Armed Forces Day

This is simply a day to salute sharply to all of the men and women in all branches of the service who protect our country and you. They can be called upon at a moment's notice to perform a risky and perilous mission for freedom and country. They train diligently both physically and mentally so they will be prepared to prevail in any mission they face.
Just how did it all begin? Well, each branch of the military had their own day of celebration. But, on August 31, 1949 then Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of Armed Forces Day. President Harry Truman also announced the holiday in a presidential proclamation on February 20, 1950. All branches of the military were asked to celebrate on this day and they complied on the first Armed Forces Day which was held the following year on May 20, 1950.

Hot Wheel Giveaway

I am not sure whether my husband or my grandson loves playing with their hot wheels more. They both would be very happy if I was lucky enough to win this giveaway. It is a great bundle of fun packed with cars and trucks and so much more. Want your chance to enter to win? Head over to the blog here giveaway ends may 30

Graduation Prayer

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Coconut Macaroons

There are a few coupons out there for chocolate minis and kisses. On a search for new ways to use these candies I found this delicious recipe. Check them out see what you think I hope you enjoy


Coconut Macaroons

 1 (14-ounce) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk)
1 egg white, whipped
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1 (14-ounce) package flaked coconut

 Preheat oven to 325°F. Line baking sheets with foil; grease and flour foil. Set aside.
In large bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk, egg white, extracts and coconut; mix well. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets; slightly flatten each mound with a spoon.
Bake 15 to 17 minutes or until lightly browned around edges. Immediately remove from baking sheets (macaroons will stick if allowed to cool); cool on wire racks. Store loosely covered at room temperature.
Preparation Time
10 minutes
Macaroon Kisses: Prepare and bake as above. Press solid milk chocolate candy piece in center of each macaroon immediately after baking.
Recipe found here: Macaroon Kisses

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BARBQ or Grilling

What do you call it when you cook steaks, hotdogs or burgers on the grill? Many call this barbequing but when I was young and was a bit younger we referred to cooking on the grill on grilling. The tradition of cooking meat over an open fire has been around since the cave man era. Well it was not called BBQ then because well as far as we know there was no sauce. The term to barbeque originally referred to as slow cooking meat at low temperature for a long time over wood or charcoal. While many of us can not distinguish the difference between gas heat and charcoal there are those that defiantly do.

BBQ began in the late 1800s during cattle drives out west. It was the men who had to feed the cowboys that started this habit as there was not enough good meat to keep the men fed. Brisket was very tough string piece of meat. Soon the camp cooks learned that cooking brisket for 5 to 7 hours at low temperature a super yummie could be had.  Cooking pork butt, pork ribs, beef ribs, venison and goat in the same style were options as well.




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UVSKINZ coupon code and free tee with order

Do you love the sun? Are you active in the summer? Well if you are then you may very well want to check out the attractively looking good at UVSkinz. From swim and water goods to products to use to cover up with are available for every member of the family. The suns rays are not only dangerous when it is hot out there but all year long so UVSKINZ has that taken care of with products for all types including warm skinz. Want to do a bit of shopping then you may also want to check out the coupon code BLOGS10 for a 10% discount off your order.

UVSKINZ is also giving away a free My First Skinz baby UPF certified 50+ sun shirt with
every order placed during the month of May in honor of skin cancer awareness
month

This giveaway taste great

Have you had the chance to try Welch's Farmers Pick? Our house has and it is unanimous we believe that they are delicious. I have just entered a giveaway the whole family will love the prize is Two Free Farmer's Pick Juices by Welch's and twwo coupons for 75 cents off a Farmer's Pick juice. I entered on the blog The mom buzz and you can to

Enter Giveaway Win Beautiful Bracelet

Enter giveaway for your chance to win a Pandora bracelet. So super cute and perfect to wear with any of your summer outfits. Check out the giveaway at Literary Winner and also check out all the other great giveaways in the may is for mamas blog hop giveaway. This giveaway ends 5/25/14

Enter Giveaway All Moms Should Love

Enter the great giveaway at Recipes, Food and Cooking for your chance to win some great prizes from Glad and an awesome cookbook. Giveaway ends 5/15/14

Sweet Smelling Giveaway

Enter to win a bottle of sweet scented from Harvey Prince. Not about you but I love to have a splash for me and him in my bag for when we are on the go. It makes us feel better and smell better. I entered to win and so can you simply visit Monicas, Rants, Raves and Reviews.

Peonies

Paeonia or more commonly known peony (at least to me) are beautiful plants that I recall growing in the yard of my childhood home as well in my grandmothers yard. I can  remember the bush like shape of the plant and the beautiful blooms.

Peonies grow best in area exposed to part or full sun. In a variety of colors of red, pink , white and yellow. Blooming in the spring and while the flowers often die away the bush like plants remain. The  outrageous beautiful blooms may live longer than you do. Like I said these plants have outlasted my grandparents for sure and still maintain their beauty.

The foliage of the peonies are lovely as border in yards and can even work as low hedge.

Thinking of planting some peonies in your own yard? Keep in mind they grow better in deep, fertile, humus rich, moist soil that drains well. Peonies beautiful blooms fall off easily if they are located in area that is busy and unprotected. They should be planted away from trees or shrubs and spaced three to four feet apart from each other. Plant them in the fall months and before the first hard frost so they will be ready to grow in the spring. Peonies bulbs should be planted about  2 feet deep and two feet across with the eye of the root face up

Fresh Summer Corn Salad

Call me country but summer time is not the same without good old sweet corn. I can remember picking sweet corn by the bushel full not to mention the ears of feed corn  we would pick. Those feed sacks we would fill full when I was a little girl sure do look a lot smaller than they would back then. I love to fix corn in many different ways from right off the cob to frying in a cast iron skillet they are all yummy. This not so new to me recipe is one that I plan to fix next time we have folks over for a grill out. I hope you try it and enjoy as well.


Fresh Summer Corn Salad: 

 

 

• 8 ears sweet corn OR 4 cups of frozen corn.
• 1 large red pepper, chopped
• 1 red onion, minced
• 3 large tomatoes, chopped, or 25 mini tomatoes, cut in half
• 1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1/3 cup lime juice
• 1/3cup olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Cut the fresh corn off the cob or add the frozen corn to the pot and steam for 3 to 5 minutes in
1/4 cup water.
2. Remove lid and cook, stirring, 2 minutes more or until
water evaporates.
3. Toss the corn with all other ingredients and chill.

recipe source here

Nursing Week

The week of May 6 - May 12 is nurses week. We have been celebrating this at work. As a nurses aide I know how important nurses are but never forget

Take A Time Out

May 12th is always the day set aside to bring awareness to Fatigue Syndrome Day. I think it quite ironic this year to be the day following mothers day. We all know the hard work that mothers do and I am sure that more than one mother has had a day or two of fatigue. So mothers can quite feel the pain that goes with the syndrome of Fatigue.

Whether you are tired from not getting enough sleep, stress, worry or other problems in your life. Whatever the issue it is important to ID the problem and correct it. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is actually a disorder. if you always feel tired or fatigued you should talk to your doctor.

Activities you may think about doing today is to get some more rest. Go right back to bed, take a nap, take a vacation day from work, cancel any activities you have planned for today, or simply enjoy the day in a restful manner..      
     

Enter To WIn Set of Bunk Beds

win a set of stork craft twin over twin bunk beds. Perfect for the grands, nephews and niece when they stay the night. I truly would love to win this set. Enter for your chance to win as well here

Monthly Goals

I feel I need a bit more organization in my life and this hook up could make me do just that

Since I am just hooking up there are no past goals to share but my goals for the month of

May

business: link up more items on internet would like to do 10 a week
blog: there are a few books for future post I need to read as well as need to post daily
fun: have family time at least 3 events may
house: work on my bedroom, family room to get in shape and organized
exercise: start walking more whenever weather permits

 

Creation To Save The Day

Remember them as they grow by creating a print of a flower using hands for petals and feet for the leaves. Perfect to remember them at any stage.

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Strawberry Crisp In a Mug

I have shared lots of strawberry recipes here but perhaps this one is the most creative I have ever found I am old enough to remember the microwave growing popular in the kitchen of every home. This recipe would have become one of our favorites back then

Strawberry Crisp in a Mug
Stir together, pour into a microwave safe mug or ramekin, and set aside:
1 cup chopped strawberries (fresh or frozen)
1 Tb sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp ginger powder
dash of cinnamon

Mix together and pour into mug on top of strawberry mixture:
1/3 cup gluten free oats
2 Tb almond flour
1 Tb sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 Tb oil or melted butter

Microwave for approximately 2 minutes or until strawberry mixture gets nice and bubbly. Let cool for several minutes to help the juices set up (and avoid burning your mouth!). You may want to set your mug on a plate or saucer while microwaving to catch any juices that may bubble over. Using a mug with taller sides also helps. If you are apposed to using a microwave, I'm sure this can be used with a toaster oven as well. Feel free to modify to your personal preferences.

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Beauty in Flower

Purple Flossflower

Ageratum hybrid

I love driving by and seeing the beautiful wild flowers in the fields, they seem to lay in oceans of blooms beauty is what I see. This type of flower has also became popular in the beds of many home gardens. They stand alone well, can be used as border and are easy to use in theme gardens as well.


The beauty of this flower to me lays in the small , fluffy, purple button like flowers. It helps to add color to all seasons as it continuous blooms or keeps re-blooming. The plant is heat tolerant and deadheading is not necessary. Looking to attract visitors to your garden? You have found the right plant as birds, butterflies, and hummingbirds all are attracted. Annual that is native to North America. Medium height  standing an average 8 to 12 inches. When planted their should be about 10 to 12 inches separating the plants as they like to spread out a few inches as they grow. As you can see the beauty in the plant with flowers of purple and green foliage helps it to work great as a filler plant blending in amongst your favorite plants. Grows well in an area with partial to full sun and very easy to maintain.     

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Whats for Supper : Stuffed Cabbage Leaves

 

 

12 large cabbage leaves       

1 pound ground beef       

2 cups soft bread cubes       

1/2 cup chopped onion       

2 eggs       

1 teaspoon salt       

1/4 teaspoon pepper       

1/4 teaspoon garlic salt       

1 can tomato sauce

Parboil cabbage leaves for 5 minutes.  Combine beef, bread cubes, onion, eggs, salt, pepper and garlic salt. Form meat into oblong patties. Place a meat patty onto each cabbage leaf.  Roll up the cabbage leaf and fasten with toothpicks.  Place stuffed cabbage into a skillet and add tomato sauce.   Cover and cook over low heat for 45 minutes.   Serve hot.