Celebrating our Independence... Mexican Fiesta style!!

So, for dinner yesterday with the boys, we had a super yummy food!! I thought it was funny that we didn't have a bbq, or have something "american"!! We had Picante Shredded Beef, Spanish Rice and Refried Beans.

Some of you may know that I love to use my crock pot on Sunday's because then I don't have to spend all day cooking. I am always looking for new things to make in it. Well, I have a roast that I make in the crock pot, that I must say (and I am not bragging ;)) has quite the following with lots of people. So, I had a hinkling for shredded beef taco's one day, and my roast was not going to work... it needed to be more like Cafe' Rio! So, I got my frozen roast out of the freezer and made up my own little concoction!! So, the following is my recipe for this yummy meat!!!

Jamie's Shredded Picante Beef

1 large sized roast (I like mine frozen)
1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 small can diced chillies
1 24 oz. bottle Pace Picante Sauce (I use mild, but you can use whatever you'd like)
1 packet taco seasoning

The night before you are planning on serving it, place your roast in the crockpot, pour tomatoes, chillies, and Picante sauce, then sprinkle the taco seasoning over top of that. Put your lid on and set your crock pot to high. I usually start mine around 10 p.m. Then in the morning, take off lid and flip your roast over so that the flavor distibutes completely. Cook another 2 hours atleast, on low.

If you are going to use this as a taco or enchilada filling, shred it before you serve or prepare. If you are using it as a main dish, you can just put it in a dish, and let people shred their own. DO NOT SHRED in the morning, the meat will dry out!!

I wish that I had a picture of it, but it was gone before I could get my camera!! Have three starving teenage boys and two starving little girls don't leave me time to get to the photo ops!! But, it is mighty tastey and you should try it if you like Mexican food!! If you try it... let me know what you think!

Happy 4th of July!!!

Our neighborhood was not aloud to have fireworks, seeing that we are so close to the mountains and the dry grasses that go along with that!! So, we celebrated the 4th in the best "firework friendly" way that we could. I went to hobby lobby and got a bunch of these party poppers and the girls were able to do them by themselves. They had a blast and went through an entire package in like 5 minutes. There were little streamers all over my yard and it was windy, so there are probably some on someone elses yard too!! The girls had so much fun, they were screaming at the top of their lungs... HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!! Oh how I love them!! They even had fun running around picking up the garbage!!

They have arrived...

On Thursday, our tickets came by FedEx. I am so stinkin excited, you would think that next weekend was the holiday!! The tickets are up on my fridge, so I can look at them everytime I open it. I have been listening to Journey, Heart and Cheap Trick to practice singing at the top of my lungs... (which, if you live by me... sorry if you can hear me!!)

Have I mentioned that my wonderful husband got us great seats??? Well he did! Row G (7 rows from the front) seats 9 and 10!!! Oh and we're center stage as well!!! Too bad we can't take camera's in there, I would be going picture crazy!!! Our tickets even include parking!!!

Well, I hope you all have a great, safe weekend with lots of fun, and fireworks... (we can't do fireworks up at our house... the fire chief lives just kiddy corner to us, and its against the law!!!

Beauty Tips everyone needs!!

I know everyone is always looking for some new beauty tips, so... Julles took it upon herself to share her wisdom on beauty!! The following are things she has so kindly shared with us. I would feel selfish if I just kept them to myself!

Get your "beauty sleep" in any comfy laundry basket full of clothes that need to be ironed! It always helps to keep your blanket over your face so that you don't get exposed to any of the elements.

Eye-liner and lipgloss are not meant for your eyes and lips. As she so kindly models here, eye-liner is to highlight those places on your face that you want people to see. Lipgloss is meant to go around you mouth, on your cheeks, and up your nose to give your skin a nice glow.

I hope you all enjoy these beauty tips, and as she divulges more, I will keep you all posted!!! Let me know how these work for you!

Journey - Faithfully ( The Ellen Degeneres Exclusive!)

This is how fabulous this new guy is!!! He sounds just like Steve Perry!!

If you love peanut butter and chocolate...

then you will love these... This is a favorite recipe of my little family. We could eat them up in an instant. I made some for girls night last week, and had to make more on Monday for playgroup!! They are so yummy and just a warning... they are addicting!!!

Nutty Buddies Cereal Mix

8 c. Rice Chex (or store brand)

1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

2/3 c. peanut butter

1 to 1 1/2 c. powdered sugar

In the biggest bowl you can find (I use my huge tupperware one), pour in cereal, and set aside. In a microwave safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and the peanut butter. Microwave on high for 1 minute and then stir. Microwave in 30 second intervals until silky smooth. Pour over cereal and toss with a wooden spoon or a rubber scraper. Place powdered sugar into a big gallon size baggy and spoon cereal mixture in. Seal baggy and shake it until the cereal is coated in powdered sugar!! Spread on a sheet pan covered in parchment or wax paper, and let dry. It is best if it can dry for a day, but it is good right after it has been made as well!! Keep in a dry container with a cover. (if you can leave them alone that long!)

ENJOY!!!

My husband...

IS THE GREATEST!!! Why, you ask? He called me today and asked me out for a special night away from the kids. Next weekend, we are going to stay at Castle Inn in Salt Lake and he is taking me to see Journey, Heart, and Cheap Trick!!! Can you say.... SO EXCITED!!!

I am suffering from PERMA-GRIN tonight!!! We have tickets center stage, 7 rows up!! WOW!!! I am a huge Journey fan, and their new lead singer is FABULOUS!! He is a phillipeno guy who the lead guitarist found on YOUTUBE!! He sounds actually pretty dang close to Steve Perry!! I also LOVE Heart! Jonathan is a giant Cheap Trick fan as well, so all around a great concert for us to go to! Before we got married, I got him tickets to Styx and REO Speedwagon. The funny thing was that I was the youngest person there. Even funnier, 8 years later and Styx is having a concert here in Logan on Friday night. WIERD!!! I am so excited and can't believe my husband did such a great thing for me!!! We haven't been away for anything like this since we have had kids!!! SUCH FUN!!!