Hope this helps you Relax!

It has been a couple of days since I have been on here.  I am in the process of changing meds, AGAIN.  So far so good, more on that later, but in the meantime have been not feeling great.  On top of it, I have company and am really pushing myself.  Pain levels are through the roof, but I am trying to just have fun.  Saw this sunset while I was crabbing tonight, first time I have ever been crabbing.  I love it, relaxing, and fun to just sit there and do nothing.  I will be doing it again.  But here is what I saw, have a good night!

Fibromyalgia Waror Bag from Zazzle.com

Fibromyalgia Waror Bag from Zazzle.com cute new bag I made. Use it to carry all those important papers back and forth to all those doctors appointments we all know we love.....Not!

Ten on Tuesday!!!! 7-5-2011

Ok, I am running just a few minutes late on getting this on the page, but I am still going to do it.  I am still having a bit of a crazy time with all the medicine changes and the headaches/migraines have been out of control since the doctor has decided to now take away the new medicine and not replace it.  So let me tell you it has been quite a crazy couple of weeks.  Throw in there, the July 4th holiday and visitors at my house from out of town for the last 13 days straight, I am totally wiped out and in need of a massive break.  Don't get me wrong, I loved having friends here, and can't wait til more get here, but we all know, with the exhaustion and pain, you wear out easy and extra people, simply means extra exhaustion.  So today, I have decided to try and make it simple.  I am going to simply show you 10 pictures of my favorite people, that have visited me so far this year!!!

1. My GRANDSON , oh yeah and my son

2. My nieces and nephew

3. My Cousin and her family

this is an older picture, not while they were at my house, but they were not all down at the same time, so I wanted a group picture of them, lol.

4.  My son Donovan's friends Jesse and Christian, both are just like another one of my kids!

5. Will and Mandy, Shaun and Helena  

   my adopted kids.....

6. Ronnie and Damien Finch 

friends of my boys from way back!

7.  Denise Zimmerman and Friends ( Denise is coming down with her kids in less than a week, I can't wait)

8. My Parents!  Ok now this is scary, but this picture is of my parents at my wedding almost 16 years ago.  It is the only one I have.  They hate having their picture taken, lol.

9.  My brother-in-law, his girlfriend and my niece and nephew.  

10. Dan and his family.  I have known Dan since 4th grade.  Pretty funny huh!

Well, that is the top 10, or first 10 visitors to my new house here at the Beach.  I am excited about having more visitors.    The summer is getting booked.  It is nice to be able to have people come down and for the most part, they are awesome about my ability or inability to do things.  I simply tell them use what ever you want and clean up after yourself, lol.  It is cheaper for them, and I get to see people I miss very much!

  

Just a side note, friends still to come!!!

Holly and family.....I started working with Holly at the 911 center about 10 years ago.  I was talking about my husband's sick uncle one day and she overheard.  His nickname was Uncle Fuzz.  She found it quite strange because her half brothers and sisters had a sick uncle as well, they called him Uncle Fuzz.  Turns out, her half siblings were my husbands cousins,  very small world!!!!  Now we are the best friends, and well in a strange sort of way, family!!!

Linda and family,  Linda was my best friend in kindergarten and all through elementary school and on through school.  She lived right around the corner from me, up until she got married.  So let me see, friends for 35 years  in September.  Pretty Darn amazing.

Well, I am sure there will be more, but for now, this is the list.  Christian will be coming back, as well as my son and grandson.  Will, Mandy, Shaun and Helena also want to come again, hopefully Helena will know then if the baby she is carrying will be a boy or a girl, then I can go shopping!  I know my cousin will be back and hope my mom and dad get down.  Well, such is life at a beach house I guess.  It sure could be a whole lot worse.  I try and remember that when my pain levels are high and I hurt a whole lot.  I just try and remember, it is good that I am in pain, I know I am alive!!!  Gentle hugs to all.  

4th of July Fun!

The holiday is fast approaching and you want to wow your guests or your hostess with something fun, good to eat and of course RED, WHITE,  and BLUE.    Well, here are some quick and actually very easy ideas to make fun desserts that will wow the masses and celebrate the fun of the holiday with colors galore.  The best thing about them, is they are mostly easy to make from all ready made items if you are to tired to make them yourself, just some minor assembly and they will think you are a miracle worker.  
The first one is one of my favorites and it is a TRIFLE........ which by definition is a A dessert typically consisting of plain or sponge cake soaked in sherry, rum, or brandy and topped with layers of jam or jelly, custard, and whipped cream.  We are going to make ours more family friendly and summery.  


You will need, 
1 angel food cake or pound cake ( I think angel food cake would be good since it is whiter)
3 cups of strawberries, sliced and sugared
3 cups of blueberries, sugared (you may have to smash them just a small bit to help get the juices and sugar to combine, you need them to form some juice)
2 small or one large container of Cool Whip or whipped topping of your choice


1. Cut angel cake into approximately 1 inch cubes.  Set aside.

2. Gather Trifle Dish or high sided, flat bottom glass bowl.  Should be see through to make sure you can see the color of the layers. 
3. Separate the cake into 4 piles.  Place the first pile of cake pieces on the bottom of the bowl evenly spaces.  
4. Place half of either the strawberries or blueberries on top of the cake pieces., also using half the juice to moisten the cake pieces.  Make sure you are layering it so that each distinct layer can be seen.  
5. Take 1/4 of the amount of whipped topping and spread evenly over the berries.
6. Place another layer of cake on top of whipped topping.
7. Place 1/2 of the opposite berry (if you used strawberries first, now use blueberries or vice versa).
8. Place another 1/4 of the amount of whipped topping and spread evenly on top of berries.
Repeat steps 4 through 8 again, ending with whipped topping.  
Garnish the top of the trifle with either whole blueberries and strawberries or make a stripes alternating red and blue using the berries.  You could also stick sparklers in the tops or put red and/or blue sugar sprinkles or jimmies on top.  Be creative, cut out stars using a piece of paper and shake jimmies over stencil.  Carefully remove stencil to reveal just stars on top of whipped topping.    
The picture above is an empty trifle bowl, the picture below is just for reference to see how the layers should seperate.  Remember yours will not look exactly the same.  You can make this with any type of fresh berries, or even peaches and nectarines  

i

Jello Cake


YOU WILL NEED
1 boxed cake mix 
   (ingredients to bake the cake)
1 3 oz pkg of Jello gelatin mix (berry blue or some sort of red)
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup cold water
1 8 oz tub whipped topping like Cool Whip
1 can Cherry pie filling ,Strawberry pie Filling or Fresh Strawberries, or Blueberry pie filling, of course use the  opposite color pie filling or topping compared to the color gelatin you used


1. Bake a yellow or white cake in a 9 x 13 cake pan according to package directions just omitting the oil.  This will allow your cake to rise better.  (You do not have to add anything to the mix and you can do this anything you are baking a cake, makes it a tiny bit more healthy too).  
, 2.When it is done baking, remove from oven, let cool for 15 minutes.
3.With the handle end of a wooden spoon or large tined fork poke holes throughout the entire top of the cake about 1/4 to 1/2 inch apart. 


2. Stir gelatin mix into the boiling water until all the gelatin is completely dissolved (about two minutes). Stir in cold water.  Carefully and slowly pour the gelatin over the entire surface of the cake.  Place in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, until gelatin has time to set.   


3. "Icing" the top of the cake with the whipped topping.  Spoon the pie filling over the top of the cool whip or serve it on the side of the cake.  


4.  Keep in the refrigerator until ready to serve.  Immediately refrigerate leftovers.


When cut your cake will look like the one in the picture  to the right.  The stripes may be a different color depending on the jello flavor used.


This is an amazing dessert that is incredibly versatile.  You can use almost any flavor of cake mix, mix and match with jello and make your own creation.  Try a french vanilla cake, with orange jello and french vanilla cool whip for an orange creamsicle  type cake.  Like black forest cake, use a chocolate cake, black cherry or cherry jello, cool whip and chocolate shavings on top, you can even add cherry pie filling.  Don't forget you can try things like lemon jello, or lime jello, and add a bit of tartness to the cake, very refreshing.    


RED, WHITE AND BLUEBERRY MUFFINS
So do you have company this weekend, here is a great breakfast or anytime treat that is in the spirit and thanks to Betty Crocker it is quick and easy to make!!!!


Here is what you need:
1   box Betty Crocker wild blueberry muffin mix
3/4 c milk
1/4 c vegetable oil
2 eggs
3/4 cup dried cranberries


1. Heat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Line 12 muffin tins with papers or grease only the bottom of the muffin cups
3. Drain muffins from the muffin mix rinse and set aside. In medium bowl, stir in muffin mix, milk, oil, eggs, and cranberries just until blended. Gently stir in blueberries. Divide batter among muffin cups, each should be about 3/4 full.
4. Bake 17 to 22 minutes or until golden brown and tops spring back lightly when touched.  Cool 3-4 minutes and then remove from pan.


Glaze   
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons milk.
1/8 teaspoon vanilla or orange extract.


Mix together 3 ingredients to form glaze, drizzle over muffins while they are still warm.  Let cool and serve.


This should get you started.  I will hopefully find a few more tomorrow.  Getting tired thank goodness.  Has been a long week with lots of medicine changes.  Just hoping to make it through the big weekend with a large family gathering at my house of 20 plus people.  I am excited to see some of them who I have not seen in almost 6 months, just a bad time for the doctor to decide to change my meds around.  Well, here is hoping it all goes well.  I hope you all have an amazing holiday weekend.  Take care of yourselves.  If you tire rest, if you hurt, don't push it.  Remember it is the time to relax, others can help and you also deserve a break.  Happy 4th of July.

Ten on Tuesday!!!!! 6-28-2011

Ok, so I really wanted to get some cool Red, White and Blue recipes together for my ten on Tuesday since July 4th is quickly approaching but today is not a great day for me.  Headaches are bad and just not feeling that great.  Instead I am going to do a quick list of my favorite books to read or make that Authors.  I do a lot of reading so books become my get away.  I don't mean books about illnesses or the crap I go through every day, I have to deal with that, this is something I do to not think of that. Books I use to help me day dream or take my mind off of the pain and daily grind.

1. Nora Roberts
2. James Patterson
3. Stephenie Meyer
4. Catherine Coulter
5. Anne Rice
6. Richelle Mead
7. Dan Brown
8. Mary Higgins Clark
9. Sandra Brown
10.Katherine Stone

These are some of the authors I have read numberous books from.  Of course there are many others.  I am sorry for cutting it short, but hopefully in the next day or two I will get to add some fun recipes for July 4th.  I hope you have a good night.