When Ashley loves it... I think it is worth sharing!

As I was trying to figure out what to make for dinner this evening a friend suggested a chicken recipe her family loves.  Here is her version:


Baked Chicken-pour italian dressing on top and put it in the oven for about 45 min....then top it with Parmesan cheese and bake for another 15 minutes.


Well I went to start cooking and you guessed it... no Italian dressing.  


So here is my version:


I took 5 boneless skinless chicken breast and seasoned well with Tony's, onion powder and garlic powder.  Then I placed them in a skillet with hot oil and seared until golden brown on both sides.  While they were cooking I mixed together in a bowl 1/2 cup Honey BBQ Sauce, 1/2 cup Ranch Dressing, 2 tsps.  Worcestershire Sauce and about 2 tbsp. of water and mixed well.  Once chicken was brown I placed them in a casserole dish and poured the sauce on top, covered and baked at 350 for 45 minutes.  Then I topped with Parmesan cheese, uncovered and baked an additional 15 minutes.


Wow!  So delicious!  The kids both LOVED it!  Well Brendan is a little Mikey, he will eat just about anything.  But for Ashley to say she loved it... then it is worth sharing!


Picture does not do it justice!

Does the drama EVER end? What is drama really? Let's talk about it!

So I had a a-hem "friend" tell me once that she didn't know how to be my friend because I had to much drama.

Never mind the daily phone calls that I would get from this same person complaining about her marriage day in and day out.

Okay.

Who doesn't?  And what is your definition of drama?

My definition of drama is someone that is always trying to start things with other people, stirring the pot you might say.  I REALLY try not to create this type of drama!  Really I don't, I just want to live my life surrounded with my family and friends and have a good time.  Because you know what?  Life is too short not to enjoy it.

Now, if your definition of drama is listening to others complain about certain issues that may be going on in their life then I disagree.  To me, that is a FRIEND!

If you can't depend on your friends listening and giving their input on certain things then what are friends for?  To go out with have drinks, laugh, play and call it a day?  Well actually if we all got drunk then maybe we wouldn't care about the other issues in life, or what some may call drama.  Yes, we should have fun with our friends and not be serious all the time but you should be able to talk as well.  Maybe they have gone through something similar and can offer you advice since they have "been there done that".

I have problems with my kids, who doesn't?  I have problems with people from my past that just can't seem to leave me or my family alone.  Some people have problems with their jobs.  And when things happen I tend to find myself "venting" to my friends.  I would hope that you felt like you could vent to me if you were dealing with something and you just needed someone to listen.

I will be the first to tell you I get so tired of hearing from people that ONLY call when there are issues in their life.  I have gone to pick up the phone before and Matt will ask who it is and when I tell him he will say "wonder what's wrong now?!?!"

I am NOT that person!  I will call you to see how you are doing, send you a nice letter, a quick phone call or text but not only call when something is wrong.  If I am "that" person to you then PLEASE send me a nice message and tell me so I will be sure to correct myself.

See this post is a "vent" not drama.  Do you agree?  :)

Thanks Melissa!

So being a stay at home mom is not what it is cracked up to be.  Seriously if I had tons of money and could go out and shop and play all day then maybe it would be a different story.  But I don't so I can't.  Do not get me wrong I have PLENTY of things that I could do to keep me busy.  I own a photography company and I am always trying to think of ways to expand that and get my name out there but that is where my thinking stops.

For instance I have been THINKING about cleaning my office for about 2 weeks now because seriously it looks like a tornado ripped through here.  I HATE with a capitol H to file, it is my weakness.  Therefore I have papers all over the place, the good thing is if you were to ask me which pile something was in I could probably tell you.  I told myself today "Self you REALLY need to just get motivated and clean the office today"  Self hasn't listened so far because all I have managed to do is pick up a pile of papers off the floor straighten them and set them in a chair.  Hey, that is progress right?

I had EVERY intention of going to see a movie today while hubby is out of town.  Not that I couldn't go while he is in town but I thought I would "treat" myself this week while the kids are at school.  Guess what?  I TOTALLY forgot I was going to go until about 12:15 and by that point it was too late.  sigh  I should have marked it in the planner.  Who am I kidding, I didn't even look at my planner until 15 minutes ago.

A friend seriously just sent me this message:

 "Have you cleaned yet?"  

Ha Ha just wait until you read my blog working on it now.

See I will blog also, ANYTHING to get out of cleaning.  These papers are just glaring at me in the face!  QUIT LOOKING AT ME!

This is not even what this blog was supposed to be about so let's quickly get on that subject.  Thanks to my  dear sweet pretty friend Melissa I want to cry.  I suppose that maybe she waited 20+ (a-hem) years to get me back because my monkey shit on her.  Melissa I am really sorry that he did that, seriously thought all would have been forgiven by now!  Wow you can hold a grudge sista!

Another friend posted on my fb page today "Did Cain die today on Y&R"

Now if you know me you know this is the ONE thing I look forward to every single day during the week.  Crawling up in the bed with my hubby, because he is sucked in just as bad as I am, and we watch Y&R.  We can't miss it and God forbid if we can't watch it we double up the next night or we will have a marathon on the weekend.  I responded to her and said I had not watched it yet today.  And that is when Melissa chimed in and said "yes! he did!".

GASP OMG you just made me want to cry!  First of all Cain CAN'T be dead, he is one of the very few actors on that show that can actually ACT!  And let's face it girls.. he is major eye candy!

No honey I have never thought about him while getting it on with you.  Well, maybe just once.

I am so sad that Lily and the "twins", as she likes to call them, will be without this hot stud forever!  That is just not fair!  Now I will have to start crushing on Billy Abbot instead.  If they get rid of Billy, I will go with Nick and God forbid they both get cut who would that leave???  Jack always has this look as if the actor standing next to him farted and he can't breath so it wouldn't be him.  Victor ... nah too old for me.  Divon?  EWWWW we fast forward through most of his scenes as it is so no thanks.  Daniel, maybe if he got a haircut?  Kevin, nah.  Ooh Michael is pretty hot.

Anyway, we will worry about that if and when the time comes.

Now will you guys please sign a petition if I draw up one so we can get the writers to let Phylis just beat the shit out of Sharon?  That girl just gets on my last nerve!

Pictures can tell it all....

Since Ryder has started daycare we haven't seen him a lot so we were all excited when he came to visit one night last week.  I had the camera out and we had a great time!  So, here is Ryder's visit in pictures.


Such a cool dude!

 He loves the jumparoo!

 And he loves Ashley too!

 Okay, so he is too big for this but he has so much fun bouncing around!  :)

 Peek A Boo I see you!

 Blowing sugars to Ashley, little flirt.  ;-)

 Making sure Ashley was watching him. :)

 Time for blocks

 Cutie pie!

 Awe come on Mr. Matt do you HAVE to do that???

 Okay, let's play ball.

 Nah, I would rather read

 Why don't you read to me Mr. Matt?

 He wanted Ashley to join in on the fun

 He wasn't having much luck with balancing the ball on his head

 Uh Oh where did it go?

 There it goes again!

 Smart boy.. blocks are flat and easier to balance!

 Ashley trying to help him out.

 He said hes got this.

 Here Ashley I will put something on your head!

 Then we decided to hit instead :(

 Ouchie

 I told him no no no don't hit  :(

 That made a sad boy :(

 I'm sorry but that face just cracks me up, poor ryder.

 Mr. Matt made it all better by reading to him.

 What's that Mr. Matt?

 The end.

We had a great visit and we look forward to many more!  :)

Isn't it REALLY about the food?

So the big day that all football fans look forward to is coming up soon!  It doesn't matter if *your* team is playing in the Super Bowl, if you are a football fan you watch regardless.

Since *my* team isn't in it this year, and has not been for a while now. *a-hem* then I will be rooting for the Packers to win it.  Typically I root for the underdog but I don't even really know who that would be this year.  I am sure if I asked Matt he would fill me in however since the Packers are in it I choose them.

Why?

Well for a couple of reasons.  #1 we lived in Wisconsin and we LOVED it with a capitol L!  We loved everything about Wisconsin especially the people we met there.  And those are some die hard Packers fans let me tell you!  (Matt and I went to a Packers game while there and greatly enjoyed that *our* Cowboys won the game)  So I would like to see them get this win.  #2 Matt Flynn plays for them and although he is the second string quarterback he's still on the team.  Matt Flynn was a great quarterback for LSU and although I haven't personally met his family his mom was sweet enough to send Brendan some cool things for his LSU decorated bedroom.  Thanks again Mrs. Flynn and to Aunt Nancy for helping with that. :)

But quite honestly this is the one day of the year that I say forget *normal* food, let's PIG OUT!

Every year I spend about a week trying to come up with our junk food fest menu.  There are usually pigs in the blanket, rotel cheese dip, and that is where my mind goes blank!  Last year we did a baked potato dip but I seem to have misplaced that recipe so Tracey if you are reading this will you please resend? Thanks, you are the best!

So tell me, what are your favorite pig out foods and which team will you be rooting for this year?

Here are some random *Cheese Heads* we met at the game we went too.  :)  Like I said, Wisconsin people are VERY nice!

Did you hear that? What? Where? HUH?

Yes I am a very paranoid person.  Not like the type person that thinks someone is always out to get them or following them type paranoid.  That would be crazy.  right?

No, I am just paranoid in the sense that if you tell me you will call and you don't call at the exact time you said you would I start to worry.  Like make myself want to throw up worry.

Matt says I watch too much tv.  I disagree!  I have to watch "I Survived" so I will know what to do if I ever get myself into any of those situations. DUH!

For example, Matt was at work yesterday and I called. TWICE.  No answer either time.  So then I sent a text "tried calling you but no answer call me when you can, not an emergency".  I said that but what that meant was CALL ME NOW BECAUSE I AM WORRIED ABOUT YOU!

Matt works in the HOOD and when I say the hood I mean it!  He likes to get to most of his stores early in the morning before the crazies start coming out to buy their beer in a sack and beg people for money.  So I worry about him.

I was just on the verge of texting him again to say if you are ok just text me back ANYTHING to let me know, but then I thought if someone shot him and stole his phone it could be them texting so how would I REALLY know it was him?  So then I was going to say text me your daughters middle name, because a criminal wouldn't be able to answer that!  DUH

I can already picture him lying in the ditch after being stabbed or shot and I am already trying to figure out if I will be able to hold it together when the police come knocking on the door.  Yeah, I actually went there.  But just as I was about to text him again the phone rings.  It is my hubby, I know this because the ring is Yoda telling me I better answer the phone.  That is hubby's special ring tone, because he is a Star Wars or Star Trek freak.  They are the same thing so I get confused, whatever.

And to make me feel so much better he proceeds to tell me in one of the stores he calls on that a customer stabbed the clerk with a screwdriver the day before.  Nice honey, I feel soooo much better now!

My neighbors should love me as well because I promise you if I hear ANYTHING outside I am looking to see who and what it is and watch to see what they are doing.  I live on a cul-de-sac so we don't get a lot of traffic and my office is at the front of the house so I pretty much hear anytime someone comes on the street.

I have gotten into trouble for this before.  Long story short I used to work at a large place of business and the CEO lived across the street from me.  It was a single lady, she would come home every evening pull into the garage and close it.  ALWAYS!  Well she was moving and asked if I had any boxes from when we moved in.  Well sucking up of course I said yes.  She asked that I bring them by that evening if I didn't mind.  Well I saw her come home at around 6 but I didn't make it over there until around 7:30.  (I wasn't watching for her to come home but my front door was glass so I could see without "watching")  As I am walking over I thought to myself it was odd that her garage door was open and her mail was sitting on the back of her car.  There was also a strange truck in the driveway I had never seen before.  I knocked on the door, no answer.  So I sat the boxes in the garage and went home.  At 11 pm that evening I was up cleaning (my parents were coming the next day and I get all OCD when they come) and I noticed nothing had changed at her house.  So I went and knocked on the door, no answer.  Ok, this story is getting to long but I called work had them call her and she was fine.  Point is she was PISSED that I did that!  WHAT?  OMG if you had been kidnapped or inside the house dead it could have been days before anyone knew.  I thought she was lucky to have me as a neighbor!  As.if!  She never spoke to me again and avoided me at all cost, my boss was pissed at me to!

I guess the moral of this story is only worry about yourself and your family but screw your neighbors?  Who am I kidding... I would do it all over again... what is that?  Did you guys hear that?  Hang on I have to go investigate.

PS Matt's cousin had her house broken into yesterday in Tyler, TX.  They took computers, tv's, her sons Wii and all the games and other things.  Thank God nobody was home and the creeps didn't hurt her animals but her 9 year old son was the first one home to discover all this missing.  I can't imagine the feeling of coming home and seeing all that.  PLEASE protect you, your family, your pets and your belongings with an alarm system.  It is less than $35 per month!  It will even save you a little on home insurance.  JUST DO IT!

This is for the ladies! Only because men can't relate AT.ALL!

Yep, this blog is actually about what all of us ladies deal with and dread every.single.month.  

Do I even really need to spell it out?  I didn't think so.

So I have always thought this was just some kind of cruel and usual punishment for women.  

God you're a righteous man and I love you but REALLY?  

WHY????

Every month it comes and every month I moan and groan about it thinking didn't I just see you two weeks ago?  Oh, it was a month?  Sure doesn't seem like it.  Well in that case welcome back. NOT!

We have had all the kids we plan on having or not planning on having because it just isn't happening again.ever!  So now I find myself every.single.month praying to God to please let me go through menopause just so I don't have to deal with all of this anymore.  I know I know that will just create a new batch of issues but you know what I wouldn't have to buy these stupid tampons anymore!

What is it with those things anyway?  They cost a small fortune and one box is NEVER enough to get through the whole week so you have to buy two.  It is a conspiracy I tell you!  Honestly they could charge you whatever the hell they want to because you MUST have them.  I wish I could invent something that every single woman on the planet MUST have at least once a month.  CHA CHING!

And not only do I have to buy them for me it is becoming very close to the time my daughter will start needing these as well.  GASP Please say it isn't so!  But reality is it could happen anytime soon.  Then we will be buying FOUR boxes of these things.  

Seriously need to consider going to Sam's for these soon.  

Loudspeaker Woman:  Hey Marv can I get a prize check on the super size box of Ultra Absorbent Playtex Tampons 1,000 count?

Thanks lady this just isn't embarrassing enough!  

And have any of you heard that girls are starting to get their periods earlier and earlier in life?  Someone told me not long ago of an 8 year old that started!  E.I.G.H.T.!  Wth?  That poor girl!  I have read that it has to do with the hormone injections they give cows.  Ashley.. PUT THAT MILK DOWN NOW!  And no, you can't have a steak, or a hamburger, or a slice of roast or anything else that comes from a cow.  

Not because I think it is bad for you, I just can't afford all those extra tampons right now!

I think I need a part time job.

Okie dokie, well I have spoken my peace about this little issue now I have to go eat all the chocolate I can find in the house.  IF that damn "not me ghost" hasn't eaten it all.  PIG!