About Me-----Treasures Again----My Store----Etsy----Patterns----Handmade Products
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Someone once said -

"There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right and pray for the people who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living." Amen

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Monday, April 18, 2011

Our Laughlin Trip and Car Shows

Hubby and I went to Laughlin over the weekend April 14th-17th- 2011 and attended the Gambling Car Show. There were over 269 cars and entertainment and vendors. It was so hot!!!

Walking on that black top was a bit much and the heat burned my tootsies but I loved seeing those unique cars!!! And of course you all know me as loving pink wellllllll......guess what I found there??? Yup a PINK car!!!!



the car show was at the Riverside









There were so many to look at and I loved the yellow one. :)


We also went to an exotic car show at the Avi...it was fantastic...







not sure what this was????





Check out the front and on the top was an actual machine gun???? It was different!!

Me at the Avi


This was behind a Corvette



Friday, April 08, 2011

Another "B" Celebration

The top of the hat
This year my "B" day has gone on for a whole week.... This time the gals  from my Stitch n' Chicks club gave me gifts and a celebration at last night's meeting...Aren't these dolies gorgeous...
And beautiful dolies from my Stitch n' Chicks group

I got yummy candy

We all have to wear it on our "B" days

Our group "B" day hat

Tuesday, April 05, 2011

April is National Grilled Cheese Month


Happy National Grilled Cheese Month!!


April is National Grilled Cheese Sandwich month! OK, you probably didn't know that, and you probably didn't need an excuse to chow down on the best comfort-food sandwich ever invented. I love grilled cheese sandwiches, I mean who doesn't??? It's all my g-kids love for lunch!  I was trying to think of what to eat today and now I know. So if you haven't already, be sure to make yourself a grilled cheese sandwich this month and enjoy and remember when your mom used to make it for you when you were young.



I remember that it was a favorite around my house when I was little, Mom would make it with a cup of tomato soup and some gingerale. The ginger would make your tummy settle if the greasyness of the cheese sandwich played any kind of tole on my tummy. I am a little bit lactose and sometimes it doesn't like me. Grrrrrrr.... But I never let it stop me! :)

A Few Facts:
Grilled cheese sandwiches originally showed up in america during the 1920s

Said to first be served open face
A grilled cheese sandwich is often accompanied by tomato soup
Grilled cheese sandwiches can be served with bacon , tomato, and various other additions
April is national grilled cheese sandwich month!




Here are 3 GREAT Grilled Cheese Sandwiches for you to try:

1. DOUBLE CHEDDAR AND TOMATO JAM



Everybody loves the combo of grilled cheese and tomato soup -- why not add the rich tomato flavor to the sandwich itself?

-12 ounces cheddar cheese
-4 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
-8 sandwich-size slices sourdough bread
-6 tablespoons Tomato Jam

Finely grate 6 oz. cheddar and place in a small bowl. Add butter and mash mixture together with a fork. Grate the remaining cheese less finely. Spread the cheese-butter mixture on one side of each of the bread slices, and place four slices, buttered side down. Spread 1.5 tbs jam on each slice, distribute cheese and top with remaining bread slices, buttered side up.

Heat a nonstick skillet to medium, put sandwiches into the pan, and cook 3-4 minutes, until golden brown. Turn sandwiches, press each with a spatula to flatten slightly, cover and cook 2-3 minutes until undersides are well-browned. Turn once more, press slightly, cook for 1 minute and remove. Let cool 5 minutes, cut in half and serve.

Tomato Jam


-6 large ripe tomatoes (about 1.5 pounds) peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped (use Roma tomatoes if it isn't tomato season)
-1 clove garlic, finely chopped
-1/4 cup red wine vinegar
-2.5 tablespoons sugar (if you're making this in the middle of tomato season when tomatoes are at their sweetest, reduce the sugar by 1 to 2 teaspoons)
-Salt [sea salt is good too]

Place all ingredients in medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Mixture should bubble but not boil. Cook 1 hour, or until jam has thickened and most of liquid has evaporated. Let cool. (You can make this up to one week in advance and store in the refrigerator. Use the extra with salmon or hamburgers!)

2. MOZZARELLA WITH CRISPY PROSCIUTTO AND BROCCOLI RABE


-8 thin slices prosciutto (about 4 ounces)
-1/4 cup olive oil
 ounces broccoli rabe (about 1 bunch), tough stems removed and coarsely chopped (or use Swiss chard or Tuscan kale)
-1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
-1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
-Salt [I use sea salt]
-8 sandwich-size slices Italian bread (or use sourdough)
-8 ounces mozzarella cheese, drained and sliced if water-packed; otherwise coarsely grated

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and line a plate with paper towels. Add prosciutto to the skillet in batches and cook until browned and crisp, about 2 minutes per side, then transfer to paper towels to drain. Add 2 tbs oil to the pan, heat for 1 minute, and add broccoli rabe -- cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, tender and bright green yet slightly caramelized, 5-7 minutes. (Add water to the pan if it seems dry). Add lemon juice, red pepper flakes, salt; toss to coat. Transfer rabe to a plate and wipe out skillet but don't wash it.

Brush remaining oil on one side of each slice of bread. Place 4 slices, oil side down, on work surface. Distribute rabe and follow with prosciutto. Pile cheese on top, top with remaining bread, oil side up.

Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat for 2 minutes. Put sandwiches into pan, cover, and cook 3-4 minutes, until undersides are golden brown. Turn sandwiches, pressing with a spatula to flatten slightly. Cover and cook 3-4 minutes until undersides are well-browned. Remove cover, turn sandwiches, press with spatula, and cook for 1 more minute or until cheese has melted. Remove from pan and let cool 5 minutes; cut in half and serve.

3. CHIPS AND GUACAMOLE GRILLED CHEESE

-8 slices bacon
-8 large tortilla chips (about 2 ounces)
-4 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
-8 slices sourdough bread
-1/2 cup guacamole (recipe follows; or use purchased, preferably one with tomato in it)
-2 tablespoons peeled, seeded, diced Roma tomato (see note)
-4 ounces Colby cheese, coarsely grated
-4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, coarsely grated
-4 ounces goat cheese

Line a plate with paper towels. In large nonstick skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until very crisp; drain on paper towels. Remove fat from pan and wipe with paper towel, but do not wash.

To make tortilla chip butter, put chips in food processor and process until texture is fine and sand-like (or place chips in a sturdy plastic bag and use a meat mallet or other heavy object to pound). Put butter in medium bowl and add ground chips; use a fork to work the butter and "sand" together -- mixture will be somewhat stiff.

Spread butter mixture on one side of each slice of bread. Place 4 slices, butter-side down, on work surface. Spread 2 tbs guac on each slice of bread, sprinkle tomato on top. Follow with Colby and Monterey Jack cheeses. Dot with small pieces of goat cheese. Place 2 bacon slices on each sandwich and top with remaining bread slices.

Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat for 2 minutes. Put sandwiches in pan, cover, cook 3-4 minutes, until undersides are golden brown. Turn sandwiches, press with spatula to compress slightly. Cover and cook 2-3 minutes, until undersides are well browned. Turn again, press with spatula, cook 1 minute, remove from pan. Let cool 5 minutes; cut in half and serve.

Guacamole
-1 ripe Hass avocado
-1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice (from about 1 lime)
-1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
-2 tablespoons finely diced white onion
-2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
-1/2 fresh serrano chile, minced (optional)
-1 tablespoon cored, seeded, and diced Roma tomato


Split and pit avocado, mash flesh in a medium bowl with lime juice and salt, using potato masher or fork, until slightly chunky. Stir in onion, cilantro, chile and tomato. Let sit for 15 minutes. Serve any leftover guac with chips alongside sandwiches.


And be sure to check out "Woman's Day" ideas as they have some terrific recipes to make you die for!!!!

Monday, April 04, 2011

My Birthday!!!! Happy Birthday to me...

Happy Birthday to Me!!!!

It is my BIG birthday today!!! Wow...
My daughter got me an apron

my family and friends

and family and friends

opening gifts

I got a Nano IPOD

I got an Orchid

My sister sent me this box with a ceramic cake in it .. :)

I got $$$$

DH gave me gambling $$ for our trip in 2 weeks

and he took me out to dinner... hmmm "woo woo" wonder what he wants? lol

Foxy & Chloee all ready to party

my BFF got me this hanging plant...so pretty

my beautiful g-daughter...



Social Butterflies gave me a party

our new mascot and my gifts

and they gave me my own Queen's "garb" wasn't that wonderful!!!!

A yummy cake

my Vice Queen crowned me

and I raised my scepter to the group...










Friday, April 01, 2011

Happy April and How to Lose Weight Let's Count the Ways?!

This would work for me... :)

7 Ways to Lose Weight!!!



  1. Chew Gum: Volunteers who chewed gum for 15 minutes each hour between lunch and a snack consumed 60 fewer calories from sweets than when they went gum-free.
  2. Vegetable Juice: Here's a surprising way to supercharge any diet--and your health: Chug a glass of low-sodium vegetable juice every day. In a study of 81 overweight adults at risk for heart disease and diabetes, those who drank at least a cup of low-sodium V8 daily lost four pounds over 12 weeks, while those on the same reduced-fat diet who drank no juice lost one pound
  3. Drop Sugary Drinks: Calories from solid foods and liquids both add up, of course. But in a recent multicenter study, the only menu change that had a significant payoff for dieters was cutting back on sugary beverages, says lead author Benjamin Caballero, MD. Reducing intake by just one serving a day took a pound off after six months, enough to add up for people with a soda or fruit-drink habit.
  4. Green Tea:  Overweight or obese exercisers burned off three more pounds and 7 percent more belly fat when they drank green tea instead of another beverage with the same calories, according to a new multicenter study. Added benefits are it is a great prevention of breast cancer and gum disease.
  5. More Sleep:  A study of 32 summer students at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas over three weeks showed that those who slept an extra two hours ate nearly 300 calories less.
  6. Mushrooms:  When ground beef was swapped out for mushrooms in lasagna, sloppy joes, and chili, adults consumed 400 fewer calories per day, according to a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health study. Researchers estimate that if you sub mushrooms for ground meat in one meal every week, you can lose five pounds in a year
  7. Simple 'Till Six:  That's what author Mark Bittman named his diet plan of eating in a mostly vegan fashion during the day--no animal products and no simple carbs--and then eating a reasonable dinner. His focus on consuming plants 'as close to their natural state as possible' will lead to a natural reduction in calories
    
    Some people will go to any length to be noticed...lol
    Having a hobby helps to make you a more interesting person and gives you something fascinating to talk about with others. It can also help you to avoid feeling bored which leads to eating more, :( and often provides the opportunity to meet new people with similar interests. Learning something new is always good for keeping the mind alert and active, plus it allows you time to stop thinking about food and eating. When your mind is busy thinking of how to make something or how to do something, learning, it has no room for it to remind to eat!! So hobbies can and will keep you much thinner. :)   Hobbies will also make you more of an interesting person than a person who is addicted to MySpace, watching TV, or doing other sedentary tasks, such as stuffing your gut!
Do you realize that 76% of all households in the USA do some type of craft??? Wow that is a staggering number. And also a thought about what type of business you may want to start...lol...

Some of the reasons adults started to do crafts: it can reduce stress, helps concentration and lowers blood pressure. These are all good reasons to find a craft that can express your creativity and is easy to learn.

 


Question: Is April Fool's Day celebrated everywhere?

Answer: Yes....

April Fool's Day or "All Fools Day"  has taken on an international flavor with each country celebrating the holiday in its own way.


In Scotland, for instance, April Fool's Day is devoted to spoofs involving the buttocks and as such is called Taily Day. The butts of these jokes are known as April 'Gowk', another name for cuckoo bird. The origins of the "Kick Me" sign can be traced back to the Scottish observance.

In England, jokes are played only in the morning. Fools are called 'gobs' or 'gobby' and the victim of a joke is called a 'noodle.' It was considered back luck to play a practical joke on someone after noon.

In Rome, the holiday is known as Festival of Hilaria, celebrating the resurrection of the god Attis, is on March 25 and is also referred to as "Roman Laughing Day."

In Portugal, April Fool's Day falls on the Sunday and Monday before lent. In this celebration, many people throw flour at their friends.

The Huli Festival is celebrated on March 31 in India. People play jokes on one another and smear colors on one another celebrating the arrival of Spring.

The French call April 1 Poisson d'Avril, or "April Fish." French children sometimes tape a picture of a fish on the back of their schoolmates, crying "Poisson d'Avril" when the prank is discovered.

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