A little bit of me, a little bit of my life, a lot of my girls, a few pictures, and the rest is history!
Friday, November 29, 2013
Fall in Las Vegas
It is most definitely FALL in Las Vegas but we don't have the trees that make all the neat leaves, at least in our yard, but just a few miles away there is this place that has those trees so we went there today to take some cool FALL photos!
Green Rice Casserole
My grandma was a cook. No really, she worked as a cook at an elementary school for several years. She was also very skinny, and I was always told never to trust a skinny cook but I liked her food. I remember several meals that I considered hers, like her chicken and noodles, goulash, pigs in a blanket, and one of my holiday favorites, green rice. I was lucky enough to get the recipe before she passed, and I have successfully made it for a few years. I like eating it with ham and sweet potatoes. It makes a lot, so I usually make it at Thanksgiving and freeze some for Christmas, New Years, or Easter. Here is her recipe, and no, it is not healthy at all!
Grandma's Green Rice
Ingredients:
1 Onion
1 Pound Bacon
4 cups Instant White Rice
1 Jar Cheez Whiz
2 Cans Cream of Broccoli Soup
1 Can Cheddar Cheese Soup
1 Can Cream of Celery Soup
1 Can Vegetable Broth
2 Cups Shredded Cheese
Cook the rice and set aside. Cook the bacon until crispy and then cut (or tear) up into bite size pieces. Cook the onion for a few minutes (I cook mine in the bacon grease). Put everything except the shredded cheese into a big bowl and mix up real good (cooked rice, cooked bacon & onions, soups, cheez whiz and vegetable broth).
Yes, leftovers!
Grandma's Green Rice
Ingredients:
1 Onion
1 Pound Bacon
4 cups Instant White Rice
1 Jar Cheez Whiz
2 Cans Cream of Broccoli Soup
1 Can Cheddar Cheese Soup
1 Can Cream of Celery Soup
1 Can Vegetable Broth
2 Cups Shredded Cheese
Cook the rice and set aside. Cook the bacon until crispy and then cut (or tear) up into bite size pieces. Cook the onion for a few minutes (I cook mine in the bacon grease). Put everything except the shredded cheese into a big bowl and mix up real good (cooked rice, cooked bacon & onions, soups, cheez whiz and vegetable broth).
Separate it all into the pans. I use small foil pans to freeze. I usually add the shredded cheese right before I actually bake it. The glass dish is what I baked yesterday and it was SO delicious. It really makes a lot. Bake it at 350 for 40-45 minutes, whenever the cheese on top is nice and melted.
Yes, leftovers!
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Thanksgiving
I love Thanksgiving, a nice happy distraction from the slowly declining weather. Hey, I can't help it, I struggle to get through to the next summer, the colder months are never easy for me! I need Halloween and Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentine's Day, they give me something to look forward to when things seem so cold outside :o0 yes I am a baby!
Anyway this year we did things a lot different. For lunch I got a honey baked ham to go with the green rice and sweet potatoes I made, with a side of pecan pie. For dinner I made deviled eggs and an apple cobbler crumble to take over to the Springston's house where we will be spending our real Thanksgiving dinner. This apple cobbler crumble is a recipe I had to create myself because I know what I want but could not find it. If it turns out like I imagine (taste in my mind) I will share it later.
The girls have been decent today. We made turkey hand shirts a few days ago and they look nice and fit well considering they are a size 10 (instead of 7) and 4 (instead of 3) - thrift store, they are only going to wear them once!
These two turkeys are getting so big. Sometimes I don't realize how they look until I see them in pictures, especially Summer, sometimes she looks so old in a picture and sometimes I see how young she still is.
I love them to pieces :o) definitely a lot to be thankful for this year as usual!
Anyway this year we did things a lot different. For lunch I got a honey baked ham to go with the green rice and sweet potatoes I made, with a side of pecan pie. For dinner I made deviled eggs and an apple cobbler crumble to take over to the Springston's house where we will be spending our real Thanksgiving dinner. This apple cobbler crumble is a recipe I had to create myself because I know what I want but could not find it. If it turns out like I imagine (taste in my mind) I will share it later.
The girls have been decent today. We made turkey hand shirts a few days ago and they look nice and fit well considering they are a size 10 (instead of 7) and 4 (instead of 3) - thrift store, they are only going to wear them once!
These two turkeys are getting so big. Sometimes I don't realize how they look until I see them in pictures, especially Summer, sometimes she looks so old in a picture and sometimes I see how young she still is.
I love them to pieces :o) definitely a lot to be thankful for this year as usual!
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Summer's iPad Photos
I had Summer's iPad hooked to my computer so I thought I should back up all her photo and videos. As I was looking through them I had to giggle a little bit, well not really, I am too old to giggle, but I thought it :o) anyway here are a few of the photos she had on her iPad.
July 2013
April 2012
November 2012
December 2012
December 2012
January 2013
January 2013
January 2013
January 2013
January 2013
February 2013
May 2013
July 2013
July 2013
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Ear Again -2 days later
My ear has so much attention lately! Today was 48 hours after my reconstruction which meant we had to change the bandage. We = Kris. Good thing he can *please wear sunscreen* handle stuff like this, I don't honestly know how well I would do.
Overall the bandage change wasn't that bad. It didn't really hurt and it was not *please wear sunscreen* bleeding, much. Hardly at all really.
I took a shower right before and washed my hair *please wear sunscreen* because it had been a long time since I had cleaned it. I was pretty scared to get it wet but it was fine.
Ready to see it??? Very graphic, a bit red from some blood, don't look if you get grossed out about stuff like missing ears being put *please wear sunscreen* back together.
See not really that bad. Just remember if you are having a bad day today, the week is almost over and at least you have your ear!
Overall the bandage change wasn't that bad. It didn't really hurt and it was not *please wear sunscreen* bleeding, much. Hardly at all really.
I took a shower right before and washed my hair *please wear sunscreen* because it had been a long time since I had cleaned it. I was pretty scared to get it wet but it was fine.
Ready to see it??? Very graphic, a bit red from some blood, don't look if you get grossed out about stuff like missing ears being put *please wear sunscreen* back together.
See not really that bad. Just remember if you are having a bad day today, the week is almost over and at least you have your ear!
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Working Mom
On September 30, 2009 I worked my last day, I haven't worked in over 4 years. I never ever imagined I would be a stay at home mom, but due to the economy at the time (no jobs available) it ended up that way. I will eventually go back to work, probably soon after Pepper goes to school, at least I think. I can't imagine never working again, I really loved working.
What did I do?
My first job was working as a vacuum cleaner at my pop's elementary school. He was the head custodian and I, for about a month, probably less, went to the school every afternoon and vacuumed all the classrooms. It was boring and even though it only took 2 hours I didn't last long. I was probably only 16.
My second job was at Crocket's, a BBQ place that I walked to and from, about 2 blocks from where I lived at the time. It was a very dead restaurant and for some reason at the time I didn't like BBQ, nor did I like smelling of BBQ when I left each day for about 2 weeks.
I was not starting out to be a very good employee only lasting a few weeks lol.
Right after high school I went to work at Salas Mexican restaurant as a hostess. I did that for a few months, and finally transitioned to a waitress where I was horrible. I remember I carried the trays with my arms fully around it, I had no balance. One time I also spilled an entire container of Italian dressing in the kitchen, can you imagine how hard that was to clean? While working there I also never tried guacamole because I just assumed it was gross, I love guacamole! I was young. While I was waitressing I served a customer who offered me an office job at an asphalt company.
Jenkins Construction was my next job, I sat in an office, worked on a type writer? and weighed trucks carrying asphalt. There really wasn't much for me to do and I lasted a few months before they laid me off.
My first real job that actually lasted longer than a few months was at an Apartment Complex, I was a Leasing Agent. I was good at that job. I think I worked there about a year. I probably would have stayed there longer had the manager not been strange, and of course I wanted more money.
I left to become an Office Manager with Pinkerton, a company that provided security officers. I was with that company for over 7 years, the company later became Securitas and during my time I was a Scheduling Manager, Human Resource Manager, and left as an Assistant Branch Manager. I left because I hated the Area Vice President (he was a dork) and I needed a change.
After that I found a job in a mortuary. Yes I worked at Bunkers Mortuary. I loved it, I did accounts receivable, created memorial folders, typed death certificates, and helped out wherever else I could. It was a great job, unfortunately it was too slow and most of the time I was bored and tried to invent work. In fact when I started they had a front desk lady, she was let go and I just said I would do both jobs but I still wasn't busy enough. I stayed there three months and I learned a lot about death, saw a lot of dead bodies, and even saw an autopsy. I contemplated becoming a funeral director but didn't like the idea of working weekends.
I left the mortuary to go with numbers, Terra West Property Management handled several home owner associations and I became one of the girls that balanced the budget each month. It was extremely boring and after 9 months I realized that I needed people interaction.
My next job, and last, was with a private company that was responsible for taking care of a billionaires family. Only in Las Vegas right? I was hired to be a security researcher, later moved into the assistant to the billionaire wife position and because I had extra time I ended up being the company IT person. This was a very interesting job, I stayed 5 years and only left because the company relocated. I never thought I would meet a billionaire much less work for one. I never thought I would get to fly in a private jet or stay in fancy hotels and eat crazy meals. It was fun, stressful, but taught me a lot. I was humbled by how the family lived, and I got a new appreciation for money after working there.
And now I stay home, keep my house clean and take care of my daughters. I did play around with the idea of a photography business two years ago and ended up making money but I had so much trouble asking people for money that it didn't work out for long.
I wonder what my next job will be?
What did I do?
My first job was working as a vacuum cleaner at my pop's elementary school. He was the head custodian and I, for about a month, probably less, went to the school every afternoon and vacuumed all the classrooms. It was boring and even though it only took 2 hours I didn't last long. I was probably only 16.
My second job was at Crocket's, a BBQ place that I walked to and from, about 2 blocks from where I lived at the time. It was a very dead restaurant and for some reason at the time I didn't like BBQ, nor did I like smelling of BBQ when I left each day for about 2 weeks.
I was not starting out to be a very good employee only lasting a few weeks lol.
Right after high school I went to work at Salas Mexican restaurant as a hostess. I did that for a few months, and finally transitioned to a waitress where I was horrible. I remember I carried the trays with my arms fully around it, I had no balance. One time I also spilled an entire container of Italian dressing in the kitchen, can you imagine how hard that was to clean? While working there I also never tried guacamole because I just assumed it was gross, I love guacamole! I was young. While I was waitressing I served a customer who offered me an office job at an asphalt company.
Jenkins Construction was my next job, I sat in an office, worked on a type writer? and weighed trucks carrying asphalt. There really wasn't much for me to do and I lasted a few months before they laid me off.
My first real job that actually lasted longer than a few months was at an Apartment Complex, I was a Leasing Agent. I was good at that job. I think I worked there about a year. I probably would have stayed there longer had the manager not been strange, and of course I wanted more money.
I left to become an Office Manager with Pinkerton, a company that provided security officers. I was with that company for over 7 years, the company later became Securitas and during my time I was a Scheduling Manager, Human Resource Manager, and left as an Assistant Branch Manager. I left because I hated the Area Vice President (he was a dork) and I needed a change.
After that I found a job in a mortuary. Yes I worked at Bunkers Mortuary. I loved it, I did accounts receivable, created memorial folders, typed death certificates, and helped out wherever else I could. It was a great job, unfortunately it was too slow and most of the time I was bored and tried to invent work. In fact when I started they had a front desk lady, she was let go and I just said I would do both jobs but I still wasn't busy enough. I stayed there three months and I learned a lot about death, saw a lot of dead bodies, and even saw an autopsy. I contemplated becoming a funeral director but didn't like the idea of working weekends.
I left the mortuary to go with numbers, Terra West Property Management handled several home owner associations and I became one of the girls that balanced the budget each month. It was extremely boring and after 9 months I realized that I needed people interaction.
My next job, and last, was with a private company that was responsible for taking care of a billionaires family. Only in Las Vegas right? I was hired to be a security researcher, later moved into the assistant to the billionaire wife position and because I had extra time I ended up being the company IT person. This was a very interesting job, I stayed 5 years and only left because the company relocated. I never thought I would meet a billionaire much less work for one. I never thought I would get to fly in a private jet or stay in fancy hotels and eat crazy meals. It was fun, stressful, but taught me a lot. I was humbled by how the family lived, and I got a new appreciation for money after working there.
And now I stay home, keep my house clean and take care of my daughters. I did play around with the idea of a photography business two years ago and ended up making money but I had so much trouble asking people for money that it didn't work out for long.
I wonder what my next job will be?
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Ear Reconstruction
What kind of person has ear reconstruction, I mean really, why couldn't I have done something normal like broken my leg or had my appendix removed.
This is not my ear, I mean, obviously I am not a dude with facial hair, but this is how bad my ear looked earlier today. I did contemplate not having the reconstruction until I saw how much was actually missing. That might be a little strange looking to have such a large piece of ear gone.
This is not my ear, I mean, obviously I am not a dude with facial hair, but this is how bad my ear looked earlier today. I did contemplate not having the reconstruction until I saw how much was actually missing. That might be a little strange looking to have such a large piece of ear gone.
45 minutes (ish) later and I now have a missing piece of skin from behind my ear attached over my missing spot, 26 ish stitches and a head wrap :o/ I had no clue this little annoying mole was going to cause so much trouble! I have to go back in a week to have the stitches removed then in two more weeks to have the flap restitched or something. I kinda quit asking questions after yesterday because the less I know the better. That whole anxiety thing.
On the brighter side, at least I have a new experience to share with others. Or, you know when you say "I wish I could go through this for you" - well I went through it instead of someone else, tho that didn't make me feel much better hehe. I don't have to wash my hair for two more days, you know because washing hair is so hard. Ummm in a few years I will look back on this and smile. Probably not :o).
I did ask the doctor if he could do fairy ears, funny enough that thought crossed my mind yesterday and Kris asked me this morning if I should get fairy ears. We have been together way too long!
When they were bandaging me up and decided a head wrap would be needed, I was like, are you kidding me, a big head wrap? That makes it a lot harder to hide!!! hahaha
Now to get through the next week and then two more weeks, then hopefully I am done with this mess and can find something else new and exciting to consume me!
Jazz Class
Summer has been in a dance class since she was 15 months old. First it was a mommy and me class. She was young but picked it up really fast. The teacher was only there a short time and after she quit the owner of the dance studio was trying to find a new teacher - I asked if I could do it. I had never taught a dance class but figured it was easy enough teaching toddlers right? I taught there for about 6 months and after not really having enough students we stopped and took a short break. Not long after we somehow became involved with Olive Crest and I volunteered to teach a dance class for younger kids there. I did that for about a year until I became pregnant with Pepper. By that time Summer was almost 3 1/2 and was old enough to go into a real ballet class without me and she has been going ever since. I think she has been in about 8 performances and will be in another this June.
Does she like dance? Yes, I think she enjoys it, especially the jazz class she is currently taking.
Is she really into it? Uh no, she does not pay attention very well and is easily distracted by all the other girls.
Will I keep her in it? I will let her decide, if she ever asks to quit we will stop and if I see she is just not doing a great job we will try something else.
She currently goes to Bunker Dance and I really like the studio. They are a very mature studio (20 years) and the teachers are good at teaching dance. They are organized and do a great job communicating, which can't be easy with such a big studio - but it is working.
Last night was the "open house" and Summer was able to show off some of her moves. Of course I took a bunch of pictures and a video. The girls were suppose to wear Christmas colors, something Summer forgot to mention :o/ but it was still cute and nice watching her "perform" for me.
Does she like dance? Yes, I think she enjoys it, especially the jazz class she is currently taking.
Is she really into it? Uh no, she does not pay attention very well and is easily distracted by all the other girls.
Will I keep her in it? I will let her decide, if she ever asks to quit we will stop and if I see she is just not doing a great job we will try something else.
She currently goes to Bunker Dance and I really like the studio. They are a very mature studio (20 years) and the teachers are good at teaching dance. They are organized and do a great job communicating, which can't be easy with such a big studio - but it is working.
Last night was the "open house" and Summer was able to show off some of her moves. Of course I took a bunch of pictures and a video. The girls were suppose to wear Christmas colors, something Summer forgot to mention :o/ but it was still cute and nice watching her "perform" for me.
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