Where I belong!!

So for the weekend Chuck had drill at Camp Roberts in Paso Robles, California. I have really been needing to get away. Chuck had talked to someone about me going with him to drill so I can go through the gas chamber with him. I want to experience the things that he does. I think it would help me better understand what he has to go through in the Marine Corps if I can see or do some of the things that he does. So I was pretty excited to be able to go. I mean really how often do you get to go through a gas chamber?

So I called my Aunt and Uncle in Paso, and asked if I could hang with them for the weekend. They said yes, so I packed and headed out the next day.

I love it here. I feel like this is where I belong. Is it because I was born here? Who knows!! Is it because of the lush green rolling hills? Is it the abundance of horses in every field? Is it the fact that Hearst Castle is just a hop skip and a jump away? Possibly. But I just love it here. I love being able to fall asleep with the window open and not hear cars, car alarms, or smell the neighbors smoking.

Now I like visiting my parents in Idaho, but I just love the look and the scenery here better than in Idaho.

I belong here, I love it here. I feel at home and so comfortable here.

I will write more about my activities later. I just wanted to drop in and say hello!!!

XoXo-Andra Carla

I am so proud...of me!

A while ago I started writing a book after I had a dream about it. I wrote for a few days and then Chuck came back from Uganda, and I slacked off. Then as time passed I convinced myself that it wasn't a good story and I should start over from scratch. So today I thought I would read what I had and then delete the things I didn't like and start again.

I read the 36 pages I already had and was pretty impressed with it. It was a lot better than I had remembered. I went through and corrected some things, but all in all I liked it. So I started writing again from where I left off. I was afraid I wouldn't have the same fire, or writing style...but I just took off as if I had never stopped.

I wrote for a little while, and cranked out 7 pages. I thought I was done for the day, and so closed up my computer, and headed to bed with my Man Husband. He let me watch my favorite shows season finale and then we went to bed. I laid here watching some more t.v. and not quite tired yet. So I talked myself into some more writing.

Now it's 2 a.m. and I just cranked out 13 more pages for a total of 20 pages, and 5,448 words! Woot Woot!!!

I now have two full chapter written, 53 pages, and a total of 15,421 words!! ;0) Now I know that is nothing in the publishing world, but it is something to me.

I ache to be a published writer. To be able to hold that hard bound book in my hands, and to know that others are reading and (hopefully) liking my book!

Well that is all for now, I just had to brag a little about how proud I am.

XoXo-Andrea Carla

Lot's of writing going on.

I have been writing all day, and have accomplished much in my book. ;0) I love it!

Hopefully soon you will read one of my books in the Wicked Eastwick series. ;0)


XoXo-Andrea Carla

Write, write, write

I have been writing all day, and have accomplished much in my book. ;0) I love it!

Hopefully soon you will read one of my books in the Wicked Eastwick series. ;0)


XoXo-Andrea Carla

Just call me Mood Swing Barbie!

So I am sorry for my little ranting back there....Sometimes I get so frustrated, and when I keep it bottled up to long....Well an explosion occurs! And so as you can tell that little rant happened. I am doing much better thank you, and don't worry......I was not talking about any one that any of you know.


Just call me Mood Swing Barbie....and we will call it good! (Thanks Kim)


XoXo-Andrea Carla...AKA- Mood Swing Barbie

You are Beautiful

Life is tough, Life is cruel, and it is so hard trying to be yourself. So many people want to just blend in, and some thrive on standing out.

But I think that there are a few people who stand out a lot, and it's just because of their culture.

I am talking about Indian women. You do not see them to often, but the women who wear their traditional garb of flowing fabrics. Sometimes they have scarves draped over their head, or they have their hair wrapped up with one. These people ignore all the rules that we have grown up with of either blend in, or dress the same.

Today as I was walking in the mall with my husband I saw a group of probably 5 Indian women dressed in their traditional garb. I love it!! I try not to stare, or be to obvious, but I love seeing their bright beautiful colors. I have to stop myself from going up to the women and just wanting to touch the fabric. It is so beautiful. Some of the fabrics are just a plain dull color, but some are vibrant pinks, yellows, greens, and blue's.

I find their culture so beautiful. The jewelry, and traditions are so unique. I love it, and I wish I was bold enough to wear it to.


XoXo-Andrea Carla

I can cry if I want to!

Oh thre depression is setting in.

I can't see Roger Waters perform The Wall Live in December! I am angry and sad at the same time. How will I go on? How will I survive? And what the heck is wrong with me for wanting to make sure my man husband had enough money for food...so I didn't buy tickets? Aughhhhhh The frustration right now is enormous!

So I just want to rant for a second...or 5

I am so sick of fake people. I am sick and tired of people pretending to be interested in me, when I know darn well they don't even care or are pretending to pay attention when they aren't! I mean really is it that hard to be a listener? I have this friend....and said frined calls me to talk....but they really don't want to hear about me or anything about me....they just always come across in a fake way like that. Said friend just calls and blabs about themselves, and their problems....and I feel forced to listen. It makes it feel like they don't even give a dang. What the heck? Don't call me and pretend to be interested in me if you really aren't! It just makes me not like you! Aughhhhhh Said friend will ask me a question, and then not even listen tot he answer, or just start talking over me! HELLO.....selfish much?!! I am not saying I won't listen to said friend. I always do. I just hate when they ask about me, or ask me questions and don't even pay attention....it hurts!


K- I am done now.

So last night I didn't sleep. Yesterday early evening I started to notice a problem with my computer and some of my programs. It seems that an update had caused some issues. I couldn't watch video's, and I couldn't open my reader library. I did some things and then rebooted the computer. Well the video problem got solved, but I still couldn't open my reader library. So I uninstalled and re-installed several times. I got whole bunches of no where with it. I looked up to see if it had acess to my comp, and fiddled for 7 hours with it! That's right 7 flipping hours. Finally I caved and went for the live Sony chat to get help fixing it. The first person instantly passed me off to someone else, and then the second guy didn't pay attention to the things I told him I had already done to try to fix it. He then proceded to tell me how to fix it. They were things that I had already done. After two tries, he passed me off to the tech support on the phone, and they would help me. Aughhh So frustrating. Well I wouldn't be able to call them till morning. So I gave up and fell asleep.

This morning I called tech support. Some Middle eastern answered, and took over my computer. He fixed it in about 20 minutes. Yah!!! I spent 7 hours, and he did it in 20 minutes. I hate asking for help on things I should be able to fix on my own. And it's even more frustrating when I spent so long on it, and didn't even come close! Oh well......I am thankful he was able to help!!! I am becoming a little attached to my e-Reader.

XoXo-Andrea Carla

I got jipped and I'm selfish

Well Chuck came home tonight, and I was pretty excited. Now this is the selfish side of talking now.

I didn't buy my Roger Water tickets that I wanted so badly because I was worried about Chuck having food money while he was in Norway. His government Credit Card was all sorts of messed up, and so I was afraid he might need our card to buy food. So I decided to wait on the tickets.

Every time Chuck goes travels, he brings back a shot glass for our collection, and he buys me a souvenir. I love it. I have pretty jewelry from around the world, and Chuck usually finds me my favorite teddy. The...Me to You bear. I love this bear. He is called a Tatty Teddy and I love them. I always take one with me when I have a surgery, and I have several from around the world. Chuck found a really neat one that said I love you in Norwegian. I was super excited to see him. Also he found a Fraggle at the S.F. airport. I love the Fraggle's! Fraggle's are something special my sister and I shared growing up. I loved that show.

So when Chuck came home I waited patiently for my gifts. I didn't want to be a snot and ask for them. And so I cooked dinner like a good little wifey. We sat down for dinner, and ate in silence. Chuck was pretty tired from flying all day. When we were done, we just sat on the couch. I asked if I could see my bear, and Chuck said he didn't get him. My mouth dropped open. I asked him if he got the fraggle and he said no. I asked if he got me anything and he said no. I didn't know what to say. In almost 10 years of marriage he always brings me something.

So I logged on to the bank account and we had the money. So I went to buy the Roger Waters tickets (Pink Floyd) the cheapest tickets....$55.50


Sold out...............

The next set were $75.50

Sold out.................

The next set were $125.50

Sold out.................

The next set were $250.50

Sold out................

So I tried just for fun the Premium tickets for $550.50

floor seats row 11....$1,007.00

Heck I am humouring myself...why not keep going right? So I tried the

Official VIP Package $750.50

Floor seats row 3....$1507.00

Ouch!!! So my will to live is now over! I not only got left behind for Norway, I got jipped on my bear and fraggle, and because I was caring enough to make sure my man husband had enough money for food....I lost out on tickets to see one of my favorite bands ever perform! I know it wasn't all of Pink Floyd....But still!!

My heart feels empty inside. I feel hollow. I have no reason to live.

XoXo-Andrea Carla

Expired Pig Surprise

For Chuck's welcome home dinner from Norway I wanted to make something yummy for him. So I flipped through my World Wide Ward Cookbook, and saw a picture of a really yummy chicken dinner.

It had rice, squash, asparagus, and some little greens. It seemed to be surrounded in a sauce. The chicken sat on top of the rice and veggie concoction. It looked Uber good. So I wanted to make it.

Well no chicken in the house, no cream of mushroom soup, and no asparagus. Hmmmmmm well I thought I would improvise.

I thawed out 2 slices of pork. Then I cut up some broccoli, and squash and boiled it together. I cooked some rice in the microwave, and started to cook some onion on the stove.


At this point I didn't really know how this was all going to work. Chuck threw the pork on the grill that I had covered in Mrs. Dashes lemon garlic spice. And I went through the fridge and the cupboards. I found a can of Cream of Chicken soup. So I took that out, and threw a couple spoonfuls in with the onions. I stirred it together in the frying pan.

Next I found a canister of Pillsbury butter flaky biscuits in the back of the fridge that I had bought around thanksgiving or Christmas time. I looked at the expiration date, and it said best used before Jan 11, 2010. Well it couldn't hurt to try right? I mean if it was really smelled bad, then I would throw it out. It smelled like the good ole fresh dough, so I put them on a cookie sheet and threw them in the oven.

Once the veggies were done cooking, I threw it all in the same pot. the rice, veggies, onions, and cream of chicken soup and stirred it together. I added some salt, and a little more Mrs. dash lemon garlic, and set it aside. I put two spoonfuls on each plate, placed the pork on top and placed two biscuits on either side. It looked perfect.

I served us dinner and Chuck ate in silence. I thought it was really good. He mumbled it was good before heading to bed.

I couldn't believe that I took such a risk cooking, and it came out great! ;0)
Yeaghhhh me!

The picture I saw that made me want to make this


The finished product


So for not having half of the ingredients, I think it turned out pretty well! ;0)

XoXo-Nonnie

Your age by chocolate!

Sorry I couldn't upload the pics that went with it....But it's still cute

XoXo-Andrea Carla

YOUR AGE BY CHOCOLATE MATH




Don't tell me your age; you'd probably lie anyway-but the Hershey Man will know!



YOUR AGE BY CHOCOLATE MATH



This is pretty neat.

DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST!

It takes less than a minute ...

Work this out as you read ...

Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out!

This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.





1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to have chocolate (more than once but less than 10)



2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)



3. Add 5



4. Multiply it by 50 -- I'll wait while you get the calculator



5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1760 ..

If you haven't, add 1759..



6... Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.







You should have a three digit number



The first digit of this was your original number

(i.e., how many times you want to have chocolate each week).





The next two numbers are







YOUR AGE! (Oh YES, it is!!!!!)





THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2010) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS.

Chocolate Calculator.

A new blog

So I decided to rip my blog in half....Now when I cook and blog about it, I will post it on my new blog: Confessions from a Neglected Kitchen

http://confessionsfromaneglectedkitchen.blogspot.com/

I figured that I would try to blog more about food and such. I love you all, and I hope that you will become avid followers of this blog as well....

XoXo-Andrea Carla

Scotch Tape?

Can you believe these are made from ordinary scotch tape???



























I just wanted to share these fun things with you all.

XoXo-Andrea Carla

The Back Up Plan Review

So the preview to this movie looked pretty good, and a little humorous. Chuck and I went to the drive in movie not far from here, and watched a double feature. The first was How to Train your dragon, and the 2nd....The Back Up Plan. Now of course it was really late by the time we got home, but it was a very cute movie.

Jennifer Lopez came through the entire movie as a good actress,and pulled off the sexy look the entire time. We start out our movie with Zoe (Jennifer Lopez). She is an attractive woman, who has just been unlucky in love. She has decided that her clock is ticking, and so if she cannot find her man, then she will just go to her Back Up Plan and try to have a baby. She tries to get her best friend to donate to the cause, but he won't have it, and no one else seems interested. So she decides that In Vitro is the best option. She goes through the process, and ends up deciding that this is going to be a grand day.

As Zoe exits the clinic, she looks at her surroundings and is quite pleased. She looks around and does not see anyone, and so hails a cab. As she gets in, a man jumps in from the other side and starts accusing her of stealing his cab. In enters Stan. The go back and forth for a minute about stealing each others cabs, and then Zoe announces she is having to good of a day to let him ruin it. She jumps out of the cab and takes off. He follows her to the subway, trying to find out who she is.

A few days later she is at the farmers market with her friend who is very much against her having children since she is a mom herself and tired all the time. While at the farmers market, she notices Stan selling cheese at another booth. She tries to avoid him, but he notices her, and comes over to talk to her. She makes up some excuse, and leaves her friend at the market so she doesn't have to be around Stan. Stan however pumps her friend with info, and finds out who Zoe is a little.

Finally Zoe cracks and agrees to go on a date with Stan. Before to long, she falls in love with him. But now the complication starts....She loves Stan, but she is pregnant....How will she tell him, and what will his reaction be?

I particularly loved the Single Mothers group that Zoe attends. And watching the single mom have the water birth, and poor Jennifer being stuck there, was pretty funny. I think both Zoe and Stan were a little traumatized after that. ha ha

All in all it was a great movie, and I recommend it for all adults to see.

I give this movie 3 out of 5 stars.

XoXo-Andrea Carla

The Dumping of Cake

Dumping of Cake!

So the title sounds a little off, but I assure you this will become one of my favorite easy little recipes to make. My bestest girl Nicole gave me a recipe the other day while we were chit chatting on Windows live messenger. It sounded pretty easy and I just happened to have the supplies here in the house. I got everything out, and set to work making Dump Cake.


2 cans of fruit (make sure it has lots of juice)
1 yellow cake mix
butter

Mix together, and throw in oven for 1 hour at 350.

Sounds simple right? I thought so to. So I threw in 2 large cans of pears, and cut them into small pieces. Then I added the cake mix, and realized I had to much juice. I used the really big cans....so I added another cake mix. I tasted it, and felt it was missing something. So I added a little vanilla.

TASTE.......

Nope it still needed something so I added 8 Tbls. of sugar. There was no method to the method of adding sugar, I just scooped 4 in, and....

TASTE......

Added 4 more of sugar and....

TASTE.......

I decided it was almost there, so I added just a smidgen of butter extract.

TASTE.......

Perfect. I threw it in two glass pans and topped 1 cube of squared slices of butter on top and threw it in the oven for 1 hour.

It came out very well. A nice golden brown, and it tasted really great! ;0) I highly suggest this recipe, and please adapt it to your own liking, as you can add different kinds of fruit!

XoXo-Nonnie

Confessions from a Neglected Kitchen

Dumping of Cake!

So the title sounds a little off, but I assure you this will become one of my favorite easy little recipes to make. My bestest girl Nicole gave me a recipe the other day while we were chit chatting on Windows live messenger. It sounded pretty easy and I just happened to have the supplies here in the house. I got everything out, and set to work making Dump Cake.


2 cans of fruit (make sure it has lots of juice)
1 yellow cake mix
butter

Mix together, and throw in oven for 1 hour at 350.

Sounds simple right? I thought so to. So I threw in 2 large cans of pears, and cut them into small pieces. Then I added the cake mix, and realized I had to much juice. I used the really big cans....so I added another cake mix. I tasted it, and felt it was missing something. So I added a little vanilla.

TASTE.......

Nope it still needed something so I added 8 Tbls. of sugar. There was no method to the method of adding sugar, I just scooped 4 in, and....

TASTE......

Added 4 more of sugar and....

TASTE.......

I decided it was almost there, so I added just a smidgen of butter extract.

TASTE.......

Perfect. I threw it in two glass pans and topped 1 cube of squared slices of butter on top and threw it in the oven for 1 hour.

It came out very well. A nice golden brown, and it tasted really great! ;0) I highly suggest this recipe, and please adapt it to your own liking, as you can add different kinds of fruit!

XoXo-Andrea Carla

If you could tell yourself something!

I read this post today on my friends blog,and she read it on her friends: Shooting Stars, who first read about this on Dystel and Goderich Literary Management's blog.

Author Sarah Mlynowski came up with a brilliant marketing plan for her new YA novel, Gimme A Call. She asked YA novelists what they would say to their high school selves if they could. Here are some of my favorites:


Dear HS self: There are two reasons you have no girlfriend: 1. no confidence. 2. poor hygiene. #startwithnumbertwo – John Green

Dear HS self: You are NOT FAT. You will be, but you're not now, so enjoy it. – Sara Zarr

Dear HS self: Facebook will be invented. Are you sure you want your friend to take that picture? – Julia DeVillers

Dear HS self: You know that all dark gorgeous guy you’re dating? Keep a hold of him! He only gets better with age!

and mine:

Dear HS self: Don't date Jason, Chad, or Stefan. You look amazing, and you aren't a bad person. Stop fighting with your mom so much, and spend more time with your sister. Pursue the good guys more, and don't move into L's apartment (she is bad news). Take your horse out more, so you don't lose it. Go to a singles ward, you will like it better. Don't lose faith in the church even though you will in people. Confront David about what he did to you, and see if he will apologize. It will help you out more than you know. Don't give boyfriends money, stay away from the sweets, and go to the dentist! Stay on the Drill team, and cheerleading, and fight for what you want in life. Don't give in, and don't be submissive.

Now, all of you reading this, what would you say to your high school self?


XoXo-Andrea Carla