My Weekly Tips Will Resume…….

If you come here to read my Kitchen Tips on Tuesday or my Works for Me on Wednesdays – or even my Friday Favorites, I just want to apologize for not having them. With our trip and having company over I have not been able to post on these. They will resume next week, so don’t stray too far away ;0)

Also being resumed next week is my Book of Mormon Journey over at my other blog. So if you’ve ever been curious about the Book of Mormon check over there as I read with a study guide and write about my thoughts and feelings.

Best Superbowl EVER!


Let me just start this out by saying I despise the Patriots just as much as I love the Raiders. So to see them having their butts handed to them today brought me more joy than I can even describe. Let’s face it, in the end cheaters don’t win. If you are a Pats fan reading this sorry LOL (Sam, yes I’m talking to you LMAO) We had such a great time today. We went up to my grandparent’s house to watch the game and had so much fun! I really wanted NY to win not only so the Patriots wouldn’t, but how cool is it that Eli Manning’s brother won the super bowl last year and he won it this year? They sure have some proud parents. I loved how when Eli threw that last touch down they put the cameras up in the box on Peyton. Watching him jump up and down for his brother actually put tears in my eyes. Super Bowl XLII is the best Super Bowl I’ve watched yet. Now, let’s just all pray that Raiders get their crap together and give us a good season next year.

Dear Robert…..

My heart completely dropped when I heard the news. I just couldn’t believe that you would ever do something like this. You were quite the self destructive one and everyone was always worried about what crazy thing you’d do next, but I must say this definitely wasn’t something I ever expected. I wish that you would have thought before you acted. You always kicked yourself for all the things you did without thinking ~ much like my brother. I’m so sad that you can’t kick yourself this time. Robert, I know that my mom & you loved each other with all of your hearts, and unfortunately you were in a situation that you couldn’t be together. I’m sad for her. I’m sad that she’s lying in bed right now feeling the worst heart ache from you she’s ever had to feel, and I’ve seen her shed many tears over you. I remember your accident and how scared she was when she thought you were dead. Now you are. And you did it yourself. Why? Robert, you were so loved. You had an amazing personality and all you had to do was walk away. There was no reason to do what you did.

I hope you rest in peace. I hope that you finally feel peace with yourself. I will pray every day for your children, my mom, and all of the people out there that love you. Please watch over Tap Tap. I’m not telling Jayden. I don’t want to have to explain. I remember once when Jayden was first understanding family he told me “Auntie is your sister, Uncle Mitch is your brother, Grandma is your mom and Tap Tap is your dad.” It was so cute. And then after a while of you not seeing him he asked “Where’s Tap Tap? Is he dead?” :*( If you see my angel Mya up there tell her that I love her ~ and look for the balloons that I’m sending your way. I’m putting a pink one in there for Mya so give her hers. Watch over my mom. She loves you so much, Robert. And Maria is in my prayers. I hope that she recovers for your children. They need her. I wish you didn’t do this. RIP, Robert!! Much love ~ Tap Tap

Random I LOVES

Here are a few random I loves…..

I love to make frozen grape juice & frozen orange juice together. Mix 1 can of frozen grape juice w/1 can of frozen orange juice w/5-6 cans of water and enjoy as the flavor dances all over your tongue…. mmmmm…!!!

I love to dip grilled cheese or grilled ham in cheese in ketchup and ranch or in the mayo/ketchup mixture (Thousand Island Dressing) sounds gross, I know, but try it please and come back and tell me how much you loved it (or hated it).

I love TV… I am a complete TV Junkie w/a million tv shows that I cannot miss. It’s a problem. My list could go on and on and I really didn’t need to have any shows added to that list, but a dear friend of mine turned me on to One Tree Hill. I just started from the first season on DVD, but I’m recording the new season and already cannot wait!!!! UGH! Why oh why does TV have to be so addicting?!?!?!! Okay, so here’s the embarrassing part of this love ~ I LOVE TEENAGE DRAMA SHOWS. The OC, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill – they had me from the first time they opened their mouths on the first episode ever aired.

I love fruit snacks/fruit roll ups. I always have. I remember being like 9 or 10 and pretending to be sick and I’d watch my mom drive away to go to work and I’d run to the pantry and literally eat all of them. My favorite was Beary Bears. I really loved those…they don’t make them anymore 🙁

I love Olive Oil. I couldn’t imagine cooking with anything else.

15 People

I saw this on a blog entry on one of my friend’s myspace and I thought it was kindof cool. Basically, she lists 1-15 and each number stands for a different person. She says her true feelings about them, but never lists their names. So, you don’t know exactly who she’s talking about but she gets to say what she wants. I’m having one of those days… so here I go – 15 People ~ if I know you, you could be in my list, but you’ll never know.

  1. You are a wonderful friend. I can’t even begin to explain what you mean to me in words. In such a short time in my life you have impacted it in the most positive way ever. I pray for you every night and hope that God blesses you in every way that you want to be blessed. Thank you for every thing that you have done for me, my family, my heart, my soul and my faith.
  2. I guess when your entire world was falling apart all around you I was the one that you needed. But now that things seem to be going well in your life you don’t need me anymore, which is fine… but I never wanted to hear you complain all those hours about something that did no use in complaining about. I was wrong about you. Even though you don’t need me to vent to anymore doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear from you to make sure everything is okay with you. I’m sure you’re embarrassed that after all that drama you still went back to him, but I don’t care about that. UGH you don’t know what a friend is.
  3. You are the center of my whole world. Nobody can make me more angry than you can, and nobody can make me smile like you can. Many, many years of ups and downs – mostly downs, we are finally on our most amazing up and I love it… and I love you.
  4. I don’t agree with your choice in life, but I love you so much. I wish that you would kick that guy to the curb. He doesn’t love you. He’s using you. And it breaks my heart. But I love you so much and no matter what I will stand by your side.
  5. The two of us have been through more together than most would even believe. You have literally screwed me over time after time after time and yet all you have to do is smile that sly little smile of yours and my heart melts. Ever since you were a little boy it’s been like this. I am proud of you. I hope that you begin to make good choices and start using your brain before you act. I love you!
  6. I worry about you. Things have changed so much and sometimes I cry, because I feel helpless like there’s so much I wish I could do for you, but I can’t. I will be here for you no matter what and I hope you always know that. I love you. I don’t know what is going on your brain, but you have to start using it. Life can’t keep going on like this.
  7. You look like a man. I think you’re phony. I don’t like you. I never will.
  8. You need to open your eyes and get it together. He doesn’t love you. You are being used. You have been being used for a long time. And if you don’t stop doing what you’re doing you will end up dead and that’s sad. Sometimes I don’t like you.
  9. Sometimes I see a glimps of you and I see a person I like. I don’t understand how you can come and go the way you do. You’ve done it my whole life and I tell you I love you, but I don’t. I don’t even know you.
  10. I still love you. I probably always will.
  11. You are not a detective. So why is it that you think you are? I think it’s time to take a step back and focus on reality and not this little fake world you’re obsessed with. And who cares if they’re fake or not… it’s not your problem.
  12. The sun does not rise nor set w/you. Why people think this is beyond me. I think that what you did was pathetic and deceiving and people always will remember.
  13. Your babies are adorable and I think you rock as a person. I’m glad we became friends.
  14. You are fake. Our conversations are so superficial. I will never forget the horrible things you have said about me. Even if I am nice to you now, I still remember, and I still think you’re fake.
  15. You need to stick up for yourself and maybe put your family before her family, because you don’t know how much it hurts the people involved.

9/11 Poem By Jill Mahone

My cousin, Jill, wrote the best poem about 9/11 that I’ve ever read. She actually wrote it on 10/18/04 for her 10th grade English paper. It’s a tear jerker and is just absolutely amazing. Here’s a picture of my beautiful cousin Jill who is expecting a baby girl in March

We watched as people suffered and died,
as orphans and widows prayed and cried.
As the planes hit the towers the world held its breath,
as everyone saw the destruction and death.
The workers stopped working, the teachers stopped teaching,
all the alarms sounded and the preachers kept preaching.
We could all feel the pain of the people stuck up there burning,
and when another person jumped our stomachs started churning.
Everyone was on their knees praying for the souls
that were going up to heaven and had lost their dreams and goals.
We were losing all hope as the number of deaths got higher,
and our anger kept growing in our hearts like fire.
The day September 11th would now be a very important date.
The day everyone, everywhere would question their fate.
This would be the day that our courage shows bright,
for everyone around was helping with all their might.
All those people dead with not even a grave,
but the helpers still worked with the hope that another they might save.
After all the destruction was done all we could do is give,
so we waited in lines miles long to give blood so someone might live.
Now where the Twin Towers had once stood is a pile of ash,
and everyone alive will always remember the day of this terrible crash
that took the lives of so many that didn’t want to die,
this day when smoke and ash filled the New York sky.
This is our country, the land of the brave and free,
this is a country that everyone should see,
with our colors Red, White and Blue,
and forever and ever we will shine through.
This is our country and it is AMERICA!

~Jillian Mahone

Praise Baby

I’ve heard great things about this and if I post their logo on my blog they’re going to send me a free bib and $5.00 off one of their DVDs 🙂 If you’re interested in this as well CLICK HERE But hurry, because it’s only for the first 300 Bloggers!!!

A Heartbreaking Shock

A lady at the age of 30 did not wake up today. She didn’t get to kiss her kids off to school. She didn’t get to rock her baby to sleep tonight. In turn, her kids didn’t get kisses from their mom today and her baby didn’t get rocked to sleep tonight from her mom. I knew her. Her name was Jessica and her son was my step-brother. And I can’t even describe how heart broken I am for everyone in her family that is in shock and devastated.

I’ve literally prayed my heart out today for her babies. I know that Jesse loves his mom so much and I hope that in time his heart will begin to heal. They will see each other again someday, but that’s not comforting as you’re left behind to mourn the loss of your mom.

Wow. So shocking. Life is so scary and unpredictable. You never can tell what’s going to happen one day to the next. Hold on to your loved ones and don’t let petty stuff get in the way. Life is too short. Way too short.

Hurd Thanksgiving


My grandparents on my dad’s side do Thanksgiving dinner on the Sunday before Thanksgiving every year. I’ve never attended one of these (at least not that I can remember) and this year was our first, since we live 5 minutes away. It was nice to see everyone, especially my cousins. Here are a few pictures, okay, well tons of pictures LOL. First off, we decided to take some family pictures and these are the ones that my cousin got of us





If you look in the background of my pictures that’s my grandparent’s property. It is the most beautiful, peaceful place I’ve ever been. I love to just sit on their front porch admiring the beauty that leaves me breathless with every glimpse. It’s a safe feeling being there, a place where I remember running all over and playing like Jayden gets to do now

This is a picture of my cousin Jill. I wouldn’t even call her my cousin. She’s more like my sister. I love this girl so much and she’s due to have a baby girl in March. Isn’t she gorgeous? I cannot believe that she is going to be a Mommy!!!

This is the three girls. My cousin Jill, my cousin Autumn and I w/our baby girls ~ well, Jill’s is in her belly, but it’s so cool that us girls that are so close have baby girls that will be just as close as us 3!!

My Grandpa wanted a picture of all of his Great-Grandkids, so the only one missing out of this picture is the one in Jill’s belly. Jayden’s so darn big compared to these babies. I love the look on Ella’s face… she’s like I am done with all this picture taking, Mom! The little boy on the left is my cousin Jeremy’s little boy Ethan, and then there’s Gweneviere who is my cousin Autumn’s baby girl and then of course my cuties Jayden and Ella. Jayden will be the one looking after all them later on in life.

And here’s a picture of Ella with her Daddy and Ella with her Mama. We couldn’t get Jayden to sit still for very long to take pics, because there was a whole new world for him outside to discover.