Crazy week!

Hello everyone!

  Sorry for the delay on posting! I've gotten back to work full time and I am trying to get everything back into balance. I cannot wait to start my volunteering! Also, school starts back relatively soon. I have many things getting ready to start soon, and I am only hoping for the best out of it all.
  I have been trying to get back into my artistic side of things, and hoping someone will soon approach me about custom things. I will be starting back on tutus, and hair accessories. I love doing these kind of things as they make me so happy and appreciate the little things.

A couple of pictures of things I've been working on:

Alright, well to finish off my post, I'm going to post a recipe. Today will be:

Grilled Chicken Skewers

(6 servings)

1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch chunks

1 C of beer

2 T lemon juice

1 T olive oil

1 t paprika

1 t oregano

1 t sea salt

Ground black pepper to taste

Combine beer, lemon juice  oil, paprika, oregano, salt  and pepper in a zip lock baggie; add the chicken chunks. Seal the bag, shake lightly and coat chicken, let marinate in refrigerator for 1 hour, turning occasionally. Soak wooden skewers in hot water for at least 30 minutes. 

Place marinade in a saucepan, and bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 5 minutes.

Divide chicken on about 12 skewers. Grill or broil skewers until lightly browned, about 3 minutes, turn and brush with reduced marinade. cook until chicken is done, about 2 more minutes. Serve immediately. Also, this tastes great with brown rice. 

Enjoy!

Happy Valentine's day!

Today has been quiet the productive day. I only have two more cards to make and send out! I think they turned out pretty well, considering I don't particularly care for drawing. I need to get more craft supplies. I've been considering trying to sell my cards again, but am kind of scared about if it's worth the price to list them and everything. Open to thoughts. On another note, I made a card for my love. I'm hoping he enjoys it, although I did mess up a tad bit. Ok, a big mess up on it. Thankfully it was just his, and I know he will love it either way. If it were anyone else's, I would have fixed it. I drew on the wrong side, so it open wrong, haha. Other than that, I love it! Now if only he would get home to see it! I hope everyone is having a great day today!

These are a few of the cards that I made for the 2013 Valentine's day. Some of them were edited more after the pictures were taken.

I hope that everyone one of you gets to meat someone special to you as well. I am now with the person I am certain I was meant to be with my entire life. He is my one, my only. No words could ever describe the way I feel about him. He is my best friend, my go to, for everything in my life. The only person I have ever been able to be completely myself around. No lying about my feelings at all. We were friends before we got together, and I feel that has been the best foundation to our relationship. He knew me. Who I was. No secrets. I feel incredibly blessed. (Did I also mention, he can cook and clean??) Happy Valentine's day to you all, and I hope you find your lifetime Valentine.

Now to finish my post, let us find a recipe to post.. Hmm... How about a different take on Pork Pot Roast? Feeling like putting your fancy pants on?  Maybe you like full-bodied rose? Perfect!! Keep in mind, the pork needs to refrigerate overnight with the dry rub on it!

Ok, we will start with the dry rub. (I make extra and store it, it's delightful)

Pork Rub

(enough for 4 lbs of pork shoulder also called pork butt)

• 1/4 C Salt
• 1/4 C Brown sugar
• 1 t Crushed red pepper
• 1 t  ground Cumin
• 1 t ground Allspice

Pork Pot Roast with Clams & Chorizo

(serves about 6)

• 4 lbs Pork Shoulder or Pork Butt
• 3 T Olive oil
• 1 Onion diced
• 2 Leeks (washed and diced)
• 2 regular sized Carrots
• 2 stalks of Celery
• 5 cloves of Garlic chopped
• 1/2 C golden Raisins
• 1 bottle (750mL) of dry Rose
• 1 C Vegetable broth
• 1 link of Chorizo, cut into small pieces (this is the dried chorizo, not the soft kind)
• 18 Littleneck clams, rinsed
• 2 t fresh Rosemary, finely chopped
• 2 t fresh Oregano
• 2 T flat leaf Parsley
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Alright, so to start, the night before, apply the dry rub to the pork, and refrigerate. 2 hours prior to cooking, pull the pork out. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Pat the pork dry with paper towels. Heat a large roasting pan over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes. Add the Olive oil and heat for a minute. Add the pork and brown it on all sides. Turn often, should take about 4 minutes. Remove the prok, and set aside. Reduce the heat to medium, add the onion, and stir for 3 minutes. Add the leeks, carrots, and celery. cook for aobut 3 minutes. Next, add the garlic and raisins, cook for a minute. Now add the broth, rose, and chorizo. Then add the pork back to the pan. Now cover and bake for 3 1/2 hours. After the time is up, put the pork on your serving platter to rest (essential because this finishes the cooking process, and let the juices settle). Now put the pan on medium heat (I know, but keep going, it's soooo worth it). Add the clams, rosemary, oregano, and 1 T of the parsley. Cover and cook for 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 minutes (or until clams open). Taste it.. If it needs salt and pepper, add it. Now arrange the clams around your pork all pretty like. Ladle some broth over the pork and clams. Take the rest and add it to a gravy dish. Now serve and garnish how you like, and enjoy!! I like to have a nice glass of wine and some nice crusty bread with this!

Have a great evening, and I'll catch you on the flip side. Bye!

In the Clouds

Happy Tuesday!

It's another day for me. Trying to decide the best paths for me to take. I'm sure I will get there someday. My life has regained stability finally. I could not be happier!

Today I've been looking at paint sets so that I can get back into painting. There are some nice sets out there. I tend to buy a basic set and then buy specific colors from places like Hobby Lobby. I've been looking so much at things that I want to do. I have yet to send out my Valentines cards. I have just not had the time to send them. I should get to it today or tomorrow. I love making cards and sending them out to people. I will post pictures of some of them soon. What I am doing this Valentine's Day is sending a piece of origami to everyone. Want to see how I learned? Click here! That site that I just linked to, has tons of instructions  for many different pieces. Another thing I've been doing, cooking! Oh how I love cooking. I recently rediscovered my great grandmother's cook book, and have been considering throwing together a whole new one that has her traditional recipes, as well as my own. Of course, some of the recipes will be needing some updating, considering they are from the 1930's and up! (see below for a new recipe)

My life has changed a lot over the course of the last year or so. Many ups and downs. I swear it has been a roller coaster. I have learned, changed, and grown throughout it. Excited for the few changes that are still coming. Maybe not in the next few months or even year, but they will get here. People have tough times, and that is what makes us who we are. How we react to situations shows our character. People must remember as well that we are not our mistakes, yet they are a learning experience, a part of life. One tough lesson is to know who will truly be there by your side, through the thick and the thin. I've had my share of fair-weather friends. It hurts for people to not be a part of your life anymore, but never regret them. Some people have come into our lives to help us learn lessons, but they were not meant to stay a part of your life.I know who my friends are, and those are the ones I can count on. I am so incredibly lucky to have the friends and family that I have. Thank you to each and everyone of those people!



To end my post for the day, I'll be posting one of my family recipes. It is for Cloud Biscuits. These are incredible! Definitely the only homemade biscuit recipe I ever use.

Cloud Biscuits -Georgia Graham

• 2  C Flour
• 1 t Sugar
• 4 t Baking Powder
• 1/2 t Salt
• 1/2 C Shortening
• 1 Egg, beaten
• 2/3 C Milk

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Sift together all dry ingredients. Cut in the shortening. Combine the egg and milk. Add to the the dry mixture all at once. Stir till dough follows fork around the bowl. Turn on floured surface. Knead gently with the heel of your hand. Around 20 strokes. Roll dough 3/4" think. Place on ungreased baking sheet. If desired, chill 1-3 hours.  Bake at 450 degrees for 10-14 minutes.

Another day exploring

Well, my son is out to a movie with his 'Meme', so I thought I would post a blog and get on with the day.

 I made three paintings this morning. They are in black and white. Not bad for not painting in over a year!
These were all inspired by Bromeliad: My DIY: Dollar Store Abstract Expressionism - DIY style, frugal home design, budget travel

Next, to reclaim so older paintings and make them look better. Then to start my homemade Christmas cards and and tags! I opened a shop on Etsy last night, under the name lilmamacoy. I'll be posting stuff in there soon. I'll have cookies, candies, cards, scrap booking pages, etc. If I start to do well, I may start listing some decoupage art, blankets and other homemade items. Let me know what you guys think when I start posting stuff, or if you have any ideas or tips for things yourself, let me know! All of you military SAHMs know what I mean when I say, I love my children, I love my husband, but I need to feel like I am contributing with more, and also doing things that I love!
Anyhow, my Etsy store is going to be only what I have made, and a limited number. If you want it, you have to buy it when it's in stalk. I don't want to stress myself by constantly doing what people want, so I'm just going to do me, and by my own schedule :)
Today, I've also got to get my husband's x-mas list sent out for people who want to send him something. Although it's rather easy, it's been a task I've been putting off. Same with packages.. I hate going to the post office with kids, but also, it's been over a year since I've sent a care package, I've honestly forgotten what forms I need. So I've traded with one of my good friends, I'll baby sit for her, if she'll make sure I have coffee when she drops her daughter off, and if she will mail my packages. God bless her! She said 'deal'. Now I don't have to worry about it anymore! PHEW! Well, before my break with only a newborn to care for, is over, I'm going to try and get some things done...

List for the day:

Paintings
Make cards and tags
list items on etsy
hang up cool coat rack from Pier One (scored yesterday on sale for 6.88)

Try on new dress from Kohl's (scored yesterday too for only 14.40) It is going to look great with some black panty hose, and my black boots, and pea coat! So excited to wear when it gets a little bit cooler!

Clean my room (if only I got allowance for doing so)
Search online for a dresser for the kids room
Start working on my decoupage project
Figure out what's for dinner tonight
Put away dishes
OH! before I forget again, something that should be at the top of the list HUSBAND's XMAS LIST!

Hope everyone has a great day, and I'm sure I'll be making some more short posts today!

Learning to blog!

My mother-n-law has been helping me to configure my blog! We are still confused but its coming along!

Me, Keagan and Alan

This is super neat!

Ok, so it's holiday season! I'm super excited. I didn't get to participate in holiday things when I was younger, like the rest of the kids did, so of course, I overly do it now! I saw this post and thought it was awesome, so I thought I'd share. I will be doing daily posts still, but I'm also going to start throwing in things that make me want to take action, make want to do more. I hope to inspire the rest of you as well.
Grinch Advent Calendar