On the Road Again

On the road again...

We headed to Taos, New Mexico for some ski and snow fun.  We drove, so that was an adventure in itself.  We have road trips down to science now.  We make memories that will last a lifetime.  I know I remember my family trips like they were yesterday.

Things you need for a road trip:

Ice chest or ice bag full of drinks

Bag full of snacks (beef jerky, nuts, crakers)

emergency bag-insta flat, jumper cables, etc.

wood/gallon of gas

flashlight

blankets/pillows

headrest TVs if you have one and extra movies

IPods, DSI,& deck of cards

 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Santa was good to us this year! 

We surprised the girls with a Ski Trip.  We packed new ski coats and ski gear in a suitcase and put a big bow on it.  When the girls opened it, they were so happy because one of their Christmas wishes was to see SNOW!

Christmas Gift System

Every year I have 4 different Christmas parties: my house, my mom's, my dad's, and my in-laws. It never fails, I forget a present or take the wrong one.  Well I solved that problem this year.  I made a bow system. 

Green~ my house

White~ my Dad's

Black ~ my Mom's

Red~ my in-law's house



I Love Summer Vacation

When I was young, we didn't have much.  My parents worked very hard and had two jobs each most of the time.  I didn't know we were poor until it was pointed out to me by classmates.  I thought everybody had a free lunch card just like me.  You see, my parents didn't go to college and didn't have careers but they did everything they could to be the best parents and provide for me and my sister.

The one thing they did do and made a must to do was take us on a family vacation every summer.  They saved for it all year long.  We didn't fly, but we drove.  Usually with family or friends so they could split the cost of gas.  One of my greatest memories I will never forget is packing, leaving early in the morning, jumping on the road and waiting till we got there.  We went all over the U.S. and did everything we could for that week.  It was the only time we could eat anything we wanted and do anything we wanted. 

We started that tradition with my family a couple of years ago.  Doing staycations around DFW, Austin, San Antionio, etc.  But this year we did it right.  We Saved, Saved, Saved!!! We took the best trip ever!  We flew into San Diego, went to the best Zoo ever.  Then drove up the coast all the way to San Francisco hitting every beach like La Jolla, Venice, Carmel, and every hot spot like Disneyland, Universal Studios, L.A., Hollywood, The California Coast,  Big Sur, Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf  etc, etc.  We had the best time ever!!!  We will always keep this tradition going so that our daughters may have that memory and pass it along to their family one day.

 San Diego Bay

San Diego Zoo

 

 

First Time to see an Ocean @ Coronado Beach, CA

LaJolla Beach

 Where the memories begin...

Watching the Disneyand Parade :)

California Adventure Park

Universal Studios Tour

Hollywood Hills (we were so close)

Venice Beach

Santa Monica Sunset

Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Park

Carmel Beach

California Coast

This is not a Post Card

Elephant Seals

San Francisco

Golden Gate Bridge (fog included)

This was a beautiful time for my family to bond and make memories.  I encourage you to do the same and like my husband always says "Stop and Smell the Roses."

Happy Father Day!

We had a fantastic father's day weekend.  We spent it in Lake Murray,Ok with all the Daddys in my family.  We stayed in a cute cabin, went fishing, went swimming, and took a sunset cruise on the Lake.  Everything was so beautiful and memories were definitely made.  Those of you who know my husband know that he is not only a wonderful husband but when you see him as a father he is on a whole different level.  

He Loves His Girls

Tucker Tower

The Sunset on Lake Murray

Half-Breed Hot Sauce

Ok, I'm sharing my Half-Breed Hot Sauce recipe.  I started making this way back in the day and called it Tex-Mex salsa.  My sister's MIL gave me the recipe to her salsa too and I tweeked mine with some of her stuff.  Then I went to a bar with my one of my best friends Lindsay and we had the chips and hot sauce.  It tasted just like mine.  He called it Half-Breed hot sauce and I thought it was perfect! I'm a half-breed! So I stole the name. 

Here you go:

1. 1 can of peeled tomatoes (any brand)
2. juice of 1 lime
3. 1 yellow or white onion (your preference)
4. half of a bunch of cilantro (or more if you like cilantro)
5. 2 cloves of garlic (more if you would like)
6. 2 seeded jalopenos (or not seeded if you want more heat, I use 1 seeded and 1 not seeded)
7. dash of salt (maybe a little more than a dash)
8. dash of pepper
9. garlic powder
10. dash of cumin
11. dash of chili powder
12. Put it all in a blender and blend

Blend and enjoy with Milagro chips or On the Border (Gluten Free) Chips!!!!

You can also use the same ingredients and substitute the can of tomotoes with 3 Hoas Avocadoes from Mexico to make the best Quacamole you will ever taste.

Chop up everything real fine and add all the ingredients and smash with a fork.

DIVERTATE! (ENJOY)



SUMMERTIME!!

Time for Summer Cleaning!First I got all of my cleaning supplies ready and realized that I have a problem...

A serious problem...

I am obsessed with buying cleaning supplies and the next best cleaning product.  The two items I cannot live without are my Dyson and Pledge multi surface.  What's your favorite product?  Believe me I will go buy it :)



13 Years ago today

Thirteen years ago today, I met my husband.  Literally, the moment I met him I knew I would marry him.  I love our anniversary date (the day we said our "I dos") but I love this day almost as much.  I can still remember the feeling I had when i looked at his beautiful blue eyes, his voice when he first spoke to me, when we first held hands, when we first kissed, when he was the gentlemen I was not used to, our long conversations about our dreams, the way he challenged me,  the way he surprised me, his intellect  and how we didn't leave each other's side for the next year.  
I love you Babe <3 

Some of our favorite love songs :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xwk8IXi2tNs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFLJFl7ws_0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImKY6TZEyrI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L27KqRVZPwA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVDMt5RGga0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po2ahzuziEw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llrAemrsKG0

My Back Patio was JEALOUS

OK, so my back patio was so jealous of my front porch so I had to do something about it.  I knew I had a lot of work ahead of me but I couldn't stand it.  So first, I cleared it off and gave it a good power wash.

Then, I gave my existing patio furniture a mini makeover with a good can of outdoor spray paint.  My motto is if you don't like it...spray paint it!  It's a cheap and easy trick that will make something look brand new.

Next, I cleaned the cushions, added some potted plants, and some new summer cushions for an added color splash.

Last, I put out some mosquito candles by Yankee Candle and OFF.  Now we have a wonderful back patio that looks just as good as the front.  It's clean, fresh, and mosquito free.  I love it!! We had breakfast out here this morning!  After breakfast I drank my coffee and read my Nook on the couch and watched the girls play on the tree swing.  Perfect morning:)

Happy Birthday to Me!!

For my birthday I asked my family for Lowe's and Home Depot gift cards because I have been wanting to update my front porch.  Even though it was cute, it was not very comfortable or functional.  Well, they hooked me up!  I was able to combine the GC from my parents and sister, b-day money, and GC from teacher appreciation and gave my porch a renovation I am so proud of.  I also can't stop looking at it:)

Here is the before pic. I cleared off the bistro set and put it in the backyard under the tree. It looks sweet there:)

I swept and cleaned it.  You can't see it here but there is a huge crack and the paint is chipping:(

SO, I added a Martha Stewart outdoor rug from Home Depot to cover the imperfections and added my two wonderful rocking chairs I have been eyeing since February.  Patients is not my strong point so I was very proud to have waited so long.

Then I added my potted plants including lavender, mint, lillies, hydrangeas and potato vines. 

Voila!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

What a great Mother's Day!!!!  Had a wonderful brunch @ MiMi's Cafe with my mom, sister, and all the kids.  Then we went to see my mother-in-law and great grandmother's house.  It was a beautiful day!  This tradition started when the first grandchild was born.  I had Eggs Benedict, country potatoes and fruit.  I so wish I would have taken a picture of it.  It was too georgeous to eat.  I received flowers, a card, and a clean house from my hubby and wonderful hand-made cards from my babies.  To all the mothers out there who give their all, who sacrifice everything for their children and families, and work hard everyday to show their love, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

 I love the wooden display I received for Christmas from my room mother who happens to be the swankypear blogger http://www.swankypear.com/ .  I display weekly events or special cards.  It's awesome!

This is the "Thank You" card from my daughter's Justin Beiber Laser Tag birthday party.  I attached it to a goody bag filled with candy and JB goodies.  P.S. It was a great easy bithday party @ Laser Quest, totally recommend it for any b-day party you have coming up!

This is the Mother's Day card I had made for all of the mothers (thanks to wal-mart photo).  How great does it look displayed? 

More Teacher Appreciation Pics

"You're A Cut Above the Rest" ~ A great pair of scissors and a box of candy, how can you go wrong with that in the teacher world.

"Thanks a Latte for all you do"~ A cute card with a Starbucks card attached to a bag with a initial cup.  SO SUPER CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!!

To all the teachers out there, you are appreciated!  Teachers work harder than most people I know and they love it when they are appreciated.  I have had a great week so far! I have recieved some wonderful gifts for teacher appreciation! It also got me thinking.  What are the best teacher gift ideas?  Well, let me give you a few ideas...

How cute is this?  My student wrote "Thanks for being my teacher" on a cute white bag and filled it with gourmet popcorn from the poppinshop http://www.thepoppinshop.com/.  Made my day! BTW the bag in this pic is empty because the pop corn lasted till 9:00 AM :)

This is another great idea! I recieved one of these glasses with my initial (i love initials) and a Starbucks GC.  I stole this idea and am giving this gift to my daughter's teacher.  Credit to Hobby Lobby;)

This is a basket of Starbucks coffee and herbal tea that will be going in the teacher's loung at my daughter's school.  The entire school was asked to bring goodies to the teacher's lounge.

My neighbor teacher recieved Edible Arrangements (chocolate covered apples) with nuts and coconut.  YUM!! SO glad she shared!  Thanks Farrah!

Special Thanks to my awesome room Mother! You have really warmed my heart<3 THANK YOU for appreciating TEACHERS!

I will send more pics as soon as I get more ideas.  I can't wait!