Warm Cranberry Tea

I came across a recipe in the new Dillard's Southern Living Christmas Cookbook (on pg. 124) that I just had to try. I've had a horrible chest cold lately and any sort of hot drink sounds SO GOOD. They're super soothing on the throat! We ran to Walmart today to get the ingredients and Hailey helped me make a big batch. It is unbelievably YUMMY!!! (Excuse the blurry pictures, they were taken with my camera phone!)

Warm Cranberry Tea

Prep: 5 min. Cook: 20 min.

1 (48 oz.) jar cranberry juice cocktail

2 cups sugar

1/4 cup lemon juice

4 (3 inch) cinnamon sticks

1 Tbsp. whole allspice

1/2 gal. unsweetened tea

1 cup orange juice

Bring first 5 ingredients to a boil in a large dutch oven; reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Remove cinnamon sticks and allspice; stir in tea and orange juice. Yield: 16 cups.

Cool Cranberry Tea: Prepare recipe as directed. Chill tea mixture 2 hours. Stir in 1 liter ginger ale, chilled, just before serving. If desired, garnish with lemon slices, fresh cranberries and cinnamon sticks. Yield: about 20 cups.

Etsy Featured Artist - Caramel Jubilee

It's no secret that I LOVE sweets. My love for all things chocolate and sugary really escalated when I became pregnant, and it didn't go away after Hailey was born! Something I don't think I've ever mentioned though is my love of caramel. Ever since I was a little girl I have loved the smooth, ooey gooey sweetness of all things caramel.

Because of this, when I was given the chance to feature an Etsy shop that makes...you guessed it...homemade caramels, I jumped at the chance. I have heard SO many good things about Caramel Jubilee, I don't have to personally try her products to know they're wonderful!

A few questions I had for Rachelle (the owner of the shop):

~How did you start making caramels? How long have you been making them?

I've been cooking since I was very young, but just recently became interested in caramel making. Last spring, I was looking for a recipe that would be a bit of a challenge for me and came across a caramel one that seemed to suit the bill. After trying many different recipes from a variety of sources, I invented my own that is definitely scrumptious. I received such positive reviews of it from family and friends that I decided to try selling them online and have quickly grown from there.

~How do you come up with your flavors?

I choose flavors that intrigue me and that I enjoy. I'm always on the lookout for new ones and am constantly experimenting. I came up with all of the flavors on my own, excepting pumpkin pie which was suggested by a loyal customer. I only do ones that can be made using real flavorings. I refuse to use any artifical flavoring--these have real pumpkin, pomegranate, spices, etc.

Don't these pictures just make your mouth water? I would absolutely LOVE to try the pomegranate caramels!

A bag of these would be the perfect gift for someone special...or to treat yourself, because you know you're worth it! Another incentive to try these caramels? Until November 15, Rachelle is offering all my loyal readers 20% off their order! All you have to do is mention the name of my blog in the "Notes to seller" portion of the checkout process!

YUM!

I am shocked to report that pecan pie actually isn't half bad. I actually like it. Weird.

What's wrong with me? Have I gone crazy? Suddenly I'm cooking...a lot. And not just cooking normal stuff like spaghetti but actually looking for recipes and trying them out. I MUST have gone nutty.
I'm thinking about trying this recipe out for D's birthday this coming Monday. He loves cheesecake and he loves lemon. And it's from the Kraft website so it couldn't be THAT hard, could it?

My only question is, just how much juice do you get from one lemon? Because I have a thing of lemon juice at home that I just bought for the last recipe I tried...I'd rather use more of that than have to go buy a lemon. Anybody know the answer to this???

Love it

I have a new obsession...

Plain waffle cones w/ chocolate ice cream from DQ.....YUM!!

Cheap food

Ok everyone I'm on the lookout for cheap recipes that use minimal ingredients that aren't too far out there. Like made from stuff I would normally buy. I don't want any kind of Rachel Ray crap where I have to buy like capers or anything LOL I don't want ingredients to go to waste. If you have any recipes that your family loves that are in the "cheap" category, PLEASE PLEASE send them my way! I've already got big plans for home made spaghetti sauce made with home grown ingredients...I just need to buy some tomato and herb plants first. Both really cheap, I'm just waiting on my stimulus check to get here! I plan on freezing the sauce too, not canning it.

Also I'd like to know everybody's opinion, do you think making your own bread is really cheaper than buying say a loaf of Sara Lee at Walmart for a little over $2?

We're really trying to trim costs in the grocery area. Any tips would be great!! Thanks!!

Interesting Articles

Healthy Foods on the Cheap

Eat This, Not That! Top Swaps

TGIF

We didn't get to go to Olive Garden at lunch :( I was so excited too. My mom felt so bad, but she'd just gone to get her passport (her boyfriend is taking her to Jamaica on a company trip in April!) before lunch and the post office charged her an extra $40 or so in fees that weren't stated on the website! I don't think that's right...they should say $140 plus shipping or something, not just "Only $140" or whatever it states! Anywho, no biggie. Was just as nice eating a frozen Marie Calendar's meal while talking to my mom at her house. I feel so bad for her. I know I mentioned her situation in my post where I freaked out and told my stinking life story pretty much...how she took this 9 month, lower paying job because her boyfriend had talked about them moving in together and then suddenly he backed off a lot and here she is stuck, not bringing in enough money, sucky benefits etc...and none of the insurance companies here in town will hire her because it's like there's some unspoken rule between the companies that they don't hire each other's employees. Seriously it's weird. Unless the person is very trained in a highly specialized field, but that's very rare. She's sort of stuck where she's at. And her part time, good-paying job cut expenses after she left and dropped her position. I just wish so bad I was financially set and could help her out. She's always worked so hard to support me all my life, and now as an adult is having a hard time supporting herself all of a sudden. Things cost too much and she makes too little (less than I do, which makes me feel so bad--I just got really lucky and went into a field that I can still make some money in w/ no education). It's also hard not to sort of try and lecture her...I mean just nicely tell her "Well you know if you did this" or "if you tried this." When she has money, like she used to, it's no problem. But now that she's on such a tight budget, it really matters how she handles it, what things she pays when etc...and it's not like she just blows money left and right. She just doesn't necessarily "manage" it well. Doesn't keep track like I do, of everything she spends money on...food, gas, bills. I always have to know at least roughly how much money I have in my account or I feel sick about it. I'm also an awesome bargain hunter and as my mom says, I can "squeeze a nickel and pop out a dollar." :) I've offered to sit down with her and help her figure out a plan of action to get her back on track many times over the years, but she always declines. She says it won't help, but I think it might be at least partly because what mother wants their kid telling them how to handle their life like that? Anyway, she's a really nice, normal person...just needs a different job, that's all.

Dan and I are probably getting Wendy's tonight, and going to see a movie. So that's exciting. I'm making Dan not go to work. I love that he has such a flexible schedule. He'd only make about $9.50 tonight since they close an hour early...so I say, what's the point. Getting to spend an evening with him is much more important to me than $9.50. :) My mom's going to watch Hailey for us. Not sure where yet, she might have her keep her at our house and put her to bed in her own bed...she's come down with yet another cold, as I've said before, and I think she'd sleep better in her own bed if she's coughing and whatnot.

My mom checked out the book 'Remember Me?' by Sophie Kinsella today. It's her newest release, I'm super excited to read it! It's a "Most Wanted" so I've only got a week! My mom started to read it first before she gave it to me. I asked her why she didn't want to finish it. Her response: "Are ALL her books British?" I told her yes, they're all set over in London or around there. Apparently, she doesn't like that whole culture much! Drives her nuts how they talk! LOL I never knew this about my mother. I love their words for things...I wish I could say "nappy" for diaper or "sodding" whatever when I'm mad. I would love to visit London some day (you know, if I didn't have that whole fear of flying thing going on). My mom and I are so alike, yet so different. :)

YUM!!

My mom's taking me to Olive Garden today for their soup, salad and bread sticks lunch!! YAY!

YUM!!

I'm not really the biggest fan of Wendy's. I used to work a few blocks away from one (when I worked at the hell hole) which was on the crappy side of town. Once I found a long black hair in my burger. Another time while eating a grilled chicken salad I bit into one of the chicken's joints. YUCK. So I hadn't gone in years. Then I started working here, on the nice side of town, right by the mall and the "nice" Wendy's. Everybody here loved it so I tried it out one day, and I have to say I was pretty darned impressed. And now they've come out with their new Premium Fish Fillet Sandwich...it is SO GOOD! Much better than McD's by far. Even my husband loves it and he's not a big fish eater! Last Sunday was my sister's 21st birthday. We told her we'd take her out to eat. She ended up picking TGI Friday's. Later on that evening after she'd gone home D turned to me and said "Ok I have to tell you something. All those places she was trying to choose from and I was really thinking 'Can't we just go to Wendy's?'" Which is hilarious, because I was thinking the same damned thing. So tomorrow night if my mom can watch Hailey we're going for fish sandwiches and a movie. We're SO exciting!! :o)

Food that I LOVE!!

I'm having this for dinner tonight!

I could eat salad at every meal!!!!

Jimmies! (or sprinkles)

On my vanilla ice cream! I prefer 2 parts sprinkles to 1 part ice cream!!!

Cherry crisp!

All Chinese food rocks but I LOVE fried rice!

Lo Mein is my absolute FAVORITE Chinese food!

Pizza from a local pizza place...my fav. is white crust, Canadian bacon, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, green peppers and onions! YUM!!

Is it seriously only Tuesday?

I am so incredibly tired today. I have no energy. I stayed up late last night chopping veggies to put in the crock pot w/ a chicken this morning and baking a loaf of cranberry bread for an office luncheon at the Administration building today(that I didn't go to--I went to lunch w/ my sister and her husband instead). Nobody even opened the bread, they had so many goodies, so I'm peeved that I stayed up an extra hour last night, not getting to bed til about 1:00 in the morning, to bake this damn bread. At least we get to enjoy it tonight for dessert!

So like I said, I'm tired. And I'm so busy at work. I'm pushing myself to get anything done. I need to do some laundry tonight, and do dishes, and take a shower, SIGH. I invited my mom over for dinner, so at least she'll be there to help and keep me company. I went to the dr. today because my throat hurts and I wanted to make sure it's not strep since tomorrow is my bday and I'll be around people(it's not strep, just a cold) and we talked a little more about my stomach issues. I told her I went off the Amitiza because not only did it not do a damn thing for me but each day I got progressively sicker and sicker when I was on it, to the point where the last day I literally could not function and had to fight throwing up laying there in bed. She told me to try Miralex which I already have some of at home and haven't remembered to try yet(this weekend I will, I promise!)...then she lectured me on drinking more water every day and laying off the caffeine. GASP!!!! I told her I limit myself to one cup of coffee and one soda, or like 2 sodas and no coffee each day but that I'm so tired I NEED caffeine to function. She looked me in the eyes and said "No more caffeine." :o( Which honestly I'm not supposed to be having caffeine anyway because of my PVC's and PAC's(heart issues). But how am I supposed to function? She asked me again if I exercise, and I told her I run around after my daughter and that's about all the exercising I have the energy to do. She gave me a game plan involving this Miralex stuff, fiber pills (which have NEVER helped me in the past) and lots of water and no caffiene...and if that doesn't work she wants to send me to a GI. Which I've been to before on numerous occasions and all they ever tell me is to go see a Nutritionist or whatever they're called which my insurance does not cover. And my problem is not food, it's the physiology of my digestive system! Anyway...basically to sum this up, I'm exhausted and very upset about having caffeine cut out of my diet. Do you think the caffeine in chocolate counts? Because yea, I'm NOT cutting that out...

Okay so back to the chicken in the crock pot...I thought this sounded like a great idea! Throw the whole thing in there, throw in some veggies and spices and chicken stock and just let it cook all day! Then I cut off the plastic wrapping from the chicken and saw what looked like little hair sticking off the chicken skin here and there. WTF?!?! Seriously?? They don't completely de-feather these damn things?? That is so gross, I'm sorry. So now I'm sad, because I'm a bit grossed out to eat this food that cooked in with some little feather strands and I had been so excited at the idea of this meal. Me and raw meat, or any meat cooked or not that still resembles the animal it came from, do not mix well. I would prefer to think it's some generic product like broccoli or cheese...you know, something that didn't at one time eat and poop and have a beating heart. BLEGH. My mom is going to have to deal with the chicken skin before we can eat this thing. I just can't do it.

On a better note, we took Hailey to see the Christmas lights last night here in town at 2 of our favorite houses. She loved it!

Layered Pumpkin Dessert

As promised, here is the YUMMY recipe I tried out over Thanksgiving...it got rave reviews from our family!!

1 package (15 ounces) Hostess Twinkies (10 Twinkies)
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 container (8 ounces) frozen nondairy whipped topping, thawed, divided
2 packages (3.4 ounces each) instant vanilla pudding
1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin
1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 cup milk
Additional pumpkin pie spice

Slice Twinkies in half lengthwise and place cream-side up, in single layer in 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Using a mixer, blend together cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and ½ of whipped topping until smooth. Spread evenly over Twinkies.

Combine pudding mix, pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice and milk. Whisk until well blended and layer over cream cheese mixture. Carefully spread remaining whipped topping over pumpkin. Lightly sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice. Refrigerate several hours or until set.

Makes 9 to 12 servings.

I confess, this recipe is off the Hostess website under the Twinkie section...but in my defense, I got it from a girl at work who found it over a year ago on the website...she brought the dessert to work and I loved it so much I asked for the recipe. I know it sounds weird, using Twinkies as a "crust"...honestly, I don't like Twinkies. Never have. But this dessert is awesome(if you like pumpkin)...

To do

I thought it was amazing that my husband took it upon himself to go to the bank before it closed today to deposit our loan check. I was actually quite proud...and thankful, because I had a million things to do tonight and most of them required money! To start the night my mom treated us to Starbuck's, and I finally got to try the White Chocolate Mocha that Wendy recommended to me, and OH MY GOD it was amazing! Thanks Wendy!! I also ordered a few balloons for the shower Sunday(getting Hailey a FREE balloon in the process!), got Hailey her new coat and hat set from Old Navy(I've officially learned my lesson on bragging...while her coat from last season does indeed still fit her, I realized it's not roomy enough for her to really move in...it sort of holds her arms out straight like a little gingerbread girl and she is now refusing to wear it) and got the gifts and other shower necessities from Walmart. Imagine my surprise when I get home and check our bank account, and it's pending overdrawn! The loan check wasn't even pending deposit yet! I freaked out and brought the fact up to D and he said he hoped it didn't matter that he didn't endorse the check. !!!!!! He said there wasn't a line on the back to endorse it so he just didn't, and they didn't turn it over to check (they have ALWAYS checked when I've deposited checks over all these years, ALWAYS). He thought no line meant you didn't have to sign it. That really goes to show you just how little he knows about finances. So, I'm freaking out a bit and hoping all these charges don't go through tomorrow. If they do, we are going to be seriously overdrawn. D has his deposit receipt, and if that does happen I am going to take the receipt to them and tell them this was their mistake for not making sure he endorsed the check and get our overdraft fees refunded. Luckily my friend used to work at the bank in the cust. serv. center so she knows who I should talk to. Hopefully this won't be the case. But this means I have to get D's but out of bed by 9:00 tomorrow when the bank opens to make him go check on this whole ordeal. Which brings me to my To Do list for tomorrow:

7:00 am - Wake up to Hailey either knocking on her door, crying or calling for me "MOMMEEE!"

7:10 am - Change Hailey's diaper and get her some juice or milk, whatever she prefers

7:15 am - Find some cartoons on TV, do my normal morning restroom routine

7:30 am - Get Hailey a nana or waffle or whatever else she demands for breakfast...possibly yogurt with blueberries

8:00 am - Start the process of moving Hailey's toys to her bedroom. Organize everything that's left in the living room.

The rest of the morning(my mom's coming over at some point to help thank goodness) - Finish de-cluttering the living room. Clean off the bar. Load/run/unload/reload the dishwasher. Start laundry. Clean kitchen counters and floor. De-clutter and organize dining room. Vacuum. Make cheese ravioli and mozzarella cheese bread for lunch. Shampoo carpets (we had a little vaporizer incident in Hailey's room, which now smells like mildew much to my dismay). Take a break by going over to our family friend's house and help them decorate their Christmas tree while letting the carpets dry!

Afternoon - On the way back home stop by the party store for a couple banners or decorations or something for the shower. Also buy some plastic cups, because I forgot to get some when I was at the store tonight. Make sure D has done the things on his honey do list which include taking out the trash, hanging up the shelf in the bathroom so I can de-clutter the counter, hanging up his hat rack I bought him ages ago and he's never used. Clean hall bathroom. Wash rugs for bathroom again(I like them to be nice and fluffy!).

Evening - Make cakes. I'm making (at my sister's request) a confetti cake with rainbow chip icing. I'm also making her little heart shaped red velvet cakes w/ cream cheese icing, because those are her fav. My mom is making white chocolate covered strawberries and white chocolate covered Oreos. Fill extra ice trays to be sure and have enough ice. Keep doing laundry.

Finally, drop into bed exhausted. Sunday I should just have to set out a few decorations, get the bar set up with the cakes and snacks, wrap the gifts and tie up the balloons outside. My grandma and aunt are coming over early to help keep Hailey busy while I get last minute things done.

It sounds pretty simple when I write it all down like that. But I have a feeling I'm going to be running around like a chicken w/ my head cut off tomorrow. I am really looking forward to the shower Sunday though, and to be truthful this is my thing, I LOVE planning parties like this! I just wish I had more time so I didn't have to be so rushed. I borrowed my in-law's camera so I should have plenty of great pictures to post!

Ok I've gotta go watch a movie with D. He rented Knocked Up which I've heard is pretty funny and I've been wanting to see for a long time! We haven't been able to afford renting movies for a long time now!!

Before I go, here's the coat and hat set I got Hailey from Old Navy tonight...I got the coat on sale for $23!

It's getting friggin hot!

We went to the park with my 2 sisters, stepmom, 2 nephews and my niece today. Hailey did NOT want to sit in the shade(I am ultra-paranoid she's going to get a sunburn even though I slather her with sunscreen every 3o minutes) she wanted to get up and run around and play. But it's getting so hot here! Ok 76 degrees doesn't sound that hot. But it is, when the sun is beating down on you and you're carrying a toddler around everywhere and wearing jeans because you hate showing your legs...SIGH...anyway. It was fun. Hailey loved it, she had a blast. She loved the slide. And so much for not posting pics, because I know I've posted some here and there of her. I do try not to show her face like full frontal or anything, I'm still paranoid. But what the hey, I'll post a couple pics from the day... first off, I have to be self centered and talk about myself here for a second...I cropped this pic off another pic of Hailey, because I noticed when I looked at this picture that I have definately lost more weight. I thought I had, because my pants are falling off of me...the size 2's and 3's for crying out loud...I thought I had just stretched them out. Apparently not. I guess I need to weigh myself. I guess that just goes to show you what NOT having a snack machine at work and your work providing free Culligan water can result in. Oh yea and not pigging out on cereal all night :o)

**PICTURE DELETED**

Hmm, now that I look at it again I realize you can't see much other than my arms and the fact that I look boobless. Oh well. It's not like you wanted to see my butt anyway, with my jeans sagging off to where it makes me look like I dumped in my pants w/ my underwear sticking out the top...CLASSY aren't I??? Yea well I'm just me.

And here's my cutie on her favorite slide...she insisted on going down it over and over again, saying "wee!" all the way down. She loves it.

**PICTURE DELETED**

Now Hailey's napping...she's got a cold. She was fine earlier, not hardly coughing at all but as the day went on her nose started running and she started coughing, so we brought her home and put her to bed. I can hear her wheezing. I'm getting scared that she's inherited the family asthma. She's always got this constant cough off and on. Speaking of coughing, she's coughing again...sigh...what can I do for her??? Does anybody know of anything that helps really well??

My aunt gave Hailey a 15$ gift card to Target for her birthday, so we took her shopping today. We bought her this Playskool Busy Ball Popper toy, she plays with it at the sitters all the time and LOVES it. You push this red button and it plays music and pops the balls out the top. D just finished putting it together and putting batteries in it, she'll have a blast playing with it when she wakes up. Hopefully she'll be in a good mood. My sister's on her way over to bring me a picture of her boyfriend. I think they're his professional military pictures. He's coming home SOON, like within a week or something, we're all so freaking excited! When he gets back to MO we're having a big barbecue for him. He hasn't seen Hailey since before our wedding, she was only a couple months old the last time he saw her! He's seen pictures over MySpace the whole time he's been gone, but he can't wait to see her in person and play with her.

We watched this show on Food Network last night about hot dogs...and now I'm craving a hot dog, with relish and mustard MMMM....I may have to send D to the store. Except he'll come back with the most expensive hot dogs he can find and WonderBread buns and spend like 20$...he does NOT know how to shop cheap.

Well my sister's here, gotta run! Hope everyone's having a great weekend!!

My new job rocks! And some Rotel...

First off, for those of you who are wondering...Rotel is that brand of diced tomatoes/chilis crap tha comes in a can. It's just called Rotel. And you can get it in various ranges of spice, just like salsa. I buy the milder kind, because I'm a puss. No, because my stomach can't handle spice. Damn IBS. Anyway, onto awesomeness...

So like I said, my new job ROCKS! Answering the phone is NOT hard...and it'll be a piece of cake once I remember who all the various people are(have I mentioned I am SO bad with names??) and this office is so laid back, it is just completely awesome. They're just basically like "whatever" about everything. At my old job I didn't even feel like I could take a shit, I mean I'd get back to my desk and my boss would call..."Erin, I was looking for you..." Me: Yea well, I had to go to the bathroom. "Erin, you were in there for a long time, is everything ok?" Me: Yea well, I had to go to the bathroom. I couldn't even take a crap, it was rediculous. This place people are up talking to each other, joking with each other, doing their work on their own without somebody standing over them watching their every move to make sure they "stay on task." It's going to be really hard for me to get used to. I was really worried because H's 1 year well-visit checkup is this Friday, my FIRST WEEK of my new job. What did my boss say? "Alright that's cool"....he really didn't care. !!!! My old job would have been all "well you need to make the time up, when are you making it up, are you going to be able to make it up, well make sure nobody else is going to be gone at that time." SIGH.....that is a HUGE sigh of relief, that's what that is. I am so happy now. This is the kind of place I dreamed about working. And what's more, these people told me I would be busy, and if today is any sort of indication whatsoever, these people do NOT know what busy is. And I'm getting paid over a dollar more...to be able to take a crap whenever I want, drink the coffee THEY provide(out of their ceramic mugs), drink the Culligan water THEY provide(out of their glass drinking glasses), do my work at my own pace...oh yea and it's jeans day every Friday...oh and birthday days, like this Wednesday, those are jeans days too. And all the people are just so nice. Nobody's stuck up, or suspicious. I've been warned that the Accounts Payable lady can be a bit bitchy...but so far she's been fine to me, and I have to admit I have a special place in my heart for her because she holds the position I held at the Hell Hole...I know what it's like...she won't get to me. I've also been informed that some of the girls hold special girls' nights and some people aren't invited, but that I will be. I cannot stress enough how happy I am right now about this whole thing...finally God answered my prayers and put me in a place that so far seems perfect for me. The only issue right now is my first ck won't be til sometime the first part of May, and w/ D on my ins. I'll be paying like 200$ more a month. But after he's done w/ school this semester he'll be working full time again this summer so he'll be able to get back on the ins. there, and then next semester he can get ins. through school for only 300$ a semester...so hopefully I'll just have to pay for him for 1 month. Oh yea, another perk about this job...they go by days for your hours, not weeks...each day is it's own. So like one day I work 8.5 hrs, I get .5 hrs of OT...although I won't be working extra most likely. And then another day I work 7.5 hrs, either I can take sick or vacation time for that .5 hrs or just not get paid for it and NOBODY CARES. No horrid "occurences" on your record! How awesome is that? How awesome is this whole situation????!?!?!!! Totally awesome.... hehe

Alright so, on to crappier issues, because you know how I love to bitch. Miss H is sick, again. My poor baby. We've both got some kind of coldish crap, but her eyes are all gunky. The sitter's youngest son, a little over a year, got the gunky eyes too and his dr. said it's not pink eye, so that's good. But I think her ear infections have come back because she keeps sticking her fingers down her ear holes again. So I guess I'll just keep her appt for Friday, hopefully she doesn't get any worse before then...I'm afraid tubes are in her future. If I'd had them when I was little I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be partially deaf in my left ear, so if she needs them I'm all for her getting them. I just had really hoped she'd take after D and never have infections. So far it's not looking that way. :o(

Ok I'll end this post w/ something amusing...a convo I overhead between 2 of the little neighbor boys as I was getting a sleeping Miss H out of the car when I got home from work this evening...

Younger boy: "Hey Billy wanna play??"
9 year old: "My step-dad says I've gotta go in in 20 minutes"
Younger boy: "Your step-dad...well where's your real dad?"
9 year old: "My real dad's a girl"
Ok at this point I'm thinking 'Did I just hear that right??'--apparently the younger boy was thinking the same thing...
Younger boy: "He's a what!??!"
9 year old: "My real dad's a GIRL!" (kind of pissed/annoyed tone in his voice)
Younger boy: "How's he a girl?"
9 year old: "He likes men ok?!"
Younger boy: "Well how'd he have you then??"
9 year old: "My mom got with him, they had me, and now he likes men!!"

You never know what you're going to hear...

Update on the post below...

Ok this is exactly what I used...

1 package of chicken breasts, frozen
2 cans of Milder Rotel
1 large jar of thick and chunky mild salsa
2 cans of black beans, w/ that little bit of liquid drained off
1 cup of water

I put all this in the crock pot on low all day, then when I got home from work it basically looked like a chicken soup because it was so watery...the chicken was so tender it just fell apart though! I turned it up to high, tore open a bag of minute rice and dumped that in there and let it cook. It sucked all the juice right up and made it perfect to eat w/ chips! We added some sour cream to our bowls, and voila! It was so good!! Everybody loved it! Thanks, girl from Florida!!

MMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!

I used Girl From Florida's recipe today and put chicken, Rotel, black beans and salsa in the crock pot before I left for work this morning, and I walked into a house that smells AMAZING tonight! The chicken is so tender and shreds so easily...I haven't tasted it yet but it looks and smells wonderful! And it was so easy to make!