Good Morning!!  May 1^st already!!  Only 20 more days left of school, but who’s counting?  I have also gone back to my part time job at the photo studio, enjoying it again this year.  Busy days ahead.  I’m slowly getting my energy back, and have been feeling so much better.  Hoping the weather will cooperate so that I can get out and do some much needed yard work.  Every year the last weekend in April kicks off the little league season in town.  The little league fields are directly behind our house, and they kick it off with a parade, with fire trucks and all the teams in decorated pick ups and it goes down our street early Saturday morning.  Every year I forget about it, until the sirens wake me up, and I think that half the town is on fire, but then it dawns on me, nope just the first parade of the season, there will be more. #smalltown.  Enjoy your week!!

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

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

RECIPE I WOULD LIKE TO TRY:

I don’t know how much time I’ll have to try anything new for awhile, but this looks delicious!!

LOL CHUCKLES AND GIGGLES:

WHAT I’M READING:

I signed on for another Beta read, started it over the weekend, and it’s going to be another good one.

FAVORITE VIDEO FROM THE INTERNET:

Keep seeing these, I think they are so beautiful!!

QUOTES:

MY PLAYLIST:

Good Morning!!  So I had a very interesting week.  I had mentioned last week that I was feeling under the weather.  Well, I did go see my Primary Doc on Tuesday, and she had a blood test done to check my hemoglobin levels STAT, and then referred me to a Gynecologist, which I saw on Wednesday.  My Gynecologist did an Endometrial Biopsy, and then after getting the results of the blood test, suggested I go to the ER to get a blood transfusion.  My hemoglobin level was at 7.3, down from 13 in November.  Normal range is 11 – 16.  So yes, that was the cause of the fatigue and light headedness. Not to mention how pale I was even in spite of being so fair skinned to begin with.  Just about everyone who saw me in the ER had to mention, “You look a little pale.”  Yeah, thanks for noticing, lol. Because I had to get two units of blood, I actually had to stay over night, soooo not the Hilton.  I also had an ultrasound done while I was there.  I see my Gynecologist on Wednesday to get the results of the tests.  I am feeling much better, but still not out of the woods as far as the levels.  I will be taking Iron daily for awhile.  Oh, the joys of being a woman, things can only get better from here.  Hope everyone has a great week ahead!!

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

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

LOL CHUCKLES AND GIGGLES:

BOOK REVIEW:

Looking for a book that will make you laugh out loud?  This is it!!

As an avid romance reader, I am used to stories about 30-something singles finding their one true love.  Poggibonsi is not that…it is so much more!!  It’s fun, smart, sexy, hilarious and will make you think about your own relationships.  This story is about a married couple and explores the delicate act of balancing careers, kids, and marriage itself, which makes it very refreshing.  The characters, the situations that arise, and the fact that it is written from the man’s point of view, sharing every thought that the main character has at every moment, makes it straight forward and brutally true.  The setting is a small picturesque town in Italy, so the Italian phrases interspersed throughout, used by the Italian characters enhances the story, even though I have no clue what they mean, it intensifies the aura of romance and sexiness that is Italy.  While the American characters are fluent in sarcasm; this bolsters the comedic tone.

Dan Alatorre writes some of the best dialogue that I have read.  The banter between his characters had me laughing out loud at the sheer brilliance of it at times.  He writes characters that are always fun and so likeable, I just want to sit down and have a cup of coffee with them.

In the midst of humor and chaos, this story addresses some serious topics, yet doesn’t gloss over them, but gets to the core of the issue.  It is done in such a way that it makes you think, and just might change your mind on how you view certain situations.  A story that is entertaining yet offers such introspect is truly a gift.  My emotions ran the gamut from laughing and elated to tearful and heartbroken as I read each chapter.  This book is chock full of humor and romance.   Add in a little sex along with some tender, bittersweet moments, and a shocking twist, and you’ve got yourself a book you cannot put down until you turn the last page.

FAVORITE VIDEO FROM THE INTERNET:

Love to see young people inspiring change!!

FAVORITE PIC(s) FROM THE CAMERA:

QUOTES:

Good Evening!!  Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter.  I have been a bit under the weather dealing with things associated with being a woman approaching that wonderful age of 50.  Will see the doc this week though.  The actual weather has been nice.  I think it is safe to say that it should be here to stay.  Have a wonderful week ahead!!

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

 THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

LOL CHUCKLES AND GIGGLES:

 RECIPE I WANT TO TRY:

This always looks good to me, I love cauliflower, and this looks like a delicious healthy way to eat pizza.

WHAT I’M READING:

I actually did finish that book that I was reading the first time, but ended up reading half of it again.  I recently started reading one called The Code Theif  by Justin Conboy, it’s a fast-paced, cyber, espionage thriller. A boy hacks into the CIA and they find him and take him in.  His brother is autistic and considered a mega-savant, where he can read and learn code in a few days and had hacked into NASA prior to this incident.  Part of his punishment was he was not allowed to be in the same room as a computer, but he was when his brother hacked into the CIA, so they are both in trouble.  It’s looks really good, it’s appealing to the computer geek in me, and hackers intrigue me, how they can figure ways around all that code.

FAVORITE VIDEO FROM THE INTERNET:

The Cubs season officially started, and they had the flag raising ceremony on opening day, and then the ring ceremony.  That is one fine piece of jewelry, diamonds, rubies and sapphires…yes please!!

FAVORITE PIC(s) FROM THE CAMERA:

My youngest surprised me with my favorite treats, said it was from the Easter Benny ♥

QUOTES:

Good Morning…er, Afternoon…ugh, Evening!!  Had a beautiful weekend weather wise, today we had a very brief spring storm. The warmer weather will make everything green again, and all kinds of things will be in bloom and growing in our yard.  My mom and I have been looking at the yard deciding what we will do with it this year, and need to start formulating a schedule to get it done.  Hope everyone has a wonderful week ahead, and a Happy Easter!!

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

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

LOL CHUCKLES AND GIGGLES:

RECIPE I’VE TRIED:

I made this Mongolian Beef, and it was delicious.  Very distinct flavor to it, and easy to make.  I just realized as I am listing the ingredients that I didn’t use ginger or the chili flakes, forgot to put them in, ugh!!  It was still good though 😀

Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef

2 1/2 pounds flank steak, cut into thin strips

1 cup carrot, shredded

3/4 cup soy sauce

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 cup water

1/4 cup cornstarch

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon garlic, minced

1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated

1 teaspoon red chili flakes

Add steak strips and cornstarch to a large resealable bag, and shake until beef is thoroughly coated. Stir together soy sauce, brown sugar, water, olive oil, garlic, ginger, and chili flakes in the bottom of slow cooker, then add beef and stir until covered with sauce.

Cover and cook on high for 2‐3 hours, or on low for 4‐5 hours. 30 minutes before the beef is done, stir in grated carrots. 3 4 Garnish with green onions, serve, and enjoy!

FAVORITE VIDEO FROM THE INTERNET:

These always amaze me.

FAVORITE PIC(s) FROM THE CAMERA:

Older photo from my resident photographer.  Looking forward to sunny days on the lake.

© 2016 Liv’s Photography

QUOTES:

Good Morning!!  It’s April already!!  Had a nice spring break, it rained most of the time.  Had a nice lunch with my mom and daughter, and visited the home décor shop that is connected to the restaurant we ate at.  My mom bought the cutest little yard decoration.  It’s a little boy jumping over a fire hydrant wearing a baseball outfit.  His hat has a C on it, yep for Cubs!!  Once we find the perfect spot for it, and get our yard in order I’ll post pics.  Only 2 more months of school left!!  Enjoy your week!!

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

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

LOL CHUCKLES AND GIGGLES:

RECIPE I’VE TRIED:

Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells.  This were really good, and I just thoroughly impressed my kids. (it must have been the fresh parsley I used as a garnish on top).  Very good flavor, and pretty simple to make.  Ben, my Chopped guy, sat down with his plate and said, “Isn’t this fancy? Maybe a little too fancy.”

Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells

Courtesy of delish.com

1 lb. jumbo pasta shells

2 c. Shredded chicken

1 c. ricotta

3/4 c. shredded mozzarella

3/4 c. grated Parmesan

1/4 c. freshly chopped parsley, plus more for garnish

kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

4 tbsp. butter

3 cloves garlic, minced

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

2 c. milk

Preheat oven to 350º. In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook jumbo pasta shells according to package directions until al dente. Drain and return to pot.

In a large bowl, combine shredded chicken, ricotta, 1/2 cup mozzarella, 1/2 cup Parmesan, and parsley and season with salt and pepper.

Make sauce: In a skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 2 minutes, then add cream cheese and whisk until completely combined. Stir in milk, remaining mozzarella and Parmesan, and bring to a simmer. Season with more salt and pepper. Let thicken over low heat, 3 to 5 minutes.

In a baking dish, spread a layer of sauce. Stuff shells with chicken-ricotta mixture and place in baking dish. Spoon more sauce all over shells.

Bake until warmed through and bubbly, 15 minutes.

Garnish with parsley and serve.

FAVORITE VIDEO FROM THE INTERNET:

So clever and fun!!

FAVORITE PIC(s) FROM THE CAMERA:

This is a pic of my mom’s sandwich from our lunch.  Coincidentally we all had turkey sandwiches (my fav!!).  It’s such a quaint little restaurant, original hard wood floors, and exposed brick walls.

QUOTES: