My Favorite Quote...

Linking up with Story of my life Blog for 31 days of blogging in May..  If you forgot about it, or are just wanting to join in feel free to click on the link above!

Today's topic is "Your favorite Quote."

You know, I have several quotes that I can undoubtedly say that I love, but one that just pulls my heart strings, and hits home base with me is one I have read since losing my baby.  A baby that was taken from me and my husband way too soon.  A baby that I'll forever miss, and forever want.  A baby that I'll forever wonder what he/she looked like.  A baby that is forever on my frontal lobe. 

Since that God awful day, in September of 2009, we have since been blessed with another baby.  A baby that made me fulfill my dream of being a Momma.  My sweet Colston Ance that came just in time gave us a purpose and a hope.  Our boy.  If he only knew how bad we needed him, and just how bad we wanted him. 

A baby born after a loss is referred to  a "rainbow baby," and if your wondering why.. well here ya go.

The following quote reads "It is understood that the beauty of a rainbow does not negate the ravages of any storm.  When a rainbow appears, it does not mean that the storm never happened or that we are not still dealing with it's aftermath, it means that something beautiful and full of light has appeared in the midst of the darkness and clouds.  Storm clouds may still hover, but the rainbow provides a counterbalance of color, energy and HOPE."  -Small Birds Studio

It says it all. Period.

 

 

 

 

Things that make me uncomfortable....

Here we are, at day 3 with the blog every day in May challenge.  Today's topic is "Things that make me uncomfortable."  While brainstorming for this I've realized that there isn't much, but what few things I'll talk about.

1.  The first thing I can think about that makes me feel uncomfortable is being put in a situation, or conversation with something that I adamantly disagree with.  What makes it even worse is when it's just not appropriate to speak up about it.  I'm sure through the looks of my eyes, and gestures that they probably get the point, however I'm an extravert and what I think MUST be verbally said!  lol

2.  Second, Public speaking.  I hate, hate, hate having to speak out to a crowd of people, where all the attention is on me.  I do not like being center of attention, at all.  What's strange about it is I'm very outgoing, just not in dead front center of several people.  Needless to say speech in high school, and oral communications in college were not my favorite class. 

3.  Third, and from what I can think of, last, is using public restrooms.  It nearly makes my skin crawl when I think about how germy, and nasty those places are.  I've seen myself leave places, just because I had to use the restroom so badly, and couldn't bare to use the restroom... sometimes it's not that bad... It never fails, when me and my family is out in public my child has to use the restroom... and as many times as I've restrained his tiny little hands from touching the toilet paper dispenser, or toilet seat for that matter, the second I let go his hands go right where I just verbally told him not to touch.... can we say NASTY, GROSS, DISCUSTING!  Iccckkkk

I think that's it for now....

Educatin' You!

Today is day 2 of blog everyday in May challenge.  Today's challenge is to "Educate us on something you know a lot about or something you are really good at.  Can be completely serious, or completely funny and sarcastic."

I sat and thought about this one for a while, and the one thought that continued to come back to me was cooking.  Cooking new, and challenging recipes really interest me.  I do not like to continuously cook the same food over and over.  While I do like to repeat some items here and there, doing it continuously just bores me, and I certainly don't like to be bored.  Good food is the best kind there is.... and that makes me happy happy happy, as well as my family of coarse. 

I'm not going to sit and educate you on how to cook, because let's be honest everyone has their own opinions on how to cook certain items, however I am going to list a few links of SOME of my favorite items I have cooked, which are on my blog already.


Seafood Eggplant Caserole

Broccoli Salad

Quiche


There's a few that I've really enjoyed cooking.  Enjoy!!
Side Note: While I have a bazillion cook books, I get 95% of my recipe's from Pinterest, now, of course that it exist.  Feel free to follow me on Pinterest!

250 Words

Today begins the blog every day in May challenge.  The Topic for today is "the story of your life in 250 words or less."  Not so sure this is going to be possible, but I'm certainly going to give it a biiiig shot!

Hello 1980's!!!

 

 

I was born in Gulfport, MS in 1986.  The summer before I started kindergarten, our home burned to the ground, just a day after my Mom went school clothes shopping for me and two of my sisters.  I have 4 sisters, 3 living, and 1 passed away. I am the baby of my family. I have 8 nieces & nephews, and 1 great niece.  I married my husband in 2008.  In 2009 we lost a baby that rocked us to our core.  Baby loss is something I'll always have to reckon with.  2010 was a great year.  We found out we were expecting our baby boy, and September of that year, we welcomed him into our family with open arms.  I am a full time working Mom.  We have 2 dogs, Addie & Onnie.  Addie is 10 pounds, and Onnie is 100 pounds.  Both are inside dogs.  I still live in the same "city" that I grew up in, if you wish to even call it a city.  More like country.  The school me and my husband attended, our son will also attend.  Also, just for reference, my husband and I never knew one another in school, and graduated 2 years apart. My sister, whom of which was by best friend, and is no longer - is a drug addict.  I say this because it has help define me as a wife, mother, sister, daughter, and aunt.  It has changed me for the better because I see just how precious life truly is...

 

 

 

Side Note: Yes I know that very lengthy paragraph, which is full of run-on's is alllll over the place.. but I just went on a whim and wrote it with out editing it at all, because after all it was on my heart.

Video Overload...

Seafood Eggplant Caserole

 

 

 

Ingredients:

 

1 Large Eggplant, peeled and chopped

2 T. of Salt

4 Slices of bacon, chopped, and cooked medium

4 T of butter, divided

2 stalks of celery

1 medium onion

1 bell pepper

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 green onion

1 lb. shrimp, cleaned

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/2 tsp. basil

1/2 tsp. sage

1/2 tsp. rosemary crushed

1 tsp. Cajun Seasoning

6-7 slices of bread

1 large egg, beaten

1 lb crab meat

1 C. shredded parmesean cheese

2 C. Italian Bread Crumbs

 

Instructions:

 

Peel the eggplant and cut into chunks.  Add salt to large pot halfway filled with water, stir add eggplant and let soak in the water for 30 minutes, drain and set aside.  Spray a 9x13 baking dish, set aside.  Cook bacon until cooked, but not crispy, reserving the bacon drippings.  Drain bacon on towel and set bacon aside.

 

Place eggplant back into the pot, and add enough fresh water only to cover eggplant; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and low simmer for about 15 minutes.  Use a slotted spoon to remove eggplant to a colander to drain, but reserve the water, setting it aside to cool.  To the bacon drippings; add 2 table spoons of butter.  Sauté' the celery, onion, and bell pepper until tender.  Add the garlic and green onion and cook another 5 minutes. 

 

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Meanwhile, dip the bread into the cooled eggplant water so that it soaks in the water; place it into a colander to drain.  Chop the shrimp; add to vegetables and cook for about 2 minutes.  Add the salt, pepper, basil, sage, rosemary, and Cajun seasoning.  Stir together, remove from heat.

 

Use a paper towel to press down on the bread and squeeze out most of the excess water.  Squeeze the bread in your hands to remove the rest of the water, then add to the skillet, stirring it in well.  Add drained eggplant as well.  Add in 1 C of Bread crumbs.  Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. 

 

Add the beaten egg, and half of your parmesan cheese.  Stir well.  Add the crabmeat and gently toss.  Melt the other 2 T of butter.  Turn the contents of the skillet out into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the top lightly with the remaining parmesan cheese, then remaining bread crumbs, and drizzle the 2 T of butter on top of that.

 

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 45minutes - 1 hour. 

 



Cajun Shrimp Penne Pasta

This recipe' will deffinately go on my "quick and easy" list...  It was so creamy and delish - even my 2 year old gulped it down.  I will say it's better on day 1, as opposed to day 2.  While warming it up on the 2nd day for left overs, the pasta kinda became mushy, like over cooked.  Just a fair warning!

You will need:
1 lb. penne noodles
1 lb. raw, deveined shrimp
2 C. 1/2 & 1/2
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 lb. bacon, chopped
2 T. paprika
2 T. Olive Oil
2 T. Tony's Seasoning
2 oz. of fresh shredded parmesean cheese
Salt
Pepper

Directions:
Cook pasta in a separate pot, until tender.  (Do not over cook) Drain and let cool, put back into it's pot. 
In a separate saute' pan heat olive oil, and add bacon.  Cook until crispy.  Remove bacon, and leave grease in pan. 
Add onions and garlic to bacon grease and cook until tender.
Add shrimp to onion and garlic mixture, and cook until done.
Add shrimp, onion & garlic mixture, and bacon to the pot with the penne noodles.
Add paprika, and tony's seasoning. 
Add 1/2 & 1/2 and parmesean cheese.
Cook on low until sauce appears to thicken.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
ENJOY!!