Tempt my Tummy Tuesday.

 The next 10 weeks I am going to do Camping recipes. So today I am doing.................
                   
                                                              Campfire Veggies

• 4 medium unpeeled potatoes, sliced
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt to taste (optional)
• 5 tablespoons butter, divided

1. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat.
2. Prepare two foil packets by layering together 4 squares of heavy duty aluminum foil for each packet. If using regular duty foil, use twice the number of layers. Spray the top sheet with nonstick cooking spray. In a bowl or resealable bag, toss together the potato slices, onion, and frozen vegetables; season to taste with salt, pepper, and garlic salt if using.
3. Evenly divide the potatoes between the two foil packets, and top with the divided butter. Fold each packet, starting length wise, rolling edges together, repeat for each end, making sure to seal edges tightly.
4. Cook the foil packets over the preheated grill until the potatoes are tender, approximately 15 minutes per side. 
5. Easy recipe for your campfire, BBQ Grill, or oven

Meet me Monday! :)

 1. Whenever I do something for a special occasion or go out on a date night, I obsessively feel like I need a new outfit to wear. Even if it is a new top. Maybe it is just an excuse to buy something for myself because now whenever I shop I immediately head for home section of all the stores especially Target. I am always trying to find that cute thing for the house. 

2. Because I am an only child & I have a fear of loosing one or both of my parents at times it cripples me to the fact I am in a total panic. Second with the idea of the loss of my hubs. I can think myself into a overwhelming frantic upset. I have been like this forever. I use to sneak out of class in grade school and wait on the steps for my Mom. I would love for this to pass but I don't think it will...EVER GO AWAY! 

3. I have tried to stop drinking soda 1000 and 1 times and it never works. I'm obsessed with diet coke. I guess it's not as bad since it doesn't have the sugar? Right???

4. I am a HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE speller. Thank God for spell check. My brain just runs faster than my hand can write. I am trying and for those who correct me with a private email I thank you...just try not to call me out in public. Please!!

 5. I LOVE turning down my bed and slipping in when the sheets are fresh and clean. Dried from the clothes line outside.... Clean, crisp, fresh sheets are the BEST!  

 6. I love historical movies, books, plays.  I am currently trying to read Marie Therese Child Terror Antoinettes Daughter Trying is really stretching it, I have to listen to it on cd while I am reading it..... It is an intimidating book but I know that It is one I will love & share!  

& because of this book I am even more into this...... the show I CAN'T WAIT to come on every week is ...Tudors. Oh. This. Is. A. Show. ( Sad the lead hottie wont do more seasons cause he doesn't want to get fat for his part) This is okay like the "Hub's" He is to cute to stay mad at! 

7. I am always trying to find ways to make money from home, I hope one day that I can do just that and make the "hubs" proud of me. One day my writing will pay off. That Kingstongirl will help get me into the life we have always wanted. 

8. I haven't gotten a pedicure in 5 months my Mom needs to come home so we can go!!!

9. I am counting down the days till summer vacation. We have so many fun things to look forward to... many camping trips Klaloch with Ma & Pa, Nana & Poppie, if the weather is okay, My Birthday, 4th of July (I am in the Parade!) a fun time in Sun Lakes with our Good friends the "P"family.  I want to do many dinners at our house and fun BBQ's.  So get ready for many invites.

10.  I feel like I'm still in my mid 20's. When I watch reality shows like Real housewives of ( all of them) or the Bachelor(ette), Big Brother,  I think wow they are the same age as me. Not really. I'm almost 33 and this makes me feel like I have let my good years fade away. I guess I always just thought that 30 was so far away and when I stop and reflect on my life, I am a total adult now. That's weird too sometimes! Maybe this has to do with the fact that I am not a mom. Maybe that is when I will feel like a grown up! 

Bonus: I am addicted to direct sales.. I love the idea of having my girls over for an evening and shopping from the comfort of my living room. I love when my girls stop by and visit for a fun night. I love getting "free" things. I do feel sorry for the ladies I invite to everything but don't feel bad if you can't make it! It is really just for me....

Simply Sunday.........

Its so crazy this Washington weather we are having. I am looking out the window to gray skies and even though it is pouring out there is just something about the green grass and trees with the gray sky backdrop that is so beautiful.  

My days have been jam packed and so busy. 

I don't know what I am going to do to slow myself down.  

I need to make my life a bit more simple.....

Hi my name is Stacey & I am a over do-er addict.  I can't say no. Well I can't say no to most things. I complain about it, but do it anyway.  

  
   I try so hard to do anything and everything... I sometimes over book myself. 

         Blogging stresses me out. ( sometimes)
I get a day or two day's  behind and I don't even how to start it off...

I missed yesterday and I don't know why?? .
So I have to just ask, why do I blog? 

( because it makes me happy & for the first time in a long time I feel like I am doing what I love.....) 

Why do I comment? 

( Because I want you to know I love what you write)
Why do people comment on my life's stories?

( there is nothing that makes me feel better!) 

Then I think to myself is this good enough for people to 

want to take the time to really read? 

Am I funny enough? What can I write about that will make then happy!?!
I love who I've met, I love who I get to follow, I love being able to "talk" to my girlfriends daily and weekly, I love who I am becoming because of them.
But I'm stressed about all the many things I have to do.

I haven't Scrapbooked in....
Yep, don't even remember. 

Makes me sad.
Goal for Summer vacation with the help of my 

scrapbooking friends...and a weekend crop is to

 Setting two hour  two days a week away just for it!

(to finish 2008/2009 books by the end of summer) 

Also I want to do more cooking, vegan and veggie cooking, 

along with some great BBQ'in and camping food

(would be wonderful to find some new ones feel free to let me know if you have one) 

I truly don't cook enough and find myself letting Hub's do most of the cooking but time has come to call me up to the plate.. 

Hub's is always working so hard and doing so much for me. 

(So I need to give back a lot to him.)

Have a fun Sunday night!! Enjoy your week. 

Try to keep it Simple. 

Friday... trip on a tank! ( well this is a few tanks but still alot of fun!)

We have made trips down to Colorado many times. It is great that we have family there to visit. It is even better when that family can take us to places that we have never been too. This trip they took us to Taos. It was so much fun. The history was amazing and if you can do a road trip this summer this is one that you will want to check out!

The Historic Taos Inn is in New Mexico,  the inn itself is located in the heart of Taos' historic district. Acclaimed by National Geographic Traveler as "One of America's Great Inns" and listed on the National and New Mexico Registers of Historic Places. If you stay here you can get a walking tour of all the beautiful places that make this town so special. The history in this town is remarkable and full of stories and people that make this town are as unique as they are. Some might ask why it is so special? The answer is this simple, When you step into the Inn, you step into Taos history.

The Historic Taos Inn has welcomed the famous like Greta Garbo, Robert Redford and Jessica Lange have been spotted sipping margaritas in the lobby. Choose one of the 44 rooms that they have to offer. Make sure that you ask for a room that isn't in the main building if you don't want to be awake until 10:00ish on weekdays and 2:00am on weekends. 

They have a live band every night and it is an old building so the walls are a bit thin! It is great for people that stay here to sample the atmosphere of old Taos yet expect modern amenities. Staying on top of  the personal services in  warm, relaxed surroundings, Yes they even offer wifi.

It is made up of several adobe houses, which date from the 1800's,  Like a warm hug the inn is surrounded by a small plaza, and now the inn's spectacular lobby. is so wonderful and welcoming.  A community well was located in the center of the plaza. In its place today, a fountain is surrounded by vertical vigas which rise two-and-a-half stories to a stained glass cupola. You truly have to see it to be able to understand its beauty.

While in Toas we did some fun shopping at kimosabetaos a fun antique store that has so many great old treasures, I bought an old plaque of a saint. Then I took my nephew to twirlhouse toy store. Where I got some unique toys and puzzles, plus they have a large play ground that all the kids can play at while their parents or auntie is having a coffee!

The inn has welcomed the famous like Greta Garbo, Robert Redford and Jessica Lange have been spotted sipping margaritas in the lobby. It is great for people that stay here to sample the atmosphere of old Taos yet expect modern amenities. Staying on top of  the personal services in warm, relaxed surroundings, Yes they even offer wifi.  We ate at many great restaurants but I will only tell you a few. There is the Doc Martins right in the hotel that serves the best french toast I have had in my life. Then there is the adobe bar that is the heart of the hotel and where all the live music is centered around.  We also went to the elmeze. Where it was vibrant and fun and full of art. We then went to the Ogelvies. & it was the most amazing mexican food I have ever had the pleasure to eat.

Make sure that you check out the hotels website at The historic Inn at Toas.   It was great to see how other people live in different parts of our beautiful country.  I look forward to going back and touring all of New Mexico.

Thankful Thursday!

I am so thankful that I have both sets of Grandparents are a major part of my life. I understand how lucky I am to have all of them alive & sharp. They are so important to "Hub's"& I.  The one thing that makes me so happy is the fact that all of them love "Hub's" like he is really their grandson. All of them have welcomed "Hub's" into our family.  It is great that he now has Grandparents because his all past away when he was a young boy.

Like Chris most of my friends didn't get to see their Grandparents like I have gotten to. 
I have different relationships with each of them. The picture on the left is of my Mom's mother and step Dad. Her dad past away when I was 5. It made our family a little displaced & not the bond that one would think you would have with your family. The big shoes to fill of my mom's dead.  In all the meanings of the word Grandpa is what Ed is to all of us kids.

I didn't have the typical Grandma/Grand daughter relationship. When my Grandma married Ed we felt the shift in our family and over time the void was filled for our family.  We became a close family, even gaining a step uncle. Being a blended family has been such a blessing. We may have our ups an downs as a family but through it all we love one another. About 10 years ago my grandma & I became very close. Over the years we have had the chance to really get to know each other & shared our lives, it has been an amazing experience.

I am blessed to be able to have that bond now, It is something that we both needed, working towards a relationship as two adults has been very rewarding and not hard at all. I think that its very sad that I don't have the memories that my cousins do with my Grandma, but I don't think we would have the bond that we do know if we would have had the same relationship, that they have with her. IIt makes me feel so happy knowing that I got this chance to love my grandma.

We had barely any family when we got married, but there they were Grandma Mom & Grandpa Ed. There are no words that can explain what that felt like and how very much it meant to me, and also to "Hubs". We have built many great memories and continue to make ever more. We moved pretty close to them now and we get to see them at least once a week. Having them in our life makes it so much richer.

The couple on the right is my dad's parents. They are and always have been a big part of my life.  I can't ever remember not having them in my day to day life. When I was in 3rd grade they moved down the street from where I grew up. I feel that because of them I am who I am because they were such a big part of raising me. 

Seeking their approval has always been so important to me. In fact I talk to "hubs"first then my parents, and then to my grandparents. In many ways they were a second pair of parents.  If I was upset the first place I wanted to go to was their house. There is just something about being in my Dad's side of the family that makes me feel so loved.  My Grandma is the glue that holds the family of our together. If one of us isn't getting along she steps in and gives the other person a what's for.

If and when we have kids I want to live close to my parents so that they can be a big part of his/her life. My Grandma took care of me with anything I needed,   Every July they would take the four of us older grandkids to Kalaloch to camp. We always stayed in B-11.   I am the only grandchild that she has ever spanked, being that we are so very much a like made me get into trouble.  growing up I would  always push it to the edge. I guess I had a talent.  I wish all the years I wasted being that self centered busy teenager I could take back and truly take the time to spend with them and realize how special the times I have had with them are.

Yes, this Thursday I am thankful that I am able to still have both sets of Grandparents. That as an almost 33 year old I have a relationship with all of them.  These moments and memories will last a life time and I will get to keep them in my heart and mind forever. 

Wordless Wednesday..

              This is my Dad and it shows the love he feels and what a big heart he has always had.

Tempt my Tummy Tuesday. Beer can chicken.

You might be thinking......What the heck is beer can chicken? Well The basic process is to take a half full can of beer with the top cut off. Place it where you are going to be doing the cooking and then place the chicken over it so that the beer can is inside the chicken. Since it's advent, people have begun adding all kinds of spices and extras to the beer to make it more flavorful. Generally, you will see garlic, cayenne, diced onions, or cumin added but you can use almost anything you want to.

So why does this work so well? First of all, you are adding a source of moisture to the chicken that keeps it from drying out. Second, you are adding beer. Now, more than the fact that beer is good, the yeast and malt found in beer reacts with the chicken, particularly the skin, making it thin and crispy while the meat remains juicy. But you don't have to use beer. You can make this with wine or Garland Rome suggested to me using crab boil, which works really well.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours

Total Time: 3 hours, 20 minutes

Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken
• 1 can of beer
• 2 tablespoons chopped onion
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 3 cloves garlic minced

Preparation:

Preheat smoker. Wash and trim chicken. While the smoker heats up, open the beer and drink half and only half. With a can opener, cut the top of the beer can off. Add onion, vinegar and garlic to beer. When the smoker is read place the beer in the middle of the rack. Carefully place the chicken over the beer standing up. You might need to get a little creative to make it stand up properly. Make sure the beer can is completely covered by the chicken. Smoke chicken for about 3 to 4 hours or until the skin is a dark tan and the meat is pink and juices run clear.