Make Something Monday ... Drunken Garlic Crock Pot Roast

Check it out another yummy crock pot recipe, yes that is also the liner I used to make my work easy! This is supper yummy and a good way to use beer that a friend left over from your last get together ... yup we don't drink beer so what better way to use it up! I made this recipe up and then whipped up some potatoes and green beans to finish it off. Ok don't laugh I NEVER have used the sauce that was left over in the crock pot. I know my friend Racheal laughed at me too. I always take my handy liner out and throw it all in the garbage, ok stop rolling your eyes at me I finally learned to make good of this.

P.S. check out me I learned how to use picasa collage! Ok that was a big deal and it was so easy when you take a moment to actually figure it out! Ok stop rambling and check out the recipe!

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 lbs boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed of fat
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
• 24 garlic cloves, minced (about 4 tbsp.)
• 2 beef bouillon cubes
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 8 ounces lager beer
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar (cut back for a less sweet taste)
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• cornstarch (dissolved in water, for gravy)

Directions

1. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoons of the oil and brown roast on both sides, seasoning with salt and pepper; remove to a platter and keep warm.
2. Add the remaining tbsp of oil to the pan and add the onions, cook until they just start to wilt then add the garlic, them cook until the onions are tender, a few minutes more.
3. Add the bouillon cubes to the hot water and stir to dissolve; add that to the skillet along with the beer, brown sugar, mustard, and vinegar; stir to mix well.
4. Pour mixture into the bottom of the crock pot.
5. Place roast on top of liquid, cutting into pieces if it doesn't lay flat.
6. Set the crock pot on low and cook for 7-8 hours.
7. Remove meat from crock pot and pour liquid into a pan on the stove; heat to a boil, and mix a slurry out of the cornstarch and water; thicken pan liquid with slurry to make a gravy.
8. Serve gravy over meat or with potatoes or noodles.

Found at http://www.recipezaar.com/Drunken-Garlic-Crock-Pot-Roast-49230

CLOSED!!! The Bourne Deception Audio Book Giveaway! (3 Winners)

Ok I admit it I have never read any of the Jason Bourne books or seen the movies. Hello I haven't been to a movie theater in 4 years and the movies that are in my house are always in the PG or G rating, yup no hope for me. Now you understand my addiction to books and audio books. Yes you who are still shaking your heads I know this is Book #7 in the series, and yes I have already ordered the other from the library to catch up! Yes I know Matt Damon is in the movies and I love him but come on give me a break :).

This was an amazing book with action left and right and if you're new like me to the series you jump right in with very little back story needed! This is a great audio CD which means it is on 13 CD's that you can either play in the car or on a boom box (yes I just dated myself) at work. I recommend NOT listening with kids around it does have some graphic content and words not suitable for little ears. If you're new or old to the Jason Bourne series you'll be hooked into this just like I was, I think I finished it with in days. Really I hated to get out of the car I wanted to know what would happen next who would be the unexpected villain or saver.

A little blurb about the book:

The Bourne Deception picks up where The Bourne Sanction left off. Jason Bourne's nemesis, Arkadin, is still hot on his trail and the two continue their struggle, reversing roles of hunter and hunted. When Bourne is ambushed and badly wounded, he fakes his death and goes into hiding. In safety, he takes on a new identity, and begins a mission to find out who tried to assassinate him. Jason begins to question who he really is, how much of him is tied up in the Bourne identity, and what he would become if that was suddenly taken away from him. Meanwhile, an American passenger airliner is shot down over Egypt by what seems to be an Iranian missile. A massive global investigative team is assembled to get at the truth of the situation before it can escalate into an international scandal. Jason Bourne's search for the man who shot him intersects with the search for the people that brought down the airliner, leading Bourne into one of the most deadly and challenging situations he has ever encountered. With the threat of a new world war brewing, Bourne finds himself in a race against time to uncover the truth and find the person behind his assault, all the while being stalked by his unknown nemesis.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Robert Ludlum's (TM) The Bourne Deception
by Eric Van Lustbader
created by Robert Ludlum
Seventh novel in the Jason Bourne series

Thank you to Hachette Book Group for yet another amazing book that kept me on the edge of my seat. Yup picture me driving my car on the edge of the seat, while trying to shift the clutch!

BUY IT: Regular price is $49.98 but currently Amazon has it for $32.99 with FREE shipping!

WIN IT: Hachette Book Group has offered 3 of my readers The Bourne Deception Audio book for them to enjoy also. 1st Entry MUST be done before any of the extra entries. Comment on if your a new or previous reader to the Bourne Series either by book or movie. Yes that easy!

EXTRA ENTRIES - Do as many as you like just leave a separate comment for EACH:

1. Follow my blog
2. Have my button up on your site
3. Subscribe via email (2 Extra Entries)
4. Enter my Swimsuit Audio Book Giveaway 3 Winners by 8/30/09
5. Enter my Jump Start 3 Months Free Giveaway by 9/6/09
6. Enter myBelli Skin Care Giveaway & Birthday Bash Coupon by 9/6/09
7. Enter my My Tot Clock Giveaway & 20% Off Coupon Code by 9/20/09
   
8. Blog about the giveaway (3 Extra Entries)

Giveaway ends 9/20/09 Only residents of the U.S. or Canada are eligible to win. No Post Office Boxes.

Wonder Ball Winners!!!!

Again I'm catching up please forgive me :) Much love! You're going to LOVE the Wonder Ball and the dryer balls!

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend! And the winners are:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

67
75
82
57
19
55

Timestamp: 2009-08-30 20:24:26 UTC

Winners have 48 hours to reply to my email with their mailing addresses. Thank you so much again for stopping by.

1st Place Winner wins: Wonder Ball system

Xenia said... 67

5 Runners up win: 1 Year Laundry Ball

Roxane said... 75

bridget3420 said... 82

tawnda said... 57

fancygrlnancy said... 19

Annette D said... 55

Imagination Box Winner

I'm so sorry I'm behind, with some crazy world things happening I haven't been on my game.

The winner of the Imagination Box Co is:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

62

Timestamp: 2009-08-30 20:13:10 UTC

Shawna said... 62

Shawna Lewis
weloveourdogs@juno.com

I am a follower of your blog
I subscribe to your e-mail
We go out and collect things outside throughout the day and then we come back in and make something with all out outside stuff it's really fun

Sunday, August 16, 2009 10:39:00 PM

My Tot Clock Giveaway PLUS Coupon code

I don't know about you but getting Cole to actually go to sleep is a time and half in our house. Every night we do the normal routine bath, story and to bed we go. Now Caden is asleep with no problem at all. Cole is a another story all together, that boy just can't go to bed. You'll hear him playing, singing, kicking the wall anything but going to sleep. I've become at my wits end and then I received an email to try out a new product! Yup talk about jumping for joy!!!

Let me just say My Tot Clock is not just a toddler sleep aid it helps with so much more! Along with sleeping issues Cole has a problem with listening, go figure! My Tot Clock has 5 settings, talk about all-in-one multi functional features! Let's just say when Cole sees the Red light for time out come out I get a VERY sad face look, but it he knows that the timer is set and to wait for the time be done.

Blue Light - Bedtime I love this one it plays lullabies and even white noise
Yellow Light - Cole groans at this one ... LOL Wake up time plays fun wake up noise.
Aqua Blue Light - Nap time, yup this one works for Caden still working on Cole
Green Light - Encourage, this one is great for Coles reading time and when I can finally get Caden to potty train it's going to be a BIG helper!
Red Light - Time out time, Yup this is MOM's favorite! The one Cole sees and says no mom I promise I'll be better. Get this it has a timer!!! So you set it and there you go!
My Tot Clock is an amazing product, Cole loves walking around the house with "his" clock, that is when it's not on red :). The lullabies are wonderful and just perfect for night time and when they wake up it's a beautiful music. You know so much better than whatever channel the boys switch mine to each day, when my alarm goes off you never know what you're going to get. I think I may want to sneak their My Tot Clock in my room :).

You all ask me how I do it all, I always say lack of sleep and lot's of coffee. Now only if I could bust out something as inventive as My Tot Clock and make it all worth it. Pamela Gonzalez is one of those moms that did just that, she took her lack of sleep and built an amazing product that is helping the rest of that wish for just 10 minutes more of sleep! Does this sound familiar? I know it does, so my new best friend Pamela (she doesn't know that yet but right now she's the answer to my prayers) has been so kind to offer one of my readers their own My Tot Clock. Make sure you go over to My Tot Clock and check out all the amazing faceplate's that you can change to also!

BUY IT: You can buy your own My Tot Clock for $49.95. Right now thru August 31st you can receive an EXTRA 20% off!!! Enter MomBlog in the promotion code box!

WIN IT: One lucky reader will win a My Tot Clock of their own! 1st Entry MUST be done before any extra entries! Tell me a story about your sleepless nights, either funny, hair pulling out night or why you need a good nights sleep. Could also be about someone you know that you want to win this for!

EXTRA ENTRIES - Do as many as you like just leave a separate comment for EACH:

1. Follow my blog
2. Have my button up on your site
3. Subscribe via email (2 Extra Entries) and tell me you did so in 2 separate comments.
4. Tell me what faceplate you would like at My Tot Clock
5. Buy a My Tot Clock - if you do by 8/31 use 20% coupon (MomBlog code) (5 Extra Entries)
6. Enter My Swimsuit Audio Book Giveaway 3 Winners by 8/30/09 and tell me you did so.
7. Enter My Jump Start 3 Months Free Giveaway by 9/6/09 and tell me you did so.
8. Enter Belli Skin Care Giveaway & Birthday Bash Coupon by 9/6/09 and tell me did so.
9. Blog about the giveaway (5 Extra Entries) and tell me you did so in 5 separate comments.

Giveaway ends 9/20/2009 @ 11:59pm PST

Ahhh Moments and Ahhh Crap Moment

Well let's start with the ahhh crap moment. Monday I hear Rick calling me into the boys room with one request. "Bring your Camera" ... oh how he knows me :) Little Caden decided that the carpet in his room needed some lotion. Yup it was dry and needed a little moisture :) ... LOL.

As for the Ahh Moments! This weekend Cole informed me he was on Daddy's team and not on mine anymore. Yup sad want to cry moment, he likes daddy better! So I was so sad and he drew me a picture of me. Not sure if I need to take offense to my large lumpy body or if I should take it as a hint ... LOL. The other was little Caden eating a burrito he also wanted to be by dad and pulled up the Thomas chair to be by dad (dad works a lot so the boys don't see him often) I let the no eating in the living room rule! Other is yeah my garden is finally giving me stuff! Today I grabbed 3 eggplants, 1 zucchini and 2 types of peppers! I used the peppers tonight in our dinner and they were so yummy! I'm so excited I was able to use things I've grown! And yeah Rick had a early day and was home by 7pm!!! Usually he's not home until 11p so it was super exciting for the boys! Caden even curled up and feel asleep on daddy!

Prepared? Who needs to be prepared?

So guess what Cole starts Kindergarten next Tuesday, yes less than a week away! Where the heck did the summer go? Really didn't it just begin? I'm it had to because I'm not ready for the school year to start. Yup I know Mother of the Year I'm not, have you read my blog ... that award so passed by me a LONG time ago ... LOL :).


Guess what you need to have shots and a birth certificate for your kid to start kindergarten, I know shocker! Thankfully I thought of this ... ahhhhumm ... last week and made appointments for the boys. Heck I better get both of the boys done while I'm at it, too bad they don't charge you just ONE co-pay, I mean come on we're in there anyways!!! So today was the day we had shots scheduled. Rick had a meeting so I asked my dad if he could meet me, I mean come on 2 boys, one me and shots! Yeah right it's not a pleasant thought!


We thankfully got right in and the nurse was very sweet and talked to Cole. He was having a HUGE freak out about getting shots. Cole is in the 95 percentile for his height and Caden is in the 90, Lord be with me when they get older! Overall the doctors office wasn't bad I only had to tell the boys to sit down around 50+ times. Cole only had to get one shot and Caden needed 5!!! Thankfully they said he could do 3 today and 2 in 6 months! Yup Mother of the year behind on shots, crap! While we there we had a talking to about Cole's sucking his fingers. This is something he has done since birth and I'm having a HARD time to break him of this habit. Along with this lovely habit has become warts on his 2 fingers. I know gross huh? So today he had to get them burned off, I'm hoping this experience will help him stop this habit. All in all not too bad, lot's of tears with the shots.


After that dad too us to dinner at my favorite restaurant when I was little. The Old Spaghetti Factory, we went to the Tacoma one not as fun as the Seattle one but it was still fun! We got there around 5pm so we walked in sat down and had dinner very quickly! It was great but it cracked me up how we were taken into a "banquet" style room, you know the "kids" room. Yup whenever you got a nicer restaurant when you have kids you always find yourself in a side room or in a far corner. The way you know this is the "kids" room because as you take a look around the room you don't find one person with out kids. Yup you've entered the world of being shoved aside because you have kids. With the food coming so quick we were in and out in no time and no major melt downs, sad to say my neighbor in the booth next to me was not so lucky. Thankfully we were hidden in the kids room ... LOL ;).


Oh yeah I still haven't gotten the birth certificate! HOLY crap, did I not order one when he was born? Crap ok Monday, yup the day before school starts I'll do that ... LOL!


Ok I'm a dork and having problems with my pictures, so here it goes I think I figured it out!!!! Check it out!

Bridal shower (1st Party)
Top 3 pictures and the bottom Left are my friends from High School.

 

Birthday Party (2nd Party)
Caden chillin in front of bouncy house and Cole enjoying it :)

 

My Besties for almost 20 years! I love these gals and so glad we have caught back up with each other.

 

The Bachelorette Party (3rd Party)
Getting Ready, Me with my new do and makeup and the limo ride!

Bring on the paries .... 3 parites one day, one me!

Wow oh wow is all I can say! Saturday was one busy day, hold on drink some coffee and I'll run you threw it!

Insert racing music here ... LOL

Up at 4:55 to work at 5am ... I know 5 minutes before I have to start it's a long walk from the bed to my computer ;). Oh yeah and a HUGE cup of steaming coffee to please! It was a busy day but another good day I scheduled 8 people which is really good! I finished up like 40 some calls did a few emails for them. Put the kids in the tub let them splash around while I finished up and then got them out and dressed. Totally spaced on getting myself ready! Of course couldn't find anything that fit or looked good. Well I still need a birthday present for today!!!

Off to Ross (my favorite place for party gifts) and found everything I needed. I picked me up a snazy new shirt (for $6) for today. Yup one shirt 3 parties ... hello I'm on a budget! Got the birthday present and off we go!

Drop the kids off, the bride's mom was so nice and paid for a babysitter for the DAY!!! Yup the whole day, so I dropped the boys off. Ok this is the first time Caden didn't cry when I left!!! know I was so excited I think it was because there was 3 teen girls there, he was flirting! I ran down the street to the Bridal shower, only 1/2 hour late not bad! It was a wonderful garden shower. LOT'S of yummy food, yup gorged myself since all I had was coffee that day. I sat with a friend I hadn't hung out with in years. It as GREAT to catch up and just chat! We even won the purse game. Yup 4 moms at one table what are the odds of us winning ... LOL :). We each won a bottle of wine. Quick pictures with the girls since it was like a high school reunion! yup the quickest 2 1/2 hours!!! Check it out I finally figured out Picasa Collage! Yup I know hello I'm blonde!!!

 

I quick good bye go back pick up the boys and off to the birthday party for my friends two girls! Yes I walked in with the present not wrapped, I ran out of time! LOL I told me friend and she said she was going to offer me paper but thought it would be rude. I just had to giggle she kills me, well at least I made it there and hopefully the girls will love the gift even though I was geddo and didn't wrap it ... LOL. They rented a HUGE jumpy house. Cole loved it and Caden didn't want to go in, he did pull up a chair to watch. It cracked me up he just sat there and watched the whole time. We stayed an 1 1/2 hours and off we go. Check out those photos!

 

Ran home real quick to grab PJ's for the boys. Plus black pants and a necklace oh yeah new shoes yup same shirt. I told you on a budget! Did I mention I live in Tacoma, drove to Bonney Lake (35 min) for the Bridal shower then back to Tacoma for the birthday party (35 min) then back to Bonney Lake for the Bachelorette Party (35 min) oh yeah plus back to Tacoma to go home!!! LOL

Cole was so excited to go back to hang out with the girls (oh lord be with me when he gets older) they let him play guitar hero ... LOL :). Drop them off with the girls again, once again Caden didn't cry! YEAH!!! Then ran back over to start with the girls for the last party of the day! Heather the bride to be did my makeup and hair, yup I was feeling really sassy! They even had a limo pick us up! Thankfully only 8 of us got in since our rumps are a little larger then they were in high school! We headed to Seattle for a Piano Bar. Ok let me tell you 88 keys in Seattle was horrible! Ok they did give us free to get in (was a $10 fee) but they advertised a comic, nope a piano player got up there and said stupid things. The battling pianos was the weakest one I've seen ever! Now I'm not much of a drinker so I order nachos that were horrible I told the waiter and he just shrugged at me!!! I ordered a bloody mary thinking ok I'll sip this all night. Well a bit into the night one of the girls grabbed the table and spilled my whole drink!!! UGH I guess I gave a look because she bought me a new one and when I said Thank You it wasn't greeted with the warmest response.

Half way thru the night one of my besties for childhood (the one I haven't talked to in a long time) wanted to hitch hike home ... LOL. Thankfully the other got so toasted they called the limo early. On our ride home the poo hit the fan. Well my plan was Rick would pick the boys up after he got done working hopefully around 11:30, well that is the time we headed back home! Well the one of the girls called was a little upset my sleeping boys weren't picked up yet. I got on the phone said we were on our way home, she wanted to party with the others! So I was a little taken back. My friend said something about the girl being upset the mom was in the car had a little too much to drink and it started a war. She started screaming at me! I was like hello I didn't say anything, well that was fun we still had 40 minutes until we got home. Let's just say you could cut the tension with a knife! I was happy to go pick up the boys and go home! Yeah a night out too bad it had to be drama! But it was fun hanging out with the girls!!

Sunday I stayed home worked while Rick took Cole to his work party at a waterpark 2 hours from home! Yup it was a nice day, except the fact I got home around 1am, Caden got up at 7am and Rick slept in until 1pm!!! Boys!!! LOL there it is :) Pictures and all check me out!

br/>

Here is me and my BFF for 20 years! We've fall away for a while but I'm glad we're back together!

 

The party girls!

 

Tempt My Tummy .... Taco Casserole

Taco anything is always a big hit at our house, but I love casseroles like you know. So I'm always trying to find the best of both worlds. This one was super easy and I had everything in the cupboard ready to go!! I know you'll enjoy!

What you'll need

Add tomato sauce to meat
Add some water

Add Taco Seasoning

Add Corn

Helper adds the beans

Add diced tomatoes

Add in Oregano seasoning

Add Garlic Powder

Add Chili Powder

Add salt

Just a little hot sauce

Add taco sauce

Add a layer of meat

Top with chips

Another layer of meat

Another layer of chips

Top with Cheese!

Yummy Cheesy out of the oven.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon dried leaf oregano
1/2 cup taco sauce
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
dash of Tabasco sauce
6 ounce bag corn chips, slightly crumbled
chopped onion
chopped tomato
grated cheese
chopped lettuce

Preparation:

Pan Size: 3 quart casserole Oven

Temp: 350°

Time: 10-15 minutes

Brown ground beef; mix in the taco sauce, tomato sauce, chili powder, garlic salt, oregano, Tabasco sauce. Simmer 10 minutes. Put half on bottom of a 3-quart casserole. Top with about half of the crumbled chips. Add remaining ground beef mixture, some chopped tomato, onion, chopped lettuce, and grated cheese (use 1 cup or more). Put remaining corn chips on top. Bake at 350° for 12 minutes, or until hot and cheese is melted.