Five Minute Friday: Quiet

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Carrie Ann Alexis

Linking up with Kate Motaung for Five Minute Friday. If you would like to join in or learn more about it, click on the icon to the left. Write for 5 minutes, here we go.

TODAY’S PROMPT: QUIET

GO…

After the clock strikes midnight, the silence is almost deafening. But I let it embrace me like a warm, soft blanket. It’s what I long for at the end of a day filled with questions. Like home schooling questions, “Mom, so how did the scientists know what color the dinosaurs were, if they only found their bones.” Good question….Google? “Mom, can you wash my work clothes?” and the ever popular “Mom, what’s for dinner?” times 4. This one also comes in the form of a phone call, from my daughter, when she is on her way home from work. I usually don’t say hello, just tell her what I’m making. Last but not least, my youngest starts most of his sentences with “Quick question…” whether it’s a question or not, and trust me it usually isn’t quick by any means. 🙂

So after a day like this, I just want it quiet. So it’s once everyone is asleep, I can finally relax, with a snack, and do what I want to do, and not have to answer any more questions. I can catch up on my favorite shows, catch up with friends on Facebook, through email, or their blogs. The only sound I want to hear is the low hum of the refrigerator, or the sound of the heat kicking on and off on a cold winter’s night. Ahhh….it’s quiet, the perfect time to get lost in a book. Quiet is a commodity that is worth far more to me than diamonds or gold. Well…maybe not diamonds. Nonetheless, it is not only what I want, but as an introvert, it’s what I need each night, so that I can recharge and be ready for another day, no matter how many questions I have to answer.

STOP…PENCILS DOWN

Let them eat cake…

Posted on January 27, 2016 by Carrie Ann Alexis

Google says today is:

OK. So to commemorate this day, I made Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Filled Cupcakes. Yeah, they are cupcakes, but it’s still cake!!

I did try something new with the cake. This is just a box mix, but I saw a tip on how to make it more like a bakery cake. Instead of water, use milk, instead of oil use butter, and add an extra egg. It does make a difference.

So grab yourself a slice of cake and enjoy the day!!

I’ll be celebrating ALL day!!

Happy Homemaker Monday 01.25.16

Posted on January 25, 2016 by Carrie Ann Alexis

Good Morning!! Yep…another week, the last week of January already, can you believe it? Now that it’s tax season, I’ll be volunteering at the library on Friday afternoons to help prepare tax returns. I found this organization that offers free tax preparation, and the training is free as well. I started my training last week, and it’s a great little group of ladies who will be working out of the library. It’s something I enjoy doing, and in turn helps people get their taxes done…and…I only have to walk across the street 🙂

Linking-up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

MOVIE I’D LIKE TO SEE:
Zootopia. This movie looks really cute and funny too.

LOL CHUCKLES, AND GIGGLES:
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RECIPE I TRIED LAST WEEK:
I did make the Chicken Parmesan Baked Penne, and it turned out really good. Here is the recipe.

Chicken Parmesan Baked Penne

1 lb. Penne Pasta
1 lb. Chicken – seasoned with Itailian Season
1 25 oz. Newman’s Own Tomato & Basil Sauce
½ cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
2 cups Shredded Itailian Cheese
Fresh Basil

Mix cooked Pasta and cooked Chicken with sauce.

Drizzle Olive Oil at the bottom of baking dish.

In baking dish, layer:
½ pasta mix
½ cup Parmesan cheese
1 cup Itailian cheese
Sprinkle basil on top
Repeat.

Bake at 375 for 20 minutes.

FAVORITE BLOG POST:
I found this story about a New Brunswick Jeep Club volunteering their time during the blizzard to get doctors and nurses to work at the local hospital. How cool is that? That’s how it should be…I got a jeep, there’s a blizzard…you need a ride to work…hey, I’ll drive you!! 😀

You can read the story here. Jeep Club Volunteers Drive Hospital Workers During Winter Storm

THIS I HAVE TO TRY:
I always come across these tips, and think now that’s clever. But then I forget about them. This I have to try, and now that they are posted on my blog, I can look back and try some of these, this one definitely. I hate cleaning the fridge!!

fridgetip
When things get gross, just rip out the liners and add new ones. Brilliant!!

FROM THE CAMERA:
More pics from the little trip to the beach with my daughter.

Yeah…about that…

OK…so technically she is not on the ice, she’s actually right at the edge, there’s sand under that snow.

I wonder how heavy one of those ice sheets are. The smooth edges and the shapes are amazing!!

QUOTES:

Yep…it’s this cold…

Posted on January 23, 2016 by Carrie Ann Alexis

After my daughter and I went grocery shopping, we decided to take a little detour before we pulled up to the house. This is what Lake Michigan looks like today.

As the wind picked up we could hear the ice quietly crackling. I also faintly heard the lapping of water against the ice, there must have been a small whole somewhere because there is no open water in sight. Absolutely incredible to see!!

Mother Nature is awesome like that!!

Happy Homemaker Monday 01.18.16

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Carrie Ann Alexis

Hello everyone…it’s a cold one again. Didn’t want to get from under my nice warm covers this morning!! We have the day off today from school, but of course I’ve got other things to do. I have some shelves I need to organize, and am working on our taxes, which is something I actually enjoy doing!! Enjoy your week!!

Linking-up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:
Snow Squall? What the heck is a snow squall? I think they are starting to make things up now, lol. OK Google…what is a snow squall? A snowsquall is a sudden moderately heavy snow fall with blowing snow and strong, gusty surface winds. Huh…should be fun.

weather0118

WHATS FEEDING MY BOOK ADDICTION:
Just finished Hide Your Heart by Tracey Alvarez. This one was pretty standard, she’s hiding out and healing from an abusive relationship. He’s the type of guy that doesn’t settle down, he’s not made that way…until he is. What I liked was story took place in New Zealand, so that was different. Also the main character was a former model, but now restores cars with her brother, and was quite the mechanic, and could wield a chain saw. The male main character was a photojournalist, which he explained as “Photographers capture nouns; photojournalists shoot verbs.” I need to find a good suspense to read, haven’t done that in awhile.

LOL CHUCKLES, AND GIGGLES:

RECIPE I WILL TRY THIS WEEK:
I will try this one this week, I bought the ingredients when I went shopping. I even have fresh basil to use…my boys will probably ask why there are leaves in the food 😐 Looks yummy. I am also trying a different sauce. I normally use Prego with all my Italian dishes, this time I bought a Newmann’s Own sauce. I really want to try the Bongiovi brand one of these days, I think Target sells it. Bongiovi as in Jon Bon Jovi!! I saw him and his dad on one of the cooking shows, the sauce is their family recipe. Anniehow…Chicken Parmesan Baked Penne is what’s on the menu this week.

FAVORITE BLOG POST:
This is incredible. This woman is beautifully strong. I couldn’t imagine being that flexible.

THIS I HAVE TO TRY:
If this works, it will be amazing. I love to make Deviled Eggs, but hate to peel them. Also, this would work great when I make soft boiled eggs, you could probably use warm water, so that they stay warm.