You're Healthier Than You Think ....

We try to do what we can to stay healthy .. eat right, get enough sleep, exercise. And now it turns out that you're doing a pretty good job. Woman's Day Magazine put out a list of five signs that you're healthier than you think. Here they are :

1) You have several cups of coffee each day - A recent Swedish study found that people who drink 3 to 5 cups of coffee daily at midlife are less likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer's later on.

2) You say "thanks." - A new study reveals that expressing gratitude may be the key to happiness and overall well-being.

3) You laugh a lot. - Research has shown that laughter expands blood vessels andmigh even lower your heart attack risk.

4) You tidy up your house - Just 20 minutes of sweeping, scrubbing, and doing other household chores can boost your mood, not to mention burn calories.

5) You surf the internet. UCLA research shows that it stimulates brain activity.

So, you have my permission this weekend to grab your cup of java, click on your laptop, log onto your favorite entertaining website, giggle a little when you come across something funny .. and then, of course, say thank you to your husband/partner for taking care of the kids while you take care of yourself. Enjoy!

I Will Not Teach My Child To Curse ....

I will not teach my child to curse ..
I will not teach my child to curse ..
I will not teach my child to curse ...

Maybe I should write that 100 times as punishment for teaching my son to curse. Back in the day, as a young student, I vaguely remember having to write "I will not talk" on a piece of paper, front and back, for talking repeatedly during class. I remember detesting the busy work but who really knows if it deterred my motor mouth.

Now I have to curb my naughty mouth. I've slipped up a few times over the past couple of weeks, muttering the words, "What the hell!" It didn't happen once. It didn't happen twice. Okay, it maybe happened three times and Logan, my five-year old picked up on the words and the frustrated feeling behind them. Oooops!

So last weekend I'm in the yard planting some flowers when my daughter walks out the front door and says, "Mom, Logan cursed."

"What did he say."

"WHAT THE ... DOUBLE-HOCKEY-STICKS."

The tattle-tale didn't want to get in trouble for repeating the bad words.

So I told her to go inside and tell him that "we" don't say those words and he will be in trouble if he says them again.

He said it at least two more times that day.

Finally, at the end of the day, I had a sit-down with Logan and explained to him that mommy shouldn't say those words and he, definitely, isn't allowed to say those words. He knew it, too. I warned him that if it happened again he would lose his DS Game for a week.

The threat of losing a video game is powerful and useful. Nobody has heard him mutter those words again.

By the way, I'm not saying them either .. at least not around the kids.

Lovin' The Spring Weather

This weather makes me so happy!!!!!

Yes, in general, my life is good right now for lots of reason. I have three great kids and a wonderful husband. I have a job. I'm not obsessing about some illness I think I might have. Yes. I am happy. But I'm serious when I say this weather is contributing in all ways to my happiness. Every spring I enjoy walking around my yard, watching my hostas thrive. I love to plant annuals and then just sit and enjoy them. I also get lots of pleasure sitting on the sidelines watching my children play soccer at Detweiler. (sigh)

Spring weather is just so invigorating.

It must be all of the colors. Because of all this rain we've had in Peoria, everything is green.

The red, white, pink, and yellow tulips have come and almost gone.

And most importantly, blues skies and plenty of sunshine. (sigh)

Storms are again forecast for tomorrow. I'll just hold on to the idea that another day just like this one is not far away.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Quesion: What is Cinco de Mayo and why do we celebrate?

Answer: It's a regional holiday in Mexico commemorating the army's defeat of French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. According to Wikipedia, the date is observed in the United States as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride.

For whatever reason, I don't usually give Cinco de Mayo a second thought. There are never plans to drink mexican beer or margaritas. I don't throw a party or make plans to go out. Tonight, though, I may have to get out my delicious enchilada recipe AND the margaritas. We talked about Cinco de Mayo all morning on the radio show and now I'm in the mood for mexican food. A few listeners requested the recipe so I'm going to include it in this blog. It's creamy, rich and yummy. Enjoy.

Whit's Chicken Enchiladas (I got this from allrecipes.com)

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 (4 ounce) can of diced green chiles peppers, drained
1 jalapeno pepper, chopped
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack Cheese, divided
1/2 cup of water
8 (10 inch) flour tortillas
1 cup of heavy cream

Directions:

1. Place the chicken breasts in a saucepan and fill with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and cook until chicken is cooked through. Remove from water and cool.

2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Cut or shred the chicken breasts. Set aside.

3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the green chiles, jalapeno, and garlic. Cook and stir for a few minutes until fragrant, then stir in cream cheese and half of the Monterey Jack cheese. As the cheese begins to melt, gradually stir in the water. Stir the chicken into the skillet. Remove from heat.

4. Spoon the chicken mixture into tortillas and roll up. Place the rolls seam side down in a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining Monterey Jack cheese over the top, then pour cream over the top.

5. Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven or until the enchiladas are golden brown

They are very rich so I serve them with lettuce, tomatoes and salsa.