Blanchard Springs Cavern

While out traveling I decided to go on a tour of a natural live cave, (photo) Blanchard Springs Cavern, it was a guided tour and I couldn't believe how beautiful it was.The trail I went on was called the Dripstone trail. It is open year round for tours. My family was amazed as we were walking through the cave. It is located in a town called Fifty Six, Arkansas, nestled in the Ozark Mountains.
There are other trails that you can go on as well, but they are seasonally operated. I am very excited one day to go on the wild cave tour that they offer. Our tour guide was awesome, though I forgot his name. He explained a lot to us and answered our questions well. He was telling us how the wild cave tour takes about five hours to complete and you have to get into hiking boots, coveralls, and head lights. It's not as easy of a trail as the one we went on, but my boys seemed to be very curious about it.

About ready to dive into a new blog

Coming soon I'll be creating a new blog to share some of my many photo's that I've taken! Some raw and some edited photo's. Yes, I have a new gadget, and I've fallen in love with it! Finally stepped into the DSLR league! I find so much fun when I get out during the day to  do absolutely nothing other than to capture photo's of this, that, and others!! Will probably still share some here, but my new blog will be fully dedicated to the art's, graphic design, & photography! Stay tuned... And have a great day to all out in the wonderful blogosphere! Here is one my photo's! Not bad, right?? :) Practice; practice!!! :)

American Idol 2011 Way To Go James Durbin

Pull yourself together Fantasia Barrino

Was up watching the early morning news and I'm saddened to hear of American Idol season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino hospitalized after an alleged suicide attempt. Apparently she overdosed from pills. And supposedly just recently rumors emerged that she made a sex tape with a married man. As an adult I surely believe in the saying "you layed in the bed now make it", as in take responsibility for your actions. Of course with that being said I don't know of any truth to the rumor. But I do know it doesn't take much to have your name and image dragged through the mud. Why give the media the chance to do it? Think!


Come on Fantasia pull yourself together girl! I have been a fan since the show and still is. I've purchased all of her Cd's and is anticipating the release of her new album Back to Me on August 24th, not to mention I read her book Life Is Not a Fairytale. Tell me it isn't so, why would you want to take your own life? Look how far you have come. Just take a moment to look back on your life then and now. I know the celebrity lifestyle isn't a easy one. Your privacy is pretty much gone out the window. You have the paparazzi and reporter's patrolling just about everything you do, especially the negative. Most importantly take a long look at your daughter, look into her eyes. Would you really want to leave her motherless? Whatever it is you're going through, rise above it! Keep it positive and I'm wishing you a speedy recovery! Sing Tasia, sing to yourself, to your daughter, to your mother, to your brother, to your fans, just sing girl!!! Wishing you the best!

Intex above ground pool with the saltwater system

Being in the pool is always fun during the hot months of summer. It's great to have a pool right in your own backyard. It can be costly going to swim in public pools. Where I live we have to pay on average $6 per person just to swim. I know much of this cost is due to park districts offering slides and then the prices are more upward of $9 per person. We previously purchased Intex Easy Set 15-Foot-by-42-Inch Round Pool Set a few years ago and it only lasted us two summers before we ending up trashing it. We were spending more time patching up leaks and wasting money on chemicals trying to keep the water clean. After so much patching the top inflatable ring, wouldn't hold up anymore and we putting air in daily. We did enjoy the pool at first, the durability of the pool just wasn't good, as it didn't last long for my family.


I thought I would never purchase another large size pool mainly due the fact that my water bill roused drastically from steady refilling the pool with water as all the chemicals and filter with the pump that came with the pool just wasn't getting the job done well enough. After hearing about a way to keep the pool clean using salt it sparked my interest into purchasing another pool. So we decided to purchase the Intex 15-Foot-by-48-Inch Round Metal Frame Pool Set which looked to be more sturdy than the easy set. At first it was difficult for us to find level ground away from the trees in our backyard. After a couple of trys we settled on an area that wasn't perfectly level, but probably as close as we were going to get. The difference in the water level when filled is about 3 inches from one side to the other, so fairly even enough.


Well I shall say that I am very pleased with both pool and salt water cleaning system. We have been enjoying our pool all summer. So far it's been filled for 6 weeks and we haven't had to change the water, which is great because I know the amount of water that it took to fill this pool has increased our water bill, but in the end we are having clean safe water, not to mention tons of fun while not having to purchase gallon's and boxes of chemicals to use. We had a hard time finding the "actual" pool salt, but to my surprise after searching all over the internet we decided to do like many others and purchased a few 20 pound bags of Morton Solar Salt and it has worked fine. Added benefit is soft water in the pool, very relaxing and not rough on our skin. It has been working great, we set ours to run for 6 hour's overnight with the timer, and purchased a separate timer for pump that came with the pool. We have also been changing the filter every 2 weeks. It's not salty at all. I am pleasantly surprised and happy with both purchases.

Giving home canning and preserving a try

I really think I have a new hobby and I'm enjoying it! It all started last year when I first gave backyard gardening a try. It didn't turn out very well, but it was indeed a learning experience, nonetheless. I figured out some, do's, don't's, spacing and etc... There is just no better tasting vegetables than freshly grown veggies. We go to the farmers market often. I am absolutely in love with tomatoes and will bite into them and eat them just as I would a apple. Not the one's from the grocery, but the one's from the farmer's market & now hopefully as I begin to harvest them from my own small backyard garden this year, yummy!!! They are so delicious!!!


So, after taking much liking into gardening, what comes next? Learning how to enjoy those fresh flavors all year long. With that being said I went and purchased me some supplies so that I can do my own canning and preserving at home. I have to get a few more things and I shall soon be on my way, yay!!! I already made my first batch of pickles from the cucumbers in my garden. Needless to say they didn't even last a week. We were so shocked at how great they turned out. I plan on making a few batches this week and at least two of the jars I'm hoping to keep sealed for 2 weeks without getting eaten, lol!! I know I won't have a large harvest, so I do plan on steady shopping with the local farmer's to help me get a nice stock.


This is tasty & enjoyment all put together, not to mention learning!! I can't wait to try out some of the recipes I've been finding and share them with my family!

Flip Flop Saturday

It's that time of year again. Old Navy will be having another one day wonder doorbuster sale on solid colored flip flops for only $1.00 while they last. This Saturday 5/22 be there when the door's open or don't go at all, unless you're lucky. At the Old Navy near me, they be gone with the snap of a finger, as if they were free. I would be more interested in going if it was a weekday sale, but a Saturday I'll have to pass. Tried before and the racks were completely empty and I went like 30 minutes after opening. I like Old Navy flip flops. In fact they were the first flip flops I've ever worn in comfort. Happy shopping if you can grab them. I know there is a limit and I believe that is five.

Congratulations Lee DeWyze

I really think he will be the next American Idol winner. After watching the three finalists tonight I think he is the best. I didn't have a favorite this season.. I didn't vote this season.. I loved Big Myke when he sang Maxwell, then my ear was taking a liking to Crystal Bowersox for awhile. Nothing much more to say. If next week is anything like this weeks, Lee DeWyze will be the winner. That's my prediction! :)

Ready for another vacation

Vacations can be really nice and we always take at least one every year. It doesn't matter if it's near or far from home, just being away from home is such enjoyment. Not that I hate home, but it just feels so good to get away. Anything from a short weekend getaway to so far our longest has been a week. I may get homesick for anything longer than two weeks, but we will give that a try one day hopefully.

We enjoyed our first cruise so much and I just can't wait to take another one. Just so much on the daily schedule to see and do, fun filled day's. It gives me something to look forward to throughout the year. Taking classes full-time is really starting to become strainious, especially with majority of my classes being online. Not to mention juggling family life. I have so many day's of running around, doctor appointments, play day's, team sports, and threapy with my oldest son. My family has truly been such a motivation for me. My husband is very supportive and I appreciate everything that he does from cooking meals, to getting the boys up for school in the morning all while getting ready for his busy work day. I spend many late nights up doing homework and he just lets me sleep late most of the mornings. My middle son really made my day one day when he told me how proud he was of me for going back to college. I had to hold back my tears because he truly touched me. We all spend time together at the kitchen table working on our homework together some days, then we end up pulling out monopoly or the uno cards!!! So why am I so ready to escape on a vacation?? I don't know.

Maybe it's the housekeeping service. Having someone clean your hotel suite or room everyday or maybe not having to cook breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Could it be all the keeping busy with fun activities all day long then exhaustion by night, just to get up and do it all over again?? Lol!!

We still haven't stayed at an all inclusive resort before, but I hope to one day soon. They would surely have to have some type of camp program for the children, because we have never gone on a vacation without the boys before. This may change soon hopefully if this complimentary cruise with airfare that we received from an entry goes through. It's only for a weekend, so we are going to try for it now and hopefully get a babysitter when the time comes. I'm just so ready to pull out the luggage, gas up the car, and just drive down the highway to somewhere sunny with warm beaches and great food!! So many places that still I want to visit. I'm so ready!!

American Idol is going down

American Idol has been my favorite show to watch on t.v. since it was in season two. I used to hate to miss an episode... Since we've had our DVR I found it to be the best thing since Dove's chocolate bars ;) I miss Idol, no big deal I'll tune in to it later at my discretion, cool!! I know I've been slowly complaining and fussing since like the last three seasons including this one. But, this time it's serious, no small talk jive.

What has gone wrong?? Too many changes maybe?? Paula Abdul gone & replaced by Ellen Degeneres. Not to mention Kara DioGuardi is still new and fresh on the scene. Plus Simon Cowell will be leaving the judging arena. I will miss his brutal honesty.

Season 9 has been a blah.. The four finalists are great singers, but I don't get any enthusiasm from them.. This whole season has been boring and die hard fans like myself are trying to continue tuning in for the sake of it getting better. I think my favorite reality show needs to say goodbye and come up with something new because it is continuing to go downhill. I'm no coach potato and don't watch much t.v but Idol was once upon a time my favorite reality show.

As for tonight, I thought the duets were nice, especially with the guitar team up of Casey and Myke being my favorite of the two. I haven't even called in to vote, nor have I rooted for anyone this season. Come on idol pick it up..

Pit Bull Takes a Mad Dash

Imagine a dog running across a high traffic highway during the morning rush hour commute, stomach clinching is how I saw it. I didn't repost the actual video because for one it's about three of them. This is the Pit Bull mix now nicknamed Eisenhower which is the name of the highway it was spotted on.



Poor doggy entered the highway two days in a row. He has been safely captured by police and being treated for his completely worn paws, along with dehydration and exhaustion. No identity is known for the running unneutered, no collar, or micro chipped dog. He's such a cutie and I'm glad he is getting the treatment he needs after easily submitting to the police, well after they cornered him in. But this could have had a tragic ending. Lot's of calls to adopt the pooch has been made and hopefully he will be placed in great care this time, so no more highway running will occur with him! The video and more on the rescue is here

Newbie at Gardening

Do you really have to have a green thumb to grow a beautiful and healthy garden?? I need to borrow one, that's for sure. Every time I try to spruce up my yard with some pretty flowers they either look good one year, and return to look horrible the next year because the weeds just grow like crazy around them. I find planting bulbs to be the most work, but they come out looking so much better, versus when I plant seeds because they grow here, there, everywhere without any design. Maybe I'll have better luck growing with pots. Another thing that's funny is I hate when I plant flowers that just attract the hugest bee's. I'm so afraid of bee's. I've never been stung (knock on wood) but I am very fearful of being around them when they like literally starring you in the face.

Last year was our first try of veggie gardening!! We grew some tomatoes and pepper's with a little bit of luck. The parsley grew easily and is already back this year and has tripled!! Planted some spinach and broccoli for the experience sake of it and no they didn't grow well, but it was fun watching them. We started some seed's indoors this year, same as last year. Unfortunately, they didn't survive not really sure what happened this year, other than the occasional shirt thrown over them while in the kitchen window.

Now it's too late to start indoors so we'll just sow them directly outdoors. This year were trying tomatoes and peppers again, plus some cucumbers. I can't wait to pickle me some cucumbers. It's almost planting time!!

Trip down memory lane

Well I surely has some updating to do, asap!!! Blog makeover is in need, ya think?? Yikes!! Happy Spring everyone or anyone out there!! One of my favorite seasons of the year. A break from old man winter, beautiful flowers, leaves on the tree's again, and the perfect time to get working in the garden. This year will be my second year at our "attempt" to grow a small veggie garden, wish us luck we need it!!

Life has been busy, I'm now in school full-time instead of part-time. I'm over halfway done now, so almost there!! Between having fun with snapping & sharing pics, to the not always fun template changing with my blog combined with my interest in marketing I'm finally working on my major. Looking to tap into some creativeness, since it surely isn't jumping out of me by it's self. But my passion is screaming it's there & waiting to explode :-) Multimedia Design is where I'm taking off too!!! The hubby, boys, and dog are all doing well. Happy, active, and keeping me busy as usual!!

We've had some fun vacations recently, yippee time for another one now, please!! Went on our first family cruise together. When I say family, I mean family roughly about 30 of us, more or less??!! Flew into Miami and it was beautiful there. Stayed over night in a hotel & created our own poolside party, fun!! Went sailing out into the Caribbean and truly had the time of our lives in the Bahamas!!! The kids enjoyed the camp aboard the ship and us adults enjoyed many activities with and without our children. Just so nice, that we are already planning for cruise number two. The food was delicious and included in the cost, so we ate our hearts out, but the cocktails were on the high side, yikes.. Wanted the boys to really enjoy their first trip out the country, so we decided to surprise them with a limo ride to the airport!! I'm so ready to escape back to paradise, until next time, fun, fun, fun!!

I'm learning how to use Adobe Creative Suite and I'll be sharing some designs once I get the hang of it!! My hat goes off to those that learn all these software on their own. Right now I'm struggling with it.. Well happy blogging!! Enjoy your spring and have a great day everyone/ anyone out there??!!!

A cool nomination and award for me

I would like to give my thanks and appreciations for the recent nominations and awards this blog has received, yippee!!

Thank you to Love2shopmom for passing me the Kreativ Blogger Award! This award is so cool,that this is the second time I received it!! Since, I already posted about this award on my blog; this time around I’m just showing how much I appreciate receiving it from my fellow blogging pal! Love2shopmom blogs all about shopping and her love for it, you can check her out for some great deals on shopping over on My Bargain Mom! Thanks Again!!

Now how cool is this? My blog got nominated for a Bloggers Choice Award, in the category of Hottest Mommy Blogger! Oh wow, bunch of thanks for this! After going over to take a look at my blog’s position with this nomination, I couldn’t help but laugh after seeing blogs with over 100 vote’s, lol! I don’t think I’ll ever be able to catch up to that, but I’ll have fun trying, lol! Thanks for this nomination Jonathan at 2rivers and if anyone would be so kind enough to give my blog more vote‘s, a big thanks in advance goes to you, how fun! Thanks, thanks, and thanks!!

Whats for Dinner Sunday

Today, for us it was roast beef, mixed greens, roasted tomatoes, baked macaroni and cheese, corn bread, and taffy apple salad, with a glass of wine on the side. Hubby cooked the roast beef and the cornbread, the boys helped make the taffy apple salad, and the greens and corn bread was prepared by me. This is our typical preparation for Sunday’s dinner, getting the whole family involved. Saturday dinners are easier going, but we prepare them together often as well, while Monday through Friday’s is mostly me.

The beef got marinated overnight in a wet marinade of worcestershire sauce and garlic cloves, and set out this morning in a dry rub of organic thyme, fresh organic parsley, salt, and black pepper for a couple of hours. From there it went into the oven on low broil to each side, to brown. Next, it got wrapped in aluminum foil with purple onions and slow cooked outside on the grill. The tomatoes got cooked out on the grill as well. I used the beef juice from the broiler pan to make a gravy for the beef.

The greens were mustard and turnip‘s, mixed. Early morning I placed a nice sized smoked ham hock in the water. I know it’s not the healthiest choice of meat, one can use smoked turkey meat as a substitution, but we eat pork in moderation, although it’s such a habit. In the sink the greens got soaked, washed, and chopped. From there they went into the pot of water with the already cooking ham hock. I tossed in some vinegar, a chopped organic turnip, salt, pepper, and a touch of sugar and let them boil until they were tender, about 3 hours.

Now that the longest preparations were out the way, it’s time to prepare the taffy apple salad. The boys made the caramel with pineapple juice, sugar, flour, tiny bit of vinegar, and an egg yolk, over the stove in a small saucepan. I chopped and cored some organic granny smith apples, while letting the boys stir in some crushed pineapples, peanuts, apples, and whipped topping. It got covered and placed in the fridge until ready for dinner.

Hubby and I worked side by side as I prepared the macaroni and he prepared the cornbread, we both short cutted it. I used Kraft deluxe mac in the box with a little extra elbow mac, brought it to a boil with salt and butter, drained it and added in a pint of buttermilk, eggs, and the cheese pack. Afterwards I made a bottom layer in my casserole dish with the mac, then added some shredded mozzarella cheese, topped it with mac and topped that with some shredded mild cheddar cheese, from there it went off to the oven to bake. Meanwhile, hubby tossed a box of corn muffin mix in the bowl, added in some milk, eggs, more corn meal and sugar then off to the hot and buttered pan and in the oven along with the mac and cheese.

We sat down and enjoyed our Sunday dinner and hubby and I had a glass of wine, with a cherry dropped in it to drink, while the boys had some semi frozen apple cherry juice. It’s amazing how much my boys can eat, but they surely don’t give it to much time to stick. We were done eating by about 5:30ish, so we went out in the backyard and enjoyed the weather. Finally, we came inside and watched a movie I rented from blockbusters, The Secret Life of Bees. It went off just in time to catch the 4th round of the NBA Finals. It was fun to see the Lakers and Phil Jackson walk away with yet another Championship victory, that’s my favorite NBA team by the way!

Okay, that was my Sunday, Saturday was a seafood feast of lobster tails, scallops, and split shrimp scampi with ceaser salad, organic carrots and celery, with ranch dipping sauce, baked red potatoes, and fish sticks as my youngest have allergies to fresh seafood. I’m a seafood attic and can never get enough; well that’s the end of today’s rant!

Cyberworld News

A mom blogger from Missouri, got the quite the surprise. She shared a professionally taken family photo of herself, husband, and children on her blog and other social networks, but it somehow ended up being used for a storefront ad way up in Czech Republic. Coincidentally, it was spotted by a college friend that brought it to her attention. What a small world we live in?

In Arizona, a man believes his twittering that he was out of town led to his home being burglarized, while he was away. That’s another downside of being so social on the World Wide Web, something I’m guilty of myself, we have to be more careful these days.

In other Cyberworld news I had recently read several blogs about a mom from Illinois, with a hoaxed blog and the story just made my heart drop. April’s mom a.ka. “B” the blogger who hoaxed the internet with her blog, has since apparently come clean, she actually made the front page of the Tribune. Briefly recapping the story she portrayed herself as an unmarried Christian mother pregnant with a terminally ill child that she later gave birth to, only for the child to die hours later. All the while this was untrue, along with the photo’s she placed on the blog.

After she came to realize that her true identity was about to be exposed she tried to remove the blog, twitter and face book account that she used, apparently all a little to late, because the online community had already discovered just who she was. She has since come clean and admitted to the hoax. She says she apologizes for doing what she did.

Although “B” does go on to share that she really did lose a son shortly after giving birth back in 2005. Her reasoning for starting her blog was intended to help her deal with his loss, as well as to express her anti-abortion views. She mentions it was intended for only a few friends to read, but when she began receiving over 50 comments, she found it addictive that people were interested in reading her writing. Also mentioned was the support, prayers, and yes some cash that was sent on her behalf. It then goes on to say that the stress from it all led her into the hospital. This is all so sad all the way around and after I read over some of the many comments received on the Tribune, there is still even more to this story, than what was mentioned. More on this, here.

Wordless Wednesday

I snapped these photo's while at our trip to Brookfields Zoo! This was from the exhibit they have going on called Dinosaurs Alive. It looked so Jurrasic Park walking through there, they were animated with swinging tails, moving heads, and the sounds of roaring. I can't even recall how many times my little one kept asking me "Mama, is those dinosaurs real?" LOL! I have more photo's from the zoo in my shareapic gallery!

You know its summer when

All the relaxing semi quiet places you normally frequent are over crowded and loud, although summer officially starts on what June 21st, it is officially the summer season as school is out, and so are the families in droves (including my own, lol).

I took the boys to the zoo on Friday and we picked up my mom to tag along with us, dad & my hubby were both at work. I purchased a zoo family membership, so our next visits for a year will be free. We packed the cooler with lunches and headed out. The weather wasn’t too bad it was about 80 degrees out. When we arrived at the zoo the parking lot was jam packed. As some schools in our area are still in, apparently between them and daycare centers it was like a zillion school buses filled with field trippers, therefore, that nice 80 felt more like a scorching 90 in the crowds. The crowds slowly started disseminating later in the afternoon, so we had a wonderful entire day outing at the zoo.

Next up, on Monday I took my 2 boys to get their physicals for next school year out the way early, so afterward we headed to a McDonalds with the R gym for lunch. Yikes! I would take them here sometimes and let them have fun playing around in the R gym, while I do some homework, studying, or just simply reading. Here we go yet again, another crowded parking lot. I circled the lot twice for a parking spot, and almost decided to just go home. I decided to wait around for a few moments to get a park and before I knew it someone tried to steal the park I was waiting for. I’m like geez what is wrong with people these days, did they think I was just sitting there sight seeing or something?


We get inside and the dining area was packed, but luckily we managed to grab a table for us to eat. Afterwards, the boys went and enjoyed themselves at the R gym. I think that is really nice free fun for a McDonalds. Inside the R gym they have a few basketball hoops and air hockey, (this is where you’ll find my oldest) then there’s the 3 story interactive play area with slides, and all sorts of things to climb and tumble on, they have a few games around to play as well, like skateboarding. I had to stand up in there for awhile before I got a seat.


Schools out, the crowds are in and you know its summer when (care to finish this statement if it’s officially summer in your part of the world)?

My Growing Boys

It sure is funny how time passes by. I will be attending the graduation ceremonies with two of my boys this week. They are growing all so fast. My youngest is graduating from kindergarten and he is so excited about starting first grade in the fall. He had an awesome teacher that brought so much creativity and fun into his learning; I couldn’t have wished for him a better teacher. He loves writing and drawing pictures that matches his little stories. He has gone through more than a few doodle pads at homes.

My middle guy isn’t having a ceremony, but he is so proud of himself knowing that he will be entering the junior high this fall. Already he is thinking about what sport teams he want to try out for. He is so athletic and enjoys so many sports, but I think he narrowed it down to football and basketball, leaning towards football as his top choice. He has ADHD, but shows so much determination in whatever he does.

Last but not least, my oldest will be graduating from the eighth grade, going on to high school when classes resume in the fall. This will be quite a change for him as he has special needs, mild autism being one of them. He really is maturing well, and becoming more and more independent, but still my hardest struggles with him right know remains to be practicing good hygiene. He doesn’t like my help as he likes to do everything on his on, but as a growing boy and going through puberty I have to force my help on him. On many occasions even after a shower he would be ready to leave the home smelling like onions, if I didn’t intervene. He is getting better and with time shall do better with this, I know. I am so grateful for the passionate and caring staff that has been working with him as he transitions into high school. He is very into puzzles and has a great sense of humor.

I’m looking forward to this week, I’m so proud of them all! We were all just giggling while looking through some of our older photo albums. They could barely recognize who was who before they started growing so rapidly. Oh the joys of life and parenting!

Deal of the Day

Today’s deal of the day is at Old Navy Store. If you like those flip fops sold at Old Navy you may want to head on over to catch their sale that’s going on today only. Not a spectacular sale but everybody loves a good deal when it comes. Today only Old Navy Store has those colorful flip flops on sale for just $1, 1 buck. I don’t know if there’s a limit to how many you can buy, but of course they have a limited quantity to offer. This was relayed information to me from a friend so don’t sue me if not’s happening at your Old Navy, although I think it applies to them all. You can call your’s to make sure. Old Navy is only a few blocks from me so I plan on going to get some for my family, because I think they are nice and comfy to wear when we frequent the beach. Plus I wear them trough out the summer season and around the house.