Pizza Sauce - Recipe

Way back before September we usually did a weekly pizza and a movie night.  Usually celebrated on Friday or a Saturday night all depending on hubs work schedule.  Last night was pizza night and man have I missed it!!  Well technically we didn't get to the pizza part because we ran some last minute errands and ended up with Chinese...we did get the movie though.  Tonight will be part 2 of pizza night at our home.

As much as I L-O-V-E pizza I am not a fan of the sauce.  It is usually too sweet for my liking or it is the "you want crust with all that sauce???".  I set out about a year ago looking for the perfect pizza sauce and I found it!!  I use good ole Google to find a pizza sauce recipe.  However, I can't remember where on Google I found the following recipe from...sorry!  It is the perfect combination of sweet and spice.  It is super easy to make.  Will for warn you, that is makes a ton of sauce.  Good part is it freezes fabulously.  Enough where usually 2 ladle full of sauce per pizza and that equals to be about 5-7 pizza nights!!  Okay now to the good part - Homemade Pizza Sauce recipe.....Enjoy!!

Homemade Pizza Sauce
-3 garlic cloves
-3 T. olive oil
-1 (29oz) can of Tomato Puree
-1 (28oz) can of Crushed Tomato
-2 T. Brown Sugar
-1 T. Italian Seasoning
-1 t. Dried Basil
-1/2 t. salt
-1/2 t. red pepper flakes

-Saute garlic in oil until tender
-Add all the other ingredients
-Bring to boil
-Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for 30 minutes

My ingredients...forgot fresh garlic so this garlic was used

Need a good pot and a spoon...keep this spoon in mind!

Woops!! Forgot the oil and garlic picture.  This is

all the tomatoes mixed with garlic and oil

Add Brown Sugar...trust me!

Mix to dissolve all the br. sugar...ahhh there is that spoon again!

So I totally spaced out and forgot the rest of my recipe pictures.  Sorry about that.  However once you dump in the seasoning all that is left is to boil and then simmer.  Besides a watched pot never boils anyway right?!?!  I hope you try this recipe and let me know what you think.  If you have a sauce recipe that you think is awesome share!! I can't promise that I will try it but maybe my readers will want to!

What a week...ending with a give away!

This move has been hard, oh so very hard.  I think because for the first time ever I have moved as a parent.  Parent to a 2 year old boy.......enough said right?!?!  This week Nathan and I have been so focused on getting the house unboxed that Gabriel has not had his usually activities, arts, crafts, exercise, that I normally plan for every day.  This means he has been into EVERYTHING and often find him getting on my nerves.  With my temper short and saying "no" so much.  I have never been a "no" person because kids just don't understand "no" or get bored and ignore that short word.

Instead I have always been a believer in discipline or boundaries with a short explanation of why to help the understanding and prevent fights.  This worked with my teaching years and has been working with Gabriel.  Somehow all of that has gone out the window this past week.  Last night it just broke my heart because even with me yelling a few many times, Gabriel still smiles, hugs and kisses are given, and he still finds laughter.  He really is an amazing child. 

Today is a new day.  The house is about 85% unboxed and ready to live in.  This also means the crabby, moody, short tempered mom must 100% leave!  I promise, that if my 2 year old child who decides that jumping off the back of the couch onto some boxes, won't get yelled at and "no" won't be issued.  Instead it will be a calm mom who will shortly/briefly explain that jumping off the couch is not okay.

Here are two articles I found through a friend -
http://thestir.cafemom.com/toddler/115208/stop_being_mean_to_your

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/6/t061100.asp

They have helped get me back on the right track.  As parents we will always make mistakes but owning up to them and getting right is one of the best things we can do.

Other news I am really enjoying this house.  When we first moved in there were/are a few issues that had me second guessing renting this place.  However we are slowing making it home.  I bought some new rugs and pillows for the kitchen/living room.  Will take pictures tonight and post because I need some much needed advice!!  I have MANY bare walls and just not sure how I want to go about decorating them.  I do know that I need to order my items from Uppercase Living and I would LOVE to have an old mantle to hang by front door.

Oh another thing, we finally have INTERNET!!!  WOO HOO For the past three weeks I have been using free wireless through TLF or on my phone.  Now I have my own Internet and can catch up with emails and Blog postings.   I also see that I am at 36 followers.  I think I will do a GIVEAWAY!!!

Check back tonight for house pictures and come with some great decorating advice please...I need it!  Then check back tomorrow for my Giveaway Contest.  Happy Friday Everyone!!!

Do you Shampoo or Nopoo??

I am a shampooer kind of girl.  I have extremely oily hair, it is thin, but I have lots of it to make it look thick.  My hair can't make up its mind if it wants to be straight, wavy (no such luck on curls), or just down right frizzy. 

I have friends that do the "Nopoo" (don't use any form of shampoo or soap for their hair) but I have never looked into.  I have wanted to try the Wen Shampoo line for awhile but Mr. Dean doesn't sell to my price range.  However, Mr. Dean if you find this, I would love to try your shampoo and tell my Blog readers and Facebook friends.

Instead it has been various Shampoos until this past October, when I was staying with my parents for awhile, I started using my mom's shampoo.  It is a Sulfate Free Shampoo. .............

The one I have been using is for colored hair even though I don't color my hair.  After the first wash I really felt and heard a difference with my hair.  Um, heard??? Yes heard!! I didn't have that crunch when I pressed the ends of my hair.  Don't get me wrong my hair is actually very healthy but for the first time it felt really clean.  Not to mention when I scratched my scalp there was no greasy, flaky, build up mess.  I was sold!  Skip to January, I am still using the shampoo and my hair is fabulous (especially fabulous when I am not lazy and actually style it).

Anywho, went to Wal-Mart yesterday to replenish my shampoo as well as the fridge and cabinets.  When these little "sale" tags caught my eye and I ended up buying this new shampoo.....

It is Sulfate-Free but with the added bonus of being Organic......no I haven't went all organic but we are trying...that is another post for another day.....This shampoo was .20 cents cheaper and a few more ounces.  Another selling factor is, it has this fabulous coconut smell...lord how I love anything coconut.  Not to mention it's magical powers!!  Standing in the middle of the shampoo isle, I closed my eyes and took a huge sniff.  I was instantly back to a size 9 (yeah I'm almost 5'11 and will never be a 2), flat tummy, and wearing a bikini, and then some one said "Excuse me please".  Okay so it doesn't really have magical powers but it smells great! 

I have never used this brand before but the smell had me from the first sniff.  So I am going to give it a go.  Will Blog back in about a week and let you know what I think.  If I don't give you a update, I just might have charged a one way plane ticket to Fiji...please don't come and rescue me....please!

Fiji with the fabulous huts over the water........

**Neither shampoo companies or Fiji have heard of me.  This post is based on my opinions alone and can not be held against me.  I would gladly write up a post about Fiji if someone would like to send me there though ;) **

Jan 16th - Jan 22nd Menu

Oh boxes are everywhere, my kitchen is just about done, the play room is finished, and we are using the neighbors Internet....yes bad I know!  Taking a break from unpacking to make out our menus.  I will keep this going each week since we have nothing to eat by us but a McDonald's and Wendy's...belch.  I hope to post the menus biweekly but for sure weekly.  As well as posting on a Saturday or Sunday (the latest) to help others making their menus for the week.  As always, share your menus to keep the food inspiration going!

Sunday - Happy Birthday to my Hubby!!!!!
D- Lasagna with bread and salad

Monday -
B-Cereal
L-P&J Sandwiches
D-Left over Lasagna

Tuesday -
B-Oatmeal
L-Grilled Cheese w/ Ham, Fruit, Chips
D-Cowboy Sandwiches

Wednesday -
B-Eggs and Biscuits
L-Chicken Nuggets w/Apple Sauce and/or Veggies
D-Mom's Roast

Thursday -
B-Sour Cream Pancakes
L-Left over Roast
D-Basil Chicken

Friday -
B-Yogurt/Fruit
L-Turkey/Avoc. Sandw. w/chips
D-Home made Pizza Night

Saturday -
B-French Toast
L-Quesadillas
D-Chicken Spaghetti

Sunday -
B-Fruit Smoothies
L-Left over Chx. Spag.
D-Salad Night

Some of these meals I have not posted recipes yet.  Will soon though.  Happy Sunday!!

Friday - WOOHOO

Oh Friday how I love thee!!!  Why??? It is move in day.  I have been second guessing ourselves about the house we picked to rent.  Nothing major but little things that have been stuck in my mind and are leading to big worries and stress.  Hubs left super early this am to get to house and meet the movers.  He texted and said "Babe, this house will become home, and it has a lot of potential". 

After reading that I am determined to throw out any worries over the place, unpack, decorate, and make it a home.  That being said, he also mentioned that he has not set up Internet yet...sure cable is but not my Internet.  I really think he did that to keep me focused on unpack...little turd bucket is what I say!!! LOL

With today being Friday I wanted to start doing Flashback Fridays or maybe Fashion Friday.  Yes I know have zero fashion sense but I can post what I see/love in a magazine and share with readers.  With the hopes of my readers helping me find these fashions at lower cost and suit my body style.  However, I am supposed to be moving out of TLF right now and instead find myself on the computer (okay maybe my Turd Bucket does have a valid point after all......), I won't do Flashback Friday today. 

Instead I will give you a fellow Blog friend who I love to read.  Her Blog is simple, sweet, and yet many of her posts find a way to touch me.  It is through her that I am "copying" Flashback Friday.  Plus her latest post "Love Me" flows with my post yesterday!!  Which by the way I will post a picture of my white board after it is unpacked.

Happy Friday and please check out - Still Blooming

Love...

Valentine's Day is just a month away and it is one holiday Nathan and I have never really celebrated.  Not a scrooge but we truly try to have romance and love in our relationship every day...just ask some of our friends about our "White Board".... ;)  Don't get me wrong, Lord knows we get on each other's nerves, I wish him at work sometimes when it is his day off, and we have disagreements, but we always find our way back to each other....always!

Sunday is Mr. May's birthday.  32nd Birthday to be exact.  I am a HUGE believer in birthdays.  Always have been (except this past bday....it totally was not my month) and pray I always will be.  I have kind of forgotten that his birthday was coming and I like to blame the move, new city, TLF, and the list could go on and on but in the end I should not have forgotten. 

Last night over dinner I asked him what he want/needed for his bday.  Him being a man went into this long story of what I could do for him (will spare details for any readers I may have under the age of 21) and I laughed, food came, and he never really gave me an idea (or an idea that he knows I will go through with!). 

Here we are this afternoon waiting for him to come home for lunch and he sends me a text saying we never finished his birthday discussion.  Girls you know what he texted me?????

Mr. May - I just want you to bring me a cup of coffee and tell me that you are still madly in love with me"
Me - Oh babe I can do that over and over for the rest of our lives!
Mr. May - That's all I need.....babe!

See ladies this is why I love this man.  Just when two weeks of being off our routine, living in TLF, my head on an endless spinning cycle of how to organize, decorate, paint, etc, I get a text like that.  Lord I love this man!

Now go out and buy yourself a white board.  I promise you will thank me!! Happy Thursday

Blog Find - Tip Junkie

It has been two weeks living in TLF and I truly think I am at the end of my rope.  Don't get me wrong I am thankful for having a place to stay and keeping some sort of routine for Gabriel, but man I want my stuff.  to keep my mind off this tiny place, I have been brainstorming ways to decorate and organize our home. 

When I was teaching I was OCD when it came to being organized.  By the end of the year I even had my students organizing their items at home...much to their parents surprise.  This all being said, somehow over the last year I have gotten very lazy with my belief that everything has a place.  Instead, magazines, papers, shoes, and so much more, just ended up piling around the house collecting dust or become a tripping zone. 

With the new house I have promised myself and my fabulous hubster that I will get back on track with decluttering and being organized.  This morning as Gabriel is watching Mickey Mouse I logged on to search some more ideas for organizing and decorating.  I have stumbled across some really talented women who have the greatest ideas to decorate and organize.

My Blog Find for today - Tip Junkie  She has some great ideas for the little things that pile up and not to mention some awesome craft projects...Valentine's Day is just around the corner....which if you happen to text, email, or FB with my hubs let him know that the Nook really would be a awesome gift for me.  Just another way to declutter, get rid of the piles and piles of books ;) 

Hop on over to Tip Junkie, check her out, and then come back and let me know what you think.  Happy Wednesday!!