gotta love loretta

Loretta Lynn is one of my all time favorite country voices.  She's serious as a heart attack as her little frame belts out those epic songs that were undoubtedly based on her own life experiences (with you know who-Dew!).  Her delivery is never disappointing- - "don't mess with me" toughness and a smirk on her face.

ache 0' head

Are you sensing a theme here?  What do you take for a headache?  I prefer Advil p.m to take before bed for pain relief with zonking benefits (yes, zonking is word).  I had to settle for regular Advil tonight since I need to be up early to drive my kids and those we carpool with 30+ miles one way to their homeschool tutorial. Hopefully we'll be headache free in the a.m.

Goodnight y'all. :) 

greek salad with chicken

I got the idea for a greek salad after reading a post from the pioneer woman earlier in the week.   I knew that if I made it for a meal, I'd have to add meat for the men in my family.  No amount of feta cheese was going to change that.  PW also suggested serving the salad and chicken in a tortilla; I'm definitely doing that next time I make it.
This salad turned out so good and something I will be making on a regular basis, especially with warm weather on the way.  I also sauteed chicken in olive oil with minced garlic and seasoned it well.  My two younger boys loved it (even my veggie protester said he loved the way the salad and chicken tasted together)!
Greek Salad and chicken
 Head of romaine
2 tomatoes, chopped (get the best firm, flavorful tomatoes you can find)
1 cucumber, peeled and chopped
some red onion, chopped
Kalamata olives, halved
some parsley, chopped
1/2 c. feta cheese
chop the romaine and place in the bottom of the bowl.  Add each ingredient on top of the romaine side by side.   make dressing and saute chicken if desired.


dressing
1/4 c. olive oil
2 T. red wine vinegar
clove of minced garlic
2 t. sugar
handful of kalamata olives, minced
salt and pepper


whisk together and pour over salad.  mix it all together gently and serve right away. serve chicken on top or separately.

curried chicken salad

There's a place here in Nashville that serves a delicious curried chicken salad among other things. It's called the Calypso Cafe. 

http://www.calypsocafe.com/home.htm  A plate of their tropical chicken salad with spiced sweet potatoes and Cuban black beans on the side makes for a delicious lunch. I find that my preference in a chicken salad is on the sweeter side, whereas my hubs will only eat a salad that is savory.  That's the exact reason this chicken salad is perfect to serve to some girlfriends for lunch or downsize the recipe and make it just for yourself.  Who knows---your husband may be different than mine and love it.  

Curried Chicken Salad

3 c. cooked chicken (You can use cooked boneless, skinless breasts, a rotisserie chicken, or a can of white meat chicken.)

1/4-1/2 mayo

1/3 c. plain yogurt

5 t. curry powder

1 T. fresh lime juice

1 T. honey (more if you like it sweeter)

1/4 t.  ginger

1/4 t. fresh ground pepper

1/4 c. diced red onion (optional)

1 c. seedless grapes, halved (or raisins)

handful of almonds or cashews (optional)

mix together the mayo, yogurt, curry powder lime juice, honey, ginger, and pepper in a large bowl.   Add the chicken, onion, grapes, and nuts if desired and mix until combined.

A few of my favorite things on Etsy- - -

when i found etsy back in 2007, it was fairly new and not widely known.  i had already been offering my work on my website, so i was excited to find another outlet.  i quickly opened my shop and set about listing my pieces- - mostly hand painted linens from my 'saving grace' line, a few paintings, and my personalized 'love trees'.  i loved the concept of having my own shop and being able to sell only what i loved.  my artistic belief is--make only what you l<3ve... those who love what you do will find you.  conformity in the realm of creativity, is in my opinion, bondage ):  be brave!


well, as reality set in i realized that my time was way too short.  teaching my kids and trying to manage other responsibilities at home was already, at times,  a bit overwhelming for me.  i am not a type A and definitely not a multi tasker.  i had to really slow things down. i ended up closing both shops.  my husband and kids are my priority.  maybe one day when life slows down a bit i'll be able to focus more on my creative endeavors.  right now tho' i want to relish in this time with my kids because they will be grown and gone before i even realize.  


so, if you haven't discovered etsy yet, you are in for quite a treat!  if you love handmade items - art, clothing, jewelry, etc.. and want to spy what hundreds of thousands of artists have to offer - - - have at it.  you may become addicted.  


CLicK it:   http://www.etsy.com/index.php


i still have my shop, and although it presently sits empty, i hope to have time this summer to work on a few pieces to offer


i wanted to share a few things from some artists that i really dig.


**The abundance of talented photographers on Etsy is a-m-a-z-i-n-g!**
Here is a favorite of mine-

http://www.etsy.com/listing/56600093/harvested-fine-art-nature-photography?ref=sr_list_39&ga_search_query=photography&ga_page=4&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade


We (mama & papa) eat our porridge in bowls like these:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/71331395/mama-and-papa-bear-bowl-set?ref=sr_list_30&ga_search_query=pottery+bowls&ga_page=10&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade

*although i own a droid, not an iphone, these covers are ridiculously cute.  great gift idea!*
http://www.etsy.com/listing/71298469/personalized-chevron-iphone-case

*This ring is lovely.  can you say mother's day?*

http://www.etsy.com/listing/64516312/silver-stackable-bloom-ring-design

*this gal makes the cutest cats.  they stand on their own, and i love the uniqueness in design*

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62905732/kitty-no192-grey-blue-and-orange-plaid

*i'm a sucker for a green leather handbag.  you can find many beautifully made leather bags on etsy, and i bet you won't see one just like it shopping at the mall.  so rich.*

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62280514/large-shoulder-bag-in-green

*oh if i was thin and could pull it off... *

http://www.etsy.com/listing/71000099/today-only-sale-dress-with-crochet?ref=sr_list_29&ga_search_query=sundress&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade

And this is my favorite skirt ever.  Is that fabric fantastic or what? drool.  <3<3<3

http://www.etsy.com/listing/9402455/lovely-real-retro-vintage-fabric

I hope you enjoy Etsy and buy Handmade!!!

Finally the floors are done!!!  3 days of men working in the home all day can make you a bit weary.  But we are very thankful.

I thought I'd just give a quick picture of our bedroom.  Sunday my husband sweetly took my camera in to be cleaned for me. I won't have my camera back for 3 weeks!!  We've never been apart that long before.  :)  

So...as you can tell from the pics above I'm using an old little digital(very poor quality) to shoot some pics of the floors.  The cute little punk on the bed redeems this photo and makes it just perfecto.   Here's our room.   I wanted to show you the floors.  That is my favorite Anthropologie rug underneath the bed.  If you see spots on the picture, those are compliments of the icky camera.  I'm too tired to edit.  sorry.  Anyway, you kind of get the idea.  I will post more pics later.  I will def have enough time to get my rooms put back together before my camera comes home.  

Hardwood flooring Day 0nE...

At 7:45 this morning the hardwood floor guys commenced working on our floors.  School was not happening today with all the loud pounding and craziness going on here.  Finally, at 7:30 p.m they pulled out of the driveway.  My head was pounding and we were all starving.  We jumped in the car and headed to our neighborhood Mexican place for a burrito and a really large mug of Dos Equis XX with lime.  Yeth!
I am loving the floors so far.  My middle son's room in the back of the house is finished.  My youngest son's room is coming along nicely, and so is the hallway.  I'm thinking this may be a 3 day job.  So the guy says he'll be here between 7:30-8 in the a.m.  Closer to eight please.  y a w n.