Gong Hey Fat Choy (Happy Chinese New Year)

My family celebrates Chinese New Year.  I am half Chinese, so we have always celebrated with my dads side of the family.  When we were little we would get a Lei See (little red envelope) filled with money.  What kid doesn't like getting money?  Too bad I don't get Lei See anymore... I am supposed to give them to the kids in the family... I really need to keep up on that tradition.  Guess I will go to the Asian Supermarket soon and pick up a packet of Lei Sees!  (better late than never, right?)

I hope that you have a lucky year!

Happy Birthday to the Hubby and a Recipe

It was the hubbys birthday today.  He has been sick for some time, so his appetite isn't great.  He had 3 opportunities for dinner... but he just wanted to stay home and have my "Lobster Fried Rice" so I thought I would share the recipe with you.  There is NO lobster in the rice, but he insists that is what it is called.  It has Chinese Sausage in it... called Lap Cheong (lop churng)... hence lobster.  (I don't know, I don't argue with the hubby)  You can find it at any Asian Supermarket, but here is a picture of the brand I like.

"Lobster" Fried Rice

(warning: measurements are approx... and I make enough for an army because it's a big hit at my house)

Ingredients:
1 pkg. Chinese Sausage Sliced
8 C Steamed White Rice
1 Can Chunk Pineapple in Juice
1/4 C Shredded Coconut
1/2 C Frozen Corn
1 C Frozen Peas and Carrots
3 Eggs
3 Tbsp Olive Oil
Soy Sauce

Cook sausage according to packaging.  Heat oil in a large skillet on med-high heat.  Once the oil is hot add the eggs and scramble. Meanwhile, heat frozen veggies in microwave.  Add hot veggies to the skillet.  In a large bowl add steamed rice and soy sauce to coat.  Add soy sauce coated rice to skillet and stir.  Add pineapple chucks and juice, shredded coconut, sliced sausage and serve.

My first written recipe, I hope it made sense.  It's a favorite in my family, I hope you enjoy it!

Happy Heart

I finally got to visit my Grandparents.  My Gpa is in good spirits and my Gma is one tough cookie.

Gma and Gpa are very independent so I know having someone in the house all of the time is a HUGE change for them.  BUT their daughters won't take no for an answer... so there.  I found my way to help too.  I don't know how to cook for 2 people so I always have left overs AND I don't eat leftovers.  SO I am packing up the leftovers and dropping them off at Gma and Gpas house!  A PERFECT solution to my leftover problem and it helps them out too.

I have done a lot of reflecting this last week and I am one lucky girl.

I have had ALL of my Grandparents my whole life.  I even have a Great Grandma, she is 101!  They are all alert and function on their own... with a little bit of help now and then.  None of them live in a "home".

My extended family is amazing.  Who can say that they can call their Aunts crying at all hours?  I CAN!

Who else calls their Cousins for advice or just to check in?  I am so thankful that 2 of them were able to be with me the night I found out about Gpa's Leukemia.  (I know the rest of them would have been there too... if I called them!)

We are each others support, strength, shoulder to cry on, hear to vent to, we are a FAMILY.  I love each and every one of YOU!

Today my heart is happy.

Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day... Week

Ever had one of those terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days?  Yea that was my day today... well, my whole week.

Work was rough, stress levels high, and my emotions were flowing in full force.  My Grandpa was diagnosed with late stage leukemia earlier this week.  It isn't treatable.  I haven't cried (maybe I haven't completely processed the consequences) I feel like people think that I don't care because I haven't cried or visited him yet.  I didn't visit him in the hospital because my hubby has been sick.  (no need to spread his germs) BUT now he is home I finally get to see him tomorrow!

Today was really rough... on my way home... I lost it and cried.  It felt good.

Now I am relaxing and making a purdy Mod Podge sign with an adult cocktail.

Happy Friday!

Facebook Clean Up

Like many of you I am cleaning up around here.  I decided that it was time to go through my "friends" list and weed out the people that are more acquaintances than my real friends.

So, if I deleted you, it's nothing against you... no offense, but I don't need to know what you are doing, who you are dating, what your kids are doing, and everything else that everyone posts!  I am not going to be a Facebook stalker any longer!  {ha ha}

You can still find out what I am up to by following my blog or being my fan on Facebook!

Love ya!

New Years RIVER Trip

Happy New Year everyone!  We are back from a family trip to the river.  It started rough as we were in a car accident, but you can read about that here.  But once we arrived it all turned around!  We played and ATE all weekend!  

Here is my nephew on his Christmas present from PaPa.  He loved every minute on that bike!  He would say "Come on Auntie, PLEASE ride with me, I want to follow you around".  (and I did... and he made me race... and he cut me off... and made me crash... and now I am paying the price...cause I am a sucker)  

Even the dogs were worn out!  (Yep, that's my moms antique couch)

We visited the Desert Bar... I haven't been there in YEARS!  It basically a bar in the middle of the desert and it keeps growing and growing!  It is solar powered, they re-purposed so many things to make an awesome place to hang out!

You can even get married here!  

On the way home Doejah passed out... his little arm was swinging back and forth.  I don't think that he moved for a good 3 hours!  He did get out of the car this time when we got home.  After our Thanksgiving trip we had to lift him out.  (poor old guy)

It was fun and relaxing but it is good to be home and now I have to actually take Christmas down this week!  YUK!

My Late Christmas Present

Ok, I know... Christmas is over.  BUT I wanted to share my late Christmas present with all of you!  Ready? (no, not the truck)

A young man thought that I really wanted a new car door so he decided to change lanes into me so that I could get one!  How thoughtful of him. 

We had JUST gotten on the freeway the exit before to head out of town for New Years... and CRASH!  My first thought... WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED?  My second thought... MY DOGS!  They were fine.  THANK GOD!  The "kid" told my husband "you came out of no where, I didn't even see you!"  (I am thinking... ummmm we didn't move... we were in our lane... and really Mister?  My truck is HUGE, how could you possibly miss it?  IF you would have looked out your window BEFORE changing lanes, you would have seen my 2 huge doors next to you.)  That was a lot of rambling... sorry.

BUT no one was injured and everyone drove away.  Stay safe everyone and Happy New Year!

Oh and don't forget to enter the MASSIVE giveaway at Punkin' Heads and Dooda Loo's!