Shopping

Hey all. Planning on taking my mom shopping today. I take her weekly for food and other essentials. It gives her a chance to get out as well. She no longer drives and I know that is hard on her. It is hard to no longer drive when you have for so many years. I am sure the elderly have a tough time giving up their independance.

Eggplant for dinner

Hey all. Here is a great recipe that I found on the Food Network site. I love their recipes. Easy to follow and so many to choose from. I know you will enjoy this one. Let me know what you think. Have fun with it.

Good olive oil, for frying
3/4 pound eggplant, unpeeled, sliced 1/2-inch thick
1/4 cup ricotta cheese
1 extra-large egg
1/4 cup half-and-half
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup good bottled marinara sauce

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Heat about 1/8-inch of olive oil in a very large frying pan over medium heat. When the oil is almost smoking, add several slices of eggplant and cook, turning once, until they are evenly browned on both sides and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Be careful, it splatters! Transfer the cooked eggplant slices to paper towels to drain. Add more oil, heat, and add more eggplant until all the slices are cooked.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together the ricotta, egg, half-and-half, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.

In each of 2 individual gratin dishes, place a layer of eggplant slices, then sprinkle with Parmesan, salt and pepper and spoon 1/2 of the marinara sauce. Next, add a second layer of eggplant, more salt and pepper, half the ricotta mixture, and finally 1 tablespoon of grated Parmesan on top.

Place the gratins on a baking sheet and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the custard sets and the top is browned. Serve warm

Great recipe

Hey all. Here is a great recipe for you all to try out. My family really loves it and I am sure that yours will too.
It is a version of lasagna and who doesn't love lasagna right? It is a real family favorite also a great pot luck food. I hope that you give it a try and enjoy. Have fun with it.


Salt
1 package lasagna noodles
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 cans tomato soup
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Nonstick cooking spray
2 cups cottage cheese (small curd)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt. Boil noodles according to package directions. Drain and arrange in casserole (see below).

While noodles are boiling, brown beef in a large frying pan over medium-high heat, adding chopped onion, garlic and oregano to meat as it cooks. When meat has browned, drain off fat and then add tomato soup and apple cider vinegar. Simmer for 20 minutes.

Preheat oven for 350 degrees F.

Spray a medium casserole dish with a nonstick cooking spray. Lay noodles lengthwise across bottom of casserole dish. Spread a layer of cottage cheese over top of noodles. Add a layer of meat mixture, then cover with mozzarella cheese and repeat for a total of 3 layers. Finish with a layer of cheese and bake for 30 minutes or until bubbling. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes before cutting and serving.

Easter Monday

Hey all. How are you all doing? I hope that you all had a nice Easter. We went to my mom's house for dinner. The whole gang was there. She made had and we brought along all the fixings. It tasted great. My daughter hung around as long as she could but then had to head back to college. My son and various other schools has school on Monday as they are all making up snow days in the area. It has been an snowy winter. I sure am glad that spring has arrived. I just wish it would get warmer. Oh well.

Easter coming

Hey all. Easter is just around the corner. We are planning on decorating our eggs on Saturday. How about you? The kids get so excited don't they? I am planning on hiding their baskets as they have requested I do so. At any age they love to find hidden baskets. I am planning on making a turkey breast for Easter dinner. Boy do I love to cook. How about you?

Dinner

Hey all. Time for another great Italian meal. These are a version of lasagna. I found it on the computer and it tastes great. It is a bit time consuming though. You will not be sorry if you make it though. Give it a try and tell me what you think. Any changes let me know too.
Sauce:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups whole milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
Pinch ground nutmeg

Lasagna:
1 (15-ounce) container whole milk ricotta cheese
1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, squeezed dry
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
3 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, chopped
1 large egg, beaten to blend
3/4 teaspoon salt, plus more for salting water
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
12 uncooked lasagna noodles
2 cups marinara sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella (about 4 ounces)

To make the sauce: Melt the butter in a heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the flour and whisk for 3 minutes. Whisk in the milk. Increase the heat to medium-high. Whisk the sauce until it comes to a simmer and is thick and smooth, about 3 minutes. Whisk the salt, pepper, and nutmeg into the bechamel sauce.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Whisk the ricotta, spinach, 1 cup Parmesan, prosciutto, egg, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl to blend.

Add a tablespoon or 2 of oil to a large pot of boiling salted water. Boil the noodles until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain. Arrange the noodles in a single layer on a baking sheet to prevent them from sticking.

Butter a 13-by-9-by-2-inch glass baking dish. Pour the bechamel sauce over the bottom of the prepared dish. Lay out 4 lasagna noodles on a work surface, then spread about 3 tablespoons of ricotta mixture evenly over each noodle. Starting at 1 end, roll each noodle like a jelly roll. Lay the lasagna rolls seam side down, without touching, atop the bechamelsauce in the dish. Repeat with the remaining noodles and ricotta mixture. Spoon 1 cup of marinara sauce over the lasagna rolls. Sprinkle the mozzarella and remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmesan over the lasagna rolls. Cover tightly with foil. Bake until heated through and the sauce bubbles, about 20 minutes. Uncover and bake until the cheese on top becomes golden, about 15 minutes longer. Let stand for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the remaining marinara sauce in a heavy small saucepan over medium heat until hot, and serve alongside.

IRS Tax Debt Settlement

Hey all. I was on the internet this morning and I came across an interesting site that I wanted to pass on to you all as well.
tax lien is a site that you will find very interesting, especially with the tax season right around the corner. If you face any difficulties with the IRS, who would not require IRStaxhelp . Through the assistance of this site, they will be there for your IRS problems and best yet, the resolution. There can be so many problems along the way that, lets face it, would be extremely hard to attempt it alone. You will not have to as this site will be there for you with all your tax questions. If you find yourself in a position like this, I suggest that you check out this site for assistance.
This is a sponsored post.

Spring Break

Hey all. My daughter is in this week for spring break. We have been hitting the malls. Although she did have to work a few days as well. Time to locate that perfect Easter outfit as well. Can you believe it is only a couple of weeks away. My kids still enjoy getting baskets. Now I make them more suitable for their age group though. I include a new bathing suit every year though. They love that idea.

Flood watch

Hey all. Well here we go again. Another rainy couple of days and flood watches in effect. I am getting so sick of all the rain. Our basement has been getting wet over and over again. Our goal is to repair the problem once and for all and lay down a nice tile floor. I would love to make it some extra living space. It all sounds great, but getting the time and money is another story.

Business Intelligence Training

Hey all. I was on the internet this afternoon and I came across an interesting site that I wanted to pass on to you all as well as I feel that you will find it of interest as well.
business intelligence consultants is a site that deals with the task of improving your business through business intelligence. This site is based in the UK and has been in operation for fifteen plus years. If you own a business and are looking to improve the performance of the business, which most everyone who is self employed is, then look no further as this is the site to check out. This site is sure to advise you and place into operation the most effective BI solutions that in turn will allow your business to become as successful as I am sure that you have imagined it to. Lets face it, those of you that are self employed work many long and difficult hours and hope to reap the benefits of your hard and tiring work hours in the hopes of having a profitable business in the future. With the assistance of this site you are sure to achieve this dream. This site, Contemporary, are the Business Intelligence Experts as the site claims. With the years of experience they have the multiple clients they have successfully assisted I believe that this site may be of great help to many of you out there. If the applications that I have discussed seem to be of interest to you, then I suggest that you check out the site. It is easy to navigate on and you will be able to learn more about the site. Good luck and please check thenm out.


This is a sponsored post.

March is here

Hey all. It feels as if spring is just around the corner when I look at the calender, but not when I look outside. It is still chilly up here in the north. We received about two inches plus of rain last evening and that along with the snow on the ground made a mess of our basement as we had some water leak in. I wish we could some day do the basement over and remodel, but the wetness of the basement has always been a problem. Oh well. We just have to work with the rest of the house. More to follow later.

Naked Naturals

Hey all. I was on the internet this afternoon and I came across a great site that I wanted to pass on to you all as well.
naked naturals is a site that discusses a great new product that I was lucky enough to receive a sample and try it out. It is a great new shampoo product called naked natural. This naturalshampoo is one of the best shampoos that I have ever tried. After just a few applications, I noticed a change in my hair strength. My hair actually felt thicker and stronger and being one the unlucky people with fine hair, this was some thing that I really appreciated. This shampoo contains a product called Keravis which according to the site is clinically proven to make your hair up to seven times stronger. I will agree to that as I did notice a change in my hairs strength after just a few washings. Another feature that I was impressed by this product is the fact that it is an all natural product. This is something that many of us are trying to move towards, using safe for the environment, all natural products. If you are interested in trying out this amazing shampoo, it is available at many fine retailers. You can check out the site to learn more about the product as well. I am sure that you will be as impressed as I was as well.

Snow

Hey all. Hope you are all enjoying the snow as much as I. HAHA. I am really sick of it. I can not wait until the tulips in our yard start popping out. It should be in a few weeks as I planted some crocuses last year and they are the first to pop out. They really get me in the spring spirit. Easter will be here soon as well.

Evening

Hey all. It is really quiet here. My husband is working and my one son is doing his homework. The other one that is handicapped is getting tired. I must go soon and help him get ready for bed. His bed time is usually about 8:30. At ten PM there are repeats of the Office. Not the same as new ones, but better than nothing. I plan on watching them, two episodes. Later all.

Coupon Chief

Hey all. I was on the internet this evening and I came across a great site to help with all the Easter time shopping.
coupons is the perfect site to check out to save on all of your Easter gifts. My list this year starts with my daughter away at college. The perfect gift for her, as always is clothes and I know just the place for her, Gap. This is her favorite store and she does love clothes. Next has to be my son the electronic geek. I would love to get him a new computer, top of the line, of course and the perfect place for that would be, dell . They have a large selection and great deals as well. Oh and we can not forget the dog, a beautiful German Shepherd. I love the selection of doggie beds at boscovs and I hope to get her a big soft one there. If you are looking for great deals as I always am, this is the the site to check out. Great deals are always there and can't beat the coupons available.
Check them out.

Home

Hey all. My daughter that is away at college is planning to come home this weekend. She has not been home in a while, so it will be nice to see her. We are planning on going shopping on Saturday. The weekends just seem to fly by don't they? I think we will go to church on Sunday and have a nice dinner before she heads back. She wants me to make her some hot wing pizza too.

echosign.com

Hey all. I was on the internet this evening and I came across an interesting site that I wanted to pass on to you all as well.
EchoSign E-Signatures is a site that allows you to perform e-signatures. For those of you that manage a business, imagine the time that is saved through the use of an e-signature. No more snail mail waiting for clients to sign important documents. Through the use of this site the signature is accomplished almost instantly. This site can revolutionize the way businesses can be run this day in age. If you believe that this is an application your business can benefit from, I suggest that you check out the site and sign up for a free account. I have also included a press release for you to read and learn more about this application.

PRESS RELEASE
ECHOSIGN 3.0 RAISES THE BAR FOR CONTRACT SIGNATURE AUTOMATION

LARGEST RELEASE IN COMPANY’S HISTORY ADDS POWERFUL WORKFLOW CAPABILITY AND REAL-TIME SALES ANALYTICS TO THE WEB’S MOST ADOPTED
E-SIGNATURE SERVICE


About EchoSign
In just one click, the EchoSign solution automates the entire signature process from the request for signature to the distribution and filing of the executed agreement or form. With nothing to download, learn or install, there is simply no faster or secure way to get your contracts signed, tracked and filed. EchoSign customers close over $100M in contracts each month with an average 'quote to close' time of 42 minutes. EchoSign has won numerous awards including Red Herring Top 100 Private Company, “One to Watch” by Gartner Research, and Best of Show at Office 2.0, and has twice been named by Salesforce.com as an AppExchange Essential. Over 250,000 users at organizations such as AtRoad, British Telecom, GE Capital, Johnson & Johnson, Netscout, and the University of California use EchoSign everyday to get contracts signed, tracked and filed in the most efficient and effective way possible. For more information and access to web service, visit http://www.echosign.com.


This is a sponsored post.

Great recipe

Hey all. Who doesn't love meatloaf? My family frequently requests. Here is my favorite one for you to try out. I hope that you enjoy it. It is so easy to prepare. Just the way I like it on those busy days. Tell me what you think and if you make any changes. Have fun with it.
I say the recipe on the food network. What a great station.

4 cups Potatoes O'Brien (recommended: Ore-Ida)
1 pound lean ground beef
1 1/4 pounds ground pork
1 (5.29-ounce) box Garlic Herb Shake and Bake (recommended: Kraft)
1 (1.1-ounce) envelope Beefy Onion Soup Mix (recommended: Lipton)
1 (4.5-ounce) jar Sliced Mushrooms, drained (recommended: Green Giant)
1 egg
1 (12-ounce) can condensed Cheddar soup, divided
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 (10-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 onion, sliced thin
1 (8-ounce) package sliced fresh mushrooms

Place potatoes in the bottom of a 5-quart slow cooker.

In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, shake and bake, onion soup mix, sliced mushrooms, and egg. Set aside.

In a small bowl, stir together 1/2 cup Cheddar soup and evaporated milk. Add to meat mixture. Using a wooden spoon or clean hands mix thoroughly and form into a loaf. Place in slow cooker on top of the potatoes. Make sure meatloaf does not touch the sides of the slow cooker.

Stir together remaining cheddar soup with cream of mushroom soup. Pour over meatloaf. Top with onions and mushrooms.

Cover and cook on HIGH setting for 1 hour. Reduce the temperature to LOW setting and cook for an additional 5 to 6 hours.

Nasal Spray

Hey all. I was on the internet this afternoon and I came across an interesting site that I wanted to pass on to you all as well as I am sure that it will be beneficial to many of you out there.
Oasis NasaSprayl is a site that sells an awesome nasal spray product that is non addictive and even safe for children to use as well. The saline that is in this product is actually salt from the Dead Sea which has a thirty per cent salt composition, better than any other nasal product on the market. With the allergy season just around the corner, I thought so many of you out there would benefit from this product as well. I have a son in law that is just miserable during the spring allergy season. I can not wait for him to try this product as the thing that sets this a part from other nasal products also is its anti-inflammatory effect. This product has begun to become available in stores across the country, but if is not available where you live, the nasal spray can be ordered online direct from the manufacturer. If you suffer with allergies and are in need of a safe and effective nasal spray then this is the product for you. I suggest you check out the press release I have included to learn more as well.

This is a sponsored post.

Press Release:

An Oasis of Relief for Parents

As a parent, deciding on what medicine to give your children is one of the most fearful responsibilities you have. You hear bad reports on how addictive or how harmful some remedies are in newspapers and on the TV almost every week. It can become absolutely stressful when your child is sick and you then must make the hard decision on what to pick up at your local pharmacy.

This grave concern was not helped when the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made a recent recall for over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for children. They are now contemplating whether nasal sprays and nose drops are safe for children younger than 12. The FDA is worried that these easy to use congestion reducers have dangerous side effects such as addictive tendencies. But there is hope for parents out there. There is now a safe and effective solution you can buy.

Oasis Nasal Spray and Wash is proud to announce that it is not on the recall list and has a strict non addictive standing. Oasis has released Children's Oasis Nasal Spray and Wash. Oasis’ solution is all natural and produced entirely of purified Dead Sea Minerals. Many nasal sprays contain a saltwater base, which helps release congestion in the nose and is easily wiped away. Oasis nasal spray takes it another step by not simply being saltwater from any ocean mixed with other chemicals like the leading nasal spray, but is all natural and made from the most salty sea in the world.

Oasis Nasal Spray provides the healing powers of the Dead Sea in their products for problems faced everyday; nasal allergies, runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, postnasal drip, itchy nose, recurrent sinus infections, and chronic sinusitis. Oasis Nasal Spray was created by Scott Cordray; Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist. His company Master Solutions has helped to create Oasis Nasal Wash and Oasis Nasal Spray by utilizing the healing salts of the Dead Sea.

Weekend cold and snowstorm

Hey all. We got snow in our neck of the woods on Friday. The kids had school off. I asked my son if he is ever going to have a full week of school. Between the early dismissals and late morning starts along with days off, there has not been a full week since Jan. early. They lost most of their Easter holiday though. Well this week ahead looks nice and so I think there will be a nice week ahead. I can not wait til the bulbs start coming up. How about you?

Monday

Hey all. Did you all have a nice long weekend? The kids were home and we just hang out at home. They did not have much homework either. We plan to go bowling tonight though as my son loves to bowl. He is quite good as well. We have to make reservations though as it gets quite crowded. Try bowling some time if you never have. It is a fun family thing to do.

The Lunch Box Diet

Hey all. I was on the internet this evening and I came across a great site that I wanted to pass on to you all as well.
The Lunch Box Diet is the perfect site to check out for any of you struggling with your weight. According to the great fashion magazine Elle, they have given this diet a FIVE star rating. According to the site, this diet becomes an energy booster from the very start and with the weight loss, comes the healthy thing like a lowered blood pressure from those of you that suffer from high blood pressure. Also, this program is so easy to follow and your hunger is simply eliminated. If you are struggling with your weight and have tried all the diets, I suggest that you get on this site and check it out. After all you have nothing to lose as they have a money back guarantee. All you have to lose is your weight and that is a good thing. Check out the press release that I have included to learn more as well.

Press Release:

A new online diet has been created by a health and fitness expert that addresses health dangers and puts an end to risky yo-yo dieting. What’s more it’s already received 5 star reviews from magazines like Elle Magazine, calling it ‘The best diet I’ve ever done’ and a ‘way of life’ (Jan 2008 Edition).

The Lunch Box Diet is designed to help the nation follow a healthy regime that maximises their energy levels and sharpens their minds. It offers an alternative to destructive dieting regimes based on a commonsense approach, an understanding of healthy eating and readily available, nutritional foods. Via direct contact with his clients, Simon has learned that the diet is sustainable, enjoyable and fits in with family life.

The no-nonsense diet allows people to eat their normal nourishing breakfast and dinner, while still shedding weight safely, and the eating plan is also a great maintenance regime for those who want to ensure their diet is energy fuelled, healthy and has lots of variety.

The Lunch Box Diet encourages grazing throughout the day to combat hunger pangs and uses super foods to provide the anti-oxidants necessary to prevent free radical damage, which combats premature aging of the skin, fights disease and maintains a healthy lifestyle. The diet is also built to be used according to active you are, so is perfect for those looking to sign up to gyms in the new-year.

Renowned personal fitness trainer Simon Lovell, the mastermind behind the Lunch Box Diet, has used his expertise to create an intelligently balanced plan. He explained: “The diet has snowballed from healthy eating plans I gave to my clients to supplement their fitness programmes. They worked so well that clients were passing them on to their friends and colleagues. I decided I had produced something special, quick to implement and, most importantly, doable.

“People can drop down to their ideal weight without compromising their health - it just takes a bit of direction and professional advice. There are definitely negative repercussions when using certain diets, which can have long-term effects on your health. I want to show people they can lose weight and actually improve their health as part of a whole lifestyle change.”

Sarah Panter, a Devon and Cornwall NHS worker, said: “The diet is so simple, tasty and great for me in the office. I lead a busy life and found I’d often be reaching for the crisps or chocolate bars. Now I’ve replaced those choices with a diet that ensures healthy alternatives are always on hand for when I get hunger pangs. It’s even helped with my Eczema”

Those wishing to download the diet can do so at www.thelunchboxdiet.com for $19.95





This is a sponsored post.

Recipe

Hey all. Here is a great recipe on a snowy night. Warm up your kitchen with great smells. I hope you enjoy it and let me know what you think. Feel free to make any changes as well and let me know that too. This is my healthy version of chili, make with chicken.

4 cups chopped yellow onions (3 onions)
1/8 cup good olive oil, plus extra for chicken
1/8 cup minced garlic (2 cloves)
2 red bell peppers, cored, seeded, and large-diced
2 yellow bell peppers, cored, seeded, and large-diced
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more for chicken
2 (28-ounce) cans whole peeled plum tomatoes in puree, undrained
1/4 cup minced fresh basil leaves
4 split chicken breasts, bone in, skin on
Freshly ground black pepper

Cook the onions in the oil over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the bell peppers, chili powder, cumin, red pepper flakes, cayenne, and salt. Cook for 1 minute. Crush the tomatoes by hand or in batches in a food processor fitted with a steel blade (pulse 6 to 8 times). Add to the pot with the basil. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Rub the chicken breasts with olive oil and place them on a baking sheet. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast the chicken for 35 to 40 minutes, until just cooked. Let cool slightly. Separate the meat from the bones and skin and cut it into 3/4-inch chunks. Add to the chili and simmer, uncovered, for another 20 minutes. Serve with the toppings, or refrigerate and reheat gently before serving.

Thoughts Fur Paws

Hey all. I was on the internet this evening and I came across a great site that I just had to pass on to you all as well.
Pet Blog is just such a fun new site that is meant for the pet lover in all of us. For those of you that have a furry friend that you would love to discuss and share with others, well this is the site for you. Here you are given the opportunity to share your animal stories with the whole web and just discuss what is so great about your special furry friend. Perhaps discuss how your furry friend feels about you and why. The site also has a section dealing with the loss of a pet, a very touching area as well. Also just a lot of fun things as well such as animal short stories and poems. If you are an animal lover as I am, I suggest you check out this site. It is really great.
This is a sponsored post.

SNOW SNOW

Hey all. The snow is coming. My son just got home from school and the other one is due out at 1 PM. We are expecting about 6 inches of snow then some ice. Really crappy weather coming. The kids will probably have tomorrow off as well. They are out of snow days so they will be losing their Easter holiday. Oh well.

Ash Wednesday

Hey all. Today is Ash Wednesday, so meat for us. I am planning a tuna casserole for dinner. The family loves it and it is not difficult to prepare. With lent coming, remember no meat on Friday as well. Do you have any foods you are giving up? Let me know. Mine is sweets. Wish me luck.

CarsBlvd.com

Hey all. I was on the internet this afternoon and I came across a great site that I wanted to pass on to you as well.
Car Prices is the perfect site to check out if you are in the market for a new car. All you need to do is get on the site and simply type in the year, make and model of the car your looking for along with your zip code. It is as simple as that. Within minutes you will have a quote on the vehicle you are looking to purchase. I urge you to check out this site. It is so easy to navigate on and I assure you that you will not be disappointed. If you are looking for a vehicle, look no further as this is the site for you.
This is a sponsored post.

Rainy day

Hey all. Today is Tuesday. I just got home from taking my Mom shopping. We went all over the place. For food, drug store, dollar store, then for a coffee. It gives her a chance to get out of the house as she does not drive. We do try to go out for a coffee once a week. I know that she really enjoys this. It seems that none of my sisters really have the time, so I try to make time for her.

Cost U Less Students

Hey all. I was on the internet this morning and I came across a great site that reminded me of my daughter that is in college at the present and I wanted to pass the great site on to you all as well.
cost u less student is a site based in the state of California that offers car insurance at very competitive prices. They have been in business for coming up on thirty years and if any of you are in the same boat as I am with a child in college that still needs car insurance, then this is the site to check out. This site specializes in providing car insurance for students. So often you add a student driver to your car insurance policy, I know because I have been in this boat for a total of three times. When I realized how much our premiums were going to go up because of adding a student driver, I could not believe it. To me the premium increase was crazy. For any of you out there that have had this similar experience, then I would suggest that ou check out this site. You can get on the site and receive a quote online, or perhaps you would prefer calling their one eight hundred number and receive a quote via the telephone. Either way, I am sure that their prices will reflect a much lower premium rate than you are currently receiving for your student driver. With everything so expensive these days, I know that I am looking to save some money in any area that I am able to. This is surely a site that will save you some money.
This is a sponsored post.

Ice coming

Hey all. They are talking about an ice storm this friday. I hope not as my daughter is planning to come home this weekend from college. That will stink if she is unable to make it. We have plans on spending the day shopping. Well if she can not make it, I guess it will all have to be postponed. I can not wait til this winter is over. It can not come soon enough for me.

Auto Insurance

Hey all. I was on the internet this morning and I came across an interesting site that I wanted to pass on to you all as well.

progressive is a site that offers car insurance at lower prices than you can get anywhere else. Get on the site and click the icon for get a car insurance quote and in just a few minutes, you have the quote. It is just that fast and easy. If interested you can chat withthem live. They currently have over seventy offices and are continuing to expand. For those of you like my daughter that are in college, they offer discounted prices for college students as well. We all are aware these days just how expensive auto insurance is these days. I can not believe how my rates jumped when I added my seventeen year old son. It was crazy. If you are in the same boat as I am, then I suggest that you check out this site and learn more about their competitive rates. They just can not be beat. Get on their site and get a quote from them today. Don't waste any more time or money.
This is a sponsored post.

Monday

Hey all. Well the concert my son was in was great. It is amazing how these talented high school students put this concert together. My son said the conductror was great as well. Three very long days of hard work really paid off. He got home for m the concert and immediately left for his high school semi formal. What a crazy few days for him. Sunday was a day to catch up on all of his homework.

ZenniOptical.com

Hey all. I was on the internet this morning and I came across a great site that I wnated to pass on to you all as well.
Zenni Optical: Sell Rx Glasses $8 with case! is the perfect site to check out for those of you that wear perscription eyeglasses. This site offers you prices lower than you can imagine. My son wears eyeglasses and I can not begin to tell you how expensive a pair of perscription eyeglasses are. We do not have eyeglass insurance, so I end up paying the full amount. You can be sure that next time I plan to check out this site. They offer a wide variety of frames along with perscription sunglasses as well. For all of your eyeglass needs, look no further thatn this site as their prices can not be beat.
This is a sponsored post.

Concert tomorrow

Hey all. Tomorrow is my son's district concert. He has been away the past few days practicing. Can't wait to see him and hear the concert. He called and said they sound great. He has been staying with a host family that he said were very nice as well. I will let you know how they sound.

Valentine Gift Idea

Hey all. I was on the internet this afternoon and I came across a great site that I wanted to pass on to you all as well.
valentine's gift ideas is the perfect site to check out if you are searching for the most unique gift that you can get for that special someone. What you do is find a special photo that you love and has special meaning. Send this photo to this site and they can transform it into a thing of beauty. It can be any special phot, something with special meaning. It can be transformed into a water color or a collage or even a work of art on a piece of canvas. Talk about a one of a kind work of art. This will make that special someone flip. If you are still hunting for the gift, I urge you to check out this site. You will be as impressed as I am, I am sure of that.


This is a sponsored post.

Sweet treats

Hey all. Here is another great recipe. This one is to help curb your sweet tooth. This is an easy recipe using store bought angel food cake. Healthy but great for your sweet tooth.I saw this recipe on an episode of 30 minute meals and it sounded great. It was too so I hope that you give it a try as well. Swap out the whipped cream for low fat if you choose.
2 cups frozen strawberries with sugar, defrosted in microwave
1/2 pint black berries or raspberries
1 store bought angel food cake
1 canister store bought whipped cream




Mix frozen strawberries that have been defrosted with fresh berries. Cut cake into thick slices. Top sliced cake with juicy berry mixture and whipped cream.

Coupon Chief

Hey all. I was on the internet this afternoon and I came across a great site to check out, especially with Valentine's Day just around the corner, so I wanted to pass it on to you all as well.
couponchief.com is a great site to assist you in getting awesome deals on all your favorite online stores. My Valentine list is small but would I love to purchase some awesome presents for my loved ones. My husband would flip over a new computer and if I could afford it, Dell would be a great site to purchase one. My two kkids just love to shop for clothes, so I look no further than Gap for great deals on quality clothing. If you are planning your Valentine list and like everyone else these days, are looking for a bargain, I suggest that you check out this site for great deals on all of your favorite online stores. They offer all sorts of coupon deals as well. Be sure to check them out.
I am sure that you will be as impressed as I was.

Concert

Hey all. My son is playing the cello in a concert this weekend. He is really looking forward to it as he is excused from school for the next three days to practice. It is a district concert for all the best students in the area. They make a real big deal of it. I play to take him today right after he gets home. Get him packed and then he is off. I am sure it will be a great experience.

Paintball

Hey all. I was on the internet this morning and I came across an interesting site that I wanted to pass on to you all as well.
tippmann x7 is a great site to check out if you are interested in paintball and paintball gear. paintball is becoming a more known sport. My son and his friends enjoy getting together and playing whenever time permits. This site offers all the name brands in paintball guns such as Tippmann and Spyder. Also offered are great pricing on complete gun packages for those of you just starting out in the sport. Their gear available is extensive as well from clothing great to glasses for the sport to masks and tactical paintball vests. Best of all they offer their customers FREE shipping via UPS on orders placed over $99.00. If you are interested in paintball, I suggest that you check out this site for all of your needs and supplies.
This is a sponsored post.

Healthy eating

Hey all. With the holidays over, here is a healthy recipe to check out. My family loves it and I think you will too. Give it a try and make changes to suit your taste as well. It is a spin on chili and made with turkey instead.
It is one of Rachael Rays recipes.
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 chipotle chile en adobo, coarsely chopped, with 1 tablespoon sauce
1 pound ground turkey
1 (12-ounce) Mexican lager-style beer
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, with their juice
1 (15 1/2-ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
Sliced scallions, cilantro sprigs, avocado, sour cream, grated Monterey jack cheese, and/or tortilla chips, for garnish, optional

Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, salt, chili powder, and oregano and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and the chipotle chile and sauce; cook 1 minute more. Add the turkey, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, and cook until the meat loses its raw color, about 3 minutes. Add the beer and simmer until reduced by about half, about 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes--crushing them through your fingers into the skillet--along with their juices and the beans; bring to a boil. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thick, about 10 minutes

Snap of frigid temps

Hello all. Boy what a cold spell here. The schools are on a delay because of the frigid temps. My kids are thrilled, a two hour delay. They got to slppe in. I have no plans of going anywhere. It is just too cold out. No plans for any warm weather either. Oh well. More to follow.

Dinner

Hey all. Here is a great recipe for you dinner tonight. My family loves it. I hope that you will give it a try. It is easy to prepare and it great on a cold night. Let me know what you think. More to follow.
My family loves chicken so this is perfect for them. It is parmesan chicken. Enjoy

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 extra-large eggs
1 tablespoon water
1 1/4 cups seasoned dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus extra for serving
Unsalted butter
Good olive oil
Salad greens for 6, washed and spun dry
1 recipe Lemon Vinaigrette, recipe follows

Pound the chicken breasts until they are 1/4-inch thick. You can use either a meat mallet or a rolling pin.

Combine the flour, salt, and pepper on a dinner plate. On a second plate, beat the eggs with 1 tablespoon of water. On a third plate, combine the bread crumbs and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan. Coat the chicken breasts on both sides with the flour mixture, then dip both sides into the egg mixture and dredge both sides in the bread-crumb mixture, pressing lightly.

Heat 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saute pan and cook 2 or 3 chicken breasts on medium-low heat for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until cooked through. Add more butter and oil and cook the rest of the chicken breasts. Toss the salad greens with lemon vinaigrette. Place a mound of salad on each hot chicken breast. Serve with extra grated Parmesa

Thursday

Hey all. Boy I sure do hope these writers striks do not go on for to much of an extended period of time. I really miss not seeing any new episodes of the Office. There have not been any new episodes in months. The reruns are funny, but not the same. If you have never seen the show check out the older ones. They are great and so funny. It is a must see show in my opinion. More to follow.

Lap Band

Hey all. I was on the internet this evevning and I came across an interesting site that I wanted to pass on to you all as well.
lap-band surgery is a site that deals with the much less invasive weight loss surgery called lap band. Unlike gastric bypass, this is totally reversible. Have you spent much of your life struggling with overweight issues. I would suggest ou check out this site to learn more about the benefits of the lap band surgery. Why continue to deal with the issues of being over weight. Start the new year off right. Why not look into the lap band surgery. This can change your life for the better and you can be on the road to a healthier you. Good luck.
This is a sponsored post.

Sick

Hey all. There has been a nasty intestinal bug going through our house. My daughter has been sick with it all day. The poor kid does not want to eat or anything. I am at least relieved that she is not back to college yet. She goes back next week. Hopefully she will return all healthy and all. I just feel so bad for her. I amde her some of my home made chicken soup and I know that she will want some by tomorrow. I believe that it cures all.

Stuart Semple

Hey all. I was on the internet this evening and I came across an interesting site that I wanted to pass on to you all as well.
www.StuartSemple.com is a site that deals with that awesome artist Stuart Semple. Currently in the upcoming year of 2008, he has plans on producing twenty five new pieces of artwork. Have you seen his work prior to this site? It is truely a masterpiece to behold. Currently his work can fetch upwards of one quarter of a million dollars, but there is also an extensive waiting list for his artwork as well. If you are interested in learning more about this accomplished artist, I suggest that you check out this site. On the site you can check out press news along with videos and the latest and updated news. Also check out the online store as well and see what they have to offer. You will not be disappointed.




Thi is a sponsored post.

Triplets

Hey all. I was over my brother's house watching the triplets for a while. My sister in law was not feeling well. They are getting so funny. They will be one on Saturday. Though they are not yet walking, they are standing and crawling all over. What a handful. The two boys are so much bigger than the little girl. Though she has much more hair. I will tell you though what a handful as they just do not stop.

USB temperature sensor

Hey all. I was on the internet this afternoon and I came across an interesting site that I wanted to pass on to you all as well.
room temperature sensor is a clever item that will alert the owner via an e-mail if the air temperature where the sensor is placed falls below the range that the owner has set it at. There are a number of very useful applications that this sensor can be used for. temperaturealert will allow you to become aware of a temperature change varying from what you may have set it at before it is too late. Please act now it this is an item that you are interested in and also keep in mind that this temperature alert is reasonably priced at $129.99 with FREE shipping on orders over one hundred dollars.
This is a sponsored post.

Sunday

Hey all. It is Sunday all ready. I am making a pot os chicken soup as my son is coming down with a cold and I am a firm believer that chicken soup carries some medicinal properties. What do you think? Well wednesday is my 26th anniversary. We are planning on going out for dinner, actually just the two of us. This will be a first in a liong time. The kids are all ready asking for a good doggy bag as the place I have chosen has great food. It is a small mom and pop place in the area. I will let you know how it is. More to follow.

Vegetables

Hey all. I have not given any recipes lately so here is one. With all of us trying to eat healthy this new year, I included a great vegetable dish. I hope that you will give it a try and tell me what you think. My whole family enjoys it. My son is trying to drop a few pounds and he requests this dish often. Enjoy it.
They are oven roasted vegetables.

2 medium parsnips, peeled and quartered or 3 large parsnips,
peeled and cut into quarters
2 medium carrots, peeled and quartered
8 small red potatoes, halved if large
2 small white turnips, quartered
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 white pearl onions, peeled
4 cloves garlic, trimmed but unpeeled
1 large portobello mushroom, stemmed and cut into 8 wedges
8 Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
8 shiitake mushrooms, stemmed
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon thyme leaves
1 tablespoon chopped flat-leafed parsley, leaves
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, toss the parsnips, carrots, potatoes and turnips, in 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, plus a little salt and pepper, until coated. Arrange the vegetables cut-side down on a large baking sheet and roast on the bottom shelf of the oven for 20 minutes or until the vegetables are beginning to brown. Turn the vegetables 2 or 3 times during cooking to prevent burning. In the same bowl, toss the pearl onions, garlic and portobello mushroom with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, plus a little salt and pepper, until coated. Add this mixture to the baking sheet of vegetables and gently stir to combine. Continue roasting for 7 to10 minutes. Meanwhile, bring a small saucepan of salted water to boil and blanch the Brussels sprouts for 1 to 2 minutes. Drain thoroughly under cold running water. Set aside separately. In a small bowl, combine the shiitake mushrooms and the Brussels sprouts and toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, plus a little salt and pepper, until coated. Add them to the baking sheet of vegetables, stirring to combine. Dot the butter over the vegetables and sprinkle with 1/4 cup wine. Roast for another 7 to 10 minutes. Remove the vegetables from the oven and gently mix them with the thyme and parsley before serving.

invisibleSHIELD

Hey all. I was on the internet this afternoon and I came across a very useful site that I wanted to pass on you all as well. I am sure that many of you out there either received and iPod or curretly own one. How often has it fallen or perhaps your cell phone has fallen and breaks? I know that my husband goes through cell phones like crazy. We try to be careful with them, but for one reason or another, we drop them or they get nicked and scratched. Well for those of you that have those small electronics that you are trying to protect as best you can, this is the site for you.
ipod case is a site that sells iPod cases to protect those expensive iPods that so many of us own and would just be lost with out it. I often see people writing in them at all times and I know I can be one of those people as well. Well should we not all attempt to protect them a little more? Well this site will do that for you. The iPod case is a heavy duty construction and is made for all those small and expensive electronics that have been know to fall and crack or break. The important information stored in these gadgets are not something that we want to have to be reloading into another itme, not to mention having to purchase another one can become a bit of an expense. I know that my son received a new and very expensive cell phone for Christmas, more than I wanted to spend, but it was all he wanted this holiday. Well I know that this caes would be perfect for him as I know now he is afraid that he is going to break it somehow and I am sure this caes will put his mind at ease. This case would also be great for my husband's iPod. He broke one dropping it once before and he was sick about it. If any of these circumstances seem all to similar to you , I suggest that you check out this site and order one or perhaps more of these iPod cases and begin protecting your small electronics.
This is a sponsored post.

Movies

Hey all. My daughter and husband just went to the movies. She will be home from college for another two weeks. It is really nice having her home. I think I am going to make some vegetable soup for dinner today. We had a big New Years day dinner that I think it is time for something smaller. Home made soup and some crusty rolls. That sounds great. Well time to make myself some tea as well.

Carbon Neutral Search

Hey all. I was on the internet this afternoon and I came across an interesting site that I wanted to pass on to you all as well.
Environmentally Friendly Search is a new search engine recently implemented that also features the importance of continuing to be environmentally sound and conscious. As I was on the search engine I learned that it is currently offsetting 300g of CO2 for every search that is performed. If the environment is as important to you as it is to me, I suggest that you checkout the site and give their search a try.
This is a sponsored post.

Happy New Year

Hey all. Happy New Year. Sorry that I have not written lately. We had an intestinal bug go through the house. Yuck. I was sick two days ago and my husband right after that. The only one that stayed healthy was my handicapped son. I was thrilled as when he is ill, he is really difficult to deal with. Well back to school for all. The house is so quiet right now.