McLinky Monday - Crock Pot Recipes

It's McLinky Monday...and I'm late to the party. 

Better late than never, right?  That should probably be my next tattoo...seems to be my life motto right now.

Mrs. Priss wants us to share our favorite crock pot recipes.  This is pretty easy for me, because I LOVE my crock pot.  Yes, I do.  I l-o-v-e it. 

I actually did a little semi-vlog for you while I was putting my beans on this morning, but it will NOT load.  My iPhone hates me today.

So, here's a recap:

• 1 pound beans
• 2 cartons beef stock
• 1 pinto bean seasoning packet (or your own seasonings)
• 1 cup diced ham
• 2 T sugar...to taste (Granny's secret ingredient)
• additional seasonings of your choice (i.e. pepper, salt, etc.)

Put beans, stock/broth, and seasonings in crock pot for 6-8 hours.  30 minutes before serving add in your ham and sugar.  In the meantime, throw together some cornbread or ham sandwiches.  And that's dinner!  Oh, and we have to have some sliced onion.  I know someone who is just gonna looooove that. ;)

Another crock pot recipe post:
Made-up Italian Chicken

Also, be sure you click over to McLinky Monday for an extensive collection of all sorts of yummy crock pot recipes!

Hope you're all having a great day!

Love and Rockets,
jennykate♥

Happy List - 02.26

This week, the things that make me most happy are house related.   

We are finally to a stage of the building process that I can help with.  I'm now just DAYS away from getting to move our things over, organizing, starting to decorate, buying a few new pieces of furniture...#icannotwait

It makes me happy. Decorating and organizing make me happy.
Last Thursday, Michael and my uncle started pouring our concrete counter tops.  LOVE them.  

They make me happy.  Is that silly?
Also, you see this little cardinal? 

 

See him?

Well, I love birds...especially red birds.  I would love nothing more than to get a beautiful, vivid shot of this lovely cardinal that lives in the tree outside of my Granny's kitchen window...but he will not let me.  
 

I know it's a "he" because HE is being so difficult and stubborn. 

The day I get my shot will make me very happy...maybe this weekend?

Lastly, I wish I were having a fancy Oscar party tomorrow night.  I would make everyone wear gold and we would fill out ballots and give out our own Oscars.  It would be great. sigh.  That would make me happy...but I'm not.
However, I am happy that my chances of seeing this guy 

<----on the red carpet tomorrow night are looking pret-ty good.
Anyfangirl, hope you all are having a great weekend!

HApPy hApPy HaPpY

What's making you happy these days?

Stop by and link up with Mamarazzi!

Love and Rockets,

jennykate

Friday Confessional - 02.25

It is that time again.

Time to purge sins and cleanse the soul...and link up with Mamarazzi's Friday Confessional.

 

I confess that I bought a boyfriend for Flat Mama and Flat Mimi...

and then I left him in Impulsive's purse after a wild and crazy GNO.

So, she left him in the mailbox for me the next day. 

Do you have Pocket Jacob's just randomly show up in your mailbox? 

I didn't think so.

I confess that we took Flat Shawn out and showed her a good time. 

She's such a lush. 

(this pic cracks me up...we were at Fox and Hound Pub/Grille...she's the Fox and he's the Hound...get it?!  I kill myself.)

She also took Flat Mimi and Flat Mama's boyfriend for a spin.

I confess that our little GNO trifecta can NOT take self-portraits worth a hoot. 

Thanks to some random drunk girls in the parking lot, we finally got a semi-good pic.

I'm finding some ugly friends. STAT.

I confess that I am so awkward/weird...especially on elevators.  I dont' know what it is, but I have this insatiable desire to say something.  I can't just stand their quietly.  It drives me crazy.  I always end up saying something weird.  Like this morning, I accidentally pushed floor 3 and no one was getting off on 3.  So, I say "oh, I guess our imaginary friend is getting off on 3".  Then, when the doors open, I say "have a nice day"!...to the imaginary friend, of course. 
*insert weird looks from fellow elevator riders*

Hope you all have a fabulous Friday!!

love and rockets,

jennykate♥

Cheer Up Swap {Reveal}

It's reveal day, once again!!  

I participated in the Cheer Up Swap hosted by Brandy and Sheila...two of my Oklahoma homegirls.

I wasn't necessarily sad before, but I was experiencing the Winter Blahs.  Not anymore!  Stephanie sent me a super cheerful, bright, and sunny package...filled with all kinds of swappy goodness (that's a techinical term, use it with caution.)

Let me show you...

Contents:

• Wall Pops! - I got my MIL one of these for Christmas and she loves it...I've been wanting one!
• ADORABLE pencils! - I *heart* office supplies.
• Lip Smacker lip glosses
• cute little post-it notes
• pretty notepads
• a YUMMYLICIOUS Lindt Raspberry Chocolate Bar.  I can testify to its goodness.  I've already ate some of it.
• and some super cute magnets

Stephanie, I have six words for you...thank you, thank you, thank you!  I love it all!!

Brandy and Sheila, thanks for a great swap!!  I'm looking forward to being in your rock band.  I've been warming up on Isaiah's Paper Jams drums.  I've got mad skillz.

Here's a sneak peek at what I sent Stephanie...

Click on her name to check out her blog and see the goodies inside the packages above!

Hope you are all having a CHEERFUL day!!

*muah*

love and rockets,

jennykate

♥

{Almost} Wordless Wednesday - Soft Kitty

Soft kitty, warm kitty,

little ball of fur.

Happy kitty, sleepy kitty

purr purr purr.

Ever watch Big Bang Theory?

I ♥ Nerds.

Hope you're all having a wonderful week so far!

love and rockets,
jennykate

Exposing The Truth (+Giveaway Winner)

Remember when I said this..."I'm just telling y'all right now. I'm a horrible liar. Ask Impulsive...or my husband. They'll tell you. I suck at lying. So, I'm going to give this my best shot."

Yeah, well.  Funny thing.  I sorta forgot to remove a lie, so there's 2. Apparently my "best shot" was not that great.

So, there are 2 lies and 4 truths...sorta.

Here's the dealio...

1. I'm head-over-heels for a boy whose name rhymes with Schmob Schmattinson. My husband knows all about it and he's OK with it. Tru dat.  Now, I use the work "OK" loosely.  Michael basically tolerates my crazy.
2. I LOVE tomatoes. I could eat them everyday. I especially love them when they've been picked right off the vine. I just slice them up, put a little salt on them, and dig in! LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE.  I HATE tomatoes.  I love everything a tomato makes (i.e. salsa, ketchup, marinara sauce, bruschetta, etc.).  I just hate raw tomatoes.  There like in a larvae state.  It's disgusting.
3. My favorite music in this whole wide world is rap...preferably rap from the 80's and 90's. It's my jam.  True.  I love rap.  It makes me wanna dance.
4. I'm an only child.  True.  Technically speaking.  I am my mother's only child.  I was raised an only child.  However, I do have 3 half-siblings and 2 step-siblings.
5. I refuse to spend big money on purses, shoes, etc. I think it is a total waste of money.  Yeah, pretty much a lie.  I LOVE Coach purses...and shoes, and perfume, and scarves, and hats, and luggage...I love it all.
6. One time, in Sunday School, to my mother's mortification, I said the word "bastard".  True.  I did that.    

Take a little side trip with me...

I was about 5 years old.  It was summertime and I had spent the majority of the weekend fishing on the river with my grandpa.  When we were fishing, my Grandpa would reach his hand down into the minnow bucket and he would say "come 'er you little bastard".  To my 5 year old mind, this just made sense.  We fished with "little bastards".

So, This particular Sunday morning, my teacher was asking the class what they had been doing all summer.  When she got to me and I answered "fishing", she proceeded to ask for details.  Where had we been fishing?  Did I catch any fish?  What had we been fishing with (bait, that sort of thing)?  To which I answered "little bastards".  To which the class of 5 years olds started asking "what's little bastards???  Mrs. Sandy, what's little bastards???" I'm sure she regrets asking me for details to this day. 

...and that's the truth.

love and rockets,
jennykate♥


P.S.  Congrats to Amy from -Insert Witty Title Here-!  She won my itty-bitty-giveaway from Saturday!  Email me your address.

5 Truths and A Lie

Shawn at Seriously, Kelli at Outside My Kitchen Window...and someone else who is TOTALLY escaping my pea-sized brain right now...asked me to list 5 true things about myself and 1 lie.

I'm just telling y'all right now.  I'm a horrible liar.  Ask Impulsive...or my husband.  They'll tell you.  I suck at lying.  So, I'm going to give this my best shot.

The idea is that you will read through these and pick out the lie...tell me in the comments, and I'll reveal the truth in another post.  Sounds fun, right?

Here we go...

1. I'm head-over-heels for a boy whose name rhymes with Schmob Schmattinson.  My husband knows all about it and he's OK with it. 
2. I LOVE tomatoes.  I could eat them everyday.  I especially love them when they've been picked right off the vine.  I just slice them up, put a little salt on them, and dig in!
3. My favorite music in this whole wide world is rap...preferably rap from the 80's and 90's.  It's my jam.
4. I'm an only child.
5. I refuse to spend big money on purses, shoes, etc. I think it is a total waste of money.
6. One time, in Sunday School, to my mother's mortification, I said the word "bastard".

What's the lie?  What's true?

Tell me in the comments!

I'm supposed to tag 5 people, but I feel like everyone has been tagged already...so, if you haven't been tagged, please feel free to play along!!

Happy List - 02.19

I'm linking up once again with Mamarazzi and her Happy List. 

So, what's making me happy these days??

Swaps.  I love 'em.  I'm slightly addicted.  They make me happy!  Here's my latest package that went out on Thursday to Stephanie, my new bloggy friend. 

"Hi, Stephanie!  Hope you like your swap package!!"

This Oklahoma weather has been giving me whiplash...cold, hot, cold, hot, ridiculously windy...which ultimately leads to chapped lips, which I hate.  So, this makes me happy. 

My new favorite "something sweet".  They are SO good. 
Happy, happy, happy.

Taking and editing pictures.  Yep, I love it.  Makes me happy.

I found this picture while going through the Valentine's Party Pics from Isaiah's class...I like it.  I made those cupcakes...they were yummy.  Cupcakes make me happy.

What's making you happy today?  Go check out all the other Happy List posts over at Mamarazzi's!

Hope everyone is having a spectacular weekend!!

love and rockets,

jennykate♥

P.S. Comment on this post if you want a chance to win two of my favorite things I listed above!  It's a small-itty-bitty giveaway...I'll leave it open until Monday @ midnight and announce the winner in Tuesday's post.

Friday Confessionals - 2.18

I confess...that I have been in a pissy mood this week.

This is me, JennyKate, making a public apology to anyone I was hateful, crabby, bitchy, or mean to this week.

I solemnly swear to be back to my chipper self. STAT.


I confess...that Impulsive tells me everyday that she is going to the gym and everyday I say things like "that's great" or "you're so good" or "I'm so proud of you".

Note to self: Hello!! That's what skinny people get to say. Um, reality check, JK. You're not the skinny person in this relationship...get your fat azz to the gym!

I would also like to confess (profess, but these are confessionals, not professionals...whatever that is) my love for HeyTell. It's the best app evah. If you have an iPhone and don't have it, get it. All the cool kids are doing it. It's kind of like you're talking on a walkie talkie or CB radio on your iPhone.

"Two, four, niner, five, six, seven"..."I can't hear you, you're trailing off and did I catch a niner in there? Were you calling from a walkie-talkie?" (Who can tell me what movie this quote is from...without Googling it?)

I've been watching episodes of Dukes of Hazzard so that I can perfect my CB radio lingo...like 10-4, over, roger that, do you have your ears on, do ya read me, over and out, etc. Impulsive and I even have our own handles. I'm Goldie Locks and she's Black Beauty. We're so cool.

I don't know if you guys know this, but CB lingo was like the beginning of abbreviated speech/text messaging. They say things like "O.L." – Wife ("Old Lady") and "O.M." – Husband ("Old Man"). They've been using this stuff for years! Those truckers were ahead of their time!

This isn't a confession really, just kinda funny...

Y'all heard about all the people who got sick after a party at the Playboy mansion, right? There were like 170 people who were diagnosed with Legionnaires Disease.

I know, I know.

I thought it would be herpes or VD too, but nope.

So, yesterday morning, my aunt was just recapping the Playboy news story to me in the car on the way to work...and then she proceeds to tell me that she's pretty sure that's what she had last week.

oh, realllllly??

My family is whack sometimes yo.

I know what you're thinking and NO she is not a Playboy Bunny...and she has not recently been to Cali.
What do you have to confess? Go over to Mamarazzi's and join in the fun of Friday Confessionals!

Have a fabulous Friday!! Enjoy your weekend!

Goldie Locks, over and out.

JennyKate's Baked Potato Soup

I don't think there is anything better than a hearty bowl of potato soup on a cold day. Here's how I make my potato soup...

Stars of the Show

• 5 lb bag of potatoes
• 1 lb bacon
• butter
• milk - quantity depends on your desired consistency
• chicken broth (about 2 boxes or 4 cans)
• minced garlic
• 1/2 onion
• a few stalks of celery
• salt and pepper to taste

Supporting Cast

• shredding cheese
• crumbled bacon
• chopped scallions (or green onions)

Act 1

• fry bacon to crispy (or extra crispy...just how I like it)
• save a little bacon grease and saute onions and minced garlic in bacon grease (or 1/2 stick of butter...or both, if you really want to clog your arteries)
• crumble bacon

Act 2

• clean and dice potatoes, and chop celery
• boil potatoes, bacon, sauteed onions, garlic, and chopped celery in chicken broth, until desired tenderness (I like mine mushy, so I boil them for at least an hour)

Act 3

• mash up potatoes (or don't, if you prefer chunky potatoes)
• add in 1/2 stick of butter
• add milk to desired consistency
• allow to cook for an additional 30 minutes to an hour, so the flavors can mesh together (mesh - that's a technical term)

Grand Finale

• serve up potato soup and top it off with some crumbled bacon, scallions, and shredded cheese (lots of shredded cheese)
• Enjoy!

My Mother Is On Facebook

So, if you haven't heard, my mother is on Facebook.

Yep, she's found social networking.

This should be a proud moment for a tech savvy daughter, but truthfully, it freaks me out.

Why?  You might ask.

Have you seen the way old older older-ish people use Facebook?

I'm not saying that my mom has made Facebook faux pas...not many, not yet.  It just gets me thinking about all the faux pas I have seen and I get worried. (Mom, if you're reading this, you're doing fine.  Just remember what we've discussed.  Stick to the plan.  Do not divert.  I repeat, do not divert.)

Don't misunderstand me. I'm for people of all ages using social networking, but for the love of all things holy, they need to learn how to do so in a correct manner. 

Here's just a few things that come to mind...

Social Networking Guidelines for Baby Boomers and Beyond:

1. Do not...I repeat, DO NOT change your relationship status to "it's complicated" because you had a spat this morning over whether you were having cream of wheat or oatmeal for breakfast. That doesn't qualify. Also, just because you're single and you want to stay that way, it's also not a good idea to say "it's complicated". You'll have half of Facebook speculating about who you've been shacking up with. 

Lesson #1 - Leave no room for speculation.

2. When it says "interested in men, women, etc.", it's not a good time to say "either or both"...unless your gay, lesbian, or bisexual. By "interested" it means sexually. I know this is a shocker for you, but please adapt.

3. It is not kosher to address specific people in your status updates. That is what people's personal walls are for. Example : "Jane, it is so nice to finally get back in touch with you after all these years. This new age technology is pretty nifty. How are your kids? And Stan? Did he ever cheat on you again with that whore...what was her name?" Now, say you just posted that in your status update...everyone you are friends with just read that. 

You see how ugly this could get right?

Another example of an INAPPROPRIATE status update: "Dick, I had an amazing night last night. You're the best I've ever had. You can park your boots under my bed anytime you want. Are you busy tonight?"

Not OK.   Everyone just read that.  Unless you are hookin' it for a living, I suggest you keep your bedroom business out of your status updates.

Lesson #2 - When in doubt, just send a personal message.

5. Do not try to use text lingo, especially if you do not know what you're saying. (Family Shout-Out:  Hey, Aunt V, it's L-O-L...not L-O...and it's not OK to say it like it's spelled when you're talking to people, especially when you say it wrong. Oh, and Mom...LOL means "laugh out loud", not "lots of love". Now you see why Uncle J was a little peeved when you responded to his disturbing news with "LOL". It wasn't funny. You shouldn't have been LOLing, even though you were lots-of-loving.

Lesson #3 - Do not try to talk like a teenager, it just doesn't work for you.

6. Do us all a favor and turn your chat box to "offline".  Most people are there just to leave an update, be nosey for a minute, and then get back to their regularly scheduled business.  Your kids will "defriend" you, if you keep this up.

7. Above all else, do not take Facebook so seriously. If someone posts "I just don't understand life", it probably doesn't mean that they're suicidal.  More than likely, the movie they wanted from RedBox was already rented.  Hold off on calling the suicide hotline.

I reserve the right to make amendments and additions to this list at any moment, without further notice.

love and rockets,
jennykate

Snow Fun with My Flat Friends!

As you all know, we were recently snowed under here in Oklahoma.

What better way to spend some snow days than with my Flat Friends?!


We hit the slopes...OK, they hit the slopes (aka the hood of my car)!

We hung out with Edward.

We played games.

Flat Baloney joined the fun...

Lastly, we made a mini snowman. 

Everyone had a good time.

Flat Mamarazzi, Flat Mimi, and Flat Baloney...

rockin' the slopes since February 2011.

I'm also doing my housewife duties over at The RHOK today.  Stop by and visit me over there!

love and rockets,

jennykate

McLinky Monday - Valentine's Day

Today at The RHOK, Mrs. Bundy wants to know how we celebrate Valentine's Day...

Well, Mrs. Bundy, I wish I had something really romantic and mushy and gushy to tell you, but I don't.

We are typically so UNexciting on Valentine's Day.  Usually a movie and dinner is the extent of our celebrations (outside of the bedroom) <------ Did I just say that?  On the blog? 

I do remember our first Valentine's Day together.  It was probably our most cheesy romantic.  It was mid-90's.  I was still rockin' the somewhat poofy bangs.  I borrowed a knee length red dress from my college suite mate...and some red high-heels to match.  She was a sorority girl and never lacked for party attire.  Michael wore a suit jacket and slacks.  I remember that he came up to my dorm to pick me up, flowers in hand...AND in his 25th Anniversary Camaro. 

Hot guy, cool car. 

Who doesn't swoon over that? 

I think we went to a banquet or something...we probably made out. 

How much more awkward could I be?  Maybe I was nervous...yeah, we'll go with that.  Also, I'm making a mental note to never, under any circumstances, wear a dress like that again...it does nothing for a chubby girl.

This year, Michael is sick.  My Granny has been in the hospital.  Our house is in the middle of being finished.  Valentine's Day will not be a grand production. 

OH yeah, BUT we do have a Valentine's Day tree...

That makes up for the lack of celebration this year, right?

How do you celebrate Valentine's Day?

If you want, stop by The RHOK and link up with us today!

Happy Valentine's Day!

love and rockets,

jennykate♥

Friday Confessionals - 2.11

I confess that I only read fiction.  Usually it's YA (young adult) fiction at that.  I'm so mature.

I confess that while snowed in for a fifty-two days (or 5 + 2, whatev), my monthly week of PMSing perfectly coincided with cabin fever.  Definitely one of my shining moments.

I confessss that I start making notes about Friday Confessionals on Friday...of the week before...immediately after that week's FCs post.  I don't want to miss anything confessional worthy.  Plus, it keeps me from fabricating information for entertainment purposes (i.e. lying.  You know where you go for lying right?  Coweta.  It's a town about 15 miles from here and they were our rivals in school while I was growing up.  I've always said that.  Sorry if anyone from Coweta reads my blog.  I guess I don't still feel that way, but old habits are hard to break.)

I confess that I felt like I had been transplanted in Alaska last week.  Where's my igloo?

I confess that I am addicted to My Life As Liz on MTV.  Yes, I'm 16 (x's 2 plus 1).  I love that girl.  While being snowed in I watched the Season 1 marathon.

Yes, I'm easily addicted to things.

Have you been hanging around these parts long?  Never. Ever. Ever. introduce me to crack...or meth...or crank or coke or LSD...or any other illegal stimulant.  My track record says that I'd be dead in a gutter missing all of my teeth in less than a month...but from what I hear I'd be skinny.

Hmmmm...tempting...very tempting.

Anycrackwhore,  I also need to confess that after watching the Season 1 of MLAL (we're on acronym basis now), I really want to go to prom again.  Let's have a prom!  Who's with me?!

Speaking of crackwhore habits, I went 7 days without Starbucks.  *GASP*...big huge *GASP*.  I've been admitted to the Radar Institute and am currently undergoing intense therapy.  You can forward all of my mail and correspondence to:

JennyKate
c/o Radar Institute
78000 Crackwhore Drive
Tulsa, Ok 74146

I just made that up, so do not try to send me mail there.  You'll waste your 44 cents.

Love and Rockets, 
JennyKate

Pinktastic Swaptastic Package REVEALED!!

Can I just tell you that my PINKTASTIC Swap package was seriously *SQEEEEEE* worthy! 

If Aubrey would have ONLY sent me the card, I would have been tickled pink!

Does she know me OR WHAT?!  And don't say "or what", because that means you don't know me.  Who are you?


I was in love with her creativity and thoughtfulness.  


Everything was oooozing pink and it was all wrapped in PINK bubble wrap.  How fabulous is that?! 

She sent me:

• A fabulous Edward/New Moon card that she altered to fit the PINKTASTIC swap.  Genius!
• A Starbucks card...and it's PINK.  She's a giver!
• GET THIS...a PINK "BE SAFE" vinyl for my car window!  This will be put on as soon as we defrost.
• A flippin' ADORABLE hot PINK flower for my hair!
• a sweet PINK kitty notepad (*awe*)
• a super cute book mark with a PINK elephant.  LOVE IT!
• PINK strawberry marshmallows, yum!
• PINK strawberry lemonade
• PINK cookies, PINK snoballs, PINK gum
• Mr. Bubbles...PINK and some Johnson and Johnson lotion
• a cute little PINK manicure set.  Funny thing...I sent her some of the same stuff.  Great minds, Aubrey...great minds. =)
• and last, but not least, some major bling...a PINK diamond!  I think I'll keep it on my desk for a sparkly paperweight!

Here's a glimpse of the PINKTASTIC package I sent Aubrey...Hope she gets it today and hope she LOVES it! *fingers crossed* (Click HERE for her blog.)

Thanks to Mamarazzi for hosting another amazing swap and THANKS to Aubrey for my amazing swap package!  


It was PINKTASTIC!

JennyKate's Head Country Sloppy Joes

One of my boys' (big and little) favorite things for dinner is Sloppy Joes!  Mmmm.

Does that make you think of Adam Sandler's song Lunch Lady?

*song break*

Slop, sloppy joe.

Sloppy joe.

Slop, sloppy joe.

Come on.

Sloppy joe.

Slop, sloppy joe.

Yeah.

Sloppy joe.

Slop, sloppy, *farting noise* joe. 


Sloppy joe.OK, back to the recipe.  If you're not from Oklahoma, chances are you will not know what Head Country BBQ Sauce is.  Bless your heart.  'Cause let me tell you, it's gooooooood!  I guess, if you are one of the less fortunate and you don't have Head Country at your disposal, you'll have to improvise.

Stars Of The Show:

• Ground Hamburger or Ground Turkey - we prefer hamburger over the turkey because it has better flavor.  I brown 2lbs for the 3 of us, so that we can have leftovers, but 1lb should make 4 good servings.
• Head Country BBQ Sauce
• Head Country BBQ seasoning (to taste)
• A whole onion
• 1 tbs. minced garlic (for 2lbs)
• 4 tbs. brown sugar (for 2lbs)
• Pickles

Act 1:

• Brown meat w/ of the onion finely chopped, minced garlic, and Head Country BBQ seasoning.

Act 2:

• Slice the other half of the onion for garnishment and really bad breath.
• After meat is brown, drain off any excess grease.  I use a really low fat hamburger (usually 93/7), so I don't have to do this part.
• Stir in BBQ Sauce to desired consistency/thickness.

Grand Finale:

• Serve up on toasted buns.
• Garnish with onions and pickles...pickles are a MUST when you're eating Sloppy Joes or BBQ.
• Don't forget some yummy fries (oven baked, of course) or some Lays Potato Chips!
• Enjoy!