Am I the only one who feels guilty celebrating Memorial Day?
Memorial Day is one day each year that is set aside to remember those that have laid down their lives for all the citizens of America. The freedoms that Americans enjoy are protected and ensured by the men and women of the armed services who put their lives on the line to protect the country and what it stands for. The armed services protect America from invasion and from acts of aggression from other countries around the world. They know that they may be called upon to lay their lives down to protect their country and still they volunteer to form that line of defense.
So many individuals and families have made the ultimate sacrifice for these freedoms, and yes I am ever so grateful to them, but celebrating this day with no particular individual to honor is just kind of strange to me. I assist with the kids in gathering care packages and sending them off to troops out of country, we also collect the expired coupons and mail them to a marine base overseas, where they are allowed to use them for an additional six months from the date of expiration, but I just never feel like we do enough. The only member in the armed services in my family was my grandfather. He served in WWII and didn’t speak much about it to us. He had numerous medals including the purple heart and proudly displayed them, but stories were never freely told to us. This was an indication to me that his sacrifices were far more than myself and my family would ever understand.
My grandfather, my true hero
Today, we had the day off of work and in celebration of our freedom and in honor of my grandfather and all of those that have sacrificed so much, we had a small family day. It was beautiful outside and we grilled some chicken, ribeyes, and pork ribs and explained to the kids the importance of the armed services.
Ribeyes
Chicken
Sweet Potato Souffle
Yummy
My beautiful baby girl
Hope you all enjoyed your Memorial Day and remembered the true reason we are celebrating.
~Christie 
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All thumbs Day!
Today was definitely one of those days! I woke up with great intentions. Started breakfast for the family, scrambling eggs for Nicholas and while seasoning them I poured about half of the container of seasoned salt into the eggs. I threw those eggs out and started over, was not going to let that get me down. The biscuits were in the oven, the gravy was done, the sausage and hash browns were almost complete, the coffee was brewed and all I had left were the eggs. Scrambled for Nicholas and sunny side up for both Gracie and Nick! I got this or at least that’s what my super mom inner voice was telling me. I decided to just crack the eggs and scramble them in the pan, since the pan was already hot…well that wasnt a good idea considering that I dropped a whole egg (shell included) into the pan. On any other day I am so efficient in the kitchen, never a major issue and always come out with at great meal…well after today I can’t say always.
Eventually the eggs were done, I started serving the plates and the timer for the oven went off…my inner self was smiling proudly, perfect timing and the biscuits are going to be hot and soft. I opened the oven to find BURNT biscuits!! WTH?!? Somehow while cooking I turned the oven temperature up to 450. 
The great family that I have, ate the food that I prepared, pulling off the burnt bottom and top layers of the biscuits..lol We cleaned up, left the house and did a little shopping. Things went well from there, so I decided that I would give cooking another shot. I have been craving a chicken stew and that was what I was going to make.
Ingredients:
- 2 cubes of roux (I make a large batch of roux and then freeze in an ice cube tray, then remove from ice cube tray and place in a freezer bag. Makes it easier to measure and use)
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 1 red onion finely chopped
- 2 stalks of celery finely chopped
- 4 chicken breasts thinly sliced along the “grain” (ok not the best wording but I hope you get what I mean. The reason I do this is because I like my chicken almost shredded it soaks up more flavor that way.)
- 3 cups chicken broth or stock
- 2 teaspoons chicken base or chicken bouillon granules
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 1 cup chopped carrots (which I forgot in the refrigerator)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried leaf thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 green bell pepper and 1/2 red bell pepper chopped
- Hot sauce to taste
- 2 tbs of worcestershire sauce
- salt, to taste
In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, brown the thinly sliced chicken breast sections. Add the shallots, onions, celery, carrots, and garlic, stirring, until onions are browned and shallots are tender. Add the chicken broth, chicken granules, roux cubes and cook, stirring, until thickened. Add 1 tablespoon of parsley, thyme, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add salt, to taste. Simmer for about 20-30 minutes.
While chopping the onions and peppers, I managed to slice open 2 fingers. I quickly cleaned up the mess, sanitized the kitchen and my hands (bandaging well, Thank God for my Paramedic training. Most people would have went faint when they saw the amount of blood…lol) Anywho, the family loved the stew, despite my misgivings and even though, I forgot the carrots
To add a perfect ending to the perfect day, I rented a movie for each of the kids and one for Nick and I on Red Box online so I could go by and pick them up quickly…Easy right? I get to Walgreens Kiosk A and swipe my card to get the message that my card was not recognized at the kiosk, so I go to kiosk B thinking maybe just maybe I looked at it wrong….WRONG! I dialed the 866 number and after waiting 15 minutes in my Tahoe with Gracie a representative interrupts the soothing music to tell me that I placed the movies on hold at a Walgreens out-of-town and that it could not be cancelled. WTH?!? Well since those movies could not be cancelled I was out of $6.00, but that’s no big deal…I could handle that. The big deal was that I could not rent any other movies b/c I reached my max allowed rentals on my card….AGH! I drove home with a very disappointed Gracie and picked up another card, left and travelled through town to 3 different Red Boxes to get the movies I promised the kids. Nicholas’ choice was not available at any of them “One For Home” must have been pretty popular. I randomly chose a boy movie and yes I once again failed b/c he so did not like the movie. Lucky for me, he was completely tired out from an afternoon in this horrid Louisiana heat and humidity that he was fast asleep quickly.
I have never been so grateful that Nick is grilling food tomorrow and I have no MAJOR cooking duties! What the heck is happening to me? Oh yeah and I forgot to mention that I forgot to bake the fresh rolls that have been rising all afternoon. It is now 10:33 in the evening and the house smells of fresh-baked bread b/c I could not see it go to waste! WOW
~Christie
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Firearms qualifications!
As a law enforcement officer, I am required to “qualify” with my duty weapon once a year. I really enjoy going to the firing range, but I just never seem to dedicate time to do it. So like many other officers, the once a year qualification is the only time I make it there. That day was today. My supervisor is a qualified firearms instructor, so he took myself and another one of the DA investigators out to the range to run us through the POST course. I was having a pretty good start to the day, and decided not to let anything burst my bubble (even taking those ugly commission card pictures…worse than DL photos)..lol
I could be EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, if I actually practiced! I love my Glock 22!
Of course I qualified and am done until next year!
~Christie
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Happy Retirement!!
A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops. ~Henry Adams
Gracie’s teacher is retiring this year after many years of going above and beyond the lines of teaching. She is one of those teachers that believes in her students, she tugged and pushed and lead them child to the next plateau, never giving up. Gracie had an amazing second grade experience thanks to Mrs. Toups!
The students wanted to wish her a Happy Retirement, so with the help of a couple of moms and the assistant teacher of the class, we successfully pulled off a surprise retirement party.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake by Me!
A patchwork paper quilt the kids made of things that are special to them.
SURPRISE!!!
Gracie & Mrs. Toups! We were so blessed to have her as Gracie’s teacher this year!
2 teach is
2 touch our lives
4 Ever!
~Christie
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Nicholas’ 7th Birthday Party!!
My how time flies! On the 23rd Nicholas will be turning seven years old and today we celebrated his birthday with his class mates at the Party Pad.
Nicholas and me. No matter how old he will get, he will always be momma’s boy!
Avengers favors!!!
Nicholas sitting at the head of the table, surrounded by the girls!!
Everything seemed to go really well and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves! Thanks to everyone for coming and to all of the moms there for the help!!
~Christie
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Happy Birthday Nick!! I heart you!!!
Through the years!
Even if the sun refused to shine
Even if we lived in different times
Even if the ocean left the sea
There would still be you and me
Ever since the start of time
You’ve had my love
Even before I knew your name
I knew your heart
In the dark of the darkest night
I could see your face
I always knew from the very start
I would find a way
Even if the sun refused to shine
Even if we lived in different times
Even if the ocean left the sea
There would still be you and me
Even if the world would disappear
Even if the clouds would shed no tears
Even if tonight was just a dream
There would still be you and me
From 2B3 “Even If”
I love you more than you will ever know!
Love,
Christie
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It has been one of those days!!
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50 Shades of Grey…turned me 50 shades of blush!
Surely by now you’ve heard of the steamy book trilogy, “Shades of Grey” by E.L. James, right? The books tell the story of Anastasia Steele, a young girl just graduating from college, who has never had a boyfriend. Chance happenings have her falling into the office of the stunningly handsome and filthy-rich Christian Grey. The chemistry between them is dangerously shocking from their first meeting Anastasia finds him gorgeous and smart, and can’t imagine why he would ever be interested in someone like her. Christian finds Ana to be young, beautiful, and innocent…. and thinks that she would be perfect as his “submissive.”
His WHAT?
Clearly this isn’t your typical boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy marries girl, and they live happily ever after kind of story. No, this is a love story with a decidedly different kind of twist. Anastasia is very attracted to Christian and definitely wants him to be her “first”…. but she has to contend with the fact that Christian is looking for a very different kind of relationship with her. He does not “do love”… he just does sex. And he enters into relationships with women in a very business-like manner complete with contracts outlining the limits of what he and she will and won’t do (all of the points are up for negotiation of course!). So what’s a girl “in lust” to do? THAT’S what the book is about and why I want to share 5 Reasons to Read “50 Shades of Grey”:
1. Anastasia wrestles with the same decision that every girl does in a first relationship…
How much of herself should she give up or change in order to stay with this new boyfriend? Granted, the situation that she is contemplating is quite complicated. She’s horrified… yet intrigued. She’s appalled with the idea…. yet excited. But to enter into this relationship, she has to examine what it is she values and what she has to give up in terms of what she ideally wants (someone to love her) in order to be with Christian.
2. You don’t have to be personally interested in the “dominant-submissive lifestyle” to enjoy the book!
I really knew pretty much nothing about dominant/submissive relationships in general before reading this book, (other than the criminal aspects…eww) and even after enjoying the trilogy I still am not personally interested in this as something for my own life…. but that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t quite interesting to read about! Just because I read about these topics and enjoy the books does NOT mean that I wish to do any of these things! I fought my curiosity for a long time until I finally gave in this past weekend and even though the writing is not the best I am captivated.
Before purchasing”50 Shades of Grey” I read several negative reviews that talked about this book being demeaning to women…. but now I have to wonder were these reviews written by people who even read the book? The character Anastasia constantly questions whether or not she wants to continue this strange sexual relationship. She is never forced to do anything. The relationship is defined and consensual. Different, yes. But demeaning? In my opinion, no.
3. Anastasia’s character is warm and relatable
One of the things that I loved best about Anastasia was her constant “inner dialogue” as she works through her decision-making about this relationship. Her “Inner Goddess” gives her high-fives, ducks and hides, stretches out on a lounge chair dreamily, does flips and cartwheels, makes mean faces at her…. I loved all of these visuals and I loved how it made Anastasia seem supported by her subconscious. And while most of us will never be in the position of contemplating a dominant/submissive relationship contract… watching how Ana talks herself into thinking through it was very entertaining.
4. Christian’s character is dark and mysterious
Yeah- even with Christian being all formal and dominating and stuff, as a reader you are not afraid of him. You are intrigued by him and want Ana to keep seeing him…. to find out what she learns about him next. And while, I had many cringe-worthy moments about how his early childhood abandonment led to his unique sexual lifestyle as the trilogy progressed we see that this was just one of several influences that shaped Christian into the person he grew to become.
5. Will she or won’t she? Will he or won’t he?
You can’t put the book down because you just want to know! Will Anastasia continue the relationship? Will Christian decide he wants more than just a dominant/submissive relationship with Ana? Is he capable of falling in love? Is she capable of not falling in love with him?
Now let me apologize to all of my Words With Friends friends and my DrawSomething friends. I know I have totally neglected you all, but I am enthralled, captivated, and so allured that I just can not put these books down. Please accept my apology and I promise ”pepperidge” will be back in the game soon, until then I will be able to play a couple of words at lunch….maybe! lol
For all of the women out there who still have yet to take the leap, just jump into it, you will not be disappointed!!!
~Christie
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m&m Birthday Cake…What not to do!
This weekend my godchild Cierra turned 16 years old and as promised I made her birthday cake. The layers in the cake were tinted to go with her color theme of the party (Orange and teal) and the milkies(better than m&ms and you can find them at Blue Frog Chocolates) were black and teal. Every part of the cake was made by me, including the fillings, minus the milkies.
The bottom layer was filled with caramel.
The cake layers and icing were almond flavored and the bottom tier was filled with caramel that I made, boiled condensed milk in a can…yes I know we shouldn’t do it because of the dangers yadda yadda yadda, but we have done this forever. My grandmother did it, my mom and aunts did it and now I am and it is ohhh so good. The top-tier was filled with chocolate chip cookie dough dip (I added in a Starbucks VIA) so so good.
I was SO PROUD!!! The pattern was perfect and pretty. Then I travelled twenty miles to the party and with the bumps and turns the weight of the candies pulled the frosting down,
Cierra, being the most amazing and happy-go-lucky godchild ever, was so sweet about it and did not have one of those teenage drama fits!
I felt so horrible about the way the cake looked that I hurried to the store and bought a chocolate decadence cake for the party. I just knew that the whole cake would fall apart, but it didn’t and the taste of it was preferred over the store-bought chocolate cake! yay me!!
So if you do decide to make the candy covered cake, DO NOT…I repeat DO NOT ADD CANDIES UNTIL AT THE DESTINATION!
Here are a few other party pics:
This is my cousin, Crissy, getting the picture displayed of me as the Firemen’s Fair Queen way back when…lol BTW the party was held in the Fire Department’s recreation hall.
The birthday girl and her bf. Oh to be 16 again!!!
Overall the party turned out great and the cake wasn’t a complete disaster.
~Christie
