Back on the Blog Horse

It has been so long!
I am so glad to get back to blogging....I've missed it. I am not going to lie, I've noticed a lot of my friends/co-workers getting back into blogging and it made me want to start up again. So I totally followed the crowd on this one - not ashamed to admit it :)
I am not claiming that I will have a lot of wise words to share everyday...but it will feel good to get some of the crazy stuff in my brain out onto the world wide interweb.
I made lasagna tonight. I haven't made lasagna in forever...probably because I used to make it ALL the time and my family got super sick of it. It was to the point where if I mentioned lasagna, my boys would start whining. So we took a lasagna break....a year break. I made one tonight and it was raves all around. Taking a break from something can make you appreciate it.
Maybe if I take a break from exercise I will appreciate it more...doubt it. Maybe it doesn't work for everything :) just lasagna and blogging :)

5 Helpful Tax Hints!

Planning to do taxes soon?!
Taxes are due in less than a month and if you are doing them yourself....you may want to check this out!
There are a bunch of helpful hints for things that you may be missing...and it may be costing you money.
There are things here that I have overlooked - so don't make the same mistake. Enjoy the info!! :)

http://www.shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/five-commonly-missed-tax-write-offs-1172601/;_ylt=Am.qD1mMlqtpk6SA0daLW5NdbqU5

5 days to a more organized kitchen!!

We have been talking about this all this week on the show :)

It's Spring Cleaning Time - and if your kitchen is like mine...it needs some TLC in the organizational department.

I found this and thought it was an easy breakdown of tasks so you could do a little bit each day.

I am posting all of the tips in case you want to work ahead...or tackle it all in one big bite this weekend!

5 Days to a More Organized Kitchen

Day 1 Move the monsters. Reassign large or rarely used appliances (turkey roasters, bread makers) to the garage or basement. “Make items earn their real estate in the kitchen,” says Deniece Schofield, author of Kitchen Organization Tips and Secrets.

Day 2 Face the madness. Pull out all kitchen items and group them (dishes, silverware, pans, cookbooks). Toss damaged items; set aside extras to donate. Once storage areas are empty, measure them and make a list of containers to buy.

Day 3 Find storage. But before you do, “break away from what you think a kitchen should look like,” says Joe Provey, author of 1,001 Ideas for Kitchen Organization. “It will enable you to do more with the space.” It worked for Julia Child:Her kitchen, now at the Smithsonian, was a testament to how to rethink that room. Could you put a lazy Susan atop the fridge? Hang hooks inside a pantry door? When you restock everything, include this new storage.

Day 4 Create stations. “Keep things where you use them,” Schofield says. Have a jones for java? Arrange coffee, mugs, spoons, sugar and the coffeemaker together on a counter tray. Love to bake? Store items you’ll need in a movable butcher block.

Day 5 Add polish. “Ah, the joy of clean surfaces,” says Norris. Make your newly organized space look even nicer: Put fresh flowers or a big bowl of colorful fruit in a nook.

Sleep Dash...wait Sheep Dash!

Did you get enough sleep last night??

I could probably use 2 hours extra every night...but that is a different story :)

Before you grab your coffee...try this fun quiz to see if you got enough sleep last night. It tests your reflexes and your hand eye coordination - things that should be pretty good if you got enough sleep!

I am not gonna lie...I tried this at 9pm...and I failed miserably the first six times :) I am not one that likes to quit though so I kept trying and eventually did pretty decent...though I do not think that was how it was suppose to work :)

It comes from the bbc....it is fun and a great Monday challenge!

Sheep Dash

Later kittens!

Super Yummy Superbowl Recipes!

Looking for something to make or take to your Superbowl party this Sunday?

Have some ideas for you - something sweet and something savory!

Choose your favorite or make both :)

Mandy's Homemade Brownies (the recipe she found online) :)

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8 inch square pan.
In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup flour, salt, and baking powder. Spread batter into prepared pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Do not overcook.

Mandy Tip: Sometimes I add dark cocoa powder or even chocolate chips for richer brownies...you can frost them - but you won't need to...they are SOOOO good - you will never make box brownies again!!

That was the SWEET!!! Now here is the recipe for the SAVORY fans!!

Seans Super Duper Superbowl Dip

1 brick of cream cheese 1 16 oz. container of sour cream
1 package of mexi/taco blend shredded cheese
1 small jar of taco sauce (taco sauce, not salsa)
1 packet of taco seasoning

Blend the cream cheese, sour cream and taco seasoning. Spread the concoction inside an 8x8 square pan. Pour jar of taco sauce over creamy mixture then top with cheese. Cover and refrigerate until it’s party time! Serve with tortilla chips.

Reduced fat cream cheese, sour cream, and cheese works just as well.

People will freak out over this. Guaranteed. When you tell them how easy it was, they will hate you. Also guaranteed.

French Puffs of Goodness!

I think that these are the best treat I have ever had.

I received some of these for Christmas and my family didn't even know the name we just called them sugary dough balls of yumminess. When I finally asked my friend their "official name", I found out their called "french puffs"....oh my goodness you are going to LOVE these!

They are perfect for breakfast...ok anytime they are delicious ENJOY!!

Recipe for French Puffs....I double this by the way :)

French Puffs Recipe!

Stuck in Newark!

Cool stuff!
Music Artist Josh Wilson (his big song is "Savior Please") was stuck in Newark with lots of other people over the New Years Weekend. Josh made the best of the situation and got everybody to sing along with him...it made for a cool video!
Enjoy