THE BOOKED THAT CHANGED MY LIFE AND WAY OF THINKING

IVE ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO WAS LIKE IF IM GOING TO END UP WITH CANCER OR SOME DISEASE IM GOING TO GET IT REGARDLESS SO WHO CARES WHAT I PUT IN MY BODY. IVE ALWYAS BEEN A CRAZY DIET COKE DRINKER AND LOVE MY FAIR SHARE OF JUNK FOOD. IVE ALWAYS USED REGULAR PRODUCTS FOR AROUND THE HOUSE AND BATHING MY KIDS. TO ME THE "GRENN" STUFF WAS JUST A BIG SCAM! THEN I RECENTLY READ JESSICA ALBAS NEW BOOK "THE HONEST LIFE". WOW, WHAT AN EYE OPENER THAT WAS! I KNEW ABOUT THINGS IN MY SURROUNDINGS AND THAT ORGANIC WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BETTER BUT IT DIDNT REALLY HIT ME UNTIL I READ THIS BOOK. IT IS SO CRAZY WHAT COMPANIES CAN GET AWAY WITH!! THE CRAZIEST THING THAT I READ WAS HERE IM THINKING I AM WASHING MY CHILD WITH GENTLE SHAMPOO THAT WONT BURN HIS EYES. ITS WHAT WE HAVE ALL USED FOR GENERATIONS AND ITS THE GO TO BABY SHAMPOO FOR MOST ANYONE I KNOW. COME TO FIND OUT THE TEAR FREE SHAMPOO IS ONLY TEAR FREE BECAUSE THEY ADD NUMBING AGENTS TO IT TO BLOCK THE BURNING CHEMICALS THAT ARE IN IT FROM HURTING THEIR EYES!!! HOW CRAZY IS THAT! OR DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE CANCER CAUSING CHEMICALS IN DIAPERS AND IN THE MATTRESS YOU PUT YOUR BABY TO SLEEP ON FOR 12-16 HOURS A DAY! I COULD NOT BELIEVE THIS STUFF. BEFORE READING THIS I HAD MADE AN EFFORT TO MAKE MY SONS BABY FOOD MYSELF AND TRY MY BEST TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES FOR HIM BUT AFTER READING THIS I HAVE MADE SOME MAJOR CHANGES FOR MY FAMILY. ITS NO WONDER SO MANY PEOPLE GET CANCER THESE DAYS. THERE ARE SO MANY HARMFUL CHEMICALS IN SO MANY THINGS. I JUST FIGURE THERE IS SO MUCH THAT IS OUT OF MY CONTROL THAT WHY NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH THE THINGS I CAN CONTROL. SINCE THEN I HAVE CHANGED MY DIET TO AS NATURAL AS POSSIBLE. ITS SO CRAZY HOW GREAT YOU CAN MAKE THINGS TASTE THAT ARE ACTUALLY GOOD FOR YOU OPPOSED TO ALL THE GARBAGE THAT IS SO BAD FOR YOU. I ALSO HAVE MY KIDS EATING BETTER AND EVEN MY HUSBAND (WHO I KNOW THINKS IM A TAD ON THE COOCOO SIDE) HASNT COMPLAINED ABOUT THE CHANGES IN HIS MEALS! ITS A GREAT FEELING TO KNOW YOU ARE GIVING YOUR FAMILY THE BEST THINGS YOU CAN FOR THEM. ANOTHER GREAT BOOK IS GWENETH PALTROWS NEW COOKBOOK CALLED "IT'S ALL GOOD". IT IS ALL NATURAL HEALTHY MEALS THAT ARE DELISH!! I WOULD TOTALLY RECOMMEND READING JESSICAS BOOK IF YOU CAN. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST INFORMATIVE BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ. AND HER PRODUCTS ARE AMAZING TOO!! THE DIAPERS ARE A-DORABLE AND THEY WORK JUST AS GREAT ASLEADING BRAND DIAPERS IF NOT BETTER! THE BEST PART IS THEY HAVE NO CHEMICALS AND THEY ARE ALMOST COMPLETELY BIODEGRADABLE! HOW COOL IS THAT! THE PERSONAL & CLEANING PRODUCTS ARE GREAT TOO! I LOVE THEM ALL!!

READING IT ALSO FINALLY GOT ME TO DO SOMETHING I HAD WANTED TO DO FOR A LONG TIME. GET SO CHICKS! WE GO THROUGH A LOT OF EGGS IN OUR HOME. I FIGURED IF WE CAN HAVE OUR OWN CHICKENS AND FRESH EGGS WHY NOT! 

 SPARKY

 COCO

SWIFT

EASTER TREATS

THIS YEAR I HOSTED EASTER AT MY HOUSE FOR BOTH SIDES OF OUR FAMILY. I LOVE TO ENTERTAIN SO ANY TIME I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY I JUMP RIGHT ON IT!!  HERE ARE SOME PICS OF SOME OF THE TREATS WE HAD. 

  MINI YOGURT PARFAITS                                                             

 MINI TOMATO & BASIL SOUP SHOTS WITH MINI GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES

 MINI STACKS OF PANCAKES WITH BLUEBERRIES

 M&M CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

 COLORED DEVILED EGGS (JUST BECAUSE ITS MORE FUN THAT WAY!)

 COOKIE CUPS

 MINI BUNDT CAKES WITH PEEPS

 DESSERTS AND LEMON CAKE CHEESECAKE

HOMEMADE HEART SHAPED RAVIOLI

FOR VALENTINES DAY THIS YEAR I WANTED TO MAKE SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR DINNER. MY HUSBAND IS A VERY HEARTY EATER SO I THOUGHT SOME HOMEMADE PASTA WOULD BE DELISH. I ENDED UP MAKING HEART SHAPED RAVIOLI, MARINARA SAUCE, GRILLED CHICKEN & GARLIC BREAD. IT TURNED OUT SO SO GOOD.

Four Cheese Ravioli(ANNIES-EASTS.COM)
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Ingredients:
½ cup part-skim ricotta
½ cup shredded mozzarella
½ cup shredded fontina
½ cup shredded parmesan
1 clove garlic, finely minced
¼ tsp. dried oregano
¼ tsp. dried basil
¼ tsp. dried parsley
¼ tsp. salt
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 batch fresh homemade pasta
Marinara sauce, for serving

Directions:
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the ricotta, mozzarella, fontina, parmesan, garlic, and spices.  Mix well to blend.  Roll out homemade pasta into long, thin sheets.  To make heart-shaped ravioli, use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out pasta shapes.  Place about 2 teaspoons of filling in the middle of  half of the heart shapes, leaving a clear edge around the perimeter.  Dip a finger in water and lightly brush around the edges of a heart topped with the filling.  Place one of the remaining pasta hearts on top and press the edges of the pasta shapes together to seal around the filling, being careful to press out any excess air.  Repeat with the remaining dough shapes.

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.  Cook the ravioli until al dente, about 5 minutes.  Serve in warmed bowls with marinara sauce.

PAULAS GARLIC BREAD

Ingredients
1 head garlic, unpeeled
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup (2-sticks) butter, softened
3 tablespoons minced parsley leaves
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1loaf sourdough bread, split horizontally
Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Cut top off garlic head. Place garlic on a piece of aluminum foil; drizzle with olive oil. Fold edges together to seal. Bake 30 minutes; cool.

Squeeze cooked garlic into a medium bowl. Garlic will be soft and sticky. Add butter, parsley salt and pepper, stirring to combine.

Spread cut halves of bread evenly with garlic butter mixture. Broil 5 1/2 inches from heat, with oven door partially opened, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until butter melts and bread is toasted. Cut into slices to serve.

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/zesty-roasted-garlic-bread-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback

MARINARA SAUCE(ALLRECIPES.COM)

Ingredients Edit and Save

Original recipe makes 4 cupsChange Servings

• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 6 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/3 cup finely diced onion
• 1/2 cup RED WINE

1. In a food processor place Italian tomatoes, tomato paste, chopped parsley, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat saute the finely chopped onion in olive oil for 2 minutes. Add the blended tomato sauce and white wine.
3. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

OUTDOOR PHOTO SHOOT TAKE 2

I LOVED HOW THE PICTURES OF MY SON TURNED OUT SO MUCH THAT I TOOK HIM BACK WITH MY DAUGHTER THE NEXT DAY! I WANTED TO DO PICTURES OF HER AS WELL AS THE TWO OF THEM TOGETHER. THEY TURNED OUT SO CUTE! I ALSO BROUGHT MY SISTER ALONG THIS TIME SO I COULD GET IN A FEW PICTURES WITH THE KIDS TOO. WE REALLY LUCKED OUT TO HAVE TWO DAYS IN A ROW WITH SUCH GREAT WEATHER!