Recipe of the Week

I made these Saturday night. It was two recipes that I found and I thought they would go together. I sliced the pork and layed on top of the rice and sprinkled the top with the toasted almonds. Not sure about the chocolate taste of the rice but the cherries added a nice touch. The pork was great, very moist and tender~you could use your fork to cut it. Enjoy!!

Cider Pork Roast

1 bnls pork loin roast (2lbs)

2 cups apple cider or apple juice-divided

3 sprigs fresh rosemary

1/2 cup dried cherries

5 tsps cornstarch

salt & pepper to taste

Sprinkle pork with salt & pepper. In a nonstick skillet coated w/ cooking spray, brown pork for about 4 minutes on each side. Pour 1 cup apple cider in a 3-qt slow cooker. Place 2 sprigs rosemary in slow cooker: top w/ meat & remaining rosemary. Place cherries around roast. Cover & cook on low for 5-6 hours or until thermometer reads 160'.

Cherry Almond Rice Mexicana

1 (15 oz) can pitted cherries

2 cups instant brown rice

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp chili powder

2 tblsp semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup chopped almonds, toasted

Drain canned cherries, reserving juice. Coarsely chop enough cherries for 1/2 cup and set aside.

In a medium saucepan, add reserved cherry juice(approximatley 2/3 cup) plus enough water to equal 2 cups. Bring to boil over medium-high heat. Stir in remaining ingredients, except chopped almonds. Cover and reduce heat to a simmer for 10 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in chopped almonds.

---Recipe courtesy Sandra Lee

*FrIdAy'S FuN FaCtS 2-24-06*

Since this just happened last night and is fresh on my mind, I'll let you in on a fun fact about me. I eat raw dough!!! Yeap, last night I made Garlic Cheese Biscuits using Bisquick and made a little extra so that after I put the dough in the pan to bake, there was some left in the bowl to eat! When I was little and my grandmother or mom would make pancakes with Bisquick, I would eat the dough. I also will nibble on raw biscuits from the can. Fun or weird? Don't answer that. I've also eaten from the can of eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk. The kind you use to make cheesecake with. This stuff is so yummy. As Martha would say "It's a good thing". :0)

SOUP OF THE DAY:
The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it.
---Norman Schwarzkopf

DESSERT OF THE DAY:
Smile! Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday!
---from a bookmark I had a long time ago :0)

Catch of the Day

Just wanted to share some cool things I picked up over the weekend. I found the fencing at a salvage yard. There are two pieces. Just love the stars!!
I lucked up on the magazines at a yard sale. 1953~Better Homes & Garden, 1956~Household, 1955~Woman's Day,1957~Ladies Home Journal and a 1953 Scrabble game--All for $2!!! Can't wait to start scrapping/collage.

Weekend Catch Up

I liked this challenge from Bonnie Rose from the weekend.

Q1: Do you ever have epiphanies, moments when things become so abundantly clear that you're left wondering what in the heck you were thinking up until that point in time
~Actually, I've had a few of these. Two that I can say are quite clear. First was when Charlie & I were dating. We had been dating for a couple of months and were living together. Then one morning I remember waking up and thinking "the father of my children was lying beside me". It was if I had heard the words in my head. At first, it was unnerving. But the more I thought about it and spent time with him, I realized that I really had found the "Man of the Dreams"!
Second is about my old job. I had spent 18 years of my life working for this company. And since coming to Tallahassee, things had just gotten so unbearable. I prayed so much for some guidance that I was doing the right thing by quitting. I had finally accepted in my heart that this was what I needed to do. It was as if the Lord was trying to tell me"Hey, how can I take you some place else, if you don't trust me to quit from here?" Then on my last day, as I was walking across the frontend, I spotted a penny on the floor. I believe that pennies are from heaven with the quote"In God We Trust". A little something to say that He's there. As I picked up the penny, I looked at the year and it was 1968-the year I was born! I kept it in my pocket all day and was even thinking about making a lo with it!

Q2: They say every one of us has at least one in our lifetime... Without revealing something you're not comfortable sharing, have you ever had what you believed to be a million dollar business idea?
~My problem is that I have alot of these!! The first one I can think of (not million dollar) was when I was about 15 yrs old. I was out with my dad and we had stopped to look at an old house that was being used by a local garden nursery for storage. It was a small house, but had a big picture window in the front and was located on a main street. I told my dad that I thought that it would make a great location for a little retail shop. About a month later, someone bought it and turned it into {a little retail shop}!
I've had this happen to me with alot of different things. And I'm trying to make myself believe that I should go with what I feel. But sometimes, it's just so scary! I guess that's why I decided that my motto for this year is:
Be who you are and say what you feel, because the people who mind don't matter and the people who matter don't mind.

DESSERT OF THE DAY:
One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture and if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words.
--- Johann Wolfgang van Goethe

DESSERT OF THE DAY:
Truth should be highly valued.
--- Plato

FrIdAy'S FuN FaCtS

Michelle had a great idea. Each Friday, post a random fun fact about yourself. So for this Friday, I'll let you in on a little secret ( my stepdaughter, Krystin, is really gonna get a kick out of this). When I was pregnant with Dane, Krystin (14 yrs) went with me to register at Target for the baby shower. Krystin's mother remarried and had two more girls, so she knows all about baby stuff. Well, as we were looking at things, she would point out certain things to get and things not to get. When we got to the diaper section, I made a statement to which she about died! I told her I had never changed a diaper before!! Yeah, here I am, pregnant with my first child, shopping with my stepdaughter and I have never,ever, ever changed a diaper!!! I didn't have any siblings or close cousins, never did babysitting, so it just never happened. Sad, I know, but true!

SOUP OF THE DAY:
Lost, yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes. No reward is offered, for they are gone forever.
--- Horace Mann

DESSERT OF THE DAY:
Keep your face in the sunshine and the shadows will fall behind you.
--- Irish Proverb

A combo, please

I always read Michelle's and BonnieRose's challenges and today I thought I would combine the two! Both had very thought provoking challenges and I felt that they were related.

BonnieRose-List your immediate family members, young and old -- and share what you admire most in them.

Michelle-Let's face it, no parents are perfect, they all do things we swear never doing it to our own kids. What's some on your no-no list?

I am an only child so my immediate family is very small. And this is the #1 thing on my No-No list-Not to have an only child! And yes(wink) we are working on it!

Charlie~My Love-He never stops to amaze me. Last night for example. His work has been relentless the last couple of weeks. I knew he didn't get a chance to get me anything for V-day. But here he comes, walking in the door last night with a dozen roses, big box of chocolates and a funny card. I was completely surprised. I also admire his ability to see the positive side of things. I like to think of myself as positive but sometimes I get so overwhelmed with life. He always manages to make it all seem so small and insignificant. I love this man!

My Mother-A very quite woman but I owe alot of my creativeness to her. I also owe my love of animals and gardening to her. My mom stayed home with me until I was in high school. It was good to have her home. I'm trying this now with our little one. Maybe try to work a little from home.

My Dad-My Dad!! What a guy. Always the life of the party. Complete opposite of my mom. To him I owe my love of reading. My dad has done alot of things in his life & he always reads about any new thing before he starts. He also has a gift to talking to people and they always open up to him and tell him all kinds of stuff. On the No-No side-For a couple of years, my dad have to work out of town alot. He'd spend a whole week out of town. This really put a strain on my parents relationship. And now when Charlie has go out of town, we both insist that he comes home each night. As for my parents, now you can't get them away from each other :0)

My Grandmother~Gigi-What an inspiration- 92 and still going strong! A very extraordinary woman. To her I owe my red hair(even if I have to help it along), love of cooking,and fashion. My grandmother's real name is Grace-hence my name "Bella Grace".

My Grandfather~Papa-I owe my love of nature to Papa. He's always outside working in the yard or in his workshop building a birdhouse or something. I guess some of the creativeness comes from his also.

I guess I don't have a long list of No-No's. Just want to make sure that both of us are able to be with our kids whenever they need us. And listen to them. And encourage them to be true to themselves.

SOUP OF THE DAY:
And now forgive the past and accept the present, be gracious and merciful to me and do not deprive me of sight, or take from me the art of love.
--- Plato
DESSERT OF THE DAY:
And now abideth faith, hope and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. --- Corinthians

And the answers are...

1. I've been robbed at gun point-yes, working at Sam's Club in Mobile, AL while working in the cash office. Not fun-very scary
2. I've had a rat & a snake as pets-YES! We had a boa constrictor named "Huggy". Because of the snake, we started raising rats. I keep one as a pet and fell in love with them. They really are smarter and sweeter than any hamster. The last one was named "Jinx". I had her when my hubby & I started dating. He was a little freaked out about it, but he got to know her and now he knows how interesting they can be. And to think, they only cost $1.99!!
3. I drink coffee every morning-Yeap! And I love flavored Coffemate-yum
4. I was born in Italy-Do I wish! My dream is to visit Italy-soon :0)
5. I graduated from college with a degree in Art History-My best friend,Kimberly
6. My husband is a racecar driver-He wishes! Ashley Judd's hubby is-and he's Italian! P.S. They got married on my birthday-Good Marriage
7. I taught myself to cross-stitch & have been doing it for 22 years-How sad is that. Seriously, I love to cross-stitch. I just wish it didn't take so long. I'm working on a piece now call "The Kiss". Can't wait to finish.
8. I met my husband at a bar-When I first met Charlie, he was the manager for a sports bar. He was dating some blonde and I was dating a guy. Then, 8 years later, Yes 8 YEARS, we were both out one night at a bar and ran into each other. Started talking, he asked me to dance, I had had one too many drinks and as we were dancing, I just decided to kiss him!! He hasn't left me alone since :0) I love my hubby
9. I love to read-True, true
10. I won an ice skating contest-Never even been ice skating, or skiing. I can't even roller skate, sad


Did you guess right?? Thanks for playing :0)

2Peas Challenges 2-14-06

I wish everyone a "Happy Valentine's Day".

DH woke me up at about midnight to "wish" me a happy v'day. Great for him, he went right back to sleep, but I stayed up until almost 3 am!! Men!! lol I made a few changes to the blog and got to read a few new ones. I'll try to show links later.

On to the challenge-from Michelle:
Let's have fun to do an imaginary body make-over. What would you like to change?I know we all suppose to love our body, blah blah blah. So this is all for fun. Not to tell people that they need those changes to be happy.
1. Love to lose all the baby-fat and firm up those abs
2. A little taller
3. My fingernails are Weird. Paper thin and they curve. Love to have pretty nails.
4. Pretty feet
5. Thicker hair
6. smoother skin
7. Bigger boobs :0) (DH #1)
I think that's it. I just don't really think about it. Just #1 because I was so small most of my life and then as I got older, the food started "sticking" and having a 10 pound baby didn't help lol. I'm really wanting to start walking every day, but haven't gotten into the habit yet.

SOUP OF THE DAY:
And the sunlight clasps the earth
And the moonbeams kiss the sea
What is all this sweet work worth
If thou not kiss me?
--- Percy Bysshe Shelly

DESSERT OF THE DAY:

We must be our own before we can be anothers.

---Ralph Waldo Emerson

2Peas Challenge-Truth vs. Lies

This was a challenge from Michelle a couple of days ago and I never got around to it but it looked like fun, so here goes(6 are true, 4 are lies):

1. I've been robbed at gun point
2. I've had a rat & a snake as pets
3. I drink coffee every morning
4. I was born in Italy
5. I graduated from college with a degree in Art History
6. My husband is a racecar driver
7. I taught myself to cross-stitch & have been doing it for 22 years
8. I met my husband at a bar
9. I love to read
10. I won an ice skating contest

Okay, do you know what's the truth and what's lies? I'll let ya know tomorrow.

In the mean time, hope you enjoy today's specials. Hope these help you have a memorable Valentine's Day.

SOUP OF THE DAY:

If you see a chance to be happy, grab it with both hands and the hell with the consequences. The only things in this life that you really regret are the risk you didn't take.

---Jack Lemon"Grumpy Old Men"

DESSERT OF THE DAY:

Love is the irresistible desire to be desired irresistibly.

--- Louis Ginsberg

My Dream Job

My dream job would be to own my own little shop. I've wanted to open a shop since I was about 15.
I love decorating and would sell home furnishings, both old and new. I love antiques/ vintage things. I am fascinated with handmade items ex. jewelry, pillows, purses. I would love to bring all of this together in a quaint little shop that offers wonderful customer service along with a glass of sweet tea in the summer and hot chocolate in the winter!
This is what started me selling on ebay, and although I do love ebay and I've meet some wonderful people, I would still open a shop if I ever got the chance. Can somebody tell me what the winning lottery numbers are? LOL

Let's Play Tag

I received this quiz awhile ago and thought it would be a fun way to get to know alot of you. I'll answer and then "tag" four other people. Answer the questions on your blog and then tag four other people. Wanna play?

1. What is your occupation? SAHM
2. What color is your underwear? yellow
3. What are you listening to right now? Noggin
4. What was the last thing you ate? popcorn
5. Do you wish on stars? No
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? bluish-green
7. How is the weather right now? cold and sunny
8. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Charlie~My Love
9. How old are you today? 37
10. Favorite drink? sweet tea
11. Favorite sport to watch? NASCAR
12. Have you ever dyed your hair? yes
13. Do you wear contacts or glasses? 'possed to LOL
14. Pets? Belle, Indy & Sasha- doggies
15. Favorite month? October
16. Favorite food? Pasta
17. What was the last movie you watched? Corpse Bride
18. Favorite day of the year? Halloween
19. What do you do to vent anger? Other than sitting on the floor and throwing a tantrum?
20. Hugs or kisses? XOXO :0)
21. Cherry or blueberry? Blackberry!!!
22. Living arrangements? Married to My Love, one son-3 yo and 3 doggies!! We need a bigger house!!
23. When was the last time you cried? January 27- when I found out I lost my credit cards & someone was using them! See #19
24. What is on the floor of your closet? There is a floor in there?
25. Who is/are the friends you have had the longest? Kimberly and Tracy girl
26. What did you do last night? watched tv
27. Favorite smell? hazelnut
28. What inspires you? wanting to create something beautiful/meaningful. Finding ways to be a better Christian.
29. What are you afraid of? losing a loved one
30. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? Cheeseburger in Paradise! (Fav-Butch Cassidy's-Mobile, AL)
31. Favorite car? 1968 Camaro
32. Favorite dog breed? See #14 Mutts!!
33. Number of keys on your key ring? 3
34. How many years at your current job? As of last week, 18 yrs. But now that I'm "retired", who knows!!!
35. Favorite day of the week? Any that I'm alive and breathing
36. How many states have you lived in? Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Texas
37. How many cities have you lived in/name them? Mobile, AL, Biloxi, MS, Pensacola, FL, Longview, TX, Tallahassee, FL
38. What was the last book you read? The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

I tagged:
Michellehttp://scrapscrapscrap.blogspot.com/
Dawnhttp://daybreak1012.blogspot.com/
BonnieRosehttp://alifeunrehearsed.blogspot.com/
Bonzairnhttp://justfivemoreminutes.blogspot.com/

SOUP OF THE DAY:
I bless you. I kiss & caress every tenderly beloved place & gaze into your deep, sweet eyes which long ago conquered me completely. Love ever grows.
---Tsaritsa Alexandra to Tsar Nicholas II of Russia

DESSERT OF THE DAY:
A woman has got to love a bad man once or twice in her life to be thankful for a good one.
--- Mae West

Have a beautiful Day!!

2Peas Challenge-What NOT To Wear

About 3 weeks ago, I would have hated for somebody to look into my closet. But when I turned in my notice to "retire" from work, I started looking at things in my life that I wanted to change. A lot of these were inward changes, but some were outward. One being my wardrobe! lol
I had a big "27 fling boogie" and tried to make sure that everything had something to match. Since I knew that things were going to be tight without my second income, I tried to create a "budget". I came up with an idea for purchasing clothing four times per year, the first day of each of the seasons. But I don't know how well this will last!!!
I use to love all my clothes, but gradually things started falling apart and then I was pregnant and after that Nothing fit!! I used to have accessories that matched all my outfits ( I love earrings). Now I'm down to about three pairs. I know there is truth in if you are dressed well, it makes you feel better. With embarking on a new phase of my life, I thought this is a good time to start.
As for style, I have a very eclectic style. I have alot of vintage clothing that I love, especially coats and jackets. And I really wasn't wearing them. So I pulled those things out and tried to make outfits around these special pieces. This would give me a place to start. I do love the "Bohemian" look. I receive a catalog from Anthropologie and love all the clothes, but can't afford anything :0( But I do get ideas.
Since I'm home more now, I am going to try my hand at learning to sew. I love skirts and my mom has been telling me for a long time that skirts are easy. I also want to learn to make purse and pillows. I just think that would be too cool!

And in preparation for Valentines Day, I hope you enjoy the Specials of the Day! Ciao!

SOUP OF THE DAY:
I do love you...as the dew loves the flowers; as the birds love the sunshine; as the wavelets love the breeze; as mothers love their firstborn; as memory loves old faces; as the yearning tides love the moon; as angels love the pure in heart.
---Mark Twain


DESSERT OF THE DAY:
I wasn't kissing her, I was whispering in her mouth.
--- Chico Marx

2 Peas Challenge 2-6-06

#2 suggested by B
The men are out of the house with the kids (can you imagine) for the night into the morning. You and five of your best friends are getting together to scrap, eat, and gab. What ***five*** chick flicks would you have ready to watch while you are scrapping????

1) Serendipity
2) Hitch
3) The Wedding Planner
4) How to lose a guy in 10 Days
5) Sahara

Okay, can you say "Matthew McConaughey". Now if they would make a movie with Matthew, John (Travolta) and Mark (Walberg), I'd be all set.

#3 suggestion from Robin What size do you primarily scrapbook and why?

The first scrapbook I started was a 12 X 12. I only got a couple of lo finished. (Read=I'm really behind here!! lol) Then this past Christmas, I wanted to do a book for my grandparents. I settled on an 8 X 8 and LOVED IT!!! I felt like I could get more lo finished ( I only got about four done, but that was in like three days, so I was happy.) Part of the reason I joined the DW Challenges was that I would use a few of the Monthly Challenges as gifts. I want to start on another 8 X 8 for my parents as a combined Mother/Fathers day gift for them with lo's of Dane.
Since this is their only grandchild, and we live 250 miles away, they are more than happy to get pics of him.

Thanks for the Challenges!!!!! Ciao for now *

First Day Of My New Job

As many of you read, Friday was my last day at my job of 18 years. And here it is Monday and there is so much that I want to do, I don't even know where to begin! So I made a list of some of the things and hopefully this will give me a direction to start with. A house that I want to clean up, scrapbooking that I want to finish ( joined the DW Challenge and 0 lo completed) , two birthday presents I want to make, a cross-stitch sampler for my niece that was born in December, teaching my three year old numbers and alphabet, AND trying to figure out how to get financing from a lender so DH & I can purchase a house to work on without me having a "job". Anybody got any ideas? Please, I'd love to hear them. Thanks in advance :0) Gob bless.

LISA-You left a comment but I couldn't link back to you. My email address is BellaGraceHome @AOL. I'd like to ask you some questions. Thanks

SOUP OF THE DAY
Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn't stop to enjoy it.
--- William Feather

DESSERT OF THE DAY
God gives every bird his worm, but he does not throw it into the nest.
--- Swedish Proverb

My Last Day

It's finally here, my last day at Sam's Club!!
I have mixed feelings of excitement and nervousness . I can't wait to get started on our new adventure. Pray of us and wish us luck. Off to get ready for the "Last Day" :0)


SOUP OF THE DAY
Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.
--- Confucius


DESSERT OF THE DAY
The only people who never fail are those who never try.
--- Ilka Chase

2 DAYS LEFT!!

AHH, only two more days til Friday, my last day at Sam's Club!! 18 years and I'm finally leaving. A little nervous because this was my first job. But I'm more excited. I've prayed so long for an opportunity to present itself, and now Charlie and I are financially able to embark on a new career. We want to start flipping houses. For those of you that haven't heard of this, it when you purchase a house below market value that needs some TLC and fix it up and then resell it. I am going to learn to a lot of the work myself. Have I done any of this before? No, but I am so excited about learning!
So, keep us in your prayers. And I'll keep updates on the blog. Also, I have some ideas for the blog. On Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays I would like to have a Soup of the Day-inspirational/thoughtful quote and Dessert of the Day-playful/funny quote. I'm also hoping to add a recipe of the Week. We'll see. Hope you like them :0)

SOUP OF THE DAY:
Don't be afraid to take big steps. You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps.
--- David Lloyd George

DESSERT OF THE DAY:
Imagine whirled peas --- bumpersticker

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