comments

So I have been asked by quite a few people how to leave a comment...without signing up or joining a club or handing over your first born.

At the bottom of each post, there is a link that says "comments". Click on it. Easy, right?

Type a comment in the box under the words "leave your comment". Leave your name in the box after your comment, so I know who you are.

Next, type in the miscellaneous letters you see in the word verification box. This is used to help prevent spam.

Then, click the button that says "anonymous". So far, so good.

Now you can either click on "publish your comment" button and your message will post to the blog. Or you can "preview" your comment, review/make changes, etc. and then "publish your comment". That's it!

Easy-peasy, right?

Now I will prepare myself for the onslaught of comments that will soon be posted! Hahaha!!

And since a post isn't a post without a picture....

A very relaxed Arty.

who's hungry?

Now, I am not what you would call a great chef or even an okay chef (working at a Mexican restaurant for a few years way back when doesn't really count), but I do like to cook when I can find the time.

As anyone who knows me will agree, I do like to eat (who doesn't, right??). Like a good friend, I thought I'd share some of my favorite recipes with you. These aren't necessarily my original recipes, but ones that I have received from family and friends that I might have tweaked here and there to make them my own. I can promise you this: I will have personally tried the recipes that I share and I will try to always provide a picture with the recipe.

So, let's start this off with my new favorite dish. This one came from blogging and scrapbook extraordinaire, Becky Higgins. If you like your pasta with some serious flavor, then this is for you. It is great to make for a large group or for a small group if you don't mind having leftovers.

GARLIC CHICKEN FARFALLE

[ingredients]

16 oz. Farfalle pasta
1 c. heavy whipping cream
3-4 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
2 to 3 cloves garlic, crushed OR garlic salt (I use the minced garlic in a jar)
1 Tbsp. pepper*
1/2 c. butter
1 lb. bacon, crumbled
1/2 c. shredded Parmesan cheese
1 (12 oz) Lawry’s mesquite marinade with lime juice

*Seems like a lot of pepper, but it has a wonderful flavor when everything mixes together. If you're apprehensive, do less pepper. You can always add more.

[ directions ]

Crock pot chicken and bottle of marinade on low for 6 hours. Pull marinated chicken out of the juices, allow to cool a little bit, and shred (I pull it apart or use a couple of forks). Set this aside. About a half-hour before serving, boil the pasta. In a small saucepan, melt butter, add garlic, whipping cream, pepper, parmesan cheese, and crumbled bacon. Whisk together on low heat for 3-4 minutes. In a large bowl, pour over cooked, drained pasta, add chicken and stir through. Sprinkle a little bit more shredded parmesan cheese on top.

Enjoy!

If you try this, let me know what you think. Or if you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share, post it as a comment or send me an email at gvmfuller at columbus dot rr dot com.

Hola!

My sister and I had such a great time in Cancun (I love hanging out with her). We only had a few days to explore the area, but we had some great adventures!

On the ferry from Cancun to Isla Mujeres.

Some of the good food on the island...sand floor, thatched roof, dockside...just chillin'. We then rented a golf cart and cruised the entire island in less than 3 hours. We climbed atop of a lighthouse and visited a turtle farm sanctuary, among other things, while we were there.

The next day, we took off in our rental car 2 hours west to Chichen Itza, one of the new Ancient World Wonders of the World. This picture is of El Castillo. We got there early; before the crowds and the heat become too unbearable.

Because of Chichen Itza's new status, you aren't allowed to climb on or touch the Myan ruins any longer....except waaay in the back, they had a few ruins that weren't roped off we were able to explore.

From the ruins, we had a police escort to a nearby Cenote. Kind of a crazy story how we managed to get an escort, but it involved quesadillas and a cheese sandwich.

Cenotes are essentially sinkholes, that look kind of like sunken quarries. However, there are a few that are very spectacular and our police escort took us right to one. The one we went to is Ikkil Cenote and it was incredible!

I could not believe the beauty of this place. It was set up like a spa, with changing rooms, outdoor showers, wonderful gardens, etc., only there was hardly anyone there. Stairs (carved into the rock walls) spiraled down to the water so that you could go swimming. The water was cool and refreshing, especially after being so hot from walking around the ruins in 95 degree heat and humidity.

Then on our last night, we topped off our sister vacation adventure with an awesome couples massage (don't laugh, it got us a discount) at dusk: ocean breeze, ocean view, and the ocean waves....aaaahhh.

As we were packing to head home, we started scheming our next sister getaway. Who knows where that will be, but ANY warm deserted island will sound good once winter comes. We know....we're so lucky! (Thanks Gary, Kita, and Carole!!)

leavin' on a jet plane

Tomorrow I leave for Cancun to meet up with my sister. No husbands, no kids...just relaxing. On the agenda is: sleeping, reading, hanging out at the pool and on the beach (lots of sunscreen for this lobster girl), and an excursion to Chichen Itza (aka Itsa Chicken). What we won't be doing: cooking, cleaning, or working hard. Aaaahhhh, here's to chillaxin' under a palapa.

The good news is that I will come home a better mom and wife (a few days of missing my family always helps me get things in perspective and makes me appreciate them even more). I usually regain my perspective within 24-48 hours (give or take a day or two), so 4 nights/5 days is feeling okay right now. Plus, if you don't take care of yourself, you won't be able to take care of those you love. A couple of wise women gave me that sage advice...

See you when I get back!

PS: I'm already missing them like crazy and I haven't even left yet.

put me in coach

Michael had his first baseball game of the season on Saturday. Lots of covering his ears due to all the noise...very excited kids and parents cheering. His friend from school is on his team this year, he thought it was nice that he recognized someone. He was all smiles at the end of the game. Especially with Gma Kita nearby (and Gma Carole and Daddy nearby too).

Hopefully, the next game will be better (if it's not rained out). It's been raining here quite a bit lately. Michael's first ball game was canceled for rain and there is more rain predicted for the next ball game (which is also team picture day).

My Mother's Day weather, complete with tornado sirens.


My Mother's Day flowers, with Michael's handy artwork. I also received 2 homemade cards from Michael and a yummy dinner from Gary. :)

moms rock

Happy Mother's Day mom, I love you!

We took our moms to dinner at Tumbleweed after Michael's baseball game tonight. Pretty good food and a happy little boy made for a very nice evening (except for a little time out he had before the food came).

And here's a little something for all the moms: The Mom Song

happy May

It's officially spring! The lilacs have bloomed. They usually bloom around Easter here, but we had some crazy weather that extended winter (btw, who ordered the ice storm and blizzard because it wasn't me!)...anyway, it's finally spring. Gary says it's spring because golf season has started. Michael says it's spring because he can play outside in the rocks and sand. I say it's because of the flowers blooming. No matter how you decide that spring is here, we think it's about darn time because we were having some major cabin fever!

Here's a little shout out to my wonderful sis: Happy Cinco de Mayo! I'll see you in Mexico soon. :)