I Got It From My Momma!!

So yesterday, I spent pretty much all day standing in our kitchen prepping meals for the up coming week.
 All the recipes I followed are from the Good Cheap Eats book.

I'm making 5 meals this coming week and they are ready to be cooked. I didn't cook anything before hand, except for the chicken for the chicken black bean and rice soup. I boiled the chicken legs in water with garlic, carrots, celery, and half an onion so that I got some chicken stock for the week as well. It turned out very well.

Three Jars of Chicken stock for soup and making rice this week.

I also got out the bread machine and made some amish white bread. It turned out so fluffy and good. I had some toast this morning and the slice of bread was a tad bit too big for the toaster. That's good bread right there.

As for the other meals, I made my own "Rice a Roni" jars, (one cup of rice with all the seasonings I need for the meal).
And also made my own "Shake-n-Bake" for tonight's dinner.

 I've got vegetables cut and ready to go, and everything measured out.
 I feel very accomplished. And also, I have missed doing stuff like this. I used to when I lived at home and was first married. But after a few years, and after having to work three jobs at a time, I've just fallen out of routine and just forgotten how much fun I had doing prep work and making sure that the pantry is full of ready to go meals and what not's.

Chopped and measured out, ready to be cooked.

The Green Beans already have olive oil and seasoning on them, ready to be roasted in the oven!

Beef, Chicken, and more vegetables in the freezer. 

 
Not pictured is my sourdough starter! I'm very excited about this, I love sourdough bread and rolls. I'm a bit nervous at how it will turn out, but the recipe and instructions seem simple enough.
 You can get all the recipes I am using from the Good Cheap Eats book, and also the blog .

My momma got me this book for Christmas, and I've been using it everyday sense then.

 Happy Sunday.

~*Arielle*Caitlynn*~

Living...

 As 2017 draws to a close, Everyone is setting their "New Years Resolutions".

-Go to the guy-Be healthy in some new fad-ish way-Find inner peace-Forgive and Forget-

Blah-Blah-Blah...

It's all excuses, all fake. I'm sorry, but, NO ONE Keeps Their Resolutions. I never did. I never will.

But, I'll tell you what I will do...

 I'm going to keep being myself!

I'm going to take care of myself-Love myself-Accept myself-I'm going to TRY!

 Try to be more positive-try to be more accepting-try to be more forgiving-try to me more-ME!

 This is a resolution that everyone and their mothers should set. But let's not call it a resolution, let's call it... LIVING.

 Because that's what it is! That's what we all should be doing-Living.

 ~Don't be so busy trying to make a living that you forget to LIVE~

So, 2018, Let's all just get along and live our lives.

Memory Lane.

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 For as long as I can remember, my family has been going to the rodeo. My grandpa Tony used to be in the rodeo, and would try to break retired rodeo horses. I miss going to the rodeo with grandpa, he would always make sure I got all the cowboys autographs and talk with the barrel racers and trick riders. I've always wanted to be in the rodeo as well, I wanted to do it all, Bare Back Bronc riding, Trick riding, Barrel racing! This past Saturday My darling and I got to go with Momma, daddy, My little sister and her boyfriend, and My older sister, her husband and the little ones. Busy was all excited to be there. Little man on the other hand, he was just happy to be passed from person to person and then taking a nap on his ma'amoms lap.
 I was so happy to be going. I haven't been to a rodeo in a few years. It gave me a chance to cowgirl up and show my rebel spirit. Though this was a small show, it was still fun. I fear that the rodeo is a dying thing. Not as many people are wanting to join or go see it. I remember when I was little, there were 12 trick riders in the arena at one time, doing all kinds of stunts!

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 They would hang off the back of the saddle and drag behind the horse! Or, they would stand on one leg in the saddle and then flip over! Oh it was awesome! And there were like 20+ riders for the broncs and bulls. We would get a program and keep track of scores and then guess who would win the final round. And the barrel racers!! They would zoom in and turn the barrels like it was nothing and quick as a flash they were gone and waiting for the scores. The whole arena would be shouting, hooping and hollering. I would be at the edge of my seat cheering the riders on and almost in tears when someone would get bucked off and run over by a 2 ton bull. Oh man, those where the days.
 This time around there were maybe 15 riders all around. One trick rider, and 10 barrel racers. It was small compared to memories, but it was still fun. Fun being with family, doing something we have not done in a long time. Just sitting there with my sisters, giggling about how cute the cowboys were and remembering taking pictures with them. Then joking with mom and dad about sneaking down and just jumping on a horse and showing all those 'boys' up with my skills (again it was a joke... I'm not that good) And then sitting with my husband and telling him all my stories and explaining how the whole rodeo works and how they come up with the score. Then seeing the kids, Busy standing on her seat cheering and shouting for the cowboy to stay on the bull, and then little man snoozing through the whole thing!
 Saturday, March 9, 2013 will always be a night to remember. Mostly because it was a family outing that was long over due.

 Well now that the rodeo is over I'm sitting here in my apartment wishing I still had my horses to ride, and race. Maybe one day I will have some more money saved up, and after we buy a house, I can buy another horse for my future kids to ride with me. And then I can continue on with the rodeo tradition of going every year and make more great memories like the ones I hold so dear now.


With Many Cowgirl Blessings,
 ~*Caitlynn

Happy Valentines Day!

XXX's & OOO's
 ~*Caitlynn*~

Good Ol' Fashioned

 Hi, I'm Caitlynn, (hi caitlynn)... Hi. And I'm addicted to old fashioned things!
Things like, tea cups, dressers, clothes, dishes, fabric, sheet music, books, cooking ware, and the like!
 I especially old farm houses with BIG barns, BIG yards, and lots and lots and lots of room to move and grow.
 This was in my dream last night. I was talking to a bunch of people. And I was telling them how much I love antique things.
I just recently (last night) put in a new head and foot board for my bed. It's a bit bigger than my room but I don't care. It's beautiful and antique. I can't wait till dad puts in the new support bar down the middle so I can sleep on it. (I've been sleeping on the floor.) I also found some new pretty old fashioned sheets and pillow cases at the thrift store today too. I love finding old things. I get so happy when I find something old. (HA... something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue!!)
 I also found some old dishes today. They are just darling. The are Stone Wear, and have strawberries painted on them. I brought them home and when my mom saw them she said, "I'll pay you for them!" and she wasn't kidding! I didn't really buy them for me for my hope chest, but I bought them to use. Maybe I'll find another set to put in my hope chest to use in my new kitchen in the very near future!
 I already have some I bought at Wal*Mart and they are very pretty but I would love, LOVE some antique ones too. I am on the look out for table cloths and curtains. I'm looking for tea cups, vases, frames, and paintings. Just about anything I can use in my new home. And Wedding.
 I plan on having a VERY old fashioned wedding. Like 1950's style. I love to swing dance so that's the thyme.

 I'm a good old fashioned farm girl. I love to get dirty in the garden. I love to be barefoot. I love to grow things and use them in the kitchen. So no matter where my fiance' and I move, we WILL have a garden. Even if it's a window box with a few herbs and tomatoes. I will find a way to plant my garden.
 I've always dreamed of living on a farm. With a two story house and a huge barn or maybe a barn with a few out buildings. The house will have an attic, a cellar, and a wrap around porch. A 360* view of the farm. A big garden. And Lots of room to move and grow. The barn will have many lofts. One that goes all the way across, and then some plat forms that go up to the highest point. All of the out buildings will be for different things. One for the garden stuff. One for the tractor and all those things. One for the chickens (bantams) and one for the craft studio!
 I think the whole yard will be fenced in and then divided into smaller parts. A part for the animals, a part for the garden, and a part for the kids to run around. There will be more but those will come with time.
 I love old fashioned things because I'm old fashioned in my ways and way of thinking!

Love~Prayers~Blessings
 Caitydid.