2 Days To Go

Yes, I am Super X-Cited. (didnt have time to spell it all out)

OK...so I made good on my promise to myself and didnt go out to buy a bunch of stuff. Im using clothes that were already in my closet.

Well, except for 1 thing.

There are 2 formal nights on the ship. For one of the nights, im using a dress that I already have, for the other....Well I found a GAWGEOUS dress! I normally dont do cocktail length dresses but this one, I just couldnt resist. Ive been eyeing this dress for a while. It was being sold for $185 (ummm you know my saying...NOT GONNA HAPPEN)

OK so I decide to stalk Belk until it goes on sale. Well after 2 months of stalking and the store being down to only 3 left, my favorite word appeared on the top of the rack it had been sitting on today ........"CLEARANCE"

Ahhhhh how I love the word clearance. My dress, yes the $185 dress, was purchased today for what ...$19. ( Please hold down your applause) I cant wait to put it on with my bronze / gold fierce heels. Such simple things bring me pleaseure..LOL

12 Days to Go

So most of you all are probably thinking..what is she talking about, Christmas will be here in 3 more days. Well...urrr raaaa ummmmm I know this man!!! However I'm still on the countdown to my vacation! Herb and I decided that this trip is out Christmas gift to one another and I'm super siked. I'm heading out today to grab a few more things but mostly ill be taking things with me that I already own. (I'm going to try hard not to over pack). I did go out over the weekend and purchase a super cute tankini for my daughter. OK please explain to me why is it that they only sell little kids bathing suits that look like they come out of Victoria Secret??? Yea...I was having issues with that. So I was happy when I found the still girly looking suit.

I'm still on the hunt for a formal dress. I think Ross is going to be my saving grace. They have several cute dresses for less than $20 so ill have to make a decision on that soon.

Now I'm about to head off to Old Navy to grab a few of their door busters for Christmas Stocking Stuffers (see...I didn't forget about Christmas)

19 DAYS TO GO

Yea Yea Yea I know its been like forever since ive updated this thing but Hey...A sista has been busy.

The semester is finally over and im so glad. The break were on right now is so badly needed. My family has been feeling the raft of me being stressed out about my finals and also about needing money for tuition, but as usual "God is Good"and all that has been taken care of.


Grades...ummm Im hoping for all A's but im not sure that, that is going to happen..LOL
Our grades are going to be posted online tomorrow so Im saying a good prayer and keeping my fingers and toes crossed that I somehow came through and worked it out!

The holidays are quickly approaching and although im looking forward to enjoying every day of it I must say that Im also looking forward to my upcoming vacation. My family including my parents will be sailing on Carnivals Splendor out of Fort Lauderdale. YES...19 more adys to go and were sailing the smooth seas.




I cant wait to report back the good /bad/ugly. Actually I already have the ugly but im reserving those comments for post upon my return.
I plan to update my blog daily ( ok let me not lie...every few days) with my planning and preparation for the cruise.





19 days to go and I need to find a 2nd dress for formal night. There are 2 formal nights on the ship. I have 1 dress already that I will be using but I need to find one more. I saw this one dress online that I fell in love with but havent had any success locating it in any stores around here on for purchase online. I want this dress soooo bad. I havent given up looking for it, hopefully I can find it PRIOR to me leaving for my trip.

I also need to find something for my son to wear. He needs a new suit. I plan to make my way over to Burlington this week and hopefully they will have something sharp..that fits him nicely and doesnt need to have a ton of alterations.

My daughter.....ha ha. Thats another story. She has NO CLUE at all that she is going on this trip. She thinks that she is not going and has to stay with cousins while we are away. I cant wait to see her face as we pull up to the cruise port. I will make sure we have the camcorder rolling to capture the loook in her eyes when she finds out we Punk'd her..LOL

Im so behind

Dang...Its been a while since ive taken the time to update my blog.

Well...here goes

Today I started back at school. It was very interesting to say the least.
I felt old enough to be some of the students parent...lol
I'm a little nervous about getting into the habit of studying again, taking notes, hell, just overall paying attention.

My food porn has not decreased, well at least not physically. I just haven't taken the time to add new recipes to the site.
I'll be sure to add a few in the upcoming days.
I may need something to drool over myself if the classes get too tough.

Homemade meals may begin to dwindle down (shhhhhh...don't tell Herb though)

LEMON CAKE PIE

*This dessert ends up with a cake like texture on the top and pie filling texture underneath

Now this was an experiment that went 2 ways

Looks: OK

Taste: Awesome

The next time I make it, ill be sure to fill-up my pie crust a little more with the lemon filling. I was scared that it would bubble out so I left a little room. Well it pretty much baked in place without a lot of rise or bubbling so next time...I'll end up with a much thicker filling.

Anyway, this treat has the came cake-pie because once its done baking the top of the pie ends up with a cake like texture and the bottom is more like a pie filling. It does this separation on its on.

If you love a lemon treat...you will definitely want to try this.

I served it with French Vanilla Whipped Cream.

ohhh and my hubby loves sweet tea so I made some tea and sliced my extra lemon to place on top

The filling will make more than enough for 1 pie. I just used it to make 2 pies ( I have the other to my neighbor)however I should've only made one and used the rest to make a few individual treats.

Lemon Cake Pie

1 9" deep dish pie crust (no need to defrost or prebake)

1 1/2 Cups sugar

2 tablespoons melted butter

1-3 cup all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon grated lemon peel (takes approx. 2 lemons)

6 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (not concentrate...use the real stuff)

3 eggs, separated

1 1/4 cups milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In medium size bowl stir melted butter and sugar, then add flour, salt, lemon peel and lemon juice (be sure there are no seeds) stir

In a small bowl, beat egg yolks with milk until well blended, then stir this into the lemon mixture

In a med. size bowl (best to use a cold glass bowl) beat egg whites with electric mixer until they have some peaks.

Fold the egg whites into the lemon mixture (don't over mix it )

Pour the filling into the pie shell

Bake for 30-45 minutes ( this will vary depending on the amount of filling used)

Pie is done once the top has browned and the center jiggles just a little

Cool before serving

So Filling!

I decided that I wanted to fix some easy (as usual ) for dinner, but filling.

In addition to my normal ( What do you have the taste for tonight? ) to my hubby...I also said...how about some dessert?

Well of course, he was game for whatever.

I went through the freezer to figure something out based on what was already stored away. That's what you do when going to the grocery store is not on your to do list.

So with a pack of frozen chicken, some rice and vegetables in tow, I was able to create something super easy, filling, nd delicious for dinner.

Dinner: Cucumber Salad and Chow Down Chicken n' Rice

Cucumber Salad

2 Cucumbers (sliced)

1/2 medium onion thinly sliced

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 tablespoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon of finely chopped garlic

1/2 tablespoon sugar

Combine sliced cucumbers and onion in a medium sized glass bowl.

In a small glass bowl mix, vinegar, salt, pepper, garlic, sugar and olive oil until well mixed

Pour over cucumber and onion mixture and stir being sure to coat all of the cucumbers

Cover the bowl with plastic and place in the refrigerator for at least 30minutes.

Chow Down Chicken n' Rice

1-1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast

1 med size onion

1 celery stalk

2 cups water

1 teaspoon of butter

Adobo Seasoning or Lawry's season salt (to taste)

pepper (to taste)

chopped garlic

Chow mein noodles

Rice (white or brown)

3 packs Chicken Gravy

This is the easiest meal ever.

Place chicken breast in large deep skillet pan with water, seasoning salt, and pepper.

Cook till chicken is done. Remove chicken from broth. Pour out remaining broth reserving about 1/4 of it.Finely chop onions and celery. Add butter to pan with broth and then add chopped vegetables and chopped garlic. Cook til vegetables become tender. Cut chicken into shreds (I used my food processor for this) and set this aside.

Mix 3 packs of chicken gravy with the sauteed vegetables, the add the recommended amount of water ( per the packaging) Once this is done stir constantly on med heat until gravy just starts to thicken. Then pour shredded chicken into gravy and vegetable mixture. Mix well, place on simmer and cover for 10 min.

Boil rice.

Serve with chicken mixture over rice and then top with the chow mein noodles.

Its a hit!

So the Shepherds Pie was a hit
Hubby loved it. He loved it so much that he ate another plate of it for breakfast (ummm not sure that I liked it that much) and then took some to work for lunch.

He just mentioned that he wants to take the remainder of it for lunch again tomorrow.
One thing I know...is that the man appreciates a good meal.

Its late tonight and I havent started cooking.
I plan to keep it simple tonight.
Maybe a little baked chicken for him...fish and scallops for me.

We will see.

Easy as Pie Shepherds Pie

I absolutely love to cook!


I make up dishes (some turn out good, some turn out not so good). I like to make things easy on myself. Some recipes may require a lot of work. I normally try to find a way to simplify them.
In any event...I just love to cook.

My hubby will pretty much try anything
Well with that being said, I'm able to put a twist on old favorites and also try new things that I'm sure he will pretend he likes although his face tells the true story.


We frequent a well known restaurant here in Atlanta and Shepherd's Pie is a dish on their menu that Herb order often. I kept thinking to myself...I have to be able to make that at home...and I know it will taste better.

Well..here goes.


I cant vouch for the taste just yet as he has not made it home to pencil in the score card, however It sure looks good!!



Easy Shepherd's Pie

1 Tbsp Butter
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 Sm Onion Diced
1 Bag of Frozen Peas and Carrots (1 - 1 1/2 cups)
1 Stalk of Celery Diced
1 Clove Garlic
1 Tbsp Tomato Paste
1/4 C Ketchup
1 - 1 1/2 Lbs Lean Ground Beef
2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1/4 c Beef Broth
Salt / pepper
Shredded Sharp Cheddar
Mashed Potatoes







Ok Here are all of my ingredients. After starting, I decided against the homemade mashed potatoes. I just couldn't bring myself to peel the amount that I would need for this dish, so I went the instant route.



Saute the veggies (chopped onions and celery) in olive oil and butter until just about tender
Then thrown in your carrots, peas, and garlic...continue to cook.
Now add your Ground Beef...cook until only slightly pink
Add your tomato paste, ketchup, and worcestershire sauce ( I used garlic and oregano tomato paste)
Continue to cook until ground beef is done (be sure to season your beef with salt and pepper)








Prepare your mashed potatoes ( I used instant)
You will need 4c of mashed potatoes
Mix in 1/2 Cup Sharp cheddar Cheese

Pour Ground beef mixture into a casserole dish ( Be sure to spray with non stick spray first)
Spoon Mashed potatoes over the beef mixture

Bake uncovered, on top rack in oven for 20 minutes

Top dish, with 1 cup ( or more if you like) sharp cheddar cheese
Return to oven just until all of the cheese has melted

Here's the final product

Making use of time

I must...stop this procrastination

My husband has ruined me (just kidding)

Ive become a member of the procrastinators club and need to get it together quick.

Today has been pretty productive for me so far

-cleaned a little

-washed and folded some clothes

-made a list of TTD

Ok so now ......whats next

Well I really need to focus on school. The purpose of me quitting my job was so that I could focus on school.

I need to make it a priority to make sure the school has all of the necessary documents so that I can work on this thing called "getting an education"

A New Start......

Well this is a new beginning for me.
-Ive started my Blog (I have soooo procrastinated on this one)
-Izz married now!
-I quit my well paying job after 10 years (very scary)
-I'm going back to school
-I'm following steps ordered for me by my heavenly father

This is why Ive decided to name my blog Changes.
There have been so many new and positive changes within my life.
Some things scary, some fun, some questionable.
All in all, life is grand.!

I'm excited to see what happens and comes my way.