Tex-Mex Chili

                             

                             Tex-Mex Chili

This Chili is soooooo good! Try it on a cold day, it will warm you to your bones.  :D

Ingredients:
Saute oil of your choice- I use Olive and Grapeseed
3 lbs. Chunk Chili Meat
1 lb. Ground Beef
4 tbsp. Chopped Garlic
1 large Sweet Yellow Onion
4 Jalapenos
6 tbsp. Chili Powder
1 tbsp. Ground Chipotle Chile Pepper
2 tbsp. Smoked Paprika
2 tbsp. Ground Cumin
2 tbsp. Mexican Oregano
Salt
2 (15oz) cans Crushed Tomatoes or Rotel
2 (2 oz) bottle beer- I use Shiner Bock
3 cups Beef Stock
2 packets dry Ranch mix
Optional: 2 cans of Kidney Beans
A thickening agent: I use 2 tbsp. Ground Flaxseed and 1 tbsp. Masa Harina. You can use 3 tbsp. Masa Harina only if you don't care for the Flax, I try to hide a little something healthy wherever I can. 

In a large pot, heat the oil and meat over medium-high heat. Stir and break up pieces until the outside has a light brown color. About 5 minutes. I put the Garlic, Onion and Jalapenos in my food processor and chop. You can seed and de-vein the Jalapenos if you want it more on the mild side. 

Add the Onion Garlic Jalapeno mixture, Chili Powder, Chipotle Chile Pepper, Paprika, Cumin, Oregano, 2 packets of Ranch and Salt. Stir and cook for about 5 minutes, just long enough to soften the onions. Add the Rotel or Canned Tomatoes, Beer and Stock. Stir well and bring to a boil. Reduce to medium-low and simmer, UNCOVERED, until the meat is tender and the liquid has cooked down about half. Usually 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Stir occasionally. If you want to add beans, do that after about an hour. Mix the Masa in a bowl with a small amount of water. It should be a thick paste. Add to the chili and stir in thoroughly. Cook an additional 30 minutes on low. Serve hot topped with some Sour Cream, Grated Cheese and Fresh Cilantro. Enjoy!

This is the before and after cooking. You can see how much the liquid will cook down.

I have been doing alot of cooking lately so I am going to just spend the next few days adding some of my most recent recipes. Today is salsa. My daughter and I did Hot Salsa and Peach Salsa. I love using fresh peaches in mine but this day I had a can of peaches that I needed to do something with so we used that instead. It was still very good and saves alot of time slicing and peeling. 

                             PEACH SALSA
Ingredients:
1 can of Peaches in 100% juice
1 Serrano pepper
2 Jalapenos
4 large Tomatoes
2 yellow Chiles
2 tbsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
1 can fire-roasted Tomatoes
1 (or to taste) Chipotle Peppers in Adobo
1/2 bag frozen Peaches
2 sweet yellow Onions
1 Shallot

Put everything except the Peaches in your blender or food processor. If you want your Salsa on the mild side slice and clean all of the veins and seeds from your Jalapenos and Serrano. I usually clean half and leave half intact. If you like your Salsa EXTRA spicy add a Habanero Pepper. Chop to the desired consistency and then add the Peaches. Pulse just enough to break them up and mix without turning them to mush. You can add a pinch of salt if desired but I usually dont because any chips used for dipping are plenty salty.

                                   HOT SALSA

Ingredients:

1 large yellow Onion

1 Shallot

1 can Fire-Roasted Tomatoes-diced
1 Serrano Pepper

8 large ripe Tomatoes

2 large yellow Chiles

2 large Jalapenos

1 lime

1 (or to taste) Chipotle Peppers in Adobo

1 bunch of Cilantro

Salt to taste

If you like EXTRA SPICY add a whole Habanero Pepper and if you like it more on the mild side you can de-vein and seed half of your Jalapenos and Serranos. For EXTRA MILD de-vein and seed ALL of your Jalapenos and Serranos. 

Put the Onions, Shallot, Serranos, Chiles and all of your Peppers in the food processor. Pulse to your desired consistency. Add everything else and squeeze in your lime. Chop. If you like your Salsa a bit chunkier just put all ingredients in together and pulse til its chopped enough for your liking. This Salsa has a great flavor and we keep a constant supply of it around here!

Loooong Few Weeks!

Hello again! Im sure some thought I had gotten tired of this 'blogging' thing and moved on. Sorry to disappoint but I am back! Its been a long few weeks and we have had many adventures but I am not going to fill this day with catch-up stories. I am going to fill today with things that I am thankful for! I have such a great life and I feel I need to say that more often. So today is BE THANKFUL day.......

I have 5 wonderful and healthy children! A beautiful 21 year-old daughter that is smart and creative and striving everyday to be a great mom to my awesome, precious grandson! A gorgeous 18 year-old daughter that is such a kind and caring person, it makes me proud to be her mom! A sweetie-pie 9 year-old daughter that just wants to experience life to the fullest and I love watching her bright eyes light up when she has new experiences or discoveries! My dear angels, the boys that we never expected, my 18 month-old twinies that brighten each and every day and have restored my belief that Faith is trusting even when you don't know the plan! And lastly, my man, that tells me everyday how much he loves me and that I am a wonderful mother and a beautiful person! I couldn't want for anything more. I truly am a fortunate person. And in appreciation for the life that I have, I try to be positive and a good example everyday. I recently heard a woman by the name of Brene Brown speaking about ways to improve ourselves as women. She has a question she asks herself every night. "AT THE END OF THE DAY, DID YOU CONTRIBUTE MORE THAN YOU CRITICIZED?" What a world it would be if more people would think this way.

Please go away Justin Bieber

Please Please Please, stop contributing to this childs delinquency! http://www.tmz.com/videos/0_s38srmti
We see this all the time, child stars shoot to fame, make millions and kazillions, then lose their minds. Apparently that's whats happening here. Justin Bieber doesn't seem to actually have a mental problem, like some of them, hes just a spoiled rotten kid that doesn't appreciate what he has been blessed with. I remember a while back when his mom was making the interview circuit, pushing a book Im pretty sure, telling the world how special her son was. How, at 17, she was pressured to abort him but she stood her ground and didn't give in. How the 1st time she heard him cry it sounded like he was singing. How she raised him as a single mother in public housing and on welfare. Blah, blah, blah.....you get the picture. Basically the same story as tons of other children the only difference is they all weren't given the opportunity to be molded into a money-making cash cow. Maybe Justin Bieber needs to be stripped of his money, cars and ridiculous entourage for a couple of weeks and thrown back into that public housing for a little refection on what he has to be thankful for. And hes making all this money on the backs of our children. Its coming out of our pocketbooks every time we purchase something with his name. Well, not OURS, I can honestly say I have NEVER contributed to the guy and I wouldn't. I tell my 9 year-old daughter that just because you might like a song, that doesn't make the singer a good person. And I would like to spend my money on people that hopefully aren't in an all-out downward spiral.

Cocoa Puff Cookies and alternative Revamped Honey-O's Cookies

L's mother is always cooking. Everytime we go over there its snack time! Cookies and candy are always on the menu. It seems most everyones favorite is something called Cocoa Puff cookies. L and my daughter eat them by the bowl full! Ive tried them and they are tasty but I really wanted to attempt a slightly healthier recipe. I mean, who am I kidding, even re-vamped this isnt health food. It is, however, a nice alternative for a sweet indulgence and I dont feel as bad handing the kids a couple for a treat. Also, they are no-bake and quick which is always nice. Im going to post the original recipe and my alternative recipe.

Original Cocoa Puff Cookie Recipe:

• 1 cup Sugar
• 1/2 cup Karo Syrup
• 1/4 cup Honey
• 1 1/2 cups Peanut Butter
• 4 cups Cocoa Puffs cereal

In a large pot bring Sugar, Syrup and Honey to a boil until sugar is dissolved. Stir in the Peanut Butter and then the Cocoa Puffs. Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper and let cool. Store in a air-tight container.

Revamped Honey-O Cookies:

• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 1/2 cup Agave Nectar
• 1 1/2 cups Natural Peanut Butter with no added sugar. I use the Crunchy but you could opt for either.
• 4 cups any type of cereal you choose. I used a whole-grain Honey Nut Cheerios type cereal with no artificial color. You could also use a sugarless Cheerios for even less sugar.

In a large pot bring Agave Nectar and Sugar to a boil. Stir until dissolved. Stir in the Peanut Butter and then the cereal. I shape them into balls a bit larger than walnut size and place them on wax paper to harden. I added the sugar to keep the recipe tasting alot like the original but you could actually omit the sugar all together. The Agave is really sweet enough and I enjoy the natural Peanut Butter flavor. Store in an air-tight container and enjoy!

Cat Day!

One of the 1st things I did when we moved to this area was to gather information about all the kid-friendly activities here. I have zoo memberships everywhere and try to cross use them as much as possible. Anyone with children knows that a day out can get really expensive! One of my ways to keep those costs down is to find zoos or museums in your area that offer memberships that cover locations other than their own. Zoos are great about that and you can actually shop online for the zoos with the lowest family membership prices and order from them even if they are in an area you may never get to. I ordered my membership from the zoo in Abilene Texas. For $45 a year I get free admission to that zoo. Of course I dont live in Abilene so I use my membership for all the other perks:  Membership Levels Include:

• One (1) membership card
• Free admission for one year during normal business hours (some exclusions apply).
• Free or discounted admission to more than 150 other zoos and aquariums nationwide.
• Invitations to "Members Only" and other special events.
• Discounts to most education programs and camps
• 10 percent discount in the Zoo Store.
• Subscription to the Abilene Zoological Society quarterly newsletter, "Pronghorn Press"
• Subscription to our Members Only monthly E-Blast, "Critter's Corner

Its the free and discounted admission that Im after. It covers a TON of places all around the country, many in my own backyard. A membership definitely pays for itself and the money really helps out these places. Always check the reciprocating zoo and museum list when deciding where to purchase your membership from. They dont all cover everywhere and some have better perks than others. You also want one that is useful in the areas you frequent. I also have a membership at a local zoo called CALM (California Living Museum). Its a great one because it covers other local places AND they have pinic tables and a playground area which invite the opportunity to bring a sack lunch and cut even more of the expense of a day out with the family.

 

A few days ago we were sitting around the house bored and decided we would head over to one of our local animal hangouts. There is a nice little park about 30 mnutes from us in the town of Rosamond. It is all cats! Any kind of cat, except lions, that you could want to see. It pretty small but thats what makes it so nice with the young kids and its pretty up close and personal. It is also included in my membership with CALM so we get in free and get a gift shop discount! We got everyone ready, made some sandwiches, filled the cooler and packed the car (about an hour) and off we went. We live in the mountains so the weather is almost always nice and I sometimes forget that out here you dont have to go far for a weather change. I definitely wasnt expecting to get there and see this:

 

Ok, so its hot. Im from Texas so Im used to heat. I know how to prepare my kids for a day in the sun or at the zoo. We always have our sunscreen, our water bottles, our fruit snacks, our baby wipes, our water-spraying fans and a change of clothes. We loaded up the stroller like champs and headed into the park. Myself, my 18 year-old daughter and 5 kids under 10 all ecstatic to brave the heat and see the cats! All the way there they clammered to tell each other what THEIR favorite was and why. One was on pins and needles to see the Fishing Cats while another couldnt wait to set her eyes on a real life Snow Leopard! Here we were, the moment of truth. We went through the doors and quickly realized we had the park all to ourselves. Great. We can explore at our leisure. I thought I would post some pics so you can enjoy the sights as well:

Canadian Lynx

Ocelot



Mountain Lion

Tiger

Northern Chinese Leopard

Asian Leopard

The much anticipated Snow Leopard.....



.....and Fishing Cat

 

Im sure you get the point. Apparently the big cats arent near the Champs we were in the heat. They were lounging in holes and keeping cool. We did, however, get to see 2 cats. Kind of.....

 

 

This guy stuck his head out to get some fresh air

 

 

And we snuck a peek at the back of this Black Jaguar while he grabbed a quick drink

 

I guess the moral of my story is go to the zoo early or on a cool day. :)

The most important part is that we still had an enjoyable day and it got the kids out of the house and unplugged from technology, which ultimately was the goal anyway.

 

 

 










 




 



Healthy Baked Doughnuts

My daughter and I decided we wanted doughnuts. Of course it was 4:30 in the afternoon and there was no way we were going to find fresh ones anywhere around us. So why not make our own? And of course, it will give us a chance to make them a bit healthier than those we would pick up at the doughnut shop. We experimented a bit and this is what we came up with. A light fluffy baked doughnut that has some added healthy ingredients but still has the sugar and icing that make a doughnut so delicious! These were a hit with everyone in the house from the babies to the old man :) and we all know how difficult that can be to accomplish sometimes.

Healthy Baked Doughnuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
*1/2 cup butter
*1/2 cup applesauce
Whip together with whisk
Add:
*1 1/2 cups sugar
*2 eggs
In a seperate bowl sift together:
*3 cups unbleached flour. ( I actually used 2 cups wheat flour and 1 cup ground flaxseed)
*4 1/2 tsp baking powder
*1/2 tsp salt
*1/2 tsp nutmeg
Add to the butter and sugar mixture.
Blend in:
*1 cup milk ( I used 1 cup of Kefir in place of the milk)
*1 tsp vanilla
Grease your doughnut pans and fill 2/3 full. Bake for 15 minutes.

Glaze
*2 cups powdered sugar
*1/4 cup milk
*1 tsp vanilla extract
Chocolate Icing
*1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
*4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
*3 tbsp milk
*2 tsp vanilla extract

 

This is my 9 year old dipping. It isnt perfect but thats what cooking with your kids is all about. My daughter has her own little apron and chef hat that is part of the fun for her when it comes to our kitchen time. Not to mention it makes memories that last a lifetime.

We coated all the doughnuts in the glaze and then dipped some into the chocolate topping. They satisfied our craving and didnt give me a guilty feeling for feeding them to my kids. :)

I love this and its so true!

This time of year I frequent the Farmers Markets. Any and every one I locate. I love them! A couple of months ago we spent our Saturday morning at a local market I had just discovered. As always, we made our way around as to not miss a booth. Thats when I made a life-changing discovery. The new addiction of everyone in my household. Soledad Goats. They are a small business smack in the heat of Mojave California. They make goat cheese. Now, Ive honestly never been a huge fan of goat cheese myself but apparently thats because I hadnt met these people. They make the most incredible flavors like Sweet Pepper, Garlic and Herb, Wildflower Honey, Jalapeno and my all time favorites, Port Wine and Lavender Lemon. They are incredible! My 1 year old twins eat it with a spoon for an afternoon snack. We cant get enough. Last week I was expecting company from out-of-town and really wanted to have some on hand for them during their visit. I looked up the phone number and gave them a call to find out where I could get some cheese at a moments notice. The man I spoke to on the phone was extremely accommodating. He explained that they were packing up to head to a market in LA but he would set aside some for me if I wanted to just run by and pick it up at the farm. Being that they are only about 20 minutes from me, I agreed. My daughter Hannah and I went over and ended up spending at least an hour. Just talking and being shown around. Soledad Goats makes incredible goat cheese but that is just the icing on the cake. They are also an animal rescue. There were goats, pigs, roosters, cows, dogs, sheep and even birds. Everwhere we looked there were more animals. We were told how animals are often dumped, starving and neglected, at the gate to their property. They never turn anything away. Their food bill alone there is almost $4000. The sale of the cheese basically came about as a way to feed all those animals. They are incredible people. And as much as I already loved their wonderful cheeses it makes me feel better to know that they are also doing good in the world. So if you are ever lucky enough to come across them at a market near you give them a try. If not for the sheer purpose of contributing, then maybe for the purpose of a new addiction.

 

This is the Jalapeno Goat Cheese on fresh baked Honey Flax Bread

 

Honey Flax Bread

 

Warm Water

Orange Blossom Honey

2 1/4 tsp yeast

3 cups unbleached flour

1 1/2 cups ground flax

3 tbsp chia seeds

1/4 cup flax seed

1/8 cup coconut oil

1/8 cup olive oil

 

Mix together the warm water and honey until disolved. Add the yeast and let stand 10 minutes. 

Add all the other ingredients. Mix thoroughly. I always use my hands for this. It is really the best way to get it done. Place the dough in an oiled bowl. Cover and let stand 45 minutes. I usually just throw a clean kitchen towel over the bowl. Basically you just dont want a draft to hit it. After the 45 minutes, punch and knead the dough. Place it in a greased and floured loaf pan. Let stand for 1 hour. I sit it covered on the stove and start preheating to 375 degrees. The heat will help the bread rise. Bake for 20-30 minutes. It is much more dense than your typical bread and slightly sweet and crunchy. And lets not overlook how good it is for you and your family. Even my babies love it! I use the Orange Blossom honey because I love the flavor and it is easy to get in my area but any honey would due. Try it out. Enjoy!





YourCartYourChoice.com

I have been seeing this commercial for a few months now and it infuriates me every time! I feel like it is making ambiguous statements in the name of getting people 'up in arms' about any type of regulation on food and drinks we purchase for our families! The nice Latina mom is shopping around the store buying food for her family and informing me that there is already entirely too much information available to me already about the items I might be purchasing. Commenting that it is OUR responsibility to grocery shop for our families, not the government as she strolls through the fresh fruit. Not surprisingly, this ad is paid for by the American Beverage Association. The truth is, there is no proper education about the products on our grocery store shelves. Companies spend big money to make sure we DONT have all the information. They know that these days when people hear "We dont need the government......" in any context, many will immediately agree no matter what the cause. If you are someone that believes we know enough, you should read these articles. They are examples of big business putting profit over peoples lives.  http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-meat-you-should-never-eat.html?cid=email_na and http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-only-real-way-to-end-gmos.html?cid=email_na I know we cant always have everything perfect but we need to do better where we can and feeding our families is one thing we can always do a little better. We have to be informed though and thats the basis of why I feel this commercial infuriates me. When it comes to our food there is no such thing as too much information.

The last couple of days I have really been craving salsa. My only dilemma has been that I have yet to find a jarred one that I love. Yes, there are some that are 'edible' but not good. Sooooo that leaves the work to me. This season I planted a few tomatillo plants, something I havent done before. If you arent familiar with the tomatillo, its a small fruit, in the gooseberry family, physically similar to a green tomato but surrounded by a husk that dries as it matures. I planted 3 plants in different areas of my garden. They have a beutifully delicate yellow flower that points downward and opens fully in the morning. In fact, in my 1st blog post with garden pics, the tomatillo is the flower on the left in the middle. I just read though that they need other tomatillo plants to pollinate properly so I will have to get more I guess so they can be closer together. And that will be fine because I really enjoy the tomatillo. When you buy them at the store you should peel back the husk and check for a good looking fruit. All the obvious, not mushy, no brown spots, and should be plump and smooth. WARNING: They have a sticky residue on them that I can only assume is to hold that protective husk on, IT SMELLS LIKE FEET. It will be all over your hands and will smell horrible but it washes off and you wont even notice it in a recipe. With all my thoughts about the tomatillo lately and checking on my plant every day, I decided to do a tomatillo salsa. Of course I dont have any yet so I hit the store to find some. What they had were mostly small and in a bag that I couldnt inspect very well but it would be fine. I was just experimenting. I got home and immediately began peeling and washing tomatillo. After a few additions here and there and lots of taste testers, this is what I came up with. A WONDERFUL green salsa. It is very different from a tomato salsa. It tastes super fresh and not at all sweet like some tomatoes. I made a huge jar yesterday and most of it was gone by last night. Definitelely give this one a try if you want something different to snack on.

                           GREEN  TOMATILLO  SALSA  

Ingredients:

Tomatillos- Peeled and rinsed

1 Serrano or Habanero pepper

2 Jalapenos or Fresno peppers

Fresh Lime Juice- 1/2 of a large squeezed 

1 ripe avocado

1/2 bunch of Cilantro

Cumin

Salt

Cut the tomatillos into halves. I used a Serrano pepper from my garden, 2 jalapenos ( I core and seed them ) and 1 fresno pepper. I give all the options for people to make their own decisions based on how spicy they want it. I love the flavor of the Serrano and Jalapeno together. Habanero is a great choice instead of the Serrano if you want extra heat. Put the tomatillos and peppers in a food processor or blender. Add the entire avocado seeded and scooped out of the peel. Add the Cilantro, squeeze the lime in and sprinkle cumin and salt to taste. If you arent familiar with the flavor of cumin, start with a 1/2 teaspoon. Mix or blend until smooth. Of course, always taste test for final seasoning. And remember, you can always add more so start on the lighter side. Get your favorite tortilla chips and enjoy!

                      

When I was posting this it made me want to have some for breakfast so I made myself a breakfast burrito just so I could use it :)

Ive come to a decision this week. Im not going to obsess over how I eat. Like alot of people, women especially, I would often have feelings of guilt for indulging in something that wasnt low-fat, fat-free or grilled. I have a note on my fridge door that serves as a reminder for me, it reads as follows:

NO
coffee
alcohol
dairy
eggs
sugar
wheat
soy
processed food

This morning I had eggs and coffee for breakfast. Ive realized that I love food. I love cooking and growing and experimenting and trying something new any chance I get. I love REAL food though. I will avoid processed foods and I rarely drink alcohol, but I am a firm believer that REAL sugar is better than articial sweetener any day ( in moderation of course). I dont think a couple of sodas a month are going to do me in and I enjoy the occasional indulgence of ice cream or chocolate sheet cake. I will, however, be scheduling my trips to the gym into my week. It has to be a trade off. If I want to be happy and not starving I have to do it. And make myself. I planned all day to go tonight after dinner. We ate, then I had to let my food settle so I wouldnt upset my stomach while working out, then I had to check my garden for slugs, then I had to gather some info for my brother, then I had to load the dishwasher, then it was 10:30. I have a key to the gym so I can go anytime Id like but I have to be up early with the boys so I really need to sleep. Now its 11:17pm and Im on my computer. Excuses excuses. Im planning on going after lunch tommorow. :)

Ok, Im adding a rant today! (Not that I wont be doing that often, I have a blog for a reason) As everyday, I switched between CNN and the Today show while I did my morning chores. All the talk was about Paula Deen. I watched the interview in its entirety and then proceeded to listen to the opinions of anyone and everyone that could get a platform. Im tired of it! Really? This is ridiculous! As a southern girl, transplanted to California but raised by the South, I have an opinion. Let me begin by saying, I have never been a 'supporter' of Paula Deen. Frankly, I think shes made alot of money from just doing things the way alot of southerns do. It just so happens she was discovered. Sunday dinners at my Grandmothers would have cooked her under the table. I also bought one of her 'cast iron' pans once. I think I used it 3 times before it cracked and made its way to trash. I have heard alot of people condemning her when she tries to make people understand the way she was raised. Her grandfather commited suicide because the slaves were freed and he didnt know how to survive without them. That sounds completely ridiculous but you have to put yourself in that time period. I grew up with grandparents that used that work like they used 'Hello'. I would never say it. Paula Deen is a 66 year old woman from Georgia, why in the world is this surprising to anyone? Im sure her use of the word didnt come up in her initial interview with Food Network but then again Im sure $$$ was the only important thing they were thinking about. Now, here we are, an old Southern woman has used the infamous 'N' word! (Gasp) Lets let everyone get on their high horse and vilify her. How about we just sit back and let the consumers make the decision. I do agree with her biblical reference to 'cast the first stone'. Lucky for most of us the daily conversations of our entire lives havent been fodder for the world, if so Id bet there would be alot less criticism right now. Let the chips fall where they may. It will work itself out. Everything comes out in the wash.........And as an homage to all my Southerners out there, heres one of my oldie but goodies that is quite befitting of this situation.

Its 10:40am and I finally have a second to breathe! Ive been up since 6:00am and have accomplished my usual by this time. I was just sitting down to write out our schedule of activities for the next month and had an epiphany. Since my guys have been born my life has been a very precise schedule. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are at the same time every day. I water my garden at the same time every day. I feed my animals at the same time every day. I wash my clothes at the same time every day. My husband calls me at the same time every day. Get the picture? Wow, it almost makes me feel organized. Now I have a list of things to add to our new summer schedule. That could be a problem. First we have to decide what fun things we are going to do this summer. I kind of miss the days when we could just get up and say, 'Hey, you guys want to go to the waterpark today'? Now I have too many kiddos to do anything last minute without a game plan. Poor planning would equate to a horrible day! Theres nothing worse than planning a fun day for the kids only to have a pint sized meltdown early in the day because someones last meal or sleep wasnt timed out properly. Being the CEO of a family is never easy. Welcome to motherhood!

The garden is coming along ever so nicely! We grow organic, pesticide free and mostly non-GMO. Although I admit I need to make that 100% non-GMO. We have a compost bin that I built out of a trash can, its not fancy but it is sufficient to do the job without the huge expense. We also have a worm composter. We release ladybugs and praying mantis into our garden every year and its great because the kids get to see how insects help our enviroment. Every day with children is an opportunity to teach and we, as parents, should take advantage of that. Someone once said something to me that I will never forget:




* The word PARENT is a verb, not a noun *



This is the great metal peacock statue that my man got me for my birthday! We named him Liberace. Now I just need to find the perfect spot for him in my garden.  <3  <3  <3  <3

 These are my sweet little guys and the most wonderful surprise Ive ever received! <3  <3  <3  <3  <3

Today is Tuesday May 28th 2013. I attempted to start this blog 2 years ago, and just when I thought I would be able to, my life took a dramatic change. My boyfriend was transferred to California for work and because I was still back and forth to court with the custody of my, now 9 year old, daughter, I stayed behind in Texas. I had to put my daughter first and let him follow his dream. He always assumed I would eventually be there but deep down I never really thought I would. I figured we would just go back and forth for awhile and eventually he would find a job closer to me or the long distance would take its toll and that would be the end of us. Honestly, the priority was my daughter and I wasnt going to jeopardize that situation by leaving the state. My daughter Hannah and I were living alone with my 9 year old there every other weekend and my daughter Alexis, who is 21 now, was living in a town not far from us and she was pregnant with our 1st grandchild. I began to have alot of unexplained cramping and generally just not feeling well. I immediately made myself an appointment with my Gynecologist. I come from a substantial history of cancers in my family so I dont take things like that lightly. I went into my appointment dreading what I was going to be told and left in tears. Not because I was sick, because I was pregnant! That was the LAST thing I was expecting or ready to deal with at that moment. I had my hands full with a nasty divorce and custody fight, I just told the man I was seeing to go to California without me and I was working full-time to support my daughters and myself in a small 3 bedroom apartment. And the biggest kicker of all?......I was pregnant with twins. It has been a crazy ride for the last few years but Im at a place now that I would never change if I could! I currently live in Tehachapi California with my daughter Hannah, my boyfriend, our 1 year-old twin boys and lots of furry friends. My life has been a roller coaster of figuring things out as I go, doing great at times and horrible at others, but now at 40 Im pretty sure Ive got this handled! Im starting this blog mainly because I have alot to say about how people parent these days. Its my opinion of course, but its my blog so thats Ok ;) . I am blessed to be able to stay at home and raise my kiddos so I intend on posting mostly about family or home stuff. I invite any questions or comments related to.........just about anything! I cant always promise Ill get to it immediately, but eventually. I started this paragraph on May 28th and Im ending it on June 8th. (I did say I have 1 year-old twins) :)