Children Learning to Ride Horses

I grew up with horses. My old neighborhood had stables and the most beautiful horses. I wasn’t as big of a horse fan as my sister was. Well, I had My Little Ponies but that wasn’t the same thing.  My sister had all kinds of horse posters, horse statues and even shirts with horses on them.  One of the things we both did when we were young was taking horseback riding lessons at our neighborhood stables.  It was a lot of fun. We also were able to learn more about horses. We would comb their manes. We also had to learn the parts of a saddle and even how to put the saddle on properly.  I would always bring an apple for my horse after I rode. I learned the proper way to clean its hooves too.  I used to love when I had a chance to ride a horse.  I felt so proud and in charge.  I had to be careful not to scare the horse or make it go too fast.  Taking riding lessons is a lot more than just getting on a horse and riding around. You also have to learn important safety tips.   After all horses are animals, and can be unpredictable. 

 You really learn how to be responsible. If I didn’t behave, I wasn’t allowed to go to my riding lesson.  I didn’t want to miss a minute of it so I was always on my best behavior.  I didn’t do any competing.  I wasn’t looking to become a famous equestrian. I just liked to ride horses. I am not sure I would have been comfy with all the jumps. I wasn’t very brave.  Some of my friends that took riding lessons did all the jumps and the courses. I had private lessons with my sister so we only did what we were comfortable with.  I remember going to neighborhood friends horse shows. It looked so cool, but at the same time it wasn’t for me. 

I would love for Noah to take horseback riding lessons; if that is something he would be interested in. I am sure I can find a pony club  for him to join when he is on summer break.  He loves animals so, maybe.  He likes to look at pictures of his mom on a horse.   I still remember how to clean a horse’s hooves and could properly install a saddle in a pinch.  If your child is interested in horses, you should give them the chance to learn to ride.  Going on a pony ride at the fair or zoo is totally different than letting them go out and really ride.  Kids get to know the horse on a more personal level, and they get to really learn how to take care of horses and the techniques to ride a horse.

Did you ever take horseback riding lessons when you were young? What did you think?

I love Paula Deen

As an amateur chef, I like to watch cooking shows. I admire  some of the famous chefs. I really look up to Paula Deen. I love that she is so down to earth and seems really sweet. I totally love her story and how she went though a lot. She started by making sack lunches and selling them. It may be that she is a single mom like I am. She started out with nothing but determination and turned in to one of most recognizable faces and voices in America.  She is truly an inspirational woman.

I am a sucker for southern cooking too. Growing up one of my best friends lived in North Carolina so I embraced everything southern especially the food. I used to try and talk with a southern accent horribly. I remember that  we used to visit our friends and had delicious southern feasts.  Usually their neighbors would also cook too and it would be a pitch in meal that we enjoyed after sitting in chairs on the lawn or on the deck.

When I started watching Paula Deen, I really loved her style and thought she had great tools to work with. I was extremely excited when I learned she has her own line of kitchen accessories. I immediately fell in love with her line and just had to have everything. I love that it really shows off her southern charm. I love how classic everything is. Everything is amazing quality too. It would last a long time. Every cook needs a few things that have a history and that are aged and well loved.

I believe you can never have too many measuring cups or measuring spoons. I have an extensive collection of kitchen tools that I use often. I love to bake and cook different dishes at the same time and it is easier for me to just grab another item than take the time to wash and dry it, just to use it again.  I know in theory that makes more dishes to clean up later, but I just put everything in the dishwasher.  Another reason to have extra sets on hand because you can lose them. I have many measuring cups but only a couple fourth of a cups or a bunch of teaspoons.  Noah has been known to walk off with something and it never is found again. It gets lost somewhere in a toy box or thrown in the trash. It is essential to have a full set of kitchen tools. I have also lost them in moving over the years. I lost a spatula once that was never found even after we packed everything.

I would love to go to The Lady and Sons restaurant in Savannah someday. My sister and brother in law have been there a few times and really like it.  I think the next time we visit my sister and  brother in law i will see if we can go to Savannah.  It sounds like such a cool place to visit with lots of shops and history. Maybe we can even find out where Paula Deen lives and knock on her front door.  A girl can dream can't she? I would love to meet Paula Deen. Maybe someday I will. 

What are your most used kitchen tools? Do you have multiples of the same items too?

This post is inspired by BlogDash. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Last Weekend was Amazingly Fun

Noah and I like to do fun things together on the weekends. We do fun things everyday but those are more around our home.  This past weekend we went to a Pioneer place. They were having a BBQ competition.  Now we weren’t really in to the whole food aspect of it. We did however have a lot of fun.  We went on a hayride. It was Noah’s first one. We always talked about going to the pumpkin patch but that never happened.  So, Noah was unsure about a hay ride. He told me he didn’t want to do it. He wouldn’t like it, but tough cookies kiddo. We were going. Well, the moment he saw the tractor pulling the wagon, he was so excited. He loved every moment, minus the screaming kids, without supervision.  We also fed some chickens. We grounded the corn ourselves, and I realized that I needed to work out. It was so tough trying to turn the wheel, but I figured it out.  No starving chickens on my watch.  After the hayride and feeding the chickens, who had laid an egg, we went to do other things. We made candles.  I used to love to make candles so it was extra exciting for me.  I admit I was nervous about Noah and hot wax.  He did a great job though.  His candle is awesome.  I had so much fun.  We also made homemade butter. It is so easy to do.  It was the best butter I had ever tried.  I had used a butter churn at Conner Prairie before but this was so much more fun.  I will be posting articles how to make both very soon. 

We also enjoyed hot dogs and sno-cones.  We came home and later went to the beach.  It was a beautiful day and the water was fun. There were some waves but not the wipe out variety.  I was so nervous because my boy had no fear. I was so worried that he would wipe out, like I used to do.  No one wiped out.  We also made a tidal pool. It started out as my foot spa, and then Noah took over.  I told him we should dig to China. He told me that is not possible. So I changed it to digging for buried treasure.  I didn’t find anything though. I also had a chance to be in the water all by myself. Sometimes you need that break in something absolutely beautiful to recharge. I spent a lot of time thinking about things and relaxing. We had a great day.  It was almost perfect.

What do you have planned for this weekend?

He is Growing Up So Fast

I only have one child. He is six and a half. He is really growing up. I knew this would happen, but it's happening so fast. Time is flying by like the wind. I am cherishing every day and every moment. It all started when he told me to stop calling him baby. No matter how many times I say that I am not calling him a baby that wears a diaper. I am calling him baby like honey or sweetie.  It doesn't matter, he doesn't like it.  I have been working on it but its hard.

Noah has started giving himself his own baths. I am in the room of course but he doesn't want any help. I let him do it, but help to get the extra shampoo out.  We had a conversation about how I can't give him baths anymore. I wanted to cry. It was definitely a bittersweet moment. I am happy that he is independent and confident. I am a little sad because he's no longer that little boy. I am crying while writing this.

He has started telling me to stop babying him. I am his mom, I want to help him but I guess I need to wait to be asked.  He always thinks its amazing when I read his mind. When I know what he wants. I just smile and say because I am your mom.  I know what you are thinking. 

He no longer watches Sprout. This past Christmas, there wasn't a Caillou Holiday Movie marathon. I no longer hear Chica's squeak. I look forward to all the awesome things to come. I'm just gonna miss things that he used to do.

We will Miss you Lexy.

A couple days ago, we noticed our kitty Lexy was not acting like her self. She wasn't in pain, but was very lazy. That's not normally like her. She hid for the first time in a long time. It took us twenty minutes to find her under a bed. There is a lot of stuff being stored under there. She was almost twenty years old. My sister and I both got kittens when I was 11. Lucy was "mine" but I loved them both equally. Lucy and Lexy lived with me. When Lucy died it was heartbreaking.

Lexy passed away on April 19th sometime in the early morning.  She died peacefully. We are all heartbroken and so sad. She has been in our family for a long time. Noah is heartbroken.  I hated having to tell him. I didn't tell him before school, he didn't ask or I would have.  I knew it would be hard for him to go to school knowing. They were throwing water balloons at the principal for doing their homework over spring break.  When Noah came home he noticed that the litter box was gone. He asked where it was. I sat him down and broke the bad news to him. I held him while we both cried. He said I am glad that Lexy gets to go to heaven and she gets to see Lucy but I am so sad because I miss her and I won't get to see her again.  It is weird not having any pets after 19 years. It becomes routine and you love them so much. 

Both Lucy and Lexy are and were extremely loved. They were good and sweet cats that lived long lives.  We miss them terribly.

Now to pick up the pieces of our broken hearts.....

Teriyaki Ramen Noodles Recipe

I have never really been big on eating Ramen noodles. I know a lot of people really like them. Ramen noodles are just not my thing. I'm not sure if it's the water or what, I did learn how to make really good Ramen noodle recipe. Basically all you use is that stuff that comes in the Ramen noodle package but you add a bunch of different flavors to it. This is the only way I like to eat Ramen noodles. Its really easy and very flavorful. I learned this recipe from my friend Chris who sacrificed his life for our freedom in Iraq. Every time I eat this dish I think about Chris. It's a great way to meet something not only really delicious but also friendly affordable.

One package of Oriental Ramen noodles

some chopped onion

one cap of Teriyaki sauce

a spoonful of brown sugar

Cook Ramen noodles according to the package do not add the flavor packet. Drain the water and add the flavor packet, onion, Teriyaki sauce, and brown sugar. Mix and enjoy.

A special thank you to Chris for not only sharing your yummy recipe with me but for also making ultimate sacrifice for my freedom. I miss you more than you could ever know.

Creative Popcorn Toppings

We love to eat popcorn in my house. Thanks to Publix we always have some because of the buy one get one free sales they have. I don't always like just butter popcorn, even the movie theater butter microwave kind. I usually add something to it. The only time I really want butter popcorn is at the movies because I always get extra extra butter. I don't really go to the movies often.

Here are some of my creative popcorn toppings I have discovered through the years.

Parmesan cheese popcorn

You can use either the sprinkles or the shreds. I use both. It just depends because Noah likes the sprinkle kind. The shredded kind gets a little crunchy but its so good.

Jalapeño Popcorn

This is something I learned in Texas with my cousins and her kids. We went to the movies and they put jalapeños on their popcorn. I tried it with just the juice because I wasn't in to Jalapeños. Now I love them so I just throw them on top too.

Homemade Garlic Popcorn

I totally love garlic popcorn but I can't eat it very often because my stomach hurts after, but it's definitely worth it.

Popcorn and icing

This is something I used to do with my Grandma Rose. She had heart problems and was on a special diet and so she had an air popper. The popcorn was pretty bland so I would dip it in chocolate icing. It was surprisingly good.

Chili powder on popcorn is not good. I really like chili powder but never on popcorn.

How do you like to eat popcorn?

The Day the Fridge Died

One of my most memorable Christmases was the year that our refrigerator broke on Christmas Day. Thankfully we were living in Indiana and it had been very cold that day so we were able to keep everything outside on our screened in porch. My mom and sister were going out of town to Chicago the next day so I was left without a refrigerator for a few days. Normally on Christmas Eve we always have a bunch of appetizers means there's always yummy leftovers. In case you were wondering they did not go to waste.Then my family had the task of picking out a new refrigerator. We wanted to make sure that we purchased one with the specific features. The first important feature was that it had two doors because I really like to stock up on frozen food. We have grown accustomed to having a water and ice dispenser so of course that was a key feature for us to have. After we decided which features we wanted we also had to decide what the refrigerator would look like because it has to match the kitchen. Finally we had to think about costs with it being just after Christmas and the fact that I received a new computer that year and we were not expecting our fridge to die on Christmas Day we wanted to make sure it was something that was in our budget. Don't worry we were able to find one. I no longer had to be like Abraham Lincoln and go out in the snow to find something to eat. I guess it could've been worse the heat could have been broken and when my mom and sister came home they would have found an ice lolly named Sheila.

I Hopped Down the Hershey's Bunny Trail

Noah's first Easter!

  I can’t believe Easter is next week! Where has all the time gone? It seems like just yesterday I was putting up my Christmas Tree.  I love Easter, it is one of my favorite holidays. It reminds me about what Christ did for me. I also love the festivities and traditions my family has. We always dye eggs, surprisingly I really like the smell of vinegar.  I started the tradition of doing an Easter Egg hunt with Noah. I have some really cute pictures and videos of egg hunts in the past. My favorite Easter tradition is hunting for Easter baskets. Sometimes the Easter Bunny leaves your basket out in the open, but at my house he hides them. It is fun to hunt for it. A few times I have found it in the dryer, the closet and even outside once. Noah loves going on the hunt. This year it might be a little tricky to hide. The Easter Bunny really has to put his thinking cap on, and find a great place.  I wonder what kinds of goodies and surprises are going to make it in Noah’s basket. Did I mention, he uses the basket that I used since I was like four? I think that is a pretty cool tradition too.  I am sure there will be some great treats.  The Easter bunny doesn’t do a ton of candy, but there is always some. There are so many great Easter candies to choose from, and I love candy.

I was contacted by Hershey’s to hop down the Bunny Trail. The Bunny Trail allows you to make a virtual Easter baskets, and share your Easter traditions and memories. I guess I am really lucky because they sent me my basket.  I was able to customize the basket; I picked green, my favorite color. Pink grass because it would look like Spring.  Then the most difficult part of the trip down the Bunny Trail, picking out the candy I wanted to try.  I love so many kinds only picking five was kind of tricky for me. I am very happy with my choices though.  First thing I pick was York Peppermint Patty Eggs. I really like peppermint and I know that it’s one of Noah’s favorite candies.  Any candy shaped in an egg is very festive in my opinion. The next thing I picked was Jolly Ranchers Wildberry Jelly Beans, because you have to have Jelly beans for Easter.  I really like that they have flavors like Strawberry Watermelon and Blue Raspberry. My mom who doesn’t really like a lot of candy, really liked the jelly beans too.

 Since I love Jolly Ranchers, I also picked the Jolly Ranchers Sours. I already know how good these are. I just really like them. They aren’t too sour and have the classic Jolly Rancher flavor.  I always eat all the Watermelons first, then the Cherry, then Apple, and then Orange.  The folks at Hershey’s must have known because there were a lot of Watermelon ones in there.  Next I picked the Snack Sized Twizzlers. Twizzlers are so yummy. I like these because I can give a pack to Noah and it is just enough candy for him. He literally chased me all over until I opened my Easter Basket. I asked my friends on Facebook if I had to share with anyone and everyone said no. I decided to share though. It’s no fun having such a fun basket of treats and being stingy.  I also know that Noah would have chased me around again.  The last thing I picked I am not sharing.  I got a giant Resse’s Peanut Butter Egg. I have never seen one this big.  Noah asked me for a slice of it.  I said nope.  I love Reese’s peanut butter eggs, and this one is huge.  I did make sure the Easter Bunny saves him a normal sized one for his basket. I am so excited and happy with the special trip I went on down the Hershey’s Bunny Trail.

I hope you will try out some of these special Hershey’s Easter treats. 

For more information please visit Celebrate with Hershey's. 

Thank you so much to Hershey’s for sending me my awesome Easter Basket.  I created while I hopped down the Bunny Trail. All thoughts and opinions are my own.