Vannoy Plain & Simple

Weekly Menu Plan

2012-02-13T08:00:00.014-06:00

Good day to you!

This is our 4th week into eating

and living healthier -

KV and I are determined in making some better choices in our eating habits and getting into shape with the hopes of shedding some weight as we progress!

Here's the line-up for the week's healthier menu:

Monday: Ham, Quinoa Patties , Green Beans

Tuesday: WW Taco Soup; salsa and baked tortilla chips

Wednesday: Corn Chowder; Mini Muffin Corn Dogs

Thursday: Pizza Steak Sandwiches (crock pot); Pasta Salad

Friday: Spaghetti Squash Gratin (Meatless Dish of the Week)

Saturday: Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup; Dill-Onion-Pepper Bread

Sunday: Low-fat Chicken Spaghetti; salad

Let me know if you need help with the links provided for the indicated recipes... Sometimes there are glitches to fix!

Remember that Tuesday is February 14 - Valentine's Day!

Don't you dare forget your "sweetheart"!

Remember to hug the ones you love the most, until next time...

Snowy Sunday in February!

2012-02-12T20:05:00.015-06:00

Hello Winter,

where have you been??

It's a snowy Sunday this

12th of February

- and it's beautiful.

Forget how everything in snow looks so pretty - until you have to get in it, huh!

We are staying put at home tonight - bought groceries yesterday, finish all the errands right after church today - so we are bundled up for the night... and the BEST NEWS - late start tomorrow at school! "Happy Dance"

Also wishing my niece, AMBER, a very happy 18th birthday today - her wish was for it to snow today - and she got her wish!

So, it's the coldest day in February - so far - and I'm out trying to throw together some Valentine treats and cards out in my studio. I've depleted my Valentine stash day to "nada"; but I won, a couple of months ago, some stamps that are perfect for Valentine's - I just got to get out there and craft! Normal temp in "my studio" (aka the garage) is 46 - Brrrrrr! I do have a heater, but my nose gets the coldest - hee hee!

Andy Hayes - these snow pictures are for YOU! Just talked with him Friday night and was telling him that I thought that winter had forgotten us this year! In Alabama, they are receiving lots of rain - something else that we don't see much of here in Texas! We love and miss you, AH!

Here are some Card Swaps that I've been working on... this card style have made a progression through lots of "trial and error"! I've tweeked and then tweeked again and then again tweeked - adding something new each time. The theme is FLOWERS for this next swap that I'm sending to Wisconsin -

The last two cards, I created a called "woodgrain" technique; there's a video at the StampTV that demonstrates this technique well - think it really added to the birdhouse here in the card swap. Changed up the stamped image on the last to meet the requirements of the latest swap. GinaKDesign stamps were used for that card.

The tool that I'm "in love with" and have really put to good use in this project is this "QuickStik" - it has a green rubbery end that is so handy - it's called the "quicker-poker-picker-upper. For those little pieces that are hard to pick up - I use this tool. Here's more info on this tool, QuicKutz QuickStik, if interested!

Also had the honor and pleasure of attending a Card Party at one of my favorite people this last week! Learned a brand new technique that I can't wait to try out on my own! It's a "resist inking" that you use on a folder when embossing! Also, we made a valentine card using cut-outs, clear acetate, and ribbon... cute, cute, cute - Just being in the company of these talented and witty ladies - makes my day! Always we have fun and learn something new!

Hope this post catches you snuggled up warm somewhere and you are enjoying this hit from winter this week! Next on the agenda for future posts is our healthier menu for the week with links to new recipes and Week #7 on our 52 Small Changes!

Thanks for stopping by - have a great week! Remember to hug the ones you love the most, until next time...

Busy week - starting on Plan B...

2012-02-10T11:13:00.026-06:00

Hello, my friend!

Hope you are having a GREAT DAY!

Keeping up the positive spirit!

This week has been a very busy one - a week where we are "racing against time" to get everything done! Whew!

It's only Week #3 and my exercising has been limited - my old body is not adjusting to the high-impact of running - BOO!

My knees are swollen and sore to walk - so we've laid off of the running this week. KV is a strong runner, so he will continue!

Our high school coaches are giving me the advice that with "bursitis" - that low-impact exercising is the way to go! WALKING is the best.

A friend, of one of my son's, overheard me talking about bursitius and he asked Aric what it was - Aric's reply was "some old person's thing with their legs" - argh! Crazy kid!

Treating it with doses of aleve and no running - wishful thinking that this soreness will disappear quickly - having a funny walk at a high school is NOT a good thing! LOL! Our track coach is amazing - with a wealth of knowledge... he is are very informative and cheaper than a doctor!

So! Guilt and shame were momentarily there in my space but PLAN B is working out AWESOME! Remember that I had bought the

"Your Shape" software to run on my son's xBox/kinect... used it only briefly until this week - but OMG! - it's super... had a blast and sweated like a pig! It's not working, if you are not sweating in exercise - right?

Worked out for 47 minutes my first time - I even did YOGA for 20 minutes! It puts your image next to the "rather skinny" instructor - and monitors your shape and tells you how to improve with your body's alinement and position! I was impressed!

Also, this week, joined a group on the SISTERHOOD ning of the "52 Small Changes" by Brett Blumenthal - they read a chapter a week together from this book! AWESOME book - it's a lifestyle of getting to be a happier, healthier person within a year. With making only one small change a week - it makes it easier to change and adapt to better and healthier things in life - inside and out! It's easy things for changing - so far it's been good things like drinking lots of water, getting enough sleep, keeping a food journal (and may I recommend My Fitness Pal!), thinking positive, staying off the couch and this week (#6) taking a multivitamin. VERY do-able things to make priority in life!

Ready for a GREAT weekend - even with a forecast of rain and low temps! Snuggling weather - in front of the fireplace - love it! I've got card swaps coming up next! Come back soon - remember to hug the ones you love the most, until next time...

Super Bowl Recipe Swap!

2012-02-07T09:54:00.004-06:00

Greetings!

Hope your week is going well!

Here are two recipe swaps that we tried over the Super Bowl Weekend!

The first is "easy-peasy" - Buffalo Chicken baked in a crock pot, pulled and served on a toasted bun or roll - makes an EXCELLENT hot sandwich! It only has 3 ingredients + your roll!

Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken

3 lb. frozen bag Chicken breast tenders

Frank's "Red Hot" Buffalo Wing sauce

1 pkg. Ranch Dip Mix

Cook on low for 6-7 hours in a crock pot; pull chicken tenders apart with a fork (and I added 2 Tblsp. butter) return back into the crock pot - cooked about an hour more. Serve on toasted buns or rolls.

These hot sandwiches are VERY tasty! My boys thought that these were "IT"! I, on the other hand, was excited with the next recipe swap... Cheesy Quinoa Bites - this recipe was my favorite during the Super Bowl!

Liked this recipe so much that we're even considering it for next year's 4-H Food Show competitons for one of the boys... It's low in calories; about 130 calories for a serving of 4 bites - think I ate 2 servings on Super Bowl night! They were THAT good!

Cheesy Quinoa Bites

2 cups cooked quinoa
2 large eggs
1 cup shredded carrot
2 stalks green onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 Tbs all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp seasoning salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare the quinoa to the package instructions (I used 3/4 cup of quinoa to 1 1/2 of water w/a chicken bullion cube - bring to a boil and cooked for 12-15 minutes). Mix together quinoa, carrot, egg, green onion, garlic, cilantro, cheese, flour, salt and pepper. Distribute mixture into a greased mini muffin tin, filling each cup to the top (1 heaping Tbs each). Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Hope this post finds you well and everything is good! Please come back often! Remember to hug the ones you love the most - until next time...

Super Bowl Sunday

2012-02-05T17:31:00.014-06:00

This Sunday will be the annual Super Bowl football game!

- this year, we will be looking more at the commercials and Madonna's half-time show than the actual game - not a fan of either team.

How about you?

Of course, we will have "super bowl snacks" - can't beat tradition! Trying to throw out a more "healthier" tray of snacks this year - here's some links to the recipes we'll be snacking on during the game...Buffalo Wings (crock pot) Sandwiches, Creamy Avocado Dip and Cheesy Quinoa Bites.

Found this card on Pinterest...

it sums up my life story - LOL!

We are fixing to start Week #3 of the diet. I've lost 5 pounds so far... we are still walk/running a mile 3-4 times a week and keeping a 1,200 calorie diet with Slim Fast.

Started reading a good book - will share more later - It's "52 Small Changes..." by Brett Blumenthal

The family got to go and do some geocaching today (Saturday) - it was a very chilly, windy day but we scored an FTF (First To Find) and grabbed 8 out of 12 caches. We got out as a family and off the couch and away from "screens" - that was our main goal and enjoyed our time very much!

Geocaching leads us into different places that we would not normally see... for instances, this monument at a cemetery (geocaches are always in a cemetery!!) is so sad - the cache is named "A Woman's Revenge" - and it's a scorned woman statue on her husband's grave because of his infidelity... wow!

Also a old one-room school house that was built in the late 1800's - not too far away from C-town. "Dozier Schoolhouse" that I never knew existed.

We froze our toes off, but we had a blast. Planning a 3-state geocaching trip for spring break this year - can't wait!

Wishing your favorite team to win this weekend! Hopefully, you had a restful and relaxing two days - this week ahead is going to be a busy one! Thanks for stopping by! Come back soon, I'm working on some card swaps to send to Wisconsin that I'll share , I've got some recipe links from our weekly menu of "going healthier" and more about the book I'm reading!

Remember to hug the ones you love the most, until next time...

The Sisterhood!

2012-02-01T07:00:00.005-06:00

Hello! Today is

"HUMP DAY"

and it's a very good day!

Also the 1st day of FEBRUARY!

This is week #2 of my DIET...

and finding all kinds of tools and recipes to help!

One of the newest thing is finding a group called the

"Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans"

- women that are just like me ready to lose weight and fit back into our jeans... Here's some info, if you are interested:

"The Sisterhood is an amazing, and often hilarious, site offering weight-loss challenges, fitness challenges, product review and giveaways, and lots and lots of support. Losing weight and getting in shape is hard and it’s even harder when you don’t have someone in your corner telling you how amazing you are on the good days, and lifting you up on the bad days. That’s where the "Sisterhood" come in…..all for the low, low price of absolutely FREE. They do it because they have been there (or are still there!)." Click here on this link and check out the recipes, blogs and the social ning - all for FREE! Gotta love that, huh!

Here are links to the new recipes used in our menu this week:

Monday - Meatloaf w/brown rice; green beans

Tuesday-Healthy Baked Potato Soup

Wednesday- Creamy Beef over Noodles (Crock pot); salad

Thursday- Beef Stroganoff; english peas

Friday- Pork Tenderloin; scalloped potatoes; salad

Saturday-Healthy Chicken Nuggets with breaded zucchini sticks

Sunday "Super Bowl" -Buffalo Chicken

"Something Sweet, but healthy" - Hungry Girl's Fudge

Dessert Hummus - PB Chocolate Chip

I need to watch out on this... my husband read my blog and was quite surprised to find out that I had fed him butternut squash... and he liked it! HAHAHA! Score one for the "sneaky wife" - in a good way, huh!

Still sticking to the SLIM FAST 123 diet;

1 meal, 2 shakes and 3 snacks a day! Lost 4 lbs. so far!

Here is a realization that I've had this week - eating healthy is expensive... On a weekly basis, I spend to feed a family of 4/5 - $125; that's breakfast and supper each day. NOW! Trying to provided a "healthier" menu - it's gone up about $50? ARGH! Realizing that groceries on a WHOLE has gone up - but geesh!

For exercise, we are running!

- QUIT LAUGHING-

I've never ran in my life,

but my husband was/is a runner.

We are starting out VERY slow... we jog one block and walk 2 blocks x 5 = 1 mile; 25 minutes.

This is not as easy as you would think - OMG! "So embarrassed" - I felt things jingle that I didn't know I had... even in my back - GROSS! Set a goal to walk/run 3-4 times a week. We'll see if I can be a runner, hmmmm! Also drinking lots and lots of water. What do you do to exercise??

How are you? Wishing you a FABULOUS rest-of-the-week!

Stay positive and be healthy!

Remember to hug the ones you love the most

( I love my boys so much! They are growing up SO FAST!)

Until next time...

Quinoa Stuffed Pepper Recipe

2012-01-30T07:30:00.005-06:00

Time for a RECIPE SWAP!

This recipe includes healthy QUINOA

- did you do your homework from the last post?

Do you know what QUINOA is yet?

It's an amino acid-rich (protein) seed that has a fluffy, creamy, slightly crunchy texture and a somewhat nutty flavor when cooked. When consumed, it fills you up - in a good way!

Quinoa is available at Wal-Mart, up there with the rice products...

Here is a GREAT tasting recipe - approved by the Vannoy Boys - 3-thumbs up! EXCEPT... they did NOT eat the pepper-bowl part! Hmmmm - men! Got any ideas how to serve this up differently than wasting green peppers? I thought about chopping up a portion of green pepper and maybe putting into the mixture and then cook small portions in a cupcake tin and cooking up that way... would it be too greasy? Help!

Quinoa Stuffed Peppers Recipe

8-10 red, yellow or green sweet peppers
1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
1/3 cup parmesan; shredded
1 cup quinoa
1 can chicken broth
1 lb. ground beef; lean
1 tbsp. garlic, minced
1 large onion, chopped
1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce
1 can water chestnuts, chopped
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. basil
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup Ppepperjack cheese, shredded

Slice the tops off of the peppers; remove and discard seed core from each. Put pepper in a 9 x 13 in. pan and set aside.

Combine cottage cheese and parmesan in a small bowl, set aside.

Combine quinoa and chicken broth in medium pan, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, simmer, covered for 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.

Meanwhile cook ground beef and onion in a pan. Reduce heat to medium, add garlic and cook for a couple of minutes. Stir in tomato sauce, water chestnuts, oregano, basil and black pepper to taste. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in quinoa.

Stuff half of each pepper with some filling. Layer each with cottage cheese mixture, top each with remaining filling and then cheese on top. Bake at 375 degrees for about 20 - 25 minutes.

Total calories = 2650 calories
10 peppers = 221 calories per pepper

Here's a challenge to YOU - try out some QUINOA soon! See what you think about it! Be healthy!

Thanks for stopping by - remember to hug the ones you love the most, until next time...

January Card Swaps

2012-01-28T11:53:00.011-06:00

Here are the requested

JANUARY CARD SWAPS

Our "Sip 'N Swap" Card group reconvened last week for our monthly card swap!We unanimously agreed to skip the month of December - for obvious reasons... too busy!

It was good to get back into "crafting" up some swaps!

Love, love, LOVE swaps...

This month's theme was SYMPATHY

or a general THINKING OF YOU card;

requirements included an embellishment of choice,

a BIRD and a envie.

The results turned out some BEAUTIFUL cards, if I must say! We have some VERY talented ladies in our group!

These are some of the BEST cards yet - "excited"!

Cards include the fabulous works of Childress' own artists: Margie Robinson, Kimberly Hickman, Amber Smith, Maria Hale, Renee Lambert, April Vasquez, Angie Husband and myself.

Next month's theme is "Get Well"!

Thanks for stopping by! Come back soon - Monday will have a Recipe Swap for a Quinoa Stuffed Pepper - you need to try some "quinoa" in your diet, if you haven't already - healthy stuff!

Remember to hug the ones you love the most, until next time...

Healthy Recipes

2012-01-27T10:39:00.002-06:00

Hello out there in Cyber-land!

How are you?

Wishing you an awesome weekend!

Look what my husband finally arranged up on our wall in the den!

YAHOO!

Family photographs (2010) by

Ericka Moore Photography

she's so good!

- Wal-Mart Photo Canvas

super cheap for the quality that you receive - unbelievable!

and a vinyl saying from "tintngraphics" off of eBay

(love eBay - don't you?).

LOVE this on my wall!

Makes me smile each time I see it!

Here at the Vannoy Home - we've been trying to eat healthier! We've both had lots of comments and advice on how to accomplish this task! Thank You! For a healthier diet - takes planning - lots of preparation, but 3 pounds down - it's working! On to week #2...

Joined up with My Fitness Pal - suggested by CJ!

A food journal is very effective in cutting

down the food intake.

I'm a "grabber"... grab food and stick in my mouth without a thought... so this has been an adjustment!

Have several request for the recipes that we are eating healthier with - I'll include the links so you can try 'em out also - if interested! Let me know what you think...

Monday- Crock pot Meatballs over brown Rice

Tuesday- Quinoa Taco Bowl

Wednesday- Honey Bean & Spinach (Crock pot)

Thursday- Taco Chicken Chili (Crock pot)

Friday- Butternut Squash Penne

I have personally been surprised by how good these recipes are and how receptive my family has been to them also! 2- A+'s! The recipes are very different from our "normal" daily recipes - Excited! The only "epic fail" was the brown rice - cooked it for almost an hour... still tasted like "bird seed" - so I'm trying a different method this weekend for cooking brown rice - any suggestions??

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you are taking time for yourself to rest and relax this weekend! Remember to hug the ones you love the most, until next time...

Losing Weight - ARGH!

2012-01-25T13:04:00.015-06:00

In 150 days,

I will attend my 30 year

high school reunion

- ARGH!

30 YEARS - any-whoooo; I've got to shed some weight! Not to be SKINNY - just to have my clothes fit right! Seriously! Middle-age is the pits! It has it's ups and downs - as I'm sure all age brackets do... but the adjustment of my weight is a tough one to handle - for me personally.

This all started when my students had an

INTERVENTION

on my style of clothing!

My students do not approve of my "mommy jeans"!

I don't care... I AM A MOM! was my reaction!

They don't understand - my fat body no longer fits comfortably in jeans. Also, I don't want to show off any "bum" or undergarments with the style of low-raise jeans. SO! I have compromised with my students to lose weight and buy some "stylish" jeans! Not the "I-trying-to-look-16-jeans" - LOL! just age-appropriate jeans for a MOM teacher - hahahaha!

How do you lose weight? Share your secrets - PLEASE! 4 years ago, we joined a gym, worked-out daily for 6 months - My husband lost 20 lbs - I lost 4... Now! I did change my shape - but no significant weight loss. And yes, I needed to - I am not at an ideal weight - by a long shot. BOO! So, I stopped the gym; put my $$ somewhere else.

This week, we've started the SLIM FAST diet. 2 shakes a day instead of meals, 3 snacks and 1 balanced meal including lots of WATER - It's week #1 and I'm STARVING!

I have discovered that I crave food at night... so I've switched my shakes to breakfast and lunch and then my meal at night to help with this... Also, this will give us the advantage of eating together as a family each night also! I know that most of the hunger is in my head - but I tend to be really grippy also - imagine that! Praying for peace and patience!

As for exercise, we purchased the YOUR SHAPE for the Xbox kinect - so far it's funny watching my "ballooned" figure trying to "hip-hop" dance next to the EXTREMELY skinny trainer on the side... Hmmmmm! Will let you know more, as we become more experienced with this software.

Found some pictures for my high school days.

Here is on the first day of my Senior year - fall of '81 - (my "hill-billy" brother's sophomore year; overalls??) along with my cool car - the Camero - I LOVED this car (wish I had kept it...could've put it in my backyard as a shrine to my "younger" days, huh!).

Next picture is our twirling team from '79-80 when we went to State Competition in Austin!

Both pictures were found for my boys to see my cool car and for them to see that I really had been to Austin to compete and had seen the Texas University Seal at the stadium...

I had to prove to them that my memories were for "real", I guess!

Ahhhhhh! Memories! On to the present! Come back soon - I've got card swaps and a Stuffed Pepper w/Quinoa recipe on the agenda - please, please, please come back and I'll share!

Thanks for stopping by - remember to hug the ones you love the most, until next time...

Eating SKINNY for 2012

2012-01-12T10:39:00.016-06:00

It's not just a New Year's Resolution...

it's a GOAL for my family to eat better - for life!

Hoping to also lose weight... I've got my 30 year reunion for high school this summer (I know, I know... 30! - I did graduate at the age of 10 - NOT!) SO! I've got to "shape up" - and to fit into jeans again... so eating "skinny" is a must + exercise!

EXERCISE (yuk!) We love playing the xBox "Kinect" - looking into different software to monitor and exercise with - any hints, comments, ideas? Very interested in "Your Shape" fitness program - around $30... the WII fit is much more $$ along with getting the Balance Board + program... Still doing some research - would love some feedback!

SO! We are always are looking for new recipes... I've added some new food blogs to my list for stalking! I've added SKINNYTASTE, "A Year of Slow Cooking", and "Debbie Does Dinner... Healthy & Low Calorie" (and of course my new BFF) PINTEREST for new recipes. Trying to find good, SKINNY recipes - oxymoron??

We are trying NEW things in our diet!

This week, it's QUINOA - known for it's healthiness and nutritional value -adding it to a traditional Stuffed Pepper Recipe instead of rice this week... I'll share if it's any good!

Also, found a Chayote Squash at our local Wal-Mart... ever heard of it? Me neither... SO! I grabbed 2 and found a recipe to cook 'em up! If you have any recipes and know how to prepare this... let me know, please! Will let you know about that experience also!

This recipe swap today is not a pretty recipe - but very hearty. My boys enjoyed this... even when they didn't think so! LOL!

Let me explain... it has fresh spinach in it, and KV HATES spinach - but was able to tolerate and even enjoyed this dish - plus, getting a shot of healthy, nutritional value from it! It was a ONE pot dish also - served with a crusty bread. Found this recipe on PINTEREST - love, love, LOVE this website!

On a cold winter night, this recipe hit the spot. This recipe was easy to make, easy clean up and the boys were satisfied! It reminded me of a german potato salad dish that Andy made for a food show competition one year. Very tasty - give it a try!

Potato Kielbasa Skillet Recipe

4-5 medium-sized Red Potatoes; cubed

3 Tblsp. Water

3/4 lb. Kielbasa; cut into 1/4" slices

1 Tblsp. Olive Oil

2 Tblsp. Brown Sugar

2 Tblsp. Cider Vinegar

1 Tblsp. Dijon Mustard

1/2 tsp. Dried Thyme

1/4 tsp. Pepper

4 cups Fresh Baby Spinach

5 Bacon Strips; cooked & crumbled

Placed cubed potatoes and water in a glass dish and microwave on high COVERED for 4-5 minutes (until tender); drain. In a large skillet, saute kielbasa and onion in oil until onion is tender. Add potatoes; saute 5 minutes long or until items are lightly browned. Combine the brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, thyme and pepper; stir into skillet. Bring to a boil - reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes UNCOVERED. Add spinach and bacon; cook and stir until spinach is wilted. Enjoy! Serves 4

Hope you are having a great week, so far! We are giving out semester tests here in the big C-Town! Starting a fresh, new semester on Monday... It's going to be a great year! Thanks for stopping by! Come back often -

Remember to hug the ones you love the most, until next time...

Roll Tide!

2012-01-10T20:33:00.012-06:00

We stayed up late Monday night, watching the Tide on TV

- Alabama is #1!

Not bragging - just excited to connect with our 1st son - who goes to the University of Alabama! Andy is in his 2nd year as a Senior... what a great year for Bama!

This Christmas, Andy Hayes brought everyone BAMA WEAR - shirts, socks, hoodies, shorts, scarves, hats, keychains... We even had family pics made in our "Bama"

With Andy coming home twice a year, we try to take family pictures whenever we are together -

Thanks for letting me share them with you!

Andy is 22, Alex is 15 and Aric is 12!

Roll Tide!

Remember to hug the ones you love the most, until next time...

Hello in 2012!

2012-01-07T10:53:00.007-06:00

Hope you are having an

AWESOME great 2012

- new beginnings - new starts - a fresh, new year!

The question this week, "Are you ever going to blog again?"

LOL! Yes! Just getting back into the groove has taken a little longer than expected!

Here's a pic of my A TEAM from the holidays!

Alex LOVES this one... because he is the tallest of the 3 now! LOL!

It has became a tradition since 2003 on Christmas Eve for the boys to wear matching pajamas. Last year, I bought "footie pajamas"!! Andy was a good sport (being 21 yrs. old...) and I promised no more FOOTIES... but matching p.j.s - oh yeah! Love my boys!

Of course, we had to include "the girls" - Roxie & Molly in our Christmas Eve Picture - our Corgi dogs. This was their first Christmas! They turned a year old the first of December!

Hope all is well with you and your family. I will be back soon for more posts... Have a great week! Remember to HUG the ones you love the most - until next time!

Merry Christmas to YOU!

2011-12-19T10:28:00.004-06:00

Taking a 2 week hiatus from blogging to spend time

with family and friends...

New CHOW in the house...

2011-12-11T16:00:00.012-06:00

OKay! Haven't had a post with a recipe swap in a while - this one is something new and SO GOOD!

You know the delicious - chocolate/peanut butter

PUPPY CHOW mix??

(here's a link to this recipe IF you don't know...)

Well, here is a great twist on the recipe

- if you love LEMON - this recipe, you've got to try...

LEMON Puppy Chow

1 (12.8 oz.) box of Rice CHEX cereal

1 (12 oz.) package White Vanilla baking chips

1/4 cup Margarine

4 tsp. grated Lemon Peel

2 Tblsp. Fresh lemon juice

2 cups Powdered Sugar

Measure out the cereal into a large bowl. In a microwave bowl, melt the chips, margarine, lemon peel and juice, on high for 1 minute - stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer and stir - continue until the mixture is smooth. Pour over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Put powdered sugar in a large plastic bag - add coated cereal and shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in an airtight container! ENJOY!

So the T-Shirt Scarf making is contagious...

in the last post here - I took each of the colors of the rainbow in recycled T-shirts and made a scarf... from the same shirts - made 2 MORE "up-cycled" scarves this week. The "block" scarf is from each of the SLEEVES of the t-shirts serged together... made from 5 1/2 double-sided blocks - got this idea from Coach H from school! She's so talented - thanks Coach Harris! - you're awesome!

Hope you are enjoying your weekend... 14 days until Christmas - are you ready? I've got a confession to make -Shhhhhh! We haven't bought ONE gift... I know, I know - in 5 days, we'll have 2 weeks to rush and do some power shopping trips! Working in retail for 12 years has changed my shopping trait - I want to enjoy the season WITHOUT the commercial rush of "buy, buy, buy" - it's the time spent with family, making Christmas candy - drinking hot chocolate in front of the fireplace - things like that - those are my best memories of Christmas time!

Wishing you well and thanking you for stopping by! On to a GREAT week - hang in there! Remember to hug the ones you love the most - until next time...

It's "Artsy-Fartsy" Craft Time!

2011-12-07T14:01:00.018-06:00

LOOK!

My "up-cycled" scarf... cool, huh!

I am a "Woman of Color" - another term for Art Teacher! LOL! I love COLOR - lots of color; rainbow colors - yeah! Of course, found this craft on my new "favorite site"...

Easy-peasy... t-shirt scarf

no sew tutorial here at the link!

Everyone has old t-shirts that are not in use - so "up-cycle" them... there are a MILLION ways to make a scarf that will add some pizazz to your wardrobe! With our household, I was able to find all the colors of the rainbow - fast! Took about 20 minutes of cutting and 20 minutes of tying knots - BOOM! New scarf in under 1 hour! Try it... or find a style that fits you! Fun, fun, fun...

Here are some decorations that I've put up in the CHS Art Room this week - wanted something that would last throughout February... It's so sad to come back after the holidays and find Christmas decorations still up; only 7 more school days until the holiday break - so I think the "SNOW" theme will last and be uplifting?!?! AGAIN - the idea for door came from my new BFF - "Pinterest"... my students have named him - Charlie the Snowman! Added the letters - S N O W to my main windows... (inside and outside) - for you that are "old school CHS" my room is half of the old library... my windows look out into the court yard - now, nick-named "the yard" - unless it's raining - then it's a flooded yard and it's called "Lake CHS" - LOL!

And then added SNOWFLAKES - on the ART windows -

they are coffee filter flakes - CU-TE!

Here's the site that I found the instructions/tutorial for the snowflakes - my students have had a great time making these during the week! Adding to the SNOW theme... unique snow flakes! Kinda matches our below 40 degree temps this week!

Next, are the November Card Swaps, that I promised last week! This month's requirements for our card project was: a Holiday of choice theme - 4 colors, 3 embellishments, 2 stamps and 1 decorated envelope. First card (to the left) is my project - the "telescope" snowman! He's easy to make and has a very cute "WOW" factor when placed on a card. Here's the website that I got the idea from and then added my own twist.

Here are the other cards that I was able to glean from the swap - 7 beautiful cards! The ladies really out-did themselves! Holidays included Christmas and Valentine's Day! Designers include: Amber Smith, Margie Robinson, Kimberly HIckman, April Vasquez, Maria Haile, Stephanie Harbin and Angie Husband.

Thanks for stopping by - hopefully now you are full of "artsy-fartsy" inspiration and off to be creative... LOL! Remember to hug the ones you love the most - until next time...

Alex is 15 today!

2011-12-01T21:01:00.007-06:00

Alex Vannoy is turning 15 on December 1st!

Ahhhh! Where has time gone?

Wasn't it just yesterday, I was changing diapers and chasing this kid around?

Now, he's ready to drive a car alone and in high school.

Sniff, Sniff!

Happy Birthday,

Alexander Jonah Vannoy

We Love You!

Check back soon - I'll have our November Card Swaps... they are AMAZING!

Thanks for stopping by - remember to hug the ones you love the most, until next time...

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-24T10:25:00.004-06:00

Okay, let’s be honest - I’m one of those people who loves Thanksgiving, and I refuse to bring out Christmas decorations or listen to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving dinner has been eaten!

I always feel sorry for Thanksgiving because I feel like the stores always look past Thanksgiving and to Christmas.

I mean seriously... Halloween goes up right after school supplies and then BOOM! Christmas trees, decorations and all that, are all put up in the middle of October - right? So! I love to focus on Thanksgiving – since it’s one of my favorite holidays and I look forward to it all year.

So I hope that you are enjoying good food, good fellowship with family & friends, you've thanked the Lord for all of your blessings in your life and enjoying the awesome colors of the fall season while indulging in this Thanksgiving week!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Rainy Day Project!

2011-11-21T21:43:00.014-06:00

It's Monday night - and it's rained all day long! It's wonderful that God gives so freely! Today, we received as much rain, as we have had all year long... WOW! With our drought conditions in Texas - rain is certainly a welcomed sight!

Only had time for two cards today - this card is for a sweet baby BOY! Gotta love my boys! It's a digi image from Bugaboo - colored with copic markers - placed on a layered punched focal point, card stock, designer paper, ribbon, embossed white, and stamped BOY letters - all in the color scheme of baby blue, yellow and white. Of course there is GLITTER and a SU stamp of "on the birth of your beautiful baby"

This card project is entered in the following challenges this week:

Just Some Lines is having a fun "Tic-Tac-Toe" challenge that is really unique! You pick three of the requirements in a game manner - I picked glitter / digi / punch! Check out what all the other crafters are doing here at their website!

At the One Stop Shop - it's a colour challenge #158- BLUE. I've used baby blue as my main color for this BOY baby card. Here is where you can check out all the rest of the BLUE entries here.

And, last but not least, at the Stamptacular Sunday weekly challenge #139 is "Boy, Oh Boy!" - to included a man or boy in your card. I've chose the Bugaboo Boy Bear for my focal point. Check out the other BOY card projects of the week here.

Made this card "Something Sweet to Eat!" last night and today it's a "featured card" at the Crafters Digital Art Center. YAHOO! This card was made using one of the free Progressive Challenge digi images from the Center. It's from Sew Many Cards - featuring Bailey the Bear w/ Honey Bee (tag #cdacpc7, smc). who is colored with copic markers - placed on black and yellow card stock (bumblebee theme!) - with added embossed texture and ribbon!

Thanks for stopping by! Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving this week! Be safe and remember to hug the ones you love the most - until next time...

My 3 Precious A's!

2011-11-19T12:23:00.015-06:00

With all of my blog posts of challenges and stuff, feeling bad not to include enough of FAMILY posts - and this is suppose to be a blog for FAMILY - (I just think having 2 blogs would be harder to keep up with; sorry!) - I've got to even out the posts with some family stuff! LOL!

Like thats a hard thing to do... for me!

This post is dedicated to my 3 precious A's -

Andy, Alex and Aric!

My sons are my world - plus my sweet hubby - of course! All three are growing up FAST! During Halloween - I was in depression of not having to make party favors... no class parties - at all! ):

With Aric in junior high - he thinks he's 16 years old and has the attitude of a teenage - hence the TWEEN stage! ARGH! Recently, Aric participated in a Womanless Beauty Pageant for the CJHS pep rally. ALICE was a sight for eyes, let me tell ya... He, along with several other 6th grades - provided some fun entertainment for all at the pep rally. Love my Aric-ee, he makes me smile! Aric is our "clown" - school, family... he and Andy are my extroverts... Alex is our intelligent introvert - LOL! Hmmmmm - do you agree? Here's some more pictures of Aric at the pep rally!

Next, is Alex - who is a TEEN and a freshmen this year! Double ARGH! He's making straight A's and adjusting well to having BOTH parents on school campus with him this year! He still runs from me in the hall - but have no fear, I scream and wave to get his attention! (Could be why he runs, huh!) Love, love, LOVE Alex! He's an excellent cook - plays the piano very well, after football, he's now the official basketball manager for the Bobcats!

Last, but not least... Andy Hayes! Andy is a college student in Tusculoosa, Alabama "Roll Tide" - he's a 2nd year senior - only 17 hours left! He's running a scrap metal place in Hamilton, AL in his spare time! Andy LOVES college football! He loves sports in general - but ROLL TIDE is his world! (haven't hugged this child since JUNE...) The latest news on Andy is the HAIRCUT!

I asked him to please send me a picture of himself - he didn't know how... "What kid doesn't know how to take their own picture in a mirror in 2011?" His response was - "Mom, I'm not 16 any more!" - LOL! But he tried and did - and I'm THRILLED! He looks so handsome - the wild-haired Andy has matured and he's all grown up - sniff, sniff! Can't wait for his visit at Christmas! Love this kid!

That's my three precious A's! My boys are the best! Geesh - but I'm their mother - give me a break! Thanks for stopping by! Hope all is well for you and your family.

Wishing you a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving week!

Remember to hug the ones you love the most - until next time...

November Challenges

2011-11-16T18:52:00.016-06:00

Here are some more November card projects made for some weekly challenges. Are you ready for the "snowy" days ahead... ?

This "Frosty" card features an almost white color scheme - using textured cut pieces, a copic colored snowflake background, focal point holds a glittered snowman; embellishments included glitter and glittered snowflakes.

This card project is entered in the following challenges:

The Crafty Pad is challenging for crafters to use a "White on White" color scheme for their challenge #147 this week. Check out the WHITE entries here at this link.

Also at The iCopic's Challenge, their challenge ICW #56 is "BACKGROUND" - I used copic markers in a variety of blues to outline the stamped snowflakes for the background of this card. Check out the other copic designs here at this site.

StampTV's Mix It Up Monday Challenge is hosted by Suzanne Dean who gives a sketch and the challenge of "Let It Snow" - to make a project that is COLD looking! Check out the other entries here.

The next project is a Harvest themed card using a new technique called "bargello" - here is a link on this technique. This was a new thing for me to try! I used scraps of autumn colored designer paper - the focal point is a cut-out of stamped pumpkins - colored with prisma pencils - stamped w/"Happy Fall Y'All" - highlighted with designer paper and rusty red card stock and ribbon.

This project is entered in these challenges:

Handstamped Sentiments is challenging each crafter to complete a project using this BARGELLO technique for their HSSTC93 technique challenge. Check out the entries here for this week.

To the right is the picture trigger for a project at Moxie Fab World Challenge - "Fall is in the bag" - what inspired me is the geometric shapes repeated over and over in a variety of colors of autumn in the purse. My project repeats a pattern in a variety of color. Check out all the other Moxie Fab projects here.

At the Cupcake Inspirations, their challenge #136 is this picture trigger to the right - the geometric squares in autumn colors is the theme of my project also. Check out the other entries here at Cupcake Inspirations here.

The last project today, is one that is for next week - Thanksgiving!

Love, love, LOVE pumpkin pie! LOL!

This card project uses a copic colored digi pumpkin/pie stamp along with a printed "If Life Gives You Pumpkins, Make Pie!" - pumpkin pie along w/chocolate chip card stock is used; also pumpkin designer paper and ribbon combines to complete this simple card made for Thanksgiving! This project is entered in the following challenges:

Anything Challenge this week is Challenge #54 - FOOD; perfect for the season right now, huh? Check out the other FOOD entries here at this site.

Here is the sketch for the challenge at The Sweet Stop this week. My entry for the SSS134 challenge follows it - with the exception of the text moved to the right from the left side of the focal point. Check out the other sketch challenges here.

Here is the picture trigger for the challenge at Our Creative Corner - pumpkins and pumpkin pie - Check out the other pumpkin inspired card projects here at OCC for this week.

Thanks for stopping by! Wishing you and your family and wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving season!

Remember to hug the ones that you love the most - until next time...

Waterfall & a CLEAN Project!

2011-11-15T20:57:00.008-06:00

Here is a WATERFALL

card project

"It's as easy as your ABC's

- Have a Great Day Today!

This Waterfall project incorporates digi stamps - Yellow card stock, designer paper, green eyelets, ribbon, copic markers and glitter create this project.

This project is entered in the following challenges:

The House that Stamps Built is hosting a technique challenge - Repeat Impressions DCC119 Designer’s Choice Challenge. Check out the other WATERFALL card projects here at this website!

Digital Art Center - it's a collaborative digital challenge site - these digi stamps are part of the "Progressive Challenge" that they are offering members. You get digi stamps to play - and you use them in rounds for different challenges. You get more digi stamps with each round of projects that your participate in. I've just discovered digi stamps and trying them out - having a great time! Try it out here!

This very CLEAN card was made for the Freshly Made Sketches - this week's sketch #11 is to the right.

This project includes designer print papers, red & white cardstock, buttons, ribbon and SU's stamp in Ruby Red ink!

The object is to create a CLEAN card project using the sketch. Come join the fun by making a card project - check out the other sketch #11 challenge entries here!

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to hug the ones you love the most - until next time...

Family & Friends - Make the World Go Around!

2011-11-15T11:28:00.010-06:00

Hello! This last weekend, we had the pleasure to go down to the Austin area and represent Childress High School as an amazing young man, Scout Haile, ran in the Texas UIL Cross Country - State competition.

This student is truly a WINNER

- we took our boys so they would be exposed to a new sport; but also how this student is so focused and discipline! Scout is a BEAST! He finished 16th in 2AA division - against a "multitude" of runners AND mother nature w/HIGH winds and dirt... So glad that we had this opportunity!

Along the way, we were able to drop by at the home of a childhood friend that I love! Jayma is an amazing person - wanted to meet her two adorable boys that I've heard about and have seen pictures - but now I had the priviledge to HUG these cuties! Yep! I babysat this woman... if you can remember that far! Long blonde, curly hair - a sassy toot - turned into a wonderful woman! Ahhh - the memories! Thank you, thank you, thank you Jayma for our visit - made our day!

Also got to drop by the Vannoy Clan and spend the night with them. It was good to see KV's dad and family. In the summer, this man had open-heart surgery - he has improved so much! So glad to see and visit with them.

Have you been "out and about" to see the fall foliage? OMG! It's BEAUTIFUL - autumn is full of such rich colors - yellows, reds, browns and etc... God is alive and well - you can tell by his amazing creations - take some time and explore the turning of the leaves - you'll be glad that you did!

Hope you are well! Thanks for stopping by! Remember to hug the ones you love the most - because family and friends really do make the world go around! Until next time...

Challenges over the Weekend!

2011-11-15T09:52:00.019-06:00

Here are some cards and paper projects that I was able to complete for some challenges over the weekend!

The first one is a paper project - CD Holder; decorated in festive Christmas colors - perfect for giving a CD of photos, videos or whatever! This CD holder fits a standard size cd. Red, green and white card stock was used, along w/the Christmas Jillibean decorative paper, StampTV kit - Wishing You Joy's stamps, ribbon, "believe" metal tag and glitter.

This project is entered in Lee's Friday - "Free For All" Pretty Presents - Challenge at StampTV - Making anything - but a card! You can check out the other entries here at this link.

At Bugaboo Challenges, this week "Catch the Bug" want projects that have POCKETS - my challenge is an actual pocket to hold a CD! Check out the other pocket projects here at this site.

The monthly challenge #28 at Creatalicious Challenge is to make something for CHRISTMAS and make it SPARKLE - gotta love my "sparkly Santa" - LOL! Check out the other sparkly-Christmas projects here at this site.

The next project is an

EASEL CARD

- made w/pink & brown color scheme. This card features punched tags on front. Vanilla embossed cardstock, along with designer paper, pink and brown card stock created this birthday easel card. Brads, ribbon and glitter are the embellishments. SU's stamps for the tag and Happy Birthday stamp - punches include large & small tags, word window, modern label, circle and scalloped circle. I love, love, LOVE making easel cards - my favorite type of card to make (right now!). This project was entered in the following challenges:

Cas-ual Friday Challenge - they are hosting a "Tag, You're It" challenge CFC28 - check out their entries here at this site.

Hooked on Crafts, this week's challenge #12 is featuring "PUNCHED" items on the project - check out their entries here at this link.

At Mark's Finest Paper site - Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge Week #81 is "Your Favorite Technique" - my favorite technique is an EASEL card! Check out the other favorites here.

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge this week is also PUNCH IT- Challenge #138 - check out their entries here!

And the last project for this weekend, is a layered Ribbon & Lace card project. This is the first time using this card format - doesn't need an envelope! It's all in one - but with all the embellishments that I've added - would be afraid to send through the postal service!! This is using Stampin' Up's Rich Razzleberry card stock, polka dot ribbon and designer paper, along with embellishments of lace, eyelash yarn, button, hemp twine, punched flower and brads - SU's stamp "Wishing you happiness today & always". This project is entered in the:

One Stop Challenge, where this week's challenge /3157 is "Ribbons & Lace" - check out their entries here at this link.

At this site, If the Shoe Fits, Scrap It - FF #96 Challenge is to "Try Something New" - this is a new format of a card that I used on this Ribbon & Lace project. Click here to see the other challenge entries at this link.

Thanks for stopping by and looking! Hope you had a great weekend and ready for a great week ahead! Remember to hug the ones you love the most - until next time...

I love my BREAD MACHINE!

2011-11-11T09:20:00.011-06:00

My BREAD MACHINE and I have been together

for over 15 years...

and my thighs show it! LOL!

This is one small appliance that I've truly got my "money's worth" on - (I do have a 24 year old food processor that is still going strong also!) Pizza dough, bread, rolls, cinnamon rolls, etc... it makes it all! Something about the aroma of bread... YUM!

The last 2 weeks, I have been through

out a lot of dough! FLOUR DOUGH, that is!! Here's a great recipe for a dough - and then shape it into - rolls, loaves or (my boys favorite) Pigs 'n the Blanket - wrap the dough around cheese and a weiner - "supper"!

Basic BREAD MACHINE Dough

1 2/3 cups Water

2 TBSP butter

4 2/3 Flour
2/3 cup Sugar

2 tsp Salt

1 pkg Yeast

In the chamber of a bread maker; add all ingredients with the yeast on top. Set bread maker to “dough” setting—wait for cycle to finish (about 1 1/2 hrs.). Turn out dough onto a flour surface—shape to desire type of roll or loaf. Cover and rise again for 1-1 1/2 hours. Bake at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes. ENJOY!

Thanks for stopping by! We're headed out and down to the Austin area to support an AWESOME student that is running cross-country at STATE competition! Grabbing geocaches along the way - also our high school football team is headed to the play-off game in Lubbock at my niece's alter mater - Frenship HS near Lubbock, TX against Colorado City - on Saturday! Go Bobcats!

Wishing you a GREAT weekend - remember to hug the ones you love the most, until the next time...

So Grateful! - also Recipe Swap!

2011-11-08T19:18:00.028-06:00

Two weeks from today

- we'll be out for Thanksgiving Holiday break!

WOW! Can that really be?

Trying to get into the THANKSGIVING spirit - made this sweet card project w/ ole' Tom! This is a digi stamp - but I can't remember where I got this turkey - he's a cutie! If you know where he came from, please comment, so I can give credit!

"Tom" is colored with copic markers - added on sand card stock with a vanilla punched scallop behind to highlight "Tom", some ribbon and a GKD stamp "We give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way" (one of my fave stamp sayings!) - makes a very simple; but festive card!

This is entered in the icopic challenge for this week - Challenge #55 - "Thankful". Check out all the "Thankful" entries here for this challenge at this link.

My Craft Spot's challenge this week is "Gooble til you Wooble" - Challenge #32 - To make a project using a Thanksgiving theme - check out the "gooble" entries here at this link!

Also at Catch a Bug - Bugaboo Challenge Blog - this week's challenge is use a digi stamp and "anything goes" - check out the cute projects here.

The challenge at Digital Tuesday - is "Anything Goes - Challenge #135" - something on the project needs to be "digital" - in my project - Tom the Turkey is a digi stamp! Check out the other entries here!

The next card project is - "So Grateful" - made from a bunch of 1" square scraps of designer paper in "Fall" colors - after the squares were put together - ran through the cuttlebug for added texture and also to cut out an oval for the focal point. Also made a brown oval frame to encase the opening. In the focal - features a fall leaf (GKD stamp) embossed in gold and colored w/copics - added hemp twine bow, "so grateful" stamped oval and gold dots!

This project is entered into the StampTV Challenge - "Mix It Up - Monday" with Jennie's pick for "Got Scraps" challenge - check out the entries here to see how others used their "scraps"!

Through the Craftroom Door Challenge Blog - they are hosting challenge #13 - "Fall in Love" - card project must have a leaf on it and brown/tan/kraft colors . Here are the entries here at this challenge.

Kadoodle Doodles Challenge Blog is hosting their weekly challenge #92 - Colors of Fall. In my project - used a variety of fall colored designer paper in 1" squares to complete the "frame" around the focal point! Check out all the other "Colors of Fall" projects here at this site.

Also at Lollipops Crafts - they're challenge this week is to create a #56- Thanksgiving/Fall theme. Check out the entries here at this link.

I've been promising you some recipes from the recent 4-H Food Show competition!

Alex came up with this recipe "Beef & Spinach Lasagna Roll Ups"! He combined two different recipes to make this one. Both boys have SPINACH in their recipes - being that each person is usually lacking in eating enough vegetables and fruits in their daily diet! KV HATES spinach - and LOVES this recipe for lasagna! LOL!

Beef & Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups

1 lb. lean Ground Beef

1 jar (24 oz.) Pasta Sauce; divided

1 tsp. Dried Basil

1/2 cup Onion; chopped

4 tsp. minced Garlic

1 tsp. Dried Oregano

1 pkg. (10 oz.) Spinach; frozen ( thawed and squeezed dry)

2 cups Ricotta Cheese

2 cups Mozzarella; shredded

12 Lasagna Noodles; cooked and drained

1 Tbsp. Parsley Flakes

In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in 12 oz. of Pasta Sauce, garlic, basil and oregano. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Combine the spinach, ricotta and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese until combined. In a 13x9 baking dish, spread out the remaining 12 oz. pasta sauce. Spread 2 heaping tablespoons of cheese mixture on half of a lasagna noodle; spread a portion of the meat mixture on remaining part of lasagna noodle; roll jelly-roll fashion ** starting w/CHEESE & ending with meat. Arrange lasagna rolls, seam-side down in sauce in baking dish. Top with remaining cup of mozzarella cheese; sprinkle with parsley flakes. Cover and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover and cook 5-10 minutes more or until cheese is melted on top. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Serves 12 - 1 roll-up per serving.

Next is Aric's recipe - Italian Wedding Soup! This recipe originally was picked out for Alex to make... until Aric tasted it and decided he wanted to make it! LOL! It also has spinach in it - as a traditional Italian Wedding Soup always has some GREEN in it! This is a great, hearty soup to serve!

Italian Wedding Soup

1 pkg Italian Meatballs (frozen)

3 carrots; sliced

3 celery ribs; sliced

1 onion; chopped

4 1/2 tsp. Olive Oil

3 garlic cloves; minced

2 cans Beef Broth

1/4 cup minced Fresh Basil

1 envelope Onion Soup Mix

1 can Kidney Beans

4 1/2 tsp. Ketchup

1/2 tsp. Dried Thyme

3 Bay Leaves

4 cans Chicken Broth

1 package (10 oz.) frozen spinach; thawed and squeezed dry

1 1/2 cups uncooked Penne Pasta

In a Dutch Oven, saute' the carrots, celery and onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the broth, spinach, basil, soup mix, ketchup, thyme, kidney beans and bay leaves. Bring soup to a boil; add meatballs. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered for 30 minutes. Add pasta; cook 13-15 minutes longer or until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally. Discard bay leaves before serving - 10 servings.

Thanks for stopping by - tomorrow is HUMP DAY! Wishing you a "fabulous" day and rest of the week! Remember to hug the ones you love the most - until next time...