Jalapenos y Queso Fresco

I hope the title says something along the lines of fresh jalapenos and cheese. I'm really not sure though.

I just made these today and thought I'd blog my step-by-step how to (even though it IS close to rocket science. Insert sarcasm)... I may also just be trying to channel my favorite blogger, Pioneer Woman, but let's move on.

First you need fresh jalapenos (I used 4 today), cream cheese (1/2 to 3/4 of a block, or whatever you have on hand), bacon (4 pieces), and seasonings of your choice. I apologize to those who need exact measurements. I have this illness that hinders me from using measuring utensils when it comes to cooking. Please don't hold it against me.

To choose seasonings, open your cabinet, close your eyes and pick a few. Anything will be delicious. My choice today was Lawry's seasoning, some Italian seasonings, and garlic powder. Garlic is my reason for being. I love it dearly, and if it were taken away from me, you might as well take my life.

Next, cut the jalapeno tops off, and slice the peppers in half. Scoop out the seeds and veins with a spoon. This is where all of the heat is, which makes me a bit sad because I love a jalapeno that leaves me crying for a glass of milk and my mommy. But in this recipe, they'll just get in the way, so scoop away. Careful not to squirt jalapeno juice in your eye. It's not fun. And it burns a little. I know this by experience.

Soften the cream cheese. Mix in your selected seasonings and scoop into a ziploc bag.

Cut the end off and pipe into the jalapeno halves.

Wrap each pepper with half a piece of bacon and secure with a toothpick. I only had turkey bacon, and it worked. Once again, just use what you have.

Broil for 8-10 minutes on a rack about 2 down from the top. We don't want to burn the bacon and not get the peppers warm.

Don't worry if the bacon spits and hisses at you while under the broiler. Their mamas didn't teach them right, don't hold it against them. They don't know any better.

When bacon is nice and crispy, remove and enjoy! You can share with friends, or if you're pregnant, eat them all yourself and consider it your lunch :)

Eeek...

A month and a half? 6 weeks? 49 days? Really?? Yes. I hang my head in shame that it has been that long since I've posted. Let's see what I can scrounge up for a worthy-read post.

Chris did not get into the March police academy, but they are keeping his file open until July (when the next class will start), so he doesn't have to go through all of the steps again. He is considering going back to school starting with Summer semester... :)
Chris recently put an electric guitar on layaway and will be bringing it home very soon. He's mentioned that if he gets good enough, he'd like to play on the worship team at church. I'm just excited to hear him play at home again :) I guess his acoustic got boring? Boys and their toys...

It's been almost a year since my miscarriage (seriously?!), and while this upcoming Easter could be really difficult (we spent Saturday night/Easter early morning until 2am in the ER last year), God has turned our grief into joy. As I type, I'm 11 weeks and 1 day along in my second pregnancy :) We are so excited to meet the little bean around October 13th. While I'm ecstatic, I can't help the fear that creeps in... But everything has been great so far, and I cling to God's faithfulness :)

My spring project is the task of scrapbooking all of Chris' Boyscout stuff (pictures, badges, etc). I'm excited for him to have a book that he can show our kids what a big accomplishment he completed (he's an Eagle Scout, but who's bragging? Oh, I am)

We are both very much looking forward to the summer and plan to fill our weekends with lake trips... Any body of water is fine with us. The backyard flooded? Okay :) Unfortunately I can't hone my skills (ha!) on the wakeskate this summer, but maybe that will give Chris time to catch up with me? Hehehe :)

Here's to a new season approaching and everything God has in store for the near future!

For Rebecca

If you are like me, I don't watch American Idol... But tonight I will watch. I urge you to watch also. From my dear boss and her husband, Don and Susan Lear....

As many of you know, my daughter (Rebecca Joy Lear) died in a car accident as she returned home from her first semester at college a little over four years ago. My daughter’s college roommate (for that one semester at Belmont University in Nashville, TN) has been selected to have an audition. Her name is Vered “Didi” Benami and her Los Angeles audition will air this next Wednesday night, February 3rd. American Idol has purchased some photographs of Rebecca that a professional photographer took during one of Rebecca’s performances at Borders in December 2004. We know that Didi spoke of Rebecca in her American Idol interview, so we hope to not only see her interview when they air her audition, but also see photographs of Rebecca.
Don Lear

From Susan: Don and I have been really blessed by your friendships and we wanted to share “page 2-from the continuing saga” of life. We have had the privilege of staying part of Didi’s life as well as the lives of so many of our children’s dear friends. I think one of the blessings we have received as parents comes from the amazing relationships we experience with our children’s FRIENDS! “Lagniappe” as they say in New Orleans!

Anyway, in God’s mysterious plan, Didi and Rebecca became fast friends while at Belmont, Didi was encouraged in her love of music by Rebecca’s passion, and after Rebecca’s death, Didi promised us that she would always work to “get Rebecca’s music ‘out there’ as that was Rebecca’s great desire.” Well, I am not one for dreaming quite this large, but Didi has never stopped believing and working on her goals and now she is experiencing some pretty exciting opportunities and we wish her great success! It’s fun and a great reward to us that she has included Rebecca’s love of music as she tells her own story and we wanted to share all that with you because of your many kindnesses to us!

We pray for God’s best in Didi’s life and for the opportunity we have to encourage her and love her!


*Read about Rebecca here

I Giggled The Whole Time I Was In The Shower

Hey now, where is your mind going?? ;)

My family likes to play games. Board games. Card games. Tag at the Christmas tree farm. Hiding weird things in random places. First was freaky, scraggly, fake rat. The rat was found in places like under your bed sheets, in a brown paper bag (and you thought you were just getting groceries)... you get the picture. It tragically went MIA soon after Bryan and Jessica got married (hmmm ;) After the disappearance of rat, the family was left empty handed without a subject for our demises. But alas! Mom and Dad, on their Seattle trip, found the perfect replacement. Batmon(key), as I like to call him, is a caped monkey that doubles as a screaming slingshot. Insert your fingers in the pockets on his hands (his arms are nothing but elastic. sexy), pull his feet back, and let-'er rip! He flails through the air screaming the whole way. Quite hilarious.

Today, Chris and I had the whole family over for January birthdays lunch. This evening I took a run on the treadmill then headed to the shower... aaaand laughed until I got out.

After texting Mom and Dad, (and wigging Dad out because my text was the wording of the title of this blog... he thought I meant to text Chris :) come to find out, Emily had hid Batmon(key) at Bryan and Jessica's while she house-sat. So they are the culprits today...

I've decided that he should have his picture taken at every "stop", then I'll make a picture book with all of his adventures to be passed down from generation to generation. We'll see where he ends up next. But I giggled tonight.

Dear Fitness Gurus,

Chris and I have decided to start a fitness competition.... The winner at the end of 3 months will get their prize of choice. For me, it's this watch, (or one similar). For Chris, it's a snowboard (just the board, mind you, not the whole giddy-up).

So we decided that since our scale has a body fat feature, we would use that as the gauge. It's probably not the most accurate, but it's just the control, so it should be fine. We both have separate goals; I want to lose a certain poundage, Chris is more into building muscle, even though he does want to lose some also.

My questions is this. Is the body fat scale a good control we can go by? Even though I have less to lose than him, also I'm a girl and (lucky us!) we naturally have more body fat than guys... I've been thinking it over in my head and I go back and forth as to whether or not this method would work. Is there something else that you think would be better? Thanks for any input! :)

that magical transforming aerosol can that is spray paint

I bought an Advent Calendar on clearance at Target for $7. You didn't notice the crack on day 24 right? Good, cause I didn't either until I got home... Well I like silver, but the color silver doesn't scream "Christmas" to me, but red does! I. Love. Red.

Some spray paint and masking tape, bada-bing, bada-boom! (Don't mind me in the mirrors taking the picture)

I used a nail file to get the tape stuck down in tiny places

Ta-Da! Can't wait to have little munchkins and put little notes/candy/gifts in each cuter-than-clementines cubby for them to open :)

Homemade Anti-Bacterial Wipes

One of my least favorite things to buy (from the list of "living necessities" i.e. toilet paper, etc.) are antibacterial wipes. They are extremely convenient, but $3-4 for a tub of 100 [off-brand] dinky, barely there wipes? Doesn't sound bad unless you have to use 8-10 just for one bathroom cleaning. Well I decided I would try and make my own :) And since they're made from washcloths, I'm thinking I'll only have to use one per bathroom cleaning (leaving the toilet for last, of course :) All of the supplies today cost right under $9.50, and from now on I'll just have to buy the concentrated solution, which is even cheaper than one "disposable wipes" tub!

Lysol ultra-concentrated all-purpose antibacterial disinfectant: $2.42

(I could have gone even cheaper with the off-brand, but I liked the orange scent and the off-brand only had lemon scent)

9-pack of washcloths: $3

Spill-proof container: $4

First I folded the 9 washcloths so they would sit nicely in the container. Then I used about 1c. concentrate to 4c. water. That is more potent than the instructions say, but I like things extra anti-bacterialized (and I just got excited ;) Next time I'll follow the instructions, so not to be too wasteful. All I have to do now is throw the used ones in the laundry and repeat the process :)

I'll keep you updated and let you know if I think this is a real money-saver :)