Thank You Kris (Simply Prim)!!

I just wanted to take a quick minute and thank Kris from Simply Prim for the WONDERFUL giveaway she was having that I actually won. I know, lucky me!! Look at all of the Prim goodness I received....THANK YOU again Kris, it was so nice of you!!

A Little A Lot Of Prim Inspiration!!

Good evening, ladies!! Sorry, I haven't been posting much lately. But trust me, I have been around!! I have enjoyed checking out all of your blogs, seeing all of your beautiful homes decorated for the Fall season. You are all so talented, you all have given me so many ideas and inspiration. Just like many of you, I love seeing all of the perfectly Prim homes all decorated for my favorite season. So, if you are all looking for some more Prim inspiration, go on over and check out these two sites...
A PRIMITIVE PLACE

JUST SIMPLY PRIM FRIENDS

Monday Musings

Good Morning Ladies!! I hope you all had a safe, fun and relaxing Labor Day weekend. Hopefully, you were all able to use those grills for one last time. Unfortunately, the weather hasn't really wanted to cooperate for BBQing here this weekend. It has been kind of cool and rainy. But the good thing about the cool temps and rain, is that it has only helped me get into the mood for my favorite season...Fall. Not that I really need any help in that area. LOL!!

Like most of you, I am so ready to pull out of all my Fall decor and get started in warming this house up. But due to us getting new carpet this coming week, that will have to wait. But wait, did I mention NEW CARPET!?!?!? LOL!! Can you tell I am SOOO excited!?!?!? I can't wait!!

It is going to be a lot of work but well worth it. In the next week we will be having to move furniture, clean out dressers and closets. But it will feel so nice to have things looking nice and having everything all organized for the new season.

So, how about you...have you all started decorating yet?

Back-To-School Recipe Pool Fridays

Don't adjust your computer screen ladies....yes, you are seeing things correctly. I have my blog all decked out for Halloween already. Needless to say, Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. So, that means that I love everything that comes with it. Halloween, witches, pumpkin pickin', Trick or Treaters, the cool crisp evenings, the beautiful color of the leaves, cozy jeans and sweaters and good ol' comfort food.

Speaking of food...you have to go over and join Colleen at And Baby Makes Five. She is having a "Back-To-School Recipe Pool" every Friday.

Colleen and some other lovely ladies are sharing their favorite Fall recipes. So, I decided to join in all of the fun and share one of our "go to" meals for the Fall....White Chili with Chicken...YUMMO!!!!

Ingredients:
1 medium onion, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped, optional
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon canola oil
4 cups chicken broth
2 cans (15-1/2 ounces each) great northern beans, rinsed and drained
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 to 1-1/4 teaspoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 cup cold water
2 cups cubed cooked chicken

Directions: In a large saucepan, cook the onion, jalapeno if desired and garlic in oil until tender. Stir in the broth, beans, parsley, lime juice and cumin; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; gradually stir into chili. Add chicken. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened

Season Of Change

Good Morning, Ladies!! I know I haven't been posting lately. But trust me, I have been around. We have just had more "drama" going on in our lives, and I rather not all my posts be negative so I decided to not post for awhile. Or at least, until I felt I could post about something positive.

Oh heck, I will just say it because quite honestly this blog is really supposed to be a journal so to speak. My therapy, if you will. A way for me to vent and get things off of my chest, right!?!?

Well, since I last posted "Big Daddy" lost his job. Which was a big shock. As some of you may know our story, "Big Daddy" has only been back to work now for about 11 months after being off for almost 6 years due to a injury (and 16 surgeries) he received at work. So, this is something we really didn't need to happen right now. But then again, who really needs to be laid off!?!?! Anyway, I guess the real kicker is that fact that he works for my parents. So, there was so many mixed emotions that came with this lay off.

We have known for awhile now that my parents company had taken a HUGE hit because of them not getting paid for a multi-million dollar job they did. They are in the middle of a law suit to get their money, but we all know that can take a very long time.

Long story short, my parents own a construction company and the whole family is employed by them. My brother, brother-in-law, uncle, husband, etc. But at this time, my husband was the only family member laid off. Which, was an extra kick in the gut. You see, because of my husband being off for all that time due to his injury , I suppose he lost seniority...which I think is BS!!!!

Anyway, after talking to my Mom this past week, I feel a little better. My Mom (who BTW, NEVER cries) was crying. So, I know them laying Ed off wasn't something they wanted to do. But at the time, I couldn't help feeling hurt that he was the only family member laid off (at this time). Especially, since my brother-in-law started working for my my parents YEARS after Ed. But in all technicality he has more seniority at their particular trade. You see, whenever Ed went back to work, he was no longer able to be a Laborer. So, he joined the Operators Union, which Ben has been a member of longer. Make sense?

Not to mention, I also felt hurt because you see my sister does not work outside of the home, where I do. And sometimes, I feel that my Mom and Dad keep Ben working because of that. I feel that they think Ed and I are better off financially than them. So, they continue to work Ben because of that and that bothers me. I LOVE my sister with ALL of my heart but I work because I HAVE to. Always, have. With Ed being injured all of those years, I had to work for medical benefits, etc. So, I have never had the choice. And she could do the same!!

Luckily, my husband is Union. So, we are hoping that he will be able to find work very shortly. But, as we all know how the economy is and with his injury we are both praying that will be sooner than later. But in the meantime, we are putting on our "big girl" (and big boy) pants and trying to remain positive.

So, with all of this....needless to say, I am ready for some changes. I am ready for a "clean slate", if you will. I am ready for positive things to start heading our way. I ready for a new season...

I am ready for the beautiful colors of the leaves that Fall brings.....
I can't wait to go buy my mums, I LOVE mums. How about you? What color is your favorite?....
I can't wait to see everybody's Fall displays. Full of pumpkins and gourds....

I can't wait to sit back on a nice cool, crisp Fall day and watch this....

While eating a nice hot bowl of this....

So, what are some of YOUR favorite things about Fall!?!?!?!?

LaZy DaYs Of SuMmEr!!

Heys ladies!! Well, we made it back from our family camping / float trip. And I have my first week back to work after my vacation under my belt. We had a wonderful, relaxing family trip. Lazy days of summer!! Exactly what the doctor ordered!!

We camped, floated down the Meramec River and even visited the Meramec Caverns (which I haven't been to in YEARS!!) And let me just say they are absolutely gorgeous!! BTW, I will post vacation pics soon but first I had to share a sight that I got to see first thing this morning ...

(Don't adjust your computer screen, ladies. YES,those are toliet paper rolls you are seeing....)

Talking about lazy days of summer...while the hubby and I were both at work during the day this week, working hard, earning $$$. "Muscles" and "Miss Priss" have been enjoying the last few days left of their lazy summmer. So much, they haven't even changed the toliet paper roll in their bathroom. Talk about LaZy!! ♥

Saturday Morning Ramblings!

Happy Saturday!! Don't you all just LOVE Saturdays?!?!? I know I do. It feels so good to wake up and know that I don't have anywhere that I HAVE to be...like work!! LOL!!

But today is still going to be busy...we have a benefit for a guy that my husband and I went to High School with. He was diagnosed with a Stage 3 Malignant Brain Tumor. And he is only 37....so, PLEASE keep in in your prayers!!

Then we have some errands to run, we are on vacation next week and we are taking the camper out. We are going to go to Meramec State Park and float down the river one day. And then we are going to vist the Meramec Caverns another. Which, I am looking forward to...hopefully it should be relaxing!! Even though, I am not the strongest swimmer, so I hoping the water to VERY calm!!

But thanks to my husbands truck, our daughter's car and the camper all getting broke into this past Thursday night (all while we were sleeeping) we have some extra errands that we need to run today. Like getting my husbands cell phone replaced, etc.

I will tell you what....I think it had to have been somebody that knows us. Because they knew EXACTLY what they were looking fo. They stole my husbands cell phone, our GPS, our good camera (the boys had just gone capming last week and since we were leaving again this weekend hubby decided just to leave it in the camper), my daughter's Ipod and dock, some tools out of the back of the truck and a 20 in flat screen TV we had in the camper.

But you know what, I am just happy that it wasn't worse. Like I said in my last post, I am trying to have a better attitude. Just trying to see the postitive and good and not the negative and bad. So, that was why I decided to "brighten" up my blog. A new look and a new attitude!!

Anyway, better run....lots to do. But if I don't talk to all of you before we leave....have an WONDERFUL weekend!! Hugs!! Carrie♥