I Miss my Mind the Most

I would love to know how my blog should MOVE UP on the 'hot blogs' list when I haven't posted jack squat in weeks.  I see they must have been doing something here lately since there is a word verification on the blog postings (does that make any sense??), it doesn't seem to have stopped the porn and drug spammers.  How about just do away with the 'recent posts' list altogether? Just a thought.

Incase you've been wondering where i've gone- i'm over at typepad. come over for a visit.  today is 'Words of wisdom Wednesdays' over there... come along and get something to think about or to laugh about.

Tblog still blows.

Love,
~jen

Hello out there, if you are checking this blog that means you haven't book marked my new blog.  I have found tblog to be an exercise in frustration lately so I have moved elsewhere.  Please come by and say "Hi"  I stil come by all my commenting blogs to visit!!

My main (expensive) Blog

Or my occasional blog that will end up my HOME blog:

come by, visit, comment and please bookmark them and come by often!!

Can't wait to see you around, I miss all my tblog friends,

Hugs & Happy blogging,

~jen

Happy Turkey Day to all the Canadians out there!  We have been invited to our near and dear neighbor's place for Turkey dinner.  I'm so excited, not only do I get to eat stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy but I also don't have to cook it!!  Another year goes by and I still haven't learned how to cook a real turkey... oh well, there is always next year.

So yesterday I was feeling particularly creative and started painting an abstract piece that I had sketched out for Paige.  My paper wasn't stored correctly (or something) so it wasn't performing like it should.  I ended up having to paint over most of the piece with black to cover all of the paint that bled out.  Instead I sketch in some doodles on the black part with gel pens.  When i ran out of doodle Ideas I started writing in a list of her favorite things, a la scrapbook style.  I was inspired by a book that I had read earlier at Micheals on art journaling. Anyway, it turned out not half bad considering all the problems.  If you click on the picture it will open up larger and you can see some of the detail.  You will notice the 4 hearts for the four people our family that love Paige.  I traced her hand, there are three circles to represent her age and also i number three in the bottom right hand corner. The hypnotizing swirl is because she drives me crazy. 
I may try this one again when I find my good watercolor paper.  Or I may just try something else.  It was nice to do something abstract to stretch my chops a little.

You can also see in the background- my practice work with crayons on Paige's coloring sheets.  That was fun and I love the way it looks... Don't you??  Crayons are fun and I'd like to do some serious work using crayons.  Anything you'd like to see???

Well I should go and work on my household duties a little bit before the day gets away from me. 
Take it easy folks and don't eat too much turkey,

~jen

Today is our fifth wedding anniversary.  When I came downstairs this morning I was greeted by five dozen roses, in a fishbowl on the table.  I don't know if I have ever told  you guys much about my dear husband.  About  how much he loves his kids, how generous and caring he is with me, how he truly loves the dog (though he'd never admit that one) and how hard he works to make our lives a little more special every day.  There is never a day that goes by that I'm not thankful to be hitched to such a great man. 
There really isn't enough words to express the complete comfort and trust I have with Ken.  I feel honoured to have walked hand in hand with him over the last 5 years and I look forward to at least 50 more.  I always feel that I haven't done enough for him, told him I love him enough, touched him enough or showed my love enough.  He has told me often that he feels the same way- therein lies the secret to our success, making each other fall in love over and over again.

I feel bad that I haven't any little token to give him to let him know how very much he means to me except for perhaps this blog and the few  words of Love and appreciation that I type here.  Above all else I want you to know, dear husband,
I Truly Love you.
Happy anniversary,

~jen

This is a picture of me. I took it in black and white and then 'painted' in the color using my intermediate knowledge of photoshop.
In the next one I'm going to use gawdy colors- more of an Andy Wharhol style. Anyway i thought this picture tuned out kinda nice- a tad clowny but also nice.

Okay, I've been holding off for awhile but I want all my family and friends to know where to go when this blog is acting like a DIVA.

I have signed up for a Typepad blog which is not as pretty or as fun but it was expensive and it always works. ALWAYS.  Currently I am double posting from there to here when tblog lets me but sometimes I don't have a chance to bring the blogs over here.  So you guys could be missing out.

Please bookmark the new site on your computers because I'd hate to keep anyone out of the loop. The new blog will be getting better as I figure out all of the features... I'm hoping I can post a video clip of the kids for download. 

Go ahead CLICK HERE and then hit Cntrl D to bookmark it.

May your Hugs and Coffee always be Warm,

~jen

Lately it's been thos most simple things that make me happy.  A perfectly sweetened cup of coffee, a warm pair of socks, my new keyboard, yogurt dip (in a wrap) and smiles from my kids.
I find when I am having a lot of stress and trouble dealing with the kids if I concentrate on the things I'm thankful for and the little things that make me happy, I can't help but start to feel better.
 I'm going to start a watercolor painting today- I've decided to start some momentum and just get to it.  I think we'll start off with a flower or perhaps a portrait of my dog???  I've already purchased a brand new paint brush (another thing that makes me happy) so I'm ready to rumble as soon as I get my paper and paint out.
I'll post pictures of my progress...

Until then...
~jen

 

I haven't blogged about a craving for awhile and by golly it's high time I shared one with you!  Since my sister came to visit in early September I've been mad about wraps (as seen in the picture to the left).  You can put ANYTHING in them- from chicken and rice to steak and veggies, the versatility is mind boggling.  This also coincides with another recent obsession I've had with yogurt dips.  Not a day goes buy without me adding a large dollop of Tzatziki on my food.  Suz also shared a recipe with me for 'spicy yogurt' that was a specialty at the restaurant she used to work at.  I've been making a cup of it every couple of days and eating it with every kind of food you can imagine.  I even put a bunch on Macaroni and cheese the other day and it definitely added some flair, to say the least.  It would be really good to dip veggies in, or even fries.  I served it in wraps the other day mixed with steamed veggies and stir fried chicken and rice, they were deelish.
So here is the recipe:

Cactus Club Spicy Yogurt
1 Cup Plain yogurt (Higher MF= creamier dip)
1/4 Cup Mayo (I leave this out)
2 tsp Powdered Ranch Dressing mix
1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper (or more to taste)

Mix this all together and let sit for an hour (or more) before serving.  The Cayenne will get hotter as the dip sits.  It keeps in the refrigerator for 5 days.

Here is a recipe for delicious wraps:
OPA! wraps Ala Jessica
1/2 Cup of each (Diced):
  Green Peppers
  Tomatoes
  Red Peppers
  Cucumber
  Feta cheese (crumbled)
1 Cup of Cooked Rice
2 chicken breasts cut into small bite sized pieces and cooked with seasonings.
4-6 whole wheat tortilla rounds (any flavor will do)
Container of Tzatziki dip from local deli (or homemade if you are gifted).

lay a tortilla out and layer each ingredient (don't be cheap with the tzatziki), be sure not to add too much filling or the wrap will be impossible to roll together without destroying the tortilla.  So, Fill it, roll it, and eat it.  Easy as Pie- That's a wrap!

There you have it, new recipes to try-
I promise you will not be disappointed!!
Hugs and yogurt dip,
~jen

**update- I finally learned how to spell Tzatziki~

Thank You, Friend
I never came to you, my friend,
And went away without
Some new enrichment of the heart:
More faith, and less of doubt,
More courage for the days ahead,
And often in great need
Coming to you, I went away
Comforted, indeed.

How can I find the shining words,
The glowing phrase that tells
All that your love has meant to me,
All that your friendship spells?
There is no word, no phrase for you
On whom I so depend.
All I can say to you is this:
God bless you, precious friend.

-Grace Noll Crowell