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Saturday, July 28, 2012

1, 2, 3.. LUNCH!


Mel over at The Larson Lingo is doing a Salad Recipe Swap.



Which got me thinking about my favorite salads...

This is my go-to Summer Salad.
Taco Salad A La Heidi

Salads are so easy. 

Most Salads are Dump, Dump, Serve....and I LOVE that.

Here are the ingredients for My Version...
(this version changes all the time...the basics stay the same, but sometimes it turns into whatever I have in the cupboard.)

1 lb Ground Beef (or chicken, turkey or vegan meat)
1 package of Taco Seasoning
1 can of corn (or two ears of corn de-kerneled and cooked- steamed or grilled)
1 can of black beans (or Kidney Beans)
3 heads of Romaine shredded (or iceberg, or butter/radicchio blend)
1 can of olives (sliced or whole)
1 bunch of green onions (sliced)
2 tomatoes (diced)
1- 2 cups of shredded Mexican Cheese
1 bag of Nacho Doritos
1 packet of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing (prepared with FULL FAT Mayo and WHOLE milk)
1 jar of Taco Bell Taco Sauce
1 avocado (sliced for garnish)
Sour Cream and Extra cheese for topping


Brown the Meat until fully cooked
add taco seasoning and cook to package directions.

Prepare Ranch Dressing.  Do not skimp on the deliciousness of Whole Milk and Best Foods Mayo.  They are the key ingredients to making this salad perfection.
Take the prepared dressing and remove 1 cup, and add the entire jar of Taco Bell sauce to the ranch until it's mixed. (save the second cup for dipping veggies, or chicken nuggets or pizza)  ;)

it should be a nice rose color and look like this.

Dump all ingredients together, except the chips.
Toss in the dressing.

Just before serving add chips to the bottom of the bowl 
and add the salad to the top. Mix and enjoy.
Top with Guac,  or Sour Cream , or sliced avocado and more cheese! 

Two things make this salad fantastic.  

My super secret dressing and the Doritos. 

Try it tonight!

Happy Eating!

And...

You're Welcome. 

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

My *guilty* Summer indulgence....

So...

I told you I read a book....

during vay-cay....

And I did!

Now...

for those of you who plowed through 50 shades of Grey... you might enjoy this *light* Summer reading....

For those of you who thought 50 Shades a was a tad bit racy this is not the book for you.


I thought this book was funny.  At times it was a bit much...

But still...a good read. 

A very bad, good read.
Enjoy!

Monday, July 23, 2012

Weekend in Pictures *Birthday Edition*

Birthday Weekend started with our first Manicure


She LOVED it!

So we got a pedicure too!

Our day of beauty continued with ...
A first haircut!

Complete with braid and glitter!

With all our glamourfying we worked up an appetite....

Chuck E Cheeses was the Birthday Girl's choice.

And lots of games were played with Daddy....

Until my camera broke...
:(

So I have no cupcake pictures from Sinful Bliss, and no present pictures....
(the camera issue has since been fixed...but more on that later)

Saturday was our Big Birthday BBQ Extravaganza
We're classy with Red Solo Cups.

We make up for it with our delicious spread....
The berries this season are A M A Z I N G.

 Maddie modeling her latest wardrobe addition from Great Grandma Kirby.....and Clayton being a very patient Father with kids swarming around present central.


Adorable gifts from all... So, so nice.

Madeline was happy to show the crowd her loot.

And provide musical entertainment.
(Thank you Auntie Tegan....)

Charlie made his first visit over....

I don't think I have ever had so many children under one roof.

Madeline was thrilled with her new Pram.


Sunday Morning the Birthday Boy headed out for a Birthday Round of Golf....
And Lynne treated me to the ultimate treat!
Les Miserables!!!!
Can I just tell you it was PHENOMENAL! 
I love going to the Theater.  But this was an extra special trip to the Theater, it was my FIRST time to see Les Mis.  So so so so so Good.  I can't thank Lynne enough. That woman is TOO good to me.
Love. You. Lynne.


AND.....
I even got to wear my new shoes. 
How cute are these???
(Madeline has a similar pair making their way to our house this Fall, thanks to a certain MiMi)

It was a fabulous, wonderful, exhausting weekend.
Thank you to all who made the drive and celebrated with us...we appreciate and love you all!

Happy Birthday Clay and Maddie!

Friday, July 20, 2012

Flashback Friday! and HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADELINE!!!


3 years ago today I was blessed with this sweet little bundle of joy.


Where does the time go???

Happy Happy Birthday Madeline!

I usually go on and on about you for Birthday posts....

But today I decided to interview you Miss Mcgee!

20 questions just for you!
(I hope I can remember to keep up this tradition!)

She was very excited when answering these questions.  Lots of enthusiasm.  She was yelling for most of the interview.....

1. What is your favorite color? PINK! AND PURPLE!
2. What is your favorite toy? BARBIES!
3. What is your favorite fruit? VEGETABLES!
4. What is your favorite tv show? Tangled (very matter of fact-starting to calm down)
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Bean Burritos
6. What is your favorite outfit? Dresses and Tom's
7. What is your favorite game? Biiiideo Games! But...those are for boooooyys....
8. What is your favorite snack? BAGELS! (back to excited)
9. What is your favorite animal? Ummmm......  Bunnies!
10. What is your favorite song? Tinkle Tinkle Wittle Stawr
11. What is your favorite book? PRINCESS BOOK! 
12. Who is your best friend? TENLEY!
13. What is your favorite cereal? CHERRIOS!
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Run in the sprinkwers!
15. What is your favorite drink? milk
16. What is your favorite holiday? Easter
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? my nie-nie
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? PANTAKES
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? PANTAKES....ummm (starting to lose her...) MAC AND CHEEEEESE!
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? a mommy(awwwww)


Let me just say....it's not that easy to interview a 3 year old.....they're antsy, and indecisive and impressionable...so getting their true feelings on the questions is not the easiest task.... 

But she stayed seated for most of the interview....

Here is what I know about my 3 year old.  She is a girlie girl.  Always has been.  She LOVES her babies...and is happy as can be to entertain herself for hours playing with them.  She loves long showers, and the color pink, and any food you could possibly imagine, including pickles and sauerkraut. She is a Daddy's girl through and through.  Sometimes I'm merely here to feed her.  The sun rises and sets with Daddy.  She loves her Brother, and Henry is currently her Best Friend, and usually her only playmate.  She still adores Lynne next door, and needs her alone time with her daily.  She can hold complete conversations and has the memory of a 25 year old.  Sometimes I can't believe the mature things that come out of her mouth.  She is my Sunshine.  And I couldn't imagine my life without her.

Happy Birthday Madeline, Maddie, Mads, Miss Mcgee, Maddie-Girl, Boo....

We love you so much!!!


Thursday, July 12, 2012

Summer Vacation 2012- Week 2!

Week 2 of Vacation started at the lake!

We

Love 

the

Lake!

Aunt B

and Uncle Ben joined us.

We are so lucky to have an "in" at the Lake.  Camping is all well and good...but it sure don't beat Houseboating!!

What's the best part about the Houseboat?
The slide of course!
Hours were spent on the slide.

Everyone gave it a try....

some more than others...

Madeline....
was not so slide ready....

Henry wished he could join in all the fun...
Who has ever met a Lab afraid of water???
(Trigger is yelling at him from doggie heaven.....)
Jack-man couldn't get enough of the water.

We were greeted by geese in the Morning..


We were ready for fun!
Aunt B and Uncle Ben brought the King of Beers as their Lake Beverage of choice....
(10:30am is the normal time to crack your first cold one, right?)

We had good tunes...

and plenty of sun....

I didn't start out quite as relaxed...
my first float was not a wise selection...
please notice....
The lake and my beer never met...
I've got mad skills....
(I learned everything I know from Kim...)

I opted for the *larger turtle for my second go-around.

Diva in training strutting her stuff....

Madeline spent more of her time
playing with her babies....
Normally she is a total water baby....but this year she was a bit timid....
We still got in though!
and wore ourselves out...
a little relaxation was had by all.....

We're still recovering.....

And only have 3 days left.....

How does vacation go by so fast????