The F word!

I hate the F word. It makes my skin crawl every time I hear it or read it. I hate it so much. I don’t want to be associated with that word in any way shape or form. Not that the ones who are, are bad people by any means. It’s just not what I want to be. When I think of the F word it is almost like an insult to me. Maybe I am just weird, but my skin is crawling just typing this.

What is the F word? It’s probably not what you are thinking of. In fact I know it isn’t. I don’t like that F word either but the one I am referring to is FRUGAL. Before I sound like a complete snob let me explain. I have no problem with coupons. I love coupons. I used to get so excited when they did triple coupons and dollar doubles. I love a great sale as much as anyone else. I love to shop clearance and see what I can find for really cheap. I am not excessively wasteful either. It is just one of those words that get under my skin and gives me the creeps. Kind of like the way people don’t like the word moist. That seems to be a creepy word too.

I am not sure where the word frugal came from. I am sure its Latin or Greek for something. When I think of that word I think about a recent episode of Wife Swap and how the family shared bath water. I think of people reusing everything. I see them picking up used toilets at the end of people’s driveways. I think of people with bomb shelters full of food. You know the ones that are ready for some really long natural disaster.

I know some people have to be like that to survive. I am not trying to insult anyone I promise. I just hate that word. They should change it to something new. The word frugal gives me the heebie jeebies. I am sure you all have words that just drive you crazy. It is odd how certain words are just like nails on the chalkboard but are perfectly fine for others. What are some of your creep out words?

No profanity please. I am aware most people don’t like foul language so you don’t need to point that out to me.

When I hear that song....I think of you

So I am sitting here listening to 90’s music, trying to reclaim my champion title on MahJong and I can’t focus. I am thinking about the songs that are playing and I am singing along. I keep thinking about the memories each song has given me. I know it’s probably dorky that I like 90’s music. Honestly, I have so many memories that has to do with music. I am sure everyone does. When I hear those certain songs I start thinking about the people I was with or what was going on. It made me really want to blog.

The first song that came on was Blues Traveler. Now when I hear certain Blues Traveler songs I think of my old friend Michelle. I think about how we used to do karaoke late night after daiquiris. It was dorky but it was fun. Her and I have so many songs since we were best friends for a very long time. Which would totally make sense. Another song I heard was Runaway Train by Soul Asylum. I thought of someone I hadn’t talked to in quite a while. His name was Reggie. We were online friends. We used to talk on the phone some. He lived in Utah. That was a song that we both listened to. After some years, we lost contact. It had been years since we talked. I decided to finally look him up on myspace. I found him and I saw that he is married now and has adorable kids. I sent him a message just to say hi, but I never heard back. He probably forgot who I was. I don’t blame him. LOL.

It’s crazy to think how just one song can bring back memories. You can go years without thinking about someone or something and you happen to hear a song and bam, like lightening. There it is again. Other songs can bring on a flood of emotions too. They don’t have to be sad either. If I told you songs that I have cried while listening to you would seriously think I was nuts. Music has such an underlying influence if we realize it or not. It’s just kind of something that we hear and either file in our brains for a rainy day or it gets stuck in your head for days. Yes Toilet Paper, Light bulbs, socks for Rosie, crayons is still stuck in my head incase you were wondering. Music is something that can help you remember or forget and even make you feel better.

I remember when I was in elementary school I really liked this boy and he didn’t like me back so I would listen to After the Rain by Nelson to feel better. It always worked. I’m not sure why, probably because it was encouraging to a little broken hearted me. I saw that guy a year ago. I wasn’t impressed. I wondered why I liked him. He was and is a jerk! Lol. I totally acted like I had no clue who he was. I’m bad. A bad experience can totally ruin a song too. I will never be able to listen to some songs again because if the bad memories they hold.

Whenever I hear a song I sang in choir it makes me think of being in school and the good times we had in that class. If it was a Christmas song, it makes me thing of the hoopla known as Holiday Spectacular. Holiday Spectacular was our holiday program in high school. It was unlike any other concert. It was unique. It was very nerve wracking but it was so much fun. It was a huge bonding experience. It was full of laughter and tears and the occasional blood shed. It was definitely the experience that I will never forget and I am happy to have the chance to be a part of it. Even if you had to work really hard and stand at the top of the bleachers and pray you don’t fall off the back from fainting. I have lots of funny and strange stories about that whole thing for another day.

I really like all kinds of music. I am not huge on rap and R&B but there are a handful of songs I like because of the memories. I recently had a conversation with a guy on facebook who shall remain anonymous about music. He is a singer. His voice is ah-mazing. He’s really hot too. Tee-hee. I hope he doesn’t come read my blog cause I would be embarrassed. He told me about how passionate he is about his music and I thought it was a really cool thing to talk about because I could totally get what he was saying and in his words he was expressing his passion. I really hope he achieves his dream. He is really talented.

I think it is crazy how much I can relate to certain songs. Some times I think that a singer is singing about me or about my life. The song Photograph by Nickelback is one of those songs. I have altered the name in the song to Chris though. Chris was my old best friend’s husband who was killed in Iraq and some how on New Years eve one year we convinced him to put a tiara that said Happy New Year on his head and took pictures of him. I suspect alcohol was the culprit in that one. At Chris’s viewing I was watching the dvd she made and that picture was in there and I started laughing so hard. I felt really stupid. After all it was a sad event. It was my favorite memory with him. I told her she should of warned me. Thankfully I didn’t laugh at the funeral when they showed the video again. The other lyrics of Photograph were pretty much verbatim of high school for me.

I know that most people can relate to different songs. That is what gives them the magic and I am sure that is what the singer or the band is really going for besides the sound. It’s all about the connection and the feelings between the musicians and the listener.

I would love to hear about some songs that give you reminders of things and why they do. I look forward to reading more about you.

It's Football time with Frito-Lay Giveaway!

Lots of things start in the fall. School starts back, the weather gets crisper and of course Football season starts. I enjoy watching football. It is really exciting to see who is going to win. I am naturally a Colts fan. So when they play it is always an exciting game. Some people tailgate incase you don’t know what tailgating is. It is where you hang out with other fans in the parking lot before the game. I remember tailgating in high school before my schools team played. It was a lot of fun. Of course not everyone can make it out to the game so, we watch from home or get together with friends and family to watch. What fun is a football game without food? I love to eat. Eating during a football game is like eating popcorn while you are watching a movie.


I received an awesome better for you tailgating kit from Frito-Lay. It had Lays potato chips, Fritos, and Tostitos chips. I also received a really nice ceramic football that has two bowls for chips and dip. The last thing was a $25 dollar American Express Gift card to purchase the ingredients with. I really like the football dish. It has goal post stands. It really looks like a football. My son saw it and started saying football and he wanted to play with it.

There are much healthier options than the normal pizza and hot wings to eat during the game. Frito-Lay is really concerned with the health of their customers. Remember with some moderation and substituting items for low fat or fat free can make a big difference by cutting hundreds of calories. A little creativity and thought and you can come up with healthier options for your party guests without sacrificing flavor and quality. So Frito-Lay is promoting a healthier tailgate party.

One Frito-Lay Product I love is the canned Jalapeño cheddar cheese. It is great on chips or as a special ingredient in a recipe. I have two recipes that I use it in. If I don’t have the Jalapeño cheddar cheese I don’t make the recipe. One of my favorite recipes is for taco bake. It can be served as a meal during the games. It would be a great half time meal. I would love to share my taco bake recipe with you.

Sheilacakes Spicy Taco Bake

1 pound ground beef (or turkey would work too)
1 package taco seasoning
1 can Fritos Jalapeño Cheddar Cheese
4 to 5 tortillas (I use the medium size)
A handful of cheddar or Mexican blend cheese

Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees

Brown the meat and drain. Return to skillet and add taco seasoning and water per the packages directions. Heat through. Add three big spoonfuls of the Jalapeño Cheddar Cheese to the meat and stir.

Using a glass pie pan put one tortilla on the bottom and add one spoon of Jalapeño Cheddar Cheese and coat the tortilla. Add some of the meat and repeat until you only have enough meat to do it one more time. Don’t forget to coat each tortilla each time. When you get to the last layer put more Jalapeño Cheddar on the top. Sprinkle a little shredded cheese on the top and bake for 15 minutes.

Not only is it good but it is easy and inexpensive! If you wanted you could double the quantities and make it in a bigger pan.

Another Football favorite at my house is Fritos with ground beef and Jalapeño Cheddar Cheese. Of course if you don’t like your cheese spicy they also sell a Mild Cheddar which is also really good. It is delish on Cool Ranch Doritos. I thought I would share how I first learned about the Fritos canned cheese. My cousin Susie had me try it. I remember when I went and visited her when she was in college and we decided to have a picnic at the park. We also went canoeing and we got stuck. We had pitas and chips and the cheese. I am hooked. It’s something that not a lot of people know about but man it is good!

Thank you to Frito-Lay for the wonderful tailgating kit

I want to help you have a great football season. So I have a Frito-Lay Better for You tailgate pack for one of my readers. You will get the same things as I did. The three bags of assorted chips, the football dish and the $25 gift card.

GO COLTS!!! GO COLTS!!! GO COLTS!!!

This giveaway is going to be a little different. I would like for you to give me a recipe.
Here are the rules:
1. Your recipe must use at least one Frito-Lay Product

2. Please Be Creative and Original.

3. Please make your recipe with better for you items as this is to promote healthier options.

4. Please remember to put your email address in your comment or make it accessible on your blog.

I will be picking the winner of the tailgating pack from the recipes that are submitted based on taste and better for you ingredients.

Some better for you ingredients include Low fat, fat free items, vegetables, and other items that give you positive nutrition.

This Giveaway will end on October 11th at 11:59 pm ET.
Open to US residents ONLY.