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HAPPY HALLOWEEN 09

2009-10-17T15:14:00.000-05:00

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WEBELOS last project

2009-09-16T11:51:00.002-05:00

Lorenzo is about to finish his cubscout webelos badge and his arrow of light! We are so proud of him and his hard work!! He will move up/cross over to scouts at the end of December! I am both excited and sad. Excited at what is to come and sad to see him growing up all too fast!

His last project for Webelos is being a good citizen which he will finish by next week. His arrow of light final project is planning and taking a trip which he is doing as I type this!!

More Pottery with the wheel!!

2009-09-16T11:50:00.002-05:00

SCHOOL DAYS!

2009-09-16T11:45:00.003-05:00

Proof that patience pays off and that Dale decided to hold his pencil correctly on his very own when he was good and ready!

I had tried to teach him how he should hold a pencil 3 months ago and he hated it so I let him hold it like he was grabbing it and hoped he would change when he was ready! Yay!!
Lorenzo doing his math work and managing to smile!
Dale having fun cutting and pasting. Still working on the holding scissors part but can cut just fine!

Friends

2009-08-09T10:53:00.005-05:00

Mardy, Me, Thora
Me and Mardy
Outside of the Olive GArden
Tres mamas caliente!
This wasn't just the other day but back before Mardy moved and we dance Thriller together for the single adults and then they all joined it! It was a blast!!

Had the fortune of a friend coming into town to visit! Hopefully she will be able to move back here by december or next fall!!

Group dance photos part 2

2009-08-09T10:40:00.003-05:00

Adult village people ;-)
Gala performance of the three fighting diva's!!

The last two photos!!

Group dance photos

2009-08-09T10:36:00.005-05:00

The witch scene!
Hansel and Gretel with parents
The bee with attitude!
Debonair Dale and his lovely ladies!
HIP HOP

These were photos given to me recently of the only group photos taken!! I appreciate the generosity!!

High School Musical dance camp

2009-08-02T21:27:00.000-05:00

This was an amazing lift and circle of all the kids!!

They even formed a choir and sang!
Beautiful extensions!
Lorenzo went to a week long dance/music camp! They teach everything you need to know about performing, dancing, music and anatomy and health! It doesn't hurt to be surrounded by beautiful girls either...each year has a different theme and this year they choreographed dances to several songs that in the movie that didn't even have dance in them!! He had a blast but is so glad it's over it was exhausting!!

Lorenzo's handy work!

2009-07-28T20:00:00.000-05:00

The genius!
Kicking it up! Literally!
Under the bridge
On the rocks
Casual
Lorenzo was balancing precariously on a rock in the water to get these! Although he never fell he came close!! LOL

Saying farewell for now

2009-07-28T19:23:00.001-05:00

The fun, silliness, and wonderful memories were captured!
Birmingham airport
Skies over Alabama! Wish I could play in the clouds!
Elevator up to the car spot!

Wedded bliss

2009-07-28T19:21:00.000-05:00

The happy couple
The love of my life! Handsome devil!!
Check it out!

Alabama at its best (Tannehill state park)

2009-07-28T19:13:00.000-05:00

Lorenzo's camera talent

2009-07-28T19:09:00.001-05:00

Tree in repose
Tree climber?
Tree catcher?
Tree holder?
Tree lover!

McAdory as i knew it

2009-07-28T19:04:00.002-05:00

McAdory Football field
Walk way we had to take from one building to the next
The original front of the building that i remember
The old halls with lockers!

Friends for life part 2

2009-07-28T18:55:00.002-05:00

Jodi, Ryan, Leilani, Kim
Karen
Kim
Krystal
Phillip

Friends for life part 1

2009-07-28T18:50:00.000-05:00

Jodi
Kim
Julie
Lesa
Joan!

High School friends

2009-07-28T18:42:00.003-05:00

Jodi, Kim, Joan, Phillip, Leilani
All alumni that came that night!
All who came to the picnic during the day!
Utter silliness with bunny ears!
Kim and Kim LOL, Leilani, Phillip, Joan

Alabama fun!

2009-07-28T18:33:00.002-05:00

Lois Acker... Her hubby married us. It was their house I always walked to and from everyday since they lived right by the overpass to McAdory
Ronnie and LInda Acker. Dale jumped in! LOL Ronnie is Lois' son.
Dale making a campfire at the park!

Train ride at Tannehill state park

Sweet Home Alabama!!

2009-07-28T18:25:00.004-05:00

Beauty pageant 1981 I think
I think this was the year 1981
Petite, cute, and beautiful Birmingham temple
My home growing up!
New face of McAdory High School

I finally made one of my high school reunions! It was so nice to be back in Alabama and to be among people I grew up with and made lasting friendships with. It was also nice to renew some and make new ones!!

I forgot how beautiful and lush AL is. I loved going down memory lane and visiting many of my old haunts!! It was also nice to share them with Brandt and the boys!! We all loved it!!

FIREWORKS MAYHEM 09

2009-07-05T15:52:00.000-05:00

Well for the past several years we have held our own fireworks show at the house! Brandt is usually working so it started off with just me and the kids! Now it has grown to good friends and finally our neighbors are starting to join in so that together it is truly spectacular without all the traffic!!
I think our first year at it was with Lorenzo right before Dale was born! The big excitement for us that year was one of the large boxes fired off at me instead of the air and I was high tailing it towards the house with my butt taking the lead in one of those cartoon style runs!! Very hilarious and fortunately no one or no thing was hurt!!
Then our second year I think Brandt was there and the yard caught on fire but we were able to put it out! The following year which I believe was last year while I was busy setting off the large guns a friend (Glen) and a few others discovered my large garbage bin sitting up under the roof edge was engulfed in flames higher then the edge of my roof!! Slamming the lid down and adding a hose fixed the problem and miraculously nothing else caught on fire and the trash can was completely safe!! No scorches or burns!! So hilariously I heard about this second hand even though I was there!! ;-)
This year was the best in everyway!! Lots of oohs and aahs!! It was windy and a storm was coming so things flew in different directions unexpectedly and we kept having to adjust so that we were far enough away from the house and our neighbors on one side.
Our main excitement of the evening was again a large fireworks box one of the first that I didn't go out far enough from the house yet and as I lit it I realized I wasn't so sure it was correctly upright so for that horrible igno second I considered the option to snuff it out and decided that if it didn't work I would be toast, but you know how things happen so fast, that as I ran desparately away from it I could see the first few explode towards me and I curled up into a ball in hopes I didn't get hit and then turned my head to see what would happen to everyone else and my home!! There was nothing I could have done! Miraculously everyone was safe!! My front porch lit up as bright as day but...nothing...no fire, no damage!! No one was hurt! One friend (Eric) had one land on his shorts but he managed to instinctively grab it and throw it before it exploded! Wow!! We were all laughing in relief and all our adrenaline was sky high!!
Another friend's (Eliza) brother who was visiting towards the very end after several sparklers decided to grab the hot end with her hand after it burned out! Then after everyone had left Dale had another of many sparklers for the evening and he decided after it had gone out to touch his bottom lip with it to see how warm it was!! Sigh...yes he obviously got burned!!
So much adrenaline caused me to crash that night and the next day!! Although some of it I'm sure was from swimming for 3 hours during the hottest part of the day! Whew!
Everyone plans on coming again for New Year's!! Yay!!
Even our neighbors came over to check on us and to plan for the next 4th of July!!

THE FOURTH OF JULY!

2009-06-30T11:59:00.002-05:00

Independence Day is the national holiday of the United States of America commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

At the time of the signing the US consisted of 13 colonies under the rule of England's King George III. There was growing unrest in the colonies concerning the taxes that had to be paid to England. This was commonly referred to as "Taxation without Representation" as the colonists did not have any representation in the English Parliament and had no say in what went on. As the unrest grew in the colonies, King George sent extra troops to help control any rebellion. In 1774 the 13 colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia Pennsylvania to form the First Continental Congress. The delegates were unhappy with England, but were not yet ready to declare war.

In April 1775 as the King's troops advanced on Concord Massachusetts Paul Revere would sound the alarm that "The British are coming, the British are coming" as he rode his horse through the late night streets.

The battle of Concord and its "shot heard round the world" would mark the unofficial beginning of the colonies war for Independence.

The following May the colonies again sent delegates to the Second Continental Congress. For almost a year the congress tried to work out its differences with England, again without formally declaring war.

By June 1776 their efforts had become hopeless and a committee was formed to compose a formal declaration of independence. Headed by Thomas Jefferson, the committee included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston and Roger Sherman. Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the first draft which was presented to the congress on June 28. After various changes a vote was taken late in the afternoon of July 4th. Of the 13 colonies, 9 voted in favor of the Declaration, 2 - Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted No, Delaware undecided and New York abstained.

To make it official John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence. It is said that John Hancock signed his name "with a great flourish" so "King George can read that without spectacles!."

The following day copies of the Declaration were distributed. The first newspaper to print the Declaration was the Pennsylvania Evening Post on July 6, 1776. On July 8th the Declaration had its first public reading in Philadelphia's Independence Square. Twice that day the Declaration was read to cheering crowds and pealing church bells. Even the bell in Independence Hall was rung. The "Province Bell" would later be renamed "Liberty Bell" after its inscription -

Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof

And although the signing of the Declaration was not completed until August, the 4th of July has been accepted as the official anniversary of United States independence. The first Independence Day celebration took place the following year - July 4 1777. By the early 1800s the traditions of parades, picnics, and fireworks were established as the way to celebrate America's birthday. And although fireworks have been banned in most places because of their danger, most towns and cities usually have big firework displays for all to see and enjoy.

MiCHAEL JACKSON

2009-06-29T07:57:00.000-05:00

Fond memories of THriller!!!
Handsome and pure
Sweet innocence to sad conformity (then and now)
Now and what should have been
Well, I found out from a friend who lives far away of the three deaths of famous people in one week. Weird how famous people at least seem to always die in three's. Well I grew up loving him and his music and dancing!! Still do!! The last few years or more have saddened me because he wasn't the real thing. Both on the outside and inside he had changed. I believe due in part to insecure feelings and he just happened to have the money to try to change what he thought were faults, thinking it would make him feel better about himself when he looked in the mirror. I also feel his fame went to his head in a unique way and that not one of pride but HIS world. Maybe he thought he didn't have to answer to anyone. I don't know. He is with his Maker and who am I to judge? What I do know is I love what he was. That my sorrow is for that loss...one that happened years ago but now is permanently gone. I watched his last public appearance in March of this year and strangely he said that this was it. That it was the final curtain call. There would be no more. If he was referring to his last tour coming up in July then WOW! I wouldn't say it was prophetic but some how in his subconcious he seemed to know....something..... Listening to CHer and her comments I agree with her. The boy and man she loved and knew was soft spoken, fun, loving, gentle and sweet. That the last time she saw him a few years back he seemed odd not who she had known for years. So what happened to him? Was his behavior change due to drug dependency or abuse? Was it due to all those surgeries and some kind of inferiority complex? Was it from a world he colored to be all about him? Was it all of the above or only some or maybe none of the above?! I am saddened at his passing and at whatever became of the MIchael Jackson we loved! It's like an Elvis Presley curse. Where you love the young thin version better then the wacked out old one. Maybe this is a curse for all those mega stars who lose touch with the world around them.

This is a good example to our children and ourselves that we should remember we are children of God and we are His child and that we were created after His image. We should be happy with who we are and how we look and that no matter what we do to our bodies; from makeup to tattoos, from hair coloring to boob jobs, from face lifts to colored contacts...that we can tend to forget that we are beautiful just the way God made us!! I want to end this on a funny note even though I may add more thoughts as the days and weeks go by and that is that after his death I bet he was more than shocked to discover that cosmetic surgery doesn't apply to your spirit and so now he has beautiful dark skin and afro and a wide normal nose that isn't on the verge of collapsing in on itself like a black hole!!!

More Tae Kwon Do belt test pictures!

2009-06-25T17:22:00.003-05:00

Lorenzo jumping for joy!
Practice class; preparing for our belt test!
I fought with Terra and John over this! My Edward! I won of course! ;-)
Isn't he dreamy?! LOL
Try me!
Two Tough Dudes!

BELT TEST

2009-06-25T17:16:00.004-05:00

Lorenzo and Daniel who did their fight together!
One proud mom!! We have our new belts on!
Photo shoot of all of us!
Lorenzo received his belt and I am about to be called up!

Right after our Disnyland vacation we had our dance recital!! Right after that we had a belt test!! Crazy month!! Lorenzo was testing for his Red belt which just leaves him his junior black belt. I tested for my advanced brown belt which is one under the Red belt! INstead of doing the long and boring traditional test our sensei has us put together a fight using all that we have learned and it is much shorter and more fun!! This year the AC broke so between being for practice, our belt test, and a few other martial art form tests; we were in that building for 4 1/2 hours with the temperature outside being 102!!! My makeup, face, and skin all felt like it had melted off!! LOL

Dance costumes

2009-06-25T17:01:00.001-05:00

My angel costume!
Thora and I in our hip hop costumes! I can lock it!

Dance Recital

2009-06-25T17:00:00.001-05:00

Hansel and Gretel. They were so cute together both on and off stage!
My hair Thora prepared for Gala!
Curtain call
Taking our bows and Dale below with his "girls"

DANCE RECITAL 09

2009-06-25T16:37:00.003-05:00

Dale "The Bee" with his "flowers"
After I locked Lorenzo up as the witch!!
One happy family....it's over!! LOL
We all had fun!!

At the end of May we had another dance recital. Out of the 3 sections of numbers that involved adults I performed in all 3- Gala, hip-hop, and Hansel and gretel. ( I was a village woman, angel, witch in the Hansel and Gretel part) Lorenzo danced the lead role as Hansel, and Dale danced in two numbers as a bee and as a little gentleman!! It was a blast! It was also exhausting but this time Brandt was able to come and watch in person!

MY FAVORITE RECIPES!!

2009-06-24T22:51:00.001-05:00

Here is an absolutely delicious recipe from a dear friend!

CINNAMON RAISIN CUPCAKES! YUMMO!

1C. milk

2 eggs or 2 egg whites and 1 egg

1/2 cup light oive oil

1/2 tsp. vanilla

Mix until fluffy

1/2 tsp. salt

1C raisins blended into a pulp

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/8tsp. nutmeg1/2 tsp B.P.

1/2C sugar

1 1/2C whole wheat flour

mix dry ingredients by sifting

Blend well both wet and dry ingredients and then pour into 10-16 cupcake/muffin tins and bake

for 25 minutes at 325

BANANA CUPCAKES

2 eggs or 3 with one yolk

1/2 C light olive oil

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1-2 ripe bananas mashed

mix well above and set aside

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/8tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. soda

1/4 tsp B.P.

3/4 C sugar

1 1/2 C whole wheat flour

mix above dry ingredients

Now stir the wet and dry together well! and bake 325 for 25 min.

about a dozen muffins

APPLE OATMEAL

(1 serving)

1 apple your favorite

1/3C apple juice (opt. or water)

Dash of cinnamon

Dash of nutmeg

1/3C quick oatmeal

Bring all ingredients but oatmeal to a boil. Add oatmeal and cook as directed on box.

Add 1T wheat germ if desired!

LEILANI'S FRUIT BREAKFAST

Mix 1T apple concentrate frozen into

1C of milk and then pour over the following:

1/2 to 1 banana chopped

1 peach peeled and chopped

1T wheat germ

Bon appetit!

HEALTHY FRUIT MILKSHAKES

1 cup milk

1/2 C low-fat-ice-cream or 1/4 C favorite yogurt

my favorite yogurt for flavor is yo-baby

blueberry or apple in a purple cup

I use about half the container

1/2 cup fruit

my favorite is blueberries but

I like strawberries with 1/2 a banana

It works better if the fruit is frozen so its nice and thick and cold

and smooth

It serves one surprisingly! I love it but it can be shared for two

It can also be adjusted to fit allergies with soy milk and icecream too!

BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
2 lb. Powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 C milk
2tsp. Vanilla
2/3 C soft!!!! Butter
Beat with electric mixer or heavy spoon til creamy and smooth. Frosts one 9in. 4layer cake!
Add 2/3 cup cocoa to make it chocolate !!

GROUND HOG DAY

2009-06-24T22:51:00.000-05:00

Today is also Lorenzo's 10th birthday! Hard to believe he is that old!! We started his day off with 10 spanks and a pinch to grow on! Then we handed him Dale's gift...a cool outfit to wear! Then dad took him out to get his next gift that would be from Brandt. He also received his first military ID!! Too funny! He really doesn't need it since he looks 8! We took him out to eat at his favorite restaurant Schezwuan! He loves egg drop soup! When he came home my gift to him was a ripstick which he seems to have mastered!! And dinner was my chocolate cake that I grew up with and haven't made for years!!! I think i have it listed under my chocolate section!! Then we slept out on the floor by the fire and watched the movie "Ground Hog Day"!!
He even talked with his grandparents!! Thanks to all those who wished him a happy birthday!!

Disneyland vacation!! 2009

2009-06-21T20:11:00.000-05:00

For our big family vacation this year we went to Disneyland in May. It was a blast!! We spent enough time there to do everything that was up and running and of course exhaust ourselves!! We made some good memories there!

More Disneyland Adventure in May 2009

2009-06-21T16:52:00.002-05:00

More Disneyland pictures!!

Home Remedies

2009-04-18T13:48:00.002-05:00

Well I managed to get myself really sick this time and still don't know exactly what it is. I tried regular over the counter drugs like I have used in the past and they all didn't work...in fact they aggravated the problem, which has never happened before!!! So I went to the doctor yesterday for a hip shot and some antibiotics. I hate medicine and doctors unless the problem wont go away.... and after 7 nights of no sleep because of coughing and hacking and gagging....I decide I don't want to go into the weekend without help....Course that hip shot should have been the quick fix before night time and it wasn't sooooo I was up all night again. I am so dizzy and exhausted. My stomach muscles and back muscles are way sore from the strain and strength of my coughs.

Today I decided to try non medicinal ways to help me.

I thought I would share two of these remedies in case you find yourself needing it.

The first one is for severe coughs and can be taken one teaspoon at a time whenever another coughing fit attacks.

COUGH BAND-AID RECIPE

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

1 T honey

1 T apple cider vinegar

2 T of water (opt.)

Ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory and antihistamine

The same ingredient that makes cayenne hot suppresses pain signal to the brain so that 'itch' doesn't set you off on another attack

Honey dries pus and draws out poisons from wounds

Apple cider vinegar has so many useful uses but in this case it is a great ulcer preventative, great for digestion and pain.

Water is just to dilute it but I like it straight up!

The other recipe is a virgin hot toddy!

VIRGIN HOT TODDY

2-3 oz. apple cider vinegar

1 oz. honey

1/2 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice

Warm all the ingredients in a small saucepan until the honey has dissolved and the drink is hot, but not boiling. Pour into your mug and sip away slowly!

BLUEBONNETS-A little piece of heaven part 4

2009-04-18T13:35:00.001-05:00

BLUEBONNETS- A little piece of heaven part 3

2009-04-18T13:25:00.002-05:00

BLUEBONNETS-A little piece of heaven part 2

2009-04-18T13:20:00.002-05:00

BLUEBONNETS-A Little piece of heaven part 1

2009-04-18T13:07:00.002-05:00

Well it is bluebonnet season for Texas and oh how we love our blue bonnets. We actually found a field of them close to home and went out there several times to get pictures!!! We always consider them flowers from heaven because they are blue and when amidst them in a huge field its like a little patch of heaven!!!

POTTERY WHEEL

2009-03-29T14:51:00.002-05:00

Lorenzo has been taking pottery for about a year now I think. His instructor feels that he is ready to use the wheel this week and so here are pictures of his very first time!!!

Utah trip for DALLIN

2009-02-27T16:08:00.002-06:00

We were so lucky to be able to make a short, tornado like trip to Utah to visit family. Especially to be there for my brother Joe's adopted baby- Dallin- to be sealed to his family for all eternity and then to be blessed! It was such a joy to see everyone and even my uncle Reed and one of his daughters- Heather!! I even had the the chance to run in the snow up in the mountains. I loved it!!

TAE KWON DO BELT TEST

2009-02-13T18:21:00.003-06:00

Lorenzo just belt tested for his advanced brown belt!!! We were so excited for him!!! He did well and was absolutely awesome in his kama weapon demonstration that he was required to perform. He had to choreograph it on his own and write a 5 page report about the weapon. In his class he doesn't just learn tae kwon do but learns kenpo, various styles of jiu jitsu, aikido, and judo. So that he is well rounded in many forms of martial arts.

Our new German Shepherd puppy

2009-02-06T15:55:00.003-06:00

BFF's!!!!

2009-01-28T20:38:00.003-06:00

Thanks to all my best buds, friends, peeps, and family....so far..... for subscribing to my blog and being a follower!! I am so excited!! I have many more out there I look forward to signing up. You don't even have to have a blog just a free account. It doesn't even hurt to do it! Any questions just let me know!! XOXOXO

FIRE & ICE

2009-01-28T08:14:00.002-06:00

So we had a cold front blow in Monday night! You could hear it and feel it! Going from 80 degree weather to 21 degrees is not fun! What added to this so called fun was the ice!! Places closed and schools closed! Solid ice everywhere! Now that bummed me out because I love to dance! So my 4 hours of dance were cancelled! But the nice side to all this was that we stayed home as a family and lounged around our fireplace reading books and roasting marshmallows! The kids enjoyed making S'mores!! It was relaxing and it was nice to be together as a family! Monday night we slept out by the fire! Last night we had marshmallows (not chestnuts) roasting by an open fire.....LOL so for two days fire and ice did mix in an unexpected way! Although I ended up loving it let's not have that weather come back! I'm more a tropical island girl!

23rd ANNIVERSARY!

2009-01-25T17:56:00.001-06:00

So today is Brandt's and my 23rd anniversary! It is so hard to believe we have been married that long! Brandt assures me that is a good thing! LOL
Our first two years were quite blissful doing the whole newlywed thing and adjusting to military life and separations and all! The next 11 years were great but those years were spent wondering if we would ever have kids. Marriage changes quite a bit when children come along and after 13 years it was a big step! It was the right step and a wonderful one at that! So the last 10 years have been even better sharing our hearts with two precious, precocious boys who are such a blessing in our lives!
I am grateful our marriage and our family is forever! It would be my hell to live eternity without them! I am grateful for the gospel, the knowledge that my Savior loves me despite my weaknesses and that gives me the strength to keep going when times are tough! I am also grateful for not only my parents but brandts who raised us to be independent and strong and courageous in life and in the gospel!

Dale's song-BEAUTIFUL MOM

2009-01-15T14:08:00.003-06:00

First click on this picture to get the full effect before reading on!!
So Dale goes around telling everyone how beautiful they are!! It is so precious. It started with him telling me how beautiful I am countlessly throughout each and everyday! Whether he was in trouble or not.

We did have to explain to him that we call men and boys handsome and women and girls beautiful as he progressed to including Brandt and Lorenzo. He didn't like it at first but has now come to accept it. So guess what? Yup, he tells them countlessly how handsome they are too!

So a few days ago he started singing a song to me with the two words that never changed- "beautiful mom". And even pulled out his guitar and serenaded me with it several times.

Then yesterday he actually sat down and was writing on his paper and singing the same song quietly and happily to himself until he was done. Then he came over to me and showed me his 'music'. It was the sweetest thing ever. He had even taken the time to draw me at the bottom of the page. Now hysterically I looked like an alien blob with all the works, like attacking a village...I kid you not!!! But he swears its me and our home and that it is a beautiful day. LOL! But to him it was a masterpiece and so now it proudly sits on the fridge as the newest addition of art.

I will have to get a picture taken of it and include it with this post. Just to make sure you can share in my moment right along with me!!!

DISNEY CHRISTMAS 2008

2009-01-14T15:29:00.002-06:00

LEILANI'S DANCE COSTUMES FOR CHRISTMAS 08

2009-01-14T14:40:00.001-06:00

PICTURES OF DALE

2009-01-14T14:27:00.001-06:00

2009-01-10T14:55:00.002-06:00

Lorenzo as Fritz for the Nutcracker!!

LOL--THE 12 STEP CHOCOHOLICS PROGRAM!!! AND RECIPES!!

2009-01-10T14:53:00.006-06:00

Never be more than 12 steps away from chocolate!!

Stay tuned for more wonderful thoughts on chocolate!!

A chocolate in the mouth is worth two on the plate.

"Liquidum non frangit jejunum." ([chocolate] liquids, amongst them, do not constitute a break in fasting.) Cardinal Francis Maria Brancaccio of the Vatican, 1662

There's nothing better than a good friend, except a good friend with CHOCOLATE! Linda Grayson from the Pickwick papers

Chocolate: Here today.....Gone today!!

"Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands- and then eat just one of the pieces!" Judith Viorst

If it ain't chocolate, it ain't breakfast!

This guy found a bottle on the ocean, and he opened it and out popped a genie, and he gave him three wishes. The guy wished for a million dollars, and... Poof! ...there was a million dollars. Then he wished for a convertible, and ...Poof! ...there was a convertible. Then he wished he could be irresistible to all women..Poof! He turned into a box of chocolates!

It's not that chocolates are a substitute for love. Love is a substitute for chocolate. Chocolate is, let' face it, far more reliable than a man. Miranda Ingram

Seen recently on a tee shirt ~ EMERGENCY ALERT: If wearer of this shirt is found vacant, listless, or depressed, ADMINISTER CHOCOLATE IMMEDIATELY!

LEILANI'S CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

1C butter

1/2C sugar

1 1/2C brown sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 C flour

2 1/2 quick oatmeal

1tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. Baking soda

12 oz. chocolate chips

8 oz. frozen Hershey bar grated or processed to crumbs

1 C nuts opt.

Cream sugars and butter. Add vanilla and eggs. Mix all dry ingredients together and if time permitting sift in the process. Add dry mix to the butter mix. Add chocolate and nuts. I use an ice cream scooper for my cookies and place them on a buttered pan to bake for 8-10 minutes at 375 degrees preheated oven. You can also make the balls and store them in the freezer for future cravings!

CHOCOLATE BLISS COOKIES (thanks Thora)

1 pkg. semi sweet baking chocolate microwaved to melt on 50 % power.

3/4 C Brown sugar

1/4 C softened butter ( half a stick)

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

3/4 C flour

1/4 tsp. Baking Powder

2 C chocolate chips

Mix the sugars and butter til fluffy and then add the melted chocolate. Blend in the eggs and vanilla. Mix the flour and B.P. together before slowly adding to butter mix. Stir in the chips. Bake as desired for cookies on a sprayed pan at 350 degrees preheated for 13-14 minutes.

OUTRAGEOUS TO KILL FOR BROWNIES!!

1 huge cookie pan with sides

6 eggs

3T postum/coffee grains

2T vanilla

2 1/4 C sugar

6 oz. unsweetened chocolate

1 whole pound of butter

1 whole pound of chocolate chips

1 C flour

1T baking powder

1 tsp. salt

12 oz bag of chocolate chips

3 C walnuts/pecans chopped fine.

Combine the eggs, postum, vanilla, and sugar. Melt the baking chocolate the butter and the whole pound of chocolate chips together over low heat or a double boiler. Mix all the dry ingredients together and if time permitting sift in the process.

Then add the melted ingredients to the egg mix. Fold in the dry flour mix before stirring in the nuts and bag of chips. Pour into buttered cookie pan and bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees preheated oven. Half way thru rap pan on rack to rid brownies of any bubbles. Then die sinfully and blissfully happy when you bite into these decadent brownies.

LEILANI'S SINFUL CHOCOLATE CAKE

1 cake mix or from scratch baked in two 9 in. rounds with wax paper on inside bottom. Let cool completely. Turn cake out and peel off wax paper and carefully slice each cake in half horizontally. So now you have 4 thin cakes. Place one on cake server and you will frost tops and sides of each cake as each layer is placed on so that you end up with a four layer cake.

2 chocolate blue jiffy box of chocolate icing powder mix

1 pint whip cream fresh

2T corn syrup

1-3 T cold water

Use one and half boxes to mix not whip in a pre-chilled bowl with the whip cream and chill for 1-2 hours. Take leftover icing and mix with corn syrup and water and chill also.

After the 2 hours beat the whip cream mix until fluffy. Use to frost the whole cake except the top. Whip the corn syrup mix and pour over top of cake. It should be slightly runny and will leak down sides some just watch the water intake carefully.

Let chill.

HOMEMADE HOT COCA

10--2/3C instant nonfat dry milk

1--6oz. jar powdered non-dairy creamer

2C powdered sugar

1--16 oz. can instant chocolate drink mix your choice.

Combine all ingredients in large bowl Mix well. Store in large air tight container and label. Store in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months. Awesome as a gift placed in decorated jars. I think it's about 3 T per 6 oz. of water.

DOUBLE DECKER FUDGE

2 C (12 oz. pkg.) chocolate chips divided

1/2 C butter, divided

1/2 C Hershey's baking cocoa

1t. vanilla

4 1/2 C sugar

1 jar (7 oz.) marshmallow creme

1 1/2 C (12 oz.) evaporated milk

Line a 13" x 9" x 2" pan with foil. Place 1 cup of the chips in medium bowl and set aside. This will be bowl #1

Melt 1/4 C butter and cool slightly. In a second bowl (bowl # 2)blend the melted butter with the cocoa and vanilla until smooth and shiny. Then add the other 1 C chips still in bag.

Combine sugar, marshmallow creme, milk and other 1/4 C butter in a heavy 4 quart saucepan. Cook, stirring constantly over med. heat until mixture comes to a rolling boil. Allow it to boil gently and stir the whole time for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and immediately add about half (3C) of the hot mixture to the bowl with the chips (#1). Pour remainder into the cocoa mixture (#2)and stir to blend. Beat chips mixture (#1)until chips are completely melted. Immediately spread evenly in prepared pan. Beat cocoa mixture (#2)until chips are melted and it begins to thicken. Spread evenly over top of chips layer and cool.. Remove from pan and remove foil. Cut into 1" squares. Store in airtight container in a cool, dry place.

NO BAKE COOKIES

2C sugar

1/2 C milk

1/4 lb. butter

1/2C baking cocoa

2t. vanilla

3/4 C peanut butter

2 1/2 C oats

1/2 C nuts (opt.)

1/4 C to a 1/2 C coconut flakes (opt)

Cook milk, sugar, butter and cocoa for 1 1/2 minutes after reaching a boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla, peanut butter, oats, nuts. Beat well by hand and then spoon on to wax paper to cool and then store in an airtight container.

FLOUR-LESS CHOCOLATE CAKE

1 lb. semisweet chocolate baking or chips

2 sticks of butter

8 eggs

Melt chocolate and butter together

beat eggs for 5 minutes.

Fold half of the eggs into the chocolate mix. Then fold in the rest. Pour into a parchment paper lined spring-form pan and place on a cookie sheet and bake for 45 minutes. At 325 degrees.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE! HEALTH TIPS OF THE DAY!!

2009-01-10T10:31:00.006-06:00

Metabolism refers to all the physical and chemical processes inthe body that create and use energy, such as:

*Digesting food and nutrients

*Eliminating waste

*Circulating the blood

*Controlling body temperature

*Contracting muscles

*Functioning of the brain and nerves

WEIGHT GAIN

You gain weight when the fat cells in your body either expand (because they are storing extra calories), or when they increase in number. Each of us is born with a certain number of fat cells. This impacts your weight for the rest of your life. However, if you overeat and do not get enough physical activity-particularly during childhood and teens-you can actually develop more fat cells.

When you lose weight, your fat cells contract-but unfortunately you don't lose any! This is one reason why it is easy to gain weight back. This is also why it is important to keep children from becoming overweight in the first place.

The most common cause of weight gain is fairly simple: your energy input (the calories you eat) is greater than your energy output (the calories your burn). Also the type of calories....too many high-calorie, high-fat foods contributes to weight gain and loss of tone no matter how much you exercise!

Here is your DESIRABLE WEIGHT (naked no clothes on)for a small framed woman. If you are of medium frame than add about 5 lbs. to the low end and about 10 to the high end or just let me know your build and height and I will add that in!

4ft-10in. 92-100lbs.

4ft.-11in. 95-103lbs.

5 feet- 98-106 lbs.

5 ft. 1in. 101-109 lbs.

5 ft. 2 in. 104-112lbs.

5 ft. 3 in. 108-116 lbs.

5 ft. 4 in. 111-119 lbs.

5 ft. 5 in. 115-123 lbs.

5 ft. 6 in. 119-127 lbs.

5 ft. 7 in. 122-130 lbs.

5 ft. 8 in. 126-134 lbs.

5 ft. 9 in. 130-138 lbs.

5 ft. 10 in. 135-143 lbs.

2009-01-09T20:04:00.000-06:00

BIG JOE AND GRANDPA!

2009-01-09T15:14:00.002-06:00

My 'big' brother and my Grandpa Van (my dad's dad)

I miss my dad terribly... every day.... my grandpa here is

wearing a bolo tie which I think he has worn every day of

his life!! LOL It is sweet tho'. We had the opportunity to

visit him in the past year and it was such a blessing!!!

2009-01-09T15:10:00.005-06:00

THANKS BUNCHES!

Thanks bunches!

Muchas Gracias!!

So my sister-in-law, Shantel, has been great helping me with putting this blog together. Putting up with all my questions and my confusion!! Lots of laugh. I know I will get the hang of this eventually since I did so with other websites!

So thanks bunches Shantel for being such a great 'sister'!! Love ya!

Doing the blog thang!

2009-01-08T22:54:00.000-06:00

So I have friends and family who keep sending me emails about going to look at their blog site. Can't fathom why when there is face book and myspace to use. So I decided to give it a try so that at the least I am not complaining about something I have no personal experience or knowledge about. So here is my attempt.