Friday, November 30, 2012

Grandma Autumn's Sweet Potatoes


Remember earlier in the week I told you I was going to give out my Grandma's Sweet Potatoe recipe well today is your lucky day! Every year for Thanksgiving my Grandma Autumn would make these wonderful sweet potatoes. My mom always kept that tradition going so once a year we have this yummy side dish. Depending on what kind of Christmas dinner we were having we would also sometimes have these then too!  Now before you click off because it is Sweet Potatoes hear me out. I am serious when I say these ARE. TO. DIE. FOR!!!





Ingredients Needed
2 Large cans of sweet potatoes
Brown Sugar
1 Can of Pineapple (the rounds)
Cinnamon
Butter
Mini Marshmallows


Spray baking dish with Pam. Drain the juice from the sweet potatoes into a separate mixing bowl then add sweet potatoes into baking dish. Drain the juice from the pineapples into the same mixing bowl as sweet potato juice. Put a pineapple rounds spread out over the top of the sweet potatoes. In the mixing bowl sprinkle in some brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter (add the three ingredients as much or as little to your liking.) You will want to taste the mixture to make sure it is sweet enough. Once you get it to your liking pour the liquid mixture over the sweet potatoes and the pineapples. Bake for 25 minutes (or until soft) at 350 degrees. Take out of oven and grab the marshmallows, spread generously over the top of the potatoes. Put back in oven and turn the broil on low. Keep an eye on the dish and be ready to take out quickly. Once the marshmallows start to turn light brown they will turn fast and burn. You want them the light brown color, they will be the texture as if you roasted them in the fire.

I hope you enjoy this recipe! I have never given it out before!! I know I can't wait to eat this plate of goodness with my family!! :)

Thursday, November 29, 2012

SAW IT. PINNED IT. DID IT: Hot Spinach Queso Dip


Today I am linking up with Katie and Steph for SAW IT. PINNED IT. DID IT! If you follow me on Instagram @linsw00 you will see that I posted this Hot spinach queso dip! Follow me here on Pinterest.






This is so easy and fast to make. I just did this from the microwave but you can also use your crockpot.
  • 10 oz spinach thawed
  • 1lb Velveeta Cheese-I used the queso flavor
  • 8 oz of cream cheese
  • 16 oz jar of salsa
If you use the microwave, the way I did it was cut up the Velveeta and the cream cheese in squares and tossed them in a microwave safe dish. I stirred it each minute until it was fully melted. I then added the salsa and the spinach and cooked it again stirring at every 30 seconds. Spinach holds water so make sure you really drain it really well. I take it and wrap it in paper towel two different times wringing out the water. 

Below is the oringal pin that I had found and went by. I hope you enjoy, I know my husband has! :) 



What is the latest thing you have made from Pinterest? 


Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Oh How Pinteresting, Wednesday

I want to wish my best friend(s), Leslie and Laura (yes they are twins)  a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!  Also could you please keep my other best friend Lynn in your prayers today as they head over to get an MRI to see how her sons brain tumor is doing. Hopefully there has been no growth!!

It is Wednesday so that only means I am linking up with the fabulous Michelle over at The Vintage Apple for OHP! I hope you guys enjoy these pins! Be sure to come back tomorrow when I've got a yummy post planned!!!!


Colts Cheerleaders









Source: houzz.com via Lindsey on Pinterest</


I really want a bathroom like this!


I'm obessed with these colors


This will hopefully be my next dream home
Source: houzz.com via Lindsey on Pinterest</















Source: laurkimlab.com via Lindsey on Pinterest</

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

A little this and a little that

I've got a few randoms for today and I hope you laugh like I have been laughing!


1. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Friends! I am cracking up laughing at the Smelly Cat episode. I honestly can't pick which one is my favorite episode. I just really wish it would have never went off the air!


2. I took this picture while I was waiting on Brayden to come out from school. I also sent a text to Todd telling him I was over the cold weather and I was ready for the beach, palm trees, sun, and a fruity drink. I was not ready for a tobbagon and five layers of clothes. Yesterday spoiled me with the 60+ sunny weather! 

3. My iphone is on its last leg. I have the dinosaur phone of the iphones. Hopefully daddy Santa is good to me and gets me a newer iphone. I'll do a wishlish post in the coming week(s). I resent my list to Todd just in case he forgot or lost it. 

4. Todd worked very hard this weekend helping me get the house decorated the way I wanted it. He also hung lights outside for me. Our roof is very steap and has dropoffs with nowhere to hold on if one was to fall off, he took the risk to make me happy. Makes me heart him even more! :)

5. We are in full potty training mode for Gannon but since then he finds it funnier if he strips and runs through the house naked all the time. I spend most of the day dressing him back while he is laughing. 
6. I've got a book I really want to read but I am holding off so I can read it while I am down with my foot recovering from surgery. I've already read Bared To You and now I want to read Reflected in You and Entwined with You but that one doesn't come out til May boo! If you have any book suggestions please throw them out there.

7. It is good for my waistline that I live in the sticks. I really want Starbucks but do not want to drive 15 minutes to go get one. I've got to drive a good 10-15 minutes to go to town for anything I might want. I guess that has helped me also loose 30+pounds. Fast food was easy to get to but not anymore! 

8. My Christmas shopping is almost done. The only person I have not started is my dad because he is so hard to buy for. He is a label whore and has to have things so so. I've called him a label whore before and his response to me was "Well Lins".  Mom and I laughed. 

9. Do not forget I am offering FREE ad space until the end of the year. Type is Holiday for the promo code. I use Passion Fruit, just go to the top of the page and click the "Sponsor" tab. Pick any size you would like. I would love if we could trade back but it's not a deal breaker. :) 

10. Then I was saving the best for last. Did you guys hear on the news where two Colts Cheerleaders Shaved their heads during the game? If not you can find it here but I am pretty proud to be from Indiana and I think it is pretty awesome what these two ladies did. I love that they raised 22k for cancer research! It just shows that these two beauties are selfless and that the world needs more people like this! :)




Also I LOVE the following I am gaining AND I would LOVE to know MORE! PLEASE comment and make sure that you are not a no reply commenter so I can write back to you!! If you are please leave your email! :)

Monday, November 26, 2012

Long Weekends

I heart long weekends! I wish we could have long weekends at least once a month! I really hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving. I wasn't sure how this one would go for us because it was our first one away from our families. I've never spent at Thanksgiving away from my parents but I survived. I will admit when I was making my grandma's sweet potatoes I did get a little teary eyed.

Recipe coming soon

I recovered very well because we had Friends on the entire day and I was cracking up laughing! Todd and I both LOVE Friends so it was fun to watch it with him. A sidenote I met Todd on a Thursday and told my friend who was setting us up that if Todd was a dueche then I was going home because I didn't want to miss Friends. Obviously I missed Friends! :)

Wednesday we ran to town at supper at Chili's and then got Brayden a tree for his room. Thursday I spent cooking and we put up Brayd's tree. Friday I went to two stores twice and we put up our tree and other decorations. Saturday we decorated some more and I went to the grocery. Sunday Todd finished hanging lights outside and we went to the park since it was so warm and pretty out. I will post pics once we get all of our decorations up and what not. Brayd and I LOVE decorating for Christmas so we really put Todd to work! I tell Todd what I want and he makes my vision happen. I am far from crafty but have great ideas. We have great team work! I am so exhausted and my foot is so swollen from being up on it and so active the past few days.


How was your Thanksgiving and the rest of your weekend?




Sunday, November 25, 2012

Sunday Social

Hi! I hope everyone has had a fantastic weekend! I thought I would link up with Neely today for Sunday Social!




This Week’s Questions:
1. Name 4 jobs you’ve had in your life: 
  • Admin Asst./CSR
  • Gymnastics Coach
  • Admin Asst./Travel Coordinator
  • SAHM (My favorite)

2. Name 4 movies you would watch over and over: 
Shag


 Dirty Dancing

 Bridesmaids
 (I've actually have the best story on this one I will tell this week!)

 Christmas Vacation

3. Name 4 places you have lived: Mooresville-First home was purchased lived there for eight years, Houston, Texas lived there for three months; Tulsa Oklahoma; Bloomfield, Indiana-Where I grew up! 
4. Name 4 of your favorite foods: Pizza, Anything Mexican, Anything Italian, Chocolate

5. Name 4 things you always carry with you: iphone, chaptstick, glasses, handsanitizer/lotion

6. Name 4 places you have been on vacation: Spain, Las Vegas, Florida, Mexico

Next Weeks’s Questions: We are getting into the Holiday Spirit

1. What is your favorite Holiday season tradition?
2. Do you have a certain Holiday movie you watch more than others? If so what is it?
3. Show us your favorite decoration or pinterest decoration you wish you could have
4. Favorite Holiday song?
5. Favorite Holiday dessert?
6. What is on your wish list this year?

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Oh How Pinteresting

I want to tell a little story that happened to me in Walmart on Monday afternoon before we get to our pins! I went to Walmart bright and early on Sunday to do grocery shopping and to get Thanksgiving dinner supplies. Todd's work gave him a coupon for a Butterball Turkey (which he left at work), Monday we met up for a quick lunch and then Gannon and I ran over to Walmart. While there I picked up a few more items that I needed along with the turkey. Since it is just the four of us I got a small turkey. Everything was going great at the checkout until I had the cashier the coupon (the coupon looked like a check from Butterball). She tried to put it in four different times then decided she needed a manager to ask how to do it. In the mean time a lady was behind me and she was doing some Christmas shopping, she piled all her goods on the counter and waited for Gannon and I to pay and leave. After standing for about five mins the lady behind me asked the cashier if the register was broke, the cashier kindly replied no I am waiting on a manager. All the while this convo was going on I was listening but also trying to keep Gannon happy since we were way over on naptime for him. The lady behind me then said just put her stuff on my bill I will pay for it (my bill was $27 and some change). First I was speechless and second I told her I had the money it was the coupon that the cashier didn't know how to run through since it was written check style. That lady when looking at the amount she was going to purchase it was going to be at minimum $200 then she wanted to add ours. There are so many nice people that I have ran into here in Oklahoma!!

One more quick fun story again at Walmart. Sunday when I was shopping I got to the seasoning isle looking for Cinnamon and Poultry Seasoning a guy came up looking for Sage. We both helped each other find what we wanted and made small talk while searching. I was searching for a particular brand because I had a coupon. Well I couldn't find it so I just took a different brand and went with it. After we both walked off to finish our shopping he found the brand I wanted and came looking for me in the isles just to give it to me. He was so nice! Of course I also gave him a little secret on what he was making and I told him if he told his wife or girlfriend the info I gave him it would blow her socks off! HA HA

 I am linking up with Michelle today for OHP! I hope you enjoy these pins. They are just kind of random with no particular theme.










Source: houzz.com via Lindsey on Pinterest</






Source: etsy.com via Lindsey on Pinterest</



Source: polyvore.com via Lindsey on Pinterest</



Source: picmonkey.com via Lindsey on Pinterest</




I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow and safe travels!!!

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Meant To Be....


Thanksgiving 2010

Y'all I need to gush today on my husband. I try not to be one of those annoying people that acts like my marriage is so perfect and I have the perfect kids and everything is peachy. Let's be honest nothing is perfect. Todd and I have been together for 10 years but dating for 9. We have had our fair share of ups and downs and trying times. I mean A LOT of trying times that should break most couples up. I think it has just made us stronger as a couple and as individuals.


                                        Source: so-relatable.tumblr.com via Lindsey on Pinterest&lt;/




If you have followed this here little blog for very long you will know about us moving from Indiana to Houston to be later transferred to Oklahoma. One large move in one year is big but two big moves in one year is HUGE! We have also had to live apart for a few months and still try to be a family while being apart, we have missed spending holidays together, and we have missed experiencing special events from school as a family. We would Facetime or Skype daily so we were clued into what each of us were doing. Let's face it with him in Houston he got a glimpse into bachelor life again and I got a glimpse into being a single parent playing both mom and dad.  



                                            Source: prepferabblyme.tumblr.com via Lindsey on Pinterest&lt;/


Todd's career has always been in the custom wheel industry.  In Houston he was doing what he did best and was doing an awesome job. I was so proud of him!  He had that drive and passion that I hadn't seen in a long time. He was making goals for himself and decided where he wanted to end up in the company. He was on that path, then we got a curve ball thrown at us and it moved us here to Oklahoma. That curve ball took him out of wheels and put him in strictly tires. He knows tires but he knows wheels better, the wheels don't have all the programs that the tires do.

Not long into being here he was given the largest account in Oklahoma. To say how excited and proud of him I am can't even begin to describe it and put it into words. Last week the kids and I didn't really see him that much, it was the grand opening here so he was doing sales blitz, meetings, and dinners. The first day of grand opening he had a meeting a scored another nice size account AND two days later he signs another account that has FOUR stores! My husband works hard for us, he works so hard so I can stay home and raise the boys and be that mom that bakes and picks the kids up from school and volunteers at the school. 


                                                           Source: piccsy.com via Lindsey on Pinterest&lt;/


Remember earlier when I said not everything is perfect? He does his fair share to annoy me; I can't stand that he smokes, he snores boy does he snore, (he snores so loud like he is a hibernating bear), when he eats chips he goes after them in the bag like they are the last chip he is ever going to eat again, he never puts anything back where it is suppose to go, I spend most of my time looking for that thing I need; BUT the good out weighs the bad..the little things that annoy me. He is witty, loving, goes the extra mile, loves his family, fantastic dad, hard worker, talented, fantastic husband, has a soft spot for animals, I could go on and on. One thing I do know is that I would not trade him for the world!!

Monday, November 19, 2012

Liebster Award




I was nominated by two lovely ladies Kelley and Besty for the Liebster award! Since both nominated me I answered both questions seperatley but still just nominated 11 lovely other ladies back! The ladies I chose some had over 200 followers but most of the blogs that I follow and read do have over that. I cheated and I am sorry, but I did check to see if they had the award. If you don't read the blogs I nominated you are missing out!!!



The Liebster Award is given to new or up and coming bloggers
with less than 200 followers. It's a great way to find new and noteworthy
blogs.

The Rules:
1. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.

2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, and then
create 11 new questions for the bloggers you pass the award to.
3. Choose 11 new bloggers(with less than 200 followers) to 
pass the award to and link them in your post.
4. Go back to their page and tell them about the award.
5. No tag backs


Random Facts
1. I was adopted at birth. I have never met any of biological family, 
I would like to in order to know important things such as health 
history of siblings other than that I have no urge too. In my eyes
and heart my mom and dad are my real mom and dad. 

2. I really do not like odd numbers. When doing things I like 
to stop on even whole numbers. This whole 11 thing is really
tough for me. 

3. I act like a little kid when it is my birthday. My husband has
 learned to make a huge deal for my birthday. He did real good
 this year for my 30th since we were not back in our home state
and didn't know anyone in Texas. 

4. I've had my little girls name picked out since I was in Junior High. 
I've yet to have a girl, if I do not birth a girl my dream is to adopt either 
a Chinese little girl or a little blonde headed blue eyed girl. 

5. My parents have lived in the house I grew up in for 37.5 years. My house
 might not be huge but I love that house it will always feel like home to me. 

6. I am an only child. With being an only child I grew up being extremely close
 to my family. I am very very close with my boy cousins on my dads side and my
 Aunt Thereasa. I can count on my Aunt T to help with anything I ever need. 

7. I went before the church and was bapatized when I was 9 years old. I didnt
 even tell my parents of my plan. My mom tried to stop me when I was making
 my way throught he pue she thought I was leaving to go to the restroom. 

8. My mom is my best friend. 

9. If you look up daddy's girl in the dictionary you would see my picture
 with my dad. I've got him wrapped and he knows it but that is okay. :) 
My dad spoiled me and when Todd found me and wanted to married me
 he knew he had to take over the spoiling, which he has but my dad still 
spoils me at 30 years old. 

10. Before my husband I was always a cat person, he turned me into
 a dog person. We have three dogs currently (2 Golden Retrievers and
 1 Chocolate Lab). I really want a Great Dane which I will have one day.

11. My best friend and I have been best friends since first day of
 Kindergarten. We have been besties for 25 years. We may not live
 in the same state and see each other as often we still know that if we 
needed on another we would be there in a second. We always pick
 up where we left off like no time has ever passed. 


Kelley's Questions
1. If you could go back and relive one year, what year would it be and why?
I would go back and relive the year that I was planning my wedding. My parents offered 
to give us the money that they were going to spend on the wedding if we went off and got 
married. I wish I would have taken it instead and just had a small ceremony. 
2. Name the song you could put on repeat forever and never get sick of it.
Anything Eric Church. I LOVE him so much! 
3. If you could do away with one of the 5 senses, which one would you pick and why?
Touch. I don't like to touch gross items so that would save me. 
4. Name a TV show or movie you wish you were in.
Toss up between Sweet Home Alabama for a movie and Hart of Dixie and Friends for the 
TV show. I love the South. I love their outlook on life, how nice people are, and the slow 
way of life.
5. Which Kardashian sister are you most alike? 
Klhoe
6. Of all 50 states, which one would you like to visit the most and why?
Hawaii. I think it is a given for Hawaii! :)
7. If you could go to any college and not worry about tuition, which would you pick?
This is tough I am not really sure. 
8. This is an oldie, but a goodie in my opinion, BSB or *N SYNC?
Neither
9. Which Disney Princess would you be?
Cinderella
10. You have the chance to pick your ultimate concert. What artists would you put together to perform?
Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, and Blake Shelton
11. If you were on Jeopardy!, what you want the Final Jeopardy question be? (Remember they give in answer form, you answer in question).
What was my favorite sport while in School? 

Betsy's Questions

1.  What is your middle name?
Marie
2.   If you could give one tip to other bloggers what would it be? 
Be authentic, you never know when you will get the opportunity to meet another blogger or a reader
 and you would I hope want them to say "yes she is exactly the way she acts/writes on her blog". 
3.  If you could live anywhere besides where you do now, places today or times back in history, where would it be and why?
I would say Charleston S.C. or Hawaii. I have always for some reason had it in my 
head I've wanted to live in Charleston yet I've never been there. Maybe it has to do 
with being in the South I don't know. Then Hawaii well I dream about going and 
visiting there and it would be a bonus to live where there is good weather all year 
around and palm trees! 

4.  What is the most exciting thing you’ve ever done?
I've got two. 1. Getting to travel all around the United States and making memories 
with my gymnastics team. 2. Four months into dating my husband he swept me off to
 Spain to spend 10 days getting to know his dad and step mom. They took us all around
 southern Spain and those are some of the greatest memories that my husband and I have. 

5.  Favorite movie?
Dirty Dancing, Sweet Home Alabama, and Shag

6.  Who was your favorite band/musician in high school?
I can't remember
7.   Favorite Disney character?
Cinderella
8.  Favorite museum you've ever visited?
I am not a museum kind of lady! :)
9.  If you could go back and alter one thing that has happened or you've done in the past what would it be?
I wouldn't go back. I feel that everything has happened for a reason and has shaped
 me and made me into whom I am today. 
10.  Why did you start your blog?
I started my blog to log about my kids growing up and what we do as a family. Now it 
has grown and I have started making friends and have actually met some of the fellow 
bloggers and we are real life friends now! :)
11.  What do you want to accomplish with your blog in the next 6 months?
I hope to see it grow and gain more followers, meet more people, I recently started advertising
 on my blog so I would love to see that grow, and I'd also like to do campaigns too! 


Nominee Questions
  1. What is your occupation? 
  2. Where is your favorite vacation spot and why?
  3. What is your favorite thing to do alone, as a family, or with your significant other (choose one) and why?
  4. What is your favorite place to shop?
  5. What is your favorite color?
  6. What are the top five things on your bucket list? Have you accomplished any of your bucket list if so what? 
  7. What is your favorite time of the year and why?
  8. What is one thing you have learned living out of your parents home?
  9. What is one thing you are looking forward to in 2013?
  10. What are your top three daily blogs that you read and why?
  11. What is one thing that you want to accomplish? 
Nominees