Halloween

Living in the Bible belt with a southern church around every corner, Halloween can be iffy. They think it's Satanic or something. Back when I was a kid, most kids here weren't allowed to trick or treat, so the churches invented an "orange" party so that they wouldn't feel so left out and would have something to do while their peers were having fun. This now includes going to a church parking lot and getting a tootsie roll out of the back of someone's car trunk, which most people do now. I was a rebel this year, I said, NO we are going to do good old fashioned trick or treating. I am not going to fight traffic, worry about hitting a kid and do it the right way. It was great! Honestly, we saw maybe 2 or 3 other kids, but the boys had fun, I didn't have to drive in the dark and the old people just light up when they see a costumed kid at their door. But..........I really need to teach my kids some cooth. I don't know where they get it from, but they are loud when they speak. I was embarrassed when a few feet from someone's door they would say, loudly:

--That person was smoking!!
--Why do so many old people live around us!!
--Yay, I got M&M's!!
--Their candy sucks
--I don't want to go to that house, I can tell they don't have good candy..(the people were sitting on their porch 4 feet from us)

But alas, the night was fun and I made sure that they didn't complain until after we got home!

Pics from Today

Here are a few pics taken from my hotel today, Oct. 28, 2008, by a coworker of mine. Enjoy....

Yummy Chicken!

Ok, more often then not, I make up my own recipes in my head either while driving or when I see something on sale at the grocery store. So, I was at my local grocery and they had bone in, skinless chicken breasts on sale for $1.79 I think. I love the flavor of carribean jerk with chicken so I bought the chicken and a bottle of carribean jerk marinade. Of course, I usually use my slow cooker to help make dinner time easier, so I put the chicken in the bottom and covered with the marinade and let me tell you, yummy!! That and a bag of steamfresh veggies in the microwave for 5 minutes and that's dinner! Try it and please share some of your recipes, I love to try new things.

Love the Fall

I love the fall. Cooler weather is here!

Intelligent Family!

Wow, it's been a great couple of days. Of course, the economy still worries me, I worry about my job every day, things are very tight, but we had a few great things happen! First, my dog, Daisy, is officially able to "shake" now!! I am so excited I was able to teach her that! She's such a great dog, super smart :-) Secondly, I had a meeting with my son's teacher. He is in 1st grade. I have always known he was a bit "special", well, she wants him to be tested for gifted!! He has straight A's, average is 99%! He can also read a chapter book in no time, he's 6!! Of course, all of my boys are bright, I'm just proud of them all! Hopefully the good times will continue and the economy will straighten out. I STILL don't know who I am voting for....

Grey Gardens

I heard about this documentary a few years a go and got it from Netflix. If you haven't seen it, you should, it's so brutally honest and entertaining at the same time....

Owed Money?

Check this out: http://www.missingmoney.com/ If you ever were owed money and they were unable to find you, the state is holding it for you, unclaimed wages, utilities deposits and so on. My dad has $529 sitting out there, Steph if you read this, ask me about one of them......Check it out!

Shocked

I received this in an email today. I have included the picture that was in it here. I am embarrassed to say that this was taken in Florida, the state I live in. We do live in a country that has freedom of speech, but still. It's sad how far as a country we have progressed in some things, but others still live in a close minded world. Probably pretty surprising to people that have known me for awhile, I am somewhat on the fence this election. I used to be a staunch republican, but as I have gotten older and grown wiser, my belief system has as well. This makes me want to vote for Obama, just because of this guy. Decisions, decisions....

Yummy Meatballs and Sausage!

Ok, well, today I am making it sans meatballs, so this is just a sausage recipe that is super simple that I put together sometimes. Usually, it is meatballs that I make myself and italian sausage. I like hot. I wouldn't use brats.

Meatballs, Sausage
2 large cans of crushed tomatoes
1 can of diced tomatoes italian style
salt, pepper to taste

put in a slow cooker and cook 8 hours on low. When done you can eat alone, or in a bun, or even with pasta! Sprinkle with red pepper flakes if you like a kick, as I do, and mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

I don't measure, I just do what feels right. When I make meatballs, I take beef and pork, sometimes, just beef, salt, pepper, parmesan cheese, bread crumbs and 1 or 2 eggs. Round into balls, if you don't use this for this recipe, they are easy to bake and use with pasta!

Close To Home

So, I am alone, sitting here watching Lifetime and there is a movie about Marie Hilley, a "black widow" type. She killed people with arsenic and wrote a lot of bad checks and set fire to things to get insurance money. Often times, I like to research people that I see movies about. Interestingly, she is from Anniston, AL. That's less than 1 hour from where I live!! Crazy, I can't believe in the 20 years I have lived here, I have never heard this story before. But of course, this happened about 30 years ago, but still.... Ted Bundy was arrested an hour from here too. Coincidence, I sure hope so.

I LOVE Netflix!

Ok, so other than having a job and being a mom, I don't really have a life. I spend WAY too much time online, but I have another way to spend my time, that is other than eating and drinking....Movies!! I love to watch movies, especially documentaries, biopics, psychological thrillers and tv seasons on dvd, like Dexter, 6 Feet Under, Big Love. It is so cool to be able to take a weekend and watch an entire season at once, no waiting a week between shows! It's awesome. My name is Lori, and I am a Netflix-a-holic. No late fees, no driving, in my mailbox. Life does have it's perks :-) Check it out if you don't already have it.

Dating and Men and the Internet

Ok, so most of you know that I have been single for 4 1/2 years and haven't dated at all in that time. I truly believe that men want one thing, a young and skinny woman with 0-1 kids. I mean, men put out ads like this on craigslist:

"If you are by chance reading this that does show you have a sense of curiosity to your personality and have a heart that is very romantic. I am a white single male software engineer who is getting older and would love to experience life with a adorable princess like you, and make his life all about you in love and happiness. I am pretty simple and have a heart and love to listen to you when you speak. And yes I would be faithful. I love kids so I am not against marrying in to a family and becoming a dad instantly.
Drop me a line if you are interested
I live in a small peaceful country town in Alabama right outside huntsville
which is a great place to raise a family
Whether you are 18, 28, or 38 it is not you are I am concerned about it is your heart that interests me, It is the depth to which you heart can love the matters most to me

And yes I still open the door for a lady and stand up when she enters the room
Will you be that lady "

Trust me, this is one of many!

Ok, so you respond that you would like to get to know them and they reply back, so you know their email works. You then mention that you are overweight, or send a pic and have 4 kids and then they never reply again. At this point in my life, I think most men are scum, the only ones who aren't are the men my 4 boys will grow up to be. Men totally care too much about looks. I may have to start batting for the other team.........

Another Post Secret

I just can't get enough of this stuff, it is just so sobering.

Weekends......

Weekends are never long enough, at least not for me. I am sitting here, have some of my "famous" Shipwreck Stew in the slow cooker, watching CMT top 20 and blogging. I also am thinking, tomorrow's Monday, with 4 kids, Sunday's are for getting ready for the week, I do laundry pretty much everyday, but do a bit more on Sunday, homework has to be done, everybody has to get to bed at a somewhat reasonable hour. Basically, my only real "free" day is Saturday and that is usually reserved for the boys and Daisy, our yellow lab. Is it any wonder why my house always looks like a tornado has ripped through it?

On a side note, the weather is starting to cool down and I'm lovin' it!

Shipwreck Stew

I thoroughly enjoying cooking and eating. I am particularly partial to yummy things I can throw into a slow cooker in the morning and have dinner ready when I get home, along with a yummy smelling house! One of my favorite sites is www.allrecipes.com . So, the other day, I was looking for something and found it, Shipwreck Stew

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Shipwreck-Stew/Detail.aspx

Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 5 Hours Ready In: 5 Hours 20 Minutes
Yields: 10 servings

"Ground beef is simmered in tomato sauce with potatoes, carrots and kidney beans. It is a wonderful, hearty meal for those cool Autumn days. Great for feeding friends on football Sundays."
INGREDIENTS:
2 pounds ground beef
2 (10.75 ounce) cans
condensed tomato soup
2 medium onions, chopped 5 large potatoes, cubed
2 (15.25 ounce) cans kidney
beans, undrained

DIRECTIONS:
1. Crumble the ground beef into a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir until browned. Drain grease, and transfer beef to a slow cooker. Mix in the tomato soups (undiluted), onions, potatoes, and beans.
2. Cover, and cook on the Low setting for 4 to 5 hours, until stew is thick and potatoes are tender.

It is part stew, part chili. It was also pretty good. I made as above, but also added a can of corn. Next time, I will probably add some rice, carrots and maybe taco seasoning for a bit more flavor. The boys loved it and 3 of them even got 2nds. It was also easy and economical, a huge plus in my book!!