I can finally start blogging again

 So I haven't had a laptop in about a year and didn't really wanna get one because I wanted to save the money to buy stuff for our new house. I tried doing the whole blog thing from my phone but the few times I did all I really wanted to do was throw my phone. Well my sweet husband has been bugging me to get one but I always found something else more important to buy. So today he decided not to give me a choice anymore and he got me one. The main reason I like blogging is because this is kinda like a diary that I could look back on in the feature.

Abs of steal

I'm sure many of you have already seen this but I had to post a picture of it! 

I really don't want to know how many people would really want this. I'm sure there are many people out there in this wonderful world of ours;)

I HATE this tree!

We have this huge beautiful tree in my front yard that I hate nine months out of the year. It's not your average tree where the leafs fall off only in the fall, no they fall off 9 months out of the year. When I say fall I mean they cover my yard, the neighbors yard and the street. The piles are higher then our ankles. We can spend 3 hours getting them in piles just to have it just as bad as when we started 12 hours later. What we have learned from  other people on our street is that when these houses first went up they all had the same tree and everyone hated them so much that they had them taken out of there yards. I guess the tree is sick, what ever that means. For reasons beyond our control we can't get rid of this tree. All I know is these pictures your about to see don't do what I'm saying justice.

                                            This is just one of the four left over piles we have.

         We filled 3 of these trash cans so far. The driveway was filled within a couple hours after this picture.

                                               This is the tree that is making me crazy!!

Strawberry Thing

When I was at my cousins house I seen her using this neat little Strawberry plucker thing "not the correct name of this item" and I knew I had to get myself one. Well she had ordered her online awhile back but not sure where, so I went on a hunt for one. I would ask the store people if they sold strawberry plucker things and they would look at me funny and have no clue what I was talking about. Well we went camping and went into this little store called kitchen clutter and I knew they would have to have it and they did. I was so excited to get it home and use it myself and I fell in love with it. Anyone who loves strawberries and doesn't own one of these neat things has to go buy themself one. 

Correct name of this thing is a stem gem

Painting a rug

I have been looking for a pink rug for Alyssa's room, and my sister was getting my niece a new one because she hates pink, so of course I took that one. Well once I got it down in Alyssa's room I noticed a lot of paint stains on it, but it has been so hard to find a decent size pink one so I had to keep it. After thinking about what I could do I called my son Joe and told him we are gonna paint the rug. Yes he looked at me funny but we got to work not knowing what we were gonna do, and I think being it's the first time we ever painted a rug before that it turned out good and we were able to cover all the other paint stains.

Red Hot Holiday Trends "The Betty 10"

 Betty Crocker is here to help make cooking and entertaining easier than ever with Betty Crocker´s Red Hot Holiday Trends 2011! The food experts at Betty Crocker have selected trends that will be red hot this holiday season, and have created delicious recipes to bring each one to life. These fun and delicious recipes are sure to fire up any holiday event, and keep you toasty and warm for the New Year ahead.

Trend: Double Desserts

Taking two desserts and mixing and mashing them together is one of our favorite trends. Things like pie shakes, cookie stuffed cookies, and pie-filled cupcakes deliver a whole new kind of delicious. It´s a 1+1=3 kind of thing.

Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Cookies

Pie, meet cookie. Cookie, say hello to pie. When two all-time favorites come together, you get Pumpkin Pie Cookies, the star at your next holiday cookie exchange.

                                                         Trend: Boozy Baking
From booze cakes to cocktail pies, bakers everywhere are bringing the bar into the kitchen. A titch of tequila or a skosh of scotch whiskey adds a serious shot of fun and flavor for the over 21 crowd. We´re loving these boozy baked goods!

                                               Recipe: Boozy Bourbon Chocolate Cupcakes
Taste for yourself what the buzz is all about! A bit of bourbon, a hit of coffee liqueur and some vanilla vodka-spiked frosting make these sophisticated chocolate cupcakes the ultimate "holiday helpers."

                                                   Trend: Color. Flavor. Fun.
Traditional baked goods are being transformed with bright colors and playful flavors. With a little creativity and imagination, no one can resist this happy, fun food!

                                                  Recipe: Cake Batter Cookie Stackers
Take sugar cookies to a whole new level of delicious! Kids and adults will love these cake batter flavored cookies with colorful frosting, and lots of sprinkles! Stack `em up and watch `em go.

                                          Trend: From Cave to Kitchen
Forget the man cave. Today guys are in the kitchen making (or at least appreciating) really good food. Big food. Really good, big food that´s stacked and stuffed with the flavors they can´t resist.

                               Recipe: Mantastic Fried Chicken `n´ Waffle Sandwich
Here´s a new take on chicken `n´ waffles - made better with beer, bacon, and bourbon. It´s the ultimate manly man meal.

                                                   Trend: Skinny Cocktails
Here´s the skinny! Drinking high-calorie cocktails is so last year. The modern mixologist is shaking things up with light & flavorful cocktails.

Recipe: Skinny Clementine Martini

Add some clever sparkle to your next party. Enjoy these natural, light martinis made with fresh juice, high-quality liquor, and a splash of club soda. Lower calorie cocktails never tasted, or looked, so sweet. Cheers!

                                  Trend: Better Than Bought  
From canning to candy making, there´s a renewed interest in handcrafted foods. This season, homemade food gifts are just the right thing to show your care and creativity.

Recipe: Cajeta Caramel Fudge

Create the perfect combination of flavor and crunch with this homemade candy. Rich chocolate fudge layered with cajeta caramel, cashews and a sprinkle of sea salt-a recipe to impress.

                                                        Trend: Veggie Love

Once just tolerated, vegetables are now celebrated. Omnivores and herbivores alike have discovered that veggies offer variety and great taste, and are feeling the love.

Recipe: Sweet Potato Hummus

Hummus with fresh sweet potato packs even more plant power. Add a delicious blend of smoked paprika, coriander, and cumin to make this flavorful dip.

                                    Trend: Shareworthy & Allergen-Friendly
Allergen-friendly foods may be free from things like nuts, dairy and eggs, but shouldn´t be free from flavor. Thankfully, we´re seeing new foods and recipes that can be enjoyed by everyone - whether you´re allergy-sensitive or not.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread

Gather everyone around the table to enjoy this moist and delicious pumpkin bread. Made with no nuts, no dairy, no eggs, and no gluten - no kidding!

                                           Trend: D-I-Y for D-O-G
Man´s best friend deserves man´s best effort. That´s why making your own dog food is one of the latest canine crazes! This year, homemade dog treats are at the top of fido´s list.

 

Recipe: Dog Bark

This treat will make your dog sit up and beg for more. Make the bark by melting carob chips and peanut butter then top with your dog´s favorite ingredients - bacon and cheese. Bow WOW!

                                               Trend: Food Craft
The kitchen is the new craft room. With food as their medium, clever cooks are making amazing edible food crafts that are as good to look at as they are to eat.

 

Recipe: Chocolate Coal Lumps

Naughty or nice, everyone will love these easy cho-coal-late treats. Cocoa Puffs® cereal dipped in melted chocolate and marshmallows create these tasty stocking stuffers.
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This makes me so sad and scared at the same time

I have been scared since I was pregnant with my first child of my kids being bullied at school. I have always known I would be that parent that would react first because NO ONE will mess with my kids I have always said. I also have always said that I would not ever put up with my child being a bully. My kids and I do talk about this kind of of stuff on a regular basis since they started school. They have shared many stories about stuff other people have done or have had done to them and how they have reacted if they were around when it was going on. I have to say they seem to be really good kids and no I'm not just saying that because there mine. I had all 3 of my kids young and I had people make very rude comments about that so I said to myself I will make sure my kids are well mannered/behaved kids and I have to say since they were toddlers even to this day I have got many compliments from strangers how good my kids are, there teachers have never said anything bad about them just how respectful they are, and yes I do pride myself on that. But after watching this video it made me think how sad/bad it is that we really do have so many kids like this in our world. I have always just thought that if anything bad was going on in my kids life they would come to me. We have a very open family, but this video really got me thinking what if they don't, what if they might not feel right about it, or blame them self's some how. I mean we really want to think we know everything going on in our kids life but they are out of sight for a long period of time while at school and sad to say but we cant always trust that our schools will be able or even care enough to help keep a better eye on our kids. I get weekly emails from my daughters middle school and since the second week of school it says that the bulling is constantly increasing and the email I got just tonight said they are not sure what they can do the numbers have went up so fast that all they can do now is hope parents talk to there kids and that they will have an ear and eye open to this. REALLY we have to send are kids to school to deal with this, come on they have to come up with some kind of solution. It stresses me out sending my kids to school.