• Life

    Christmas Time 2014

    January 16, 2015 - By 

    Family Friday {More Christmas edition} Did you see the Family Friday Christmas edition? Last week for Family Friday, I shared with you pics from Christmas Day. I couldn’t get by with that though, because there were other pictures from the Christmas season that I’d like to look back on and thought it would be fun to share them with you as well. Sandi Patty concert at my church My church always puts on a huge Christmas concert. This year we had the pleasure of having Sandi Patty sing with us. She was amazing to say the least. If you ever…

  • Life

    Kids’ New Years Resolutions

    January 15, 2015 - By 

    I’ve dedicated several posts the last few weeks to making goals for the New Year. I thought it would be great for my kids to reflect and set a few goals as well. It’s important for kids to know what goals are and how to think through everything and plan. I also think it’s important for kids to think about the past and reflect on memories. Teaching kids to write things down is so important, especially in a day in age when everything is electronic. Let’s get back to pencil and paper for once! Download PDF copy of Reflections and…

  • Most people either love or hate Guacamole. This an easy recipe for delicious
    Mexican

    Guacamole

    January 14, 2015 - By 

    Mexican food is no doubt my favorite type of food. One of my favorite ingredient is the Guacamole. Ingredients: 4 ripe avocados ½ red onion, minced (about 1/2 cup) 3 tablespoons cilantro leaves, finely chopped 2 tablespoons of fresh lime or lemon juice 1 can of chopped tomatoes salt & black pepper (to taste) Directions: 1. Cut avocados in half. Remove seed. Scoop out avacado from the peel, put in a mixing bowl. 2. Mash the avocado with a fork. For a smoother guac put in food processor and blend quickly. 3. Add ingredients and stir. 4. Cover securely with…

  • iSpy Photo Challenge
    Photography

    iSpy Photo Challenge #1

    January 12, 2015 - By 

    This week for our iSpy Photo Challenge we were challenged to find things that start with Letter A. Here are the 3 pictures I decided to share out of the 30 pictures I took of different A items. A is for Ants A is for Apples A is for Acorns <a href=”https://acameraandacookbook.com/tag/ispy-photo-challenge/” target=”blank” rel=”nofollow”><img border=”0″ class=”nopin” src=”https://acameraandacookbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/iSpySquare.jpg”/></a> I would love to see your Letter A pics, so please link up to your blog using the linkup below. After much thought, I’ve decided to change the iSpy Challenge a bit. Instead of having specific things to look for, I just want…

  • Crockpot_Chili_With_Cornbread_Waffle
    Beef - Dinner - Recipes

    Chili {Crockpot}

    January 10, 2015 - By 

    It has been crazy, crazy cold. We got back home on Monday from 80° South Florida weather for 11 days, so this is quite a shock to the system. It was 14° yesterday with a windchill of -2°. I know you folks in the North have no pity on me, but I’ll just say I don’t know how you Northerners do it. So anyway, with all this cold I decided chili and cornbread waffles would be warm and comforting. If you’re having to brave the cold like I am, you should give this chili a try! Servings: 6-8 Prep Time:…

  • Word_of_the_Year
    Life

    What’s Your Word 2015?

    January 8, 2015 - By 

    Y’all I have been out of town for 11 days and it is so difficult getting back in the swing of things. I was honestly not ready to go back to work yesterday and I’m pretty unmotivated. I hate that! In the new year, there are many things I hope to accomplish and when you’re just not feeling it, it’s a bit discouraging. However, I’m not going to let that stop me. I’m going to push through it. With that being said, how many of you have made New Year’s resolutions or goals? Did any of you just get to…

  • Buffalo Chicken
    Chicken

    Buffalo Joes

    January 7, 2015 - By 

    Last night I was wanting Buffalo Chicken something…I had a couple pounds of chicken in the fridge, so I decided to use all of that for some Buffalo Chicken. Keep an eye out for several recipes that will use the rest of this yummy chicken. I call these Recipe Remixes, which are great for those super busy nights. Servings: 8 Prep Time: 5 minutes Cooking Time: 25 minutes Ingredients: 2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts; chunky/shredded 1 packet of Ranch mix 2-3 cup Buffalo Sauce 1 cup of chopped onion 1 tbs. minced garlic

  • Dr. Pepper Museum
    Travel

    Dr. Pepper Museum:Waco, TX

    January 6, 2015 - By 

    On one of our Texas adventures, we were headed from Fort Worth down to Houston, but took a few detours along the way. One of our stops was at the Dr. Pepper Museum in Waco, TX. The museum is housed in the 1906 bottling building, which was turned into the museum in 1989. Now if you’re comparing this to the World of Coke, Dr. Pepper’s got nothing on Coke! However, you will still find this museum to be rich in the history and memorabilia of this most popular drink.

  • iSpy Photo Challenge
    Photography

    iSpy Photo Challenge

    January 5, 2015 - By 

    As you read recently, I’ve set some goals for this year and I plan to keep myself accountable by blogging about them. Today, I’m kicking off one of my goals, which was Use my “good” camera more often and look for the marvelous in the mundane. I don’t think it matters how great your photography is, you always have room for improvement in one way or another. I’ve participated in some photo challenges, like the 365 Project, and have found that when I know I’m going to be posting some new pics each week it causes my awareness of things…

  • Recipes - Sides

    Cornbread Waffles

    January 3, 2015 - By 

    I’ve been hearing about cornbread waffles and decided to try it out. The kids thought I’d lost my mind when I told they saw a “waffle” in their chili. However, they ended up loving it. Now if you’re in a rush or just feeling lazy you can simply use the JIFFY cornbread mix. You just follow the directions on the box. Spray your waffle iron with non-stick spray on top and bottom and pour about half of the mixture in. Let it cook until it beeps. You’ll probably get about 2 waffles if you have a Belgium waffle maker like…

  • Making New Year's Resolutions!
    Life

    New Year’s Resolutions 2015

    January 1, 2015 - By 

    Happy 2015! How can that be? With every new year, I try to look at it as fresh new beginning. Whether I make new years resolutions or not, I think it never hurts to reevaluate your life and to think about ways to improve it. Since I recently decided to rejuvenate my blog life and move to this new URL, I decided it would be a great year to start off with some New Year’s Resolutions. If you decide to write some, remember you should only have 3-7 goals. Having too many will overwhelm you and will make it hard…

  • Skiing_January_2014
    Life

    Year in Review 2014

    December 29, 2014 - By 

    My favorite moments of 2014: [January] Starting the year off by driving home from a long week in Texas after my Dad’s death. Family Ski Trip with Drew’s Boy Scout Trip in Gatlinburg, TN Day 1 & 2      Day 3 & 4 Another Scout Trip, but this time with the Cub Scout to the McWane Center in Birmingham, AL. Snowpocalypse ================ [February]

  • Sloppy Joe Pasta
    Beef - Recipes

    Sloppy Joe Pasta

    December 29, 2014 - By 

    Servings: 6-8 Prep Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 10 minutes Ingredients: 1 tbs. dark brown sugar 3 tbs. red wine vinegar 3 tbs. Worcestershire sauce 1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper 2 tbs. minced garlic 1 diced small green bell pepper 1 diced small onion 1 cup beef broth 12 oz. elbow macaroni with ridges 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. 2. Brown meat with onion and green pepper. 3. While the meat is browning cook the macaroni. 4. After meat is…

  • Christmas_2014
    Life

    Christmas 2014

    December 29, 2014 - By 

    Family Friday {Christmas edition} Christmas came and went so fast. We enjoyed our normal breakfast of apple dumplins and sausage balls. Opened gifts and then, Rob started preparing our Christmas dinner of homemade meatballs, sauce, and pasta. We had a scaled down Christmas and I was happy that everyone was just as happy. Drew got a new phone. Alex got a bike. Rob got a toolbox and I got a Fitbit. Daisy is all over Christmas. She opened her own gifts and then proceeded to try and help all of us open ours. We enjoyed a lovely dinner with Rob’s…

  • Beef - Dinner - Pork - Recipes

    Ravioli Soup

    December 27, 2014 - By 

    I’ve tried my hand at Ravioli soup and finally after the 3rd try I think I nailed it! This is so easy. Done in less than 30 minutes as long as you don’t have to thaw the meat. A true crowd pleaser. Servings: 6 Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 15 minutes Ingredients: 1 tbs. olive oil 1 pound spicy Italian sausage 3 cloves minced garlic 1 diced onion 1/2 diced green peppers 2 cups chicken stock 1 (28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes 1/2 tsp. dried basil 1/2 tsp. dried oregano 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes Kosher salt and…

  • Auburn_Parade_2014
    Life

    Auburn Christmas Parade

    December 24, 2014 - By 

    On this Christmas Eve, many of us are busy hustling around getting last minute shopping trips, wrapping gifts, and cooking. I’m guilty of all three, I’m afraid. I thought I throw together a few pics from the Auburn Christmas Parade from a few weeks ago. All three 4 of my family members were in the parade. Drew and Caitlyn are the AHS band so they marched and played. Rob and Alex were with the Cub Scouts. Since Alex is a Webelos II this year, he got to walk in front of the float. Does your city have a Christmas parade?

  • Travel

    Must Sees in Piedmont Park Atlanta, GA

    December 23, 2014 - By 

    A few months ago, Rob and I were in Atlanta for a few days. He was at a work conference so I was on my own during the day. I was excited that we were staying in Midtown, because I knew I wasn’t far from Piedmont Park. Piedmont Park Atlanta, GA is the Central Park of Atlanta; just not nearly as big, it’s still a really cool place. It’s nestled just a couple miles northeast of downtown Atlanta. The park runs along 10th Street and Piedmont Avenue in Midtown Atlanta. 5 Things to See at Piedmont Park Atlanta, GA One…

  • Candied Green Beans
    Recipes - Sides

    Southern Candied Green Beans

    December 22, 2014 - By 

    A Sweet Holiday Side Dish Favorite Green beans don’t have to be just savory. When I set out to create a sweet twist for Rob’s Thanksgiving work lunch, I discovered that Southern candied green beans are that dish—comforting, festive, and shockingly crowd-pleasing. These are now my go-to for holidays, church dinners, or any day I want a side dish that surprises people in the best way. Servings: 8 Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 10 minutes Ingredients: 4 cans of green beans 1 cup of finely chopped yellow onion 5 pieces of bacon, chopped 1 tsp of minced garlic 1…

  • Brainstorming About the New Year - Printable - Planning for New Year - This Year I Will
    Life

    Planning for New Year

    December 21, 2014 - By 

    Planning for New Year Have you started thinking about the new year? I know Christmas is smack dab around the corner and this year has absolutely flown by! I just can’t believe it. So with all that being said, I’ve started thinking about the new year 2015. I created a printable sheet with 15 verbs to get me thinking about things I want to do in the new year. 15 things for 2015. Now these are not going to be my set of resolutions. That’s way too many. I just used this sheet as a tool to help me think…

  • Crockpot Breakfast Casserole - Wouldn't it be nice to wake up to a nice warm breakfast? This crockpot breakfast casserole is perfect just for that very reason.
    Recipes

    Crockpot Breakfast Casserole

    December 18, 2014 - By 

    This crockpot breakfast casserole is so easy. A little preparation the night before and the next morning you’ll wake up to a nice warm breakfast. Perfect for this holiday season! Servings: 8 Prep Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 6-8 hours Ingredients: dozen eggs 1 lb. of sausage (I use HOT) 1 can of Rotel tomatoes 1 onion; finely chopped 4 cups of frozen hashbrowns 3 cups of shredded cheese (I used Mexican blend) Tabasco salt and pepper Directions: 1. Brown sausage and onions. As sausage is cooking chopped it up with a spatula. You want to sausage finely chopped. I…