Monday, April 30, 2012

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Leftover Roast

Tuesday: Taco Salad

Wednesday: Fajita's

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: BBQ Chicken

Saturday: Pineapple Bacon Burgers

Sunday: Chicken and Rice Casserole

Friday, April 27, 2012

Day 1 - I'm a quitter!!

At 1:00 pm yesterday afternoon, I officially smoked my last cigarette! Yes, I am a smoker! Yes, I know it's a horrible habit! Yes, I know it stinks!

I am so excited about quitting. Don't get me wrong, I have tried in the past and even quite for a full year when I was pregnant/nursing.

It doesn't take much to slip back into that old habit. And the cravings, oh those horrible, stinking, aweful cravings. They don't go away.

I'm hoping that this time will be much easier! I have always been told to pick a day and that will be the day you quit. Well, I picked the day I ran out of cigarettes would be the day. You see, we are on a very strict budget, which does not include my stinky, yucky habit. So there will be no money for those god aweful things.

I also want to quit, not only for my health and myself, but for Avari. I don't like that she knows what a cigarette is and that she is used to me "going outside for a smoke."

I also have big plans to start exercising and getting back in to shape. I would so love to be able to do that without getting winded and feeling like my lungs are going to explode.

I know it's going to be a long road but I can do it!! I know I can!! Wish me luck!!

Yes, this a picture of my last cigarette....

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Grilled Mustard Chicken Legs

The other night, we were having Chicken Legs and I needed to come up with some way to marinate it since we had no marinade in the house, no Italian dressing, nothing! I guess I could have used a dry rub but that just didn't sound good and I wanted something that the flavor would soak through out.

Here's what I came up with:

Grilled Mustard Chicken Legs

4 Chicken Legs
4 tablespoons Brown Mustard
4 tablespoons Honey Mustard
3 tablespoons White Wine Vinegar
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 tablespoon Parsley Flakes
1/2 tablespoon Salt
1/2 tablespoon Pepper

I also added a dash of season salt.

Mix all ingredients together and pour over chicken.

Cover and refrigerate chicken for at least 30 minutes before grilling.

Grill chicken until cooked thoroughly.

Enjoy!


I was a bit skeptical but it turned out really good! Too bad I didn't get to snap a picture of the chicken before it was devoured. I served this along with mashed sweet potatoes and my special green beans (I'll be sure and post the recipe for these...they are to die for.)

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

EntreLeadership with Dave Ramsey

Last Friday, I had the privilege of attending Dave Ramsey's EntreLeadership Seminar. If you haven't heard of Dave Ramsey, stop what your doing and check out his website! He can and will change your life forever!!

Not only does he know a thing or two about money management but he knows how to run a successful business. We are starting to incorporate his Total Money Makeover Plan into our home lives and will be using what I learned at the Seminar for our business life.

One of my favorite things he said is to Do Work That Matters!! How many of you feel that what you do, doesn't really matter? That your not an integral part of your company and they would drop you in a heart beat? I know I sometimes do.

Another big thing for Dave is that "People Matter". We all know that, but do we truly invest the time it takes to show them that they matter, especially in the business world. I can most certainly guarantee that people will answer no to this more than they will yes. I know, in business, it's all about the bottom line, I get it! But, what if you showed your employees a little compassion, a little bit of "they are important too".

Dave told a story of how one day, he was sitting in his office and a new mom came in, flustered and told him that her baby was running a fever. With any new mom, she was freaked out. Dave told her to take the rest of the afternoon off and tend to her baby. The next day, another mother came in and was also in a state of array. She had just been told that her 3 year old was diagnosed with Cancer. He said, one day I have a mom in here with a baby with fever, that tugs at your heart strings and the next day, I have a mom in here telling me her baby has Cancer, that just takes you breath away. He gave her 6 weeks off of work with pay so that she could tend her child during Chemo.

What got me with this story was that it wasn't the fact that he had the means to give her the 6 weeks off with pay, but that he truly cared. These employees are a member of his family, as he puts it. Even when he told the story, I could feel the emotion he had for these people and he almost couldn't complete the story with breaking down.

That's a true leader! Some one who shows that, even though you work for me, even though I can fire you at the drop of a hat, you are a member of my family and I will treat you so.

He had a lot of great advice on how to be a good leader:

1. Follow the Golden Rule
    "Do to others as you would have them do to you." (Luke 6:31).
2. Act with Grace
3. Give Praise
4. Treat them with Dignity

There is so much more, more that I could ever write about her but I recommend any one who owns, runs, manages a business or team, to invest in his EntreLeadership book or attend one of his Seminars. You will not regret it!!








 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 






































 
























Dave Ramsey truly can change your life. Just give him a chance! Now, if only we could get big businesses and our government to use some of his practices, we might be ok! :)






Monday, April 9, 2012

Easter Weekend

Boy oh boy was our weekend busy. We had something to do every day over the long weekend and I hate how fast it all seemed to fly by!! We were blessed to spend time with great friends and family and celebrated with lots of great food and drinks. I wouldn't change one minute of this weekend, even the more frustrating parts!!



 We started off the weekend by celebrating Jacob's birthday on Thursday night. What party wouldn't be complete with out a TON of balloons!!

 Avari and Daddy playing on the swingset!

 Avari wanted me to do a cart wheel! I look like a fool but nailed it! HA!

 Friday morning, we got up and had a nice breakfast before getting our day started! Avari's new favorite thing is helping me crack the eggs! I think she's better at it than I am!


If you haven't tried these cookies, you should! We made these to take to our friends house and they were a hit! I even got to use my cookie press for the first time making these!

Man Talk!

 Getting ready for the canoe ride!

 I think this was one of Avari's favorite adventures from Friday! Getting to "drive".

 Well, we tried to fly a kite! Probably would have worked better if we would of had just a little bit of wind!

 Loving every minute of it!

 Gotta love a great group of friends to spend the Holiday with!
 And to wind down on Friday evening, a bonfire!!


 Everyone meet P.J. This is Avari's newest bunny from her Popo. He showed up bright and early Saturday to take her to pick it out herself!

 Saturday afternoon, Avari had a playdate with Megan! These girls are a hoot and had a blast!!

Playing Candyland!
 Megan loves to blow bubbles and Avari loves to pop them!!

We wound down Saturday evening with some good ol' BBQ and Beer. Perfect end to a perfect day!

Sunday, we were up bright and early again to get ready for Easter at my Grandparents. Needless to say, it didn't start out a very good Easter. P.J. decided to escape during the night and we spent quite some time searching for him. He was found (thank goodness since Avari's last bunny "ran away") about a block away, hiding under some wood. After that little adventure, Avari and I made a batch of cookies and headed out!

 Enjoying time with family is what it's all about!

 Vance received his birthday gift and loved it! Now's he ready to do some real hunting!!


 Isn't Lucy the cutest thing EvEr!!                                    Uncle Tank and Avari picking flowers!





 This has been a tradition ever since I was little, to build an Easter nest out of Wildflowers! I must say, here in Texas, we have to best wildflowers to choose from!!

Avari checking out what the Easter Bunny brought for her!

 Lucy loved the eggs the most!

 Vance being a goof!
 

Avari hunting for eggs!

 Lucy's first egg hunt at Momo's!!
 

Daddy trying out Avari's hula-hoop! Hehe!                    Family Easter Photo!

We are so very blessed to have had a great Easter Weekend!

Hope you and yours did too!!

Menu Plan Monday

With our busy weekend, I didn't have time to sit down and plan out a menu for this week. So I'm going to use this as an opportunity to use what I already have on hand for this weeks menu and will probably repeat some of what we have already had in the last few weeks. :)

Monday: Smothered Hamburger Steak

Tuesday: Quesadillas

Wednesday: Macaroni and Beef Casserole

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: BBQ Chicken

Saturday: Pork Chops

Sunday: Roast

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Happy Birthday, Love!

Wishing my love a very happy 28th birthday!! Here's to many more celebrations and memories!!








Monday, April 2, 2012

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Quesadillas

Tuesday: Roast

Wednesday: Leftovers

Thursday: Steaks

Friday: Hot Dogs

Saturday: Bacon Chicken and Rice Casserole

Sunday: Easter Dinner at my Grandmother's