Did You Watch?

I originally had a post ready to talk about all things Royal Wedding, but honestly I haven't been that into and especially since the recent storms. I think there are more important topics. I was a big aggravated about all the wedding coverage leading up to the big day when parts of the south have been destroyed.
So, no I didn't set my alarm this morning to watch the wedding, but as soon as I got up I did tune in. Don't get me wrong I love a good fairytale and I do think this is a big day for the royal family, but the extensive coverage leading up to today was a bit much.
I was happy to see that Brian Williams left the royal festivities to get back to cover "real" news on our own soil.

i know I'm a news junkie, but goodness have you seen the destruction? It is heartbreaking!!! My thoughts and prayers go out to all those impacted by the recent storms. I can't imagine seeing a beast like some of those twisters headed towards me.

On a more shallow note, I LOVED Kate's dress. She seems like a class act. So since today is the big day...happy wedding to Prince William and Princess Kate!

Storm Sanity

If you read the title of this post then you might be wondering why I'm showing this cutie reading? Well, he's in the closet riding out the crazy storms we've been having. I know central Arkansas has been hit harder then us lately, but I KNOW a lot of you took cover in Bentonville recently. I know I was clearing out our SMALL closet trying to figure out how I was going to tell a very busy toddler why getting in the coat closet was fun. After looking at a lot of your pictures and reading your blog/twitter updates it sounds like reading is a popular pass time as the storms roll through.

If you're computer is charged I know some people were watching cartoons with their little ones. We never had to take cover, but I was already preparing Stella that it was going to be an adventure. She is scared of "funder" right now so we have to be careful not to completely freak her out.

So, if you have any tips on making storms more bearable if you have to cram into a bathroom or closet please share. We all know this is just the beginning for storm season.

By the way, if April showers bring May flowers...I'm expecting Arkansas to be in BLOOM soon.

Tasty Tuesday: Black Bean and Corn Relish

This is another easy recipe (no cooking required) and lighter for the warmer months. I saw it on my friends blog and decided I was hungry and needed to get this recipe in my fridge pronto. Thanks for posting it Jenna.
So if you can grab the ingredients at your next stop to the store, whip some up and then take it to your closet with you the next time you have to take cover during these crazy storms.

Check it out here.

Egg Solution

I hope you all had a great Easter. I don't know about you but I always LOVED decorating eggs around Easter, so this year we put our artistic talents to the test and ended up the the assortment above. It was super fun to do this little task with our little one, but now we're stuck with a lot of pretty hard boiled eggs.
So, what do we do with them all? I'm sure we'll make some deviled eggs tomorrow or later this week and I might use a couple in a recipe,but what about the rest? Well, I saw that Laine posted this on twitter and facebook so I'm stealing it from her.It's a website with several recipes that call for hard boiled eggs.
If you have any recipes you'd like to share please leave a comment.
I hope you all had time to look beyond the chocolate bunnies and colored eggs and celebrated the true reason for Easter.

Oh Hail!

 No that is NOT snow...it's hail! What?!?! When did NWA become a hail location. Every now and then yes, but lately it seems it's the norm. Whatever happened to rain?

 These had melted quite a bit by the time we took a picture. How crazy? And I know there was hail bigger then this around NWA.

 Front yard. I mean this hail came down fast and furious! We just replaced our roof...who knows we might need to get it checked again this year after storm season.

This just amazes me...all the hail.

And here we go again...it's in the forecast for tonight for MORE hail!
How about you...how did you fair?
I know there was a lot of damage in the Johnson area. Stay safe...this weather is CRAZY!

Congratutions to...

Jason Brown of Springdale for winning this week's giveaway from Homewatch Caregivers! Enjoy your 8 hours of service and movie passes and gift card.

A Bit Much?

Do you know what that's a picture of? My first guess would NOT be a toilet, but guess, what, it is!
I saw this on a Little Rock stations twitter and I couldn't believe. Well, if I'm honest, I can because we are always looking for the bigger and better item out there.
But how lazy are we that we can't even lift our own toilet seat? When it senses your presence this toilet lifts the seat and while you're doing your business warm air is blowing on your toes. WHAT?

Oh and that's not it. You can plug in your iPod or turn on the built in radio. Yes, it's a spendy potty seat at almost $6,500 but would you splurge for the luxury? I think I stick to the traditional white thrown, but if I ever saw one...you bet I'd try it out.
What do you think?

Tasty Tuesday: Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad

In honor of Tom's new love of Quinoa I decided to post this recipe from oureverydaydinners.
I haven't made it yet, but it's on the menu for this week!
Let's face it..it's healthy so since everything this blogger makes is good I KNOW this will be great.

PS if you don't want healthy...Amy currently has a chocolate cake recipe on her blog right now  :)

For this week's recipe click here.

GIVEAWAY: Homewatch Caregivers, Movie Passes, and Dinner

Ok, ladies and gentlemen this week's giveaway is designed to give you or your loved one a break. Homewatch CareGivers is giving away a great gift to one lucky winner this week. You can read all about their services on their website.
But to some it up, it's an organization that provides a caregiver that comes and help you with your basic needs. A lot of their clients are seniors and the caregiver does it all. From providing transportation to cleaning and cooking Homewatch Caregivers basically gives you an incredible friend. If you have a loved one that suffers from Alzheimer's and needs assistance, this group is trained and ready to help you.
And while it looks like their primary focus is on the older generation they also provide services for MOMS. Yes, imagine someone coming to your house to help you with WHATEVER! I'm bummed because they were going to send someone to my house I could get a hands on testimony for you all, but we've had some things come up personally that forced me to cancel...BOO!
But I was in awe that the caregiver was up to do whatever to help this mommy. Lets face it...I can use all the help I can get.
So, I had it planned that we would organize the girls toy room and then maybe clean a little and work on some meals to freeze for later. Now do you see why I'm bummed I had to cancel :)

Anyway, YOU could be the winner of this awesome giveaway and that's NOT ALL..Homewatch CareGivers is giving away 8 hours of their service (you can do one day or split it in two) PLUS 2 movie passes and a $50 Visa Card to use for dinner out. Can you say DATE NIGHT!!!

So drop what you're doing and go register! I will announce the lucky winner Thursday right here on the blog!

Thanks Mom

If you're lucky like me then honoring your mom is easy. There are so many incredible things I could say about my mom. Now that I'm the mommy of two little ones it deepens my love and appreciation for my mom more than she'll ever know!
Being a mom is definitely not always easy, but it's incredbily rewarding and humbling. So, I know many of you out there have moms you'd like to brag on and now is your chance.

Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas wants to hear and share your stories. Come on ladies and gentlemen...it's time to brag and our moms DESERVE it!

You can go here for all the details!

And the Winner is...

Congratulations Nikki Koon, of Pea Ridge. You are the lucky winner of an hour massage and a $50 gift certificate to use towards a class at Pilates Plus in Johnson!

Tasty Tuesday: Lemonade Cake

It's back by popular demand and in honor of Tom's birthday week I'm sharing his favorite cake recipe once again. It's NOT pretty, but he loves how it tastes. I only make it once a year because it is so ugly  :)
It is tart and has a refreshing taste, but it wont win any rewards in a bake off. I promise it's good. You can check out the recipe here.

And if you know how to make the icing look better, please SHARE!

GIVEAWAY: Massage & Pilates

I'll have to add a picture later because for some reason the site is not letting me upload a picture, BUT you don't need a picture to know you NEED to sign up to win this awesome giveaway!

Pilates Plus in Johnson is giving a lucky winner an hour massage and a gift certificate worth $50 to use towards any of their classes. And trust me they have a lot ot choose from! The place it called Pilates Plus for a reason. Obviously, there are several pilates classes to choose from including a Mommy & Me class tailored towards moms and babies, but they also offer pole dancing (yes, that's right), zumba, hip hop and so on.

There is a little something for everyone! Did I mention on top of the $50 gift certificate you get an hour masasge! HELLO...this giveaway is AWESOME!

Anyway, I wanted to let you know now before we talke about it on the show Wednesday. Go register and get your friends to register. Good luck!

We'll announce the winner Thursday.

Cleaning Day

I was going to spend this afternoon getting down and dirty. It's time to dust, vaccum, tackle the bathrooms, etc, but I can't. Did you know today is No Housework Day!
I now might change April 7th to my favorite day of the year!
So, drop your dust rag, put away your vaccum and join me in celebrating this beautiful NO housework day!
If I'm honest I probably celebrate this day several days a week, but since this is the offical day I'm off to celebrate!

Time to Get Your Grub On

I know I was talking about working out just this morning, but my goodness the food the Naturals are providing this baseball season is worth the mention.

I don't if the meals will do much for the waistline, but they sound yummy.
My toddler will be happy to know that baked Macaroni and Cheese will now be on the menu. A new sandwich signature to the ball park is what they're calling "The Three Little Piggies." It doesn't sound like there is anything little about it. Its a hoagie roll with BBQ pork, applewood smoked bacon, and ham topped with cheese sauce and BBQ sauce. I'm not sure if that sounds good to me, but I'm sure it'll be a fan favorite.

There will be popcorn, but not just any popcorn. This year they're offering gourmet popcorn in three flavors; ranch, cheddar cheese, and bacon/cheese. I guess it never hurt to spice up the traditional popcorn.

There are more treats you can enjoy while cheering on the northwest Arkansas Naturals this baseball season. Never fear all the traditional baseball foods will ALWAYS be available.

So I hope you're excited for opening day! It's tomorrow in case you don't have it marked on your calendar. Or you can always check out their game schedule here.

I hope to see you at some of the games...bring an appetite.

Tasty Tuesday: Mini Pizzas

If you're looking for a quick lunch or meal for the kiddos here is the recipe for you. Plus your little ones can help you make these mini pizzas. I stole this recipe from my sweet friend's blog or you can go here for the ingredients and "how-to."
Who doesn't like pizza...no matter what the size? ENJOY!

If you have a recipe you'd like to share email me at knwablogger.@knwa.com

Mommy Brain is REAL

Have you ever felt like you're losing your mind while pregnant or a new mom? Or have you ever witnessed someone start to lose it?
Well, it's not a myth anymore :)
It's true...I AM a little crazy thanks to the sweet little ones in my life. A friend of mine retweeted this article that Dr.Oz talked about and now my life (and so many other mommys) makes sense.
According to the article, a women's brain shrinks during pregnancy ( I know a lot of husbands are nodding their heads now that the truth is out).
So if you're like me and forget silly things or do random things while carrying a baby...it makes sense. Hallelujah!
If you feel like your losing it or your loves ones losing it you really should check out this article.
I think it is amazing how our body prepares us to care for a little one even before they arrive. To even imagine that the brain shrinks to help us focus on more important things then grows again so we can actually care for the little being is amazing. I know I've said amazing a couple times, but lets face it...it's true. Can I get an AMEN!
There's no doubt that ALL babies are little mircles..and it's neat to see how every detail leading up to their arrival is set to help give them the best care possible!
Check it out.
And now I know I'm not crazy...mommy brain is the real deal!

PS We've got some great giveaways coming this month so stay tuned! Plus you can always follow me on twitter for updates @knwablogger

Just Like Mommy...Too Much?

First the padded bikinis for little girls...now this. What do you think of the breast fed baby doll? Forget the toy bottles, little girls can now get the first breastfeeding baby doll.

According to a spokesperson for Berjuan Toys the breast fed baby doll allows little girls to express their love in the most natural way possible. There are several dolls to choose from, but their on the more expensive side.

Anyway, I know most of know the benefits a nursing mom provides her baby, but do we really need little girls walking around with Breast Milk Babies? I really don't know what to think of these dolls because lets face it kids imitate their parents so I'm sure little ones with younger siblings who nurse pretend to feed their "regular" toy dolls. I've yet to experience that in our house, but I know other moms who kids copy them while nursing.

So, is the doll that bad of an idea? Are little girls really expressing their love with this toy or they just copying mommy?

Please share your thoughts?

Losing It

Spring is in the air (or at least it was last week,ha). So if we've already kicked off spring, then summer is right around the corner. And that means swimsuit season. Raise your hand if that excites you...no hands?!?
I know most of us dread pulling the swimsuit out of the drawer and strutting our stuff at the beginning of the summer, so I wanted to know what you do to lose that winter weight.

This year I have plenty to lose (baby weight plus some) and I'm ready to hit the ground running.
In the past running helps me lose weight fast, BUT I really hate running because I don;t think I'm "good" at it. I love the cardio classes at our local gym. What about you? What is your go=to exercise? I know some people like yoga, pilates, Jillian Michaels Shred...
I know there's not a magical exercise out there that just shapes you up without the hard work so if you're like me and ready to sweat...share your secrets.

Happy Toning!

Tasty Tuesday: Chicken Squares

Well, it's back to reality for me now. After several weeks of friends and family spoiling us with meals after the baby was born..I'm back in the kitchen. I hope the hubs isn't too disappointed.

But I wanted to share one more recipe from our sweek friend Rebekah. It was super good and she served it with green beans and topped it off with choclate cake. (side note: I think I might've eaten the entire cake, but give me a break I'm nursing, ha!) Anyway, this recipe is Chicken Squares and it's super yummy. Check it out. It's a hit with the whole family.

Yellow Polka Dot and PADDED Bikini

Ok, folks how far is too far? I know there are women...let me repeat myself WOMEN...out there that need a little support for the "girls" when they're sporting their swimsuits, BUT has Abercrombie gone too far?
Recently the trendy store, Abercrombie and Fitch, marketed their PADDED bikini to young girls. Girls as young as 7 and 8. Personally, I wish those girls were still innocent enough (as in don't care about fashion and let their mom's dress them) to be wearing Gymboree and Children's Place. But I know I'm living in a fantasy land.
Anyway, there has been an outrage on the padded swimsuits.Lets face it, (most) these girls aren't even in training bras yet. Shoot, they probably aren't even thinking about their upcoming development, so why do they need padding. Why do they need to give the impression that they have boobs?
What kind of message are we sending? Do we want our little ones to grow up way before their time? In my opinion, girls have their entire lives to be women...why rush it?
What do you think? Am I too conservative and straight laced? What's next? For now, my girls will be getting their swimsuits from stores like Target and the only padding will include their swim diapers.

Saving Pennies? Check out NWA DealPiggy

I don't know about you but I love a good deal. Whether it's a discount at a local restaurant or a great price cut on a cute shirt...a good deal can really make my day.
So, when I heard about this website I was thrilled. Now, I know a lot of you have already heard of this website and have taken full advantage, but if you haven't you really need to check it out.

NWA DealPiggy has a daily discount to a local business. They've had great deals to local boutiques, spas, kid play places, restaurants, etc...you get the idea.
All you have to do is sign up to receive their email. there's one catch...for you to get your treat a minimum number of people need to make the purchase too. So this is a chance to tell your friends about your great finds so everyone interested can enjoy!

It's a great site that helps promote local stores, restaurants, events...while helping us save a penny or two!
Happy Saving!

Comfort Food

Let's face it we all have our weaknesses when it comes to food. Well, since having the baby friends and family have spoiled us with meal after meal and guess what -- a lot of the meals are comfort foods. Yes, some have been healthier or come with some sort of veggie, but lets face it, we've had a lot of casseroles, etc and it's SOOO good.

Now, that we're back to cooking for ourselves I thought I'd ask you what your favorite comfort food is, so go for it!

We are jumping starting a healthy kick SOON, so I want to torture myself and talk about all the goodness of those foods that make us feel better when we stuff our face.

Park Time

Happy Spring!
In honor of spring break I thought I'd do a post about parks in the area. We seem to go to Gulley park in Fayetteville the most because it has a smaller playground and a bigger one. This way the big kids aren't running over the little ones. It has a great walking trail and a lot of land to just run around and play games. What about you?
I know Wilson Park in Fayetteville is a hit. There are parks everywhere and I'd love to try out some new ones in the Benton County area so tell me your favorite hot spot.
The weather has been awesome (a little windy, but I'm not complaining).
I don't know about you, but I'm happy spring is finally here. Now, lets hope it's here to stay.

Tasty Tuesday: Spring Slaw

Last week our sweet friends brought this coleslaw over with an awesome stew and it still makes my mouth water!
And guess what, it's healthy! I thought since it's warming up and lighter recipes seem to hit the spot (at least for me) I thought I'd share this one. I really am looking forward to making this soon. My friend got the recipe from this website. There are some awesome HEALTHY meals! I promise this is worth trying. I've linked to the recipe here too.

When To Turn & When Not To Turn

Most of us know that little ones like this baby sit the car the facing the back, or rear facing. They are supposed to sit like this for a year and weigh at least 20 pounds..WELL, today that changed according to a segment on Good Morning America.
Now, they are saying kids should sit rear-facing until they're two. What do you think of this? I know when our oldest turned one we switched her and she was super happy because she had leg room and could see out the windows. I can't imagine cramming her little legs rear-facing for another year. But I did have a friend that did that with her little boy and it was fine because he didn't know better.
The study says one year olds involved in a car accident that are rear-facing are 5 times LESS likely to be injured. That's a pretty good safety reason to stay rear-facing, but what do you think of the new guidelines suggestions? You can read more here. The story also mentions leaving kids in booster seats longer...thoughts?

Time to Hoop it Up

If you're looking for something to do on this St. Patricks Day head out to Siloam Springs! The ever so entertaining Globetrotters are going to be strutting their stuff agasint some local ballers.

It's all part of a fundraiser for the Siloam Springs High School Band. The game is tonight at 7:00, so you can still grab a green beer afterwards if that's a St. Patty's day tradition for you. It should be a great time for the entire family. You can buy tickets at the door or buy in advance (like this afternoon since it's tonight, ha).
KNWA Today's Tom Yazwinski is one of the crazies taking on the Globetrotters, so that should make a for a good laugh.

I know I'm excited! You can watch more about the event here.

Lots of Fabric...How Do I do this?

So I bit the bullet and bought a Moby wrap to carry Emerson in and I'm overwhelmed. It is definitely a lot of fabric. I think I put it on right, but for those of you who have one what is your trick to making it work?
I have directions I guess I just need some reassurance that I can figure this out and E will like it.
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
PS I know there are several other brands out there and you recommend, but I needed it now and I didn't have time to order, so I was able to pick this up at the store.

Tasty Tuesday: Fiesta Chicken Enchiladas

Don't judge this recipe by the picture. It is one of my favorite enchilada recipes but I waited until they were almost gone to take a picture. Anyway, check it out here and enjoy. Thanks to our sweet friends for making us a meal while we adjust to being a family of 4.

Picky Eater Solutions?

Is it a battle at your dinner table? Do you have to beg your kiddos to eat their veggies? Do you go the extra mile to get them to choke down their food?

Well, a new study has tips on how to get your little ones to clear their plates! The tips may seem simple and like common sense, but according to this article they work.

The tips include: don't give up, make it taste good, combine veggies with other favorite foods, make mealtime fun, and even plant a garden with your family.

If you have tips you want to share with other parents struggling to clean their kiddos plates...please share.

Fashion Friday: Zulily

Warning: if you like cute kids clothes and great deals this site could impact your pocket book!

Ok, you've been warned. I wish my friend had warned me, but I'm so thankful she introduced me to this site. I actually bought the girls Easter dresses here and to say I got a deal would be a MAJOR understatement!
I know that zulily is not new, but it's new to me and if you're in the dark ages like me I thought I would share so you can enjoy this steal of a deal.
First, you have to sign up to look at the merchandise, but it's FREE!
Second, they will email you everyday with the newest deals and brand names they are featuring for the next few days.
Third, most of the items are 50-70% off. Yep, you read that right! Pretty awesome isn't it. And don't think it's cheap stuff...no it's awesome onesies, big tutu skirts, amazing outfits, shoes, baby gear, mommy gear, etc.
So,if you haven't already you need to check it out!

Once I get the girls dresses I'll share, but until then happy shopping. And remember you have been warned!

Stretch Marks

No, that is not my belly. I found this on the internet. So I'm sure by the title it's obvious I've just had a baby and want things back to the way they were, ha!
To be honest I don't get many stretch marks when pregnant...it might be because I'm so tall and the babies have room to stretch out without stretching my skin the max. But since I've been home and watching random TV in the middle of the night I've noticed several commercials on products to get rid of stretch marks. And I recently had a friend tell me she wishes she could get her stretch marks to disappear.
Of course, that when I decided to blog about it.
I know people say to lather up with lotion during the pregnancy to help your skin adjust, but what about post-delivery?

So, since I"m not an expert in this area I want to hear from you so we can all help our fellow-mommies out!
Ready, Set, Share!

Potty Training...I NEED YOUR HELP

Let me start by saying we all did it. One day in our lives we all tackled the task of tee-teeing in the potty, but right now it feels like my toddler will NEVER show an interest.
I know awhile back I had high hopes of having her out of diapers before #2 arrived, well, that has come and gone and everyone (besides mommy and daddy) are still in diapers. So, here I am asking for your help.
I need a little potty training advice. What worked best for you. Our toddler is 2 and a half. Right around her birthday she showed some interest but that went out the door quickly. here we are 6 months later and every time we mention the potty she says NO.
Do any of you suggest the potty boot camp...intense training for a few days? Should we wait until she says she's ready? Help. I know she'll get it, but what do I need to do as a mommy to help her along.
Any and ALL advice is welcomed!

I know I sound like a crazy women trying to do this with a new baby, but I thought I'd get some feedback and then weigh my options.

Thank you in advance!

Tasty Tuesday: Chicken Pot Pie

I did not make this meal, BUT I did devour it.
Thanks to the Swain family, also known as superchikk, for this yummy dinner.
The entire family enjoyed it and so can you. The recipe is posted here or you can go to Superchikks site for a total tutorial on this delicious dish.
I hope to share several more recipes from friends over the next couple weeks. There are so VERY talented cooks out there and we're blessed to eat their food :)

Take Them a Meal

I'm BAAAACK! A big thank you to Kelly Stamps for keeping the blog alive while I took a little time to welcome home our little addition, Emerson Kate. It has been a wild but incredible ride. Thank you to all of you for your support, notes, prayers, etc. I'm sure I'll be blogging about the girls soon, but today I wanted to talk about an incredible site that has made taking care of my family super easy the last couple months.

My sweet friends have set up a meal sign up for us so I don't have to worry about cooking as we adjust to our larger family. It has been amazing and we've enjoyed some incredible food. For the last couple weeks friends have signed up to bring us a meal through Take Them a Meal.  I don't know if you've ever tried to coordinate meals for someone but it can be overwhelming UNTIL now. I know there are several website like this one, but this is what my friends used. To sum it up...a mass email is sent to friends and they can sign up AND they can see what other people are bringing so you don't end up with a few nights of enchiladas and spaghetti.
Anyway, I sure most of you know about this site, but if you don't and you're in charge of setting up meals for friends soon check it out! We have enjoyed Baked Ziti, chicken pot pie, Italian sausage tortellini soup, and its all been so good.
So, I hope all is well you each of you!

American Idol

My husband and I don't agree on many TV shows but as long as we have been married - we always watch American Idol together! And I LOVE it!

I thought this season would be terrible without Simon - but so far it's my favorite season EVER! I LOVE the new judges!!! LOVE them!!!

And tonight we got down to the top 13 - wow - that was quick!

Are you watching? Who is your favorite? And what do you think of the new judges?

My favorites so far are Casey, Paul, Lauren and Pia!

Indoor Activities

It's so nice to see the weather warming up and knowing there will be lots of park days and outside play times coming up............but March and April are always pretty rainy so it's good to have some ideas for indoor activities inside. I thought I would share a few we have tried lately and I would LOVE your ideas..............and I imagine many others reading would love to get some ideas!
We always try toys, play dough, coloring, puzzles, books first................but some of these were bigger hits!
We didn't play outside when we had the big snow. It was just too cold and I'm 9 months pregnant and didn't want to fall down so we brought the snow inside. This entertained Harper forever!!! In fact - now if I lay down towels and bring out a tub she starts saying "SNOW!!! SNOW!!!". But if it does come a late snow - we are for sure doing this again!
My friend Bethany suggested taking two bowls and putting water and ice cubes in one and giving her a slotted spoon and letting her move the ice from bowl to another. This kept her busy for like 45 minutes! She LOVED it! I just laid towels down and let her go to town!
I had a few friends suggest putting rice or beans in a tub and letting her play in it. I decided rice was too messy so I bought a whole bunch of beans and let her try this last night. (This was before I decided to put a blanket down.) Now she loved this but I left the room for I promise less than 2 minutes and came back to this..........................
In 2 minutes she managed to scatter beans all over our entire family room. The type A in me decided we might not play with the beans again for a while. Especially when all 9 months of me had to bend down and clean this up (she helped!)

Any other ideas? Especially ones using basic home materials??? I'd love to hear anything! And not just for little ones - I'm sure moms all over NWA would love activities for school aged kids for those days you are home and they are "bored"!

Tasty Tuesday - Chicken Supreme

CHICKEN BREAST SUPREME

Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts
4-8 strips of bacon
16 oz sour cream
2 cans of cream of mushroom soup
1 can of sliced mushrooms
1 jar of dried beef (this is found near tuna or spam)

Wrap the chicken in bacon and put in pan

Mix up all the other ingredients. Tear up the dried beef into small pieces (this is what gives the meal the real flavor)

Pour mixture over chicken and bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours

I always serve with white rice and pour the extra sauce on top. If we had company - we would add vegetables or a salad and rolls - but since it's just us - we just had this. TASTY!

A whole Lot of Shaking going on!

You know the saying about Arkansas "If you don't like the weather - just stick around a while?"
Well - the last two months have been something else. We've had a major tornado, two feet of snow, 70 degree days in February, more tornado warnings and a bunch of EARTHQUAKES - including one last night in central AR that was a 4.8! And it was felt up here in NWA!

Did you feel it?????

I was asleep and I don't know if we didn't feel it in Bentonville or I just missed it but it seems like it was felt all over the state. That is so crazy to me!

I was looking up some information on the fault line in AR - wondering if we should add earthquake insurance or not. ha! I found a few links explaining more about the fault line -
http://www.scchealth.org/docs/ems/docs/prepare/newmadrid.html
http://quake.ualr.edu/public/nmfz.htm

What do you think about these earthquakes? I would love to know if you have felt them - especially the one last night! I feel like we are the new California.

Oscars

Tonight is the Oscars - are you watching????

The nominees for the best film are:

Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids are All Right
The King's Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone


What movie is your pick??? I've only seen 2 out of the list so I'm not sure.

Are you even interested in the Oscars or do you care?

Hairy News

There are so many important news stories going on out there...........earthquake in New Zealand, the change in power in Egypt, rising gas prices, etc.......

But it seems like the big news lately is:

Jennifer Anniston cut her hair!

and GASP!
So did Justin Bieber!

This is total fluff - but what hair do you wish for?

I have kept my hair in mostly a short bob for forever but I'm SO wishing for long hair right now. What do you prefer - long,short, in between?

Wanted: Mom Advice

This is my 2 year old daughter Harper. She is a busy girl but she does NOT like to play by herself - EVER!! She does no independent play time and I have a baby coming in a few weeks and I really want her to start playing by herself some.

My friends suggested I try putting her in her room (which is cram packed with toys and a play kitchen she just got for Christmas - but has barely touched ) with a baby gate up and have her stay in there for a little bit to play and just kind of build on time how long she is in there.

I thought that was a great idea but my child is a Houdini. She took the gate down and escaped to find me 3 times in about 3 minutes yesterday. She can also unlock all doors so could go through her jack and jill bathroom and escape through the nursery - instead of playing!! She wants me to just hold her all day!

What do you do to get your toddlers/preschool aged children to play independently? ALL suggestions welcomed!!!

Tasty Tuesday - Cake Balls

Today's Tasty Tuesday is one of the best treats you will ever have - cake balls!!!

CAKE BALLS

This is super easy and you can make it any kind of variety you like. I've seen yellow cake and chocolate icing and chocolate and chocolate. But being the good Southern girl I am - I LOVE red velvet cake so I thought this would be good.

All you do is bake the cake mix according to directions

When it's still warm - crumble it up in a bowl and mix in a can of frosting (I used cream cheese with the red velvet!)
IMPORTANT STEP: Refrigerate the cake and frosting for about an hour before you start making balls!

I used this handy little scooper from Pampered chef to scoop balls

Melt almond bark (either vanilla or chocolate - depending on your cake) and dip balls in the bark. You could use toothpicks or a fork - but I used this egg separator and it worked GREAT!

And voila - one of the yummiest things you will ever taste!!!