Tasty Thursday: After School Snack Edition

I found this recipe one day when I was searching the internet for... a granola snack!! I can't wait to make these and I have a feeling I will keep the ingredients for this one around ALL the time! If anyone tries it before I do, let me know how they turn out! Also, you can substitute the raisins for anything like chocolate chips, M&M's, etc. When I first read the recipe I thought of using chocolate instead of raisins, which my kids aren't too fond of :) Here is where I found the recipe. Have a great Tasty Thursday everyone!

Gobble up Granola Snacks!!

INGREDIENTS

• 2 1/2 cups crispy rice cereal
• 2 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl, stir together the rice cereal and oats. Set aside. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Combine the brown sugar and corn syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat just until boiling, then remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and vanilla until smooth. Pour over the cereal and oat mixture, and mix well.
3. Press into the prepared pan using the back of a large spoon. Allow to cool, then cut into squares.

Our big tree is almost gone!!

Well, we had some work done to our trees yesterday. It's been needing to be done, and we finally able to start. We have two problem trees that are bigger and one that was growing too close to a neighbors house that was smaller (it was a maple). So the plan was to cut one of the bigger ones down and cut down the smaller one as well. Well, most of one is cut, only the trunk is standing, and the smaller maple is gone :( I wish we could've kept that one, it was pretty. So, when the guy got to the second big tree, we found out that it is rotted through, so now most of that one needs to come down. We were only supposed to have it pruned, but now are going to have to fork over $300 to have it pruned still, but have the top cut off now as well (the rotted part). I know it needs to be done, and branches are falling not only into our yard, but into the neighbors as well. It's just more money I didn't want to have to spend on trees! :) You do what you gotta do though, right? It will give me a peace of mind as well.

I wanted to share a few pics of the "big tree" in it's stages of being cut down. And a few others as well:) Enjoy!

Here is the tree after a bit was taken off the bottom. For those of you who know me, this is the tree that is beside the deck, that was hanging over it.

Here is another pic of the same tree! That guy is actually hanging from a rope, like the kind you rock climb with! I wouldn't want that job, would you?


Here is the tree in it's last stage for now. It has only the trunk left, and the tree behind it is the one we're going to end up having to cut down as well. I still can't believe it's gone! Well, almost gone! They're coming back this week to finish both!

Dawn's give away contest!

My friend Dawn has a giveaway contest going on at her website right now. She is giving away a paperback novel called "Searching for Spice". You can read more about the book here . If you'd like to participate, just go to her website and read all about it! Thanks, and I know she'll be glad you dropped by!

10 things to do when it's too hot to go outside

1. Play on the computer
2. Clean, clean, and clean some more :)
3. Sit down and drink some iced tea!
4. Make some lemonade with the kids
5. Watch a good movie
6. Retreat to my bedroom at naptime and read my bible
7. Play a board game with the kids
8. Snooze on the couch
9. Eat ice cream! Yuuumm!

10. Use a misting fan!

Etcetra, etcetra meme

Here is a cute Meme that I found on Eila's blog. It's cute, so read, and find out a little more about me!

Do you enjoy drama?

Movie drama's, not life ones

Are you a girly girl?

Most definitely in many ways, but in others no.

Last person you hugged?

My daughter Ariana :)

Small or big purses?

Medium?

Do you think you’re conceited?

Nope

Do you dress up on Halloween?

No, but I would consider wearing a witch's hat or something of that sort.

Where is the weirdest place you have slept?

Ummm, in a chair? Is that weird?

You miss someone?

Family

Do you call anybody by their last name?
Probably just my Doctor

Do you wear makeup?
Yes, I would look dead without it!

Can you put on mascara without opening your mouth?

You know, it would be very hard not to open my mouth just a little :)

Have you ever been called a bad influence?

No

THIS OR THAT:

Eyeliner or Mascara?

Mascara

Heels or flats?

flats!

Skirts or jeans?

JEANS

Heels or sneakers?
Heels

Straight or curly hair?

straight

Hoops or dangling earrings?

Hoops

Do you prefer light or dark haired guys?
Dark haired of course, cause' that's what my hubby is!

Are you currently frustrated with a guy?
Not at the moment

Do you have a best friend?

A few close friends :)

Have you ever had your heart broken?
Yes of course. I don't know one person yet who hasn't.

Have you ever thought of having plastic surgery?

No

Do you like your life?

I love my life. I'm very blessed.

Ever walked into the men's bathroom?

Almost one time!

Have you ever jumped in the pool with your clothes on?
I've done that once in my life :)

Would you ever tell someone you loved them even though you didn't?

No, never

Have you ever slapped a man in the face?

Yes

Have you ever cried yourself to sleep?

Yes

Have you ever not been able to get someone off of your mind?

Yes, then I married him! ;)

Do you believe in the saying “once a cheater, always a cheater”?
Somewhat

Have you ever had a good feeling about something?

Of course!

Do you ever wish you were famous?
Nooooo!

Cowboy or Gangster?

Cowboy

Preppy or Punk/Goth?

preppy

Well-educated or Dropout?

Well educated

Contacts or Glasses?
Contacts

Funny or Serious?

Funny

Romantic or Daredevil?

Romantic

Cute or Hot?

Cute

Long Hair or Short Hair?

Short

Good Dancer or Good Singer?

Good Singer

Basketball Player or Football Player?

Basketball player (I play that better than football!)

Smoker or Non-smoker?

Non-Smoker

Out with the old, in with the new!!

Our new oven is here! It's gorgeous, and functional, and has so many features I love and will greatly appreciate it after using an oven like our old one. I'm making mac n cheese for the kids as we speak! Well, off I go to cook. I think I might make some cookies later! ;)

Our new oven!

So, I have some news that I'm just ecstatic about. First I should tell you that our oven has been acting quirky, and at one point last week it would not turn off. It's a gas stove, and pretty old as well, so we made the decision to buy a new one. Well, we shopped around for ovens yesterday at Sears, and found the perfect one for us. In our price range, has all the features we need, plus a few extra that will come in handy :) We have gone for almost a week now with no oven, and I cook a lot, so it's been a HUGE (emphasized) inconvenience. At the same time, it's been kind of nice having a break from cooking :)
I thought I'd share a picture of which one we decided on. See what you think!



This oven is self cleaning ( our old one isn't), has a continuous grate on top (love that feature, allows you to just slide a hot pan right on over) and the oven controls are all electronic! It's also got a drawer for storage, which I love! The one we have now is a broiler, and I just don't use it. There is also a simmer burner that functions on very little BTU's, and one that is a 14,000 BTU power burner that will boil water for me quicker. I'm very excited if you can't tell, and I want to say thank you very much to my dad who made this possible. Thanks!

It's Saturday!!!!!

I just have to say that I am THRILLED that it's Saturday! I have been home all week, sick part of the time, and Rob sick on a day off , so I'm ready to get out! We are taking the kids out and about, and I'm not quite sure what we're doing yet. Gabriel is saying chuck e cheese, as well as Ariana, and in unison, I'm saying, " noooooo"!!!! I don't feel like being in that kind of craziness right now, I just want to enjoy my family, and do something a little quieter :) Heck, who needs chuck e cheese on a beautiful day like today! So, I'm not sure what the day has in store, but I kinda like being spontaneous, free as the wind!!! Well, you know what I mean :) So here I come day! Look out!

1. I believe whatever doesn't kill you makes you STRONGER!!

2. If you're good at something, use it, and don't take it for granted. So many people don't have a skill or something they are truly good at. It is a gift, and you are blessed to have it, so use it!

3. Why so gloomy, it's FRIDAY!!!

4. Something is out there, it's just waiting to be discovered!

5. If my life were a sitcom, it would be titled My life as a Jones. :)

6. Sitting on my back porch [if you don't have one, use your imagination] I see my backyard, the fence surrounding it, my children laughing and playing, and houses behind us.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to relaxing with my husband, tomorrow my plans include doing household projects with Rob and Sunday, I want to go to church, relax and possibly go to the store!

If you want to participate, click
here

This blog is back and on track!!

So, today is the first day I've posted on my blog since November of last year! Thanks to my dear friend Dawn, I am back and lovin' this! I just pray I can keep up ;)
It is Thursday, as you know, and it has been a good day so far. I'm feelin' positive and I've gotten a bit done around the house. Of course, that never stops, but I'm getting somewhere!
Before I get going, I wanted to share a picture of my sweet daughter Ariana and her first trip to the dentist! Now, this actually took place over a week ago, but I'm going to go ahead and post a few pictures since this is my new starting point.

Publish Post


Here is the big girl getting her teeth checked out. I can tell why she wouldn't like it! I'm not a big fan of Dentists either :)