Is chivalry dead?????

Ok, so I have a small addiction to Home Depot and Lowes! Home projects for me are the gateway to some big arguments with Big Daddy!! That being said, let's move on. I was making a run yesterday to Home Depot for 2 new front lawnmower tires. Mine have been needing to be replaced all summer. After having a meltdown on Tuesday evening  finding the mower flat as all get out, when I had plans to get the grass cut I decided it was time to replace them. So Wednesday morning after dropping Kansas off at the bus I decided to run and get new tires. It was nasty outside. I mean raining buckets! I roamed around breathing in the smell of lumber and tried not to be distracted by all the goodies. (light bulbs, grill accessories, lawn furniture, cleaning supplies, drain cleaner) I told you I have an addiction! Moving along, I grab my tires, some goo gone, and a grill brush and head to the check out. I ring everything up, and get my military discount and head for the door. It is still pouring down the rain. POURING! I have a bunch of oddly shaped things in my cart and a 1 year old in his pajamas who has been up all night with tummy trouble. I'm not looking for sympathy just making a point. As we wait under the awning outside the man in front of me...(who clearly knows I have a baby in my cart and a bunch of oddly shaped items) opens a gigantic golf umbrella. This thing is huge. I mean you could put 5 adults under it easily. He stands there for a second and then casually walks to his car...that is parked right next to my Tahoe. We are only like the fourth car from the front. I'm kinda appalled at what just happened. I never expect anything. As most of you know, I rarely ask for help. But to stand right in front of me and not even offer to walk me and my child to our car with your gigantic umbrella is just RUDE. Maybe his Mama didn't teach him manners, maybe he is just selfish, I don't know. It may be that he was afraid of imposing the offer and getting turned down, but he never even gave me the chance to say no. Either way I took it as... you and your baby are not good enough to stand under my umbrella, have a good day. It made me realize that I always try to help others if I can, even if it means I have to step out of my way a little bit. So my question to you is are you willing to step out of your way to help others or are you going to be THAT man, that is to busy, or selfish, or WHATEVER it may be, to lend a hand. Come on people, you never know how you can impact someones life when you take the time to help them. JUST SAYIN!!!http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Polite-to-Everyone Here is a guide if you don't know how to be polite! Oh and parents raising your lovely children, this is a must! We are responsible for the way the world operates in the future so take these things and teach them to your children. It will make the world a better place!!

Festival Time!!

The Annual Pungo Strawberry Fetival is this weekend and it is always sure to bring a good time. This will be my 10th  time enjoying the festival! Last year I was in the hospital having my beautiful son otherwise it would be my 11th. I am looking forward to having a Strawberry Taco from Charity United Methodist and getting my t-shirt at Back Bay Botanicals booth!! I also have to let everyone know that Mosaics Hair Salon is giving away a 50$ Gift Card so get your raffle ticket!! You can enter right in front of the salon all weekend!!
 It is gonna be a muddy mess I am sure, but lets just hope that everyone stays safe and has fun while they are getting dirty!! I will leave you with this recipe fom my look a like!!.....Hope you enjoy those strawberries!!

Recipe: Strawberry Shortcake Cake

Prep Time: 1Minute | Cook Time: 45 Minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Servings: 10

Print Recipe3"x5" Cards4"x6" CardsFull Page

Ingredients

• Cake
• 1-1/2 cup Flour
• 3 Tablespoons Cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 9 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, Softened
• 1-1/2 cup Sugar
• 3 whole Large Eggs
• 1/2 cup Sour Cream, Room Temperature
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• _____
• Icing
• 1/2 pound Cream Cheese, Room Temperature
• 2 sticks Unsalted Butter
• 1-1/2 pound Powdered Sugar, Sifted
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 1 pound Strawberries

Preparation Instructions

IMPORTANT: Be sure to use a cake pan that’s at least 2 inches deep! Before baking, the batter should not fill the pan more than halfway.
Sift together flour, salt, baking soda, and corn starch.
Cream 9 tablespoons butter with the sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well each time. Add sour cream and vanilla and mix until combined. Add sifted dry ingredients and mix on low speed until just barely combined.
Pour into greased and floured 8-inch cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes, or until no longer jiggly like my bottom. Remove from cake pan as soon as you pull it out of the oven, and place on a cooling rack and allow it to cool completely.
Stem strawberries and slice them in half from bottom to top. Place into a bowl and sprinkle with 3 tablespoons sugar. Stir together and let sit for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, mash the strawberries in two batches. Sprinkle each half with 1 tablespoons sugar and allow to sit for another 30 minutes.
Make icing: combine cream cheese, 2 sticks butter, sifted powdered sugar, vanilla, and dash of salt in a mixing bowl. Mix until very light and fluffy.
Slice cake in half through the middle. Spread strawberries evenly over each half (cut side up), pouring on all the juices. Place cake halves into the freezer for five minutes, just to make icing easier.
Remove from freezer. Use a little less than 1/3 of the icing to spread over the top of the strawberries on the bottom layer. Place the second layer on top. Add half of the remaining icing to the top spreading evenly, then spread the remaining 1/3 cup around the sides.
Leave plain OR garnish with strawberry halves.
IMPORTANT: Cake is best when served slightly cool. The butter content in the icing will cause it to soften at room temperature. For best results, store in the fridge!

Posted by Ree on July 17 2009

Small town girl!

Well being home has it's advantages. Like my Mom making pancakes for breakfast, or getting a shower with no one needing me during the middle of it! Many other things come to mind but I really don't have all day to list them.
While I'm home I'm on a tight schedule of who I need to see and where we need to be.
This past Sunday we took a Ranger ride all over Ripley county. It is so beautiful here. I have taken it for granted growing up. There is a peacefulness here that you don't find many places. It could be that a lot of folks have been born and raised here and never left, totally clueless to what the rest of the world is like. I think even those that know choose to stay planted right here in the county they grew up in.

I on the other hand got the heck outta here as fast as I could. Looking back, I don't regret a thing. It has just given me a deeper appreciation for home!

Check out these pictures from my ride round the county!!

Lottery...

So one winning ticket was sold for 640 million. 640 million. 640 million.
 I hope whoever won, will do some good with that money. I would have if I won it, but I guess ya gotta play to win. I bought tickets the last time it was 300 mil and didn't win so this time I opted out. That 12 bucks is gas in my Tahoe. If only the rest of the world could get that.
   One person wins all this money, pays the taxes on it and still teachers are losing their jobs and people are homeless. Our priorities are screwed up!! It drives me crazy when people say the don't have money and then you see them a week later carrying a Coach bag. ( I love Coach, I have no money, but I have a Coach bag.) See where I am going with this is... we all have the money until we don't. If we want something bad enough we find a way or try to at least. The rest of the time we manage because we have to. (GUILTY!!!)
    I have been on a Dave Ramsey journey for about 2 years now. Start and quit. Start and quit. I am trying to make a commitment to something that is foreign to me and really difficult to do. How nice would it be to win the Lotto. SUPER NICE!! But reality tells me that usually you don't win.
  Get yourself out of debt first, which is extremely hard to do. Then bless others with what you have after. Save and invest. Spend it because you actually have it to spend.
  I have a client that lived on 900 dollars one year. It may have been a long time ago, but it can be done. I watched my sister who completed Dave's program, write a check for a week in Aruba, and not even flinch.

I want to be that person, but before I can, I either have to win the Lottery or Change my weary ways.
 I wonder if I can give up Coach??? Maybe just for a while.In the mean time I am doing the best I can. Wanna get out of Debt?  Here is a link for you!www.daveramsey.com I've decided instead of saying," I don't have the money right now", that " I am on a diet!!"   Let's see how it works!

I'll let you know how I am doing in the mean time!!  Heather

Waiting on the bus ....

Funny the things you see when you sit in the same spot everyday at the same time.
People just moving through life headed out on their daily routines. It is interesting in a small town when you see that one vehicle that doesn't belong. This morning it was a Mercedes with government tags and a barrage of military vans. Must be headed out to the range to show some dignitary how well are marksmen are, or something is going down in Pungo BIG!!
Inside my Tahoe the only thing that matters is my sweet girl, singing to her brother "Bubba" and him bumbling along.
It is her boyfriends birthday today at school so she is dressed to the hilt. Lipgloss and Justin Beiber perfume. Even a dress and boots!
She did tell me that supper was good last night and she can't stop talking about that "meat".
" What kind was it again Mama?". "Round steak with gravy," I said. " Boy it sure was good, almost as good as Paula Deen," she replies!!
Well if almost is good to her, it is good to me too!!
Now off to the house for my Tuesday chores. Lets se what I can get myself into today!!!

I wear two aprons

I wear two aprons...one at work and one at home. Both aprons are passions of mine and if they had an apron for other things I would probably wear one. I may just have to be the creator of, APRONS FOR EVERYTHING!!!!( in a loud echoed voice)
   I am a seasoned hair stylist and while at work I talk mostly about my love of cooking. I am not however a seasoned cook. I can make a lot of things, but, other than soup I don't know that I have mastered any. But, none the less, I am here to share my two passions in life! The Art of Hair and The Art of Cooking. Both done by me, for the ones I love!!