Motivate Me Monday

I copied this from another blog about motivating fellow bloggers with their household chores, exercise, or personal life. And I loved the idea. Of course I copied it because it would strain my brain to come up with something original!



This week's topic is LAUNDRY!! I know we all have dirty laundry and I know we all hate it. Do I hear an AMEN?


I have learned the hard way about managing my home and family. I did not have a mom, grandma or an aunt to tell me the secrets to an orderly household.


This week's tip comes from FlyLady.net. She recommends staying on top of Mount Washmore daily. Some people prefer to have one day devoted to washing, drying, folding, and hanging up all the laundry. I prefer to do laundry daily.

Otherwise I would get eaten up by the Laundry Monster! You never know what you'll find if you have piles and piles of laundry lying around.

The Laundry Monster really exists. I have proof!

(Click the picture to get the full effect!)

(The inspiration for this post!)

Logan has been warned that playing in his sister's dirty clothes could have deadly consequences!

Laundry Tips

1. Wash. Dry. Fold/Hang up. Put away. Set your timer if you need to be reminded to put the laundry in the dryer and then set it again to remind you to hang up your laundry (straight out of the dryer) or fold. Don't leave it stacked on top of your dryer. Take your clean clothes to the rooms where they belong.

2. Get your laundry room organized. I have four tall bins in my laundry room so everyone can sort their clothes by color. I can tell if I have enough for a load with a quick glance of the bin.

3. Lastly, declutter! Get rid of all the holey socks and clothes that aren't worth wearing or washing!

Happy Washing! If you have a great laundry tip, leave me a comment. I'm always looking for ways to improve!

I'm still acookin'

I have been trying new recipes, but tonight I fell in love with this Fettuccini Alfredo and I thought I better share it with you. It was quick and simple and totally delicious. We had a late lunch so I didn't add any vegetables or chicken. The only thing I did differently was add a whole clove of garlic to the cream mixture.

However the girls did not fall head over hills as I expected. ..

Ungrateful little animals.....

I think I'll serve it for breakfast in the morning!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU....

Happy Birthday to yooooouuuuuuuu

Happy Birthday to yoooouuuuuuuuuuuuu

Happy Biiiiirrrrtttttthhhhhday

Dear Carlyyyyyyy

Happy Birthday to you!!

Hope you are having a blessed day and I pray that you have an even better year!!!!

Sure do miss you!!

Just another poop story....

The other day we pulled up the public library and I told the girls they had two minutes to return books and pick out new ones because Momma was "pooped". You know the "pooped" where you are exhausted and need to take a breather.

My sweet and innocent Mr. Logan, sitting in the backseat, safely buckled in, absorbing every word said, as sweet and kind as he possibly can say "You pooped Ma?" I answered Logan "Yes Logan. Mommy's pooped."

Ariel and Alexia are giggling as they grab their books and head into the library.

At this point Logan is really concerned about Mommy being pooped. After I unbuckled him and was carrying him into the library he was straining to look over my shoulder, down at my britches, again so concerned for Mommy, asking "You pooped Ma?" At this point we are close to heading into the library and I am trying to explain to him-no Mommy's not pooped.

Stop it.

Leave me alone.

Quit looking at my booty!

Logan loves his Mommy!

When we got into the library I put Logan down so he can look at books. I walked over to the magazine section. I had my nose in Back Yard Living when Logan walked behind me, smelled my booty, and asked ever so sweetly "You pooped Ma?"

The library was filled with people in line ready to check out and I am positive they heard every word!

I nonchalantly shooed him away and pretended I didn't know whose kid he was!

What I have been doing....

Yesterday I made this and it was surprisingly easy. It tastes great and is probably much healthier than what we are used to buying at the store. I think this weekend since we will have company, I am going to use the left overs to make this.

The other night for supper I tried this and again it was really easy and pretty good. I would definitely add some chicken or I thought even some type of sausage would be good, but Jose thought it would be good with shrimp.

Today I am making this to satisfy my handsome Mexican's preference for hot stuff.

There are many recipes I want to try from these websites. I don't know if they sound good because they take pictures and I can see what it looks like, but I have been having fun picking out new recipes!

Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July!!

I'm Addicted

I have spent most of today and yesterday checking out blogs that are full of new, different, exciting, easy, quick and fast recipes when I actually should have been doing this.

I am hooked. I think I can plan meals for the next month. I found this website that helps busy Moms create a menu for the week starting on Monday. I haven't checked out the entire blog to see what she has to offer, but I think it is a great idea.

I also found this blog that offers tons of recipes with step by step instructions...even includes pictures!! There are so many recipes that I want to try. She has a recipe for homemade blueberry syrup and an upside down blueberry pancake that I bet the kids will love.

And my favorite is this blog that is nothing but crockpot recipes. She has recipes from cobblers, macaroni and cheese, and yes even homemade--in the crockpot--yogurt. I am going to have to try this one just to say I made yogurt!!!

I just wanted to share my new excitement with somebody. Jose wasn't too thrilled when I called him at work to share my joy and excitement over recipes! You would think he would be just as excited as I am about not eating the same thing over and over!!

Happy cooking to you. Let me know if you find one that is to die for!!

Ruidoso, New Mexico

This post was started last week....just now getting around to finishing it!!!

This past weekend my sweet, sweet husband pulled our camper to Ruidoso for a weekend full of camping. Friday night was family night for the camp that Alexia is at. This is her second week there. She did not know we were coming because Jose wanted to surprise her. She has been there as a missionary in training. We kind of got a kick out of hearing her tell us that she has had to wash dishes and scrub toilets!! I loved it!! She knew she was serving the Lord so that made me proud!



We camped at this great little RV park called Little Creek RV. Logan and Ariel are sitting at the entrance that has a cute little pond and gazebo.

Jose cookin' us up some hobo dinners. We love these things and save them only for camping. We are not allowed to have them for dinner when we are home! He also cooked sausage and scrambled eggs for breakfast the next morning. Jose makes the best scrambled eggs ever.

Deer grazing in the field behind our campsite. Logan repeated and repeated "More deer Momma"! He loved to just stare at them. We threw carrots at them, but I never saw them eat them.

Ariel blowin' out that flamin' marshmallow gettin' ready to make her a smore!

This was the first time we ever went to the horse races in Ruidoso. Jose and I loved it. We thought we could go back and enjoy it again, but without little distractions!! Actually, Ariel and Logan loved it too. We stayed for a couple of hours. Again, Logan was repeating "More horsies Momma"!

Over the weekend, Jose and I celebrated 12 years of perfect, wedded bliss. Ha! I thought you might get a kick out of seeing some OLD pictures. Did you recognize Alexia? She was 1 1/2 yrs old when we married.

Prom 1994. Our first date. Check out the hair on Jose! he he

Just a picture while we were dating. We often have to take our own photos. I looked and looked and I couldn't find a current one of us together. Isn't that sad ;(

12 THINGS I LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE FUTURE WITH JOSE:

1. I can't wait to be Mimi and Pops. I think Grand kids will be a blast!! I don't want them too early though. If you know what I mean :)

2. When we retire we want to travel in one of these. Jose jokes that when we have one of these the horn will sound like the La Cuchara (?) song so the grand kids will know it is us when we pull up to pick them up.

3. I look forward to seeing and doing what the Lord has planned for us individually and as a couple.

4. Growing old together, sitting in our rockers, drinking some Maxwell House coffee!

5. Learning more about each other.

6. Seeing our beautiful children grow up and start families of their own.

7. Making each other laugh and laugh.

8. Being there for each other when needed.

9. Visiting other parts of the world.

10. More date nights.

11. Cuddling!!!

12. And you know what else **SMILE**!!!! he he

I love you Jose! It gets better and better every year. Thank you for loving me even with all of my faults and imperfections. I look forward to many more years of marriage with you.