5 Young Women

My house was full of laughter from

young girls again this weekend.
Or should I say young women.
Tori & her 4 closest friends from high school
all got together for dinner at Olive Garden
and then they came to my house
like old times!

Everyone was back in town from college for the summer or just came back to visit friends and family.

They are also celebrating the bride to be, Natalie (on right).

They acted goofy for photos when I told them
I needed pictures so I could blog about it.

Tori, Natalie, Shannon, Jessica & Lyndsay!

____________________________________________________________________

Today was Natalie's Bridal Shower. It was beautifully decorated and the cupcakes were to die for...the frosting was delicious. Natalie looked beautiful!! I was so emotional watching her walk around and open gifts, etc. How am I gonna feel when it's one of my daughter's getting married?

Maid of Honor and the Bride to Be

It's hard to imagine sometimes that these
girls are all grown up!
I wonder who is going to be next to marry out of this group?!
I bet it's Tori....but not for another 3 years at least!

Time really does fly by!
This has been a wonderful weekend!!

Youth passes like a dream.
-Theocritus

Quality Time

Jeez, it has been almost a week since I have been on blogger.

What have I been up to you ask? Well, I've been busy spending quality time with my husband.

See, when most couples do all their hanging out on Saturday and Sundays we have to do it on Wednesdays and Thursday nights cause that is John's weekend.

This week he didn't have the midshift so that meant we had Monday-Thursday nights to see each other from 5 pm when I get off work until usually 10 pm when I am turning orange and ready for bed. This was rare so we took advantage of it!

Monday we went to see the movie "Night at the Museum:Battle at the Smithsonian". Oh. My. Goodness. This was hilarious!!!!

Tuesday John's best friend from high school, Sean and his girlfriend, Danilla were in town from Colorado for his son's graduation. When they come in town we always meet up at Boscos in Little Rock and have dinner and drinks.

I love it that they are still friends after all these years...these two still act like they did back in high school. Oh the stories I can tell about the 3 of us driving around in Sean's 300zx.....or when we were at McDonalds...or the Oxford Inn!!!

We went to Willy D's dueling piano bar after dinner and had a BLAST singing and laughing. I stayed awake till midnight...*gasp*....so not like me (during the school year)!!!

Funny thing about Boscos....Tori had applied there on Friday afternoon and they hired her on the spot!! She started training the night we were there. It was cool because the guy who sat us said, "you must be Tori's mom" and then she saw us and came over and gave me & her daddy hugs and kisses! She wasn't embarrassed that we are her parents :) Love it!!!

Meg came in town and took her Daddy to lunch on Thursday. We all went and ate dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant in town...Meg spoke Spanish with them the entire time. I love to listen to her speak it.

3 more days and school is out for the summer. YAY! I applied to drive the school bus for transition camp (2 weeks long) but won't know if I got it until next week. I'm looking forward to a summer of relaxation and my personal trainer (John) whipping my butt into shape at the gym!!!

Hot Yoga

So lately my workout of choice has been "Hot Yoga" or "Bikram Yoga". I first found out about this kind of yoga in April's edition of Shape magazine. Jenny McCarthy's on the cover and she looks freaking amazing!

Hot yoga is a series of yoga poses performed in a heated room (between 95 and 105 degree). Every move is held for 1 minute....and that 1 minute feels like forever with some poses! You start to feel the burn within 30 seconds.

Hot yoga will purify the body of toxins, improve flexibility and range of motion, enhance the immune system, and promote weight loss.

I'm excited about the hot summers here in Arkansas because I'll be able to perform these exercises in my garage without having to use the electric heater!!

It's a very challenging workout.




Here are a few of my favorites. You can find all poses and wonderful videos and helpful techniques on how to breath on The Hot Yoga Doctor website.




Awkward pose: This pose is challenging....my legs shake like a leaf! But, I think it is my favorite 'cause I can feel it working and I love a good leg workout.

• Improves overall body strength
• Opens pelvis
• Strengthens and tones leg muscles
• Relieves menstrual cramping
• Reduces fat pocket under buttocks
• Aligns skeletal system
• Good for arthritis conditions
• Good for digestion
• Relieves joint pain
• Relieves sciatica
• Improves flexibility in toes and ankles
• Exercises liver, intestines, and pancreas

Triangle pose: This pose feels so good. I love the stretch I feel on my sides.

• An excellent cardiovascular workout
• Intensely stretches each side of the body
• Opens and increases flexibility of hip joints
• Reduces saddle bags
• Good for kidneys, thyroid and adrenal glands
• Opens shoulder joint, good for frozen shoulder
• Strengthen and tones legs and buttocks
• Helps regulate hormone levels
• Works all muscular groups simultaneously
• Helps conditions of constipation, colitis, low blood pressure, appendicitis, spondylitis, menstrual disorders

Half moon: This pose will help trim your waist line!!!

• Works into the whole skeletal and circulatory systems
• Opens shoulder joints
• Good for frozen shoulder
• Reduces or eliminates pain in the lower back
• Good for abdominal obesity
• Improves and strengthens every muscle in the central part of the body Increase the flexibility of the spine
• Tones the spinal nerves and abdominal organs inproving the working of the bowels
• Increases flexibility and strength of rectus abdominis, gluteus maximus, oblique, deltoid and trapezius muscles
• Helps with sciatic problems
• Alleviates anxiety and reduces mental stress
• Stimulates pituitary gland
• Exercises colon, pancreas, kidneys, muscular, skeletal, respiratory and glandular systems
• Firms and trims waistline, hips, abdomen, buttocks and thighs

Standing bow pulling pose: This one I can only hold for about 30 seconds. My balance is a little unsteady still. I am getting better at this pose though.

• Stimulates cardiovascular system
• Increases circulation to heart and lungs
• Opens diaphragm
• Opens shoulder joint
• Helps frozen shoulder conditions
• Improves spine elasticity
• Improves strength and balance
• Reduces abdominal fat
• Helps regulate ovaries and prostate gland

Overall it is one of the best workouts I've tried! It's hot, you sweat, it's deeply cleansing and it makes you feel healthy and complete after your workout. I can feel the toxins dripping out of me...oh wait, that's the sweat...yeah, toxins!!!

You have to drink plenty of water after the workout; I found that if I didn't I got a headache.

So what are you waiting on.....go try this workout!! Let me know what you think.

Oh and if my body gets smoking hot like Jenny's is because of this workout....I'll post a picture of me in a bikini.

Lili

Meet Lili (lee-lee). She is Tori's baby girl. Isn't she beautiful!!!? I call her Lili Coon because of the dark circles around her eyes make her look like a raccoon.

So I have a grand-dog and a grand-kitty. Seriously, the girls call me Nona and call me to tell me the cute little things that Lili and Dinosaur do.

I love it!

You asked for it, here it is!

Whole-Wheat Margarita Pizza

Ingredients:

CRUST:
* 1 pkg. active dry yeast
* 1 cup warm water
* 1 tablespoon Olive oil
* 2 teaspoons salt
* 2 1/2 cups.... 50/50 whole wheat & white flour from Hodgson Mill, plus some for kneading

Topping:
* 5 Roma tomatoes, cut into slices
* 8 oz. mozzarella cheese, grated
* 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
* olive oil
* fresh basil
* corn meal

DIRECTIONS:

In a medium bowl, combine the yeast and water; let sit until yeast foams, approx. 5 minutes. Stir in salt and oil. Add flour, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing with a large spoon until dough comes away from sides of bowl.

Sprinkle flour on work surface and knead dough for 5 minutes...it should be springy and smooth. Form into a ball and cover, place in warm spot for 2 hours to double in size.

TO MAKE PIZZA:

Preheat oven to 475. On lightly floured work surface roll out dough to stone size with rolling pin. I do about 1/4 inch thick. Sprinkle stone with corn meal. Lat crust on stone (or pan) Lightly drizzle dough with olive oil....add mozzarella cheese and lay tomatoes on top. Sprinkle parmesan on top. Lightly drizzle a little more olive oil on top.

Let pizza rest for 10 minutes. (this makes for a crispy crust)

Place in oven for 20 minutes. The last 3 minutes add your basil leaves.



MARINADE:

1 large can tomato sauce
1 small can (6 oz) tomato paste
Italian seasoning
Garlic Powder
Salt & Pepper

I don't measure when making sauces and marinades. So I would say season to your taste. I probably use about 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning and 1/2 tsp. of garlic. Cook for at least 45 minutes.

Enjoy!!

Spice Cabinet

I was inspired to clean out my spice cabinet after reading Nicole's blog post over at The Chronicles of Nicole.

I am the messiest baker and I tend to keep my bake goods/spice cabinet just as messy.

Here is my cabinet before....I can't believe I let it get this messy. I'm quite embarrassed about it. But I'm blogging about it anyway! :)


This has all expired and had to be discarded!! Some as far back as 2004....OMG!! I can not believe it! The molasses only expired in January so I didn't feel bad that I used it in December!

All finished!!! Doesn't it look clean and organized! YAY! I combined any duplicate spices I had so I only had one container of each....except for cinnamon sticks...why do I have 2 brand new containers? Who knows!! I put all sweet spices on the right side of the doors and all the savory spices on the left. I had to use the two top shelves on the right side for some savory spices though because I ran out of room. I put the ones I use most often on the bottom for easy access.


I feel like baking now....maybe some of John's favorite cookies....Oatmeal Crasins!

This little pill is called Prometrium. Prometrium is a natural progesterone identical to the hormone your body makes. My gynecologist put me on this hormone to help control my endometriosis, balance my hormones, and regulate my cycle. It also helps with PMS symptoms and more! It is an amazing little pill!!!

Here are the side effects to this medication that I have been experiencing.

Increased appetite....um, hello, this one sucks when you are trying to lose weight.

Hot flashes.

Emotional...I cry at everything!

Less moody!

Feeling of being stoned or slightly drunk.....I am not minding this one at all...haha.

Dizziness.

Extreme relaxation within 45 minutes of taking it.

Within an hour to an hour and a half I can not keep my eyes open!!! I literally pass out and get the BEST nights sleep ever!!!

Lots of energy in the morning....but I get real tired around 1 pm.

I only take this pill for 12 days...days 14-25 of my cycle. I take it at night because of above reasons. I am hoping that this pill will balance out my hormones and help with the endo.

So far this pill seems to be pretty good despite all the side effects.

Anyone else ever experience prometrium?

Mother's Day

*all photos taken by my daughter Tori*

Mother's Day was wonderful!

My mom came over to enjoy brunch with Meg, Tori & I. I woke up fairly early to get ready for it.

This table cloth was John's grandmother's. I think it looked real pretty. I found those flower plates at an estate sale a few years back; four for two dollars!

I made a spinach quiche, turkey bacon & a fruit salad that was sweetened with agava nectar.

We had hazelnut biscotti coffee and Grand Marnier Mimosas to drink.

Mom & I

Me & my girls

All four of us.


My mom enjoyed her gifts and brunch. We visited for a few hours and then she went home.

This sweet man of mine came home from work around 3:30. He surprised me with this beautiful hand blown venetian glass necklace that was made in Italy. It was totally unexpected. I absolutely love it!

The girls gave me a coupon for a day at the pottery studio with them!! I'm super stoked about this! I will be cashing in that coupon as soon as school is out!

We had to have an early dinner because Meg had to work and Tori had to get back home to Conway. So I decided just to cook dinner as well.

I made Whole Wheat Margarita Pizza with marinara sauce on the side.

It was very yummy!!

It was another wonderful Mother's Day!!!

My crazy 8's

I haven't blogged since Tuesday and I feel like I missed out on the party. Before I get to my crazy 8's I'll just give a few fragments of my week.

Tuesday night I went to a Pampered Chef party next door at my neighbors house. Pampered Chef has a new Pineapple Wedger...have you seen it? I love pineapple but hate to cut it so I was thrilled to buy this!!

Wednesday I went on the 6th grade "no referral" field trip to "Playtime Pizza"....holy moly people this was Chuck E Cheese on steroids!! It was so much fun!! I had a blast...oh the kids had fun too!! You can seriously spend over $100 a kid here. Laser tag, bumper cars, go-carts, night vision golf, games, games and more games!!!

Thursday Tori came in to take pictures of her daddy & I posing in her gas mask she made for her critique. I'll post about that this weekend if I can get the pictures from her.



I was tagged by my bloggy pals Jamie over @ Bumps in the Road and
Heather @ "This is the day..."Ps118:24
the other day to do my "Crazy" 8's. So here we go.....

Here's the rules--mention the person that tagged you.
Complete the lists of 8's.
Tag 8 of your wonderful blogger friends.
Go tell them you tagged them!

8 Things I Am Looking Forward To:

1. Mother's Day brunch with my mom and daughter's
2. School ending...June 3rd
3. Getting to sew a lot this summer
4. My face clearing up completely!!!
5. Meeting the girls new roommates and seeing their new separate rooms!
6. John to finish up the dresser he is re-finishing.
7. Fresh vegetables from my garden
8. Visiting the Farmers Market downtown and eating at Boulevard with my girls and/or John.

8 Things I Did Yesterday:

1. Worked
2. helped do a project on Babe Ruth
3. Ate lunch with 12 kids
4. Stopped by my moms and saw the 5 puppies (chihuahuas) born yesterday on my nephew, Flynn's 7th birthday. They are so tiny and adorable!!!


5. talked to Meg on the phone
6. talked to Tori on the phone
7. talked to John on the phone
8. Worked out while watching CSI Miami

8 Things I Wish I Could Do:

1. Go to Australia!!!
2. Stretch the time
3. Have the same days off as John
4. Have more self-control with food (I'm getting better)
5. Drive to the beach whenever I wanted
6. Roller Blade
7. See my girls everyday!
8. Get back into those darn jeans of mine!!! ARG!

8 Shows I Watch:

1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Private Practice
3. LOST
4. Two and a half Men
5. CSI and CSI Miami
6. The New adventures of Old Christine
7. Food Network....I watch them all!!!
8. DEXTER

8 favorite friuts:

1. Strawberries
2. Pineapple
3. Pink Lady apples
4 bananas
5. Grapes
6. Kiwi
7. Pears
8. Tangelos

8 places I'd like to travel to:

1. Australia
2. Brazil
3. Chile
4. England
5. France
6. Spain
7.Africa
8. Bora Bora

8 places I have lives:

1. Medford, New York
2. Jacksonville, Arkansas
3.Shreveport, Louisiana
4. LRAFB, Arkansas
5. Cabot, Arkansas
6. Austin, Arkansas
7.--------
8.--------

Now who am I tagging?

Wanna play? Then tag you are it!!!

Kids make me laugh

So yesterday I reiterated to my homeroom class the importance of washing your hands and/or using Germx.

Mr. Smiley (6th grader) looked up at me and said, "So we don't catch Swine-eee"!

:) made me laugh!

Preserved with l♥ve

Saturday it rained non-stop!! John & I did our usual Saturday morning date....gym and breakfast. After he left for work I got busy making homemade jam!

I bought these beauties from the local farm, Holland Bottoms. I gently washed all 10 quarts. Then cut off the caps & stems and divided them into two quart bowls. Fresh strawberries are the best!

I decided to cut about 2 or 3 quarts into 1/2 inch pieces and dehydrate them.


Canning can be very time consuming...everything has to be sterilized to prevent bacteria from growing. I sterilize the jars in my dishwasher.


Here are the strawberries crushed up with the lemon juice and pectin in it; almost at a boil waiting for the sugar.

Here it is with the sugar added and almost at the rolling boil stage.



Here is the finished product! I ended up making 22 half-pint jars and 2 four oz. jars.

Homemade jam is made in small batches, you can not double the recipe, it is full of chunks and bursting with flavor. There is nothing better then homemade preserves on an english muffin or a homemade biscuit.

I will use these dehydrated strawberries in my granola or we will put them in our cereal. They are even good as a small snack. They came out great!

I'm at my happiest when I am in my kitchen! ♥

Randomness

*Tuesday morning I really needed a boat to get to work. It had rained over an inch and a half in 2 hours. The roads were flooded in numerous places. I was scared but managed to drive through the water not going to slow or too fast. It was also dark out so that was freaking me out. John stayed on the phone with me the entire time. It took me 55 minutes to make the 25 minute drive. They now have signs up by those low areas saying "road is unsafe when under water".

*My garden is loving all this rain...the plants are flourishing! Me, I'm tired of it!

*I had an older gentleman with a gray beard ride on my bus so he would get familiar with the route. D, a 1st grader, who is the size of a 4 year old and as sweet as apple pie, got on the bus and said, "are you grandpa?" That was the best belly laugh I have had in a long time.

*I had a dermatology appointment this week. I read in a woman's magazine that at the age of 38 you should get your skin and moles checked. It took me 4 months to get into this clinic. All is good with my moles and skin. EXCEPT....I have been suffering with adult acne for a year now. This was actually the main reason I finally broke down and made the appointment. Acne at my age is So depressing!! Dr. Reed put me on 100 mg doxycycline twice a day by mouth, two creams, Retin-a at night and Acanya in the morning. She promised me that the acne will go away and I'm going to have beautiful skin and there is a bonus...the acanya is also an anti-aging! Whoo-hoo....but at $211(my cost $75) for a very small jar, 2 month supply, it better make me look young and beautiful! :)

*We went and had a family dinner up in Conway with the girls. We ate at an Italian place called Pias. I forgot to take a photo. :(

*John found this bird sitting in the tree (the dead tree he thinks will come back) there were also several others in the road. I'm pretty sure it's an American Goldfinch. Beautiful!

(enlarge photo to see bird better)

*I cleaned out my closet. Gave 4 bags to goodwill and took 28 shoe boxes to the recycle center. I just LOVE a clean organized closet.

*It is still raining....we have received over 2 inches in the last two days. It is pouring as I type this. Thunder & lightning, too. Ugh, I am SO tired of rain.

* love this joke I heard this week
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One cannibal turns to the other and asks, "This taste funny to you?"