I *Heart* Garth Brooks!!

Tonight, I am going to a concert that will most definitely be one of the best I have ever attended. Garth Brooks has left Vegas for a moment to come to Nashville and do 9 benefit concerts for Nashville flood victims.

I have seen Garth only once in concert. It was 18? years ago. I was around 12, maybe 13 when he did a 3 day concert series in a nearby town. Everyone had tickets. Everyone but me. My cousin was going; my sisters were going; friends from school had garnered their seats as well. It seemed that I was only person in all of Northeast Louisiana who did not have the money for a ticket, nor anyone to go with. I was heartbroken.

From the very beginning, I had been a rabid Garth Brooks fan. He and his tight jeans and full set of lips entered my life about the time I was hitting puberty. I was in love! I had posters, tshirts, magazines, videos, tapes, anything with his face and/or voice. Everyone who knew me, knew I was smitten. So, not to be able to attend a once in a lifetime for me concert was truly tragic. On the last day of the concert, as my sisters were saying goodbye with their much coveted tickets, I lay prostrate on the couch sobbing my eyes out. And then, my phone rang.

Joy! Triumph! Jubilation! Rapture! A miracle occured! A family friend, who also happened to be my lunch lady at school, called to say that she had an extra ticket and would love to take me to see Garth. I could not contain my excitement. I quickly threw on my special Garth tshirt and sat eagerly waiting for her to pick me up. Our seats were in the nosebleeds and the object of my adoration was but an ant on stage, but that did not deter me from having the time of my life. I am forever in debt to that lovely lady and the generous gift that gave me one night with my idol.

Now, here I am again. Eagerly, awaiting the time when I hop in my car and head downtown to meet up with my husband and friends to attend my second Garth Brooks concert. My obsession with Mr. Brooks has waned over the years as I grew up and became more involved with teen pop singers such as Hanson and Backstreet boys. But I truly feel like that little girl again from so many years ago as I get ready to once more experience the heart-pounding and euphoria-filled feeling that, for me, only comes from seeing Garth Brooks in concert.

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Some Random Thoughts

I need a deep freeze. I would really like to start cooking and freezing meals for future use. It would really help when it comes to trying to figure out breakfast, dinner, and supper.

A few weeks ago my daughter was sleeping til 9 am. Now she wakes up at 7:30. UGH!

I need to make some money. Anybody interested in purchasing some homemade pumpkin bread? I make it myself from scratch and it is DELICIOUS! Just ask my husband and friends :)

How can my daughter read to the same book 10 times in 1 hour and not get bored with it?

I wish I had a soundproof crafting/couponing room.

That is all for now. I wish I had something a little more philosophical to say, but I don't. It's still early and I have been up for an hour. Call me lazy, but I am a sleep in kinda person. Anything before 9 am and I am not going to have my wits about me. I should start conditioning myself to get up at 6 am no matter what. I have always wanted to be able to get up super early and have a cup of hot tea on my front porch while watching the sun come up and listening to the birds singing. But since I live right on the highway, the traffic pretty much kills that scene. If I lived further out in the country with nothing but the mountains in the background then I would probably be a little more inspired to spend my mornings in sweet solitude with nature. But, I digress.

2 Easiest Recipes Ever!

I was so excited when I first discovered the 2 easiest suppers I could ever make. Thanks to the Busy People's Slow Cooker Cookbook by Dawn Hall and my favorite blogger, moneysavingmom.com, I now have 2 days a week where supper is literally a breeze.

The first recipe I found was Crockpot Italian Chicken* from moneysavingmom. This couldn't be easier or more delicious! I put the chicken on to cook at about noon and by 5 or 6 pm supper is ready. Paired with mashed potatoes and corn, I have a wonderful nutritious meal that my husband raves about.

Since I'm not cooking for a huge party, there are always plenty of leftovers. My husband usually takes some to work with him the next day and I always like to make myself a wrap sandwich with a tortilla, lettuce, and shredded cheese.

The second time-saving recipe is almost the same as the first, just with a different dressing. I had been searching for simple crockpot recipes when I found Dawn Hall's cookbook at the library. I took it home and in it found Honey Mustard Chicken.

The recipe calls for 8 boneless skinless chicken breasts and 2 cups of honey mustard. But I like to use 6 breasts cut into large chunks and a whole bottle of dressing. Cooked on high for 4 or 5 hours makes for a meal that my husband loves even more than Italian Chicken. And just like the other recipe I pair the chicken with mashed potatoes (it's either that or spiral mac-n-cheese for my husband at almost every meal) and sweet peas.

Leftovers are usually made into salads or work lunches for the hubby.

These recipes are an effortless way to get supper on the table when your clan is banging their plates with forks and calling for chow. So if you're like me and don't like to spend all day cooking or you just don't have the time, try them out! Enjoy!

* click the link for the recipe

Favorite Tips (List 2)

Here is round 2 of my favorite tips for making everyday life just a little easier.  Enjoy!!

#4  Now as bad as this may sound, I don't save water for enviromental purposes.  I am all for conservation and everything, but in my house, I do it to save myself some money.  I figure the less water coming out of my tap, the less I will have to pay on the bill. 

When I need hot water from the faucet, whether it be the tub, kitchen, or bathroom sink, I don't just let the cold water run free until it gets hot.  I catch the cold water in clean gallon jugs and then use it to water my dog, water some plants, or even when I need water to boil for a meal. That way there is less water flowing from my tap and less money coming out of my wallet.  

#5  I always find myself running out of ground beef and turkey at the last minute.  To keep some on hand for quick suppers like tacos, hamburger helper, or chili I buy a few pounds a week, cook it up, and store it in my freezer until I am ready for it.  I season and brown each pound seperately.  (My 3 seasoning staples are Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning (I am NEVER without the stuff), garlic powder, and onion powder. They always add a pop of flavor to every meal no matter what it is.)  After the meat is drained and cooled, I put each pound into a ziploc freezer bag, squeeze out all the air, and flatten it the best I can.  Flattening the bag makes it easier to store in the freezer.  I just stack one on top of the other.

#6  An easy way to clean your ceiling fan blades is to take an old pillowcase, slide it onto a blade, grasp it with both hands, and slide the pillowcase off taking the dust with it.  To clean the pillowcase, just turn it inside out, shake the dust off outside, and then throw it in the washer. Simple as that!

Hope these tips are helpful! More to come soon!

Favorite Tips (List 1)

It's been a while since I have posted any kind of blog.  Things have been pretty stressful around my house these past few months what with the holidays, a broken foot, a hospitalized husband, and a growing, teething, baby.

But, I think everything is finally starting to get back to normal. Our routine is falling back into place and I am getting more and more time to do some blogging.  To ease myself back into it, I have collected some of my favorite everyday life tips to share.  Whether it has to do with shopping, cooking, or the household, I will be posting them at random.  Here are a few to start:

#1  For cleaning mirrors, windows, and countertops, I use white vinegar. I do not dilute it with water. I just pour it into an old spray bottle, grab some paper towels, and get to work. It does not leave streaks and is way cheaper than regular cleaners.  Some people don't like the acrid odor of vinegar, but I don't mind it in the least. In fact, I really like it and have come to associate it with a freshly clean bathroom or kitchen.

#2  I have a wooden cutting board and do not like the thought of meat juices seeping into it when I need to chop, say, chicken.  So, what I do is take a plastic grocery bag, turn in inside out and cover my board with it. When I am done chopping, I take off the bag, turn it outside in, tie it up and throw it away.  Problem solved!

#3  I don't just shave my legs and armpits, I shave my sweaters too!  You know those annoying little pills of fuzz you get on your comfies and cozies after while?  To eliminate them, all you got to do is take a razor (I use a twin blade), pull the material a little taut (don't stretch it out too much), and start shaving.  It's amazing how quickly they come off!!

 

These were just 3 examples of what I do to make my everday life's chores just a little easier.  I will be posting more again soon.  Stay tuned!