Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Get up, Get Out  & Play!

Have you played the lotto lately? The Powerball is estimated at $67 Million !
That's 67 million happy reasons to go buy a ticket!
The Florida lotto is estimated at $2 Million-
 again...very happy reasons to play!
Good Luck to those who play..............rub your tickets for good luck!

I mentioned to a few of my friends that I would be posting the recipes here.... but time got ahold of me, and well.... here there are. Hope you enjoy:

Chicken and Dumplings:

1 1/2 - 2 lbs Frozen Chicken breast (about 5-6 large chicken breats)

3-5 TBSP Butter

2 cans Campbell's cream of chicken soup

1 can Campbells chicken broth

1 can Swanson chicken broth

1 onion - chopped

3-4 potatoes,peeled/quartered
1 bay leaf

1 can peas,drained

1 bag frozen baby carrots

1 can pillsbury biscuit dough

1 box Ronzoni Orzo

Spices: cumin, paprika, parsley,

garlic powder, kick n' chicken,

celery salt, salt & pepper to taste


7:00am- spray crockpot with Pam. Place frozen chicken breast in crock pot, top with 3-5 TBSP Butter, pour BOTH cans cream of chicken soup on chicken, pour BOTH cans chicken broth over chicken, add chopped onion, add potatoes, place bay leaf on top. Season according to like/taste with all seasonings- generally a sprinkling of each to cover the top.
7:30am: Turn crockpot on LOW. Place carrot bag on counter to defrost.
1:45pm take all chicken out. Place in bowl. SHRED chicken. Cut room temp defrosted carrots - put chicken and carrots into pot, stir. Open biscuit dough- place all biscuits on a cutting board. Press lightly to flatten each one. Sprinkle each biscuit with parsley and black pepper, press lightly again to make season stick. Cut each biscuit into 1/4ths. Toss all biscuit pieces into crock pot. Turn crockpot on HIGH for 1 1/2 hours more. Meal should be ready around 3:30pm-4pm. Add can of peas and stir, the peas will heat up in a matter of moments, without getting mushy.



While the biscuit/dumplings are cooking, you can cook the orzo on the stove. DRAIN VERY WELL. Place in separate bowl- do not add orzo to crock pot. When ready to serve, place a scoop of orzo in bowl, top with chicken/dumpling mixture. Enjoy.

This is really very good considering it is made in a crockpot. You wouldn't believe it when you taste it. I really did like it, but will once again state that I REALLY liked it the next day with mashed potatoes. YUM!!!

Ok everyone.....have a great evening, the final countdown is upon us...make sure you sign up to have a chance at winning the FREE 12pack of melting tarts from SimplyMeltAway, our sponsor for the 2nd Summer contest!



Monday, July 26, 2010

Less than 4 days remain to enter for your chance to win a FREE 12 pack of melting tarts from SimplyMeltAway - - Don't Delay!

Some find it difficult to get themselves motivated....feelings of being drained by the body snatchers begin to swirl about their foggy little minds.
Certain changes must be made in life to ensure that you will have,
 in fact,  a life.
Take time out of your busy schedule for yourself.
We all have spoken about that little timeout we crave so much,
yet get very little of.... "Me Time".
Taking time, even if you must schedule it into your day,
for yourself- is rewarding.
At first, your mind begins racing back to what you have put on hold...
work, laundry, more work...
But soon, you will begin to cherish those stolen moments -
then begin to yearn for them.
You find yourself packing your gym bag...mixing your shakes...
picturing yourself at the gym.
Or perhaps a quiet lunch in the park with a good book?
Wherever "Your Time" takes you...be sure to be there.
Don't let it ever get away from you......don't take it for granted.
This precious little moment is for you to recoup your thoughts, your health, your sanity.
Much needed, indeed.
Here is a wonderful recipe to try for your next shake:

Tropical Pleasure


Ingredients:
8 oz. pure water
1/2 tsp. pineapple extract
1/2 tsp. coconut extract
1 tbs heavy cream
1/2 frozen banana
1 heaping scoop (1 oz) of Egg Protein
Stevia or Agave to taste (optional)
2-3 ice cubes (optional)
(recipe courtesy of, as always, bodybuilding.com )



Sunday, July 25, 2010

YOUR VOTE COUNTS!!!
Ok everyone.....need your help as there is a bit of cheating going on here.
Please log onto your computers everyday - and click this link:

Click here to Vote for Bubba's Car!!

Save it to your computer and vote for the Six Star General car - we need help!!
You can only vote once a day - so be sure to please go back everyday-
there are people who have been cheating and voting more than once by manipulating their computer systems.
Right now we are in the lead, but the numbers change everyday- and it is getting close.
Email this link to all your friends....ASK THEM TO VOTE!
Come on my TwitterMoms, and TwitterFriends....get to tweeting about this and pass it on to your blogger followers!!
Lets get these numbers jumping high for this car PLEASE!

There are only 7 days left to vote


Saturday, July 24, 2010

The weekend is here....whooo hoooo! Ok, haha, not so much of a whoo hoo when you are a stay at home mom, every day kind of blends into the next. But- I woke up this morning feeling great- so whoo hoo to Saturday! lol
Such a great morning to get out early for my walk. We have not received any rain from "Bonnie" who at this moment has been downgraded to a tropical depression. So the weather is wonderfully summery!

I mentioned that I would be sharing some video recipes with friends who just don't cook, lol, so here is another one I liked:
Deluxe Enchilada Casserole


Very simple.....serve with rice for a filling family meal!
I think I may even add some shredded chicken to the mixture itself.....be sure to share some of your ideas to help make this your own.
Thanks Betty!

Remember.......only 6 more days to enter Contest #2, sponsored by SimplyMeltAway.


Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Today is, like any other day, cleaning day. I am planning on going for my afternoon walk, so I like to get everything done ahead of time-to be able to actually enjoy the walk...and not think about laundry, dishes, etc when I get home.
Right now.... my house smells so wonderfully clean! Almost too clean, haha...
While doing my usual house chores, I popped in one of my tarts from Simply Melt Away - Clean Breeze - which is similar to a Downy type of scent. I love this scent, it is just such a fresh,clean scent.
Remember to enter for your chance to win an entire 12 pack of these adorable scented wonders!
Just become a follower and you are automatically entered!

I came across a video on youtube.......because I am always looking for different things to try, and thought I'd share with you...........
Apple Dumplings from Betty's Kitchen



I am definitely going to make these, but I think I will add crushed walnuts to the brown sugar, and possibly serve with vanilla bean ice cream....or butter pecan...or both!

She truly is a southern sweetheart. You will just love her videos. I am sending this and a few others to a couple friends of mine, who, eh-hem.... don't cook, you just can't get any easier than watching a recipe!
Feel free to post comments, I am sure Betty would love to see the love here!

Have a great afternoon everyone!
Be Happy....Be Healthy.....Namaste

Sunday, July 18, 2010



Spent the afternoon at our local reef club meeting today.
We visited The Fitzpatrick's- very nice home, extremely nice people to know.
The tank was awesome  - colorful, healthy- a pleasure to view.
The Fitzpatrick's have signed up to Host the December Meeting as well,
so we will be back during the Holidays!
Jim gave a cool presentation of Aquarium Photography,
very good to know, you don't want your photos coming out blurred!
 And his wife Gail was such a gracious host!
We truly enjoyed ourselves, thank you!

The next meeting will be hosted by our very own TanksALot family!
Can't wait to view the home tank!

I have started a video channel on youtube...
and will be airing my products there as well, so be sure to check them out. (kudos to hubby for the idea xoxo)
I am working on a new batch of soaps......
will put up a little video when they are complete.



Today's Protein Shake Recipe:
Chocolate Coffee Shake
(Blender needed of course!)
Ingredients:
Mix 2 scoops of Alpine Milk Chocolate Protein Delite or other protein with:
1 cup of skim milk
5 ice cubes
1 cup of water
1 spoonful of instant coffee!
Tastes like a gourmet concoction!
And of course, this scrumptious recipe courtesy of BodyBuilding.com !

Have a great evening everyone....Be Blessed!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Home Cookin' without the Fuss

I LOVE my crock pot, and this week have used it several times.
I made slowcooked island kielbasa, smokey bbq pork.....mmmmmmm......and chicken and dumplings.


As much as I truly love dumplings ~ the chicken mixture is better the next day served with mashed potatoes in place of the pasta.........Yummylicious!

The winter weather will soon be upon us, (hopefully,lol), and so I plan to be using my crockery often.
I love making stews, chilis, soups, or just chicken recipes.

I plan to be making cream cheese chicken this weekend.......will post a pic/review of how it turns out.

Remember.......only 16 days left to enter my 2nd Summer Contest- going on now, sponsored by Simply Melt Away.... simply sign up and follow this blog and you are automatically entered into this and all upcoming contests.
~~~ *** Good Luck To You *** ~~~

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Summer Contest #2 is underway......
this is proudly sponsored by none other than SimplyMeltAway.
Kandi Taxel is donating a 12 pack of her melting tarts....
that's a full dozen of fresh made smell-oh-so-good melting tarts!
I have sampled three from her line:
Clean Breeze {which smells like Downy}(always a winner!)
Tropical Blast {my own private getaway!}
Apple Pie {come on, really...do I need to say anything  on this one...
                                                                       Mmm-Mmm-Yumm!}

This is what the tarts look like.....
And measure just under 2 1/2 inches wide.

They melt clean, no bits or chunks remaining in the warmer....


And the scent that fills the room is so wonderful. I had planned on putting one in the living room, and one in each of the bedrooms. But it turned out to work with just the 1 tart at a time- the scent that is thrown from these little guys is incredible - filling the entire house.

I am very pleased that Kandi is part of my contest giveaways, you will find her link to the right top corner of my blog, giving thanks to my contest sponsors!


Please take a moment to visit her shop, Simply Melt Away ,
and let her know what you think.
She also included several business cards and postcards, to which I will be adding to my mompacks.
I am including one here....so be sure to take advantage of the offer:
1 FREE Full Sized Tart with any order!

All you have to do is mention this card & add your scent choice in the
comments box when checking out - how cool is that?!
So place an order, and try a free tart in a different scent.
The best of both !

Contest Reminder:
You must be a follower to be entered into the contest.
 So be sure to follow!