A few of my favorite things

Most of the things I love are suggestions from people I know. That is why I like to share the things I love with YOU!

Here are a few things that I am loving right now!

I am usually a drugstore make-up consumer, but a friend of mine taught me some make-up tips and I fell in love with this eye liner and brush. I DID NOT buy the purple pictured, I actually bought bronze. It goes on so smoothly and stays on. The brush and the liner together are perfection. I bought mine here.

I have a little addiction... it is body lotion. I am addicted to putting it on my feet, numerous times throughout the day and I CANNOT get into bed until my feel are lotioned. I have found many body lotions and body creams I love but this one is easily accessible and moderately priced. It is called "Johnson's Body Care: Melt Away Stress" (lavender and Chamomile) I just love it!!!!

Last, but not least, you MUST click on this link!!! This is the most inspiring post I have seen in such a long time. I have thought about it every single day since I saw it and it makes me want to make my home beautiful!!! Click here!

Please share with me some of your favorite things!

Healthy & Yummy- Stuffed Zucchini

Stuffed Zucchini

Many of you have zucchini in your garden right now. Many home growers do not pick them until they are huge like this one. A friend gave this to me and I just had to use it somehow. Try to pick your zucchini when they are smaller (like grocery store size), they are more flavorful and tender!

My mom, who is an outstanding cook, used to make this recipe for us with sweet Italian sausage and proscuitto. You will see that what I had in my fridge was ground turkey and fresh bacon bits. This became a tasty and healthier alternative. Really, use what you have and what you like!

• 2 regular size zucchini
• 1 lb ground turkey (or 4 sweet italian sausages)
• 3 oz bacon bits or proscuitto ham
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 C italian season bread crumbs
• 3 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1/2 C parmesan cheese, more for sprinkling
• 1 tsp oregano
• salt and pepper
• olive oil

Boil whole zucchini for 10 minutes. Brown turkey, then add garlic and onion. Let cool. ( I often do these early in the day while I am motivated about making dinner) Cut softened zucchini lengthwise and scoop out pulp. If your zucchini is large make sure any large seeds are taken out, small seeds are fine. In a large saute pan add mashed pulp to turkey mixture. In a bowl beat 3 eggs. Add bread crumbs, cheese and bacon bits. Stir together and add to turkey mixture. Heat up and add oregano, salt and pepper. Scoop turkey mixture into zucchini boats and make them slightly mounded . If you have extra, you can stuff tomatoes too. Place stuffed boats on a cookie sheet and sprinkle with olive oil. Cover with foil and bake in oven at 375 for 30 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle with more parmesan cheese and bake for 10 more minutes.

Enjoy!

It is just SO good!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Well, I seem to remember a time where I would say, "oh, those are not my kind of books". Something very similar to what I said about a certain vampire story we all know and love!

You may remember this and Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone was on my list of summer reads.

Sadly, I did not make it, but my daughter (11) read 1-5 and my son (7) read 1. They were so enthusiastic about it I knew I just had to find out once and for all what the hooplah was all about. My great friend has all the movies, so I borrowed them and watched each of them over a 3 day period. I know, I know the movies ARE NEVER as good as the books but I was way overwhelmed by reading 7 BIG books.

When I had my HP marathon I was hooked! We went as a family to see #6 at the movies. I knew that I had to read #7 to find out how it all ended.

Finally my Review:(no spoilers here!)

HOLY COW! What an amazing story! There were times when I was annoyed with Ron, Hermione and Harry- but that all made our brave heroes so much more humanlike. I savored each and every chapter and I grew to love all of the characters and stories. Rowling is such a fabulous writer. It made me feel as though magic was happening all around me, and if you know me I am not a FANTASY person at all! But this story, the entire saga, is a story of growing up. It has all the elements of regular teenage stories, it just happens to take place in a wizard world. If you have not given Harry Potter a try, please do! You will not be sorry... I am now going back and reading 1-6!

Back To School Organization #1

A new school year has begun!

I have a 6th drader and a 2nd grader, it's going to be a great year!

One of the things I ♥ to do when the kids go back to school is to get the "homework cabinet" reorganized and ready to go. Of course, homework is not such struggle when all of the possible tools are right where everyone can grab them.

~This cabinet is a lower cabinet in our kitchen. Lower, obviously, so that my younger can help himself. The plastic drawers were clearanced a while back at Staples for $2. Am I the only one who gets giddy over the organization aisle?

~I take advantage of the Back to School sales for my home stock-up too. Who can beat $1 Crayola Markers at Wal-Mart? When I am buying pencils and crayons for the class, I just buy an extra set for home too. For some reason the kids also like fresh tools at home at the beginning of the year. Who can blame them?

~The drawers are:

1. crayons
2. colored pencils with a sharpener already in the drawer
3. markers, thin and fat
4. binder paper (8 1/2 x 11 fits perfectly)
5. glue sticks, white glue, tape and scissors

I love the drawer idea because the kids could takeout each drawer and take it to the table instead of going back and forth. You could use individual pencil boxes for each also, they are cheap right now too.

~I have a bin of play-dough and bubbles on hand just for fun when homework gets tense. The black rolodex bin is for stickers. Whenever we get stickers in birthday goodie bags I just throw them in there. You never know when you need a sticker! The bottom box has graph paper and index cards.

~ On the right hand side I have a pencil box just for pencils and pens. My kids really love the mechanical pencils. Once again, I stock up now while they are cheap! They just seem to make their writing look extra good. Extra leads are in the box as well.

~The yellow and green box is MINE! It holds greeting cards all categorized. The handy dandy drawer holds an address book (always written in pencil) and stamps. Never underestimate the power of a handwritten note ☺ Do you ever think, "I need to write a thank you note"? Homework time is a great time. I like to sit with my kids during homework for support, but sometimes they are fine. So if I write a note I am still there if they need me.

~Of course a selection of construction paper is needed. Underneath is a Costco box of envelopes.

~Hanging in front of the cabinets is where I hang their chore cards. This system worked perfectly for Summer. I am just really struggling on how to modify it for school! Any suggestions?

~Inside the cabinet door I hang the school calendar and teacher email list and school contact info. The other side I hang pictures or school work that the kids take pride in.

I hope you enjoyed this organization piece!

I love getting motivated by others and hope you do too!

♫ I'm Freakin' Out! ♫- Jonas Brothers 101

For those of you who may not be as up on the Jonas Brothers, the title for this post is from this song.

READY!

SET!

GO!

♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫

"When you can't beat 'em, join 'em!" and when you do you just may have a blast! Who can't help but love up beat pop music, good CLEAN fun, and some serious eye candy! (okay I know I am a little old...but pleeeeeaaaaase!)

♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫

So my daughter got tickets back in March for her birthday. My niece and her friend also came! The concert was at HP Pavilion in San Jose!

E signing the bus!

The girls ready to meet the boys!

That is Jordin Sparks peaking out to say hi!

Here is a video of The Jonas Bus! If you look closely you will be able to see Kevin and Big Rob in the front. Kevin flashes us the peace sign!

Finally after waiting for 5 hours, the concert starts! Before we see the boys we see "Honor Society", "The Wonder Girls" & Jordin Sparks! Below is our view.

People! Splurge for the more expensive seats, it is worth it!

Major excitement! We were ALL singing and dancing and having fun! I sent the girls down to the front. They were down for exactly 2.5 minutes before the were asked to leave, BUT check out these shots!

Kevin on guitar, Nick on piano

Joe, the pretty face and singer

You must understand that I have been going to concerts since I was in the third grade! I totally get wrapped up in the whole "try to meet them" thing! So after a really fun concert, we stood outside the bus area for 2 hours! Didn't work, but so worth trying! I am exhausted, I just may be getting too old for this!...Nah!

Is it weird that I think these BOYS are cute?

Do you remember your first concert?

I'd LOVE to hear what it was in the comment section!

Check out the comments to hear what mine was, I am sure you'll be surprised!

Well, the time has finally come for my daughter to go to her first concert. We bought the tickets for her back in March for her birthday.

We are going to see The Jonas Brothers!

I am taking my daughter, my niece, and a friend. I love to be "the fun aunt"!

Of course the girls decided to make their own shirts.

Here is ours...

the supplies are gathered

the iron is HOT

using Avery Ink Jet T-Shirt Transfers

the front

E and I have a collection of "I♥" shirts. We decided to make this one to add to the collection.

the back

love this girl!




below is the back of my niece's Jo Bro track jacket.

If you have NOT seen JONAS on the Disney channel, check it out! It is hilarious & yes, I AM over 12!

Check back after Monday for our concert adventure!