Inside Queeny's World

Winner, winner, chicken dinner

2012-02-16T20:17:00.002-07:00

I originally found this recipe via Darius Williams. Last night I decided to make it with a few Queeny tweaks and with chicken.
Mongolian Chicken

Ingredients
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 pounds of chicken breast cut up
½ teaspoon of salt
½ teaspoon of pepper
1/4 cup of corn starch
1 pound of broccoli

2 cups of cooked brown rice

For the sauce:
1/2 teaspoons of ginger powder
2 tablespoon of garlic, bottled, minced
½ cup of soy sauce
½ cup of water
¾ cup of brown sugar

Directions
In a medium bowl, toss chicken with salt and pepper until well combined. Dredge in cornstarch and set aside for about 5 minutes so that the cornstarch can adhere to the steak strips. Put oil in wok. Once hot, fry 1/2 chicken until done. Drain, set aside, and repeat.

Meanwhile mix garlic, ginger, soy sauce, water, and brown sugar. Add chicken back to a pot and pour sauce over it. Reduce heat and allow sauce to thicken slightly. This should take about 2 minutes. Add broccoli and coat well.

Serve over rice.

Cinnamon Rolls

2012-01-28T23:48:00.002-07:00

My new love is pinterest. While on there today, I came across this recipe for No Rise Cinnamon Rolls. This was really quick and easy and soooo http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifworth every single calorie!!! I used 1 cup of milk with 2 T of lemon juice to get to 1/4 cup and I used the cream cheese frosting I put on red velvet cupcakes for the icing. Here are some pics of them going in the oven, cooling and finally with the frosting. Enjoy. Q

Starting the year off right

2011-12-29T23:51:00.002-07:00

I've been researching the significance of the number 12 and how it relates to God. I feel 2012 will be an incredible year for me on many levels. I can already "see" some of what God has in store. I'm nervous, anxious but ready to be obedient. I always end one year in church and bring the New Year in there as well. This year won't be any different. A couple of us on twitter will be reading the bible in 90 days starting on the 31st. I'm also going to start the year with a 60 day fast as well. Here is the link to the 90 day bible reading. If you are interested in joining me on the fast, shoot me a message and I can give you the details. I don't want to appear as if I'm doing this publicly for attention but I'm open to sharing this journey with others who would like to know God on a deeper level through fasting and prayer. Peace and blessings. Q

Roasted Paprika Chicken

2011-11-08T19:33:00.003-07:00

I made this a few weeks ago. It was so good that I made it again the following night. I also made it for the Supremes' birthday parties and everyone loved it. Thank me later.

Roasted Paprika Chicken
Ingredients

* 1/4 cup smoked paprika
* 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
* 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
* 2 teaspoons kosher salt
* 1 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
* 5 pounds assorted chicken pieces
* 2 lemons, thinly sliced

* Garnishes: lemon slices, fresh thyme sprigs

Preparation

* 1. Stir together first 5 ingredients to form a paste.
* 2. Spread half of paprika mixture evenly underneath skin of chicken pieces. Place 1 to 2 lemon slices underneath skin on top of paprika mixture. Arrange chicken pieces in a single layer on a wire rack in an aluminum foil-lined broiler pan or 17- x 12-inch jelly-roll pan. Rub remaining paprika mixture evenly over skin.
* 3. Bake at 425° for 35 to 40 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portions registers 165°. Let chicken stand 5 minutes; lightly brush with pan juices just before serving. Garnish, if desired.

David Poran, Balducci's Food Lover's Market, Washington, D.C., Southern Living
NOVEMBER 2007

Happy Birthday Princesss B!!!!

2011-10-06T05:07:00.006-07:00

Here is a timeline of some of her pics that I've put together. She has always been a beautiful little girl and now she's a beautiful young lady. We love you!!! Q

Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole

2011-09-29T20:17:00.002-07:00

I got some more cheese *wink* and made a recipe from my cookbook. But of course, I added my Queeny tweaks to make it healthier. So here is what I did:
9 large baking potatoes
1 cup skim milk
8 oz of low fat cream cheese
8 oz of reduced fat sour cream
1 tsp of kosher salt
1 tsp of pepper
2 slices of turkey bacon
1/2 cup of shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese
2 tsp of dried parsley

Preheat oven to 350. Scrub potatoes, rinse, dry and pierce skin several times with a fork. Cool bacon and chopped into pieces and set aside. Place no more than five 1 inch apart in the microwave on a paper towel. Microwave on high for 10 minutes, turn over and microwave for another 10 minutes. Allow to cool then peel and mash with a masher. Add potatoes, cream cheese, milk, and sour cream to bowl and blend with a mixer. Add salt, pepper and parsley. Pour mix into a baking dish that has been lightly coated with cooking spray. Top with cheddar cheese and chopped bacon. Cover and bake for 30 minutes and then uncover and bake for 10 more minutes. Q

Who moved my cheese?

2011-09-27T07:24:00.004-07:00

T and I have a great marriage. I can’t remember the last time we’ve had an argument. Most people assume that if there was one person who was more difficult in our marriage, it would be me. Oh but on the contrary. Please don’t let the fact that he is quiet fool you. My husband has some ways that works my freaking nerves!! You would think after 13 years he would know not to annoy me but he does. Sometimes I think he does it just to mess with me and get my blood pressure up, lol.

For instance, I plan my meals EVERY week. Once again, I plan my meals EVERY week. Which means I also go shopping for said meals ONCE a week. So one week you might see an item in the fridge and the next week you might not depending on the menu. But it is always quite obvious that I buy items for the MEALS for THAT week. Knowing that, you would think it would click in his head that if something is there that usually isn’t there, that means I probably have a certain purpose for it right? Right? Oh no but not in his head. See this problem would simply be solved if he would just open his little mouth. I know he can talk. I’ve heard him do so quite often over the course of 13 years. Why just last night while he was watching the game I heard him talking to the t.v. which of course could not talk back but he did it anyway. So instead of asking if he could use a certain ingredient that I bought for just THIS week, for a CERTAIN meal I was planning to cook, he took it upon himself to just go ahead and use it. *DEEP BREATH*

So imagine my surprise when I go to use said ingredient for said meal and realize the original amount I needed is no longer available!! Oh but it gets worse. So when I ask him if he used said ingredient, his reply is, “some of it.” *BLINK* You see when I leave in the morning, I always take out what I need to cook later if need be and do a quick check to make sure I have everything. So to the regular eye, it would appear as though said ingredient was in ample supply but upon closer inspection, there was less than .000005 of what I needed. So not only did he use it, he barely left enough to freaking use for anything. I mean seriously dude don’t tell me you used SOME when you darn near used ALL of it. And why leave me one freaking little ½ ounce of cheese when my recipe calls for a cup?!!!!!!

So I’m annoyed. Annoyed because he didn’t ask, annoyed because he left so little and should have used all of if, and annoyed because I now have to go to the grocery store AGAIN just to get one item. I get it, it is a simple thing but for me, it’s annoying. I hate going grocery shopping. I especially hate going grocery shopping for one little item when I just went less than 2 days ago. But I would have really been annoyed tonight if I would have went to make the recipe and realized the ingredient was not there after getting home, after passing by the grocery store, and not knowing I needed to get it. Oh believe someone would have been on his way to the store to get it stat!!! Oh the joys of being married!!!! LOL Q

After the chop. Video #2

2011-08-15T18:12:00.000-07:00

My first video!!!

2011-08-14T21:00:00.000-07:00

Walking by faith

2011-08-11T20:11:00.004-07:00

Awhile ago I was meeting someone and was parked across from an agency that helps the blind. I watched as a young lady walked out with a walking stick. She started out quickly and moving along. Then she seemed to get a little lost. She stopped, moved her stick around, turned left, turned right, looked confused and then stopped. I watched as it seemed as though she was recounting her steps back in her head or try to remember which way to go. After trying for a bit, she looked defeated. Just when all hope was lost, a woman from the agency who had been watching the entire time came outside. She called the young lady's name, walked up to her, turned her in the right direction, sent her on her way and continued to watch as she headed to the bus stop.

2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight I thought about that scripture when I saw the young lady. She is like most of us in our walk with Christ. We start off on fire for Christ, ready to tell the world about how awesome He is. But as we go along our journey, life happens. We don't have the same fire, and a lot of times, we lose our way. Just when we feel down and out and think God has forsaken us, He steps in. John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

We are never alone. The Holy Spirit is there with us, within us, guiding us and directing us. But it is up to us to listen. Walking by faith isn't easy. It is in our nature as men and women to want to be in control, in charge and to know what we feel we need to know. That was part of Adam and Eve's downfall, they just had to know. But we must learn to truly trust God to lead us even when it seems the way is hard and dark. Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

It's funny to me how people will trust flawed men everyday but find it foolish of me to trust in God. Psalm 37: 23 The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. I'll take trusting God over man, including myself ANY DAY!!!! But I walk. A lot of times without telling a soul. My Pastor once said, "You can't share with some people because if they are walking by faith, they can't see it either." Not only can they not see it, I can't either. But I won't stop. I will keep walking, keep trusting, keep praying, keep fasting, keep preaching, teaching, spreading the word, and keep preparing myself for all God has for me. I know my walking is not in vain. I might not be able to see, but God's knows all, sees all and that's enough for me. Q

I am not my hair!!!!

2011-08-10T16:32:00.004-07:00

Yeah I know that line is so cliche but it's fitting. On Sunday I decided to finally cut my hair after over a year of going back and forth about it. I told my cousin I would wait until after her wedding and took some more time to think on it. I was torn for so many reasons. I love having long hair. I love the looks on folks faces when they see my hair. Especially other black women who never thought this "type" of hair could grow so long. I was one of them. I was the little girl who had a decent length of hair but envied those who had long hair and appeared to be "mixed." I too believed my hair wouldn't grow "that" long. But as I got older, I realized a lot of it had nothing to do with genetics and more to do with the care and nurturing of my hair. I had plenty of examples in my own family.

But then the itch to cut was calling me. I got tired of fighting with it. In these last months, I'd begun to slack on my hair. I knew then I had to do it. I'm a hair snob. I like seeing healthy hair whether relaxed or natural and I know my hair wasn't being done right. It wasn't right for me to treat it like that. So instead of going down the same path, I decided to let it go.

I think everyone else took the cut harder than I did. But I get it, I really do. I know I have been an inspiration for so many people. I know I have given out countless tips, and a lot of advice to women over the years. I know they would come to my blog just to look at my pics and use them for encouragement. I get it.

It's amazing how my identity was intertwined with the length of my hair. That is one of the first things people comment on when they meet me or see me. The day I cut my hair, I went to the store. I saw this girl with long hair and she looked at mine. I would be lying if I said I wasn't insecure for a moment. I wonder if folks see me and think I've always had short hair. Should I carry around a picture of myself with long hair to prove I had short hair by choice? I quickly shook off any feelings of insecurity and continued on. I know and that's all that matters.

Today is day 3 and I have no regrets about my decision. I've been overwhelmed by the response from people when I tell them about donating my hair. When I look in the mirror, or rub my hands over my head, I smile. I smile because I love the way I look and feel. I love knowing my hair is going to bless someone who is battling cancer. I love it because this is another beginning for me. I love it because I am showing my daughters that there is more to me, to them than what is on the outside. I love it because I know my hair is going to grow back. I love it because I did it for ME and not for anyone else.

I am a wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, mentor, business owner, blogger, student, and minister. I am honest, loving, giving, happy, blessed, free, and kind. I listen to people, I pray for them, I give of my time to others, and try to be a blessing when I can. I am a child of the Most High. I am so much more than the hair on my head. Q

Happy Birthday to me!!!

2011-08-08T06:11:00.002-07:00

I feel so amazing today. My grandmother went home yesterday and I've received a bunch of love from friends and family. I thank God for allowing me to see this day. He has blessed me more than words can say. I never thought my life would be this wonderful but it is. I don't take for granted anything or anyone in my life!!!! Q

Presentation Cakes

2011-07-21T22:33:00.007-07:00

I was in a training class this week and had to do a presentation. I choose cupcakes of course and compiled a bunch of pics together to show everyone. Here they are. Q
Red Velvet

Sour Cream

Sour Cream 2

Coconut cream

Jets cake

Yankees cake

Red velvet cupcake

Red velvet cupcake 2

D b-day

The Meya

Super Bowl

Mom's wedding

Mom's cake 2

Mom's cupcakes

It's our anniversary!!

2011-07-09T18:12:00.003-07:00

Today Thomas and I are celebrating a baker's dozen in years of marriage. It doesn't seem like it has been that long at all. We have been through so many ups and downs and I can honestly say, the good outweighs any bad there may have been. I was only 19 years old when I said, "I do" and I have no regrets. Even though I hadn't lived long, I went through enough in my short 19 years to know I was ready. Like most young women, I tried the dating thing. I did things I thought was right but ended up completely wrong.

Looking back, I'm grateful for how I finally let go and decided to let God move on my behalf when it came to a mate. When I met Thomas, I had not too long prior rededicated my life to Christ and pretty much thought I would be single for the rest of my life. And I was okay with it. I had my list of qualities I wanted/needed in a husband and I wasn't going to settle for anyone who didn't exhibit all of them. Then along came Thomas and my world was completely changed!!!

I can now truly thank God for giving me not just what I wanted, but what I needed. I thank Him for the heartaches, heartbreaks, letdowns, losers, liars, cheaters, and no good men who came across my path in some way or another. I thank Him for giving me the wisdom to peep their game and to kick them to the curb. I thank Him because my husband is the exact opposite of all of them. I thank Him for giving me someone who is the perfect example for the man I want the Supremes to marry. I thank Him for these 13 wonderful years so far and I thank Him in advance for the years to come. Q

Not just the internet

2011-05-27T14:44:00.003-07:00

We've all said it. I've said it as well. It's just the internet, it's not that serious. I remember when I first got online, that's exactly how I felt. For me it was about finding information to make my life easier and that was it. I joined forums and then started interacting with people. I was still able to disconnect and not get too into things. But somewhere along the way things started to change. The people went beyond being screen name xyz and they became human. I saw them as souls who I could show the love of Christ to. I opened up more not because I was weak or didn't have a life but because I knew my life, my story could be a testimony to bless someone else. I wasn't stupid or careless, I was very aware that what I posted could be used against me but none of that mattered.

I chose to be who I wanted to be. Some people don't ever post pics, use their names or locations and that is fine for them. My husband started referring to folks online as my serial killer friends. ROFL But I know there are more crazy people I see everyday versus those I posted and interacted with online. I got to know people, I prayed for them, prayed with them, encouraged them, blessed them. No I wasn't perfect and I got into my fair share of drama and silliness but I've always admitted when I was wrong.

When I decided to step away, it wasn't because anyone ran me off, talked about my kids or me. Chile please!!! It was because I felt it was time for me to go. That's it. But I didn't disappear from the internet world, I am still doing what I can to help and bless people. I still have this blog, I'm on twitter, FB and I'm still me.

I've met some wonderful, amazing, beautiful, smart intelligent people via the internet. You can see someone everyday and not truly "know" them and meet someone online that truly gets it and gets you. If that makes me dumb, lame, or silly then so be it. They have cheered me on, prayed for me, encouraged me, celebrated with me, invited me into their homes, and some of them actually love me. lol

This week, a young lady I have never met in person but interacted with online and spoke to on the phone on occasion, passed away. She was a wife, a mother, a sister, a friend, a daughter, an aunt. Just three days before her passing, I was on her FB page responding to a status and encouraging her. When I found out, it hurt me deeply because it seemed so unreal. I cried and even now as I type tears well up in my eyes. I'm praying for all of those who knew and loved her. I know their lives will be different now that she is gone. I have some peace knowing she was drawing all the more closer to the Lord when she passed and her statuses reflected it. I don't have all of the answers, but I'm trusting God who knows best.

I typed all of this to say I am very grateful for the people that have come into my life via the internet. Some I have parted ways with and others I've formed lifelong bonds with and I can truly call them "friend." They've added to the group of amazing friends and family I already have in my life. I thank God for the all of the souls He has allowed my life to cross paths with. I will never take anyone for granted because in the blink of an eye, they can be gone. The internet is now an extension of the amazing life I have already been blessed with. For some, the internet is just the internet. But for me, it has become so much more.

~RIP Bree~ Q

Having faith works

2011-05-04T16:16:00.003-07:00

I am a writer by nature. I write a lot of things down. I write down my workouts, I have a book of writings and letters to the girls, I have notes all around my office, and I am always writing down my goals. It's important for me to "SEE" the things I'm planning because it helps me to stay focused. I write them down, I pray about it, and I trust God to work it out on my behalf. I have faith in Him. A lot of times I don't know how He is going to do it, but I trust Him to do it. And with that trust, I walk by faith A LOT. I make moves and decisions that others wouldn't dare do because they don't trust Him enough to make things work. But I don't move without Him!!!

Last year, I took a huge faith step. I walked away from a position I had been in for 3 years and took another position. The old job had more security and some really good perks but the new one I felt was a foot in the door for me. After taking this job, I wrote down some goals. I wanted to make a certain amount, I wanted to be doing a certain job, I wanted certain benefits, and I wanted to be in a certain position within a year. I'd heard other folks who are doing the job talk about how long and hard it is to move up but I said nothing. I trusted God, I worked hard and kept walking by faith.

Faith without works, is dead. That's in the bible. So many people have faith in faith, or they just have faith in God but they don't put that faith into action. Our faith must be exercised. I exercised it by making sure I used all of the talents God has blessed me with to my advantage. I used my creativity to think outside of the box and come up with new ideas and plans. I used my gift of gab to network, meet new people and put myself out there. I used my drive to press on and get involved in things most people in my position would not have thought about. I worked, I trusted, I worked, I believed, I worked, and thanked God in advance, I worked and it paid off. I did what I could to be a blessing to people and to show His love to others.

A few months ago I applied for a position that had everything I wrote about. I never heard anything. I started talking to folks and let them know I was interested and I heard nothing. Others applied and got interviewed for it and I heard nothing. Others were offered and they turned it down and I heard nothing. I thanked Him anyway. Whether I got the job or not, I was grateful. I never worried or bothered Him about it because I knew He had my best interest at heart. I put more into praising Him, and getting to know Him not because of the job but because I loved Him that much.

On Friday the 22nd I got a call from the Manager whom I had met at another event and I decided to put my name in his ear. He remembered me and wanted my resume'. He emailed to do an interview that day but I had left already.
The following Tuesday I interviewed.

On Wednesday morning they called my references.

Wednesday afternoon they sent some paperwork.

On Friday I sent them what they needed.

Yesterday they called for security references.

Today, they made me an offer.
On the 24th of this month, I hit my year in this current job, the new job wants me in 2 weeks!!!

This job is a better position, I will be doing what I love, I have great benefits, I have hours that will allow me to be at home more, it is in the professional ranks of my company, and I will get my Master's degree paid by them. Don't let anyone tell you what you can't do!!! Whatever goals you have for yourself, write them down and keep them on your mind. Have faith in God to move on your behalf, and exercise your faith by using the gifts and talents He has blessed you with. But most importantly, seek His face, and not His hand. Having faith in God, works!!! Q

Butter Pecan Cake

2011-04-30T19:13:00.002-07:00

This recipe came up in an advertisement on facebook. I immediately knew I wanted to make it. I read some of the reviews and didn't like it too much. So of course me being me, I had to tweak it. Here is the recipe:
2 cups of all purpose flour
2 tsp of baking powder
1/2 tsp of salt
1 cup of sugar
2 eggs
1 cup of milk
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup of vegetable oil
1 tsp of vanilla
3/4 cup of chopped pecans
2 T of butter

The frosting:
3/4 cup of whipping cream
4 cups of powdered sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 tsp of vanilla
1/4 tsp of salt
1/4 cup of chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix 2 T of butter and 3/4 cup of pecans and cook in the oven for 10 minutes.

Sift flour, salt and baking powder. Cream sugar, butter, and oil until mixed well. Mix in eggs one at a time. Then alternate adding a little of the milk and flour mixture. Mix in vanilla and then hand mix in the pecans. Grease and flour 2 9 inch cake pans. Bake in oven for 30 minutes or until done turning halfway.

For frosting:
Cream butter, salt, and vanilla. Then add powdered sugar and cream. You might want to add more or less of the cream depending on how you like the consistency. Once it is how you like it, hand mix in the remaining pecans. I put about 1/2 cup of frosting on top of the first cake then topped it with the second. Then I frosted the sides of both and the top layer.

I really like this cake. It was moist and not too sweet. I would make some changes. I would add more baking powder to make the cake rise more and divide it into 3 pans. And for the frosting, it was really sweet. I would reduce the amount of sugar, and go with a little more butter instead. But imma still eat it. LOL Q

Some hair pics

2011-04-26T19:24:00.003-07:00

It's been a minute I know. But I'm playing catch up. Here are some pics of my hair over the past couple of months.

Another level

2011-01-17T12:49:00.002-07:00

Yesterday my Pastor announced in church that I would be getting ordained at our state conference this year. I was excited but nervous at the same time. I've been licensed since 2006 so I knew this was coming. But the idea of going before a board etc has me feeling some kind of way. Not only that, I know this elevation means A LOT!!! Like A LOT, A LOT. It is going to open even more doors for me and I will have the paper backing as well when it comes to preaching engagements etc.

I know as I move toward this step, there are some things, and even people that would need to be removed. I've seen this happen time and time again in my life. But what I'm about to do goes beyond simply another title. I'm doing eternal work. Yes we live in bodies but we are souls and we have to spend eternity somewhere. My goal is to ensure as my Pastor would say, "you make heaven and miss hell." As someone who has been chastised by the word of God myself, I also know the truth sometimes hurts, and cuts. It's so easy for folks to get mad at the messenger when it is spoken. But I will never water down, sugar coat or adulterate the word of God in order to spare someone's feelings. I won't. I also won't change the word to suit me either. I will preach it the way God gives it to me and if it doesn't come from Him, I won't speak it. I'm not in this for fame, I don't want everyone to love me, I don't want any glory because it belongs to Him.... I just want to be the person God has called me to be whether folks like it or not. And when I give an account for all I've said and all of my deeds here on this earth, I want God to look at me and say, "well done." Q

The Supremes opening their WII games

2010-12-26T21:02:00.001-07:00

Check out how dramatic Princess K is. LOL Q

The Supremes getting their bikes on Christmas

2010-12-26T20:59:00.002-07:00

Red velvet cheesecake

2010-12-23T21:48:00.000-07:00

This is for my twitter friend Msjetsetter.

Ingredients:

Red Velvet Crust Ingredients:

2 cups chocolate graham cracker crumbs
4 teaspoons brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted

Red Velevet Filling Ingredients:

3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs, beaten slightly
3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon white vinegar
2 (1 ounce) bottles red food coloring

Topping Ingredients:

4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Strawberries for garnish

Red Velvet Cheesecake Directions:

1. Mix together chocolate graham cracker crumbs and brown sugar. Add melted butter and mix well.

2. Press mixture into bottom and up sides of 9-inch spring-form pan. Bake in 350 degree F oven for 10 minutes; cool slightly.

3. In a large bowl combine cream cheese and sugar and beat with a mixer until combined.

4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

5. Add cocoa, sour cream, buttermilk, vanilla extract, vinegar and red food coloring and continue to beat until filling is smooth and well mixed.

6. Pour batter into prepared crust and bake at 325 degrees F for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until cheesecake looks almost set. Remove cheesecake from oven and cool in pan. Cover and chill in refrigerator overnight (in pan).

7. To make the topping: Beat the cream cheese and butter in a large bowl until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beating until smooth. Spread evenly over top of cheesecake. Remove sides of spring-form pan.

My 10 year old Princess D

2010-12-12T21:06:00.003-07:00

I still remember that day like it was yesterday. I kept waking up and falling asleep. I called your dad and told him to come home from work. When he arrived, I was cleaning and he didn't believe me. When we arrived at the hospital, all of the nurses thought I was too calm to be in labor but I was farther along than anyone realized. My friend Michelle came and picked up B who was 2 at the time. The look she gave me as she left the hospital room, told me it was time. It was like she knew. I was overwhelmed. I was scared, happy, and nervous at the same time.

The time passed by quickly. I had the room dark, with a fountain going. It was me, your Dad, your Aunt Mel, the doctor and 2 nurses. From the time I arrived to the time you made your appearance, 2 hours and 18 minutes passed. I remember looking at you an immediately feeling so much love for you. I wondered how I would be able to do it but I guess God had it all worked out. I loved you like I had always known you.

Through the years I've watched you grow in awe. You have this amazing spirit and old soul. You are so receptive, wise, and confident. I wish I had those qualities at your age. So here you are, 10 years later. My love for you continues to grow. I remember being pregnant with you and receiving a prophesy about what you would be and I still believe it. I know God has great things in store for you. I hope you will always know, how much we love you, how much I love you. You are one of the greatest gifts God has ever given to me. Happy Birthday Princess D!!! Q

Where I stand

2010-10-05T12:13:00.003-07:00

I’ve been thinking about this blog post for awhile now. It’s been on my heart and mind but I kept forgetting to put this out here. I know some of what I am going to say may upset, and shock some people. While for some it will be no big secret. But as someone who is called by God to speak the truth, I feel I need to put it out there.

First let me say that when it comes to the issue of homosexuality, I am on no one’s side but the Lord, period. This is something I’ve prayed, fasted, and sought Him concerning countless times. My view is not of my own personal feelings.
So what do I believe? I believe the “act” of homosexuality is a sin. It is a sin like lying, stealing, cheating, and fornicating. Do I believe some folks are born homosexuals? No but I believe we are all born with a sin that we will struggle with and homosexuality is one of those. Do I believe being homosexual means a person is going to hell? Absolutely not. I don’t believe all Christians are going to heaven either. Do I believe someone can be freed from homosexuality? Yes because I believe with God ALL things are possible. What scripture did I use to come to my conclusion? Well I went to Genesis in the beginning. I believe God was clear on the order of things when he gave Eve to Adam. Are you against “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?” Yes I am. I believe sexual orientation does not affect someone’s military performance. The military has a set of rules and guidelines for everyone to follow while in uniform. Who someone lies down with at night, is not my problem. They let the whoremongers openly serve so why not the gays. How do I as a Christian deal with someone who is homosexual? I love them, encourage them and pray for them like I do everyone else in my life. We go out to eat, watch movies, go to shows, I tweet and facebook them etc. They are human just like me and I love them.

Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, let me rebuke some things I see on both sides of the issue that annoy the spit out of me.
1)Just because I believe homosexuality is a sin, doesn’t make me a homophobe. You know I really hate that word. Because “phobe” implies fear and I don’t fear homosexuals at all. I don’t hate them either. Why is it when it comes to this issue, if you don’t agree, you are an evil, hatemonger? We can disagree without one hating the other. I’m against fornication but I don’t hate fornicators.

2)Christians, please stop acting like we have a monopoly on God. I don’t like signs like, “God hates f#gs” and etc. Really? I mean the last time I read my bible, it said for God so love the world. Not just those who are straight. Stop it!!! We need to focus more on showing God’s love. How can you draw people when you tell them God hates them? Who would want to serve a God like that? I am heartbroken to hear that young people are killing themselves after being bullied by mean and hateful people. That is not of God.

3)To some of my gay brothers and sisters, I get it, you are gay. Do you have to remind me and put it in my face all the time? I mean, I’m straight but you don’t see me rocking shirts, driving with a bumper sticker or uses it as an excuse every time someone hurts my feelings. It has nothing to do with who you choose to sleep with. Most people don’t care. I just want to enjoy your company and not hear about your exploits and this and that. I feel the same with my straight friends. What happens in your bedroom should stay in your bedroom.

4)Why do some Christians act like the only sins God is against are homosexuality and abortion? I mean there are signs, bumper stickers and protests against these two but what about the others? So did we just give a pass to lying and cheating? Now I’m not saying you can’t be against them but if you give a pass to the others, something’s not right. ALL sin is unrighteousness. Yes you who fornicate with your boyfriend or girlfriend of x amount of years. Yeah you who lie to your kids and have them believe in Santa Claus. Yes you who are claiming your sister’s kids on your taxes so you can get more money back. Yup that is all sin.

5)Christians aren’t the only ones against gay marriage etc. I for one have never rallied against it or marched etc. There are atheists, Buddhists, and other religions that are against it as well. Why? I don’t know. Why is the sky blue? That is just the way it is. We may be more vocal but we are not alone.

6)Christians please stop saying gay marriage takes away from your heterosexual marriage. I don’t care if the government starts allowing folks to marry computers; my marriage won’t be any less because of it. Yes I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. But if 2 women decide to get married, so be it. Only God has the final say on what is truly a marriage. We really need to check ourselves and stop giving folks power over the value we place on things in our lives.

7)Gays, please understand everyone won’t like you and guess what, they don’t have to. There is no law that says we have to get along. Folks will be how they want to be no matter what. You just be you, love them and pray for them. Stop trying to force feed things down their throats in order to get them to accept you because they won’t. That is life. There are plenty of people who don’t like me but I choose to focus my energy on those that do.

8)Please stop with the foolish arguments. I heard someone say, “well if you do x, y, z then you shouldn’t be against homosexuality because you are a sinner as well.” Really? I mean that’s like saying I shouldn’t speak out against rape and murder either. That’s foolish. If someone believes something is a sin, they have every right to do so whether they have sinned or not. You can choose to ignore them. We throw around the word hypocrite way too quickly.

So there you have it. With all that said and done, I choose to focus on loving people and telling them of the goodness of Christ. Gay, straight, sideways, whatever, that is what I do. I don't have all of the answers and I don't pretend to be right. I have struggles, I sin and I repent constantly. But no matter what you choose to believe, I trust God. I reserve the final say and judgement to Him. He is the only one that has a heaven or hell to put anyone in. And I believe that even in all of our mess, He loves us and He will continue to show His love by giving us chance after chance after chance up until the very end to accept Him as our Savior so we may live with Him for eternity in Heaven. We need to show more of His love to everyone, not just those we deem worthy because truth of the matter is, none of us are.

We need a show!!

2010-09-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

Thomas: Look at your mom and look at me. Who do you think would win in a fight?
The Supremes: *in unison* Mom
Thomas: What? Why would you say that?
D: Because she's from New York

...POW!!!! Q

Quotes

2010-09-14T19:32:00.002-07:00

I love quotes. I mean I really really love them. I search the web for quotes I feel speak to me and will also be a blessing to others. Here are a few I've shared on twitter and Facebook recently:

Always tell the truth. That way you don't have to remember what you said. Mark Twain

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." Mahatma Gandhi

"Lord, let me live until I die." Will Rogers

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." ~Erma Bombeck

‎"The individual who is mistake-free is also probably sitting around doing nothing. And that is a very big mistake." John Wooden

"A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice." Bill Cosby

"The final measure of one's life won't be how well you live, but how well others live because of you." Anon

"Don't let anyone tell you what you can and can't do because after you succeed the only things you'll probably remember are the praise of your friends and the silence of your enemies." Anon

If there are "friends" who only come around when they need something or are going through a tough time, it may be time to demote them to "associate". People only do what you allow - don't give silent permission to poor habits! Lisa Nicole Bell

"Be happy that you even have a life." Princess D

"Don't devalue what God is able to do through you. Little becomes much in God's hands." My Pastor

Misery loves company

2010-08-25T17:30:00.005-07:00

I don't get people who have nothing better to do than be messy, childish, and silly. I don't and I won't. I believe those people are very unhappy inside and their coping mechanism is to drag others down with them. Miserable people are always looking for company. Decline the invitation to join them. I am a very open and honest person. I admit I am very flawed and I've made some mistakes. But I don't let my past dictate my future or keep me from being who God called me to be. I understand we all make mistakes, but I can't accept not owning them and moving on from them.

I usually don't give folks the time of day but I am addressing this because someone dear to me was upset so I figured I'll clear the air. I tweeted last night about Fantasia messing with a married man. It was retweeted by several people. Apparently someone took issue with it and got all in a tizzy trying to call me a liar and urging folks to call me on it. *BLINK* No seriously they did. Like a little high school child looking for friends to back them up. LOL You see I was very active on a message board. I've told a lot about the good and bad in my life. There was a time when I hated men and didn't love myself and so I used them. No I wasn't sleeping with a bunch of dudes in order to get stuff but I was using them. I had my standards. I had one main boyfriend who I was with in every way if you know what I mean and he was the only one in that aspect. I was very clear about boundaries and never crossed them. (This is why I tell girls they don't have to give "it" away in order to get what they want.) I learned then that men loved the chase. It was the hope of one day bedding me that kept them coming around.

I started dating another guy who was in a relationship as well. I thought it was perfect. My boyfriend was long distance and now I had someone near by. I didn't have to worry about him bothering me as much or so I thought. Long story short he ended up getting engaged and yes I was the other woman. They never married, I broke it off with him soon after he got engaged although he had a hard time letting me go. I was the one who didn't give up the goodies and I think it bothered him. So much so that he started stalking me. Long story short, I learned some hard lessons about playing with folks feelings and using them.

So you see, I've NEVER been with a married man. In all of my trifling, pre-Jesus ways, the devil in me had a limit. Was what I did wrong, yes. Would I do it again, NEVER. Is it different from Fantasia, yes and no. Yes because he was taken too. No because being married with kids is totally different than being engaged. Does this make me a hypocrite, no. I KNOW what I did was wrong and who best to speak on a situation like this than me? But I never slept with the guy and why would I when he was getting it from someone else at home. I told yall I had standards. LOL

I am sure someone is out there now trying to find proof to discredit me but they won't. It speaks volumes about them than it does about me. This was over 12 years ago and I freely admitted to this several times. Not to brag but to offer another side to the topic and to show how far I've come in my life. Reading is fundamental and tricks are for kids. Never worry about folks who try to bring you down. You pray for them and let God deal with it. I know it's hard at times but I have peace knowing God is fighting my battles.

Leave miserable people to their own devices. If you ignore them, you win. Don't stoop down to their level, make them come up to yours. So when you encounter those miserable people who are so quick to try to call you out, discredit you, or speak ill of you, tell them "it's called a life. Get you one. Stop worrying about mine." Now RUN TELL DAT!!! Q

Professional

2010-08-11T19:11:00.001-07:00

Potty trained

2010-08-11T19:09:00.000-07:00

Oh Em Gee

2010-08-10T23:29:00.000-07:00

So here I was on twitter minding my business tweeting as usual. I tweeted about how I had a dream last night about Vince Carter. No it wasn't a naughty dream. LOL Anyone who knows me, knows I am a HUGE fan. I've been one for over 12 years. So in my dream, I met him and presented him with a platter of cupcakes. His favorite was the key lime one. I tweeted about all of this and just kind of kept on going. In the meantime, I decided to check my yahoo email. All of a sudden I got an email from twitter. It said, "Vince Carter is now following you on twitter." My heart skipped a beat for a minute. I look at the name and it looked like the one I was already following. But I clicked back over to twitter just to make sure and it was true.

I screamed out loud scaring the dog and the Supremes. I ran in the room and tackled Thomas telling him. Tears welled up in my as I tweeted and posted the good news on FB. I am just shocked and amazed. I am not moved by a lot of celebrities but he is one that I just have sooo much respect for. As you guys know, I finally saw him play awhile back in a game. I plan on seeing him 3 more times this season in AZ again, CO, and TN. I want to get closer so he can hear me yell, lol. My next and final goal is to meet him. Even though I know I would darn near pass out!!!! I will keep you posted. For right now, I am just super happy. This is a great belated b-day gift!!! Q

Happy Sweet 16 to me!!!!

2010-08-08T15:30:00.003-07:00

Yes I am celebrating my sweet 16, again. I know a lot of people have said they don't want to be 16 again but neither do I. LOL But I celebrate it because 16 was a major turning point in my life. It was a little over 16 years ago today when I made the decision to skip the 11th grade and graduate a year early. I believe that decision completely changed my life and brought me to where I am now. If I would have waited, would I have gone to the college I went to? That experience was horrible and made me decide to get away and join the military. It was in the military that I met my wonderful husband. Here we are, happily married with 3 beautiful kids. Who knows who or what I would have become. Either way, I am thankful for the path I eventually took. It wasn't always easy but nothing worth having is. So I say thank you to that 16 year old who made that decision all those years ago. Happy Birthday to me!!!! Q

Surprise Puppy

2010-08-07T19:41:00.002-07:00

We decided to get the Supremes a puppy. It's something we've thought about for awhile and a friend of mine had one for sale. He is a Cockapoo named Romeo. Of course we had to surprise them with him. Check out the video.

Love all around me

2010-08-07T17:18:00.003-07:00

I know it's been a minute but I've been super busy, in a good way. Tomorrow is my birthday. I turn 16.... again. I am so excited. I have a party planned next Saturday at the bowling alley with me and a bunch of my girls. We are going to have some good clean fun. I've already received a bunch of cards, gifts and well wishes. I can truly say, I am very blessed. I have an amazing husband, 3 wonderful little girls, a great dog, and loving friends and family. I pray everyone has the love that I have in my life. Everywhere I look, I see not only the love of man, but the love of God. I thank Him for His many, many blessings. My name is Queneesha and I am loved!!!! Q

12 years and counting...

2010-07-09T19:27:00.000-07:00

T and I are celebrating 12 years today. I can't believe it. In those 12 years, we have had some ups and downs. But I can honestly say I am still very much in love with him. He has never cursed me out, cheated on me, hit me, or verbally abused me. And although I am not the size I was when we met, he has never made me feel bad. He still finds me sexy and he tells me and shows it. And he always treats me like the Queen I am. He is a great father and provider. But most importantly, he is a man after God's own heart. He is the kind of man I pray the Supremes find. Happy Anniversary my love. Let's make it 12 more years!!!! Q

Yes my ish does stink, but not all the time

2010-07-01T21:29:00.002-07:00

I just started a new job a few weeks ago and I love it. One of the things I love most is the bathroom. It is super clean, has a several stalls, and it's super clean. My previous place of employment had a decent ladies bathroom. It was clean but was just a room with one stall so yes we had to wait for someone to finish in order to go in.

After working there for 3 years, I forgot all about the female bathroom dance. You know what that is right? That's what women do when they want to poop but instead they hold it in and try to wait until the bathroom is clear. Yeah that one. Working at a place with only one bathroom stall made that dance non existent. I mean heck if someone is going in while you are coming out, they will know you did it. Unless of course someone was there before you. Either way, I really didn't care then and I don't now.

Honestly, I don't bother with the dance. Yes I take precautions to make sure I don't leave a super unpleasant scent but other than that, I do what I need to do and leave. Why should I be ashamed of doing something pretty much everyone has done including Jesus? Why should I be ashamed of a bodily function that lets me know I am regular and allows me to drop a pound or two at the same time? So I'm not. I don't have time for the dance. I won't wait until the room is clear to drop some kids off at the pool.

My name is Queeny and yes my ish does stink. Not all the time because I eat healthy and it's reflected by my output but if I had some curry chicken the night before.... If someone looks at me funny, then oh well as if they don't do it. What folks need to worry about is the ones who don't wash their hands or only sprinkle some water quickly on it. Now that is nasty!!!! As for me, I'm good. Good and regular too. LOL Q

Girl's night out

2010-06-19T19:29:00.002-07:00

I took my girl Candice out to dinner because she will be moving soon. I am soo going to miss her. So I decided to take a couple of flicks while getting ready. Here you go. Q

Some hair pics

2010-05-31T17:48:00.005-07:00

It's been a minute since I've done anything interesting with my hair so I figured now would be a good time. I decided to wear it out for my graduation. I washed it with some Herbal Essence Hello Hydration, used Jasmine's Reconstructor and then my Pantene Relaxed and natural hair mask (RIP). I used Hask's Straight solution and Seyani Hair Butter in Coconut Mango and blowdried. Next, I braided my hair in sections.

This is how it looked after taking the braids out. See the look of shock on my face, lol?

I decided to pin some of it back so I could wear my cap.

My graduation was Friday and today I decided to go ahead and get my 6 month press and trim. This may be the last one for awhile because I'm thinking about seeing if I can go a year next time.

I didn't get curls or anything. I lost about a 1/2 inch.

I will be rocking a ponytail this week.

I am still MBL so I'm happy. I'm considering trying to see if I can make it to full waist length. Q

I graduated

2010-05-31T17:43:00.003-07:00

After 15 years. I finally received my B.S. Degree. It was a long road but I am blessed and so very proud of myself. Q

Uh oh there goes that word again..

2010-05-12T18:43:00.004-07:00

"I can't believe my very eyes, right to my face you lied. I thought you were a friend."

Some of what I am about to say has probably been said before but oh well. One of the things I am most proud of, is how good of a friend I am. No, seriously. I'm not perfect but I pride myself in being the type of friend God can be proud of and one I would want for myself. One of my greatest quality as a friend is the way I support those I call friends. I mean when something good happens to them, I celebrate like it happened to me. I pray for my friends. I love my friends. I want the best for my friends. I want them to find love and be loved. I want them to get married and have beautiful children. I want them to prosper and live out their dreams. That's the kind of friend I am.

So you can only imagine how I felt watching Oprah today. There were two ladies on there who were not only friends but cousins. Over the years they have been off and on as friends because of their weight. When one is skinny, the other is mad. If the other gained weight again, they are happy. I scratched my head because I just didn't get it. Now don't get me wrong, I am human. There has been a time or two where the green eyed monster hit me. But I never let it consume me, and it was never to the point where I still couldn't celebrate my friend or loved one. If I was like these women, my two best friends Mel and Tee wouldn't have seen or heard from me in a long time. It is no secret that I've gained weight. It is something I struggle with and I work on. But I never let my dissatisfaction with my size affect the love I have for others who are smaller than me.

You see I know what those women were doing was projecting. They envied each other but instead of doing something about it, it was easier to avoid that person or try to make them feel bad for accomplishing something. But see if they would simply flip it and draw closer to that person, they will have someone to support them and help them too get to where they want to be. Too many people have been led to believe that lightening only strikes once. But the bible says in Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: You see God doesn't just bless someone and not others. We need to understand we all have different paths and journeys to our destination. A lot of people who see folks being blessed don't see the work that person does. They are not there when they have sacrificed, prayed, and fasted. They only see the results.

Many people want results without work but understand the only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. Ecl 9:11 "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all." You see even the word says your time will come. There is no need to be jealous of someone else. Put God first, work hard, stay focused and your time will come.

The bottom line is, a good friend is a gift. If you have one, treasure them, love them, encourage them. Life is full of ups and downs. There will be times when you are down and they will lift you up. There will be times when they are down and you will help them. They may be stronger in one thing, and you may be stronger in another. Embrace your strength, respect theirs and help each other. Why would you want someone to be down like you? Luke 6:39 And he spake a parable unto them," Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?" If you are both down, you can't go anywhere. Appreciate them when they are strong. Allow them to impart in you and you in them. Together you can be even better, wiser, and stronger. Love them through it all, the good and the bad. If you have someone in your life that will only be your friend when you are down, they are not your friend!!! Q

RIP Lena Horne

2010-05-09T21:19:00.002-07:00

We lost another great one. The world is a better place because you were in it Ms. Horne. Q

20 minute meal week Recipe 2

2010-05-06T16:11:00.005-07:00

Chicken and Mushrooms in Garlic Broth (was white wine) Sauce I got this recipe from Cooking Light's website and can be found here.

I made some changes but here is the original recipe:

Ingredients

* 4 ounces uncooked medium egg noodles
* 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
* 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
* 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
* 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided
* 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
* 1 tablespoon bottled minced garlic
* 1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
* 1 (8-ounce) package presliced mushrooms
* 1/2 cup dry white wine (I toke out the wine and used more broth)
* 1/2 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
* 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation

Cook noodles according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain and keep warm.

Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces. Place chicken breast halves in a shallow dish. Combine 1 tablespoon flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper, stirring well with a whisk. Sprinkle flour mixture over chicken; toss to coat.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken to pan; sauté 4 minutes or until browned. Remove chicken from pan. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to pan. Add garlic, tarragon, and mushrooms to pan; sauté for 3 minutes or until liquid evaporates and mushrooms darken. Add white wine (broth) to pan; cook 1 minute. Stir in remaining 1 tablespoon flour; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in remaining broth, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper; cook 1 minute or until slightly thick, stirring frequently.

Return chicken to the pan. Cover and simmer 2 minutes. Uncover; cook 1 minute or until chicken is done. Stir in noodles; cook 1 minute or until thoroughly heated. Place about 1 1/2 cups chicken mixture on each of 4 plates; top each serving with 1 tablespoon cheese.

I doubled this recipe. I used about 12 oz of a whole grain noodle, 3 pounds of chicken, all chicken broth instead of which wine, I sliced my own mushrooms, and used a reduced fat Parmesan cheese. This was a hit!!! Q

Only at our house

2010-05-03T19:50:00.002-07:00

Shortly after arriving home, B asked if she could get on the computer in the family room. As we were walking into the room, we heard a thud. B asked what was it and I said I don't know. Then she said she thought maybe it was a bird that flew into the window. We have a bay window in the room that looks out into the backyard. Low and behold, there was a bird lying on the ground barely moving. I thought maybe it was just stunned but after about an hour or so, we realized it was dead. The things that take place at this house from the mice invasion, to the killer cat, the roaming cat, and now this. We really need a reality tv show. Q

20 minute meal week Recipe 1

2010-05-03T18:14:00.002-07:00

My goal is to do at least 3 20 minute meals every week this month. Most of them will prep and cook during that time and a few will require some advanced planning.

Today's recipe is Honey Ginger Soy Glazed Salmon. I found this is a magazine I was reading so I don't remember the exact name.

2.5 pounds of salmon
6 T of low sodium soy sauce
4 T of honey
1/4 tsp ground ginger

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine all ingredients except salmon in a bowl. Arrange salmon in pan and pour sauce over it. Let it sit in fridge for a few minutes and turn to coat. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes.

Side items- I'm serving this with brown rice and steamed broccoli. Q

It's been a minute

2010-05-02T17:30:00.001-07:00

My honey is back and we have been super busy with the house. We are almost done with the remodeling, I have some new spiritual revelations to share, and the Supremes blog will be up this month. I will notify the winner this week. Here is a little funny for you until I am back posting regularly:
I was in the kitchen decorating a cake and K was in the way.
Me: K please go to the playroom so I can finish.

As she was leaving she said, "I'm leaving with my dignity."

LOL I wish I could make this stuff up. Have a blessed week!!!! Q

Relationships and Money

2010-03-30T10:09:00.003-07:00

I was compelled to blog about this after hearing about 2 sisters fighting over a lottery ticket. Well the bible says, the love of money is the root of all evil. I myself have been in sticky situations regarding money. It is even tougher when it involves folks you love or you considered friends. But I've learned a lot along the way especially when it comes to giving money to others. I don't believe money should ruin a relationship, but unfortunately it is a catalyst. Money itself is not evil. It is the power people give to it in their lives and in their relationsips that causes problems. So here are some things I've learned along the way when it comes to giving, loaning and receiving money:

1)If you give or loan money and the person promises to pay you back, expect you won't get it back. Yes I don't care how much they beg, plead and promise, chances are, they won't come through. So never give what you can't afford to lose, PERIOD.

2)If you promise to pay it back, do it. Even if you have to give little by little, be a man or woman of your word. Put yourself in the other person's shoes. Even if they are millionaires, keep your word. Don't buy any more make up, hair products, cut back on the starbucks but do what you can to pay them back.

3)Never ask or remind the person they owe you. When someone owes me money, I never bring it up. Why? Because they know they owe me. It's not up to me to remind them that they owe me.

4)Don't insult the person who helped you out. I don't know how many times I've heard of folks borrowing money from someone, promise to pay them back but then they got out and buy other stuff and tells the other person about it. Or they come up with 50-11 sob stories as to why they can't pay you back. The cat died, the dog died, the house caught on fire, but yet their hair and nails are always done. I mean really?!!! That is a slap in the face.

5)Evaluate the friendship. This can go both ways. Sometimes the person who gave the money holds it over the other's head or brags to others about how they gave so and so money. Or if you are the lender/giver and you realize the person won't keep their promise to pay you back. For me, it speaks volumes. Not because of the money itself because it says a lot about how the person values our relationship. Like I said before, they aren't keeping their word. So if they can't keep their word when it comes to this, what else are they not being truthful about?

6)If it goes sour and you repair the relationship, never do it again. Yup I have a couple of people in my life that I love but they will never get another dime from me. I don't care how desperate they are, all I can offer is prayer. They have shown you who they are when it comes to this matter so believe them.

Now I know some people will be up in arms but whatever. All the hit dogs can holler. Money is not worth losing a friend over. Money is not worth losing a sister over. You can always get more money, but you can't get back a person or the time you could have spent with them. So think before you give and receive. Q

Sometimes...

2010-02-26T09:53:00.002-07:00

Life is just sad. You wake up not knowing what to expect and then boom you are hit with something that knocks you off of your feet. No matter how many times you go through something, it may never get easier for you. My cousin married a wonderful man in October of 2009. A few short weeks later, he was rushed to the hospital and placed in intensive care. He had several surgeries and procedures during that time. A few weeks ago, she hit me up on FB. I called her to talk and to encourage her. It was during that time that she told me she was also expecting. This past Wednesday, her husband lost his battle and passed away. I won't even pretend to imagine the pain and hurt she is going through. I sit her typing with tears in my eyes and a heavy heart for someone I love so very much.

Sometimes, I just don't have the words to say. Sometimes I just don't understand why things happen. But through it all, I trust God. I trust Him more and more and that's all I can do. Q

Family First

2010-02-25T11:05:00.004-07:00

I know I haven't blogged in a minute. I have been super, super busy. Many of you know I started my cupcake and cake business and about 2 weeks ago, I began moving it to a commercial space. It has taken a lot of time and attention to get this done. There is a lot of paperwork, and permits, and on and on. In the midst of that, I am still a wife, a mother, a daughter, an aunt, a minister and I work another job. I still need to get the Supremes blog up and going, contact the winner, supervise the work being done at the house, help my mom plan her wedding and a host of other things. So something had to suffer and so it was this blog.

If you follow me on twitter, you know a few days ago I went on a rant about some stuff. I had read an article about President Obama that rubbed me the wrong way. Folks were complaining about how much time he spent with his family. No really they did. Then some chick on twitter was going on about wondering if he thought about the homeless people while he was out eating with his wife. The double standard stuff amazes me. People's thinking is so backwards!!!! Bottom line, the President is the leader of his family FIRST PERIOD. Long after he has left office, he will still be Michelle's husband, and Sasha and Malia's dad. He can't put them on the back burner just to appease people. If more parents spent more time with their kids instead of out shopping, watching tv, surfing the net or working, a lot of things in this world would be better.

I take breaks from different things in my life to make time for my family. Even with all I have going on, I make sure T and the Supremes come first, after God of course. I look at Princess B and I can't believe how fast time has flown by. I can't imagine putting her or her sisters to the side just so I can do me. It doesn't work like that. They didn't ask to be here and I didn't have to marry T. But since they are, and I did, I need to take care of them. A lot of this makes me wonder about preacher's kids. Why do they have such bad reputations? Are their parents too strict and don't show enough compassion? Or are they too busy taking care of God's people while forgetting about the family God has placed in their lives? Either way, I don't want that for my daughters. All you have to do is look in the bible and see how things went south for King David when he didn't handle his family business. The entire kingdom suffered. So I applaud our President for taking care of home first. I bet you won't hear about his daughters out at clubs involved in underage drinking. *blink*

This week while away from my blog, I decided to write in a journal instead. I started this idea awhile ago but what I initially had was all over the place. So I went to Ross and found a nice neat one. This journal will be my love letter to my daughters. I will tell them about everything from love, to sex, religion, relationships, friendships etc. But most importantly, I want them to know how much I love them. I don't just want to tell them, I am showing them. I talk with them, I spend time with them, and I am there for them. It's really time for us to stop focusing on silly stuff and focus on what matters most. So many people think the answer to their prayers is more money. But I believe if you take care of God's business which includes your family, He will take care of yours. So if you don't see me on here posting or on twitter tweeting, know that I am okay and I am making sure, my family comes first. I can always catch up and blog, but I can't get back the time I have to spend with my family. Q

The contest is over

2010-02-01T10:42:00.003-07:00

Thank you so much to everyone who retweeted, posted, and passed along the link. I received a lot of really great titles. I wasn't expecting so many. Yall made this really hard. I had some friends help me narrow down to 3 favorites and the Supremes and I will make our selection from there. The new blog will be up and ready to go on Wednesday. Stay tuned!!!! Q

Creamy Chicken and Vegetables

2010-01-31T10:36:00.000-07:00

8 pieces of chicken thighs or drumsticks, with skin removed
2 cans of low fat, low sodium cream of chicken soup
1 cup of water
1 cup of cut up carrots
1/2 cup of cup of zucchini
1 cup of cut up red potatoes
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350. Season chicken lightly with salt and pepper. In a large oven safe dish, stir in soup and cup of water. Add vegetables to coat and then chicken. Cook covered for 30 mins and then turn chicken and cook for another 30 mins or until done. Serve over brown rice. Q

A new blog and a contest

2010-01-25T17:27:00.001-07:00

Hey ladies and gentlemen. As promised, I have decided to start a blog dedicated to the Supremes' hair. I am stumped about what to name it so I decided to hold a contest to drum up interest and to come up with a name for the new site. This will be the featured post for the next week. All you have to do is leave me a comment with your name suggestion for the new blog. The Supremes and I will select a name we all like and agree upon and the winner will receive a gift basket from my girl who owns Jasmine's. The winner will receive in their choice of scent, a body wash, scrub and lotion set. The contest begins today and will end next Saturday January 30,2010 at 12:00am. I will announce the winner on the following Monday when the blog debuts. Good luck and spread the word. Thanks and good luck. Q

My meatloaf rocks

2010-01-24T19:47:00.003-07:00

1 pound lean ground beef
1 pound of ground turkey
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
1/2 cup regular bread crumbs
1 cup skim milk
2 eggs
1 packet of ranch mix
2 T Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp seasoned salt
4 oz shredded low fat cheddar cheese
1/2 cup ketchup

Combine all ingredients except ketchup in a bowl. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Scoop mix in a loaf pan and then pop out into a non stick baking pan. Top with ketchup and bake for 1 1/2 or until internal temp reaches 160 degrees. Q

This Week's Menu

2010-01-24T16:40:00.006-07:00

I promise to try to take pics of everything this week to go along with each recipe.
Sunday- Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and steamed broccoli
Monday- Leftovers
Tuesday- Italian Shrimp and veggie linguini
Wednesday- Creamy chicken & vegetables with brown rice
Thursday- Leftovers
I'll update with the recipes shortly. Q

Another Jasmine's review

2010-01-23T22:45:00.002-07:00

Let me just say, I am not paid to endorse anyone or any product. I just happen to love these products and I love supporting people who provide excellent customer service and make excellent products. But not only do I love them, The Supremes loves them and so does T. I placed my annual black Friday order to get some body products and I also tried the protein conditioner. The intense reconstructing hair treatment is wonderful!!! It is super thick and a little tacky. You have to rub it between your hands but it coats really well. You can tell it's just not some watered conditioner. It doesn't leave your hair hard at all but it def does the job.

The next new item I need to rave about is a body product of course!!! She now has massage and after bath oils and whoooo hooo I am in love. I love, love, love body oils. But I hate how oily they can be and the stains they leave on your sheets. Well not with these baby. It glides on your skin but doesn't leave you feeling like an oil slick. They absorb nicely into your body and the scents are amazing and now over-powering. Oh and I discovered a cool trick for them. The first time I used them, was right after I shaved under my arms. I didn't want to apply deodorant but I didn't want to sleep with bare pits to as I massaged the oil into my arms, I put a little in my pits as well. Can I just say wow. My pits didn't feel weird when I woke up the next morning and it was like I didn't even shave the night before. I'm in love!!!! Q

Still playing with my curls

2010-01-21T11:11:00.000-07:00

The day before yesterday I did Princess B's hair like mine. We were looking too identical (LOL) so I decided to change mine up a bit. I have to admit, I have hand in hair disease. My hair is so soft and my curls just bounce so I can't help but touch it. I haven't done anything to my hair since I took the rollers out. I simply sleep with a satin bonnet at night and that's it. Today I decided to do a little updo today. Here are some pics. Q

First hair pics of 2010

2010-01-18T10:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I decided to play with my hair. It's been a minute since I've taken pics and decided to play with a new style. I cowashed my hair with the Body works conditioner. I mixed the honey and the banana together. It was already in twists when I washed it. I took them apart individually, combed them, applied some Afroveda curly custard and retwisted them. Then I set each on perm rods. I later sat under the dryer for about 35 minutes. This morning, I took the twists apart and I love the way my hair looks, feels, and smells. I think I am going to take them apart a little more because I want a big curly look. I'll probably add a headband and a cute flower. But here are some pics. Q

Here are pics with the rollers in:

After I took them out:

The semi-final result:

My kids are so wise

2010-01-17T17:09:00.000-07:00

I was rolling my hair and watching "Last Holiday" with B and D. D turns to me and says, "mom Queen Latifah acts just like you?" At first I was scared to ask but figured what the heck. So I asked, "how?" She replied, ""well she doesn't care about what people say or think about her." There was a long pause and then she said, "and she's tough." LOL Q

This Week's Menu

2010-01-13T18:31:00.000-07:00

Monday- Leftovers from Sunday
Tuesday- Upside down Pizza casserole
Wednesday- Leftovers
Thursday- Baked Cheesy chicken breast with rice and veggies.
You know how I roll on the weekends.
Sunday- Roasted chicken and vegetables and a peach cobbler. Q

Hey girl from Walmart

2010-01-10T20:11:00.000-07:00

The recipe can be found here. It's a cupcake recipe but it's the same I use for my cakes. Let me know how it turns out for you. Q

My name is Queeny and....

2010-01-09T21:15:00.000-07:00

I am addicted to buying body products. This was going to be a lighthearted post about my love for body scrubs, oils, lotions, and perfumes but the more I thought about it, the more I felt the need to open up. Before I go any further, let me say please don't feel sorry for me. I am fine and I just felt the need to share in hopes my story will bless someone. That is the purpose of this blog anyway so here goes.

Every addiction has an event or series of events that led up to it. Whether it's alcohol or drug abuse. Those memories, those thoughts and experiences feed the addiction. Well mine isn't any different. I guess it started around the time I hit puberty. That's when my body started changing and it kind of went down hill from there. I am what most of us would consider the person with the bad body odor. Or at least I was. I remember it really picking up in Junior High School. One day, our chorus director mentioned that someone needed to wash under their arms because there as a musty odor. After she left, I remember one of the girls going around sniffing everyone's arms and then she got to me and stopped. It was a horrible time and people used it to hurt me. When I would get in an argument with someone, they would say the most hurtful things. I remember this one girl that I considered my friend just yelling at me and telling me I stunk and then having others join in agreement. What could I say, it was true. She tried to apologize but the damage was done.

Now before you jump to conclusions, understand my problem wasn't bad hygiene practices. But I didn't know it at the time. I remember crying myself to sleep at night and praying that God would help me. This cycle continued over the years getting worse. I remember hearing a family member I lived with was talking about how stink I was and she even told me that the reason by boyfriend broke up with me was because I stunk. That hurt me to the core. He never confirmed it but I still often wonder if that was the reason.

Over the years I learned to deal with it. Whenever I noticed myself getting sweaty, I would excuse myself and go change or wash. It was to the point where I was washing almost 4 times a day. I started getting into body products to mask the odor but that didn't help. That's why the stories people told about me sleeping with this person and that person are hilarious because I was so self conscious about my odor that I barely wanted anyone to touch me. It wasn't until I was in the military that I got fed up. I went to see my assigned nurse practitioner, hoping and praying she had an answer for me. After asking me some questions, she finally told me, I had what she had, hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating.

From there I realized the sweating bred bacteria which then of course stunk leaving me with a musty odor. I made it my mission to find out more about it. The internet wasn't big like it is now so I took to the library and began to research. It went further than the sweating. I found out about how our bodies function and how food plays a role in odor as well. I also learned about body chemistry and how certain smells can react negatively with your natural body scent therefore giving off a less than desirable odor.

So here I am in my 30's and I guess my past still haunts me so to speak. I guess subconsciously, I still have issues with what I experienced growing up. I take about 2 showers everyday. I make sure I wear breathable clothing. I carry wipes and a arsenal of other items just in case I have one of those episodes. I am very much aware of my body and what goes well with my chemistry. When someone tells me I smell good, I can feel a part of my past just peeling away. It's as if those words are undoing the harsh ones I heard growing up. I am also very tuned in to the Supremes and I hope and pray they don't inherit this condition from me. But if they do, I will be right there to help them so they can avoid what I went through. So many people dismissed me and just said, "well you need to wash" not knowing it was deeper than that. I don't want that to happen to them.

So yes, I have an addiction. I love for my body to be nice, clean and smelling good. As you can see from the pic above, I have several scrubs. That is down from the almost 20 I had at one point. I won't even post a pic of the oils, and lotions I own!!!! I don't think it will ever stop because now it is far deeper than the my past. There is something about a nice scrub at the end of a long hard day. I love slathering on lotion and massaging my body. Then curling up under the covers and smell the linger of the lotion or oil I just put on. I love the glow my body has from being exfoliated just right. I love my nice brown even skin tone. I love how the Supremes are always rubbing on my arm and telling me how soft I feel. I love when my husband cuddles up under me and say, "umm you smell soo good." Yup I'm addicted and proud of it!!! Q

For those who may be suffering, here are some links to help you. And please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Much love. Q
Hyperhidrosis
More info
Web MD

Gotta make it

2010-01-05T21:10:00.001-07:00

I listened to this song the other day and it spoke to me. I hope it inspires others to know that you can make it no matter what others say. Stay blessed. Q

My weekly menu

2010-01-04T16:50:00.000-07:00

I was supposed to have this up yesterday so I apologize. Here is what we are eating for the week.

Monday- Garlic-Herb Chicken Thighs with rice
Tuesday- Leftovers
Wednesday- Three Cheese Pasta bake with broccoli
Thursday- Leftovers
Friday- I don't cook on weekends
Saturday- every man and child for themselves
Sunday- Chunky Steak and Vegetable Soup with French bread

Garlic and Herb Chicken Thighs

2010-01-04T16:48:00.000-07:00

1/3 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
10 (4oz) skinned and boned chicken thighs
2 T olive oil

1 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 (14.5oz can) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (1.6 oz) packet of herb seasoning mix (I used toasted onion and garlic)

Combine flour, salt, and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour mix. Cook half chicken in 1 T oil in a large skillet over medium high heat 4 mins each side or until lightly browned. Remove chicken from pan, and set aside. Repeat with remaining chicken.

Add broth and vinegar to skillet and cook 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and herb sauce mix until combined.

Return chicken to skillet. Cook uncovered, over medium heat for 5 mins or until done.

Chunky Steak and Vegetable Soup

2010-01-04T16:36:00.000-07:00

2lb top round steak cut into 1-inch cubes
1/3 cup all purpose flour
3 T of vegetable oil

6 cups of water
5 small baking potatoes cut into 1/2 inch cubes
3 carrots sliced
2 small onions, chopped
1 celery rib,
1 (6oz) can tomato paste
2 T beef Bouillon granules
1 to 2 tsp pepper

1 cup frozen sweets peas, thawed
1 (16oz) can whole kernel corn, drained

Place steak in a ziploc bag, add flour, and toss to coat. Brown steak in hot oil in a large skillet over medium high heat 5 to 6 minutes or until browned. Drain well.

Combine steak, 6 cups water, and next 7 ingredients in a 7-qt slow cooker. Cover and cook on High 8 hours

Stir in peas and corn; cover and cook on High 30 more minutes.

This recipe is from SouthernLiving's Busy Moms Weeknight Favorites Q

For this recipe, after I browned the meat in a pan, I added the water, paste, potatoes and carrots. I brought this to a boil and cooked it on low for about 3 hours. I added the remaining ingredients at about 20 before it finished and seasoned it with Kosher salt. This is for people who don't have slow cookers or don't want to wait 8 hours for their food to cook. Q

Hot cocoa

2010-01-02T22:02:00.000-07:00

There is nothing I love more than a nice steaming cup of hot cocoa. I made some this morning for the Supremes. I have several recipes and yes I use the instant one from time to time but there is a simple recipe I use that works every time.

1/3 cup cocoa (I've used Hershey's and Nestle but I think Hershey's is best)
a pinch of salt
1/2 cup water
3 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla

For toppings I use marshmallows, whipped cream, and cinnamon.

In a small pot, add cocoa, salt, and sugar. Boil water and whisk into pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add milk. Heat until hot but not boiling about 6 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Top with whip cream, marshmallows, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Enjoy. Q

New Year scripture

2009-12-31T18:17:00.000-07:00

Phil 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Just want to say to all of my followers, lurkers, commenters, friends, family and folks who email me, I love you all and I pray 2010 will bring you more love, more life, and more laughs!!!! Q

I'm really happy for you and imma let you finish but.... Part 2

2009-12-31T16:39:00.000-07:00

I decided to finish it over here so the other post wouldn't be so long.

Stop Whining!!!
Whew goodness I can't take whining. Not from kids and esp not from grown folks. Man if some folks would spend as much time they spend whining on doing something productive, their life will be so much better. Now I understand stuff happens. Heck I've had my share of pity parties too. But all the time? Every freaking month? Go back and read my YOU series because you really need too. Talking and whining and crying won't change a thing. Esp if you are focusing on your past. You can't change it, you can't make it better, so move the heck on already. If you keep finding yourself in mucked up situations, then you are the reason and no one else. I honestly think some people live off the attention that mess brings them. Oh so and so, you are pretty, you are a good person, it's okay, I'm here for you, blah blah blah blah blah. Not me, not the kid. Once I notice a pattern I check out. I'll say one quick prayer and then I'm done. If you are tired of being fat, lose weight. If you are tired of being broke, spend less, and save more. It's much simpler than people realize.

Oh our beloved celebrities. The people we put in the place of God. Some folks will cuss you out if you talk about their celeb but won't say boo when someone curses God. Then we get all upset and mad when our precious celeb does something wrong in our eyes. We are so shocked and hurt and upset. They are people too. They have to put their pants on one leg at a time, if you (allegedly) bust them upside the head with a golf club, they will bleed. I mean really. What you should do is hold them accountable when it comes to what they are supposed to do. Stop supporting folks who put out crappy albums with nothing but fluff and catchy songs. Stop going to their concerts and making them rich. And when they do mess up, stop being so quick to give them passes or make excuses for them. "Oh well what did she do, or what did he do to her?" Heck to that, wrong is wrong. Call them out on it just like you would anyone in your life. Don't give them a pass simply because their poster is hanging on your wall.

And while I am on the topic of men and women, it's time for us to man up and woman up. The standards today for men and women have been lowered BIG TIME. I mean really? Really? Listen I know we are human and we make mistakes but some stuff we can avoid. You know like cheating on our spouses and stealing money from folks. You don't just wake up screwing someone you are not married to. It takes time and planning, and skill. Way before you get to the actual act, you have plenty of time to not do it. We also need to be responsible in other areas. If you owe someone, pay them. If you did something wrong, apologize. And stop lumping men and women into all these categories. Well all men cheat and all women do this and that. How do you know? I don't believe you, you need more people. I believe there is more good men who are faithful to their wives. Who understand any man can cheat but REAL MEN keep the vows they make. I believe there are more great mothers who will bite the head off a rattlesnake to save her child than there are those who would sell their child into sex slavery for some drugs.

And speaking of parents. Le sigh!!! It amazes me to see parents put on these elaborate shows to convince their child that Santa exists but once Christmas is over, they don't spend any time with that child. Too many parents are letting the tv, internet, game systems and teachers raise their children. Now I will be the first one to say, I used to look forward to the Supremes growing up. But now, I am happy my 11 year old, acts and looks like an 11 year old. We are too quick to make our kids grow up. We push them away as soon as they can walk or talk. But that's when the real parenting begins. We can tell you the colors of Mac's blush line but can't tell you when was the last time we went on a field trip, or a school event. Your children are not your friends. Above everything else, they need our love and our time. If you start good habits while they are young, they will continue. I get mad when folks act like their children are burdens. They didn't ask to be here!!! Esp when their are folks who would love to have kids and can't. Turn the tv off, and play games with them. Log off twitter and read with them. Stop buying them McDonald's making them fat, and cook healthy foods with them. Nothing to do on the weekends, go to the library with them. Go to a craft store like Hobby Lobby and do something fun with them. Learn a new language or how to play an instrument right along with them. On the flip side, stop pushing them to be baby geniuses. Yes they need to work on schoolwork but give them a chance to be kids too. Oh and rethink your old school ways because real talk esp for African Americans, if that stuff worked, we would be in better positions than we are now. It's okay if your kids speak proper English, or don't know the songs to every Lil Wayne song. You don't have to spank them every time they do something wrong. Maybe if you spent more time with them, they wouldn't act out so much.

Lastly, if God be God, let Him be God. If you believe God can do all things but fail, then let Him do it. Don't limit Him or say well I am just this way or that way. Because then you don't believe. If you are going to let go and let God, don't go back and try to put your hand in it or try to help God. God doesn't need your help!!!

Okay I'm done for real. I love all of you and I pray what I have said will make you examine some of the things you have said or done in your life. With the new year coming in, let us all resolve to better. Let's be better men, women, daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, and friends. Find people who are like you and striving to be better and encourage them. Put a stop to the foolishness you see and hear and watch the company you keep. Stop the gossiping, lies, whining and cattiness. Above all, always put God first PERIOD. Q

I'm really happy for you and imma let you finish but....

2009-12-31T08:33:00.000-07:00

Before 2009 ends, I just need to get some things off my chest. I figured today was the best day to do it since folks will probably get over it once tomorrow comes. :) Anyway, this year has been one for the record books. Not just in the world but in my life as well. I can look back and see how I've grown and how much growth is still needed. I can't say I am perfect, but I am better and getting better everyday. Those who know me, know I don't hold my tongue, EVER. That's just not my style. This is not being passive aggressive or taking shots at anyone. This is stuff I've seen, been a part of or needed to check myself about in the past year. So this post isn't going to be different. I know it may set some folks off but I hope it makes you mad enough to take a good look, stop what you are doing, and make things better. Okay? Ready, set, go!!!!

To my fellow Christian brothers and sisters please study the word for yourself. I am tired of these crazy backwards sayings being applied to God when they don't have any biblical foundation whatsoever. Stop putting God in your box and trying to get Him to conform to your ways. You should conform to His. And stop getting mad telling Him what you will and won't do like you are doing something special. God will still be God whether you serve Him or not. Stop half stepping when it comes to serving Him. Fornication is a sin, lying is a sin, adultery is a sin, cursing is a sin. Just because you haven't murdered someone, that doesn't make you an angel. You are still a sinner so repent. Don't get mad when you don't receive the blessings you deserve when you are shacked up with someone day in and day out.

Which brings me to my next point:
Ladies please, please, please demand more respect for yourself. I know some of yall will say Oh Q you can say this and that because you are married. But let me tell you something, I love myself enough to not settle. Believe that!!! Trust T wasn't the only dude that wanted to be with me. I turned down plenty because I knew they weren't about anything. Stop begging, pleading, crying and acting crazy to try to get some dude to "put a ring on it." Beyonce' got yall heads messed up. Maybe him not putting a ring on it,is a blessing in the disguise. He is probably not the one for you. I don't believe it takes a man years or you having to tell him the benefits of being married for him to do it. Maybe he wants to be married, just not to you. Maybe he is waiting for the right one to come along and just keeping you around because he doesn't want to be alone. Why deal with that? You see the signs, you know he is not the one, so instead of waiting for him to break your heart, take control and end it yourself. Stop giving it up to dudes and look deeper than how fine he is, or how much money he got.

My next point, log off and live life!!! I love the internet don't get me wrong. I love being on twitter, FB, and my blog. But some people have taken it too far. Their life revolves around the computer screen and their e-friends and foes they come in contact with online. I mean really if someone can say something on a site to set you off, make you cry, or make you feel bad about your life then you need to get it together. If the only people you have to discuss your life with is folks you only know by their screenname, then you need to log off and get some real friends. Folks are literally letting life pass them by because they are hung up on folks they have never seen or met. Taking advice from people, envying folks and changing your life just because ImSoSexyAndYouNot83 said it, is not the business okay. If you get off work and rush home just to log to the computer instead of calling up a good friend, or reading a good book, Houston YOU have a problem. Understand the folks you "think" you know could be blowing smoke in your face. They will have you thinking you need to be a certain size, wear certain clothes, eat at certain places, and on and on when really you need to just be you. They are probably fat, broke, and manless but yet you are hanging on to their every word like they Jesus. Take what is said and posted online with a grain of salt. If you are having problems in life, being on the internet all day won't make them go away. Log off and spend some time, living in the real world.

Lastly, if you are over the age of 25, it's way past time to grow the heck up. This year I made it a mission to stop being caught up in a bunch of gossip, drama, and foolishness. It was rough going at first because who doesn't like to hear some good gossip? But when I took a good hard look, I realized I was just like the people that didn't like me. If I wanted to be better, I had to do better and I did. I removed myself from some forums because they made it too easy for me to get caught up. But even though I have put that behind me, some folks haven't. They are still doing the same old same old. If all you do is post on a bunch of forums talking about folks, stirring up drama behind the scenes, sniggling and and giggling at folks all day, you need a life. SERIOUSLY!!! If you are friends with someone who gossips, keeps mess going, and is all around messy, don't be surprised if they do the same to you. It's time for folks to grow up and instead of tearing folks down, you should try to build them up. And stop playing follow the leader being mad with folks because your e-friend doesn't like them. Stand alone and make decisions for your own self. Everyone isn't going to get along. That doesn't mean you have to jump in on one side and try to bully someone else. And if you don't like the person so much, then don't talk to them, twitter them, or worry about them. Oh and stop being mad cuz folks like me and you don't. Trying to throw salt and discredit me reflects badly on you and not me. If I am such a bad person then folks will see it. Or maybe I'm not and you just want me to be. Either way, if you don't like me, keep my name outcha mouth. I mean who does that? Get a life already!!!

Whew that felt good. I know I will probably edit this because I have more to add but this is a start!!! Q

Pineapple upside down cake

2009-12-25T21:34:00.001-07:00

I've been using this recipe for over 10 years so why change a good thing. Someone requested it so here goes.
1/4 cup stick margarine or butter
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 can (20 oz) sliced pineapple in juice, drained
Maraschino cherries
1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening
3/4 cup milk
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 large egg

Preheat oven to 350. Melt margarine in 10 inch ovenproof skillet or square pan, 9x9x2 inches, in oven. Sprinkle brown sugar over margarine, and arrange pineapples over sugar. Place cherry in center of each pineapple slice. Beat remaining ingredients with mixer on low speed for about 30 secs, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed 3 mins, scraping bowl and pour over pineapple. Bake skillet 45 to 50 mins or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Immediately turn upside down onto heatproof plate. Let skillet or pan remain over cake for a few minutes, remove and then enjoy. Q

Catching up

2009-12-20T19:49:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't posted in forevuwary but so much has happened. I am off most of this week so I will break each down in detail so here goes:
B had a follow up appt. Everything is going well and she has to go back in 4 months.

T went to the ER one night. He has gallstones and has to get his gallbladder removed.

I finished school!!!

I finally saw my boo Vince Carter. Whew goodness that post will be amazing.

D turned 9 and we had her party. There was drama but turned out great.

T got one of his presents earlier than planned. Talk about quick delivery.

My business will be up and running soon. I've got amazing feedback can't wait to share.

I'm starting another blog, this one about the Supremes hair.

Thinking about closing my fitness one and just sticking to this one and the new one. I've neglected it big time so we'll see.

I think that's it. More to follow including more hilarious Supreme tales. Q

My tweet cloud

2009-12-06T20:18:00.001-07:00

These are the words I've tweeted the most in the past year. LOL at some of the words that are together. *blink* Q

God still gets the glory!!!!

2009-12-01T17:50:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it has almost been a year since this happened. It has been a long year dealing with it all. I've rarely said anything about it because it was hurting too much. Today I had several messages from my mother. She got news that my brother was free, and all charges were dropped. Of course I was super excited making posts on FB, twitter, and calling folks. My mother was finally able to get the full scoop from my brother. He pled to a lesser charge and has 3 years probation. My excitement went down for a minute. She told me he was tired of being in jail, tired of not being able to raise his son, and just tired of it all.

A part of me is mad as hell because he was innocent. We were behind him 100% and ready for him to go to trial and prove his innocence. But then I had to step back and put myself in his shoes. I don't know what it's like to not be free, to not be able to see your child everyday, to miss out on holidays and birthdays. I don't know what it's like in jail and to feel alone while life is just going on without you. So yes it's easy for me to want him to stay and fight, but I'm not him, and he's not me.

Another part of me is thankful and praising God in spite of it all. I know he has a long road ahead of him. I know he has some serious obstacles to overcome. But I also know God for you is greater than the whole world against you. So no it didn't work out the way we wanted, but God still gets the glory. I am praising Him because my brother is free. I am praising Him because my mother will see her son on Christmas. I am praising Him because my nephew has his father. I am praising Him because my brother is ALIVE and we have a chance to rebuild our relationship and start anew. I am praising Him because my brother has a chance to have a new and better life!!! Q

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

When will I see Vince Carter Play (Part 3) 2 weeks to go!!!

2009-11-27T21:49:00.000-07:00

Plane tickets-booked
Rental car- booked
Housesitter/babysitter- arranged
Hotel room- in process
Tickets- in process

I can't believe that in only 2 short weeks, I will finally see Vince Carter play. It seems like a dream but I know it isn't. I'm happy and nervous at the same time. To finally cross this off of my bucket list is going to be so great. I am almost ready and we just have a few things to take care of. Then I just have to wait. VC here I come!!!! Q

Some Thanksgiving pics

2009-11-26T13:18:00.000-07:00

Just waiting on the turkey. Have a blessed day!!! Q

Peach Cobbler

2009-11-24T18:20:00.000-07:00

Why lie, this is not my recipe. This is Patti Labelle's and I love it. I did tweak it a little but it's pretty much the same.

Crust:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter flavored shortening, chilled
1/3 cup ice water

For the Peach cobbler:
3 pounds medium peaches, peeled, pitted and cut into 1/4-inch slices (You can use canned just drain them)
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (if using fresh peaches)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for top crust
4 tablespoons butter, chilled, cut into small pieces

For the Pie crust: Sift the flour and salt into a bowl. Add the shortening and cut it in with a fork or pastry cutter until it resembles coarse crumbs with a few pea-sized bits. Stirring with a fork, gradually add enough of the water until the mixture clumps together. Gather up the dough and press into 2 balls (one slightly bigger than the other), wrap in waxed paper or saran wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Roll out smaller dough the size/shape of the pan to about 1/8 inch thick and bake for about 10 minutes on a cookie sheet. In a medium bowl, toss the peaches, cornstarch, sugar, butter, lemon juice and cinnamon. Place half of peach mixture in a round or square pan. Place baked crust on top and then top with remaining peach mixture. Roll out big portion of dough until about 1 inch hangs over the pan. Pinch the dough on the top edges of the dish. Put 3 slits in top to let air escape, place on cookie sheet to catch any juices, and bake 30-40 minutes until brown and sprinkle top with more cinnamon. Serve with ice cream and enjoy!!! Q

Mashed potato, mashed potato

2009-11-24T17:54:00.000-07:00

This is one of those recipes I don't have measurements for. I just eyeball it. But I will try. LOL

5 large baking potatoes
milk
Salt and pepper to taste
4 T of butter

Scrub, rinse, and peel potatoes. Cut into about inch size pieces and place in a pot of water. Cover with about and inch of water, add salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer about 15-20 minutes until potatoes poked with a fork are soft. Drain and put in a bowl. Mash lightly with back of fork, add butter, slowly add milk while beating on light with a mixer. Beat until smooth but don't over mix. Add salt and pepper to taste. Q

Brined roasted turkey

2009-11-24T17:23:00.000-07:00

I have several that I use and I just change up the ingredients a little. This is for a 10-12 pound bird. So here is one:
1 cup salt
1 cup brown sugar (maple syrup works too)
2 gallons of cold water
1 large cut up orange
A handful of seasonings, rosemary, thyme, bay leaves (Or you can use some Italian seasoning)

Remove neck, and giblets from turkey and rinse well. Dissolve salt and sugar in water. Add remaining items and then put in turkey. Let sit in brine in fridge for 4-24 hours. Remove turkey, rinse well and pat dry inside and out.

Roasting:
1/2 stick of unsalted butter
1 onion
1 orange
Seasonings
Salt and pepper
3 cups of broth
other 1/2 stick of butter (melted)

Preheat oven to 325. Place turkey in pan breast side up. Rub with half of butter and put some up under the breast skin. Squeeze some of the orange on breast and sprinkle with a little seasonings, salt and pepper. Place giblets etc in bottom of pan along with 1 cup water. Turn turkey breast side down and repeat. Stuff turkey with onion, and orange slices. Tie wings and thighs back. Cover tips of wings with foil. Bake for 1 hour breast side down. Remove from oven, turn over , remove foil from wings, baste with 1 cup broth, some butter, and sprinkle seasoning. Remove giblets at the bottom and put in dressing (optional). Bake turkey for another hour (depends on size) basting about every 20 minutes until thermometer in thigh reads 165. Let turkey rest at least 20 minutes before cutting. Q

Cornbread dressing recipe

2009-11-24T17:12:00.000-07:00

To make this dressing, I start with the cornbread:

1/2 cup butter melted
1 egg
1 cup milk
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar

Grease pan and heat oven at 400. Combine ingredients and put in pan. Bake for about 30 to 40 minutes.

While that is cooking, I cut up some celery and sometimes a little mushrooms and turkey giblets if I have it. I like for my celery to be cooked a little so I cook them in about a tablespoon of butter.

Now for the dressing part:
The items cooked above
1 can of cream of celery soup
1 can of beef consomme soup
1 can of beef broth
seasoned salt to taste

I left the cornbread cool and then crumbled it in the pan and mix all of the above and stir it in. Cook for another 10-20 minutes until a crust forms on the top. Q

Entourage!!!!

2009-11-24T07:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had one of those hilarious discussions with the Supremes. I transferred D and K to a new school at the end of August. Prior to that, they were all attending the same school. Well B and D informed me of just how "popular" K was at their previous school. In their words, "K was the most popular first grader." She was the leader of about a group of 6-7 girls and 2 boys. The boys acted as guards or secret service and the girls were just her court so to speak. Her Vice President was a little girl she was good friends with. The person after that was another little girl that she sometimes had issues with. Sounds like the President doesn't it?

Well after listening more, I also found out that not only was she protected by this group, they would literally surround her from other kids. Even her own sisters had to get permission to approach her. I kid you not!!!! B told me if they approached the group, the boys would jump out in front and question them. Then someone would let K know who would then say yes or no as to whether or not they could speak to her. Bwhahahahahahaha This group would pretty much follow K around as well. I wonder if they would take a spit ball for her? LOL

Whew my kids, my kids. I told yall she was a natural born leader!!!! Q

When will I see Vince Carter play? Part 3

2009-11-19T10:09:00.000-07:00

Twenty three more days left. I am so very excited like a kid in a candy store. I can't believe this is finally going to happen!!! I've been having dreams about him a lot. In all of them, I had a chance to meet him but I'm so frozen and so scared, that I chicken out. Last night I had a very vivid one. It was myself, and my girls Ten, Mari and Candy. We had a plan and was ready to go. They were going to be distractions during halftime so I could sneak and meet Vince. First we were late getting to the game because I had to be just right. Then we had drama with our tickets. When we finally got seated, it was halftime and in walks my mom. (Random yeah I know.) VC is in the bleechers right in front of us. I mean I could reach out and touch him. His trainer is stretching out his leg or something. My mom tells me to go over there but I can't. So she does. She embarasses the heck out of me. He smiles, and motions for me to come over but I can't. My legs won't move. All I can do is smile. Finally halftime is over and he has to get back into the game. My kids all laugh at me and I'm kicking myself. I really hope I don't freeze like that in real life. LOL Q

Who knew

2009-11-18T23:11:00.000-07:00

My kids are hilarious. NO seriously they are. The things that come out of their mouths just have my stomach hurting. Here is the latest addition to the funny files.

D: Mom K is calling me a bad name
Me: What did she call you?
D: She called me a show off

In walks K at the tail end of the convo.
K: That's because you are a show off.
Me: Do yall even know the meaning of show off?
K: Yes a show off is someone who learns something new and they go around telling everyone about it like they are an expert or something.
D: Well that makes you a show off too K.
Me: Bwhahahahahahahaha Yall leave each other alone.

Who knew? LOL Q

Happy Veteran's Day

2009-11-11T18:57:00.000-07:00

Today was such a great day. I got to sleep in. I woke up, showered and chatted with two of my favorite girls, Monica and my Tee girl. Then I ran out real quick, visited with my hairdresser and came back home. My fam and I went to Best buy to look at some new computers, then to Applebee's to eat some free food, to the library, and then the mall. As I sit here typing, I feel so incredibly blessed. Although America isn't perfect, I love my country. I enjoy some freedoms I know women in other countries could only dream of. I also know this freedom came with a cost and I don't take that for granted. As I enjoyed my day with my husband, I know some wife just said goodbye to hers as he headed to Iraq. As I laughed at my babies, I know there is a mother who patiently waiting for a from her daughter who is in harms way. So today, I take the time to pray for all those who serve, who are serving, and who will one day serve to keep this country free. Q

The news said that the sky is falling....

2009-11-05T20:58:00.000-07:00

Man it has been one of those days. I'm sure you all have heard about the tragedy at Fort Hood today. Well it hit close to home. My father in law retired from the army a few years ago at Fort Hood. My mother in law works on base at the clinic and he is a civilian worker as well. So many thoughts rushed through my mind as I tried to get in contact with them. Although my gut told me they were okay. I finally got the confirmation in the form of a phone call from my MIL. Things could have been bad for her. The gunman bypassed her building and then another before taking aim. From what she described, those soldiers didn't have a chance. I am emotionally drained right now.

It's times like these I really wish Jesus would return. I don't know or understand why things like this happens. But what I know is God is real and we must always be ready. No one knows when their life may end. My thoughts and prayers goes out to all the people affected today. Q

Let's hear it for the Yankees!!!

2009-11-04T22:50:00.000-07:00

#27 Nuff said. Q

When will I see Vince Carter play? Part 2

2009-10-31T15:59:00.000-07:00

Southwest Airlines had a special on tickets for 72 hours. I booked some from T and I to go to Phoenix in December to see Orlando play the Suns. I'm waiting to hear from someone I know there about the game tickets. I may be able to actually meet him as well. Either way, just seeing him play is more than enough for me. Now I have to arrange for a house and babysitter, book our room, and hotel. I'm so excited!!! Q

Buttermilk Biscuits

2009-10-29T17:28:00.000-07:00

2 cups all purpose flour
1 T of baking powder
1/4 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 stick of butter
3/4 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 400. Combine all of the dry ingredients in a bowl. Cut butter into mix using a fork or pastry blender until you see fine crumbs. Stir in buttermilk making a soft sticky dough.

On a lightly floured surface, knead dough over gently about 3-4 times. Roll out until 3/4 inch thick and cut with a 3 inch biscuit cutter. Place dough 1 inch apart on un-greased baking sheet. Brush with butter and bake for 15 minutes. Q

Thanksgiving Menu is set

2009-10-27T21:31:00.000-07:00

I'm late posting this and I'll have all of the recipes up tomorrow. Here is my final list. I decided to do it simple this year.
Roasted Turkey
Cornbread Dressing
Gravy
Mashed potatoes
Collard greens with smoked turkey wings
Macaroni and cheese
Buttermilk biscuits
Coconut Cream Cake
Red velvet cake
Caramel apple pie
Sweet potato pie

So what are you guys making? Q

EDIT To Add: I was asked to put up my mashed potatoes, dressing and peach cobbler recipes. I will do that later today. Q

B's Christmas list

2009-10-24T18:50:00.000-07:00

So all of the girls have turned in their lists. But yall know with the Supremes, comedy is never far behind. B turned in her list yesterday. On the front page was her items at the top. On the bottom it read:

Mom and Dad you do not have to give me any of this stuff. But since you love me, you probably will buy me one thing on this list. Either way, I'm okay with whatever you get even if it's not on my list. Anyway, I love you.

Then she had an arrow to turn it over. On the back it read:

All the things on this list can be found at Toys "R" Us (most of them) or at Walmart (maybe). Now go find them (if you want me to have them)(see the gesture on front.)

What is we gone do with these kids?!!! Q

When will I see Vince Carter play?

2009-10-24T14:54:00.000-07:00

Oh yes I hear the sounds of my friends giggling. I can imagine them shaking their heads and praying for me. Well keep on heffas. LOL Anyone that knows me, knows I love Vincent Lamar Carter. (Yes I did use his gubment name.) Ever since I first saw him playing over 12 years ago at UNC I've been a fan. I followed his career from being Rookie of the year, to the Slam Dunk Champ (I have it bookmarked on youtube), an Olympic medalist, a philanthropist, a husband, a father, numerous All Star appearances (although they went lame on him last year) and so on and so forth.

I've tried countless times to see him play in the past but with so many things going on, it's been so hard trying to plan it all. Well after a year of losing some great people like MJ who I never got a chance to see, I decided to get moving on seeing VC. One of the things I hate about this state is, it doesn't have any professional teams. So right now my best bet is to head to Arizona, or Denver to see him play. Both are a straight shot plane ride from here and also less than 8 hours driving. Right now I am leaning towards seeing him play in AZ on December 11th.

I've already priced the plane tickets, $137 round trip, and the game tickets about $200 each. I think this will be a Christmas present to myself along with a b-day gift for dh. His birthday is on the 13th and he also wants to see a pro b-ball game as well. He wishes it wasn't because of VC but hey, beggars can't be choosers. LOL That's the first part of my goal, the second is meeting him. Whooo saaaaa I'll talk about that in a later post. Yall pray for me. Q

Three Cheese pasta bake the remix

2009-10-23T16:38:00.000-07:00

I decided to take a hint from my commenter Mrs. Saddity and add some veggies to it this time. I added some green beans and broccoli to it. I made it last night and as I type, my family is finishing off what's left. LOL Q

My newest creation

2009-10-23T16:33:00.000-07:00

I played around with my basic white cake recipe. I used some coconut cream, added some macadamia nuts, and white chocolate chips. I mixed my vanilla frosted with melted white chocolate, and toasted some coconut and sprinkled it on top. I named it "The Meya" after my friend who gave me this awesome cookie recipe. More info to follow. Here is a shot of one I sent to her as a birthday gift. Q

My 6 month press and trim

2009-10-16T20:53:00.001-07:00

Yes it's that time again. Some of you may or may not know but I cut my hair back to bsl a few months ago so I was anxious to see how much growth I got. I decided to go a different route this time. I did a protein treatment at home the night before, detangled my hair and let it dry in braids. The next day, I took them down and gently combed through. I put my hair in 4 sections and headed to the salon. I got my hair flatironed and then trimmed. I lost at least 2 inches probably 3 but it's alright. I didn't get a hard press and I had her lightly bump the ends. I am still planning on donating my hair but I'm letting it grow over the winter right now. I am a few inches past bsl again so I'm happy. Enjoy. Q

Honey Mustard Curried Chicken

2009-09-27T15:09:00.000-07:00

I found this recipe by going to allrecipes.com. I was looking for a recipe that included honey, mustard and curry. I tried this last week and I decided to make it again and make some adjustments.

1 whole cut up chicken
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup dijon mustard
2 tsp curry powder
1/4 tsp salt

Mix honey, mustard, curry, and salt together. Place chicken in a shallow pan and baste with some of the sauce. Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 15 minutes basting several times with sauce and turn once. I served this tonight with Trader Joes Basmati Rice Medley made with reduced sodium chicken broth and an organic spring mix. Enjoy. Q

No-Bake Cheesy Ziti Toss

2009-09-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

I love baked Ziti. It is one of those dishes that makes me think of my mom. She was known for hers in the neighborhood. She would always pair it with cresant rolls and I do the same. This recipe is a quick and easy one on the stove. It also uses tomatoes along with traditional spaghetti sauce. But it still tastes great. You can do this without meat but I used some ground turkey.

1 16 oz package of ziti
1 lb of ground turkey
1 (15 oz) can of tomatoes drained
1 1/2 cups (6oz) reduced fat Cheddar and mozzarella cheese blend
1 small red bell pepper chopped
1 cup of tomato based sauce
1/2 tsp pepper
1 T of Italian seasoning

Cook ziti according to package and drain well. Cook turkey and drain. Stir tomatoes and the remaining ingredients. Add pasta, turkey, and toss. Q

Honey Mustard-and-Bacon Smothered Chicken

2009-09-27T14:25:00.000-07:00

This is another recipe I got out of my new cookbook. It looks so bad but it's not, I promise. Here is my version of the recipe.

8 (6 oz) skinless, boneless chicken breast
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1T of smart balance spread (optional)
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup mustard (you can use prepared honey mustard)
8 cooked slices of turkey bacon (I broke each in half)
1/2 cup (2 oz) reduced fat shredded Mexican 4 cheese blend.

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Melt butter in large skillet and add chicken. Cook on medium high heat for 8 minutes on each side until done. Reduce heat to medium low and brush chicken with honey mustard and cook for about 2 minutes. Top each breast with 2 pieces of bacon and sprinkle with cheese. Cover and cook for 2 minutes until cheese melts. Enjoy. Q

Baked potato soup

2009-09-27T14:05:00.000-07:00

I'm back to post some more recipes I've tried and tweaked. This one is a family favorite. I first had this soup at a restaurant and made it my mission to make it at home. After searching over the net, I was saddened to realize how fattening it is. So I made some adjustments to make it a little healthier. I mean it will still set you back in calories but it is good for those times you want some good, bad and hardy. I love to eat this with crackers.

5 large baking potatoes

2 T of smart balance spread
1/4 cup all purpose flour
4 cups of reduced fat milk
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp of pepper
1 cup (4 oz) reduced fat shredded Cheddar cheese
2 slices of cooked turkey bacon crumbled
1 sliced green onions for garnish (optional)

Wash, scrub gently and prick each potato with a fork all over. Arrange 1 inch apart in the microwave on a paper towel. Microwave on high for 20 mins, turning and rearranging after 10 minutes. Let cool

Peel potatoes and mash with a fork. I like to leave a couple of large pieces. Melt spread in a pot on the medium heat. Add flour and stir until smooth. Slowly stir in 2 cups of milk. Add potatoes, salt, pepper, cheese and remaining milk and cook over low heat for about 10 minutes. Top with a little cheese, bacon and green onions. Enjoy. Q

Weekend giggles!!!

2009-09-12T22:25:00.000-07:00

D:Mom are you cooking?
Me:No, you know I don't cook on the weekends.
D:Well what do you do then.
Me:*side eye with a blank stare*
D: Never mind

Yall see why I don't like kids?!!! Q

Three-Cheese Pasta Bake

2009-08-26T18:44:00.000-07:00

Tonight is the second night of recipes from my new cookbook. Here is what I am making tonight:
1 (16oz) package ziti (I used mostaccioli)
2 (10oz) containers light refrigerated Alfredo sauce (I used 1 15oz jar)
1 (8oz) container reduced-fat sour cream
1 (15oz)container part-skim ricotta cheese
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (I used about a tablespoon of Italian seasoning)
1 1/2 cups (6oz) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350. Cook ziti according to package directions; drain well.

2. Stir together Alfredo sauce and sour cream in a large bowl; add ziti, stirring until blended. Spoon half of the mixture into a lightly greased 13x9 inch baking dish.

3. Stir together ricotta cheese and next 3 ingredients; spread evenly over pasta mixture in dish. Spoon remaining pasta mixture evenly over ricotta cheese layer; sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

I used a round dish and did a layer of noodles, ricotta, another layer of noodles, ricotta, noodles, and then mozzarella to finish. I'm pairing this with a nice side salad with balsamic vinegar dressing. Q

I got a new cookbook

2009-08-24T07:47:00.000-07:00

Last week the Supremes and I took a trip to Ross. I was looking to get some stuff for the house but ran across the book section. I love cooking as you all know and I really love quick, easy and healthy cooking. Well I stumbled across this book "Busy Moms Weeknight Favorites" by Southern Living. I glanced through quickly and it had lots of pics, which I love, and a bunch of easy recipes. For only $5.99, I couldn't pass it up. So this week, I will be trying a new recipe for every meal I make.

My plan was to start yesterday but we went to a birthday party and ended up eating there so there was no need for me to make dinner. Here is tonight's recipe:
Caramelized Onion Chicken

Prep:7 min Cook: 16 min
1 lb of chicken breast tenders
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1 tsp olive oil

1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam (or red currant, apple, or seedless blackberry)
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1 Tbsp soy sauce (I will be using reduced sodium)
1 tsp bottled minced ginger (I will be using 1/4 tsp of ginger powder)
1/2 tsp dried rosemary (I will be using Italian seasoning)

1. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Saute' onion in hot oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat 2 minutes. Add chicken to pan; cook 8 minutes or until chicken is done, turning occasionally. Remove onion and chicken from pan, and set aside.

2. Add jam and remaining ingredients to skillet; cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly with a whisk to loosen browned bits from skillet. Return chicken mixture to pan; cook 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.

I plan on finishing the chicken with roasted asparagus and brown rice. I will update with pics once I'm finished. Q

More braid out pics

2009-08-19T20:54:00.000-07:00

So I decided to post some more pics of my b-day braid out. The first pic is of the braids I started with. I washed, conditioned, and blowdried my hair. I applied some avocado butter to seal and braided. Then I took them out. I wore it pulled back in a head band and I took some pics of the side as well. Q

Best birthday ever?

2009-08-10T20:55:00.000-07:00

Okay so I've had a few great ones but this one is right up top. Last year was hard for me, real hard. I was dealing with turning 30, not reaching my goals, and not being able to share it with someone real dear to me. Although I was wrong, and she did contact me via email, it still hurt. An email is so impersonal for someone so close. So many people thought this was about them but sorry, it wasn't. Not trying to be passive aggressive or whatever but I just want to put any rumors or ASSumptions to rest about my post last year. Okay? Good. My friend doesn't even read my blog, lol. This wasn't just some everyday run of the mill person. She is so close to me, the word friend doesn't fit. She was there holding my hand as I pushed my daughter out. She was there going to bat for me when folks were spreading awful rumors. She was there for all of my previous pretty parties. But last year, she couldn't be there for me and it hurt.

But I was selfish. She needed me way more than I needed her. But this year was different and I knew it would be. I had been praying for her, not knowing when, but I knew she would be back. As much as I tried to deny it, my love for her was stronger than ever. The time, and distance only made it stronger. So I spent my birthday celebrating with my friend Jen and her new husband Shawn. They took the step into married bliss and I had a great time. I admit, I was feeling a little funny about not being with my family but they made up for it. It's nice to have friends that you can hang with like family!!! I also got to meet some of the girls I've spoken to or interacted with via forums and they were great as well. There is too much to tell but I have a new phrase, "I got what I came here for."

So imagine my surprise when I got home, I had a message from my friend, my girl, my sister. At first I was shocked and a little perplexed. Do I call? Do I wait? What do I say? Finally I just said forget it and picked up the phone. I got the voicemail but she called back. We talked, and we talked, and we talked. And she talked to Thomas, and they talked, and they talked. I got a lot of nice gifts this year, but hearing her voice and reconnecting with someone I love so much, is PRICELESS!!! My heart was smiling after we hung up. What we have, is something most people only dream of. It's not perfect but I thank God we are able to weather so many storms. Everything we've gone through has made our friendship stronger than we've ever imagined. I really think this was the best birthday ever!! Q