“Elle Oh Elle” Products

Okay! Can I say I am so obsessed with Hobby Lobby’s new “Elle Oh Elle” line. It is so cute. It’s perfect for the everyday planner. It has a couple different planners and a wide selection of wash tape, stickers, scrapbook paper, mechanical pencils for you planner people.

They also have this adorable clip board that is clear with big black eye lashes on it that I could not resist with a big gold clip. Post it notes with super cute images that I can use in my planner or anywhere.

You need some cute things for your desk? Well Elle has it! They have cute scissors, stapler, staple remover, and file box for your desk with eye lashes on it. This line has so much, it has gift bags, paper, vinyl, zip pouch, and note book. You have to go check it out. It’s to adorable and your planner will love you for it. Here I have done a whole layout in my Erin Condren planner before the pen with the washi and stickers. How stinking cute is this?! You have to go look before it’s all gone!! Enjoy 😉

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Teacher Appreciation Week

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. I hope everyone that has children in school shows appreciation to your child’s teachers. They work their butts off for next to nothing in pay. They use their own money a lot of the time to fund projects and things for the class and never ask the parent for a cent.

My 3 children while growing up, have had teachers that left lasting impression on their lives. They talk about them when they get together and talk about growing up. The smiles on their faces shows me these teachers did there jobs so well and I could not thank them enough. It makes me proud when my kids are still in touch with there favorite teachers and I am still in touch with some of them as well. This is an amazing bond that I will cherish forever.

Every year I made sure that these teachers were well taken care of. I wish I could have done more. But if your searching for something to do for your teacher I’m going to list some ideas for you with some pictures. Pinterest is a great place to find ideas. But here are my favorites.

So don’t forget your teacher this week. It does not need to be much. Just show you appreciate them. Below are some other ideas you can do for them.

*Bring your teacher a flower

*Write them a letter letting them know how much the have impacted your life this year

*Buy them some school supplies they are running low on

*Treat your teacher to there favorite beverage or snack

*Gift cards are always best to a restaurant, store, teacher store or massage

*Each day donate a book to the class.

“You are an AW-esome teacher” tag attached to a six-pack of A&W root beer

“I couldn’t have ‘picked’ a better teacher” tag attached to a fruit basket, or cookies in a berry basket

“We ‘flippin’ love you” with a spatula and cookie, brownie or cake mix

“There is no “sub” stitute for you!” tag attached to a  gift card from the local sub shop.

“Thanks a ‘latte!” tag with a gift card from the local coffee shop, special coffees or travel mug

“Your teaching is right on target” attached to a Target gift card

“Here is a ‘pat’ on the back for doing such a great job!” tag attached to a gift certificate for a massage

“Here’s the scoop… you are the best!” attached to Sundae supplies or gift card for an ice cream shop.

“Here ‘s a little extra ‘dough’! ” Thanks for all you do!” package with cookie dough or dollar bills

“Shooting for Brownie points” tag attached to a box of brownies

“You are a ‘Fanta’ stic teacher” tag attached to a bottle of Fanta

“You are the sweetest teacher! Thanks for making me a smart cookie!” plate of cookies

“I am so lucky to have you for a teacher” attached to a lottery ticket or lucky charms cereal

“I am bananas for you” attached to banana bread

“We are ‘Soda” lighted you were our teacher” attached to favorite soda

“You are the apple of our eye” with a basket of apples

“You are ‘tea’rrific!” tag with selection of teas

“You are one smart cookie” tag with homemade cookies

“You are o’fish’ally the best!” tag attached to Goldfish crackers

“We are fortunate to have you” tag with Chinese take out box filled with fortune cookies

*Take them a candy bar /gum / mint / nuts and attach a tag with one of the saying below

“We appreciate the ‘mounds’ of work you do” tag attached to a Mounds candy bar

“You deserve an extra Payday” tag attached to a Payday Candy bar

“You are ‘extra’ special” tag attached with a pack of Extra Gum

“You were ‘mint’ to be a teacher!” tag attached to some mints

“You are worth more than a 100 grand to us!” tag attached to a 100 grand candy bar

“You ‘mint’ so much to us this year” tag attached to some mints

“You are a ‘treasure’ “ tag with treasures candy

“You are a joy!” tag attached to an Almond Joy candy bar

“You are out of this world” tag attached to a Milky Way or Mars candy bar

“You rock!” tag with pop rocks, rock candy, rock star soft drink or painted rock for a paperweight

“We are ‘nuts’ about you!” tag attached to some nuts

“Thanks for helping me become a real ‘smartie’ pants!” tag attached to package of Smarties

“You are an ‘amazing’ teacher” tag attached to an Amazing candy bar

Teen Drunk Driving

My son is just about to graduate and his school participates in a great program called Shattered Dreams. “Shattered Dreams is a two-day, school-based program that promotes responsible decision-making among high school students regarding underage drinking and impaired driving (driving after drinking or riding with a drinking driver) by showing them how irresponsible choices can end all dreams.”

The two-day program is designed to educate students, parents, and the community about the serious issue of underage drinking and driving, by providing a realistic experience and encouraging them to make positive choices.  The presentation is held before the school’s prom, an occasion on which teenagers are most likely to consume alcoholic beverages.   

Shattered Dreams, targeted at underage drinking and driving, involves the dramatization of an alcohol-related accident staged in front of the school.  While the entire student body watches, police, fire, and other emergency personnel will respond to the scene.  The “victim” students will be transported by ambulance and helicopter (PHI Air Medical and Careflite) and to local hospitals (Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Centennial and Medical City Frisco), while the “deceased” student will be transported by Turrentine Jackson & Morrow Funeral Home.  The “drunk driver” will be arrested and transported to the Frisco City Jail for book-in and arraignment. 

Throughout the day, the Grim Reaper will enter a classroom every 15 minutes and select a student victim, known as the “Living Dead”.  When the program first originated in the mid-1990s, the 15-minute time period represented how often someone was killed in an alcohol-related accident.  As students are pulled from class, a police officer will read the student’s obituary that was written by their parents.  At the end of the school day, the Living Dead, crash victims, and drunk driver are taken on an overnight retreat to enhance the learning experience.   

The second day will include a Memorial Service for the “victims” and their families along with the entire student body of Centennial High School. At the conclusion of the Memorial the “victims” are reunited with their friends and loved ones.

I wish that every high school could experience what my sons got to experience with this program. It’s so life changing for them and eye opening. It scares them not to want to drink.

https://www.drugfreegreenville.org/shattered-dreams/

Round 3

My son is having surgery today on his burns. Each time we do this and I look at him and his body, I wonder to myself, when is this ever going to be enough? How many more of these can a persons body really take of going under so many times. It scares me every single time.

I’m sure his doctor knows what he is doing. But looking at it from a mothers point of view, it scares the hell out of me. This is my child. He has many more surgeries coming up, I just hope he can handle it, I just don’t know if I can.

My Daughters Cute Outfit

My daughter text me this picture of her and I loved it so much that I had to share it with all of you. She is into fashion as much as I am and I told her I was going to blog her outfit because I just loved it. So here we go…My daughters shirt is by Madewell. This is one of my favorite brands that can be found at Nordstrom. The shirt is made from cotton and washes very well. Her jeans are from Old Navy. I have to say, Old Navy has some of the most comfortable jeans. They have a bunch of different styles to choose from. I like to wear their skinny jeans or boyfriend cut jeans. In winter they have these jeans that are thinly lined to keep you warm that are skinny jeans. They are awesome.

Ashley is wearing the classic vans in black and white and the purse she is wearing is Kate Spade. She is ready for her fun day and I’m totally jealous because I wish I could be with her. Love ❤️ you sweet girl!

https://m.shop.nordstrom.com/s/madewell-northside-vintage-tee-regular-plus-size/4964145?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FAll%20Results&color=heather%20grey

https://www.vans.com/shop/womens-shoes/comfycush-old-skool-black-true-white#hero=0

https://watchcove.com/products/ksh_wkru4150_black?variant=12669131948076&utm_campaign=gs-2018-11-16&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwu2rz56-4QIVxrbACh0t5gEoEAQYCiABEgL8OPD_BwE

Victims Impact Statement

Such a powerful and impactful victim statement my son gave today in court. I’m so very proud of him. He choked up a couple times because it was very tough for him to speak to this person that did this to him. But he did a AWESOME JOB!! The judge and the people in the court room listen intently and you could definitely hear a pin drop.

I’m so very proud of him and the courage he had to do this. He has more courage then I ever would have.

The thing we loved most was when the judge asked the person that brutally beat our son ” Do you take full ownership of what you did to this young man?’ And you will never believe what this guy said…… after all this he said

“yes”

One Of The Offers Were Accepted…

The Defense side came back and accepted one of our offers that I mentioned were on the table that he had to accept. The 2 things on the table were probation or a mistrial. He picked probation for 8 years with stipulations. We started out with 10 years and it ended at 8 years. What this means is this….

If he so much as misses his probation officer visit, gets into a fight, or has some kind of altercation and it involves the police …. he will go to jail for 8 years. He also has to stay away from my son for forever. If he comes near him, he goes to jail. He has a shady past, so he will screw up again. He has a temper, he will screw up again.

My son has to make his victims impact statement on Wednesday, April 3, 2019. He has to face Mr Road Rage and the court to do this and discuss how what Mr Road Rage did has changed and effected his life.

This is not over…. we move on next to our civil case. This is a whole new case that will start all over again but in civil court.

The Trial of My Son

Two years ago my son who was 18 and still in high school at the time was assaulted at a stop light by a 50 year old man who had road rage.  (We will call him Mr. Road Rage) How this all came about was like this….

My son and his friend where coming from the lake and heading to our house. They where driving side by side and doing the speed limit. They drive the exact same kind of car, Lexus IS250 but my sons car was newer then his friends and the color is a bit different. The road is only 2 lanes on each side. Apparently Mr. Road Rage was having a bad day and tried to act like he was going to ram their vehicles. He was mad because these 2 young men were not going fast enough for him. My sons friend decided to move over and let the guy past and so there they are my son and Mr Road Rage coming up to a stop light.

My son has his window down because he loves driving with his window down instead of the air on. They stop at the light and Mr Road Rage finds it ok to get out of his car and walk around to my sons car, grab him by the shirt and beat his face until he was knocked unconscious. Another person that is waiting at the light pulls Mr Road Rage off my son. When my son came too he was able to  get out of the car and takes a picture of Mr Road Rage’s license plate and hops back in his car and drives to safety.

While driving, my son is calling 911 and so is his friend from his car.   The calls came in to the 911 operators 25 seconds apart and both boys in different cars described the situation and the facts leading up to it exactly the same. His friend also caught a picture of Mr Road Rage bending over into my sons car about to punch him.

The police and ambulance meet my son at a racetrack gas station and they call me to come right away. He was is bad shape. Blood all over his face and hands. He is in tremendous pain. We end up going to the police dept to report Mr Road Rage and give all the pictures we have and all the info we have. My son was upfront and honest from the get go. Then we head to the hospital because Mateo can not handle the pain any longer. So we think something is seriously wrong. We are starting to see his head starting to cave in.

We get to the hospital and they are running a CT scan and they come back and said he has a large hole in his head.  He had a hole the size of a quarter punched through his skull. He needs to have surgery immediately. WE ARE IN UTTER SHOCK! So the hospital recommended us to see a plastic surgeon right away and that’s what we did. Mateo ended up having his head cut open from ear to ear over the top of his head. Then they pulled his forehead and face forward and worked on the hole on his forehead. He has straps and screws covering up the hole. Mateo has lots of sinus issues now. They do not drain properly, and will need many surgeries to get relief.

So my son missed the most important time of his senior year. Prom, senior end of year activities, and almost missed Graduation. He made it the last 4 days of school. These are suppose to be the best times of your life and he missed it!

So going forward, the police are looking for Mr Road Rage and he has fled. Can’t find him anywhere. Even though they have his address he is not there. My husband has busted his butt doing all the research on Mr Road Rage and finds out all sorts of stuff about him and hands it over to the police dept.

We have a private investigator friend and can find out just about anything. Nice I Know!!!! Finally after several weeks they walked into his work and caught him in front of his coworkers and arrested him. He spent a month in jail until he posted bail.

Almost 2 years have gone by and that brought us to this past week. We finally got our week in court. We thought we had no problems, that everyone would see it the way we see it. The only problem was we did not expect the other side to lie so much.  They allowed the defendant to hear everyone else’s testimony before having to testify himself.   He then admitted while on the stand that he changed his testimony after hearing the two boys testimonies.

This is how this justice system works for the victim….?

My son had to be on the stand with no support in the court room. I could not be sitting there, my husband could not be there. No one! He had to be there all by himself staring at Mr Road Rage and all of his family members in the court looking at him while he testified to what his family member did to my son.

Then, Mr Road Rage was able to see all the pictures we submitted first and then tailored his story to my pictures. Changed his story 2-3 times.  He also admitted on the stand that he changed his story multiple times.

We were informed that Mr Road Rage was able to pick who was going to hand down his punishment, either the jury or the judge. So he picked the judge….why? Funny you should ask….Mr Road Rage was informed ahead of time that this judge likes to give probation instead of jail time! Hhhhhmmmm

The entire time of testimony of all the witnesses of the doctors, the police officers, paramedics, the investigators of my sons, the family of Mr Road Rage and Mr Road Rage himself was able to sit there and watch all of it. Where were Mateo and his Family? We were put in a small interview room for many hours waiting to here what to do next. We could not hear any of what these witnesses where saying, Mateo was not even allowed to hear any of it. But Mr Road Rage and his Family were able too. But these were all people defending my son and he couldn’t be there.

My husband and I weren’t even testifying and we couldn’t be in the courtroom to support our son. The other side had complete control over what we were doing. They objected to us being in the court. We got to be there during closing arguments.

This is what we heard that came out of the other sides mouth that was complete lies….

He said that my son and his friend ran him off the road on to the curb 2 times. He said that my son’s car hit his car but my son’s car did not have any scratches on it but his did and he did not claim it. But a long time after it received hail damage and was a total loss so no one ever saw this little scratch. Go figure!! He also said that after he saw my sons pictures of him bending down in my sons car window about to pop him in the face he was actually telling him to pull over he wants his insurance information. Yeah right? In what universe pal?? But not once did he call the police after these 2 boys ran him off the road twice or hit his car. Wouldn’t you of called the police if this happen to you???During all this closing Mumbo jumbo garbage he was feeding the jury he was trying to paint that this guy was a war vet that had 3 children. Sure, he served in the military but he never fought any war. His ship was stationed in the Caribbean throughout his time in the Navy and records show his ship never saw any war time.  Yes he has kids, they are all grown up and moved out. One of them is also in the military. So to paint it as they are small kids was ridiculous. He tried to say my son lied by saying that Mr Road Rage only hit him once, then twice, then three times and kept wavering about how many times he hit him and that never was the fact. My son always said it was THREE TIMES AND THEN HE WAS KNOCKED OUT! It could have been more but after three that’s all he remembers. The other side tried grasping at strays as much as they could to paint my son as the bad person. When Mr Road Rage is by far the felon. He has 2 prior convictions for assault but that could not be brought up. Yep…. I’m shaking my head!!!!

So what happened… the jury went and deliberated for 11 hours and couldn’t come to an agreement. It was 9-3 in favor of my son. We were told that when our team went back to talk to the jury they found out that the 3 were concerned as to what would happen to his 3 kids if he went to jail? ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? Your not suppose to use your heart in this case your supposed to use the evidence that was given.  His defense was that it was self defense to hit my son.

Why can’t we use educated jurors to pick the fate of these criminals. We were told that in the beginning most of the jurors were for Mr Road Rage. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? AM I BEING PUNKED? Then they swayed to find a majority guilty some how.  But not enough so it was a hung jury. The trial was over.

So what now? Well we can’t discuss that yet. Because we are going back to court in 2 weeks and we will let you know how that turns out. But there are 2 offers on the table. He has to choose one or the other.

so this is to be continued……

Hail Storm We Will Never Forget 3/24/19

We had the hail storm of the century here in Texas. It lasted for about 45 minutes. It was insane, we have never seen anything like it. Our city made the national news it was so bad. We had minimal damage thank god. We thought the world was coming to a end because it was not letting up and kept coming. The hail was the size of my fist. I have never physically seen hail this size until now.

We walked around our neighborhood to check out the damage and talk with our neighbors, and they know roofs need to be replaced for sure. Cars were trashed that were left in the street. Gutters dented badly and some torn off. My path way lights are non existent that were made of glass.

I’m grateful that it did not shatter our house windows. As loud as it was, I that for sure our huge windows would all need to be replaced in our new home.

We just had our roof fixed, looks like we have to have it done again. So very frustrating. Texas weather is CRAZY!!

The Trial Begins….

Say a prayer for our family. Most of all for our son Mateo, while we get through this trying time! I will update you the outcome at the end of the week.

HONEY CITRUS GRILLED CHICKEN WITH BASIL BUTTER

Had this yummy dish the other night and thought I would share it with y’all. It was loved by all, kids included. The side dishes were pasta and honey roasted carrots. The chicken was delicious. This is a must try dish. If you don’t like the taste of lemon on your chicken then stay away from this because you can definitely taste lemon on this chicken. It’s not really strong but just the perfect touch of citrus to notice it.

Enjoy 😉

HONEY CITRUS GRILLED CHICKEN WITH BASIL BUTTER

Ingredients:

Chicken

• juice of 2 lemons

• juice of 2 limes

• 2 tablespoons honey

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

• 2 cloves minced garlic

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Basil Butter

• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature (I used Challenge Butter)

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/4 cup minced fresh basil leaves

• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper, optional

Instructions

Chicken

1. Whisk all marinade ingredients together. Place chicken in a zip-top bag and pour marinade on top. Marinate for at least 3 hours.

Basil Butter

1. Combine all the butter ingredients in a small bowl and using a fork combine evenly. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

2. When ready remove chicken from the refrigerator. Preheat your grill to medium high heat. Grill chicken for 6-7 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness of your chicken.

3. Remove from grill and serve with a pat of basil butter on each chicken breast.

Honey Citrus Grilled Chicken with Basil Butter

Fashion Forward

I posted a couple outfits on my social media sites and mentioned that I would go into detail what I was wearing and where I purchased them.

Our temperature in Texas has been all over the charts so I have not had to wear a heavy jacket. Long sleeve shirts have been sufficient. But coming up, that is going to change and it is going to get cold again. So for now, I’m enjoying it.

The shirt I’m wearing is a BP shirt. It’s more of a thermal type of shirt so it’s snug but super comfy. I got a size up because I don’t care for my shirts to be really tight. The pants are Lucky, the belt is Ferragamo, and the peep toe shoes are Vince Camuto.

https://m.shop.nordstrom.com/s/bp-stripe-henley/5068849?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FAll%20Results&color=black%20soren%20stripe

https://www.luckybrand.com/mid-rise-sweet-crop/7W14337.html?dwvar_7W14337_color=410&cgid=w-jeans-shop-by-leg-skinny

https://m.shop.nordstrom.com/s/salvatore-ferragamo-x-small-new-gancini-leather-belt/4947246?origin=category-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FWomen%2FAccessories%2FBelts&color=nero

https://www.dsw.com/en/us/product/vince-camuto-kicetta-bootie/413831?activeColor=280

This outfit I’m wearing is very comfy. Perfect for the crazy weather as well. The shirt is Treasure & Bond, the jeans are Lucky (I love Lucky Jeans! If you ever get a chance to try them on, definitely do it. Once you find the perfect fit of Lucky jeans you are HOOKED…. Lucky You. Lol 😂) The belt is Gucci, the booties are Carlos Santana. Super comfortable boots. Quite when you walk because of the soft soles. Love these booties!

https://m.shop.nordstrom.com/s/treasure-bond-varsity-stripe-knit-top/5151238?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FAll%20Results&color=navy%20d-%20white%20combo

https://www.luckybrand.com/mid-rise-sweet-crop/7W14337.html?dwvar_7W14337_color=410&cgid=w-jeans-shop-by-leg-skinny

https://m.saks.com/pd.jsp?productCode=0400096006506&R=888108863396&P_name=Gucci&Ntt=maramont+gucci+belt&N=

https://www.macys.com/shop/product/carlos-by-carlos-santana-whitley-boots?ID=5357680&CategoryID=25122&swatchColor=Light%20Doe#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D1%26ruleId%3D78%26kws%3DCarlos%20Santana%20Whitley%20Boots%26searchPass%3DallMultiMatchWithSpelling%26slotId%3D1

Here are some other shirts I loved that are all Treasure & Bond. A great brand that is well worth the cost and not expensive at all. These all fit true to size and very comfortable material.

https://m.shop.nordstrom.com/s/treasure-bond-ribbed-henley-top/5048335?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FAll%20Results&color=pink%20misty%20marla%20stripe

https://m.shop.nordstrom.com/s/treasure-bond-v-neck-henley-top/5090007?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FAll%20Results&color=black

Definitely recommend…Enjoy 😉!

Love Beauty and Planet

I have to do a review on a great product that I absolutely love. I usually only purchase hair care products from a salon. This way I know my hair is getting the best it can get because when you go get your hair done it always comes out smelling great, feeling great, and it’s shiny and looks healthy.

So I have been buying products from salons for many, many years until recently. I was in Target and was looking for some all natural body wash. There was a few, but one that caught my eye because it had a bunch of different scents. I love choices and this particular brand had a bunch. Not only did it have body wash it had shampoo and conditioner. I thought “Why not, what do I have to lose?” So I did, and I’m totally hooked! I love… Love Beauty and Planet products. I can not say enough about the way the hair products make my hair feel. They are AMAZING! My hair is soft, smells great, feels full, and it’s so shiny. I have tried the lavender and I am using the coconut water & mimosa flower now. I can’t wait to try the others. The body wash does not dry out my skin and it’s not to strong for me. I absolutely love it.

Not only are these products AMAZING the company is doing amazing things for the planet. They are using 100% recycled bottles and are now working on making the caps recycled as well. You can follow this wonderful journey with them #smallactsoflove and see how much this company is transforming and making the planet a better place to live.

They also carry a deodorant line that does not have aluminum in it and has 24 hour protection. The deodorant line has 4 different scents; Refreshing, Pampering, Energizing, Relaxing.

If you get the chance, you have to try one of these products, you won’t go wrong. Definitely smell them in the store. They all smell wonderful!!!

https://www.lovebeautyandplanet.com/us/en/home.html

Adidas NMD R1

I have worn a lot of different sneakers in my time but I will never move away from NMD’s . They are the most comfortable shoes I have put on my feet.

The shoes are sporty and lightweight with a boost in the midsole for just the right cushion for your foot. I love this color and it’s perfect for spring. They also have green with pink, all black, grey and pink, all grey, and then mine which is almost sold out.

I really like this shoes because of the built in sock. It hugs your foot and they are so comfortable like it’s suppose to be there. You have to try them, you won’t go wrong with Adidas NMD R1. I bought these from Nordstroms and I have attached the link below. Enjoy 😉

https://m.shop.nordstrom.com/s/adidas-nmd-r1-athletic-shoe-women/4376938?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FAll%20Results&color=grey%20three%2F%20shock%20pink

Creamy Pesto Pasta with Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

All I can say is this was a quick and DELICIOUS recipe. It took me about 30 min to make and my family loved it. I love pesto so anything with pesto in it has to be good. This time instead of cooking chicken I bought precooked chicken in a bag and just heated it up. I did not have time today to put a ton of effort into cooking, so going with precooked chicken was perfect and it turned out perfectly! Enjoy 😉

INGREDIENTS

• 10 oz. gluten free penne* or other pasta

• olive oil

• salt and pepper

• 1 Tbsp all purpose seasoning mix for chicken*

• 3-4 chicken breasts

• 1/3 cup julienned cut sun dried tomatoes in olive oil

• 1/2 cup homemade or prepared pesto

• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

• Parmesan Reggiano, for serving (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions, drain and toss with just enough olive oil to prevent noodles from sticking together while preparing the rest of the dish.

2. While pasta is cooking, heat the grill to medium-high heat. Brush olive oil on both sides of the chicken. Season with salt, pepper, and chicken seasoning.

3. Grill the chicken breasts for 4-5 minutes on each side or until the chicken is cooked through. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing it.

4. Drain the oil from the sun dried tomatoes and chop into smaller pieces if you prefer.

5. Place empty pot used for pasta back on the stove at medium heat. Add sun dried tomatoes to the pan and saute for a few minutes, until fragrant.

6. Add the heavy whipping cream and pesto. Stir until incorporated.

7. Stir in the cooked pasta and sliced chicken.

8. Serve and top with finely grated parmesan cheese.

https://www.passmesometasty.com/creamy-pesto-pasta-with-chicken-and-sun-dried-tomatoes/

It Was A Beautiful Day

It was a beautiful snowy day to lay my grandfather to rest. It was a short service. My grandpa did not want a lot of stuff done after he passed and most of his friends and family had already passed so the turn out was a small and quaint service.

I put together pictures of his life on posters boards to display at the funeral home to show his different stages of life. This was my aunts idea and a perfect touch it was.

The flowers where red, white, and blue to represent the service he did in the military. They enveloped the urn beautifully.

My son and I stayed with my aunt and uncle. My aunt Terri is one in a million I must say! She took care of my grandpa single handily for a very, very long time. My aunt is the youngest of 5 kids. I’m so very proud of her, she is so strong and determined and she put together the funeral beautifully. My grandfather would have been very proud of her.

The rest of my trip was fun and crazy. I had a blast with my cousins. We went sledding late at night, talked and made each other laugh and shared lots of memories. I spent a lot of time with one of my cousins, Kellie. We spent every day together. She just knows how to make me laugh.

❤️Kellie is behind Marco and that’s her daughter Alyssa next to her. Below is me and Lexi. Lexi is also Kellie’s daughter.

The temperature during this trip were extremely cold, so we did not go out much. My fingers would freeze even when I was wearing my gloves. Even though I grew up there, my body can not handle that cold any more. But it was so nice to get a taste of my childhood memories just once more. Now that I am home and my aunt text me this morning, she said I just missed it, they are getting 10 inches of snow and schools are closed. I guess I left just in time or I would have been stuck there. Oh it’s good to be HOME!

Leaving On A Jet Plane

I’m on my way today to where I was born and raised, Wisconsin. I’m headed there to lay my dear grandfather to rest. He was the last of my living grandparents.

I’m sure it will be bitter sweet. The last time I was there was briefly January 15, 2013. I had the privilege to be a godmother to my godson Trevor who is my Cousins son. It was his baptism.

I am taking my younger son Marco with me. Mateo was suppose to go but we went to the dr on Monday and the Dr. said Mateo can not fly. He has some complications with some fluid build up in his sinus cavity and has to see a ENT to have it released. Which means another surgery. I am waiting for him to catch a break! My husband of course has to work and stay home with the dog.

So this will be a short trip, 5 days. But it will be nice to see my family that I missed so much.

Surgery #2

Well my son Mateo went into surgery this morning to work on his burns. He was happy and positive. It’s always good to see this because it’s always hard on me. If I know he is good it makes me feel better.

They are going to work on his right arm and the right side of his back. They can’t work on all of his burns all at once because it would be to traumatic on Mateo. His first surgery 4 weeks ago was on his left arm and the left side of his back. His next surgery will be in another 4 weeks.

Hang in there son. Your doing great. Your such a strong person! We love you! 😘

Garlic Butter Steak Bites

This was a great dish. I love these steak bites. The only catch is you need to use good quality meat. It will not turn out if you buy cheap meat. It had so much flavor and was just perfect.

I paired it up with some egg noodles with fried onions and bread crumbs and I drizzled honey over that. If you have never tried it and you think it sounds icky…. try it!! YOU WILL LOVE IT!!! I thought the same thing when my grandmother made it for me years ago when I was a little girl. Now I make it for my kids and they LOVE IT! Hope you like this recipe!!! Enjoy 😉

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tbsp olive oil

•1 1/2 lb sirloin steak cut into bite size pieces, or strip loin, tenderloin, strip steak or rib eye

•1/2 tsp salt or to taste

•1/2 tsp pepper or to taste

•2 tbsp butter unsalted

•4 cloves garlic minced

•1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

•1 tbsp parsley fresh, chopped

INSTRUCTIONS

•Add the olive oil to a large skillet and heat it over high heat. Make sure the olive oil is hot, then add the steak pieces to it. Season them generously with salt and pepper. 

•Cook for at least 2 minutes before stirring the steak pieces. You want to make sure you get a good sear on them. Continue cooking for another 2 minutes until they’re golden brown. If your skillet isn’t big enough, you may need to do this batches.  

•Transfer the steak bites to a plate and in the same skillet add the butter. Turn the heat down to a medium and after the butter has melted, add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 30 seconds while stirring, just until the garlic becomes aromatic and starts to brown.

•Pour the garlic butter over the steak bites and toss well. Garnish with parsley and serve.

https://www.jocooks.com/recipes/garlic-butter-steak-bites/?fbclid=IwAR3jMvS67zRxvFH0kYO5B4ZictR_azet7Hxw_WPljGJFott7oPqqwqSPs_c

Here We Come 2019

The year is coming to an end. I can’t believe how quickly it has come and gone. For me I’m glad to see it end. It was not a very positive year for my family.

January I had surgery on my hand from a fall due too a epilepsy seizure I had. I went through months of therapy to try to fix it and it’s just not fixable. 2 of my fingers are permanently bent and will never be straight again. I got a second opinion from another surgeon and he said I have to live with what I have. I was so very upset. I felt like my first surgeon should have done so much more and not waited so long.

In June my son had a motorcycle accident and almost lost his life and spent a little over a month in Burn ICU. Now he has to have surgeries every 4-6 weeks on the burn sites until they feel they are minimizing.

Then in August my daughter moved back to San Diego which broke my heart. It’s difficult to see your children move away from you, when you have taken care of them your entire life. I miss her so much more every time she walks out that door!

Then on December 14th, 4 days after my birthday my last living grandparent past away. He was my grandfather on my mother’s side. He lived a very long life of 92 years. He was war veteran and was so ready to go to be with my wonderful grandmother.

So yes, I’m ready for this year to end. I’m exhausted from the sadness that this year brought to me. But I held it together for everyone else like a mother should. I’m looking forward to 2019 and what it will bring.

I don’t make resolutions because I feel that these are things you should be doing all the time anyways….you should be working out, you should be dieting, you should go on vacation, you should spend more time with the family. You should not be doing these things just because it’s the New Year. Do them all year round.

So have an awesome 2019 I will be right here with you. Hopefully we will have the BEST NEW YEAR EVER! Cheers 🥂!

Merry Christmas

I want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas! This year we did not go anywhere, we stayed home. We had family from Wisconsin and my daughter came from San Diego to stay over the holidays as well. So it was and will be a busy week in the Ciancanelli household.

Hold your loved ones tight and remember to tell them how much you love them. They are a precious part of your life and you need to let them know that.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

The Ciancanelli’s 😘

Big Release Day

My son was released today for the therapy on his broken hand. We are EXCITED! That is one thing to check off our long list he has accomplished. This wonderful lady is the AWESOME Alison Taylor, of Baylor Scott & White in Frisco. She is our top notch Occupational Therapist that works on Mateo and does not cause him any pain while doing it. She is AMAZING.

We hope to go back and she will do therapy on all his burns if all works out. She did it on our very last visit and it gave Mateo lots of relief and a more mobility.

If you live in Frisco, Texas and you need PT you need to come to the state of the art facility with very knowledgeable staff. We couldn’t have gotten though this with out Alison. So Alison, THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEART ❤️!

BACON WRAPPED CREAM CHEESE STUFFED CHICKEN

This was a recipe that was yummy and quick. If you love cream cheese you will definitely love this chicken recipe. It goes great with some roasted vegetables, and some French bread. Make some extra because it’s great reheated as well! Enjoy this one! 😉

INGREDIENTS

• 2 lb chicken breasts boneless and skinless

• 8 oz cream cheese softened

• 1 tbsp chives chopped

• 12 slices bacon (3 pieces per chicken breast)

INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

• In a skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until it begins to curl and turn red – you want it to be partially cooked but still flimsy. Place bacon on a paper towel while preparing other ingredients.

• In a small bowl, mix together cream cheese and chives. Set aside.

• Place chicken breasts in a Ziploc bag (gallon sized). Using a rolling pin or meat tenderizer, flatten chicken breasts until they’re about 1/4 inch thick.

• Spoon a portion of the cream cheese mix and spread it in the center of the chicken breast, keeping at least a 1/2 inch gap from the edges clear.

• Starting with the smallest end, roll up the chicken breast. With the seam side of the chicken facing up, wrap pieces of bacon around it so that the ends of the bacon are tucked beneath the chicken. Wrapping this way should secure the bacon and keep the chicken wrapped. If needed, use toothpicks to help keep the chicken wrap together.

• Place chicken in a 9×13 baking dish and bake for 30 minutes. Turn oven to broil for 5 minutes to crisp the bacon. If desired, sprinkle more fresh chopped chives on top.

• Serve immediately.

Bacon Wrapped Cream Cheese Stuffed Chicken

Happy Birthday To Me!

Well I am 52 today! I’m sure like others my age, you get asked…do you feel old? My answer to you is no! You are as old as you feel. My kids keep me feeling young.

I also don’t live my life like I am old. I try to stay up to date with the latest trends when it comes to fashion, music, decor and beauty products. I feel this is so important for your wellbeing to stay youthful.

I am always trying to keep my mind sharp with healthy foods, lots of fresh air and exercise, get plenty of sleep, and always challenge your brain by learning new things.

So in all actuality I’m not afraid to get old, because I am going to do it gracefully and still be in style and I will be living life to the fullest. Happy Birthday To Me 🎂

An Afternoon To Honor Burn Victims

What a wonderful afternoon I had with my son! My son was honored today with other burn victims for being a survivor at the hospital where he received his extensive care in the BURN ICU.

It was so heartfelt and warming for all the nurses and doctors to come up to my son and actually remember him and say” I remember you, you were in room 26, you had a motorcycle accident…. how are you doing?” They also told him several times he looked great. He had such a big smile on his face.

Mateo did not remember most nurses unfortunately because he was so sedated. But there was one nurse that left an impression on him that sorta made him think about wanting to become a nurse. His name is Christian. He is the guy pictured here with Mateo. He is a very young nurse and loves his job. A great all around person. Mateo could listen to him tell stories for hours.

These are all the great people that took steller care of my son. I don’t know what I would have done without them. They are truly our guardian angels. Thank you Medical City Plano for saving my sons life!

Winter Fashion

This cozy looking outfit will sure to keep you warm on a chilly night. I wore this on a cool brisk night and I did not have to wear a jacket. It was perfect For me and I’m always cold. The sweater is super warm and soft.

This sweater is from Vicicollection.com and it’s called the Henry sweater and comes in a few different colors. It’s $58.00. The boots are also from the same place. They are called Essence Scrunch Peep Toe Bootie and they are $44.00 and come in black and taupe. The jeans are Hudson and can be found at Nordstrom. The sunglasses are Tory Burch. The earrings are Halogen and can be also found at Nordstrom.

https://www.vicicollection.com/collections/all

https://m.shop.nordstrom.com/c/womens-jeans-shop?origin=topnav&breadcrumb=Home%2FWomen%2FClothing%2FJeans%20%26%20Denim&top=24&offset=0&page=1&sort=Boosted&storeAvailability=724&brand=1769

https://www.toryburch.com/accessories/sunglasses-eyewear/

Artichoke Florentine Pasta

This pasta dish has a tiny kick to it but it is delicious. It’s easy to make and my whole family loved ❤️ this dish. I added chopped up chicken to this dish even though it did not call for it. It was the perfect touch to make this meal complete. I hope you get a chance to try this. Enjoy 😉

Ingredients

1 package (16 ounces) penne pasta

6 tablespoons butter, divided

4 garlic cloves, minced

12 ounces fresh baby spinach (about 16 cups)

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

3 cups 2% milk

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 package (8 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese

1/2 cup white wine or reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 cans (14 ounces each) water-packed artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped

1/3 cup Italian-style panko (Japanese) bread crumbs

*I added chopped chicken to this as well and it was fantastic.

Directions

• Cook pasta according to package directions. In a 6-qt. Dutch oven, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add garlic; cook and stir 30 seconds. Add spinach; cook and stir 1-2 minutes or just until wilted. Remove from pot.

• In same pot, melt remaining butter over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually whisk in milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir 2-3 minutes or until thickened. Add Parmesan cheese, cream cheese, wine and seasonings; stir until smooth. Stir in artichoke hearts; heat through.

• Drain pasta; add to sauce, tossing to coat. Stir in spinach mixture. Transfer to a serving dish; sprinkle with bread crumbs. Serve immediately

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/artichoke-florentine-pasta/

Update From My Sons Surgery Yesterday..

My son Mateo is doing great today. He is feeling in high spirits and is feeling no pain. He got a little sick last night, but nothing to big. He has scabs over his burns and we have to continue to keep those burns hydrated with lots of lotion. This will be nothing new because we have been doing this ever since Mateo had his accident and came home from the hospital.

We were informed though at the hospital by his dr that he will have more then 8 surgeries, which we were very disappointed in.

All I have to say is this…. if you have a child that wants to ride a motorcycle or know someone or have a loved one that wants to ride, please, please, please, force that child and encourage the others to wear protective gear. I don’t care if it’s 102 degrees out. If you can’t handle the temp and the gear then you should not be riding the bike! My son will be getting another bike. He made that clear to me and I can’t stop him. It breaks my heart. He is an adult. But he will be wearing all the protective gear. Riding is his life. I just have to accept that even though I don’t want to.

Surgery Day

Today is one of many surgeries my son Mateo will go through to fix his burn sites on his body. He is ready and his mind is clear. His mom on the other hand is a wreck! It’s amazing how strong our children can be. I wonder if he is being strong for me because I’m such a wreck?

To let you know what happen to my son, he was is a serious motorcycle accident on the freeway and did a barrel roll across all lanes. He was not wearing protective gear except his helmet because it was 100 degrees that day so he had on a tank top. His jeans melted on him. The rest they cut off. He has burns over his entire body except his stomach, chests and head. His shoes flew off and his feet were burned as well. After a little over a month in BURN ICU. I was able to take him home and take care of him and his wounds and do outpatient therapy because he had to learn to walk and move all his muscles again. He also broke his hand which he recently had surgery on and is on the road to recovery for that.

Say a prayer and keep him in your thoughts, he has a long road ahead of him. I will give you a update of how things went and how he is feeling tomorrow. Have a great day!

Christmas Tree Decorating

Are you busy decorating for the holidays? I am! I have been working on my trees for 2 weeks now. We have 3 1/2 trees that I am trying to get done in between my sons medical appointments and household duties and motherly stuff with my other child (and he is a handful, let me tell ya). My husband started helping me with our 10ft tree but that was short lived. I love looking at all the beautifully decorated trees on line that people post during the holidays. Don’t you? It makes me wonder if they have kids? A lot of them do! I’m shocked because I wonder if they do not make any memories with their children over the years, did they not make things in school over the holidays to hang on a tree? I know mine did. I also know during the holidays I made ornaments with my children. They loved it. Knowing that what they made was going to be hung on the tree for everyone to see was so exciting for them.

In my home our largest tree has always been our memory tree. Since we have lived in Texas and moved to a much larger house we are able to have more than 1 tree. So our 10ft tree is made up of memories from my children and my husband and I. Every ornament has a meaning and a reason and a story to be hung on our tree. Granted my children are older now, 17, 20, and 25 but when they look at that tree and see a particular ornament they always talk about that certain time in there life when they made it or received it from someone and I never get sick of listening to the stories about it.

I also collect a family ornament each year as well with everyone’s name on it who is still living in the home and has not moved out yet. This is a great way for me to keep track of when my kids leave me, lol 😂. So far I only have 1 that has moved out. My kids still get ornaments every year from their grandmother and they hang it on our memory tree and when it comes time for them to move out they will take those ornaments with them. That way they can start a tradition with their family when they have one and they will also have ornaments to decorate with when they buy their first tree when they move out on their own.

Well I’m hoping to have all my decorating done before the first of December. If your household is anything like mine, December is a busy month. Get those trees 🌲 up and happy decorating!