Getting back in the swing of things

What a long time its been since I posted last. Here is a brief summary of my absence...

We have moved to NH and are still getting settled in. Madison and Nathan are in school, and Lauren is home during the days with my husband. I am working at a Doctor's office and my husband works 4 ten hour nights as a youth counselor at a detention facility for boys. This works out really well because we don't have to pay for daycare, which is a huge expense.

Currently, we are in major preparation for Christmas. I am nearly finished with the gift purchasing, and now have the dreaded task of wrapping.

I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving. We were happy to be able to spend the day with family that we hadn't spent the holidays with for several years.


I will be back to posting on a regular basis tomorrow. My posts will be done at night after work is over and the kids have settled down. Five Ingredient Fridays will be posted late Thursday nights. I will be getting in touch with the last few winners to get their prizes on their way to them. I apologize for the delay. Things are finally getting back to normal and I will get the prizes caught up soon.

Have a great night and I will 'see' you all soon!
~Nicole

Five Ingredient Fridays: Its All About You!!!

Welcome to another week of Five Ingredient Fridays!!! We have safely arrived in New Hampshire, but haven't quite settled in yet, so I have to use my Sister's laptop. I also haven't had time to think about what to share so this weeks' submissions will be all yours.

ALSO, I haven't had a chance to pick a winner from last week, so I will announce last weeks' winner and this weeks' winner next Friday. They will get a little something special from me for being so patient.

Please post your submissions in the comments section along with your link.

Five Ingredient Fridays: Fruit Pizza

Congratulations to Holly @ A Mommy's Blessings who was last weeks' FIF winner. Due to a big move and a minor lapse in memory, her gift card is a bit late, but on its way. Sorry Holly!!!

We will be on the road for a few days and then will take a few more settling in, so there will only be one post next week and that will be the Five Ingredient Friday post, so please come back. And, tell your friends, bring em along. On to the fun...

This is the easiest dessert I have ever made. It is also the dessert that I am always asked to bring to pot lucks.

Fruit Pizza

1 tube refrigerated sugar cookie dough

1-8 ounce package cream cheese (low fat and fat free work just fine)

1 cup sugar or Splenda

strawberries, blueberries, kiwis, peaches, etc.

Roll out sugar cookie dough onto a cookie sheet and bake according to package directions. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.

Mix cream cheese and sugar/Splenda together well. Spread evenly over cookie pizza. Top with whatever fruits you like. We like to use sliced strawberries and blueberries, but you can choose whatever your family likes.

Your turn...

Leave your link in the comments as Mister Linky is still being a bit unpredictable. Thanks!

~Nicole

Big News!!

As you may have noticed, there haven't been any posts yet this week. This is due to the fact that we have a big event coming up this weekend...WE ARE MOVING!!!!

We are packing up our house in Louisiana and moving to New Hampshire. Quite a change huh?? I was born and raised in New Hampshire and have been living in Louisiana (my Husband's birthplace) for the past 9 years. We spent a short while in NH after Hurricane Katrina came along and relocated us temporarily, and have been wanting to go back eventually.

Our perfect opportunity came along when my Husband's company decided to go out of business and we were faced with the fact that there are not many jobs available in our area at the moment. The move was actually his idea. We figured why not seize the moment and make the change.

I will be going back to work after being home with the children for almost 5 years. This makes me both sad and excited, but it is very necessary as we will be paying rent plus keeping the mortgage going on our Louisiana home - just in case.

So, this weeks' Five Ingredient Friday will go on as usual, as will next weeks' but there may not be many other posts in between.

Please bear with us during this drastic change and we will be back to normal soon. Wish us luck!!

~Nicole

Five Ingredient Fridays: Slow Cooker Beef Sandwiches

Its Friday!!! (Well, actually, its Thursday night, but anyhow...) I have tried some really fantastic five ingredient recipes thanks to all of you. Congratulations to last weeks' winner, Holly at A Mommy's Blessings. Email me at 5paiges@bellsouth(dot)net with your email address and I will send out your $5 Walmart gift card ASAP. On to the fun...


Slow Cooker Beef Sandwiches

2-3 pound chuck roast - cubed

1 package dry onion soup mix

12 ounce can of cola

Place meat in slow cooker. Sprinkle soup mix over top. Pour cola over all.

Cover, cook on low for 8-10 hours.

Serve as a roast, or shred the beef and serve on buns.




Your turn:
~All recipes must include 5 ingredients, or less. But, you do not have to count water, salt and pepper, or other common seasonings in your 5.
~Please be sure to link to your post in Mister Linky and not the main page of your blog.
~Please mention and link back to this blog in your post.
~Please visit other posters' blogs and leave lots of comment love. We all love comments, don't we?


*****Mister Linky hasn't been behaving well lately, so if there isn't a place to link up, just place your link in the comments section.********



~Nicole

Strawberry Banana Smoothies

This is another quick and easy breakfast item. The kids love it right along with the Breakfast Cookies.



Strawberry Banana Smoothies

2 packages (10 ounces each) frozen sliced strawberries in syrup
2 containers (8 ounces each) strawberry yogurt
1 ripe banana - peeled
1 cup milk

Blend all ingredients for 1-2 minutes, or until smooth and creamy.

Pour into glasses and serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.


LIKE BLOG CARNIVALS???? Be sure to come back Friday for Five Ingredient Fridays. Last weeks' winner won a Walmart Gift Card.

~Nicole



This post is being linked to:

Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays at Blessed With Grace
Tasty Tuesdays at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam