A crafty, busy, stay at home Mommy, Air Force Wife and small home based business owner!
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Friday, August 2, 2013
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Book Quote
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Friday, July 26, 2013
Monday, July 22, 2013
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Corn Side Dish
I'm going to tell you how to make this yummy yummy Corn Side Dish. It's so easy and takes maybe 10 minutes to make! Hope you enjoy as much as I did! :)
We were having chicken for dinner and I was tired of just having some plain corn on the side. So I came up with this Corn Side Dish. I had a frozen bag of corn and a can of Mild Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies.
I also had a half of purple onion. I call it purple, some call it red. Looks purple, so we're going with purple onion. :) And I had one of our favorite McCormick seasonings, Mesquite. Spicy....which my husband loves.
So I chopped my half onion into small pieces, any size will work though. Placed in a bowl, poured in some olive oil. I didn't measure the amount, just enough to give it a bit of a coating and then I added a half of package of the Mesquite seasoning. Mixed it until all the onion was coated. Once that was done I placed it in a skillet placed on medium heat. Saute for about 3 minutes.
While the onions are cooking, I cooked my frozen (steamable) bag of corn for 4 minutes in the microwave. Once that was done I added the corn to the seasoned onion, mixed it well to get all the corn coated. Then I added the Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies, I drained the juice before adding.
Again, mix it well to get all those flavors mixed together. Stir around in skillet for just a few minutes. Watch it so it doesn't stick. That's never fun!
Looks so delish, right? Oh it was. I ended up making a second batch the next night and we had it with Talapia. Yummy! We're going to try this next time with black beans, shredded chicken.....a taco. Imagine how yummy that would be!! :)
Yummy! And the beauty of this recipe, you can alter the ingredients to how you like. More onion, less corn....etc. I hope you enjoy!
Until the next time....
We were having chicken for dinner and I was tired of just having some plain corn on the side. So I came up with this Corn Side Dish. I had a frozen bag of corn and a can of Mild Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies.
I also had a half of purple onion. I call it purple, some call it red. Looks purple, so we're going with purple onion. :) And I had one of our favorite McCormick seasonings, Mesquite. Spicy....which my husband loves.
So I chopped my half onion into small pieces, any size will work though. Placed in a bowl, poured in some olive oil. I didn't measure the amount, just enough to give it a bit of a coating and then I added a half of package of the Mesquite seasoning. Mixed it until all the onion was coated. Once that was done I placed it in a skillet placed on medium heat. Saute for about 3 minutes.
While the onions are cooking, I cooked my frozen (steamable) bag of corn for 4 minutes in the microwave. Once that was done I added the corn to the seasoned onion, mixed it well to get all the corn coated. Then I added the Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies, I drained the juice before adding.
Again, mix it well to get all those flavors mixed together. Stir around in skillet for just a few minutes. Watch it so it doesn't stick. That's never fun!
Looks so delish, right? Oh it was. I ended up making a second batch the next night and we had it with Talapia. Yummy! We're going to try this next time with black beans, shredded chicken.....a taco. Imagine how yummy that would be!! :)
Yummy! And the beauty of this recipe, you can alter the ingredients to how you like. More onion, less corn....etc. I hope you enjoy!
Until the next time....
Monday, May 27, 2013
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
May is National Mental Health Awareness
April was Autism Awareness Month which is very near and dear to my heart, our son has Autism...so spreading awareness is so important to me. Although April is over doesn't mean spreading Autism Awareness stops! For a parent who has a child with Autism, we ALWAYS spread awareness and educate others any chance we get.
Now May is upon us and that brings National Mental Health Awareness month which is also very important to me. Growing up I always battled depression due to the death of my father and other circumstances, along with anxiety. But it wasn't until 2008 that I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. The diagnosis honestly wasn't a surprise to me, I had suspected for quite some time. At first I was afraid to tell people because I didn't want to be labeled. I finally came to the realization that people would judge you and label you regardless, so you might as well be honest about your illness. I wanted to show my support and show that I wasn't ashamed of having a mental illness.
The green ribbon stands for Mental Health Awareness. So anytime someone says, "what's the green ribbon mean?" I have the opportunity to educate them on mental health.
I think for most of us who have been diagnosed, we face the challenge of being labeled. We do not like being referred to as crazy, loony or psycho. While there are some who refuse to take medication or suddenly stop taking their medication, not all of us are like that. A lot of us want help, we want to be understood and we want to be accepted for who we are. Bipolar Disorder doesn't define us but it is a part of who we are. It's an illness just like any other illness, although some don't acknowledge it's an illness. There is a lot that doctors do not know about Bipolar Disorder, most do believe it is genetic. I feel comfortable in speaking for everyone who has any type of mental illness, we just want to break the stigma. We must help educate others on mental illnesses just like we educate others on Autism, Cancer etc...
*Mental Illness affects 1 in 4 or nearly 60 million Americans every year.
*More than 10 million Americans have Bipolar Disorder. Because of it's irregular patterns Bipolar Disorder is often hard to diagnose.
* When one parent has Bipolar Disorder, the risk that his or her child will have Bipolar Disorder is 15% to 30%.
*Since doctors do not know an exact cause of Bipolar Disorder, most people will go as long as 10 years before being diagnosed.
*Hundreds of research studies have been done on the brain and the brain’s neurochemistry, not a single one has implicated a single source or cause of any mental disorder. In other words, it’s far more complicated than you know.
*A common myth about people with a mental illness, that they are more violent than the general population. False. The vast majority of people who commit crimes do not suffer from a mental illness.
*Depression is characterized by sustained sadness and loss of interest along with psychological, behavioral and physical symptoms. It is ranked as the leading cause of disability worldwide.
* Stigma about mental disorders and discrimination against patients and families prevent people from seeking mental health care.
* The link between mental illness and violence is promoted by the entertainment and news media. Look at tv shows/movies, some characters are portrayed as having a mental illness and are depicted as dangerous. This gives society the impression that if you have a mental illness you are dangerous, violent and more prone to murdering.
I could write for hours about myths and facts about mental illnesses. Some advice to you all...avoid labeling people with mental illnesses. Learn the facts about mental health and help spread the word, do some research. Treat people with a mental illness with respect, just as you would any other person. Do not discriminate against people with a mental illness. We have feelings just like you.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. It's very important that we educate the public on all illnesses any chance we get.
Now May is upon us and that brings National Mental Health Awareness month which is also very important to me. Growing up I always battled depression due to the death of my father and other circumstances, along with anxiety. But it wasn't until 2008 that I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. The diagnosis honestly wasn't a surprise to me, I had suspected for quite some time. At first I was afraid to tell people because I didn't want to be labeled. I finally came to the realization that people would judge you and label you regardless, so you might as well be honest about your illness. I wanted to show my support and show that I wasn't ashamed of having a mental illness.
I think for most of us who have been diagnosed, we face the challenge of being labeled. We do not like being referred to as crazy, loony or psycho. While there are some who refuse to take medication or suddenly stop taking their medication, not all of us are like that. A lot of us want help, we want to be understood and we want to be accepted for who we are. Bipolar Disorder doesn't define us but it is a part of who we are. It's an illness just like any other illness, although some don't acknowledge it's an illness. There is a lot that doctors do not know about Bipolar Disorder, most do believe it is genetic. I feel comfortable in speaking for everyone who has any type of mental illness, we just want to break the stigma. We must help educate others on mental illnesses just like we educate others on Autism, Cancer etc...
*Mental Illness affects 1 in 4 or nearly 60 million Americans every year.
*More than 10 million Americans have Bipolar Disorder. Because of it's irregular patterns Bipolar Disorder is often hard to diagnose.
* When one parent has Bipolar Disorder, the risk that his or her child will have Bipolar Disorder is 15% to 30%.
*Since doctors do not know an exact cause of Bipolar Disorder, most people will go as long as 10 years before being diagnosed.
*Hundreds of research studies have been done on the brain and the brain’s neurochemistry, not a single one has implicated a single source or cause of any mental disorder. In other words, it’s far more complicated than you know.
*A common myth about people with a mental illness, that they are more violent than the general population. False. The vast majority of people who commit crimes do not suffer from a mental illness.
*Depression is characterized by sustained sadness and loss of interest along with psychological, behavioral and physical symptoms. It is ranked as the leading cause of disability worldwide.
* Stigma about mental disorders and discrimination against patients and families prevent people from seeking mental health care.
* The link between mental illness and violence is promoted by the entertainment and news media. Look at tv shows/movies, some characters are portrayed as having a mental illness and are depicted as dangerous. This gives society the impression that if you have a mental illness you are dangerous, violent and more prone to murdering.
I could write for hours about myths and facts about mental illnesses. Some advice to you all...avoid labeling people with mental illnesses. Learn the facts about mental health and help spread the word, do some research. Treat people with a mental illness with respect, just as you would any other person. Do not discriminate against people with a mental illness. We have feelings just like you.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. It's very important that we educate the public on all illnesses any chance we get.
Cajun Chicken with Pepper Jack
I unfortunately do not have the original link that this recipe came from. A friend shared it on Facebook from another friend, not a fan page. But it looks so yummy I wanted to share!
Cajun Chicken with Pepper Jack
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 40 minutes
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 oz pepper jack cheese, shredded (you can use up to 6 oz)
1 c frozen spinach, thawed and drained (you can also use fresh cooked spinach)
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp GF Cajun seasoning
Sea salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Lots of toothpicks
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Flatten the chicken to 1/4-inch thickness.
In a medium bowl, combine the pepper jack cheese, spinach, salt and pepper.
Spoon about 1/4 c of the spinach mixture onto each chicken breast. Roll each chicken breast tightly and fasten the seams with several toothpicks. I typically use about 8 toothpicks in each roll to ensure none of the filling seeps out. Be sure to count how many total toothpicks were used.
Brush each chicken breast with the olive oil. Sprinkle the Cajun seasoning evenly over all. Sprinkle any remaining spinach and cheese on top of chicken (optional).
Place the chicken seam-side down onto a tin foil-lined baking sheet (for easy cleanup). Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.
Remove the toothpicks before serving. Count to make sure you have removed every last toothpick.
I can't wait to try this out! :)
Cajun Chicken with Pepper Jack
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 40 minutes
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 oz pepper jack cheese, shredded (you can use up to 6 oz)
1 c frozen spinach, thawed and drained (you can also use fresh cooked spinach)
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp GF Cajun seasoning
Sea salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Lots of toothpicks
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Flatten the chicken to 1/4-inch thickness.
In a medium bowl, combine the pepper jack cheese, spinach, salt and pepper.
Spoon about 1/4 c of the spinach mixture onto each chicken breast. Roll each chicken breast tightly and fasten the seams with several toothpicks. I typically use about 8 toothpicks in each roll to ensure none of the filling seeps out. Be sure to count how many total toothpicks were used.
Brush each chicken breast with the olive oil. Sprinkle the Cajun seasoning evenly over all. Sprinkle any remaining spinach and cheese on top of chicken (optional).
Place the chicken seam-side down onto a tin foil-lined baking sheet (for easy cleanup). Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.
Remove the toothpicks before serving. Count to make sure you have removed every last toothpick.
I can't wait to try this out! :)
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013
Spreading Autism Awareness
April is Autism Awareness Month.
What is Autism? Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. They include autistic disorder, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome. ASD can be associated with intellectual disability, difficulties in motor coordination and attention and physical health issues such as sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances.
Autism Speaks reports:
Autism now affects 1 in 88 children and 1 in 54 boys
Autism prevalence figures are growing
Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
Autism costs a family $60,000 a year on average
Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases
Boys are nearly five times more likely than girls to have autism
There is no medical detection or cure for autism
This is the first year that Autism Awareness Month really hits home for me. My son was just recently diagnosed with PDD-NOS (pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified). Which basically means that he is on the Autism spectrum but doesn't fully meet all of the criteria. It was a diagnosis that my husband and I were expecting and it was great to finally have some answers. Autism doesn't define who my child is, it's just a part of who he is. I love my little guy more than anything in this world and he is perfect the way he is. Sure we have our good days and our not so good days. But you know what, I've come to accept that he has his challenges and I LOVE watching him conquer new goals. He is who GOD created him to be and that's fine by me.
Now picture this if you will. You are out shopping or out to eat. You see/hear a child screaming/crying. One typically thinks "oh their just throwing a fit because they aren't getting their way." Or you see a child running around acting crazy hyper and you think "that parent has loaded them up on candy and other sugary items." I'll be honest, I've thought that before. But since we knew something was going on with our son and he started doing OT and now we have a diagnosis, I view it completely differently now. I take a step back and think, "maybe this child is having a sensory overload and this is the only way he/she can process it/handle it." Or that hyper child might be dealing with a sensory overload in a different way, instead of melting down they could also become overwhelmed but react in a different way. (My son experiences both ways, just depends on the situation) I no longer look at it as "that child isn't getting their way or that child is loaded up on sugar." It kind of goes hand in hand with that famous quote "Never judge a book by its cover." And honestly, it's really not my place or your place to determine what is wrong with that child, especially if you do not know them or their situation. You truly never know when there may be something more going on. So instead of gawking, whispering, rolling your eyes, saying hateful things and getting annoyed...offer a bit of encouragement. Even if it's simply looking at the parent/parents and giving them a heartfelt smile. You have no idea how much that might make their day.
It is my job as a parent to protect my son, to help my son and I'm his biggest advocate! I'm helping Spread Autism Awareness for my baby boy!!
We were sitting in the car waiting for his OT appointment. He looks SO HAPPY in this picture because he was dancing. Even though we listened to the song over and over and over and over again, I enjoyed every minute of it and so did he! :)
Information collected from autismspeaks.org
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Kiss Your Children
Every night I do this. Risking waking my son up (who has sleep issues), I sneak in his room and give him one more kiss goodnight and whisper I love you into his ear!
Friday, March 15, 2013
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Monday, February 18, 2013
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Friday, February 8, 2013
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
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