Cheesy Spinach Dip

This recipe I found in my kraftfoods magazine was excellent! Very easy and very delicious!


Ingredients:
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained
1 lb. (16 oz.) VELVEETA Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, cubed
1 can (10 oz.) RO*TEL Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, undrained
8 slices OSCAR MAYER Bacon, cooked, crumbled
Make It!
MICROWAVE ingredients in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 5 min. or until VELVEETA is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after 3 min.
SERVE with tortilla chips and cut-up fresh vegetables.

Story with Pictures: He is getting so big!!

Something to Think About: Lesson 1

Always remember there are two sides to every story and one person can not take all of the blame. People seem to forget the part that they play in the problems in their lives. There are always consequences to decisions that we make, good or bad.

YAY- my book is finally done!

The Tiny Chris...

A story about sharing

By Emily L. Alford

Book Preview

Fall Time

My favorite time of the year.. fall time! Other than the stresses of school, this time of the year is great! Bama football has started and the school I work for.. University of South Alabama (USA JAGS) had their first football game ever this past Saturday. Judson watched his first game with his Daddy and Jimbo could not have been happier (Lord help us if Judson decides he likes Auburn, lol). Some more things I am excited about are 1.) the second book to Suzanne Collins "Hunger Games" has been released and I can't wait to get my hands on it! It is called "Catching Fire" I loved the first one, so I am very excited to read this one! Check them out http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/index.htm ; 2.) I am planning on making some of Emily Little's "Apple Butter" and canning it for family members. Check out the recipe here... http://ryanandemilylittlearethebest.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html ; 3.) Jimbo's 33rd birthday is this Friday and he has asked me to invite some of our friends and family to join us for dinner. Hope everyone can come! :) He is excited about it.; 4.) My first teaching demonstration is on the 28th and although I am extremely nervous, I am excited to get it overwith! lol wish me luck!; 5.) Mine and Jimbo's 2nd anniversary is coming up. I always love those :); and 6.) Judson's 1st Halloween! Can't wait for him to show everyone his costume! It's adorable!

In your own skin

As a woman who often does not feel comfortable in her own skin and has battled with her weight for years now... I truly appreciated this article and enjoyed reading it. Thought I would share. :)

http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/blogs/vitamin-g/2009/08/on-the-cl-the-picture-you-cant.html

Put on your big girl shoes

School has began.. again. Fall semester. It feels like I have been going to school my whole life.. oh wait! I have! ;) This is the first week of class and already I am overwhelmed with projects, homework, presentations, interviews, and lots more! Today, on what is supposed to be my lunch break from work... I left class feeling a little blah. Some days I just feel like throwing my hot pink school binder in the trash can and running these Mary Jane's as far away from this campus as I possibly can and then I remember why I am here and how far I have come to get here. I have always worked and gone to school. Never have I had the luxury of going to school throughout the week whenever I pleased. I always have to squeeze school in and pray for dear life that I make good grades. Last semester I was sick and big pregnant and every mon, wed, and friday I walked up what seemed like the biggest hill I have ever seen to get to the Chemistry building, I sat in the teacher's chair after I no longer could breathe in my desk anymore (Judson was getting really big in there), and I had him on Spring Break and went back to school the next week and somehow I managed to pass two other courses and make the Dean's List. I have worked too hard to give up now. I can do this!! YES I CAN! I just need to put on my big girl shoes and press on!!!

Judson's 4 month Update

Judson Bailey went to see Dr. Mobley yesterday and he is a whopping 17 lbs. 2 oz. 24.5 inches. What a BIG boy! That's how I like babies though.. little chunky monkeys! So cute.

Anyway- Dr. Mobley (who's name always reminds me of Mogley in the Jungle Book) measured the growing hemangioma (strawberry) on Judson Bailey's back. They are keeping an eye on it to make sure it does not grow too rapidly. She advised me that it will start going down in 1-2 years and to not have it lasered or messed with what so ever. My problem with this birth mark is not cosmetic wise.. it's that he seems to be uncomfortable with it. He won't lay to that side of his body, he will not roll over on that side.. I just want to make sure it is not bothering him. I for sure want nature to take it's course and not have it lasered or surgically altered unless absolutely necessary. He was so excited to see the doctor.. he giggled and cooed.. and then he got his shots!! 5 of them!! Poor baby. I almost cried. Poor me.

They tested his vision, hearing, etc. everything is great! Thank you God. He is running a low grade fever today and being slightly quiet, but hopefully he will be feeling hisself tonight when we get home.

Salmon Sistarita :)

Over the past few years, I have acquired the taste for Salmon. Seems like everywhere I go I long for the salmon on the menu. My friends and family pick on me because they can always guess what I am going to order.... SALMON! It is just so yummy, filling, and wonderfully full of nutrients for your body. I leave dinner filling nice, not overstuffed. I told my friend Maranda that it would be so much fun to travel around the world and document my Salmon findings, lol but realistacally I will have to start with here. Below is a list of the places that I have tried Salmon and I have put them in the order of my favorite being #1 down to my not so favorite. You get the picture! Here goes-

1. Harbor Room Resteraunt located in Riverview Plaza Hotel, Mobile, Ala.- Pan seared Salmon with Whipped Cream Potatoes and Lemon infused Olive Oil. Absolutely superb!!!

2. Ruby Tuesday's Asian Glazed Salmon glazed with Peanut-Barbeque sauce and served with steamed broccoli and brown rice pilaf. This sauce is delicious!! I was surprised they were my 2nd favorite! :)

3. Green Street Cafe, Miami, FL- Salmon Penne, Light Cream and Vodka Sauce over Smoked Salmon. Very different BUT very good!

4. The Cheesecake Factory- Herb Crusted Fillet of Salmon with Lemon Sauce and Mashed Potatoes. Such a delight- even though I was sick pregnant with Judson at the time I tried it.

5. Logan's Roadhouse Grilled Salmon served with Garlic-dill sauce. Wonderful, but could do without the dill sauce.

6. Mikato Japanese Steak House, Mobile, Ala.- Hibachi style Salmon with fried rice and veggies. I get this with a side of terriyaki chicken. Love it!!

7. Atlanta Bread Company- Wild Alaskan Salmon Fillet served on your choice of bread or salad greens. Nice change!

8. Longhorn Steakhouse- Salmon in secret Bourbon marinade served over seasoned rice. I did not care for this "secret" marinade at all. :(

9. NEXT UP- Olive Garden- Herb Grilled Salmon Filley brushed with Italian Herbs and Extra Virgin Olive oil. Will let you know how it turns out.. you know just in case you love Salmon as much as I do :)

Pacifiers for Chocolate

I had dinner with my good friends Amber and Ms. Kathy last night and we got on the discussion about pacifiers. Although Judson is only 4 months and is a long ways from being winged from his paci... we were talking about how to get kids to stop using their much desired friend. At my house we call it a pap.. so I'm just going to start calling it a pap on here.. lol
Alot of you have probably already heard of this, but I had not and thought it was the cutest idea.
Ms. Kathy told me her neighbor was trying to get her kids to stop taking a pap so she told them that they could trade their paps for chocolate at the store. So, the kids decided they would rather have chocolate than their paps and she took them up to the Counry Corner (yes.. we have a local gas station called that) and informed the cashier of what she was doing without the kids knowing. They picked out their chocolate candy and placed them and their paps on the counter. The cashier said, "Oh, are you buying chocolate with your paps today?" lol and they answered yes and the mom paid her while the kids walked out the door. So cute! I think I may use lollipops for Judson when the time comes!