sound good to me. I love this dish.

CHEESY HASH BROWN POTATO CASSEROLE

Ingredients:
2 lbs. hash browns, defrosted
1/2 c. melted butter
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 c. milk
1 c. sour cream
2 c. grated sharp cheese (Colby or cheddar)

Directions:
Mix above ingredients and put in a 9"x13" pan.

TOPPING:
2 c. crushed corn flakes (can use Ritz crackers)
1/2 c. melted butter

Melt butter and add corn flakes to mix. Sprinkle topping over potatoes and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

I don't do the butter and corn flakes though. I always take the bag of nearly empty chips that has just the crumbs in the bottom and pour them into a ziploc baggie. I save all the crumbs and use them on nearly every dish that calls for a crunchy topping.

Then you can follow the fried chicken dinner with this simple Apple dessert.

APPLE PIE CAKE

Ingredients:
1/2 cup margarine
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg -- slightly beaten
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups apples, peeled -- chopped
1/2 cup pecans -- chopped

Directions:
Thoroughly grease a 9-inch pie pan. Melt margarine, remove from heat, and blend with sugar and egg. Mix in flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, cloves, vanilla, apples, and pecans. Spread into pan.
Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 40 to 45 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream.
Serves 8

So did ya'll go out and shop on Black Friday? I've never gotten up in the wee hours of the morning after Thanksgiving to go shopping...until this year. Unfortunately, I did not have a shopping buddy so I did not get any of those crazy good $ deals. I did, however, get a lot of my Christmas shopping done and picked up some really good things for Rylie.

I had gotten up at 5 AM on Thursday to start the Turkey, so I was a bit surprised when, without the aid of an alarm, I woke up at 4:30 AM Friday morning. I showered, got around and was at Wal-Mart just moments after they opened the doors. I got a few things and waited for nearly 45 minutes to check out.

I went to Kmart next as they were opening at 6 AM. I got there just about 10 minutes after they opened. However, I was too late to get the Princess Bed Tent that I was looking for. I did happen upon 2 women who had several of the tents in their cart as they were talking. I asked if they were planning to put one of the tents back and they said "No, is that what you were looking for?" I told them that the Princess Tent was the main reason for my trip to Kmart. As I was walking away they said "wait a minute" and then they gave me one of the tents and wished me a Merry Christmas. It was the highlight of my entire day. So a huge Thank You to my two unknown angels that morning.

All I can say is that if I ever go again...I'm taking two things. 1) A shopping buddy...a definate must have. And 2) A mini-van or some sort of big vehicle. LOL

I'll leave you with this thought this morning...

"To undertake is to achieve." — Emily Dickinson

Have a great week!
Jill Marie

A quick thought about remembering our injured soldiers

2008-11-26T07:50:00.005-05:00

As Christmas draws closer (yes, I realize Thanksgiving isn't over yet), I thought this would be a good idea to share with everyone. Add the following address to your Christmas (Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, or whatever) card list. This is an easy way to share your joy with someone who could really use some joy in their life.

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington , D.C. 20307-5001

We do these meme's and awards and pass them on and get people to participate in that sort of thing. I was just thinking it would be really great if we could get something like this going around and get everyone to send at least one (prefearbly more) card to a soldier who really deserves to receive some mail from the citizens of the country he has served so bravely.

So if you are going to send out a card, please copy and paste this into your blog and ask others to join you. Me? I've written this address on the front inside cover of my address book so that I will remember to send a card every year and hopefully every holiday. Maybe even for no reason at all other than to say "Thank You" and let these men know we are thinking of them and thankful for all they have done.

Thanks for the information Linda. Apparently someone got their cards returned so they recommend sending it to this address,
Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456
To rush delivery, mailers should not send care packages, money or any inserts, including glitter.

Have a beautiful day.
Jill Marie

A quick laundry tip

2008-11-25T08:06:00.003-05:00

Sometimes I wonder what in the world was I thinking? This past weekend Ray worked on a snowmobile with his brother. By the time he came home he was covered in grease and oil, but that wasn't the worse part. He stunk of gasoline...ewww! So I had him take his clothes off in the laundry area and I threw them in the washer right away.

Yeah...no fore thought or anything. Do you know what they smelled like after the cycle was done? Gasoline. Yep. Then I thought, "Hey! I have a remedy for that and why didn't I think of it before?" So I tried it...

Gasoline On Clothing: Gasoline is an oil based product, therefore, use another oil based product to pull out the odor (which is left because all the gas oil has not been removed yet). You can use any kind of oil that normally washes out of clothing, like baby oil. Put some of the oil into the washer along with the items, let it swish around for a while, then put in the detergent and all should come out okay.

Well, I didn't have any baby oil in the house but I did have some mineral oil. (Baby oil is basically just mineral oil with some scent) So I poured some of that in and let it agitate for a few minutes, then added detergent and let the machine run through. When it was done, there was absolutely no odor of gasoline left on the clothes. YEA!

An unforeseen benefit? I usually keep the lid on my washer closed because it has this "odor", it's kind of like a mildewy smell, sort of. However, since I washed the work clothes with mineral oil I have not smelled that odor. So if your machine has an odor you might want to try running a wash cycle with just water and approx. a 1/4 cup of mineral or baby oil.

I have a full day today and lots of things to fit into a few hours so I'm gonna get of off this machine and get started.

Have a wonderful day!
Jill Marie

Happy Birthday Grandma Corral

2008-11-24T09:15:00.003-05:00

Turn off music playing on the right side to hear audio.

Okay, obviously I do NOT know what the haymaker I am doing. I go through all that and end up with the video in a new entry...then I copy the lil' embed code on that (the video here) and am able to post it to my last entry and it works! What the molasses is up with that?!

Ha! And now when I've typed after the video...the video disappears. . . Ohmahgosh! I don't know. Do I look like a techie to you? I'm baffled, but I have other things to do, so look below to see the video. I don't know where the heck this one went. LOL

Some yummy holiday desserts and a Happy Birthday Wish

2008-11-24T07:48:00.013-05:00

Good Monday Morning! Only 3 days left to get ready before the big day. I'm going to post some cookie and other treat recipes. I'm sitting here wishing I had fully embrace my anal side and kept a list of what recipes I had posted so far. I hate to bore you with repeats, but I can't remember what I have and haven't posted so far. Oh well, here goes...

White-Chocolate cherry Shortbread
Ingredients
1/2 cup maraschino cherries, drained and finely chopped
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup cold butter
12 ounces white chocolate baking squares with cocoa butter, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 drops red food coloring (optional)
2 teaspoons shortening
White nonpareils and/or red edible glitter (optional)

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spread cherries on paper towels to drain well.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour and sugar. Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in drained cherries and 4 ounces (2/3 cup) of the chopped chocolate. Stir in almond extract and, if desired, food coloring. Knead mixture until it forms a smooth ball.
3. Shape dough into 3/4-inch balls. Place balls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Using the bottom of a drinking glass dipped in sugar, flatten balls to 1-1/2-inch rounds.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until centers are set. Cool for 1 minute on cookie sheet. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool.
5. In a small saucepan, combine remaining 8 ounces white chocolate and the shortening. Cook and stir over low heat until melted. Dip half of each cookie into chocolate, allowing excess to drip off. If desired, roll dipped edge in nonpareils and/or edible glitter. Place cookies on waxed paper until chocolate is set. Makes about 60.
6. To Store: Layer cookies between waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Spritz Blossoms
Ingredients
1-1/2 cups butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 recipe Powdered Sugar Icing
Coarse sugar; silver dragees

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In large bowl beat butter on medium to high speed 30 seconds. Add brown sugar and baking powder; beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl. Beat in egg, vanilla, and extract until combined. Beat in as much flour as you can; stir in remaining flour.
2. Push dough through cookie press onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Transfer to wire rack to cool.
3. Brush with Powdered Sugar Icing; sprinkle with sugar. Place a dragee in center. Dry 30 minutes on waxed paper. Makes 80 cookies.
4. Store in airtight container in single layer at room temperature up to 3 days. Freeze up to 3 months.

Brown Sugar Shortbreads
Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice
1/8 teaspoon salt
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
Nonstick cooking spray
Granulated sugar

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper; set aside. In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, apple pie spice, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping side of bowl occasionally. Gradually beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour.
2. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place balls 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheet. Coat the bottom of a cookie stamp with nonstick cooking spray and dip the stamp in granulated sugar. Flatten each ball of dough, imprinting the pattern.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; let cool. Makes about 36 cookies.
4. To Store: Layer cookies between waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Salty-Sweet Butterscotch Cookies
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups white whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour
3/4 cup coarsely chopped salted dry roasted cashews
2/3 cup butterscotch-flavor pieces

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping side of bowl occasionally. Add eggs and vanilla; beat until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour. Stir in cashews and butterscotch pieces.
2. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; let cool. Makes about 48 cookies.
3. To Store: Layer cookies between waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Sugar Cookies

1 1/2 cups sugar
2/3 cup shortening or butter*
2 eggs
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/4 cups flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Early in the day or the day before:
In a large bowl cream the shortening and the sugar. Add the eggs, extract, and milk. In a medium bowl mix the dry ingredients with a wire whisk. Add the dry ingredients to the large bowl. Mix with mixer until well combined. With hands, shape dough into a ball. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease cookie sheets. Roll** half or 1/3 dough at a time, keep the rest refrigerated. For crisp cookies, roll dough, paper thin. For softer cookies, roll 1/8 " to 1/4" thick. With floured cookie cutter, cut into shapes. Re-roll trimmings and cut.

Place cookies 1/2 inch apart on cookie sheets. Decorate*** Bake 8 minutes or until very light brown. With pancake turner, remove cookies to racks; cool. Makes about 6 dozen cookies.

***To decorate with colored sugars: Prepare cookies by brushing with heavy cream or an egg white slightly beaten with 1 tablespoon of water. Sprinkle with decorative toppings.

***To decorate with food colors: Mix 1 egg yolk and 1/4 teaspoon water. Divide mixture among several custard cups. Tint each with different food color to make bright colors. (If paint thickens while standing, stir in a few drops of water.) Paint designs on cookies with small paint brushes.

Fruit-Filled Chocolate Meringues
Serves: 6
INGREDIENTS
2 egg whites, at room temperature
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
Dash salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 Tbsp. cocoa powder
3/4 cup fresh or frozen strawberries, halved or quartered depending on size
3/4 cup fresh or frozen whole raspberries
1 Tbsp. superfine or confectioners' sugar (for garnish)
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
2. In mixing bowl, beat egg whites with cream of tartar, vanilla and salt until soft peaks form (tips of peaks will curl over when beaters are removed).
3. Beat in sugar a little at a time until soft peaks form (peaks will remain upright when beaters are removed). Sprinkle cocoa over top and fold in gently.
4. Drop meringue by 1/4 cup portions onto parchment paper that has been lightly coated with cooking spray. Indent center of each with back of tablespoon.
5. Bake 45 minutes or until dry to touch. Remove and cool. When completely cooled, store in air-tight container to prevent meringues from becoming soggy before serving time.
6. Just prior to serving, fill center of each meringue with mixture of fruit so berries mound slightly. Lightly dust fruit with sugar to garnish. If confectioners' sugar is used, sift lightly over berries using small strainer and spoon to move sugar through strainer. This technique achieves light dusting desired.

3-MINUTE FUDGE

2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 2/3 cups sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 1/2 pkgs. (6 oz each) semi-sweet choc. chips (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Mix milk, sugar and salt in 2 qt. saucepan. Heat to boiling over low heat. Boil and stir for 3 minutes (be exact about time, or until candy themometer registers 225degrees). Remove from heat; add marshmallows, choc. chips, vanilla and nuts. Stir until marshmallows and choc chips are melted. Pour in buttered sq. pan, 9x9x2 inches. Refrigerate until firm. Cut into 1 1/2" squares.

I used that sugar cookie recipe to make my sugar cookies the other day. Let me tell you, I have made probably a dozen or more different sugar recipes over the years. The test that tells me whether or not it's a good recipe...when I taste the dough just after it's been made. That takes me back to being a kid and tasting the dough as we were rolling out cookies. This one passed my little test and yes, it made some delicious (baked) cookies.

I only made about 18 cookies. Then I put the rest of the dough into a zippered bag and froze it. I have so many different desserts that I only need a bit of each one to put out. The rest I can freeze and use for Christmas. I need at least a dozen of each cookie. So why do I make a 18? Ray and Rylie! They seem to be under the impression that they are my official taste testers, lol.

Which reminds me, Rylie has a special message for you Grandma Corral! (((crossing my fingers and hoping I do this right))) Okay, first scroll down the right side of my blog and turn off the music playing. This little thing has audio and you'll want to be able to hear it.

(Mumble, grumble...mutterings a child shouldn't hear...grrrr) Okay, went to post the entry and everything after the above was gone and it didn't even publish it. Oh, I hope it's not because of the Motionbox thing I'm trying to put on here. Let's try this again.

Aw! SUGAR SHACK! What the haymaker am I doing wrong here?! Guess I better go find some tutorial on blogspot about posting video. I thought just pasting the html thingie would do it. I'm so (mumble grumble)... Okay, I think I found it. I just have to go into Edit Html mode and type this and put my video code into that. I think... No! The video embed code I already have has that in the code...SUGAR SHACK!
Wait...I think I have it with You tube now...
Okay, not...but it did post above, so I guess I'll just have to upload to youtube, click the post to blog and then come back and edit that entry to include whatever ramblings I want to add to it. LOL

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM & I LOVE YOU!"
Have a great day everyone!
Jill Marie

ONLY 4 days! Oh my...

2008-11-23T16:40:00.002-05:00

Okay, I was sitting down to type out a list of DONE and TO DO LISTS and figured I'd just go ahead and make an entry based on my lists. So here they are.

DONE LIST

Desserts & Candies:
Chocolate and Cherry center truffles
Cherry Walnut Balls
Pecan Tassies
Brownie Tassies
Ande's Mint Cookies
Roasted Peanut Chocolate Fudge
Chocolate Peanut Clusters
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Macaroons ready to dip in chocolate
Molasses Cookie dough-rolled and ready to bake
Sugar cookie dough mixed up and in fridge

Appetizers:
Cream cheese & Ham Crescent roll-ups

Cleaned:
Master Bathroom- do a quick touch up Weds. nite
Main Bathroom- do a quick touch up Weds. nite
Living Room
Kitchen
Dining area
All rugs shampooed
Cleaned Master bedroom- & washed bedclothes

Meal:
Turkey is now in the fridge & defrosting

TO DO LIST

Monday:
Wash bedroom curtains
Bake and frost Sugar Cookies
Re-shampoo tough stains in living areas
Do some laundry

Tuesday:
Sweep and mop linoleum floors
Clean Ray's office (okay, it's a disaster...at least vaccum)
Clean Rylies room & shampoo carpet

Wednesday:
Quick touch up on bathrooms
Vaccum carpets
Clean up this & that as Ray & Ry mess it up :)
Put side dish ingredients out and the cookware they'll be made in
Make sure I have enough soda and stuff
Plates, silverware and cups

Thursday Morning:
Take a deep breath because I won't have a chance to breath until after dinner is done and everyone is eating.

Okay, some may look at these list and think 1) She is soooo anal. (Uhh, yeah, that's my life in general.) 2) Looks like it's about all done. Well, I look at this list and think "Oh my gosh! I've only got one appetizer ready to go?!" Okay, calm down. I do have the stuff all on hand to make my hot spinach dip...uh, I take that back. I need the parmesan cheese and the nacho's for dipping. Stephanie is bringing cream cheese and ham roll ups. Aimee is bringing either a pie or a cheese cake I'll need to double check on that, because if she is bringing a cheese cake then I'll make some pumpkin pie.

Yeah, I already have the turkey in the fridge. It is a big ole 22 lb bird and I want to make sure it is not still frozen on the inside. I've had the problem before. I've also been thinking about brining the bird this year. It sounds like it would really add a lot of flavor to the turkey. Does anyone else brine their turkey, or have you ever done it? I'd really like to know what others think and if they would recommend it. LOL, like I need something more to do, right?

Yeah, I'm a gluten for punishment. I make myself crazy by over doing and making way more than is necessary. I just want everyone to have a good day and lots of food to enjoy. I want to make the day perfect for everyone else. I do my best but in the end I always feel like I messed up something or forgot to do something.

Well, that's my list as I have it...I'm sure I will be adding more things to my to do list as I think of them. Which reminds me...I was gonna make some White chocolate chip chocolate cookies. Okay...I've got things to do. See ya in the morning!

Jill Marie

It's all about perception...

2008-11-21T07:59:00.006-05:00

I receive these mailings which include a horoscope (which is often vague and could apply to absolutely anyone) from a place called The Daily OM. I like them because they are often thought provoking for me. For example, the following is one of the daily om's I received this morning.

November 21, 2008
Reversed Perceptions
Being Projected Upon
We all have issues, as well as undesirable qualities or traits that we don’t like about ourselves. Most of us realize that we are not perfect and that it is natural to have unpleasant thoughts, motivations, desires, or feelings. However, when a person does not acknowledge these, they may ascribe those characteristics to someone else, deeming other people instead as angry, jealous, or insecure. In psychological terms, such blaming and fault finding is called projection.

When we are the target of projections, it can be confusing and frustrating, not to mention maddening, particularly when we know that we are not the cause of another person’s distress. Even people who are well aware of their issues may find that sensitive subjects can bring up unexpected projections. They may feel insecure about a lack of funds and thus view a friend as extravagant. Or, if they really want to get in shape, they may preach the benefits of exercise to anyone and everyone.

While we can try to avoid people we know who engage in projecting their “stuff” onto others, we can’t always steer clear of such encounters. We can, however, deflect some projections through mindfulness and meditation. A useful visualization tool is to imagine wrapping ourselves in a protective light everyday. At other times, we may have to put up a protective shield when we feel a projection coming our way, reminding ourselves that someone else’s issues are not ours. Although it’s difficult not to react when we are the recipient of a projection, it is a good idea to try to remain calm and let the other person know if they are being unreasonable and disrespectful. We all know that it’s not fun to be dumped on. Likewise, we should be mindful that we don’t take our own frustrations out on others. When we take ownership of our thoughts, motivations, desires, and feelings, we are less likely to project our issues or disowned qualities onto others.

This got me to thinking about myself (and others). So I decided to analyze one of my latest "perceptions" of someone that I had actually done in front of ya'll. It was my post on Wednesday when I wrote about Rose's Reasonings. I actually had the gall (although I did question myself about it a bit at the time) to say that I thought Rose was a bit "preachy".

I've been back and re-read some of Rose's entries. I'm beginning to question myself on the fact that I thought Rose was "preachy". Here's the thing, the Bible is written in a way that is a bit hard for me to understand at times. Rose seems to be very knowledgable about the bible and religion and all the terms/phrases people use to discuss it. A lot of the discussion seems to go flying right over my head. I've found that on some of the entries, if I go back and re-read it a few times, some of it begins to make sense to me. And to top it off...I actually agree with some of it and am thankful for the clearer understanding!

Then there is the fact that a wee bit of political discussion was there too. It's hard to keep politics off your blog when it is where you share you opinions, thoughts, and ideas with people. I know that I put a few of my own thoughts on things that were happening during the Presidential race in my entries. Not to say that people shouldn't share their views and opinions in their blog if that is what they want to do. I tried not to because I did not want to offend anyone.

So between the talk that I may not have understood completely and the differing views on politics I may have come to the conclussion of Rose being "preachy" when I was really just projecting my own lack of understanding and differing views.

Wow...can you imagine if we were all able to dissect our feelings and analyze where they were coming from before we opened our mouths? Is another person really attacking us, or is it just our own (mis-)perception and feelings of inadequacy that makes us feel that way? Or is it their own perceptions about us that makes them feel the way they do about us?

Now, throw in a set of third perceptions if your hearing something from someone that they are telling you about another person, or what that person said. Holy Crickets! Can you see where things could just blow up into a big fiasco over nothing at all? Mis-perceptions, Mis-understandings, and Mis-spoken words...could all turn into a huge ole mess. I know...I've seen it many times over the years.

I've even been thrown under the bus by people I've had discussions with on topics we've agreed on. Then when that person became upset with me, for whatever reason, they went back and talked with someone else and told them I said all this crazy-ness that was actually a discussion that two of us were having and both felt the same way about at the time.

Which is a good example of why "if you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything". If you don't say anything, then nothing can be said about you, right? That is a problem for me, even though I often try to monitor what is coming out of my mouth. I've become better about it over the years, but I'm not quite "there" yet. I find that when I feel strongly about someting I often voice it right out, even if I should just keep my mouth shut.

I see this most clearly in my relationship with "the ole man". Just a few days ago I was in the kitchen and he said something that just hit me the wrong way. I don't even remember what it was that he said now. Well, that night he and Rylie wanted to order pizza. I didn't feel like having pizza so I ordered a fold-over sub. When he asked me how much the total was, I told him and he said something about the expense.

Well, I automatically took that as an attack on myself because it would have been cheaper if I had just eaten the pizza and not ordered a sub. The next thing you know we are in an argument and neither one of us really knew where it was coming from or what we were arguing about. It was because of my own perception of what he was "really" saying. He didn't say "You flippin' idiot, why did you order that instead of just eating pizza?" But that was my perception of the meaning of what was coming out of his mouth.

I have this thing with always feeling undeserving and responsible for almost everything that can possibly go wrong. I apologize for things I have no control over, for things that I had absolutely nothing to do with. For example, if Ray doesn't have a second helping at dinner I flippin' apologize to him for the dinner not being good. He looks at me and will say "It's good, I'm just not very hungry", and I will apologize to him for that! How crazy is that?

It drives him absolutely mad, although we've learned to laugh about it over the years. Sometimes he'll say "I'm sorry" when he knows I'm about to apologize for something totally out of my control, or whatever. Then we'll get into this silly game of "No, I'm sorry".

Perceptions (my own and others of me) and brain to mouth monitoring...a few things I want to keep in mind as I go through each day. Things I want to learn to keep in check and be mindful of each and every day.

Well, enough rambling from me. I hope everyone has a really great weekend. Remember, Thanksgiving is coming up real quick here. I'll be doing recipes on Monday, if anyone has a recipe that they would like to share please send me an email with "recipe" in the subject line.
Thanks and Hugs!
Jill Marie

Common Cold Home Remedies

2008-11-20T07:53:00.002-05:00

Good Morning! Well, it is definitely that time of year when we have to begin to worry about the flu and common cold. For the flu? Best bet is to try to avoid it altogether by getting a flu shot. The common cold is not as easy to avoid so here are some home remedies I've found that may help you out if you should catch the cold this year.

Colds & Flu

Here is a delicious recipe for a cold and flu soup: Sauté 6 crushed cloves of garlic in 1 tsp. vegetable oil until golden. Pour in a quart of beef or chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and whisk in 2 egg whites. Beat together 2 egg yolks and 2 Tbs. distilled white vinegar; pour this mixture into the soup. Season with salt and pepper and top with croutons, if desired.

Lemon is the most important among the many home remedies for common cold. It is beneficial in all types of cold with fever. Vitamin C-rich lemon juice increases body resistance, decreases toxicity and reduces the duration of the illness. One lemon should be diluted in a glass of warm water, and a teaspoon of honey should be added to it. This should be taken once or twice daily.

Regular intake of vitamin C-75 mg for adults and 35 mg for children-will prevent the common cold. If, however, a cold has already appeared, large doses of this vitamin will relieve the symptoms and shorten its duration. One to two grams (1000 mg to 2000 mg) per day is approximately the optimum amount of this vitamin for this purpose. Swallow one or two 500 mg tablets of vitamin C at the appearance of the first sign of the cold and continue the treatment by taking one to two 500 mg tablets daily.

Ginger is another excellent remedy for colds and coughs. About ten grams of ginger should be cut into small pieces and boiled in a cup of water. It should then be strained and half a teaspoon of sugar added to it. This decoction should be drunk when hot. Ginger tea, prepared by adding a few pieces of ginger into boiled water before adding the tea leaves, is also an effective remedy for colds and for fevers resulting from cold. It may be taken twice daily.

If you have a stuffed up nose, that you just can't seem to get any relief from, I still believe in good ole Vicks Vapor Rub. When I'm sick and having trouble breathing I like to rub this on my chest and maybe a little under my nose. It may be just like hot tea and toast, or drinking ginger ale. Those are things my Mom use to do for me when I was sick and they always make me feel a wee bit better to this day.

You can also try putting some Vicks into a pot of steaming water and leaning over it with a towel draped over your head. Do I need to caution you that the water is HOT and not to get too close or stick you face into the hot water? Or to turn the stove off before leaning over it with a towel? LOL Well, just in case the woman who sued McD's over hot coffee is reading this, consider that your warning.

Last night I made more truffles, but instead of chocolate this time I made the centers cherry flavored. I also made some more Andes Mint Chip Cookies. Today I just might get around to making sugar cookies. The ones I made before with just colored sugar on top and frosting on the back went over really well.

I did get the Macaroons done the other day. I also made some chocolate fudge. I usually add some walnuts and marshmallows and make it a kind of rocky road thing. This time though I've been having this salt and chocolate craving, so I added Roasted Peanuts. Mmm, it is so good and satisfies that salty sweet craving just right.

Okay, yeah....so I tend to go a wee bit overboard during the holidays. However, keep in mind that most of what I make is freezable for up to 3 months. So I can put some of it out for Thanksgiving, and then if we have a get together, or something, I'll put some out then. Usually by the time Christmas rolls around I have to make some more of this or that. I give some of it as gifts and then put some out for Christmas day.

I just like having a wide variety of different things for everyone to try. Usually everyone has a favorite...which reminds me, I still need to make the Chocolate Saltines, they're one of Sammi's favorites. Oh! I can't forget to get some Pretzel Rods too. Those are real easy to dip in melted chocolate and then roll in whatever you happen to think sounds good. I do have the mini Ritz with peanut butter on hand. Maybe I'll melt some chocolate today and dip them.

There was some talk of everyone coming over to our house for either a Thanksgiving Eve or Thanksgiving Night karaoke party. I was thinking about doing the chocolate fountain for that but buying all the fruit and everything is so expensive. I don't know. I'll have to see where we are at that point. It's just a lot of money for food and soda and stuff when Christmas is right around the corner. I can get soda on sale, but it is still a lot when your buying enough for anywhere from 20-30 people. Then it is so annoying when you walk around after everyone has left and you find soda cans half full or nearly full that kids left lying around. That's like throwing money away.

If we do it Thanksgiving Eve then I have a mess to clean up before everyone gets here for Thanksgiving dinner, on top of all the cooking I have to do. If we do it Thanksgiving Night then I have to clean up after Thanksgiving dinner before everyone gets here. Either way, I'm going to be very busy and frantic on Thanksgiving Day. LOL As if that's anything new.

I don't know why I'm such a freak about trying to make everything perfect. It never goes perfectly smooth and it just leaves me stressing about everything. Either the rolls burn, or I forget to put them in the oven. Or I add too much milk to the mashed potatoes, or I forget to take something out of the fridge for the meal. Or I tell everyone a certain time and their either late or the turkey isn't ready yet. LOL

I can't even begin to imagine what the day is like for the kids. Ray's girls are rushing back and forth between here and their mom's or grandma's. My 3 older kids are going back and forth between here and Bowling Green, where their Dad is. And it's like that for those kids every holiday. I just hope the weather is good this year so they don't have to worry about the roads and all that mess. Little Miss Rylie just sits here and waits for her siblings and nieces and nephews to show up. I don't think the poor thing really understands yet about her sibs other mommy or daddy yet. How do you explain divorce or previous marriages to a 4 year old without confusing or scaring her?

Well, that's just the way things are around here. The kids scurry here and there...I get frantic over the food and it if all be good enough...Rylie sneaks cookies and doesn't eat dinner...and Ray...lol...well he sits and listens to Christmas tunes and just relaxes and enjoys the day and the food. Oh yeah...remember those days, back when we were kids and didn't have a care in the world? We just played with the other kids and sat down to this meal that we waited forever to get cooked and served. I never did realize all the work that went into that meal.

Thanks Mom! I don't know if anyone ever said Thank You to Mom or really appreciated everything that she did. Which reminds me...I need to call Mom.

Okay, enough rambling for one day. Have a good one!
Jill Marie

An award? For me? Oh, Thank You Sugar!

2008-11-19T08:32:00.010-05:00

I received a message from Sugar yesterday to stop by her blog and pick up my award. Unfortunately this award does not come with a cash prize. No, it's even better than that. It's simply recognition from a fellow blogger which sometimes is just the nicest thing to hear.

It's nice to know that there is someone out there who reads whatever little ramblings I have going on over here and maybe even finds it interesting. So to Sugar, "Thank you ever so much hun. I really appreciate it."

*About the Marie Antoinette award - Real Blogs - Real People, that's going around. This is an award for those that write about real things, not necessarily on every entry, but those who share information about themselves or where they live, what is happening in their area or in the world. What a wonderful way to give some recognition and appreciation to those who write and share a bit of their lives with us.

This award is for sharing so be sure to pass it on to other people. Here are the rules, (as I received them):

1. Please put the logo on your journal - Real Blogs/Real People.
2. Place a link from the person, from whom you received the award.
3. Nominate as many as you want (2-10, with 7 being ideal).
4. Put the links of those on your journal.
5. Leave a comment on their journal to let them know.
6. Put the award on your sidebar, if you want.

The following are my choices for the Marie Antoinette Award, in no paticular order:

Coastal Comfort - Linda is a fun loving wife, mom and totally awesome photographer. She has a very talented daughter who dances and Linda is very proud of her. She's just one of those people who seems to have it all together. Sometimes she writes and I just want to reach out and hug her and other times she has me rolling on the floor laughing.

Problem Solvin' Mom - Wow...I thought I had it pretty well together until I stumbled across Steph's blog. I sometimes wonder where she even finds the time to blog at all, but she does and welcomes you to join her as she writes about "family, hobbies, health & fitness, and balancing work & home life." It is definately worth the time to stop by and see what is keeping her busy this week, or check out what latest tips or advice she has to offer.

Carpe Diem - Dawn's title, personal phrase and what she strives for each day is the latin motto which means "seize the day". She does this while dealing with 3 kids, a husband (which most of us know is like having another child who happens to be the most stubbon one, lol), 2 parents, 2 chronic diseases and a brain tumor. Dawn does it all and makes me feel like..."what the hay maker is my problem?" And makes me think that perhaps I should try drinking coffee if it really gives her all the energy to get through her day.

Life in Caneyhead - Barb is wonderful. When I go to her blog it is really like visiting one of my neighbors and makes me feel calm. I love the stories she tells. She is telling us of her "walk with Jesus", but it is so unlike listening to some people talk about the Lord. I never feel as if Barb is preaching to me or looking down on anyone who may believe differently that herself. She is sharing her story and her faith in God. After all, isn't that what one is suppose to do? I continue to read and hope that one day my faith will be as strong as Barbs is.

(*Don't misunderstand, I do believe. I just think that believing may not be enough and I have to find something MORE.)

Bears Den - This is Bill's blog, he is from Las Vegas and I just began reading here recently. If your looking for a blog from a REAL person about everyday REAL life...this is definately that. When I first heard the title "Bears Den"...I automatically pictured a scene from Saturday Night Live with the Bears fans sitting around a table smoking cigars, talking about the Chicago Bears. LOL But Bill writes about his days with his wife living an ordinary life. It's a great place to visit and I hope you check it out.

...and finally, I wanted to include a blog from around here (Toledo), so I went on a search and came across this one from Rose.

Rose's Reasonings - She is a mother to 4 and writes about her belief in Christ and how she came to the point she is at in her faith today. I especially like the entries about how she came to church. We are kind of different in a lot of ways, especially (from what I read) on political views, although I have nothing (much) against Republicans. Heck, I was married to one once. LOL However, I like the way she writes about her faith and is so open to sharing it with her readers. It does occassionally come across a bit preachy, but that may be my own thing because of the political views that were discussed that were so different than mine. I am not a big fan of Joe Wurzelbacher, where as she is. However, if your reading to learn more and want to learn about another view, it's a good place to visit. I hope I haven't offended Rose, that certainly is not my intention.

Yeah, you're probably seeing a trend here. Alot of the same blogs that I've mentioned before in one of the meme's. By the way...what does meme mean? Remember, I'm just a simple blonde housewife from Ohio...sometimes I can be a wee bit ditzy. I've seen the word before, but I'm just wondering where it came from and what it mean exactly.

Anyway! There I went rambling AGAIN. There all good reads and if you want to just check them out. I hope everyone will continue on with the award and share your choice of Real life blogs with us.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Jill Marie

Cleaning tip--household odors and my lil' blue aura

2008-11-18T09:21:00.005-05:00

Good Tuesday morning! The holidays are quickly approaching and a lot of us will be having people in our houses. The last thing you want is to have a great looking house with an underlying nasty odor, so here are a few tips to help with some common household odors.

Fish or Other Spoiled Food Odor-
Place a bowl of white vinegar on the counter for a few hours. The odor will disappear for good.

Freshen a Garbage Disposal-
Sprinkle baking soda in it along with a few drops dish-washing liquid. Scrub with a brush (a new toilet brush works great), getting under the rubber gasket and all around the inside. Then, turn on water and let the disposal run to flush thoroughly. For a fresh citrus scent, throw in a few cut up lemons or limes and run them through, too, using lots of water.

Refrigerator-
Put an open box of baking soda in your refrigerator. The baking soda will absorb the odors. You can also pour baking soda down the drain, into diaper pails, cat litter and on the kitchen sponge to eliminate odors.

Try the power of activated carbon in a product like activated carbon odor absorbers. The natural, fragrance free activated carbon filter literally soaks up odors better than baking soda, coffee, and vinegar combined. All you have to do is hang or place one on each shelf for incredible effectiveness. They can also used in your freezer too if your ice is tasting or smelling bad.

Use a mixture of baking soda and water to clean the fridge. Use an old toothbrush to clean those hard to reach areas.

Garbage/Trash area -
The smell of garbage can quickly permeate the entire house. To eliminate this problem, again use the power of activated carbon. Activated charcoal odor absorbers easily clip on to, or hang from trash cans. Just keep a couple near by your trash can and odors get stopped in their tracks.

Of course, the trash can does get nasty dirty...so it's a good idea to take it into the shower area or outside (weather permitting) and give it a good cleaning occasionally. First, spray it down to remove any loose bits. Then add 1/2 to 1 cup bleach and several drops of dishwashing liquid to 1 gallon warm water. Use a long-handled scrub brush to splash and scour the solution on the bottom and sides of the container. Empty, then rinse empty it again, and let air-dry.

You could also try sprinkling some cat litter into the bottom of garbage cans to keep them smelling fresh. Change the litter after a week or so or when it becomes damp. If you have a baby in the house, use cat litter the same way to freshen the diaper pails.

For small trash pails in other rooms, try tossing used fabric softener sheets into the bottom of a laundry hamper or wastebasket to counteract odors. What a great way to re-use something that still has a little life left in it. Keep a small zipper bag in the laundry area to save the dryer sheets as you remove them. You can also put them in the bottom of the laundry hamper to cut down on smells from there. Or put a few in your closet.

Stove Top Vent -
As grease and oils build up, so will odors. Use a natural lemon or orange based degreaser to wipe away build ups. These products effectively cut through grease so you can easily wipe it away and leaves no residue. There are several effective and natural cleaners available for this.

Microwave odors-
Try using coffee as it is known to absorb odors. Fill the coffee mug or small bowl with about 2 tablespoons of ground coffee and ½ cup of water. Set the cup in a small bowl (to catch any overflow as it boils) and place it in the microwave. Microwave the coffee on high for about 2 minutes. Be careful when you go to remove it as it will be HOT. Repeat as necessary.

Of course, we already know that vinegar is great at removing odors, so you could also try that method in the microwave too. Fill a small bowl about half full of vinegar and place it in the microwave. Turn the microwave on and let it heat until it steams. Once it has developed a good amount of steam, turn off the microwave and let it set for about 5-10 minutes. There may be a vinegar smell in the microwave, but this will dissipate within a day or two.
If your going to use this method...this is a great time to clean your microwave of any food bits stuck to the inside. The vinegar steam will help to loosen those bits and make it easier to wipe clean. ALSO...do NOT just pour the heated vinegar down the drain. Hot vinegar is good for cleaning soap scrum from shower doors.

To keep your kitchen smelling fresh you can try boiling lemon or orange skins and then simmer for about an hour. I like to simmer cinnamon sticks in a small pan of water on the stove.

Well, after doing my blog entry yesterday I decided to do some "blog link hopping" (remember bar hopping? lol), I'd go to one blog I know and click on a random link there and see where it took me, then I'd click on another link from there. I ended up at a blog called 1 Door Away From Heaven-part II. I was reading a few of the entries there which lead me to check out a few things about Aura's. It's pretty interesting and I thought I'd like to try to find out what color my aura might be. I went and did about 5 or 6 tests/quizes to see what the different one's said. One said my aura was magenta, one said it was red, but at least 3 of them said it was blue. So I guess I must be blue, maybe with a wee bit of red and/or magenta.

Here are 2 of the quizes that I took.

And...

I took the "The Aura Color Personality" quiz on gURL.com
		My aura is... blue Are you blue? No worries--having a blue aura does not condemn one to a life of sorrow. But those with blue auras are some of the most emotional people on the planet. Blues are quite sensitive to other people's feelings... Read more... What color is your aura?

This is what Pamela Oslie say's on her site, http://auracolors.com/index.html, about Aura's.

Blues are some of the most loving, nurturing and supportive personalities of the Life Colors. They live from their heart and emotions. Their purpose for being on the planet is to give love, to teach love and to learn that they are loved. Their priorities are love, relationships, and spirituality.

Blues are traditionally teachers, counselors, and nurses---basically the loving, nurturers and caretakers on the planet. Blues are constantly helping others. They want to make sure that everyone feels loved and accepted. People are always turning to Blues for comfort and counsel because Blues will always be there for them. They consistently provide a shoulder for others to cry on.

Blues are the most emotional personalities in the aura spectrum. They can cry at the drop of a hat. Blues cry when they are happy, hurt, angry, sad, or for no apparent reason at all. Even watching a sentimental commercial on television can bring on tears.

Okay, I'll take that. And yes...I do cry watching sentimental commercials. It's a rare occassion if I can watch a re-run of Little House on the Prarie without crying. I've just always been that way. Yes, I know it's just a tv show, but it's like I actually feel whatever it is I'm watching. Although, I do believe there is a red overlay to my blue...

People are not born with a Red Overlay. A Red Overlay is usually added to the outer bands of the aura early on in life because the person felt a need for protection. While a Red Overlay can offer protection, it also can become a terrible burden to bear.
The two most common indications that a person is carrying a Red Overlay are either feelings of intense anger and rage, or continuous struggle and self-sabotage. If these people don't eventually remove the Red Overlay from their aura, their protective shield will eventually become their prison.
People usually add a Red Overlay to their aura for one or more of the following reasons:
They have had a life-threatening situation at birth or at a young age, which caused them to perceive that they may die, or that the world was not a safe place. Examples of life-threatening situations can include birth complications, severe illness, choking, drowning or suffocating. Many people do not remember these incidents, and so the source of their anger or struggle remains a mystery to them. They frequently have feelings of dread or of impending disaster for reasons unknown to them.
People may also add a Red Overlay if they have been physically, emotionally or mentally abandoned or rejected. Red Overlays frequently appear in people who were unwanted children, adopted or separated from a parent at a young age. This can also apply to children who felt emotionally abandoned by a parent, even when the parent appeared to be physically present in the home.
The most obvious and traceable causes for Red in the aura are those cases in which people have been physically, emotionally or mentally abused. Children who have been sexually abused, physically beaten, or raised by alcoholic or verbally abusive parents usually feel that the world is an unsafe and undependable place and that protection is necessary for survival.

Oh and I believe I may be living with an Abstract Tan...

The bright and curious Abstract Tans are unique characters in the mental family. They are the most childlike of all the Tans. Abstract Tans are open, friendly and outgoing. They have incredibly optimistic personalities. Though they frequently have high energy, it is also usually scattered. They tend to go in many directions at once.

All the other Tan personalities process information in a very logical and sequential manner. They process every step in a linear fashion, from one to ten. While Abstract Tans see all the details and steps which need to be handled, they do not proceed in an orderly fashion.

Abstract Tans have random thought processes. Rather than proceeding step by step, they attempt to work on all of the steps simultaneously. They do not sense that any one step is a priority — the first step is just another piece in the project, as is the last one. These sensitive individuals often appear to be scatterbrained to others.

Abstract Tans are consistently misplacing or losing their possessions and they usually can't remember where they put things last. Their lives seem to be in a constant state of confusion and disorder. Abstract Tans energy is so unfocused that people around them can become agitated trying to pin them down.

Abstract Tans have energy similar to that of fireflies or hummingbirds. Their rapidly vibrating wings move a hundred times a second as they constantly change course in mid-air.

Hm, I wonder if Blue and Tan is a good combination of aura's? I should probably make him go take one of those little tests to find out for sure what he is. Rylie? Oh goodness...I think she may be a yellow right now...

Yellows are the most fun-loving, free-spirited, energetic, and childlike personalities in the aura spectrum. Yellows are wonderful, sensitive, optimistic beings, whose life purpose is to bring joy to people, to have fun, and to help heal the planet.
Yellows can either be very shy and sensitive, or they can be the life of the party. These playful characters have a great sense of humor. They love to laugh and to make others laugh. Yellows believe life is to be enjoyed. They like to live life freely and spontaneously. With a perpetual smile on their face, they remind people to not take themselves or their problems too seriously.
Yellows would prefer not to work at all, unless their work was fun, playful, or creative. They love nature, and often have concerns for the survival of wildlife and the environment. Dogs are very drawn to Yellows and often become their best friends.

I did get my macaroons made and one successful batch of fudge. One batch was an experiment in flavors and did not turn out well at all. It was a stupid mistake and I really should have known better. I was trying to add maraschino cherries to a vanilla walnut fudge. However, I forgot to get the excess liquid out of the cherries first which, of course, turned the batch of fudge into a kind of sugary goo. Oh well, live and learn.

Have a really terrific day!
Jill Marie

Holiday Treats

2008-11-17T08:22:00.005-05:00

It's holiday baking time for me. I usually get started earlier than this but I just haven't been in the mood much this year. On Saturday the baking bug hit me though and I got started with the following 3 recipes.

CHERRY WALNUT BALLS
Ingredients
1/4 cup coarsely chopped maraschino cherries
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted*
Powdered sugar

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325F. Drain maraschino cherries on paper towels; pat dry to remove any excess liquid. Set cherries aside.
2. Beat butter in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Beat in the 1/2 cup powdered sugar, almond extract, and vanilla until combined, scraping side of bowl occasionally. Beat in as much flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour, nuts, and cherries with a wooden spoon.
3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until bottoms are lightly brown. Cool 5 minutes on cookie sheets on wire racks. Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar to coat. Transfer cookies to wire racks and cool completely.
4. If desired, roll cooled cookies in additional powdered sugar before serving. Makes about 48 balls.
5. *Note: To toast nuts, spread them in a single layer in a shallow baking pan. Bake in a preheated 325F oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until nuts are slightly golden brown, stirring once or twice. Cool completely. Chop nuts and set aside.
6. To store: Place cookies in layers separated by pieces of waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw cookies, if frozen, before serving.

PECAN TASSIES IN CREAM CHEESE PASTRY
Yield
2 dozen tassies (serving size: 1 tassie)

Ingredients
Pastry:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
Dash of salt
1/4 cup (2 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons butter or stick margarine, softened
2 tablespoons fat-free milk
Cooking spray

Filling:
1/3 cup finely chopped pecans
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup light-colored corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1 large egg white
Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°.

To prepare pastry, lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, 1 tablespoon sugar, and dash of salt in a small bowl. Combine cream cheese, butter, and milk in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well-blended. Add flour mixture; beat at low speed just until blended (mixture will be crumbly). Press flour mixture into a ball.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead lightly 3 to 4 times. Divide dough into 24 portions. Place 1 dough portion into each of 24 miniature muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Press dough into bottom and up sides of cups, using lightly floured fingers.

To prepare filling, divide pecans evenly among muffin cups. Combine brown sugar and remaining ingredients; spoon about 2 teaspoons filling over pecans in each muffin cup.

Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until pastry is lightly browned and filling is puffy. Cool in cups for 10 minutes on a wire rack. Run a knife around outside edge of each tassie; remove from pan. Cool completely on a wire rack.

*Easy Method--Use ready to bake pie crusts and cut out 3" circles using biscuit cutter or metal lid. Lightly place circle of pie crust into the mini muffin cups and continue with the recipe as above.

EASY DECADENT TRUFFLES
INGREDIENTS
1(8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3 cups confectioners'sugar, sifted
3 cups semisweet chocolate chips, melted
1 1/2teaspoons vanilla

DIRECTIONS
Ina large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually beat inconfectioners' sugar until well blended. Stir in melted chocolate andvanilla until no streaks remain. Refrigerate for about 1 hour. Shapeinto 1 inch balls.

Notes - Roll truffles in groundwalnuts (or any ground nuts), cocoa, coconut, confectioners' sugar,candy sprinkles, etc.

I make the Pecan Tassies and Truffles every year. The Cherry Walnut Balls are a new recipe for me. They are a lot like a little cookie that I remember my mom making every Christmas when we were kids. Almost every thing that I make (in the way of baked goods) in freeze-able for up to 3 months. I make a LOT of things. I put 1/3 to half of everything out for Thanksgiving, some of it out for our Christmas party and the rest on Christmas day. It works out good because I make so many different things and there is a little bit of everything there.

Today I think I'm going to make my Macaroons and maybe try a new recipe or two. I may even do a little experimenting with the truffle and buckeye recipes. I have an idea...lol. Good thing that we have the deep freeze and the refrigerator freezer. Right now my freezers are stocked with all kinds of chocolate chips, coconut, nuts and extra flour.

Oh, I almost forgot. I have this recipe for making aromatic ornaments that would be a lot of fun to make with the kids. I made these a few years ago and it is probably time to make some more. These would be great if you want a project for the kids to do so they can give them as gifts to Aunts & Uncles or their grandparents. It calls for a LOT of cinnamon so you may want to buy that at a dollar store.

SPICED ORNAMENTS
1 Cup ground cinnamon
1 tbsp ground allspice
1 tbsp ground nutmeg
Fine decorativeglitter (optional)
Unsweetened applesauce
White craft glue
Drinking straw
Butchers string, jute twine or ribbon
Glue gun (optional)
Magnetic strips (optional)

Combine spices and glitter in medium bowl. Stir, adding applesauce 1 tbsp at a time, as needed to make soft dough. Makes about 1 2/3 cups dough. Divide dough into smaller portions. roll out each portion between sheets of waxed paper to 1/4 inch thickness.

Cut with cookie cutters into desired shapes. Use a drinking straw to puch a hole, or holes, to thread string for hanging. Place on lightly greased baking sheets. Bake in 200 degree oven for 30 to 45 minutes until dry. (There is no need to turn at half-time) Thread with string or glue magnets onto back.

~Also thread on a long string with dried apple and orange slices to make a wonderfully scented garland.

Which reminds me...we are out of glitter. That is one of the things Rylie Jo found in my desk and for some unknown reason decided to eat. All I can say is that my child had some of the prettiest poo I've ever seen. So, if you're going to use the glitter and you've got a wee child in the house...make sure you store it somewhere up high where they will never find it. All I can figure out is that she found it in my desk and thought I was hiding a "goodie" from her. "Lord, grant me patience and a HUGE sense of humor as I raise this child." Cuz' you and I know I'm gonna need it.

I've got some more recipes for homemade gifts and I'll post some of them on Wednesday. That will give anyone who wants to try them enough time to copy the recipe, get the stuff needed and make them before Christmas rolls around. Of course, I always come across more things as the season continues, so I'm sure I'll be posting more homemade gift ideas.

Have a blessed week!
Jill Marie

Home Remedies for bruises

2008-11-13T10:18:00.007-05:00

Well, we've all done it from time to time...walked full force right into that table corner that has been in the same place forever. Or tripped over your very own feet. If you're like me, sometimes these simple accidents can leave a bruise that just seems to linger on and on. Here are a few tips I've come across that may help.

Bruises--

Slice a raw onion and place over the bruise. Do not apply this to broken skin.

Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.

vitamin C. Bruises occur more frequently in people who don't get enough vitamin C. So if you notice that you bruise regularly, up your vitamin C intake. High doses of vitamin C could increase your risk for kidney stones. To prevent this, make sure that you drink plenty of water if you take extra vitamin C.
Build collagen with vitamin C cream. As a long-term bruise preventative, try daily applications of vitamin C creams and lotions (available at drugstores or through your dermatologist). "The vitamin C is absorbed into the skin and, over time, helps rebuild collagen, which cushions and supports blood vessels, making bruising less likely.

Ice on, ice off. If you apply ice right after you bump your skin, you can limit the size and severity of a bruise and relieve pain. Using ice wrapped in cloth, or a cold pack, ice the bruise for 10 to 20 minutes, then take a break. Repeat every two hours.
After 24 hours, when the bruise has fully developed, it's safe to apply heat. Soak in a hot bath or apply a heating pad or a washcloth soaked in hot water, for 20 minutes, three times a day, until the bruise reabsorbs. But don't apply heat immediately. Heat causes tissues to swell, and at that early stage it can actually cause more bleeding and make the bruise worse.

Arnica--Experts say that this popular muscle soreness remedy is also excellent for minimizing bruises and healing them fast. As soon as you bump your knee or other body part or notice a swelling or discoloration, gently rub some of this homeopathic cream on it. Arnica shrinks inflammation and increases circulation to flush away the stagnant blood that turns your skin black and blue.

Well, David left yesterday. He will leave from Cleveland to go to Fort Benning on the 15th. My car is currently on strike so I rode to the Walbridge Armory Post with David and his girlfriend. We got there and took a few pictures, said good-bye and then he went inside. It seems so strange to me the cute little boy I remember has decided to trade in wearing my and his daddy's shoes around the house for Army boots and his lil' pumpkin bucket in for infantry gear.

Rylie was amazingly quiet most of the time. I don't think she quite realizes yet that David is going to be gone for a while. I was going to post some of the pictures we took, but it appears that when I opened the card (from Jill's camera, his g/f) I apparently just copied the shortcut, or something. I thought I could just copy and paste the picture into my files, but now that the card is not hooked up to my computer, I can't find the pictures.

So it only seemed appropriate to put some of my favorite pictures of David up today. Actually I have a lot more favorites than these few, but I didn't want to over load my wee little blog here. LOL I once had a woman tell me that David had the All American "look" that modeling agencies and some advertisers looked for. He certainly was a little cutie pie.

He could be difficult though...when he wanted to be, lol. He was my other child, before Rylie, that was so difficult to potty train. That was when I first used the kitchen timer trick. I'd set it to go off every 15 minutes, and we'd go into the bathroom and he'd try. He'd get a few m&m's just for trying, and a lot more if he actually went tinkle. He was potty trained within a week. Of course, he was 3...oh, that toddler was a stubborn one. I'm a bit surprised I had more children after him.

I had a hard time getting him to give up his binky (pacifier) too. I started slowly throwing them away when I would find them around the house. We got down to one. He would walk around with that ol' thing in his mouth all the time. He'd do this funny thing and tuck the handle of it up under his nose. Then as he sucked it (lol, omgosh, I can see it in my head) his nose would bop up and down as the handle pushed it. Anyway, we got down to that last binky and I found it one day and took my scissors and nipped a bit off the end of it.

He brought it to me and wanted to know what had happened. I told him that he was using it too much and it was starting to melt away. Oh the look on his face. A day later I nipped a wee bit more off, and this continued for a few days until there was just this little nub left. He tried to put it in his mouth a few times and then finally gave up. He walked over to the trash can and threw it away.

He was the child who would turn around and smile at me when I said "NO". Then he'd walk over and do it anyway. I'd walk over to him and slap his hand or paddle his bottom. He had to know who was in control right? Yeah...he'd just start laughing, like it was some game or something.

I still remember the day we were at my mom's when he was about 12 or 13. He was pushing the limits to see how far he could get away with things with me. He called me the "B" word and I told him to "come here"...he said "no". So I went to go towards him and he took off running. Well, uh, yeah...what do you think I did? I ran after him. I finally caught up with him, grab his arm and brought it up behind his back. I said, "Don't you ever talk to me like that again. It doesn't matter how big you get. I am your mother, I brought you into this world and I will always be able to bring you down, no matter what." Yeah...well, it all sounded good at the time and I think I scared the smart mouthed lil punk in him a bit.

However, there is NO WAY I could handle that boy today if he mouthed off to me. LOL Luckily for me, he doesn't behave that way anymore. And even if there was any of that attitude left...I think the basic training would get rid of it.

Okay...I'm off to browse through photo albums and do some reminiscing. Have a great day.

Jill Marie

Homemade soaps for the dishwasher and washing machine

2008-11-11T08:48:00.004-05:00

Well, I was going to put some tips on here about keeping your fireplace clean, but then I found some interesting stuff about making your own dishwasher and laundry detergent. Well, me being me...cheap that is...I decided to share the homemade stuff. In this economy we all need to save as much money as we can.

Okay, okay...for those of you with fireplaces...white vinegar to clean the glass inserts, if you have them, and scrubbing bubbles, or some similar bath cleaner, to clean the bricks. Be careful not to get it on the floor. Blah, blah, blah...LOL

Can ya tell I'm a wee bit excited about these homemade detergents? Okay, here we go.

DISHWASHING DETERGENT
Mix equal parts Borax and Washing Soda (this is different than baking soda), and add 2 Tablespoons per load. Increase proportion of soda for hard water.
Also, instead of using expensive spot cleaners, like Jet Dry, try putting some white vinegar in the dispenser instead.

*Some people found that they sometimes their dishes didn't get as clean, perhaps they don't rinse off the dishes first. However, you can buy a box of less expensive dishwasher detergent and add a small amount to the homemade detergent to give it a boost if you need to. You may need to try a few loads until you find the mixture that works just right for you.

I found a variety of recipes for homemade laundry detergent. Look them over and try one. The liquid soaps do get a bit gelled and lumpy looking. I would think it best to store them in old laundry detergent bottles, that way you could give it a good shake before using.

For the bar soaps required in the recipes, you could try Fels-Naptha, Ivory soap, Sunlight bar soap, Kirk’s Hardwater Castile, and Zote. Don’t use heavily perfumed soaps. Washing Soda and Borax can normally be found in the laundry and cleaning aisles. I would also be a bit concerned with "colored" soaps, so I'll be using something that is white, like Ivory soap.

Some people with really hard water or well water may have to adjust the recipes if the clothes look dingy.

Although several of the recipes have the same ingredients, the measurements are different–some contain a higher soap to water ratio. Test and see which works best for your laundry needs.

You can add between 10 to 15 drops of essential oil (per 2 gallons) to your homemade laundry detergent. Add once the soap has cooled to room temperature. Stir well and cover.

After mixing the liquid laundry detergent recipes, cover and let sit for 24 hours before using.

These soaps are low sudsing soap. So if you don’t see suds, that is ok. Suds are not what does the cleaning, it is the ingredients in the soap.

LAUNDRY DETERGENT RECIPE
Hot water
1 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1 Soap bar

Grate the bar soap and add to a large saucepan with hot water. Stir over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
Fill a 10 gallon pail half full of hot water. Add the melted soap, Borax and Washing soda, stir well until all powder is dissolved. Top the pail up with more hot water.
Use 1 cup per load, stirring soap before each use (will gel).

LAUNDRY DETERGENT RECIPE
Hot water
1/2 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1/3 bar Soap (grated)

In a large pot, heat 3 pints of water. Add the grated bar soap and stir until melted. Then add the washing soda and borax. Stir until powder is dissolved, then remove from heat.
In a 2 gallon clean pail, pour 1 quart of hot water and add the heated soap mixture. Top pail with cold water and stir well.
Use 1/2 cup per load, stirring soap before each use (will gel).

LAUNDRY DETERGENT RECIPE
Hot water
1 bar (4.5 oz) Ivory Soap - grated
1 cup Washing Soda

In a large saucepan add grated soap and enough hot water to cover. Heat over medium-low heat and stir until soap is melted.
Fill a large pail with 2.5 gallons of hot water, add hot soap mixture. Stir until well mixed.
Then add the washing soda, again stirring until well mixed.
Set aside to cool.
Use 1/2 cup per full load, stirring well before each use (will gel)

POWDERED LAUNDRY DETERGENT RECIPE
12 cups Borax
8 cups Baking Soda
8 cups Washing Soda
8 cups Bar soap (grated)

Mix all ingredients well and store in a sealed tub.
Use 1/8 cup of powder per full load.

POWDERED LAUNDRY DETERGENT RECIPE
2 cups Fels Naptha Soap (finely grated - you could also try the other bar soaps listed at the top)
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax

Mix well and store in an airtight plastic container.
Use 2 tablespoons per full load.

How easy does that look? Can you imagine how much money you can possibly save? From some of the things I've been reading you could save up to 50-60 dollars a year, just on laundry detergent. That alone, may not sound like a lot but add it up with savings on dishwashing soap, using the new 13 watt light bulbs via the round 60 watt bulbs and what ever other ways you can come up with to save and you may be saving hundreds of dollars per year. Yes, it takes a bit of time, but it is time I'm willing to use to save our family some much needed dollars.

Not only will you be saving green, as in money, but you will be green, as in saving our planet. Think of all the plastic bottles that you throw away every year from using bottled laundry detergent. This sounds like an all around good idea to me.

My next trip to the store will include a few new items. One box of borax, one box of washing soda and some bars of Ivory soap. I'm so excited. LOL Ohmahgosh...I'm such a sad little creature...getting all excited about making SOAP.

Have a great day,
Jill Marie