Mmmm Mmmm Monday: To Be Continued...

Okay, okay, I know it's Monday and you're all expecting a great recipe. Well, here's the thing...I can't find my cookbooks! The hubby packed them in a box and I haven't found that box just yet. I am searching- I promise!

So as soon as I find them, you WILL be getting a tasty recipe. Cross my heart.

Blogger Award!

The other day (sometime this week...my days have run together since we moved/I cleaned out the house on base for our final out- oooh do I have a doosy of a blog post for that ordeal!) my dear, sweet, amazing friend Natali honored me with this award. I'm one of someone's 10 favorite blogs to read! Who'da thunk it??

Hey- I felt pretty dang special, alright?!

Anywho- this award came with the following instructions:
~List 10 things that make you happy
~Pass the award on to 10 bloggers that brighten your day.
And since I'm a momma of three children, rules are enforced in this household, so I couldn't very well break these, now could I?

So here goes.
My favorite things:
1. Hubby & my three precious blessing: Noah, Jonah, and Sophia.
2. Charleston. I really love this city...so much history, so much beauty, and who doesn't love Gone With The Wind-esque plantation homes?!
3. Target
4. Hockey. I kind of HAVE to like hockey in this house- the hubby coaches it and both boys play it.
5. Softball. THIS will be the sport that my little Sophia will play. Because I said so.
6. Crafting. And it's a good thing it's one of my favorite things because otherwise my Etsy shop would be pointless ;)
7. Cooking. I love love LOVE cooking & baking. Yes, I think I'm turning into my mother. Shhh-don't tell my hubby that I admitted that!
8. Friends. Being married to the military, we are very rarely around family, so friends have filled that void for us. I really wouldn't be able to stay sane (okay, okay...as sane as I can get with 3 kids, a sister and a husband to care for!) without them.
9. Shopping. Hello...I'm female-it's in the genes.
10. Travelling. Thanks to the military I've been able to travel to (and even live in) some amazing places.

And here are my 10 favorite blogs to read!
1. Natali @ The Thinking Blonde. Yes, I know she put me down and she's probably saying "Hey! No tag-backs!", but she's one of my very best friends, and since we live on opposite ends of the country, it's my way of keeping up with her and her adorable little man. Who my daughter will marry some day. Because WE said so.
2. Andrea @ Sgt. and Mrs. Hub. I have never met Andrea, but from the very first time I read her blog I felt an instant connection with her. We are both Air Force wives, have three children, and have to deal with all that comes with being a military wife.
3, 4, and 5 are my favorite crafting blogs. They are: Ashley & Whitney @ Shanty2Chic, Kristin @ Grace Violet, and Ashley @ Make It and Love It.
6. Jen @ CakeWrecks. FUNNY STUFF.
7 and 8 are my favorite food blogs. OH MY GOODNESS their recipes are out of this world. Pioneer Woman (her cookbook= AWESOMENESS) and Bakerella.
9. Becca @ Way Out Here. I've known this chick for-almost-ever. I dearly miss her and love that she has a blog so I can see pictures of her, her hubby Nate (who my kids call Unca Nate and always ask me when he's coming to watch baseball with us again), and her stinkin' adorable little man, Jonas.
10. Heather @ Whittaker Woman. Her posts are always so heartfelt and it's always good to know that other people have funny stories about their kids too!

If you've been tagged it's your turn to post!

Mmmm Mmmm Monday: Western Potato Rounds

I made this appetizer for a get-together with our friends on New Year's Eve, and they got devoured within minutes! Because it's a Pampered Chef recipe, you know that it's tasy and super easy!

2 large unpeeled baking potatoes (about 1.25 lbs)
Vegetable Oil
1 cup (4 oz) shredded Co-Jack cheese
6 bacon slices, crisply cooked, drained and crumbled (I used bacon bits!)
1/3 cup green onion slices
1/4 cup bbq sauce

Preheat oven to 450*. Cut potatoes inot 1/4 inch thick slices (I used a wavy crinkle cutter for a scalloped effect). Generously spray both sides of potato slices with oil. Place on baking stone (or baking sheet if you don't have a stone). Bake 20 minutes or until lightly browned; remove from oven. Combine cheese, bacon and green onion in a bowl. Using a pastry brush, generously brush potato slices with bbq sauce; sprinkle with cheese mixture. Put back into oven for 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Dip in or top with sour cream, ranch, or bleu cheese dressing and enjoy!

PS- these would make a GREAT Super Bowl snack!

Life is Crazy.

So I realize that I haven't been a very good blogger lately. But in the few short weeks that it's been 2010, I have been on the go non-stop!

We brought my baby sister back to Charleston with us when we came home from Christmas, so that she could start classes at Trident Tech. Pretty much all last week I took her to get supplies, books, etc so that she'd be all set.

We also decided right before Christmas that we wanted to move offbase. There's alot of drama going on around us and I don't want to subject my kids to anymore of the craziness. And since we have at least another year here in Charleston, we've gained another adult in the household, and BAH rates went up, now was the time to start looking. We were approved on a great house in Summerville and just as soon as we get our funds flowing from the finance office we're moving in! I have been cleaning and organizing like a mad woman all weekend. We're praying that everything will be in place for us to move in THIS WEEKEND, since it's one of the few weekends we're actually in town and not away for hockey. So the old saying "running around like a chicken with my head cut off" totally and completely describes me right now. Frazzled is another good term.

I will be posting a new recipe tomorrow and trying to post when I can this week, but forgive me if I'm MIA for a few more days. And when we're all settled in I'll be sure to post pictures!

Mmmm Mmmm Monday: Meatball Bake

Sick of just using frozen meatballs for subs or appetizers? Try this recipe on for size...it's so good!

Meatball Bake
1 jar (1lb 10.oz) chunky pasta sauce
2 cups water
2 cups uncooked instant rice
1 cup frozen green peas, thawed
1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 package (12 oz) frozen fully cooked meatballs, thawed

Preheat oven to 375*. Spray 9x13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine pasta sauce, water rice, peas , 1 cup cheese, and meatballs. Spoon into prepared baking dish.

Bake, uncovered, for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining half cup of cheese and bake for another 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!