Yes...You are Beautiful!

BEAUTIFUL = unique, one of a kind, special, incredible or any other word that makes you feel worthy. 

~~We believe what we tell ourselves.~~

Tell yourself:
Everything will work out.
Things will get better.
You are important.
You are worthy of great things.
You are lovable.
The time is now.

...This too, shall pass.

You can be who you really are.

The best is yet to come.

You are strong. 

You can do this. ♥♥

By Doe Zantamata/ happinessinyourlife.com

* Thank you to my wonderful Texas friend Kenya for posting this on fb today and reminding each of us to believe in ourselves!  <3 

Robbie Moves to Austin!

Watch Out Austin, Texas...here comes Robbie!  Robbie starts classes at the University of Texas next week and yesterday was the big move in day.  He and his best friend moved into an apartment just south of downtown Austin.  The view from The Cliffs is awesome and there is a nice pool with pretty flowers too!  Just outside their living room window is a little Doggie Center which I call the Doggie Playground.  We saw lots of dogs in this little fenced off park, so why have your own when you can see and probably play with many!   We didn't get much time to explore yesterday.  It was a 3 hour drive to Austin, signing papers, moving everything in, a brief shopping trip for necessities, a quick trip by car through the campus and dining at the local pub and a 4 hour drive home for Rob and I.  Yes, it was a long day and we had to stop for a nap.  We are all rested now and are ready to go back!

The Zipper!

The Zipper has to be the best small town fair ride ever!  When we were little, the carnival would come to Lincoln Village Plaza in the spring.  I remember it being spring because I would always have birthday money to spend.  My sister and I would walk up and spend it all!  I'm not sure if we spent any of it on food because I only remember the rides.  The Zipper was my favorite!  Tickets were only 10 cents a piece and at only few tickets per ride, I'm sure we got our fill.  Lots of laughs and smiles on that day!  Thank you Julie for always being my friend.  I couldn't ask for a better big sister!  <3

Flowers from a Special Day

Flowers from Emily and Dennis' wedding!  One week ago today my niece was married to her best friend!  These are some of the flowers from our table.  I didn't get to bring the shortest vase home with the yellow billy balls, but the chrysanthemums and the carnations survived the flight home even though they were without water for over 7 hours.  It's amazing that they still look so good!  Mostly I brought the vases home as a memento of their wedding, to refill with flowers and remember their special day.  Not only did I get do that, but I also get to enjoy their flowers too!

Make Your Own!

If you are trying to eat healthier, you know it's a challenge to avoid the convenience of boxed foods.  They are time savers, but most contain a lot of ingredients that you really shouldn't consume.  As a general rule, if you can't pronounce it you probably shouldn't eat it.  The solution:  creating your own packaged mixes!  All the nasty and unnecessary ingredients of commercially processed boxed foods are removed, but the simplicity is still there!  Not only is it healthier, it saves money too! This one is a family favorite...BROWNIES!  

   

Homemade Brownie Mix*

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup flour

1/3 cup cocoa

1/4 tsp baking powder

2 eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 tsp vanilla

Pour the mixture into a greased/floured baking pan

Bake @ 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. 

*Thank you Lizzie's Tips for Everyday Living

* * If you are trying to cut calories, remember that you can use applesauce instead of the vegetable oil.

Double the Fun!

A hot day in Texas won't stop our fun!  First, Monica and I hit Six Flags to fulfill our need for speed!  As a bonus, we were greeted with 7-11's Slurpee truck on our exit from Six Flags.  The free Slurpees weren't ready, but Monica won a free Slurpee from the store and I won an aluminum tumbler with a first fill for free.  Next, we stopped at Wal-Mart for a brief moment before the water park where we got to sample Taki chips and spin the wheel for more free stuff!  Monica got a little fan and I got a bracelet...more purple stuff!  Yes, it doesn't take much to make us happy!  Finally at Hurricane Harbor to cool off from the heat where a nice couple gave us their locker key for free!  Random acts of kindness really do make people smile!  :D
                                                      

The Atkin's Breakfast!

I have a love/hate relationship with the Atkin's Diet.  I love it because it works, but only if you are very strict with your food choices.  I hate it because carbs are in almost everything!  Most people that are familiar with this diet believe it is an unhealthy diet.  It isn't unhealthy, it's nutritious!  It teaches you a lot about what you should and shouldn't put into your body anyway.  As an added bonus, it also encourages portion control.  This isn't an intentional part of the diet, but results from the lack of choices during the induction stage. For example, you will open the fridge in hopes of finding something tasty to eat, but quickly close it because you don't like your options.  Soon you will lose your cravings for sugary/carb loaded foods anyway.  As you can see in the photo, you aren't going to starve and some of the low-carb foods are actually good!  

It's Tradition!

 

Every family has their own quirky traditions, this is one of ours.  We buckle up the water baby!  Yes, we protect our precious cargo to ensure a safe arrival home. There's nothing worse than opening up the back of the SUV to have a watermelon split into pieces, although it wouldn't be the only thing to fall out of the car.  We've also lost bottles of wine and many other things due to shifting in transport and I'm sure you have too!  As my sister would say, "buckle up for love" and all is well!  

Monica's Chili-Panko Crusted Tilapia

Monica is learning to cook before she leaves for college next year!  Last night she made Chili-Panko Crusted Tilapia and asparagus.  It is her recipe and so delicious, so I'm writing it here so she remembers how to make it!

Chili-Panko Crusted Tilapia
4 tilapia fillets
2 egg
flour
Panko Bread Crumbs
Italian seasoning
ground cayenne pepper
chili pepper olive oil

Heat the skillet with the chili pepper olive oil.  Beat 2 eggs, dip each fillet in the flour, then the egg, then the Panko bread crumbs, sprinkle with Italian seasoning.  Place in the hot oil and cook until the fish looks brown and crunchy on each side.  Sprinkle again with Italian seasoning and a little cayenne pepper.  Enjoy!

Homemade Frozen Treats

Our new X-press Pops maker promises little frozen treats in just 10 minutes!  It was quick, but removing the pops proved difficult, probably because the mixture contained too much water and not enough sugar.  After letting it sit outside in the hot sun, it finally released it's grip on these tasty low-calorie treats!  Monica and I made these with True Lemon's raspberry lemonade and just a bit of milk.  We can't wait to create colorful striped pops and pops with flavored centers such as yogurt, pudding and pureed fruit!  YUM!!!!  I have a feeling we are going to love this little frozen box, it's quick, easy and makes tasty cold treats.  Monica already says she is taking it to college!

What a Wonder-Full World We Live In!

Our world is full of wonderful things:  today I find a green anole!  Well let me be more truthful, Maya Kitty found it first!  We see lots of these in our yard as they like to hang out in the plants, trees and bushes of our yard.  They have the ability to camouflage themselves when they feel threatened, just like a chameleon.  This one's in the process of turning green as it just turned itself brown to hide from our kitty on our faded wood fence.  It's also shedding its skin which I have never seen one do before now...so cool!

Homemade Vitamin Water

Well this looks a bit like a cloudy beta fish tank, but it's actually Berry Rosemary Vitamin Water with Citrus.  I saw a post on fb with several kinds of homemade vitamin waters and decided to give it a try.  Our little garden box already had plenty of rosemary and we had some fresh fruit in the fridge.  I actually enjoy the taste...just a hint of everything mixed together.  Tomorrow we will try Thyme Lime and who knows what combinations we will come up with over the rest of summer.  There are endless possibilities and that is part of the fun!

Dinner Date at Kirby's Steakhouse

Rob and I have been married for 25 years, but we rarely go out without the kids when they are home.  Last night was an exception.  No it wasn't our anniversary and it wasn't even a special day, but Monica had purchased a Groupon gift certificate just for Rob and I. We don't normally eat out at fancy restaurants, so it was kinda fun to dress up for the evening.  I think Rob and I felt a little lost without Robbie and Monica at the beginning, but it was nice to reconnect with each other and talk about the upcoming events.  We are really looking forward to our trip to the east coast for our niece's wedding.  We rarely get to see my brothers and sister's families, so it is going to be fun to catch up and welcome the newest member into the family and visit some really cool places too!  Thank you Monica for thinking of us...you are the true gift! <3

White-lined Sphinx Hummingbird Moth

Last night at dusk, I found this large moth on our pool deck.  At first I thought it might be dead, but when I nudged it's body it began to move and the wind began whipping it's wings.  I moved it from it's chosen wind shield to our little garden box where it would be more protected from the wind and out of site from our dogs.  As you can see, he has a beautiful striped pattern and just a touch of pink!  It wasn't until I was researching what type of moth it could be that I remembered it's unusual wing fluttering as it climbed from my hands onto the branches of the thyme plant.  Now it all makes sense..he's a White-lined Sphinx Hummingbird Moth from the family Sphingidae.

Facebook is addicting!

Facebook: games, family and friends!  Sometimes I spend too much time playing the games and scrolling the wall, but overall fb has enhanced my life.  I have reconnected with friends and family and also met a lot of new friends too.  You never know what you are going to see when you sign into facebook.  This morning I found a delicious looking Piña Colada Cake posted by fellow Texan Rita Ownby Holcomb.  Just look at it...definitely a keeper!  Give it a try and tell me what you think!  

Piña Colada Cake

2 cups flour
1 ½ cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
Dash salt
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 20 oz can crushed pineapple undrained

Combine dry ingredients. Add other ingredients and mix. Pour into a greased and floured 9X12 in cake pan and bake 45mins at 325.
Icing
1 cup sugar
5oz can evaporated milk
¾ stick butter (or margarine)
1 cup nuts
1 cup coconut
Cook icing 2 mins after butter melts. Pour over HOT cake.

Today is a New Day!

Life is a blessing!  Each day is a chance to discover something new: about yourself, other people and the world we live in.  Explore the ARENA of life and have a very BLESSed day! <3

P.S.  I should have included that this adorable little plant sprouted from a seed that was placed in the hollowed out citrus half.  Easy transplant into the garden by just dropping it into a hole and allowing nature to take its course.  As the citrus holder decomposes, it feeds the seedling too!  Thanks Organic Common Sense for this very clever idea!