Hello again. Long time no see. hmmm. yep been a while.

Where do I begin........ Been trying to lose weight. That's not working too well. I worked out 5 of 7 days of the week. Lost about 10-15 lbs and then just lost motivation. Now I have gained all that back and about 5 extra pounds. ugh!!!!!!! I seriously need to get down to business and get serious about losing weight. I am aching and hurting all over and most of my shirts are too tight. My knees and feet are killing me again. I have been doing squats and got to doing about 45 at a time. Had to stop doing that because my knees are killing me. I can do 25 together and be okay. My hip hurts and is staying sore all the time. I can definitely tell when I drink too much pop and eat too much sugar of any kind.  I get headaches and the blisters/callouses come back on my hands.

I am looking to get started on eating right and back on my exercise routine at the first of the year. I need to get into planning mode now. I have been trying to consciencously make better choices when eating and drinking. I will take pics of myself and of my food that I eat daily and post here. I want to lose about 20-25 lbs by this time next year. I have been looking at pinterest and some blogs to get some ideas for meals.

Prayers and blessings to all!!
Lord knows I am gonna need them for myself. eeekkkk!!!!

New recipe tryout

I found a new recipe that I thought everyone in my family would like. Recipe - http://www.thecountrycook.net/2012/08/pizza-pasta-bake.html 

Let's just say it made so much that there was 2 days worth of left overs for hubby to take to work and he didn't mind taking it. It was liked by all!! Maybe next time I will cut down on the recipe and not have so much leftovers. We had garlic bread with it and it was yummy!! 

I wish I had taken pics of it but I forgot to take some. Maybe next time. 

Kristy

Sooooooo....... It's been a while. 😁

It's been a few years since I last posted and a whole lot has happened. 

First the kids are a few years older. I now have a third grader and a sixth grader!! How in the heck did that happen?!? 

We've lost a few family members along the way. John's Grama (Nanny) passed in September of 2012. She was the matriarch for our family. She was my second mother after I moved here. She was my best friend. She knew all my secrets, my fears and my joys. Don't get me wrong my mom still is and will always be my mom and my best friend. But man, did I miss her when she passed. Still do to this day. 

The other family member that passed was John's mother. She passed in January 2015. My kids called her Lulu. She was a unique Grama. She loved my girls with all her heart. She had her own personal problems/demons she had to deal with. She was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and RA. I don't think I have ever met a more self sustained woman. If she wanted to do something she figured out how to get it done. I will always admire that about her. She didn't let much stand in the way of she wanted it bad enough. 

On to other news. 

I now have a job as a Pre-K teachers assistant. I absolutely love it! It's awesome to see 20 different minds work in 20 (sometimes more) ways. I never know what one of them is going to say. After 12 yrs of being a stay at home mom, let's just say I felt like I was thrown in the lions den.  Not being used to being on my feet for more than an hour at a time to being on my feet almost nonstop for little over 8 hrs a day, is quite a shock to my body. Not gonna lie the first 2 weeks, heck month, was torture! My whole body ached and I was grumpy. 😁 I sincerely apologize!! 

Now though, I am much better! I have lost almost 20 lbs since August 2015 to February 2016!! I can't believe it!! I have gotten a Fitbit and am in challenges with friends that keep me going. I reach my 10,000 step goal each day. It may not be at school, but it doesn't take much for it to be reached at home. I dance to the wii games that the kids have and when the weather warms up I plan on walking more outside. I am so proud of myself! 🙌🏼 next thing I am working on is eating better. 

Well I think that is about it for now. Hopefully I will be more active in posting things that have happened or new recipe tried or something. 

Kristy

Cheesy Ham Bubble Bakes

Oh My!!!! This recipe that I tried a couple of weekends ago was awesome!! I had seen it on a popular recipe website and decided to give it a go. Glad I did. My husband couldn't quit eating them!! 

 The ingredients are: 

• Can of biscuits cut into quarters or bite size pieces (). =D
• meat
• cheese
• Cupcake pan
• large bowl to mix all ingredients

                     Side note: I used some thick fluffy biscuits and next time I will use some skinnier ones so I can add more cheese and meat. I used some sandwich meat(ham) that I had on hand but I think bacon or sausage browned and crumbled,  in this would be awesome too!! I also used cheddar and mozzarella mixed and it was good. I didn't measure anything so I just "eyeballed it". LOL

I didn't use cupcake papers, I just sprayed the pan with Pam before putting all the ingredients in. Chop the meat up. If you used bacon or sausage, brown and drain on a paper towel, then chop it up and put in large mixing bowl. Chop or cut with scissors, the biscuits into quarters or bite size pieces. Put in bowl and add cheese(as much as you please). Scoop into the cupcake/muffin pan.

 Now put it into an oven that is preheated to 350*. Let it bake for about 20 minutes or until the biscuits are "puffy".

Yummy!!!!!!! This is making my mouth water just sitting here typing about this!! LOL Let cool and then serve and watch them disappear into thin air! Also good with a drizzle of honey on top of them while they are still warm too. =D

Official recipe found here.

spring break......

This week has been spring break for my kids. So far so good, but we are all starting to get on each others nerves..... the song stuck like glue comes to mind. My kids are starting to lose their imagination for things to do to not bother mommy. LOL I give them ideas and they seem to not like mine. cleaning bedrooms, dusting, folding laundry, taking baths...... these don't go over well with my kids. I get all kinds of looks.

It has been raining here most of the week. So things outside are soggy and down right yucky. They wanted to play in the mud puddles while it was raining but then it would lightening and thunder and they quickly changed their minds!!!!! hehehehe!!

We have went thru the kids bedrooms and gotten rid of alot of stuff. About 2 tubs full of toys, 2 trash bags full of clothes, and about 3-4 bags of trash!! Holy cow I didn't realize what mess they had in their bedrooms until I got in there and started helping them get it done.

But now break is almost over and school will start again and I will get my quiet house back again!!! I am going to have to have things planned for the kids to do during the summer or we are all going to kill each other. Library trips, sprinklers, water fights with sponges, riding bikes...... is just a few things that come to mind.

So now I am off to find something else to do. Probably crochet something. lol

Kristy

Good times!!

This past week we had company!!!!! LOL My parents came from Colorado to visit for a few days. The girls were so excited to have Grama and Grampa come and see them. We did all the fun stuff like shopping, eating and just having fun. It rained on Saturday pretty much all day long. But, that didn't stop us girls from doing our thang!!!!!! Grama spoiled the kids and bought me a few things too.

We went to a local town that has some pretty awesome scenery. The kids had fun feeding the geese.

The cool bridge!! The girls were too scared to go over it so we didn't. =S

My oldest daughter didn't like standing that close to the water.

Mom and dad being cheesy!! =D

Kids being cheesy with grama and grapa!!

We all had a wonderful time with Grama and Grapa and can't wait for them to come back!!! We will probably go see them sometime this summer though too.

March Madness!! Well, kinda..........

I don't know about you, but March didn't start off very well for me and my family. =( About 2am on the morning of March 1st, my youngest daughter came into my bedroom to tell me she didn't feel well. She didn't quit being sick until about 5pm that day. Now she is fine. But it is now the oldest daughters turn to be sick. She did the same thing but it was about 2:30am this morning that she ended up getting sick. It all started with hubby being sick and then the kids and now I am praying(REALLY praying) that I don't get it. I am a horrible person when it comes to the throw-ups. I have little to no gag reflex. Just the sound of someone gagging sends me to the bathroom.

OK, OK enough about that!! I should be cleaning my house from top to bottom. My parents are coming to visit!!!! My house is a mess!!!!!!!!!!!! My mom would kick my butt if she would walk in right now!!!!! UGH!!!! Dusting is my worst enemy. I can remember bargaining with my brother and sister to get out of dusting. So I guess I had better get off here and go get busy.

Kristy

Hey there!! So........ I have this sister and she is pretty cool. Her name is Jill. She has a blog that she uses to share her creativity. Jill is an inspiration to me in many ways. She is constantly getting teased about being so quiet that you wouldn't even know she is there. But that isn't a bad thing. Being quiet and listening is what I think has made her a great Christian. She is such a good woman. Now don't get me wrong she knows when to have fun too. =D

So go visit her blog (here) and tell her I sent you!!
Have a great day!!!!!! 
Kristy

long time....................................

Hello again!! Been a while since I have logged in here. Just about the only thing I have really been up to is crocheting. Life is its usual mess, no worse no better. But for the most part things are good(for now).

I have been obsessed with crocheting dish/wash cloths. I love them!!!! to me they are better than any store bought cloths.

This is just the beginning!! I know, some of the pics are blurry. I will get better ones and start listing stuff on Etsy.

Good night!!

Hello my name is Life of a Stay at home mom!! LOL Well, I thought I just might re-introduce myself since it has been a while since I last posted. A lot has happened since I last posted....... The kids have started school, I have started an ETSY shop again, we have gotten a new puppy(one of our other dogs passed away in Dec).

My kids are now 2nd grade and kindergarten!! Holy cow can't believe it!! Where did my babies go?????? They are doing great and are excelling at everything. My 2nd grader is reading at a 4 grade level and my kindergartener is above all the others in her class too. I am so proud of my babies!!!!

I decided to go ahead and open an ETSY shop and try to sell some of my crocheted stuff that I do. I am working on some blankets and crosses at the moment and am practicing on a hat pattern. My only problem now is that I need to buy more yarn and crochet thread to do what I want to do. LOL Can you say shopping trip?!?! Oh wait......... you have to have money for that right?! Well, crap!! Gonna have to wait until hubby gets paid again. LOL =)

One of our dogs passed away last December. We really don't know from what but I kinda think it was the vets fault. She miss diagnosed Sassy. =( The loss of Sassy devastated all of us. It really hit my 5 yr old hard. She was closest to Sassy and would lay and nap with her on the floor and watch tv together. But now we have Ashley!!! She is so much fun! She is a dachshund and is about 7 months old. We have only had her for about a month and a half. She is black and tan and is so playful, ornery, and sweet at the same time. LOL

Well, I think I will sign off for now and will try to keep this updated more often!!

Until next time!!!

Thursday thoughts!!

Well, hmmm.......... where to begin on my thoughts. LOL they all just kinda run together. :-/ First thought that I think of is .............. I finally got my new camera!!!!! After waiting for over 2 weeks worth of delays I finally have it in my hands. LOL I think my kids and hubby are sick and tired of me taking pictures of them all ready and I haven't even had it for 24 hrs! Oh well, I have alot to learn about my new camera. It is alot more complicated than anything that I have ever had before. It takes awesome pictures and has a super awesome zoom on it. I am definitely going to have to do some reading and learning on how to use it.

Next thought is my kids have only been out of school for 2 weeks now and they are driving me crazy!!!!! I bought some workbooks for them to do over the summer break and they are super excited about them and bug me every day to do pages. Which is a good thing, but sometimes I just want to give the whole huge book to them and let them have at it. But then they would have it done (and probably not right either) within two days. We have been going to the library and getting new books every week. My oldest (7yrs old) is reading at a 2.5 grade level. I am so proud of her and she loves to read. My 5 yr old loves to have her sister read to her and makes her read slow so she can kinda follow along. She is learning sight words! My youngest is learning so much because of big sister teaching her. I am blessed to have the daughters that I have.

Have a great day and stay cool!!!!
Kristy

Tip Tuesday!

Today's tip is brought to you from vinegartips.com.

Discourage ants by spraying undiluted white distilled vinegar outside doorways and windowsills, around appliances and wherever you find the pests coming in.

Go to vinegartips.com to find more tips on how to use vinegar in everyday life situations.
Have a great day!!!

WOW!!! really?!?

Has it truly been a year since I posted last? Wow!! I am thinking maybe I will try something different and maybe post a tip of the day or something like that. Well, since school is over I now have a kindergartener and a second grader. HOLY COW!! Where oh where, has time gone? Man, it seems like just yesterday I was bringing them home from the hospital. :(

Now I am off to find the tip of the day!!

Handmade Monday - Crosses

I love crosses and what they stand for. Click on any picture to be taken to the shop that is selling them.

Friday Finds!!

This could be someones father-in-law

Thurday Thoughts!!

I know this one is late too!! Last night was a thriller! I watched the season finale of Grey's Anatomy..... HOLY MOLY!!! Is all I have to say about that! I was every which way but upside down in my chair and my heart felt like it was going to pop out of my chest!!! The suspense was unreal!!!!

Phew!! okay deep breath.......
Well, Wednesday was the last day of school for my oldest. She is now officially a first grader, and my youngest will be starting Pre-K this next school year. Man, oh man, where has the time gone?!?! I don't know if I am ready for my baby to be starting school yet. =(

I have started a list of things to do this summer before school starts in August. I am hoping that I can accomplish at least 80% of it. I will get started on it next week and we will start with the youngest's bedroom. We will go through the closet, toys and anything else that is in her room. I am hoping that I can convince the girls to give away most of their toys that they don't play with. I will be giving clothes to a friend that has a little girl a few years younger than my youngest.

Recipe Wednesday!

I know, I know!!! I missed yesterday. I am sorry for that. I was at my daughters school all day watching her have fun at "Super Kids Day". They got to go to the football field and play games all day. I am fried to a crisp. I think I am also a little wind burnt too.

Anyway..... On to recipe Wednesday.

I kinda made this one up as I went. I still change it a bit every time I make it too. =)

Chicken and rice casserole (feeds my family of 4)

Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cans of Cheddar cheese soup
chicken broth (will explain how much later)
salt and pepper to taste
2 bags of minute rice family size (the kind you can boil in a bag) It probably equals out to 2 cups
Lemon juice (concentrated)

1. Cut all excess fat off chicken breasts.
2. Put the 2 cans of cheese soup in a large mixing bowl. Then measure out 2 cans of chicken broth in the soup cans. Slowly mix together until well blended. Then add rice and stir.
3. add salt and pepper to taste to soup mixture
4. add lemon juice to taste (I use about a tablespoon)
5. pour about 1/2 of soup mixture to a greased 9x13 pan.
6. add chicken breasts on top
7. pour on the rest of soup mixture
8. cover with foil and bake at 350 until chicken is done.

I take off the foil and let it dry out some because I don't like it soupy. Sometimes I add about a cup of frozen mixed veggies to it.

I hope you enjoy and if there are any questions don't be afraid to ask!

Tip Tuesday =)

Today's tip I love! Having 2 small children that love to write on, with or about anything this tip has came in handy too many times to count. My oldest will grab a pen or pencil to write with and usually ends up making small marks on her shirt accidentally. So I read somewhere to spray it with hairspray before you wash it. Yeah right! I didn't think this would work at all. But what the heck! I tried it and low and behold......... the pen mark came out!!!!

So far I have only found this to work with pen marks and not markers. I hope this helps you out as much as it did for me!!

Have a happy Tuesday!

Handmade Monday!!!!

I went surfing the net and found these that I thought was pretty, interesting and weird.

Hair pin made out of beads
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=1199905

Oreo pops!!!
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=1113643

A quilt that reminds me of my Grama! =)
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=89476

A purse made out of neck ties
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=778997

Okay, so this one is from me. I made this receiving blanket in hopes that I might could sell it. I have others that I have made but can't get a good pic of them. =(


Well I hope you have enjoyed Handmade Monday!!

So I think I have it figured out......

No I am not meaning life either! LOL

I am talking about the themes for the days of the week. I try to do them like this...

Handmade Monday......I will find things that I love that are handmade on websites like Etsy.com, Artfire.com and others.

Tip Tuesday.... It could be a laundry, money, or any other kind of tip

Recipe Wednesday... We will try a to have a new recipe each week at my house and I will post it and a review from the family. Or it could be an old favorite!

Thursday Thoughts... will be any thing on my mind at the time, so look out! LOL

Friday Finds.... could be just a picture of something or a cool website, something crafty, tutorial to make something, another wonderful blog, or anything else.

I hope you will join me each day to find out what is going on in my world and I hope you enjoy following me in my journey!!