Instant happy #17

My last growing pain was… probably right after a piece of cake.  Yep, I'm sure I felt it in my left buttock.

I grow and nurture…

Blog like you love it

It's been almost 3 years since I began blogging.  When I began I had no clue what I was in for.  What started as a place to record my thoughts and ideas has turned into a place to share what I love doing.  There are some things that have taken me a long time to realize and it has recently occured to me that perhaps someone might stumble across my blog and read some things I wish I had learned sooner than later.  Below is a list of things I have found (in no particular order) that might speed your journey along a bit faster than my journey has been.  Take what you need, and please share what you have learned as well in the comments.  You never know who will read it and have an "ah HA" moment.  Read on...

Chorizo burger cheese dog

A few people don’t like hot dogs for some reason.  I do, but for those that prefer a burger at a hot dog grilling, here’s what you’ll get at my backyard party: a cheese stuffed, chorizo flavored burger roll in a hot dog bun.  Heck, some of the hot dog folks may proclaim they prefer a burger just to get one.

Recipe for

Garden walk

Rain drops sit on the iris. 

Birds sing melodies.

Sweet aromas fill the air.

These things renew my spirit

on this beautiful Sunday morning.

   

Instant Happy #16

WEEK 16 :
My favorite makeup item is ... the one that hasn't been invented yet.  You know the one, it makes you look like a totally hot 20 year old girl when you know you are a totally wrinkled old grandmother.  No surgery needed.

The best book I’ve ever read was

Five 30 minute meals to get you through the week plus some quick meal tips

Most of us are not excited about spending a long time cooking the evening meal, especially if you are coming home from a long day at work.  No doubt, my favorite meals are the big ones with lots of family that takes hours to prepare.  But realistically, the ones I cook most often are easy, quick and ready to eat in about half an hour.  That is how I became a Short Cut Cook. Here is a weeks menu of easy, quick and stress free meals plus a few tricks to speed things up.

Follow the rest of the story for menus & recipes after the page break.

Instant happy

I feel an instant happy when I spot the first wildflowers of the season.  In Texas it's the state Bluebonnets that get my heart going.  I saw these north of Little Elm, Texas on Hwy 423.  They flanked the gates to Zion Hill and followed the road all the way to the top.

Short cut skillet Lasagna

It’s another lovely day outside but a little cool.  I’m putting together a quick and easy short cut lunch in my favorite cooking tool, a cast iron skillet.  This one is a small meatless lunch for two that literally took under 5 minutes to assemble.  Out of my freezer I pulled a partial bag of cheese Ravioli and the other ingredients from the fridge and spice cabinet.  Here we go:

How to make a blog banner

It's taken me some time and messing around with different free online software programs but I finally came out with what I was after using the free PicMonkey.   What I had was a blue gray box with fuzzy writing and no texture in the background.  I wanted a textured neutral background with the heading centered and floating on top of the background.  It took several aggravating tries to come out the way I wanted it.  Because of that I decided to share what I learned and hopefully make it easier for someone else to make their own design.

A look inside myself

Do you do an annual Doctor visit?  Today was my turn and I enjoyed how talkative my Dr. was.  I started off telling him that I had put him on my New Year Resolution list and am proud to announce I completed it all.  He said that’s the first time he knew of that he was on someone’s resolution list!  He bugs me every year (since a couple of surgeries) to get a Colonoscopy screening.  As soon as I verified my insurance covers it, I got it done.  I also took care of the Mammogram, which I do faithfully because of my family history and am controlling my sugar count with an improved diet. 

Instant happy

An instant happy moment.

WEEK #14

• On Saturday morning, I usually try to stay asleep without success then get up and have a cup of coffee and walk about the yard/garden.
• I feel beautiful when  my grandchildren look up into my eyes and say "I love you".
• I wake up every morning and wonder what fabulous adventure awaits me today.  It's my secret attack on boredom or lack of focus.
• A happy home is where the family wants to be together.
• When I have down time, I do whatever I want.  Now that I'm retired, that's pretty much every day! Whoo hoo.

Bugs don't like Geraniums

I feel instantly happy having completed the planting of 24 geraniums.  I love the big showy flowers and the fact they bloom all summer long, even here in North Texas garden zone 7b.  Our summer temps are extreme - mid 80’s -107°. Geraniums stand up to our hot drought season, like full sun but thrive in pots on my shaded patio, and the another big reason is that they deter insects.  Spiders, flies, mosquitos don’t like them.  Come to think of it, the squirrels don’t bother them either! 

Diet friendly quick Bolillios pizza

It’s time to take a little break from the morning gardening and have some lunch.  I’m throwing together a quick 15 minute meal from my “short cut cooking” menus that is diabetic friendly, low calorie, and economical too.  I ate one Bolilillios pizza with a Romaine salad +raspberry vinaigrette dressing for under 200 calories, 22 carbs, and under $1.25 a serving-including the salad.  How great is that!  I bet my grands would would like this for an after school snack.

Instant happy

An instant happy moment on Wordless Wednesday.

The Oxalis are blooming!