A great read for the kids!

I think almost every one of my followers has been blessed with the role of Mom!   So, I'd like to share with you, a wonderful children's book written by a very close and dear friend of mine.  I've known her since she was just a little girl.. ... I'm so proud of her.

The book is called Come Back Dear Sun and it's a fantastic read for kids of all ages!  It reminds me of my childhood and how we were always outside playing.  My parents didn't really allow us to hole up in the house and play video games or watch TV for hours on end.  Unfortunately, in current times, kids do just that.  There's not a lot of outside play and being active.    We loved playing jail break, tag, football....(we even used to put on plays in our back yard and invite the neighborhood kids)

I truly think that this book would encourage your kids to put down the game controllers, the TV remote, or is it the iPad and the tablet these days?  : )  

You can purchase this book at Amazon and I'll bet some libraries have even added it to their collection of GREAT books for children.    So, if you get a chance, check it out & let me know what you think.
 -   I may even do a giveaway in the next few weeks!  

Recipe Time

I made this - AGAIN - this past weekend.   I love this chili cheese dip, all thanks to my sister who first introduced me to it, thus, started my NEED to have it very often.

It's super easy and I decided to make it last Sunday, since the hubby also enjoys it!   I figured it was a good "football watching" snack.

You must try it  ~  It's simple and it's delicious!    I made it a couple times at parties or FOR parties and everyone raves about it.

Here goes:

- 1 package of shredded cheese - taco blend works best

- 1 package of cream cheese (you can use fat free if you want) - Same great taste.  I promise.

- 1 can of chili with NO beans - (I used the fat free turkey chili and tasted no difference)

Now, get a brownie pan, spread the cream cheese evenly in the bottom (I soften it a bit)
Layer the chili and then the shredded cheese.... Pop it in the oven on 350 for about 20 mins and it's ready to go!   The time is really just estimated.... I wait until the cheese looks nice and melted and/or it starts to bubble on the edges - You don't want it to brown.

Serve with tortilla chips or corn chips and enjoy!    (Share, if you can) ...I find it hard to do that.

Monday Catch Up

Yep, it's Monday again!   While I have 1,001 things I can talk about today, I'll just do a fun "catch up" post instead.    

We're officially in my favorite time of year!  Fall!  I know a lot of us are more into Fall than Summer.  And rightfully so.    I like the cool yet not COLD days, the light sun but not SCORCHING warmth.  I love the windows being open when I go to bed and waking up to the morning breeze and the sounds of nature outside. (or my dog barking like a nut job, thus, arousing all of the neighbors' dogs in the process)... But alas, it still makes me happy.

This weekend, I was in such "GO" mode.   I cleaned the house, I mopped, I pulled out all my Fall decor and I went to town.  Well, at least with what I had on hand.  Which reminds me, I NEED MORE!    I was sitting back, looking at my finished product and thinking of how much I enjoy Fall decorating more than Christmas.  I know, that sounds crazy, but Christmas can get so hokey.  Fall is much better - I love the colors much more.    Christmas looks like a rainbow threw up -  Fall?  Nice, calm, earthy colors.

All the things I'm looking forward to this season:

-  My niece's soccer games with hot cocoa and hoodies (instead of bees, sweat and heat waves)

- Bon fires at our house

- Halloween!   My favorite, by the way.

- pumpkin scented candles 

- apple scented candles

- mums galore!

- new Fall decor 

What's your favorite thing about Fall?  Or maybe you don't like this time of year...

Some pics of the weekend fun....

Laughter and tears

My sister and I met for dinner last night, with my niece, of course.  Love her ♥

  We met at our favorite place ( or one of) ..  Olive Garden.    I had such a great time; I think my face was hurting from laughing so much.  I don't know what it is about the 2 of us but we have so much fun, doing the simplest of things.   If I told you some of the things that made us laugh uncontrollably, last night, it  might not seem that funny, but to us, it sure was!    We talked about everything ... some good, some bad.     Of course, we ended up talking about Mom, and a vivid dream that my sister had a couple nights ago.    Whew, that was a teary one.    We almost always end up crying.   I joked that I hoped in 10 years, when we're out having dinner, that we're not still doing that.    But who knows?    It was just a good night, a much needed night with my best friend and a dozen much needed laughs.   My heart is happy today.... It feels so good to have moments like that, to relive when we need that lift.

Work hard, pray harder

I can say that almost every day, I have something I can 'talk' about here on my blog.   Not always so interesting, but always something in this crazy mind of mine.    Then, there are days that I feel I really have to 'talk' and this is one of those days.

I was always a praying person - From the time I was little.
When Mom was first diagnosed with cancer and then EVERY day after, I prayed, and I prayed HARD.   I prayed at home, at work, in the bathroom, in the car, at bed time, at church.   I was a praying machine!  The days leading up to and including the day Mom passed, I prayed non-stop.    Then, after that day, I felt like I stopped, almost abruptly.    And I can't even figure out why.   Before you even suggest it, it wasn't because I felt that God failed me or that my prayers were falling on deaf ears. I haven't lost any Faith.
  I really have no idea or excuse as to why I stopped - I have plenty of things to pray for and ABOUT.  Maybe it's a subconscious thing; I really don't know.  What I do know is that I'm very disappointed with myself.   I need to get  back into the swing of things and stop being a slacker.