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Monday, December 13, 2010

This blog is closed

Please follow my new blog My Incredible Life Journey .

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Hopefully back soon !

I'm getting the blogging bug back but with no internet at home yet it has to wait.  I'm considering changing the name of my blog and some of what I write about. We'll see I have ideas in my head  not sure how to work with them yet.
I just wanted to update all my friends on what has been going on ,at least briefly. My hubby lost his job in July and did get a new job in another state. We moved from Indiana to Pennsylvania and are still getting used to all the changes. I'm still looking for a job (would prefer one at home if possible) and hopefully will find one soon. I truly miss all my friends on here and praying that i can blog with you all again soon.  I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year if I can't get back on here soon .

Monday, April 12, 2010

Quick Update

Hi everyone, I thought I better update you all on things my way. I'm no longer working  but I start classes to be a certified nurses aide in May. Hopefully after that I can go back to school to study radiology.  I am also having laser surgery on April 13th to have a fatty tumor removed from neck. It sits close to my spine so this has me extremely nervous. The doctor is also going to remove 2 fibrous spots  one on my arm and one on my hand the same day. The main part I'm nervous about is its only local anethesia and I won't be under.  I know I'll be fine  but still makes me nervous. The good thing is he doesn't think any are cancerous but he will biopsy them anyway to make sure.  I will let you all know when I know something.

 


We also got a new addition to the family. Her name is Mystique.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Some Sad News

Please join me in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71.

Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, and Captain Crunch. The grave site was piled high with flours.

Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded. Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was considered a very smart cookie, but wasted much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times, he still was a crusty old man and was considered a positive roll model for millions.

Doughboy is survived by his wife Play dough, three children: John Dough, Jane Dough and Dosey Dough, plus they had one in the oven. He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart.

The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes.

If this made you smile for even a brief second, please rise to the occasion and share that smile with someone else who may be having a crumby day and kneads a lift.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Cute commercial for Nolan's Cheddar

I seen this posted in one of the groups on cafemom. I just wanted to share. This commercial made me laugh hope it does you too.

Monday, January 11, 2010

In Honor of the Simpson's 20th Anniversary

I used to own a cassette tape of the Simpson's back in the 90's I just thought I would post a video of one of the more popular songs from that cassette.  The Simpson's are still great and I wish the sitcom several more years to run. Happy 20th Anniversary to the Simpson's.

Do The Bartman

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Salisbury Steak Deluxe with Sour Cream Twice Baked Potatoes

I decided to try a new recipe and found 2 to try. My goal this year is to learn to cook better and to learn new recipes.  I looked in my cookbooks and found the "Salisbury Steak Deluxe"  recipe in my "Complete Guide to Country Cooking."

Here's the recipe:

1 can (10-3/4 ounces) Cream of Mushroom soup, undiluted
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
1 egg
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon salt
dash of pepper
1-1/2 pounds ground beef
1 to 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup water

Directions:
In a bowl, combinethe soup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and horseradish: blend well. Set aside. In another bowl, lightly beat the egg. Add bread crumbs, onion, salt, pepper and a 1/4 cup of the soup mixture.  Add beef and mix well. Shape into 6 patties. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium high. Brown the patties on both sides; drain. Combine remaining soup mixture with water; pour over patties. Cover and cook over low heat for 10-15 minutes or until meat is no longer pink. Remove patties to a large serving platter; top with sauce.

I found the "Sour Cream Twice-Baked Potato "recipe in my "Cooking Healthy Across America Cookbook"
Here's the Recipe:

4 medium-sized (5 ounces each) baking potatoes
1/4 cup  Land O Lakes no-fat sour cream
1/4 cup (3/4 ounce) grated Kraft fat free Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dries onion flakes
1 teaspoon dries parsley flakes
Paprika

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place potatoes on a baking sheet and bake for 45 to 60 minutes or until tender.Cut each potato in half lengthwise. Scoop potato pulp into a large bowl, reserving shells. Mash potato pulp with a potato masher or fork. Stir in sour cream, Parmesean cheese, onion flakes and parsley flakes. Evenly spoon mixture into reserved potoato shells. Lightly sprinkle paprika over the top. Arrange potato halves on baking sheet. and bake for 10 minutes or until tops are lightly browned.

My family liked the taste and with more practice I think I could get better with these receipes.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

100 Things About Me

Well I decided to take a page from Graham and fill in the 100 things about me. I will delete this post after a couple of days but  here goes....

Q1: What is your first name and what does it mean?

A: Michelle in French it means “Like God” in Hebrew it means “Close to God”

Q2: What is your last name and what does it mean?
A: How about my middle name instead  Dawn -- English meaning Dawn

Q3: How old are you?
A: 36yrs old

Q4: Where do you live?
A: USA

Q5: Any Hobbies?
A: Photography, , Reading, camping

Q6: What colour socks are you wearing?
A: cream and tan striped socks

Q7: Club or Bar?
A: club

Q8: What time did you get up this morning?
A: 6 am to get kids ready for school

Q9: When is your birthday?
A: Oct. 16th (Libra)

Q10:What is your favourite TV show?
A: House

Q11:What did you have for breakfast?
A: Egg & cheese muffin

Q12:What is your favourite cuisine?
A: Chinese food sometimes

Q13:Your favourite potato chip?
A: Cheddar & Sour Cream

Q14:What is your favourite album at the moment?
A: Honestly don’t have one right now.

Q15:What kind of car do you drive?
A: 2008 Chevy Aveo LS

Q16:Favourite sandwich?
A: fried bologna & cheese

Q17:What characteristics do you despise?
A: Dishonesty and fakeness

Q18:Favourite item of clothing?
A: My sweats

Q19:If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
A: Italy

Q20:What colour is your bathroom?
A: White for now

Q21:Favourite brand of clothing?
A: Big Dog & wrangler

Q22:Where would you want to retire to?
A: Anywhere but here! I’m with Graham on this one LOL

Q23:Favourite time of day?
A: Anytime that is quiet and relaxing.

Q24:Where were you born?
A. Indiana

Q25:Coke or Pepsi?
A: either I’m not picky

Q26:Are you a morning person or night owl?
A: Night

Q27:What size shoe do you wear?
A: 8

Q28:Do you have pets?
A: yes 2 male cats-- Mikey and Phoenix

Q29:Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with everyone?
A: Not really

Q30:What did you want to be when you were little?
A: A doctor, a cosmotologist (didn’t do either)

Q31:Favourite sweets/candy bar?
A: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Chocolate Covered Cherries

Q32:What is your best childhood memory?
A: Winning 4 trophies and 3 plaques in bowling

Q33:What are the different jobs you have had in your life?
A: mostly always been a cashier

Q34:What colour underwear are you wearing?
A: Pink

Q35:Nicknames?
A: Hubby calls me Duckie

Q36:Piercing?
A: Yes 5 on my ears ( 2 in one and 3 on the other) and belly button

Q37:Eye colour?
A: Hazel

Q38:Ever been to Africa?
A: No

Q39:Ever been toilet papering?
A: Nope thought that was stupid so I never did it

Q40:Love someone so much it made you cry?
A: Yes

Q41:Been in a car accident?
A: Yes

Q42:Who do you work for?
A: Speedway (gas station)

Q43:Favourite day of the week?
A: Pay Day of course

Q44:Favourite restaurant?
A: Lone Star Steak House

Q45:Favourite flower?
A: Rose

Q46:Favourite ice cream?
A: Mint Chocolate Chip

Q47:Disney or Warner Brothers?
A: Disney

Q48: Favourite fast food place?
A: Subway

Q49. What colour is your bedroom carpet?
A: Burgandy

Q50: How many times did you fail your driver's test?
A: Zero

Q51: From whom did you get your last email?
A: Darrell (old friend from work)

Q52: Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
A: Not allowed a credit card (I get stupid with them)

Q53: What do you do most often when you are bored?
A: Read or play games sometimes crafts

Q54: Bedtime?
A: usually around 11 depends on my insomnia

Q55: Last person you went to dinner with?
A: My family (hubby and kids)

Q56: "Ready cooked" meals or fresh ingredients?
A: Usually some ready cooked ( not that great of a cook but want to learn)

Q57: What are you currently reading?
A: Twilight New Moon by Stephanie Meyer

Q58: What are you listening to right now?
A: The TV

Q59: What is your favourite colour?
A: Purple

Q60: Lake, Ocean or river?
A: Lake right now Never seen the ocean

Q61: How many tattoos do you have?
A: Three

Q62: Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
A: The Egg

Q63: Which seven famous people would you invite to your dinner party?
A: Robin Williams, JK Rowling, Robin Cook, Alyssa Milano, Johnny Depp, Drew Barrymore and Sean Astin

Q67: Which animal best describes your personality?
A: Not real sure

Q68: 'Centre of attention' or 'on the sidelines'
A: On the side I think LOL

Q69: Ideal partner: Blonde, Brunette or Redhead
A: I always leaned more torward blonde(married a blonde) but it doesn’t really matter.

Q70: Claim to fame
A: Related somehow to General John J. Pershing (so I’m told)

Q71: Bank or spend?
A: Spend need to learn to bank

Q72: Mend or throw away?
A: Try to mend

Q73: Hot climate, cold climate?
A: Not to hot and not to cold

Q74: What would the epitaph on your gravestone read?
A: Not to sure probably now you can relax

Q75: Are you left or right handed?
A: Right handed

Q76: On what side of the bed do you sleep?
A: Left

Q76: Cinema or sofa?
A: sofa

Q77: PJ's, shorts or nothing?
A: PJ’s

Q78: A day at the Mall or a day by the river?
A:  day by the river

Q79: Have you ever lied?
A: yes -- but I‘m proud of it

Q80: Purpose in life?
A: To learn to have fun and chill out

Q81: Favourite Drink?
A: Mailbu rum with pineapple Juice

Q82: What would your ideal house look like?
A: A Log Cabin

Q83: What's the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?
A: Their smile

Q84: Are you comfortable with your height?
A: Yes

Q85: Have you ever thought that you were honestly going to die?
A: Not really

Q86: Any regrets about anything?
A: Yes

Q87: Is there someone or something you really want?
A: Yes a new camera

Q88: Does anybody like you?
A: Yes my hubby

Q89: Do you believe in God?
A: Yes

Q90: Have you ever kayaked?
A: no

Q91: Fireworks..love'em or hate'em?
A: Love them

Q92: When was the last time you were hugged?
A: today

Q93: Do you speak any other language other than English?
A: I took Spanish but I remember very little

Q94: Are you allergic to anything?
A: Yes dust mites

Q95: Favorite Saying?
A: Don’t judge me till you know me

Q96: Are you close to your family?
A: Yes for the most part

Q97: When was the last time you went swimming?
A: August

Q98: Can you curl your tongue?
A: Yes

Q99: Were you ever rushed by ambulance into an Emergency room?
A: No

Q100: Is there a question that you would like visitors to your blog to answer?
A: Your favorite way to relax?

Monday, January 4, 2010

My first car -- A stroll down memory lane

I want to take you on a stroll down memory lane today. I have talked a little to friends and started reminencing about my first car. My dad got me my first car. He was always trading with someone to get cars ( his brothers did too). He got me a  1976 Pontiac Lemans. The car needed a paint job bad but I loved it.   Here is a pic of a   Lemans similar to the one I had.

My car was grey and blue. The vinyl on top needed replaced, it was torn and sun bleached. I had planned to repaint it someday metallic blue with white pin stripes (I never got too).  Anyway the car had one big problem... I could only fill the gas tank half way due to a hole in the tank.  I learned to deal with it though and had to watch it when I turned left or my tank would leak. Dad never did fix it. Eventually  reverse went  out of it so every where I went I to make sure I could pull out of I was stuck. That sucked. I told dad and he said I will find you another car.

Dad did find me another car and he brought it to me. He got me a 1976 Ford Granada.   Here is a pic of a car similar to that one.The car I had was real close to the color of this one. (We owned a bronze looking one too). I didn't like the car as much as the lemans but it was better and safer than my first car.  Dad decided he liked the granada and came over one day in a Ford Mustang II (it was a 1976 or 1979 I can't remember). I commented on the car and he laughed and said I got this for you  and I'll drive the other car. Dad was good about that kind of stuff. He was also good about fixing them if he could. He was good at tune ups and brakes.  The biggest issue I had with the  Mustang was a power steering leak and the sunroof was sealed shut otherwise the car was great. Here is another pic of a similar one.

The one I had was a deep almost golden brown color. without the stipes like the one in the photo.I drove that car for several monthes when mom came home one day in grandma Mary's old car an Oldsmobile royal eighty eight. She told me she was going to sell my mustang and I could drive her 1979 Plymouth Duster. Grandma got a new car signed her other one to her and I get the duster. I was angry for a few but the Duster had nothing wrong with it and it would be safer for me to drive in the long run. I wasn't happy  but I did as I was told ( my mom scared me so I usually just agreed with her).  Last pic of the simialr cars.
 
The Duster I had was sun bleached red. It looked rough but it drove great. The only thing was in the winter time it  hated to start. I would cover the engine with a blanket at night  so it would start in the mornings. LOL!   Dad always put a piece of cardboard  between the radiator and grill to help in the wintertime. I loved that car, dad taught me how to do tune ups on it myself and he always did the oil changes for me.  I drove that car for years.  I had it for 3 years into my marriage to Randy when the  (slant 6 engine)engine finally locked up.  We needed diapers and baby food for Gage so I finally parted ways with that car and sold it to a junk yard. (Honestly I cried when they took the car away, I wanted to rebuild it). I still miss that cold natured car to this day. I loved my first car but for my forth car (technically) I loved it as if it was my first. I had alot of good times with that car and a lot of funny memories.  It amazes me how some memories will just pop up and give you a smile out of nowhere (especially with a car).

Friday, January 1, 2010

Top Banana


I just wanted to say thank you so much to Cliff  of WIXY's Gone Bananas for  choosing me for the Top Banana Award. I was linked with several wonderful bloggers.  Here's what cliff had to say on his blog.


Top Bananas go west!



HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!


Cliff Note:This post was originally going to go up yesterday afternoon, but the events of the day delayed my writing of it. I want to thank everybody for your support on the last post. I also want to make you aware that I will not use my blog to launch any venom at my former employer as there are some who work there and read this blog. It's also not my style. No on with the Top Bananas!


First I want to say that you folks are great! So far, the awards have achieved one of my goals for them, and you all are checking out my other friends. I hope they all soon become your friends also. They always are fun to present and very much a privilege for me to do. I also get a kick out of the creative streak it brings out in me. Most of the awards are made up as I go along.


Now lets hop in my covered wagon as I go west to present this round of the 2009 Top Bananas.


I first have to go to Arizona, as no one was at their ole' Kentucky home. The Bluegrass Around the Cactus Top Banana goes to Jen, of Unglazed fame. Jen is a great supporter. Her blog has plenty of fascinating photos and she has also hosted a neat feature called A-Z Monday's where participants took the week's letter and posted something concerning a subject that began with that letter.


Now I need to backtrack to Kansas. A first time Top Banana is the Rookie Green Thumb award. This goes to Clean and Crazy, aka Suzie, of My Recovery fame. Suzie has been clean now for close to five years and is very active in Narcotics Anonymous. She is very proud of her daughters and is very supportive of other bloggers. This past summer when my older brother passed away, she sent me a card she had crafted herself that had a photo of her daughter on front. She also took a page from my book and wrote a post called "For Cliff of WIXY's Gone Bananas fame". It was an I Like...because post she dedicated to me.


Another first timer is Speedy, of Speedcat Hollydale Page Page fame. Speedy receives the You Never Know Where I'll Pop Up Top Banana. He is very avid on both Facebook and Twitter. He is also very creative in his writings and photo shopping himself in many pictures on his blog. And like me, Speedy has an affinity for fried chicken.


The Let's Have a Great 2010 Together Top Banana goes to Michelle Dawn of Rusin Roundup fame. Cliff Note: I know these are the 2009 Top Bananas, but let's face it, 2009 sucked. Michelle Dawn has had bouts of depression and has also, with her husband Randy, struggled with the recent past. But this hasn't stopped her from writing a good blog and supporting her online friends. Michelle Dawn lives in Indiana.


Now from Indiana, I go to Michigan. Jessica of Five Pines fame gets the How Much is that Doggy in the Window Top Banana. The Five Pines family got a new puppy for Christmas and Jessica is acting like a proud mama with all three of her canine family members. She is also proud of her husband, son, and daughter.


The last Top Banana in this post goes to Building A Log Cabin fame. Shelley receives the I *Heart* My Dog(and Cat) Top Banana. She posts great photos of her log cabin, cat Marvin, and new addition this past year, her dog, Scout. She also includes fantastic nature shots and sometimes she will photograph her husband, Greg.

I think this is my 2nd or 3rd time winning this award. Check out all of the blogs and check out CLiff's blog for other recipeints of this award.