happy birthday mom & misty

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! (today)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISTY! (yesterday)...and yes i called her yesterday! :) i was even the first one...ah! last year i was last so i figured i'd better call during the day! i even got to hear aspen's sweet little voice too...she's talking like crazy & will pretty much say anything my sister asks. so cute! & she still loves me & remembers me. misty said they may try & come during our spring break...that would be so awesome! miss them terribly!

just a little bit of inspiration in the mail box today from inspiration peak

Live life fully while you're here. Experience everything. Take care of yourself and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, be weird. Go out and screw up! You're going to anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process. Take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes: find the cause of your problem and eliminate it. Don't try to be perfect; just be an excellent example of being human.

Anthony Robbins
Inspirational Author and Speaker
Mr. Robbin's Quotes Mr. Robbin's Books

and then this...

When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light. Give thanks for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. And if perchance you see no reason for giving thanks, rest assured the fault is in yourself."

this last one really pertains to the grateful album i'm working on right now...i'm in the process of gathering photos for all my "thankfuls"...i'm loving this project!

last night i couldn't sleep...not sure why but our bed just isn't comfortable to me anymore...so i lay there for a good hour before i can even remotely fall asleep & sometimes i give up & just head to the couch- which is uber comfy! i can usually fall asleep w/in 5 minutes. but last night i swear it was a hurricane or tornado w/ winds gusting through here like mad...in all these years i don't remember winds that strong. it was crazy & kept me awake...then awoke to a blizzard outside...the girls, esp. chloe were so excited! she loves snow. but by the time we got home from our grocery errands the snow in our yard was all gone! poor girl!

i made this super yummy soup the other night & was asked to post...so here it is..super easy & yummy & out of Light & Tasty mag...

Mexican Bean-n-Barley Chili
1 large onion, choppped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 each green/red peppers, chopped
2 c. frozen corn
3/4 c. quick cooking barley
1 lb. hamburger (*not in original recipe, but i added this part in, so skip if you'd like)
2 c. water
1 16 oz. can chili beans in chili sauce, undrained
1 15 oz. can pinto beans, rinsed & drained
1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed & drained
1 15 oz. can tomato sauce
1 14 1/2 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 4 oz. cans chopped green chilies
2 tbsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. pepper

cook hamburger. saute onion & garlic together in olive oil for 2 minutes. stir in peppers- cook 3-4 minutes longer or until tender. stir in all remaining ingredients- bring to boil. reduce heat- cover & simmer for 15-20 minutes or until barley is tender.