Saturday, September 26, 2009

Hug a teen...

Because you never know which ones are hurting inside...

Teen Suicide- Prevent it with a simple hug

Go on... find one to hug and let them know you care.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Daily Posting, What's That?: A Week in Review


Sorry Lara, I tried, I really tried... But I just couldn't do it- daily posting... ;-)

How last week fared:

(Heart-pounding beauty; I had a window seat)

Sunday- church; come home, eat, fly to Reno to pick up BFF Sheila (Charlie sent her an expired Buddy Pass and it was cheaper (FREE) for me to deliver it in person.) Two hours before I leave, L-Infinity gets a call and asks if we can let her school friend Kila bunk with us for a while. Nodded yes, packed, waited for Mr. Man, left and on the plane for 6-7 hours. Had late dinner with BFF at the Pepper Mill. Took a tour of Virginia Street. Got 1 hour of sleep.

(After dinner tour)

Monday- Woke up at 4am; go to Sheila's work (Harrah's) to catch the shuttle to the airport. First ones there. Too sleepy to have any cohesive conversation with Sheila. *zzz...*Got in to Dallas at 4pm; Costco run for dinner and boxes for Kila's things. Made dinner and sped to L-Infinity's School Open House. Sheila is in for a long week! And me... *sigh*

(In Cobb Switch)

Tuesday-Errand day!!! Picked up J-Pony from school (scratchy throat, dizziness). Cleaned up house, laundry and Walmart and Albertson's trips. Mr. Man and I took Sheila out to lunch at Cobb Switch. Yummy! FHE with the whole family dinner focused on educating Kila on the house rules. "Family first right along with the Gospel" and utmost respect for food and dining (No lewd topics!)

(At Cici's with the kiddos; L was at her AC DEC obligation)

Wednesday- More errands! Sheila and I took Charlie to the airport. Got Sheila started on FB FarmVille. Instant addiction! LOL Went to Cici's for the kiddos fundraising dinner.

Thursday- Woke up at 7am, rushed the kids out. L and Kila missed the bus. Sheila and I dropped them off and picked up J again (throat & tummy). Remedied with breakfast and Halls, but kept her home for further observation. Kohl's and Walmart, twice (left two bags behind).

(See, isn't that a big goose egg?)

Friday- Kohl's, practice run to Dallas, Lewisville and Irving. Picked up I-Dude from school. He was accidentally pushed from behind and he fell on the gym floor, forehead first. BIIIIIG goose egg! Good thing, his doctor, "Dr. Sis." Fowers examined him thoroughly and gave him an all-clear. Back to icing the "egg". Nurse at his school, O-V-E-R-W-H-E-L-M-E-D! Squeezed in some mall time.
(Sheila shopping for "Texas" souvenirs)

Saturday- Woke up at 4am again. Sheila's time to go home, She drove the van and texted me at every leg of her journey. Talked to her about 7-10 times. *breathing better* Got back to Reno safely. Finished 3 Advanced Excel homeworks and a quiz plus a Sociology essay on Religious and Women As Minorities- challenges and observations (had a week to finish them, but only a day to spare). *maximum sighing occured*

I feel so bad she didn't get to see north Texas but from the van or inside common stores. I can't wait to have a less hectic schedule, bigger space, and a house!

Hope you all had a better week than I did!

Tonight, it was nice to actually play in FB just to zone out...

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Quiz Interrupted

Sounds like a movie title, huh? LOL

No really! I had an essay and quiz due today but for some odd reason, I kept getting interrupted. Valid ones, too. No sleep, neighbors, kids, teenage social life, three meals, other people's problems, etc., etc.

I feel so relieved that my essay was mainly done last night and I just had to polish it off but my quiz alone, which my instructor thought an hour would be enough, certainly didn't account for my scenario tonight. While doing my quiz, I was and had to be pulled away not three, not four, not even five, but seven different times!

Between multiple phonecalls, texting necessities, neighbor interaction/mediation, a possibly lost teenager, plus a needed-to-be-solved flight dilemmas, I managed to finish it with only one missed question. Whew! And turn in my essay with at least two hours to spare. *woot woot*

Oh yeah, and I now need to go to Reno tomorrow to solve the flight dilemma. Wow, one crazy day and "poof!" You're booking a flight to Reno. ;-)

More on this dilemma later, I've got to sleep. Church tomorrow.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Backache... Ouch...

Well, since Sunday I've had these progressive backaches that just wouldn't completely go away. I've tried sitting, standing, stretching, walking it off and finally Excedrin but it still came back. To top it off, I'm battling this "almost" headache that can't quite make up its mind if it's going to make me suffer or not! It just makes my head heavy and woozy. Oh, man!

Saturday, September 5, 2009

A Lot for A Little

J-Pony found this great breakfast recipe for Labor Day in Sandra Lee's heavily sponsored cookbook where the dishes are kid friendly. So, with my coupons and ad, we hit Albertson's!

These are what I got:
  • 3 lbs of large shrimp (21-25)- $15.98 each
  • 1 Tombstone pizza- $3.50
  • 1 5-pk of Kraft Mac-n-Cheese- $3.99
  • 2 cantaloupes- $1.50 each
  • 1 pkg. seedless grapes- .88/lb
  • 1 bag hash browns- $2.39
  • 2 Velveeta Shells and Cheese Cup- $1.19 each
  • 2 large red onions- .99/lb.
But between my ad and mfg coupons, raincheck voucher and the week's deals, I paid ONLY $27!

I-Dude just loved this "big guy" so he made sure we took his picture next to it. Can't deny where we are now, huh? LOL

L-Infinity wanted pizza for dinner so we popped the Tombstone Pep & Sau in the oven, but ate AFTER we gave it Emeril's "bam!" factor with some fresh basil and parsley. Wow in your mouth!

Hope you had a great Saturday! I'm off to finish my other homework...

Friday, September 4, 2009

One Dish Can Do What?

Did you know that your style and preference in cooking say a lot about who you are and what makes you tick?

This is my signature tomato-based dish. I love tomatoes, and this dish looks COMPLICATED BUT deliciously SIMPLE to make. And yields a GENEROUS portion in every pot while NOT being FRIVOLOUS in its ingredients. It boasts of MYSTERY while being CLEAR IN INTENT- to please any palette...

(taken with cell phone)


CHICKEN A LA CAROLYN
  1. 1 lb of boned chicken pieces (thighs, drumstick, etc)
  2. 1 can cut tomatoes
  3. 1 small onion, sliced
  4. 3 bay leaves
  5. 1 tsp. each S&P
  6. 1 T soy sauce
  7. 5 cups water
  8. 1 tsp garlic powder or 3 cloves, mashed
  9. 1 T parsley, fresh or dry
  10. 1 cup peas, frozen
  11. 1 lb red potatoes, halved
  12. 1 can tomato sauce, small
  13. 7-10 leaves basil, fresh and torn
  14. 1 tsp paprika
  15. 2 tsp canola oil
  16. 1 yellow bell pepper, cubed big
It seems daunting already huh, but it's like a casserole on your stove top. Just layer slowly and let simmer to let each TALENTED flavor to mesh and GROW into the dish and create a UNIQUE AND BRAVE character that makes the dish, FRIENDLY TO ALL palettes. (unless of course you're allergic to any of the ingredients). And because there are such a variety of ingredients, it is FLEXIBLE AND UNDERSTANDING of its consumers that the dish is customizable, MOLDABLE.

Rinse and pat dry each chicken piece. Rub on garlic, S&P and paprika. Set aside in fridge for 10-15 minutes. In a deep soup pot, heat up oil in med high.
Brown each chicken piece on all sides. Set aside.

Saute the onions; add in the potatoes and bay leaves.
Add in the chicken, the tomatoes, tomato sauce and water. Simmer for 10 minutes on med high.

Add in all the veggies and the rest of the seasoning, except the basil and the peas. Simmer for another 30 minutes on medium heat.
Add in the peas and stir into the pot.

Layer the basil leaves on top of each other and rip in half. Add in and simmer for another 10 minutes.
Kill the heat and leave covered for another 10 minutes before serving on top of steamed rice or pasta.


It reminds of Italy's Cacciatore, has the air of American casseroles and stews, but the soy sauce definitely brings out its Asian roots and adds that finishing touch.

I hope you'll try it and enjoy the complexity of this dish and you may just discover just how easy it is to do if you just take the time... And take a look at that, you got to know me just a little bit better... Now that's delicious!

(Ok, I'm hungry for some now; bye!)

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Homeworks Galore...

From my own Advanced Excel assessment to Sociology in three areas to signing off Permission forms for the kids to help out afterschool, I have homeworks! And while still a zombie, I don't want to do them! *wahhhh!*