When it rains....IT POURS!!

Over the last month I have had contractors come out and give estimates on replacing our roof, fence, and windows. All of this has been damaged by storms this year! It's been a crazy storm season here in Texas. Just when I finally get all the bids I need for everything another storm came through here last night at about 9:30.

Remember our wonderful patio that Matt worked so hard on last summer in the 1000 degree heat? Remember the awesome deal we got on the patio furniture and the canopy?

Well, here is our canopy as of this morning.

That is our neighbor's house!! The legs busted through his roof! This is a view from the front yard.

Back yard view

This is where the cloth cover landed. Our patio cover is totally gone! The crazy thing is that this canopy probably weighs at least 250 pounds. Our patio table didn't even budge! The chairs were blown over but the table didn't move an inch. CRAZY!!

I was standing at the patio door when the canopy blew away. It was there one second and gone the next. The wind picked it up just like it was a feather blowing in the wind!

Hopefully our neighbors don't hate us! I'm thinking we need to move now! Anyone need a house?? I think this will go in the Before and After category for sure.

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos

I made these tonight and they were so YUMMY!! You have to try these!

Printable Version

1/3 cup (3 oz) cream cheese
1/4 cup green salsa
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp granulated garlic or garlic powder
3 tbsp cilantro
2 tbsp sliced green onions (optional)
2 cups shredded cooked chicken (I used 1 can of canned chicken)
1 cup grated pepperjack cheese
small corn or flour tortillas
cooking spray

Heat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.

Heat cream cheese in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds so it’s soft and easy to stir. Add green salsa, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, onion powder and granulated garlic. Stir to combine and then add cilantro and green onions. Add chicken and cheese and combine well.

Work with a few tortillas at a time and heat in the microwave until they are soft enough to roll without cracking. It helps to place them between damp paper towels. Usually 20-30 seconds will do it.

Place 2-3 tbsp of chicken mixture on the lower third of a tortilla, keeping it about 1/2 inch from the edges.

Then roll it up as tight as you can.


Place seam side down on the baking sheet. Lay all of the taquitos on the baking sheet and make sure they are not touching each other. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray or an oil mister.

Place pan in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to get golden brown.

Dip ‘em in salsa, sour cream, or guacamole.

Makes 12-16

This recipe is courtesy of Our Best Bites.

Mother's Day

This Mother's Day was a great day for me. My wonderful husband let me pretend I'm asleep sleep in and made breakfast for me. Levi colored me a beautiful picture as well. I knew this day was going to be a difficult one given the fact of recent events. Matt being the kind and thoughtful person he is, bought me a memory box for Taylor. I can put the 1 picture we have of Taylor in there along with the picture Levi colored. It was the perfect gift and I couldn't have asked for anything better.

After church I tried to get a Mother's Day picture with the boys but it was just about impossible. But sometimes you just have to take what you can get. Jax was all over the place and Levi would not look the right way. There was no time to pull out the real camera to take pictures. I was lucky just to get these with the cell phone. Oh well. Maybe next year! Man, I love these kids!!

WOW! 504 Pampers Wipes $9.29 Shipped

**UPDATE**
No longer available at this price.

Currently on Amazon they have the Pampers ThickCare Wipes for $9.29 shipped right to your door! That is a great deal! That works out to be $1.33 per package. If you have any giftcards to go towards the price this deal is even sweeter! I purchased 2 boxes for only $7.04 thanks to a giftcard I had. For me, that's only $.50 a package. Saaaaweeeet!!

Here's what you do.....

Go to Amazon Mom and register or login. When you sign up you will receive an additional 15% discount along with the standard 15% discount when you sign up for Subscribe & Save delivery. This will also get you FREE 2 day shipping with Amazon Prime.

After you have signed up for Amazon Mom go here to purchase the wipes. Scroll down and clip the $.50 coupon, then choose Subscribe & Save (on the right side of the page) which will make your total discount 30%.

Grand total is $9.29!!

**Please remember that when you sign up for Subscribe & Save you are under no obligation and you can cancel at anytime. To cancel or modify your Subscribe & Save account, just click on "my account" and then "subscriptions" and you can change your options there.

Thanks Hip2Save!!

{Cheater} Sesame Chicken

Printable Version

1 1/2 - 2 pounds frozen popcorn chicken
6 tbsp honey (3/8) cup
4 tbsp sugar
salt (to taste)
black pepper (to taste)
4 tbsp ketchup
2 tbsp white distilled vinegar
sesame seeds

Spray a baking dish with non stick cooking spray. Then put your popcorn chicken in the dish. In a sauce pan mix the remaining ingredients except sesame seeds. Bring the sauce to a boil while stirring and simmer until sauce slightly thickens. Coat chicken with sauce. Sprinkle sesame seeds over chicken. Bake in oven until chicken is cooked through.

*Note*
Depending on how much chicken you cook you may need to double this recipe. I had to make this recipe twice b/c there wasn't enough sauce to cover all of my chicken. Another way to do this recipe is to cook the chicken first in the oven and pour your sauce over the chicken after it's cooked through.

{Book Review} The TRIUMPH Book

Let it be known I am not much of a reader. I've never liked to read books. Maybe I just haven't found a good book in a while. I must be the only woman to not read all of the Twilight books or Harry Potter. That just doesn't interest me! Sorry Twilight and Harry Potter fans!

I enjoy good and uplifting stories. I like stories that are true and have a purpose. After going through the loss of Taylor I needed something to lift my spirits. My friend Melanie Davis authored the amazing book The TRIUMPH Book.

This book is for anyone who has ever experienced any sort of loss or trauma and risen above that loss to do better. Melanie tells first hand how she overcame her own tragedy and was strengthened in the process. Melanie has beautifully put together 20 stories from all walks of life telling their triumph over tragedy. Also, included at the end of each chapter Melanie includes a story of how she came in contact with each person and tell their story.

I read the first chapter and kept reading and for me that is a huge deal! I haven't finished the book yet but it will not take me long. If you need a good book to read that will inspire you to do better and do good in the world then please pick this book up. You will not want to put it down once you start. And who knows....this just might turn me into a reader! :)

You can find the book here: The TRIUMPH Book

Happy reading!

I was not compensated in any way for this post. This opinion is 100% mine and even though I am not much of a reader I do value a good book.

Pardon my mess

Please forgive my mess while I try out a new layout and design for my blog! I'm totally new at this and I'm still learning what works and what doesn't.

Thank you!

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

Here's a yummy new recipe that I tried last night. Matt was working late and this didn't really take too long to prepare. Especially with two kids pulling at me!! This recipe is courtesy of Organize and Decorate Everything.

Printable Version

2 cups cooked rice
3 cups cooked chicken pieces (I used one 12 oz canned chicken)
Swiss cheese
10 slices cut up ham
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
10 saltine crackers
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp parsley

Spread 2 cups cooked rice in bottom of 9 x 13 baking dish. Arrange 3 cups cooked chicken or canned chicken over top of rice. Layer Swiss cheese on top of chicken. Then layer 10 slices of cut-up ham on top of the Swiss cheese. Mix 2 cans of cream of chicken soup, 1/2 cup milk, and 1/2 cup sour cream together. Spread on top of ham. Crush 10 saltine crackers then add 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/4 tsp garlic salt, and 1/2 tsp parsley and mix together. Sprinkle on top of soup mixture. Bake at 350 degreese for 30 minutes.