It's December, and Things Have Changed

Wow, it's been quite an interesting few months. The last time I posted I was all hyped up on sugar I think from all the baking and sweets I was involved with.

My sugar rush has long since gone and I moved on to other things. I started my own business, Heather Sides Business Development Consultant, doing what I know and love. There have been family issues and ups and downs. All in all it's been one heck of a ride to say the least.

So as I sit here this morning, it is a cold 16 degrees outside, (yes in Alabama). I am reflecting on my decisions over the past few months and the way things have taken a complete 360 degree turn from where I thought I was going. Funny isn't it, when God takes control things completely change on a dime. But I am liking it!!

As we get closer to the New Year I have started thinking about what my plans are for next year, goals etc. Then I remember, it does me no good to plan, as well all know plans can and will change according to what God wants us to do with our lives, whether or not we realize it.

With that said, I am very excited about the New Year and I have faith it will bring great connections and opportunities for me in business this coming year.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All!!!

Cake Pop Day!!

I have been working on my pretzels and getting them all bagged and ready to go, now it's time to work on the Cake Pops.

It's getting closer. I may post again this afternoon if I get things done and wrapped up. With pics hopefully.


Heather

We Are Getting There!

Progress, progress!! After a long day of working hard, I am now ready to work even harder. Look out kitchen, here I come!!!

Maybe I will have pics to post tomorrow, now where's that camera hiding???


Heather

I am busy busy around here getting things made for Saturday. I am just beaming!!

I have chocolate, chocolate, chocolate.... it's sooooo yummy!!!


You know.. this would be a great idea for a blog giveaway. Mrs. Amy, I think I feel that giveaway coming on that we talked about, very soon!! :)


Stay Tuned for more updates to come on my venture.


Heather

Planning Stages Update

My event is Saturday and I have been planning for it. I have decided I am going to do Cake Pops, Chocolate Covered Pretzels in diff colors (long straight ones and the normal twisty ones) in bags tied with ribbon or raffia. I will also do a few caramel and Chocolate Apples I think to see how they go over.

I am so excited I can hardly contain myself. I just hope everything comes together and it turns out great.

Now on to get labels decided upon so people will know where to find these tasty treats afterwards!!

Sunday's Thoughts

Ok I did not plan out a menu for this week as I will be very busy, I know a plan would help but I just have not had the time to sit down and plan it out.

I have been too busy planning an event for the coming weekend!! I will be setting up a booth locally Saturday morning and will be selling some of my chocolate creations that I have been thinking about for weeks. I would like to see where I can go with it, since it seems to be haunting my dreams.

I have been seeing, smelling and dreaming chocolate for over a week... this has to be a calling. So I will take the plunge and just do it!! Hopefully it will be great!! I would love to do this full time for sure!!

I will keep you posted : )


Heather

College Football Saturday!!!

Gotta love those football Saturday's!! Living in Alabama College Football Season is huge here and this week we play Florida!!



Since we can't go to the game we will be watching at home instead, which can also be fun, and we can see better on TV anyway right? HA! So what to eat on Saturday?? See below for yummy ideas:

Yummy Fruit Tray!!



Don't Forget The Spinach Dip!!



What's a Football Game without, Wings!!!



And of course the Classic game day food... Hamburgers!!!





Happy Gameday Football Fans!!! ROLLLLL TIDEEEEE!!!!!!!

Friday, Oh How I missed You

Yay it's Friday, do the happy dance.. : )

Ok so it's the end of yet another week, but the start of the holiday season. We have so many coming up in the next few months, how will we ever survive? I will tell you how, with ORGANIZATION and PLANNING. Ok maybe I am not the best one to suggest that but Flylady sure is great at it!! Go check her out if you haven't before.



Flylady/Marla is wonderful at keeping us motivated for cleaning and expecting guests for parties. She even has a special Holiday Control Journal to help us make it through. Check her out!! I know I am sure gonna need her help from now until the end of January.

Caramel Apple Time!!

I am just full of ideas lately. Next on the list, Caramel Apples. I can't wait to try some of these ideas!!






Now how cute are those?? Well how about the ones below? They could be made to fit any occasion!!








I am so excited!! Can't wait to try them all out. Happy Baking Bloggers!!!



Heather

It's Getting Closer To Halloween

I love love love this time of year!! Did I mention I love this time of year?? : )

I plan on doing some decorating for Halloween this year, I do every year but I like to do something different every year. It's time for the trips to the pumpkin patch with the kiddos. So much fun!!





I can't wait to do the pumpkin carving on the front deck, and light up the night with cutesy faces!!





It's going to be a creativity filled month for sure, I plan on making a new wreath and maybe some table centerpieces here are a few ideas for that as well:









Pumpkins and wreaths and witches oh my!!

Ten For Tuesday

It's time for 10 for Tuesday. The theme, 10 movies you have seen recently. Here are my 10:

1. Julie & Julia

2. Avatar

3. Burning Bright

4. Case 39

5. Date Night

6. Letters to Juliet

7. The Other Guys

8. Eclipse

9. Killers

10. The Last Song

Those are in no particular order.

Now it's your turn, do your own post of the last 10 movies you watched, then link it in a comment below so I can come see and comment and maybe add to my "to see" list. : )

Heather

Menu Plan Monday

It's Monday again!! Time for a new meal plan. Here is what I have decided upon for the week ahead. Always subject to change of course, depending on moods, and life happening around us.




MONDAY: Rotisserie Chicken & Rice with another veggie

TUESDAY: Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes and one other veggie

WEDNESDAY: Seasoned Pork Ribs with Mac & Cheese and another veggie

THURSDAY: Sloppy Joes with Fries or Chips

FRIDAY: Kid's Choice (AKA Leftovers or what ever needs to be cooked at the end of the week)


If anyone else has anything good planned please do share, I am always looking for ideas.


Heather

Picking Up Where I Left Off...

I know I am a few days behind (OK more than a few) and I apologize for that , but hey, life happens right? Lots of life has been happening around here the past 2 weeks. Now that things are back to semi-normal I will just pick up where I left off.



Fall has finally arrived, not in full force as far as weather is concerned but hey it's almost October so that has to count for something.

I have quite a few things planned for the next week, all of which I plan to blog about. One thing for sure will be CakePops as I have not made any in a while and it's the cooking season again right?

These are the ones I have chosen to make this go around:



They look yummy and cute don't they? You can go HERE to get full instructions if you would like to make them yourself. And if you would like a whole cookbook full of Bakerella's creations then go check out her Cake Pop Cookbook. Here is a peek at the cover:




I will have pictures of my own to post after I get them all made up, I can't wait!! I love baking and Halloween!! Can you believe it? Christmas is just around the corner too!!

Stay Tuned for Menu Plan Monday.


Heather

Remembering

It's been quite a few days here. My stepdaughters are going through dealing with the loss of a friend (Austin Krosp) who died tragically in a car wreck yesterday. It really takes me back to my own Junior year of high school when my peers and I also lost a friend whom we have been remembering as of late, rest in peace Matt Foreman you are forever missed.

My heart really goes out to them in so many ways. This is not the first friend they have lost which is even more tragic. They had a friend drown in a lake a few months back. And another friend who also died in a car wreck.

Though the loss of my friend was unexpected (not a car wreck) it was in a different manner than they are having to cope with as the loss they are dealing with could have been prevented if only he had worn a seatbelt. It is so important that we continue to pound this into our children about driving safety.

Please keep my girls in your prayers and the families of the victims of this tragic accident.

Love This Time Of Year!!

Fall is here and it's that time of the year when our ovens get heated for baking and the season for cooking, sweets and great dinners has arrived. I have lots of ideas for this season and I am sure everyone out there who loves to cook does as well. I will be sharing a few of my ideas over the next few months and can't wait to see ideas from fellow bloggers! Here are a few sites I love to follow during this time of year especially for cooking ideas:


Bakerella She has the most amazing sweets and has all step by step instructions for us to follow to make them ourselves!!

You Made That? This blog has tons of great ideas for sweets and more!

Kraft Recipes Most all of us are familiar with this website but for those of you who aren't take a look, you won't be dissappointed!! TONS of dinner ideas and sweets and more recipes than you can count!!

Coca-Cola Yes that's right, I said Coca-Cola!! They have great recipes there for the creative kind go check them out!!


CakeSpy Ok this is the cutest lil cupcake website EVER!! Tons of cupcakes and pies and other things with instructions!! LOVE THIS!! So creative.

Gooseberry Patch Ok you won't find a lot of recipes here, but you will find a few Click!, but what you will find are tons of GREAT cookbooks. I have a few of these myself and they are awesome!! Right now if you become a fan on their Facebook Page you get a 50% discount on their Fall Cookbook!! Or you can just go HERE and order it at half price as well since some facebookers are having problems with the code.


OK there are a few to get you started, I will post more as the month goes on. Happy Cooking everyone!!

Menu Plan Monday

Another Monday has begun, what are your dinner plans for the week? Here is a peek at mine and maybe you will get a few ideas of your own. As with any menu plan it is always subject to change : ).


MONDAY: Chicken and Rice bake with Veggies

TUESDAY: Tacos!! Yay!!

WEDNESDAY: Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans

THURSDAY: Baked Chicken with Rice and a beggie (undecided what veggie yet)

FRIDAY: Pizza Night this week!!!

Now tell me what you are having this week!! As I said my menu may change especially if you all post somethin good!!!

Happy Monday!!

30 Days Of Blogging

As I sit here and enjoy my cup of coffee as expected of me, I have decided to do a new 30 Days of Blogging. So what's in store for the next 30 days? Well, that will be one of those blog as we go type things. Now with that said, I do have somewhat of a plan. I will try and do Menu Plan Monday's and Tuesday's Tidbits. With a few posts about finding work from home/online. As well as recipes scattered about.

Also, Survivor's 21st Season is about to start this week so there may be a post or two about that. And with Big Brother 12 wrapping up this week as well, I will probably post about the finale and winner of the show.

Needless to say they will be mostly random posting from a mommy : ). Stay Tuned!!

Busy Busy Busy

Before you say it I already know and will say it for you all, I have negelected my blog. Yes, I know. I have been so busy since January I think I may have forgotten to breathe a few times.

My daughter played softball this year. I had one child graduate Kindergarten and my middle child (the softball player ) graduate 5th grade. Whew.... like I said Busy Busy Busy.

Now that things have calmed down around here a bit maybe I can have a moment from time to time to make a few posts. Maybe some new recipes I have yet to share, maybe a few rants and raves, and maybe even some helpful tips on something. That's the plan at least.


Ok to start off I will tell you a little about the last couple of weeks just to give you a taste of my life as of late. As I am writing this it is almost 1 a.m. and I have only been home for 4 hours.

We went to Tennessee this weekend to visit friends and to take my step daughters back to their home in Tupelo, MS. 3 states all in one day with 4 of the 5 kids plus our little dog Sadie was quite the adventure I have to say : ).

Softball ended in mid-May finally so that has helped a little with the two weeks the girls were with us. We were able to go swimming and do other things since there was no softball practice to attend.

Ok so the last couple of weeks may not seem busy to you all but try being me and having 5 kids at home while working two jobs and Dad working too. Whew!!

I think that is all I have for now but at least it's something. I shall return again, sooner this time, with more information of the entertaining and even helpful sort, but for now I seriously need some sleep : ).

The World of Seeing...

I have now joined the world of the seeing. I had my eyes checked yesterday and tried on glasses to be ordered. I went in to tell them which frames I wanted and was fitted for contacts.. I have a sample pair in and I can finally SEE!! It's amazing how bright everything gets when you can see properly. I never realized how bad my eyes were.


If you are having problems seeing I suggest you get a check up at your eye Dr.'s office because it's amazing what you are missing when you have blurred vision like I did.

Mine was caused from staring at this screen for many years. Sad but true. The computer screen is bad for the eyes.

Menu Plan Monday

I have skipped a few weeks of menu's but here is the Menu I have for this coming week Jan. 25th- Jan 29th:

Monday: Taco Bake

Tuesday: Fried Chicken

Wednesday: Hamburger Helper (yes I know this is cheating)

Thursday: BarBQue Ribs

Friday: Kid's Choice : )

So that is the plan for now. I will be in the office on Monday and Thursday so the plan may change but the meals will stand just may be on a different day. But as of right now that is the idea.

What are your menu's for the week? Leave a comment, I can always use ideas. :)

Cake Bites

I was telling the girl at my new job about the cake pops/bites and she had never heard of them. I decided to make some to take with me tomorrow : ). Maybe I can get this to go somewhere...... here are some pics of the ones I did this time.

Tuesday Tidbits

It's been a busy few days around here so I wanted to give a few tidbits for Tuesday's post.

Truck Update: I got it back- it is fixed and seems to be perfect again... though I have some sources I am researching for getting my money back for the repair as I, along with hundreds of others, believe that this should have been a recall by Ford. Nevertheless, I have the truck back and it's fine.


The Bachelor: OK so I watch this show.... I have no idea why really as I am almost positive that it's all staged in some way or another, but I watch and here are my two cents if anyone cares : ).

Jake is a great guy, but he has serious issues with seeing the light. Tonight's episode was crazy to say the least. Drama fest anyone? After last weeks episode I read Reality Steve's blog and he stated that on tonight's episode after the Sea World date that girl would not receive a rose.... well she did... so now instead of just reading his blog I guess I have to watch for myself...in fast-forward of course as I DVR'ed it so I could skip the drama parts. In my opinion, not that I honestly care one way or another, the only sane girls there are Tenley and the girl from tonights Sea World date.

If he does in fact do as Reality Steve predicts and chooses Vienna he is definitely hiding it well. Vienna just seems to be so out of the loop and all about herself, which makes sense given she wants to win the guy of course.


OK off my soap box now. Sorry for the rambling about The Bachelor but I just finished watching it so I had to get that out of my head.

I have more posts coming: recipes, kid stuff, my crazy cat (you will see why I say she is crazy soon) and other random musings. Stay Tuned and share with your friends : )

Oh one more Tuesday Tidbit, I have FINALLY gotten a hold on my laundry thanks to FlyLady's babysteps and hope it stays this way!! My house has not been a huge mess but with 3 kids it can get a little upside down at times and FlyLady's tips and email's and support group seem to make it a lot smoother that is for sure!!

What are your thoughts on the laundry process and making it go smoother? Do you have your kids help with their own laundry? Leave me a comment and tell me what you think, I would love to see if I am on the right track!

Potato Soup Recipe

My Aunt was at my house recently and she was raving about a Potato Soup recipe that she had made. Now, I have never had Potato Soup, much less made my own but she was raving about it to the point that I had her give me the recipe so I could try it for myself.

It sort of made me think of a Loaded Baked Potato but in a soup instead. Sound great right? I can not even tell you just how great it was!! I will definitely be making this one more often. Hope you enjoy!!

Ingredients:

5 lbs- Potatoes

1 cup- French Onion Dip (in section by the milk at the store- or you can use the kind in the chip isle- either one is fine)

2 cans- Cream of Chicken Soup

1 cup- Milk

Bacon Bits and Cheese for toppings



Directions:


Peel and boil potatoes as if cooking potato salad or mashed potatoes.

When potatoes are done (cooked to done but not mushy or overcooked) drain *most* of the water off the potatoes leaving about 2 cups of water in the pot.

Add cream of chicken soups, milk, onion dip and salt and/or pepper to your liking.

Let this simmer for about 30 minutes. If it does not seem to be 'soupy' enough for you then add more milk just be careful not to add too much, and remember to stir often.

Once this is done you can serve in bowls and top with bacon bits and cheese.


Let me know below with a comment if you try the recipe or if you have other ideas for additions to it, I love trying new things!

Couple Of Updates

So my truck is now being repaired. Should have it back by Friday. I did not know about this flaw prior to my own problem with this truck.

Come to find out there is one flaw with the Ford Expedition that noone told me about and that is with something called a GEM Module and it failing due to a water LEAK!!!!! Why Ford has not done a recall on this is beyond me. I have done much research on electrical problems with Ford Expedition and I could name them here but won't.... just go research it if you have an Expedition.... it's interesting.

With that said.. there should be no further problems after this repair is done. At least I hope not.

Tomorrow I will update with some new recipes and hopefully some photos of random things over the last few weeks. I just had to share the whole truck thing though I know it is really irrelevant I just want you to know that whatever you are going through is tough and we understand but the person you are looking at / reading about/ passing in the store probably has an issue they are dealing with that is just as stressful in their own eyes. So keep your chin up and your head high because it WILL get better. It has to right?

: ) Heather

2010 Has Started With A Bang

That is one thing I know for sure!

It has been a long week for me and to make it short and sweet I believe that my truck became possesed by the Devil during the BCS National Championship Game on Thursday last week.

So I go out during half time to make a quick run to the store and my truck has taken it upon itself to turn on all of the interior lights with no key in the ignition. Yea... I was in shock myself!

Battery was completely dead yet lights on all over the place. It is going to be put in vehicle hospital to be repaired.... they should make 'health' insurance for vehicles so that when we have to get them repaired we can just pay a copay. That would be great! Instead it will cost me upwards of 800 bucks. But hey it has to be done right?

So on a lighter note work is going well and I am finally seeing what it is that I should be doing with my blog. hence the new name and change of everything. 2010 is going to be great I just know it even after this bad week it WILL get better!!

The New Look and Name

Let me explain: I have had a really long year and it seems that 2010 has started off with a bang as well. I decided that I wanted a whole new look and feel for my blog and this design is what I chose to use. I like that it's so nice a neat.

The new name: When i started blogging a while back I really did not know what I wanted to name my blog therefore I just used Heather's Happenings to get started. I am a mommy who drinks so much coffee that I started thinking a few months back that my blog name should have been Coffee Break Mom seeing how I take so many coffee breaks through out my day. So now it has been born. I like the new look and sound of it all and I imported everything from Heather's Happenings to this blog instead. I hope to move further in depth with my blogging and meet new people and do many more exciting things this year with my blog.

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!!!

Ok so the last few weeks I have been crazy busy with 5 kids around the fun never stops!! We have been driving all over the state and into bordering states and shuffling kids from here to there and then Christmas Day and all that jazz. Whew I am one tired Mommy that's for sure!


Last year was not the greatest but I know it was still great as there are many others that are in more dire situations than myself. But I do hope that 2010 will be fantastic!!! Below are a few things on my agenda and now that things are semi back to normal maybe I can keep this blog updated as I had originally planned to do.

Back a few months ago I started trying to lose some weight and was unsuccessful thus far. Now with that said I have not lost a pound yet people see me and say oh you look like you have lost weight... how is that possible??? Did the weight maybe shift around or something because I am just not seeing it at all.

Kids are all back home and everything is back to 'normal' with the arguing fussing they do. Coffee is a big one on my agenda for today. I am gonna need it to stay sane and awake.

I also recieved a great product from my Aunt last week. It was a present that was given to her and she said that she could not stick with something like that so she asked if I wanted it. It's the Herbalife diet products. There are lots of pills and some shake mix. I have never heard of it so I am doing my research but I think this just might jumpstart my losing weight afterall. I am sure hoping that is the case. I seriously want to be able to wear the clothes that are just hanging in my closet being neglected.


So that's all for this moment but look for lots of posts to come!! : )