Vote to give $25K to B.I.G. Love Cancer Care

Please vote for Pepsi to give $25,000 to BIG Love Cancer Care!

BIG Love Cancer Care was established in loving memory of the 5 year old daughter, Brooke, of Chaney and Jessica  Phillips after Brooke's battle with leukemia.  I got to know Chaney through the Harding MBA program - we both graduated in December. In order to help ease the heavy burden of a childhood cancer journey, we provide basic necessities such as: weekly groceries, overnight accommodations, catered meals, and toys.

http://www.refresheverything.com/biglove

You can vote everyday until July 31 - they are currently in the #11 spot and need to be in the top 10.

Thanks!

Murphy USA #1 Fan?

There is a Murphy USA and Murphy Express District Manager meeting in El Dorado this week.  I got to participate yesterday by speaking about the El Dorado Promise. My favorite subject.  =>

So I came across some tweets from a lady who's attending the meeting as well.

I think she's our number one fan.  :)

http://juststopscreaming.com/2010/05/murphy-usa-a-company-who-understands-moving-forward

http://juststopscreaming.com/2010/07/headed-to-murphy-usa-tomorrow

http://juststopscreaming.com/2010/07/wordless-wednesday-fun-with-murphy-usa

http://juststopscreaming.com/2010/07/i-deem-myself-the-official-mum-murphy-usa-mom-unofficially

What We Had For Supper

Jane Reynolds cooked some mouth-watering squash and sent some home with me a couple years ago when Anna was babysitting Ben.  I don't know how she made hers, but I made some recently from this recipe at SouthernPlate.com.  Mine wasn't near as good as Jane's.

And here is our non-gourmet supper...

Simple Squash

Yellow Squash (I am using two), sliced
1/2 Vidalia onion, chopped
1 Tablespoon bacon grease, optional (I left it out this time)
water, salt, pepper

Place squash and onion in skillet. Add bacon grease (if using) and about 1 cup of water, just enough to cover bottom of pan and bring to a gentle boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat to medium and cover, simmering for about ten minutes or until squash and onions are translucent. Strain out of the pan and salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.

(I used chicken broth instead of water.  Don't ask me why.  Didn't use bacon grease.  Also added paprika, because it makes me happy.)

Mary Claire's First Haircut

Mary Claire has been asking for so long to get her haircut, so on her fourth birthday she got one. 

Thanks Mrs. Jan!

Enjoying her birthday moment...

Clinique Bonus Time

It's Clinique Bonus Time in El Dorado this week!  One of the highlights of my year.  :) It snuck up on me - wish there was a website where I could see when the bonus times are so I could put it on my calendar.

• 
  
  Cosmetics Bag
• 
  
  All About Eyes
• 
  
  Brighter Smile Lip Colour Palette
• 
  
  Clarifying Lotion 2
• 
  
  Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser
• 
  
  Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in Currant
• 
  
  Lash Doubling Mascara in Black

Three Things I'm Happy About

1) Today is Mary Claire's 4th Birthday - Happy Birthday My Sweet Girl!

2) In honor of the occasion, she is getting her FIRST haircut today!  She's been asking for one since she turned three, so I'm finally giving in.  Stay tuned for pics.

3) I'm SO looking forward to the end of this week when I get to be with some of my best girlfriends from my childhood.  My friend Susy is visiting from New York (where she's living out all our dreams) and we're going to have SO MUCH FUN!

Cake Mix Cookies - You Can Do It!

Yum, easy, and yum.  I had completely forgotten about this super easy cookie recipe until recently.  I discovered cake mix cookies when the wonderful cooks at Dudneywood Assisted Living in Magnolia made them (I used to work there in another life, and it was a neat job).  They also introduced me to hot water cornbread, which I cannot make, but could eat all day long.

Anyway, I just made a batch with Funfetti cake mix (although ANY cake mix will work for these cookies) and they turned out so much better than the cupcakes I was going to make with this mix.  Try it, you'll like it.

1 box cake mix (any flavor)
1/2 c. vegetable oil
2 eggs
Optional - add chocolate chips

Mix oil and eggs into dry cake mix. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. 350 degrees, 8-10 minutes.  Voila.

Spa-tacular 4th Birthday Party

Mary Claire is turning 4 years old and had a Spa-tacular birthday party with some of her best girlfriends this weekend.  She had so much fun, when we got in the car she said, "I'm having my party there next year, too."  They got pampered so well, the moms were planning our own spa party next.  I love you, MC!

Rhea Lana Coming to El Dorado

Looking forward to this!

Rhea Lana children's consignment has announced their premiere 2010 Back-to-School Event for El Dorado. August 27th-29th at the Union County Fairgrounds in the Activities Building.

All the details are at eldorado.rhealana.com

Notes From My First Love

I've been reading words from my first and true love and thought I'd share some excerpts with you. He has all the qualities my heart desires. He's truthful, faithful, loving, responsible, unchanging, patient, compassionate, righteous, powerful, wise, jealous for me, good, graceful, merciful, gracious, pure, selfless... Okay, so He's perfect.


E-Harmony, beat that.

• He chose me and will hold me up and strengthen me - I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:9-10
• He gives me a hope and future - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
• He's going to replace bad times with good times - I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten. Joel 2:25
• His favor lasts a lifetime Psalm 30:5 
• Nothing and no one can separate me from His love - I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
• He loves me with an everlasting love - I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. Jeremiah 31:3
• He carries me close to his heart and gently leads me and my children - He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40:11
• He made the ultimate sacrifice because he loves me - This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10
• I'm going to grow old in His arms - I will be your God throughout your lifetime - until you hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. Isaiah 46:4
• My Eternal Protector - No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Joshua 1:5

You, Oh Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. Psalm 3:3