Our New Fav

Southwestern Veggie Pizza - a recipe from a dear friend in Florida.

It's delicious!! I make it about every other week... ENJOY

Ingredients: pizza crust, bean dip, salsa, Monterrey jack cheese, garlic, zucchini, squash, and carrots.
You can really use any veggies. The real recipe calls for zucchini and carrots. I like to add squash, or red pepper, or onion. It's all yummy.

Technically you are supposed to use 2 minced garlic cloves, but I forgot to buy it, so I used the powder stuff. It's just fine.


First... slice the veggies! (or chop if you have red pepper and onion- which I ended up throwing in onion)

Saute in olive oil and garlic until crisp tender. I don't know what that means, so I just saute until I feel like it's enough. Oh- and the reason for TWO pans is because we love this so much, 1 pizza is never enough! so I ALWAYS make 2 at a time!

Here are those veggie looking good.

While the veggies saute, spread some bean dip on the crust. Now, I use pre-made crust because I tried making my own crust once and it was a lot of work and not any better than this one. So I use the pre-made. If you make your own, of course you need to pre-bake it some before spreading on the bean dip. I buy 1 jar and use half on each pizza. (I find this jar in the chip aisle. It's a bit spicy, but really good).

While all of this is happening, measure 1/2 cup of salsa and drain it. Just let it sit like this for a bit so the juice comes out. I forgot to do this once, and it really does make a difference.

Glob your drained salsa onto the pizza.

Spread it out really nice and even!

Add your veggies. Looking YUMMY and SMELLING GREAT!

Now, put it on into the oven. Based on my pre-made crust directions, I am supposed to cook it for 10 minutes. So I cook it for 5, pull it out, add the shredded Monterrey jack cheese, and then put it back in for 5 more minutes.

The finished product! AMAZING!

This pizza did not last the night.

We started the other one, and now we have 4 pieces left for lunch tomorrow! Can't wait!

Being Prepared

Last Thursday I was sitting on my couch working on my lesson plans when suddenly, I heard the tornado sirens. I ignored them at first, because that's what I normally do because it's normally a test. After a few minutes, I realized, this is not the usual time for a test, maybe I should check it out.

So what did I do??? I looked out the windows... each window in the house. I couldn't see a tornado, so I decided I was safe.

Then I decided it would be wise to turn on the TV. And sure enough, there was a tornado! Not close to me, but in Dallas. And it was on the move. They were saying it was heading North East- which technically could be towards me- depending on the HOW north and HOW east it went.

So I decided to get prepared.

First things first, I needed a bra. Because, let's face it, if I'm home alone and sitting on my couch, I'm not wearing one. TMI? Sorry. Well, I put one on.

Then I decided to put on socks and tennis shoes.

I paused after that and started thinking, "If the house blows away and I lose everything, what's the one thing I want?" I immediately thought of my wedding rings (yes I take them off when I get home- I don't like to cook, clean, or work out in them). So I put those on.

I started thinking "what if the roof blows off? I will get soaked." So, of course, I grabbed my rain jacket and placed it on the couch next to me so I could easily grab it.

Finally, I ran into the kitchen and made a bowl of cereal. It was, in fact, dinner time. And lunch was many many hours ago. And, again, if the roof blew off, who knows when I'll get food.

So- with my bra, socks, shoes, rings, rain jacket, and cereal- I finally felt ready. As I ate my cereal I watched the news and waited.

Turns out it was never coming near me. When I was for sure that I was totally safe, I quit watching the news and turned on the Bachelor Pad on my DVR.

The Three P's

Just a glimpse into my daily life dealing with the "3 P's" (pee, poop, and puke)

lately

Lately I have not blogged. I have done many things worthy of blogging. I have taken lots of great pictures with intentions of blogging. But I have not blogged.

In the last 2 and 1/2 weeks I have become a full time Pre-kindergarten teacher. I have helped out with 7 wet pants, 2 poopy pants, and 3 pukers. I have cleaned up countless spills, put kids in 1000s of time outs, made a few kids cry, told some kids to stop crying, emailed and called parents, planned out 1 million and 3 activities per day, and then fallen asleep.

Nope, not true either. I have gone home to clean, do laundry, grocery shop, pick up prescriptions, make dinner, pack my lunch, and love my husband.

but I have not blogged.
I have spent a lot of time reading God's word. And even more time praying- praying for many things- but mostly patience and love for these kids.

I'm glad that in making choices, I have chosen to take breaks from blogging (even though it is something I greatly enjoy) and NOT taken any breaks from God's word.

I have taken a break from working out. And I'm trying to stop that. I ran yesterday for 19 minutes and 32 seconds. Not very long. But longer than any day last week! Maybe I'll run again today. and maybe not. I'm really tired today- and when I'm tired- I'm grumpy. and When I'm grumpy- I feel bad for my students.

I am rambling. But at least I'm blogging something. I promise I have lots of fun things to share.

I will share soon.

Kimmy's Shower

A few weeks ago, I got to hostess a shower for my dear friend Kimmy. The shower was at this BEAUTIFUL home that I totally covet!! Don't worry, I snapped some pictures of it. In fact, I would pretend to be taking pictures of some of the guests, but really turn the camera and take a picture of the furniture or whatever. I know, I'm sly.

Bride-to-be and her mama, Rita

Kim's sister- Julie, dear friend Heather (miss her!), and dear friend Cari (get to see her!)
Some more guests

some more guests, please notice the house in the background :)

Girls getting food. LOVE the chandelier! Love the bird cage! Love the paint color!

The Spread...

chicken salad sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches, fruit salad, cream cheese and raspberry chipotle dip, yummy bars (compliments of me), and petite fours (no clue on the proper spelling).

Close up of the precious petite fours and the beautiful flowers.

to drink... water or lemonade iced tea (aka- an arnold palmer).

served in real crystal of course.

The Favors (one of my additions)

"Tea Time is a Great Time to pray for Kim and Jason!"
(Kim's favorite drink is Chai tea- so there were 3 types of Chai all bundled up. Gave these out after our group prayer time for Kim.)

Now for the secretive house photos...

The Office Area (off of the kitchen)

built in cabinets, stainless steel counter, U-shaped, there were 2 computers

The "old" extra fridge

The guest bath. LOVE the tile work and the colors

The Dining Room built-ins - on both sides of an arch way. LOVE the dining chairs too!

The display in the living room.

Unfortunately, that's all I got. The kitchen was to DIE FOR! but I never had a moment in there by myself, so I didn't get any pictures. Oh well. The pictures are in my mind!

The shower was wonderful! and now we are on to the wedding!! Coming up so soon! July 16th in Colorado! Will post about it then!

Tonight we are on for Toy Story 3! I think the last time Ty and I went to the movies was at Thanksgiving in St. Louis... so I'm excited!

The Year of Leather

June 30, 2010 we celebrated our THREE year anniversary!!

And because I'm just a "little" cheesy, we (I) like to do the traditional gifts. So this is the year of leather!

Ty and I went to dinner at Sambuca's.

Of course I photographed the food for you :)

I ordered the Veggie Lasaga. It was delish!

(oops forgot to take pictures of our salads, they were good too)

Ty had the Blackened Red Snapper Etouffe (no clue how to spell that).

He loved it!

For dessert... the flourless chocolate cake! The creaminess was to die for!

After 3 whole years, sweet Ty has figured me out! He was about to bite into the dessert, but stopped himself and asked, "Do you want a picture first?" Oh how my heart swooned!

Do you think we liked it??

Ty came home from work with these gorgeous flowers for me! 3 sets of them... maybe for 3 years together? don't know- I need to ask.

And finally .... the LEATHER

We have been wanting a leather chair for a few years now. We picked this out together last week. It really completes the room! I want to replace the lamp behind it... I have some ideas and will blog when I do :)

Happy 3 Year Anniversary to Me and Ty!!

Catching Up

Yes I realize it has been many months since I've blogged. I have no excuse. The simple fact is, I've taken pictures of things I want to blog about and I've "written" blog posts in my head... I just haven't sat down at the computer in quite some time. Something about an iPhone and being able to read blogs on it instead of a computer.

Anywho... in a feeble attempt to catch up...

I have spent my time doing this....

LOVING every second of Kindergarten!

Man, I really miss those kids!!

Gardening!

The garden has grown and filled in so much since these pictures. I can't make any promises, but I would like to post updated pictures!

Hanging with Hubby

This picture I snapped as we were heading to a PGA tournament. We've gone to 3 this year. He loves them and I enjoy going too! This day was a "PINK OUT" day in honor of Breast Cancer. I LOVED the opportunity to wear pink AND match my husband!

Weddings

Ty, his brothers, and I at a friend's wedding. I was in another wedding in May, threw a bridal shower a few weeks ago (have great pics from that for a blog post), and am "in" one more wedding in July. Tis the Season!

I really do have many more ideas on things to share... and now that my summer break is in full force and I have successfully cleaned the house... I will begin posting more often. Yay! I love this!