Small Complaint about Reese's Pieces

Is it just me or is there something going on with the amount of candy being placed in a Reese's Pieces bag of candy? Recently at the grocery store I decided that I would like to have some peanut butter filled candies. You know they are nearly irresistible. I do not buy them all the time beings if I did I would be in big trouble. So when I decided to buy a bag I went for the regular size of candy and was not impressed when I saw how small the bag was filled. I thought wow maybe just that bag and checked another bag the same size as the first. Second I decided to go for the King Size bag and was fascinated by the amount in the bag it actually seemed like the amount that in previous times had been in the regular bag. I did buy the king size bag out of hast of wanting some of that delicious candy but must say that I was disturbed the quantity in the bag. So tell me is this something that I only noticed? Was it my hunger that was disturbing my portion size? What do you think?

Have You Read My Recent Reviews?

Have you seen the recent reviews that I have posted on my blog? If you have not here again I will share the links to the recent reviews

• FarmRich review
• Casa Di Bertacchi Meatballs
• Diamond Brillance Disposable Cutlery
• Eden Fantasy Best of Smooth Jazz

Michael Season's Snack Review & Giveaway

Do you enjoy delicious snacks? Do you like a great tasting chip from time to time? Me to. I would love to introduce you to a "better for you" snack from Michael Season's. Michael Season was an individual who moved his wife and children from Illinois to Oregon because he wanted to start an organic farm. That move in 1976 would lead to the family developing one of the largest natural foods distributorships in the U.S. The family would return to the Midwest and create a brand of potato chips known as Michael Season's. Michael wanted to offer a brand of chips that were healthy and additive free. It was in 1993 that the company's most successful product was invented. The thin & crispy potato chips are reduced fat chips that are popular with those with allergies or dietary limitations. In 2007 Michael Season's and Mexi - Snax ( another family owned business) merged into what is known as Natural Snacks, LLC.

We were able to sample Michael Season's chips and my family found them to be very tasty. I was really surprised to find out that the kids thought the taste of the chips were as good as that of other great snacks they enjoy. Let me be the first to tell you that some of the snacks that they eat are high in calories, fat and salt. I was pleased to find out that they really considered eating a healthy better for them snack like Michael Season's chips.

Michael Season's chips come in a variety of flavors including baked flavors, curls and thin and crispy. Would you love to win some of your own? You have the chance to do that very thing because Michael Season's would love to give you the opportunity to win some delicious Mediterranean chips. Michael Season's Mediterranean chips are created with select potatoes mixed with a combination of garlic, onion, oregano, rosemary & basil. One serving is 140 calories. The winner would receive the package shown below.

To enter the giveaway visit Michael Season's and let me know what snack you would be interested in trying.

Extra Entries:

• follow my blog (2 entries)
• subscribe to my blog (2 entries)
• subscribe to Michael Season's blog (2 entries)
• follow my blog on twitter and tweet about the giveaway (1 entry per tweet unlimited) leave link in comment
• blog about this giveaway, share on facebook, or another giveaway site (5 entries for each you do let me know what you do leave link if possible)
• comment on any other post other than giveaway (1 entry per post)

Giveaway starts now and ends September 15, 2010. Good Luck Email must be in comment or on blog profile or you can not win. Good Luck

we received a sample of the delicious chips thought shared are those of my own. To get your own opinion you will have to try the chips for your self.

Chicken Jambalaya

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 onions, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups cubed, cooked chicken
1 cup uncooked rice
1 bay leaf, crumbled
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt-free Creole seasoning
3–4 drops hot pepper sauce
1 can (16 ounces) tomatoes
1/2 cup unsalted chicken broth

Heat vegetable oil in a large pot, then sauté onions, green pepper, and garlic until tender. Add chicken and rice, stirring until well coated with oil. Add bay leaf, thyme, Creole seasoning, hot pepper sauce, tomatoes, and broth. Cover and simmer until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 30–40 minutes.

Source: Diabetics Self Managment

Win a basket from the Toy Garden

I just love unique wonderful homey feeling items to decorate my home. The blog over at Katydid and Kid is hosting a giveaway sponsored by the Toy Garden where the winner will win the basket pictured above. I am not sure about you but I love baskets I believe I come by this natural as my mother loves them as well. If you want to get your chance to win this lovely basket enter before September 12, 2010

American Favorites

Attend any barbq here in the U.S. and I bet you will find at least one of the wonderful tasty treats in the picture above

Great Way To Meet and Follow New Blogs

Following Friday is hosted by Let's Just Give it Away, Made by Jess,
And Then There Were 4, Whirlwind of Surprises and ME~ Buzzing The Day Away!

Follow Me and I will Follow Back

Win 4 Six Flags Tickets

The blog Baby Loving Mama shared information on her blog abou tthe Discover Card film challenge and the Discovery Every Day Giveaway. Voting for our favorite is only half the fun Entering to win 4 six flag tickets was the other half. You can enter for the great tickets on her blog until September 13, 2010.

Friday Faves

1. The beautiful weather we have been experiencing as of late. Lovely short sleeve still a bit warm but cool enough where you don't feel like you are inside of a dryer on the high setting



2. School it seems that all my chilren are enjoying it . There have been big changes for many of them and I am so happy to see all is going so well



3. Family it is funny that no matter how long we go with not seeing extended family we are always welcomed in with open arms. I love belonging to a family like this.



4. I am loving the fact that my granddaughter loves to listen as her mommy reads her books.



5. 

This is one of my favorite photos this week. The boys played their scrimmage game and before the game they huddled and prayed. Take note there were no coaches involved this was just done by a fine group of young men.

Aloha Friday

Aloha Friday. Does it seem like it is Friday to you? Wow the week has gone so fast. I am so happy to be joining in on Aloha Friday. I have missed a few weeks and finally I am back to join in with other friends in a fun meme Aloha Friday hosted by An Island Life blog. Aloha Friday if you are not familiar with it is where bloggers get together to ask a simple question that requires simple answers. So this week my question is:

Starting back to school brings back memories of myself being in school. I had lots of great friends and have many memories to share with my family and friends. My question is:

Who was your best friend in school or do you have a special memory about being in school that you can share?

FarmRich review

FarmRich is a brand that I trust and you can find in my freezer nearly every day but the day before shopping. That's because FarmRich offers wonderful products that are great for after school snacks, appetizers when friends are coming over, and are perfect for a quick meal when there is no time for fuss.

Our family has enjoyed every one of the FarmRich flavors at one time or another from meatballs and mozzarella o french toast sticks and mushrooms we have enjoyed many tasty moments. Life is busy and we all know that so when we find ourselves low on time FarmRich products are the perfect products that will make our family happy and give them something to talk about. In our house FarmRich products have saved the day when the kids have friends over that end up staying late into the afternoon when hunger sits in. With a house full of teens having FarmRich in the freezer allows them to quickly fix their selves a snack or a meal when they need to. Products from FarmRich include cheese sticks, mozzarella bites, philly cheese steaks, pizza slices, quesadillas, sandwich melts, meatballs, mushrooms, peppers, pizzeria bites, french toast sticks, and marinara stuffed mozzarella sticks. Each of the products comes in a resealable bag so that you can use a little or a lot.

FarmRich website offers great entertaining ideas for kids and grownups as well as wonderful easy recipes. Join the FarmRich email club to stay updated, receive delicious recipes from FarmRich, as well as serving tips. You can purchase FarmRich products in many stores including Wal-Mart use the easy to use store locator to find the store nearest you. The next time you are looking for that perfect food that can serve as a snack, appetizer or meal remember FarmRich products.

Precious Moments

I so adore the precious moments characters. They are so cute and all are fashioned in actions that range from every day events to special occasions but impact our lives in some fashion.The blog A Mom's Balancing Act is hosting a giveaway sponsored by Precious Moments where the winner will recieve a soft baby blanket and hat. If you want to enter this giveaway then head over there before September 15, 2010. Sorry guys this one is for U.S. entries only.

Donut Holes

Donut Holes

2 c. flour
1/4 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. soda
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. baking powder
3/4 c. buttermilk
1/4 c. oil

Mix dry ingredients. Stir in buttermilk, oil and eggs. Beat with a fork. Drop by teaspoon in hot fat. Cook 3 minutes until brown. Can be coated with granulated sugar.

Easy Donut Holes

Take regular dairy case biscuits (not flaky kind), divide each biscuit into three parts. Roll each part by hand into a firm ball. Drop into hot oil, do not crowd, and cook until a golden brown. Allow to cool and drain on paper towel.
Glaze: Mix 1 cup confectioners' sugar with 1 tablespoon milk to start. Continue adding milk by teaspoons to achieve correct consistency of glaze. Place donut hole on wire rack, with waxed paper underneath. Drip glaze over donut holes.

Strawberry Thumbprint Corn Muffins

Strawberry Thumbprint Corn Muffins


1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon coarse salt
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup coarse yellow cornmeal
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup strawberry preserves

Set the oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a standard 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray, or generously butter with softened butter; set aside. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, and cornmeal until combined. With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Add the buttermilk and oil. Mix until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl halfway through. Add the sour cream and mix to combine. Use a 2-inch (1/4 cup) ice cream scoop to divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups. Bake, rotating the pan about two-thirds of the way through, until the muffins are golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean, 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer the muffin pan to a wire rack and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Using your thumb or the back of a teaspoon, press down in the middle of each muffin, creating an indentation deep enough to hold 1 tablespoon of preserves. Spoon or pipe (fill a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip with the preserves and gently squeeze) 1 tablespoon of strawberry preserves into each indentation. Let cool for another 10 minutes. Use an offset spatula or table knife to gently lift the muffins and transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm.


Source:The SoNo Baking Company Cookbook: The Best Sweet and Savory Recipes for Every Occasion

Read more: http://www.grandparents.com/gp/content/food/recipes/article/recipe-sono-baking-company-corn-muffins.html?Else#ixzz0xk7qweBu

Rain Rain Go Away what to do when rain spoils plans

Rain Rain Go Away

Come Again another day
Little Susie wants to go outside and play today

Do you remember this old rhyme. Of course we added the name Susan because that is the name of my oldest daughter. you can add your child's name in the lyric if you wish. Does it not always seem that just when you have a fun outside day planned that the Mother Nature has other plans and the weather does not cooperate? Well when this happens you can still have fun with your child by bringing the outdoor fun inside. You can have that picnic in the living room by spreading a blanket on the floor and eating your picnic goodies together. Play a version of hide and seek by hiding an object and then having the children look for it. Remember being together is the most important part of a good family time whether it is inside or out simply have fun.

Bread Omelet - vintage early 1900s recipe

Bread Omelet


•1/2 cup of bread crumbs
•1/2 cup of milk
•4 eggs
•salt
•pepper

Soak the bread crumbs in the milk. Separate the eggs, beat separately. Beat bread crumbs into the yolks, add salt and pepper, beat whites till stiff. Add them to yolks stirring with a spoon and pour into a hot spider at once. Cook on top of stove till the bottom is browned then place in the oven till it is cooked through

Puff Pastry Pretzels

1/2 (17.3 oz.) box frozen puff pastry (1 sheet), thawed
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg yolk, beaten
Mustard, for dipping

Preheat oven to 400°F. Place pastry on a sheet of wax paper; sprinkle evenly with 1/3 cup Parmesan; top with another sheet of wax paper. Using a rolling pin, roll out pastry slightly, flip pastry over, peel off paper and sprinkle evenly with another 1/3 cup cheese. Cover with wax paper; roll out into a 12-by-10-inch rectangle. Remove wax paper. Cut dough lengthwise into 24 strips. Shape each into a 2 1/2 -inch pretzel; arrange on 2 greased baking sheets. Brush dough with egg yolk; sprinkle with remaining 1/3 cup cheese. Bake until golden, rotating pans once, 12 minutes. Serve with mustard for dipping.

Source: All You may 2006

MiracleSuit Review and Giveaway

The MiracleSuit company believes in curves and fitting the curves perfectly where they belong. The basis of the Miraclesuit heritage is fit, form and function and bringing them all together in wonderful swim suits that are eye appealing, look good and feel great. Miraclsuit places a strong emphasis on design details of their suits as well as their collection of coordinating cover ups. All Miraclesuit swimsuits are made of Miratex a unique and innovative fabric. One thing that has always bothered me in swim wear is the sagging at the top or that their is just not enough room in the bra area. The MiracleSuit company has worked to solve this difficult problem and created a new innovation in the one piece molded bra construction. The one piece molded bra construction has no underwires built into the foam bra or any bulky wire construction that will sneak out and poke the person wearing the suit after numerous times. The construction of the MiracleSuit also uses many aesthetic appeal in the use of prints and strategic use of shirring and draping that makes every suit look wonderful. The focus this year for the MiracleSuit was on the bold graphic patterns, engineered florals, European-inspired prints, modern florals animal skins and classic dots. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and every body wearing a MiracleSuit. The MiracleSuit collection that makes you look as if you lose 10 lbs. in 10 seconds comes a grand variety of sizes and styles and are meant for women of all ages and sizes.
Just take a look at some of the beautiful suits available.

Win a MiracleSuit of your own by visiting their website and letting me know what suit you would love or something I did not share with you.

Extra Entries:

• follow my blog (2 entries)
• subscribe to my blog (2 entries)
• follow my blog on twitter and tweet about the giveaway linking back to this post (1 entry per tweet unlimited please at least 1 hour between tweets )
• blog about the giveaway (5 entries)

Giveaway starts now and will end September 5, 2010. Good Luck. Email must be in comment or on blog profile or will not count

We received A MiracleSuit in order to review for this giveaway. Thank you MiracleSuit. The thoughts and opinions are those of mine and have not been influenced.

Win a Crayola Go Gree Prize Pack

Crayola is jumping on the clean earth bandwagon and going green. They have made several changes that will allow them to better protect planet earth. To celebrate Crayola and BlogSpark have teamed up to sponsor a giveaway on the blog 5 Vinez Monkeys. The winner will receive a very nice prize pack consisting of products from Crayola Go Green Line. This giveaway ends 9/10

Best Pals

These two little girls live down the street from me and attend the same church. This year one of them was able to start kindergarten and the other had to stay home and spend more time with mom. Since they are so close (best pals) they are finding this quite hard to do but you would never know by their smiles.

Microwave Snack Mix Recipe

Need a Snack for the hungry kids after school? Try this Microwave snack mix recipe from Southern Living 2006

2 (1-oz.) envelopes Ranch dressing mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 cups crisp oatmeal cereal squares
3 cups corn-and-rice cereal
3 cups crisp wheat cereal squares
2 cups pretzel sticks
1 cup dried cherries
1 cup candy-coated chocolate pieces

Whisk together Ranch dressing mix and 1/2 cup vegetable oil in a large microwave-safe glass bowl. Stir in oatmeal cereal squares and next 3 ingredients. Microwave mixture at HIGH 2 minutes, and stir well. Microwave at HIGH 2 more minutes, and stir well. Spread mixture in a single layer on wax paper, and let cool 30 minutes. Add cherries and candy pieces. Store in an airtight container up to 5 days.

New 10 Point Code for Pampers Gifts To Grow

For 10 points the new code is CAREFORNEWBORNS.

Source: Christian Clippers

Muddin'

Have you ever been muddin' it is a blast. Many times the kids will take their pickups, suvs and even cars through the mud. This is one of our wild and crazy friends who decided to go muddin on his ATV. Looks to me like he got a bit muddy.

Win a Wal-Mart gc

Heres a chance to win a Walmart Gift card. The blog the Mommy-Files is hosting a giveaway for a Wal-Mart gift card. Giveaway ends August 29, 2010.

Wordless Wednesday Fresh Fruit

shared on 5 minutes for mom

Ham and Noodle Casserole

Ham and Noodle Casserole

•1/2 pound noodles (.50)
•1 1/2 cups cooked ham, diced ($2)
•2 eggs, beaten (.25)
•1 1/2 cups milk (.50)

Cook noodles in salted boiling water until soft. Pour into colander, drain and wash. Into a well greased casserole put alternate layers of noodles and ham. Beat eggs with the milk and pour over noodles and ham. Set casserole in pan of hot water and bake in moderate oven (350F) for 30 minutes.

Casa Di Bertacchi Meatballs Review

Our family will bulk shop once about every six weeks and when we bulk shop we will fill every freezer, fridge and cabinet. We love Sams Club because they offer wonderful products with great prices. One of the items we love to buy when we shop there are the Casa Di Bertacchi meatballs. In the past I have served the meatballs with pasta, on sub sandwiches and cocktail meatballs. That was in the past now with the new cookbook that we received we have found many more recipes that have quickly become favorites. The cookbook 101 Things To Do With Meatballs.

Casa Di Bertacchi Meatballs and the cookbook are good mates together. Recently I was able to try a few new recipes using the pair and found that it was a very tasty experiment. Mario Bertacchi founded a small New Jersey meat market in the 1920s and this market fathered the Casa Di Bertacchi Meatballs. The meatballs are fully cooked which makes it easier to use in the wonderful recipes located in the cookbook. The meatballs are prepared with quality beef and real Italian ingredients making them very tasty and perfect for appetizers or dinner depending on the size.

Easy Meatball Lasagna
26 (1 pound) frozen Casa Di Bertacchi fully cooked meatballs
2 jars (26 ounces each) spaghetti sauce, divided
3/4 cup water, divided
1 egg, beaten
1 container (15 ounces) ricotta cheese
2 cups grated mozzarella cheese, divided
1 box (12 ounces) oven-ready lasagna noodles, uncooked
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Half or quarter meatballs and place in a large bowl. Reserve 2 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce. Pour the remaining sauce over the meatballs and stir in 1/2 cup water.
In a separate bowl, combine the egg, ricotta cheese, and 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Spread 1 cup of the reserved spaghetti sauce over the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch pan prepared with nonstick cooking spray. Layer 5 to 6 noodles over the sauce and spread half the cheese mixture over the noodles. Spoon half the meatball mixture over the cheese. Repeat layers once. Add one more layer of 5 to 6 noodles and spoon remaining spaghetti sauce over top. Drizzle remaining water over top. Cover tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until lasagna is fork tender. Sprinkle remaining cheese over top. Bake, uncovered, 5 minutes more. Let stand 5 minutes before serving

The recipe was delicious the meatballs really stood out. I had compliments that they liked the lasagna better with the meatballs than they did when it was made the usual way with ground beef. The truth is the meatballs allowed them more meat and they loved it.

Buy: Casa di Bertacchi Meatballs at Sams Club.

Fracture

As a mother and grandmother I love to hang pictures of my loved ones so that I can show them off. Often times though picture frames can be expensive, we have pictures taken and forget to get a frame or we simply put the picture in a drawer until we find time to remind ourselves to get a frame for that picture that means so much to us. Now there is a new product that is trying to help us decorate with charm, love and pride in a easy manner that allows us the peace of mind to know we can easily show of that picture we are so proud of. Introducing Fracture the product that is the fastest, easiest, best way to get your pictures from your camera to your wall.

Fracture allows one to print digital pictures directly onto glass. There is no paper, film, or any thing else needed. All that is needed is simply ink and glass. Fracture combines printing, framing, and mounting into one simple process. Simply upload the photo to FractureMe.com and they print it on glass and send it on its way to me with everything neede to mount and display. Fracture is all a decorator needs to create an all new decor with photos.

At this present time I am sharing this information with all of you about Fracture in the hopes of being one of the first 100 bloggers to receive a Fracture. In the case that I do receive a Fracture I will create a second post and share all about the Fracture.

“I wrote this blog post in response to a TwitterMoms RAMBO alert, making me eligible to get a Fracture picture frame for review. You can learn more about Fracture at http://www.fractureme.com .”

Up Up and Away

Getting ready to celebrate the opening of a chicken restraunt. This is my cousin looking as if he might float off.

Back To School Breakfast Ideas

Summer has ended kids are back and school and so the morning rush has began. In order to try to knock down this morning rush I try my best to have an orderly morning plan. For years we have a regiment of wake up times, bathroom times and showers. One rule we have is that with 5 teens in the house not all of them can get a shower in the morning unless they want to get up at the crack of dawn. This is something that some of them do not mind and do get up super early. Items needed for school that day are placed the night before in a certain location with shoes, clothes, socks and all paper work that must be returned. The big tackle is getting something nutritious inside their bodies. For early leavers I always have granola bars, and microwave pancakes and sausage that only need heated up. I also serve a breakfast casserole or muffins or some sort of pastry. Some quick kitchen tips that you can use here are:

• set table night before so ready to go in the morning



• keep pastries frozen and ready to heat up in the microwave



• sausages that come in links are easy to heat up in the microwave likewise so are pancakes



• granola bars are quick and offer a bit of energy in the morning



• you can prepare all cold drinks the night before so they are ready to go

Breakfast Casserole Recipe

•12 slices white bread, crusts removed, torn into small pieces
•3 cups cooked, cubed ham
•3 to 4 cups chopped frozen broccoli, thawed
•8 ounces shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
•3 cups milk
•5 eggs, beaten
•1 1/4 teaspoon salt
•1 teaspoon dry mustard
•tablespoons melted butter

In a 9x13x2-inch baking dish, put enough of the bread pieces into the bottom of the pan to make a thin layer. Make a layer of ham, broccoli, and cheese. Whisk together milk, eggs, salt, and dry mustard. Pour over top. Toss remaining bread with butter; sprinkle over the top of the casserole. Bake at 325° for 45 minutes. Let cool for about 20 minutes; cut into squares. Serves 10 to 12.

Biscuit Topped Chicken Pot Pie

Biscuit Topped Chicken Pot Pie


1 tablespoon butter
2 cups chopped leek
1/4 cup chopped shallot
3/4 teaspoon chopped fresh or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 1/2 cups refrigerated diced potatoes with onions (such as Simply Potatoes)
1/3 cup dry white wine
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 (14-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2 cups chopped roasted chicken breast
1 1/2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
2/3 cup half-and-half
Cooking spray
1 1/4 cups low-fat baking mix (such as Bisquick Heart Smart)
1/2 cup fat-free milk
1 large egg white, lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 425°. Melt butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add leek, shallot, and thyme; sauté 2 minutes. Add potatoes; sauté 2 minutes. Add wine; cook 1 minute or until liquid evaporates. Stir in mustard and broth; bring to a boil. Cook 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in chicken, mixed vegetables, salt, and pepper; cook 1 minute. Combine cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add cornstarch mixture and half-and-half to pan. Reduce heat, and simmer 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Spoon mixture into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Lightly spoon baking mix into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine baking mix, milk, and egg in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Spoon batter over chicken mixture; spread evenly to cover. Bake at 425° for 20 minutes or until topping is golden and filling is bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes.

Source: Cooking Light 2006

Random Thought Tuesday : Back to School

Well, all of my kids are now either in college, high school, or raising their own family. My eldest daughter is a mother and wife and does an excellent job at it I am proud of her. My granddaughter will be 2 in September. She is a bit spoiled but full of love and manners. My eldest son started at the university first day was a bit of he_ _ but today is the second day and he says all is going well. I have 2 in jr. college and another will join them in January. They are all doing it feeling great it is a bit different from high school but primarily the same with some added freedom. I wish them all as well as all my readers great days in the future

My husband is so funny when it comes to knowing where all the kids are. When my children were younger I was the one who sat up with them and watched over them, knew where they were all the time, grounded them when I did not and just basically worried. Now that they are nearly all adults my husband has kicked into gear. I have learned to have open conversation with my children trust them and have faith in my Lord that they will be where they say they are and that the lessons that they learned in early years will stay with them. My husband however walks the floor in worry of where the kids are and what they are doing while I say my prayers call my kids say good night and go to bed. Role reversal at this age is very funny. I wonder what he will do when they are all out on their own.

Shout out to my nephews who started school this past week as well. They are in Kindergarten and first grade. i am sure their little sister will be missing them when they are all gone but it probably also gives their mom a break. I wish them lots of fun and good studies ahead.

What are your random thoughts this week?

Peas Porridge Hot ....

Pease porridge hot, pease porridge cold
Pease porridge in a pot, nine days old.
Some like it hot, some like it cold.
Some like it in the pot, nine days old.

WiseGeek.com explains the little nursery rhyme this way:
Pease porridge, quite simply, was a form of the dish we today call split pea soup. In Britain and elsewhere, dried pease, or peas, were added along with various seasonings to water and hung to simmer in a kettle over a fire. Vegetables were added as available, and sometimes the pease porridge was flavored with bacon or salt pork. At the end of the day, the pease porridge cooled and thickened, remaining in the pot to congeal. Eaten cold and thick the next morning, water and additional vegetables might be added, to thin out and extend the porridge for that day’s meals, and so on for the next day and the next. It’s conceivable that the pease porridge in the pot would indeed be a few days old by the time it was finished off, or finally given up on and fed to the pigs.

Split Pea Soup

1 lb (2 1/4 cups) green split peas
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 large leek, chopped
1 large carrot, chopped
1 large clove of garlic, halved
1 herb bouquet*
2 well-rinsed ham hocks
Salt and Pepper
Optional garnish - small toasted croutons (avoid for gluten-free version)**, chopped parsley or chives
*Herb Bouquet: Tie 3 cloves garlic, 4 allspice berries, 2 bay leaves, 1 teaspoon thyme, 8 sprigs parsley in rinsed cheesecloth or place in bouquet garni muslin bag.

**To make toasted croutons, take 2 or 3 slices of day-old French or Italian loaf bread, cut into cubes. Let dry out a bit (can put in 200 degree oven for 10 minutes to help dry). Melt a tablespoon or two of butter on medium high heat in a large skillet. When hot, add the bread cubes, spread out in a single layer. Let toast on one side and then turn to other sides. Add more butter if necessary. Alternatively you can toss the cubed bread with olive oil and let toast in a 350°F oven until lightly browned.

Pick over the peas and remove any stones. Wash and drain peas. Place in a 4 quart pan with the vegetables, herb bouquet, ham hocks and 2 1/2 quarts of water. Bring to a simmer. Skim the scum off the top of the soup for several minutes, until the scum ceases to rise. Cover loosely and simmer about 1 1/2 hours, or until peas are tender, stirring occasionally in case they stick to the bottom of the pan. Remove the ham hocks and herb bouquet from the soup. Purée the soup with a blender. An immersion blender works great for this; if you are using a regular blender, take care to workin batches and only fill the blender halfway if the soup is still hot, and hold down the lid while blending. If you want an exceptionally smooth soup, pass the purée through a sieve. Return the purée to the pot and heat to serve. Add salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into warm bowls and garnish with croutons and parsley or chives.
If you want, don't discard the ham hocks, but cut away the outer skin and remove the meat from the bones. Dice the meat and serve with the soup.

Makes 2 quarts. Serves 6

recipe source: Simply Recipes

Win a CSN Stores gc

Cheerios and Tricycles are hosting a giveaway where the lucky winner will receive a $60 gc from CSN. As we all know CSN offers some exceptional stuff and all of it I am sure I could find a place for it somewhere in my house. If you want to enter this giveaway be sure to enter before September 13, 2010.

A second blog hosting a CSN giveaway for $50 gc can be found at Abby Approved. This giveaway ends September 7, 2010.

Follow Me Back Tuesday

It is Tuesday again and time for Follow Me Back Tuesday. If you follow me I will follow you back. Be sure that you leave a message that you followed. Follow Me Back Tuesday is hosted by Survey Junkie,Little Yaya's, Review Retreat , Boobies,BabiesAndABlog & this weeks Guest Host
Dolly from Xmas Dolly ...

The digene HPV Test

When I was growing up and having my children I was not fully aware of the HPV test. I believe that researchers have made it possible for more illnesses to be found easily. Thankfully more individuals can live a long full filled life if they are aware of what is going on and the tests that are available. The Pap Test that women normally receive one time a year after normally the age of 21 looks for any cervix cell change or abnormality. The HPV test goes a bit further while looking for the abnormalities and cervix cell changes it also Identifies any infections that could lead to cervical cancer. This test is recommended for women 30 and over in conjunction with the pap test to identify any risk of developing cervical cancer. If your doctor recommends and runs a HPV test with the pap test and both come back normally there is no need to go back for either test for 3 years. Women under 30 years old do not need to have the HPV testing because women this age with HPV infections normally see them clear up easily. Only women over 30 who have a pap smear to come back abnormally would need the HPV test. Believe me the research that is going on today is life changing and while it may seem a little bit confusing it is worth knowing. Here is a bit more of information for you at http://www.thehpvtest.com/ At this site you can read patient stories, find out other frequently asked questions, and tips to understanding your test results. You can also find information @HPVinformed on twitter or at http://bit.ly/HPVTestFB Other sites that offer information are http://www.theyellowumbrella.org/ , http://www.healthywomen.org/ and http://www.pearlofwisdom.us/

Here is just a bit of information about these three groups:

The YELLOW UMBRELLA Organization - It is about being empowered,informed, and connecting with others. It is about working together, under the same umbrella, toward a common goal.It's about being young and being strong. It's about being a woman. It's about cervical cancer prevention.

HealthyWomen - is the nation’s leading independent health information source for women. For more than 20 years, women have been coming to the HW for answers to their most pressing and personal health care questions. Through its wide array of online and print publications, HW provides health information that is original, objective, reviewed by medical experts and reflective of the advances in evidence-based health research.

The Pearl of Wisdom campaign - The Pearl of Wisdom Campaign to Prevent Cervical Cancer is a united, global effort to raise awareness of the opportunities now available to prevent cervical cancer. Our campaign reaches women, healthcare providers, policymakers, health advocates, and the media

you owe it to yourself and those that love you and you love to find out more about this important issue.


“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of the QIAGEN digene HPV test. Mom Central also sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”