The Clock is Ticking
The Count down to Christmas is on! Have you finished your shopping or are you in a wee bit of a panic mode like me? If so I have some options! Together we can make the magic happen!
Last year at this time I found myself sitting in a hospital room with my mother daily. I am not complaining about this by any means and Lord knows I wish she was still here! But, my point is, the clock was ticking on days left to shop, and I was in a hospital room. This is when AMAZON became my best friend for anything and everything! I know this is hard for some people as they fear Amazon is taking over the world, but trust me, when your mom is dying and you have three kids at home, 18 nieces and nephews, teachers, and in laws, and the list could on and on....you start to get creative on gifts! Amazon became my go to for gifts and groceries! They saved my life last year and for this I will be forever grateful!
This year I am not sitting in a hospital room, but oddly enough I find myself in the same boat and I am having to get creative. So this post is all about what I am ordering today. It includes ideas for stocking stuffers, gifts, hostess gifts, and even some household items. One thing: DO NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE I DID! ALWAYS CHECK THE SHIPPING DATE. TRUST ME ON THIS! IT MIGHT NOT MAKE IT IF YOU MAKE THAT MISTAKE!
TODAYS CART WILL INCLUDE:
These leggings are AMAZING! I wear them to dance, I wear them around town, I wear them everywhere! And they fit so good and they look amazing. They come longer because the Yogi's in our lives like to cover their feet and I like this because it brings extra warmth around my ankles which is a plus for me! Santa does not know it yet, but he is bringing me one or two more pairs! Gotta love that guy!
This Shirt! Oh my yall! I got this for myself and it is one of my favorites! It fits amazing and it is great with jeans or with my leggings! Especially the ones above! I have this shirt in grey and I wear a medium, but I assure you Santa will be bringing me a few other colors this Christmas because EVERY time I wear it someone comments on how great it is!
For the Cooks in your life this cookbook is GREAT! Especially for families! I use it on average once a week! And we pretty much love everything from it! This is a great gift for any female in your life from a teacher to your mother to your boss! The same author also has a slow cooker cookbook I just got in the mail and I just made my first dish from it as well! LOVED it too! See below! Perfect gift for busy moms in your life!
My big boys will be finding these in their stockings! They are GREAT and the teenagers can always use another headset! Trust me on this!
These are fun for little girls to get in their stockings! It is a bath bomb with a treat! My nieces loved them last year!
Bath bombs for the boys too with toys! GREAT stocking stuffer! Especially for a little minion named Graeme!
Candles are always a good go to gift! For a hostess, for a friend, for a sister, or for yourself! I love how clean this one smells!
Anyone who really knows me knows I LOVE MY DARK CHOCOLATE SEA SALT CARAMELS. I am kind of a snob about it actually! Up until I found these I only liked Central Markets in their bulk section. This is now my go to for a hostess gift or an extra little something to add to any chocolate lovers gift. These things are the bomb! I may or may not have one or two every night! Just saying......they are that good!!!!! I have even started leaving a canister of these by the bedside of our guest! They love it!
Really not sure what all the rage is about on this, but Graeme loves these things so this year he might get a shiny one in his stocking.....:)
Yet another fascination I do not understand, but it will be in a stocking I assure you! Probably JP's!
And I can't leave my Will out so he will probably get this one!
Came across this while looking for the bath bombs and got this for Graeme. He loves all the "Surprise" stuff! Not sure I do, but hey! It makes him happy!
This is perfect for Trey's stocking! He loves coupon books of love and things like this.
So there you have it! That is what will be in my Amazon cart today along with toilet paper and paper towels! What will be in your Amazon Cart?
Happy Shopping!
xo,
Amy
Stuff
I keep dreaming about my mom. It is so strange. I am not in a fog or depression, but I do keep dreaming about her and that does make my mornings a little tougher. I have to process the dream and cry a little.
I keep dreaming about my mom. It is so strange. I am not in a fog or depression, but I do keep dreaming about her and that does make my mornings a little tougher. I have to process the dream and cry a little. I think if I did not do this I would be depressed, but I just roll around in the dream and try to decide what it was about.
Last night I dreamt of her funeral. It was so odd because I was in her closet with greasy hair and had not showered. My best friend Ginger said we had 15 minutes and I kept thinking I have no clothes here but this black jumpsuit. I could see all my mom's perfectly white tennis shoes. She LOVED white tennis shoes! She had a ton. I kept talking about how we needed to donate them because that is what she would want.
As I sat drinking my coffee and doing my QT, I realized, that is it! It has been almost a year since her death and everything is just how she left it in her closet. Maybe she is telling me, "Donate that stuff Amy Irene!" For those of you who know my mom I GUARANTEE that is what she is saying!
She was THE HARDEST person to buy a gift for. She did not want STUFF! She would say, "Don't get me anything that collects dust!" She did not wear jewelry and she was quite the little spit fire golfer/active mom so she was not into "the trends" of style. She was so basic and so simple! QUITE OPPOSITE of me or my sister! Kind of funny actually!
She wore only mascara and deodorant. For those of you who know me, I wear makeup and perfume EVEN to dance in! Heck I have been known to wear my pearls to dance! So VERY OPPOSITE! And people I love me some stuff! Have you seen my house? It is a dust freaks nightmare! I feel bad for my kids when I die. It will be harder than heck to get through all this. Maybe that is my take away from the dream. Maybe I should start cleaning out.
I promise you my moms house will be so easy to go through. She was sooooo organized and did not hold on to anything. And honestly, now with her death I see why. She could not take it with her and she definitely did not send it ahead, so why keep it. Only keep and use what is needed. RIGHT? But, who am I kidding? I LOVE MY STUFF!
So my take away for today....I need to talk to my siblings about what we should do with my mom's stuff, but I shall keep on keeping on with my stuff and not beat myself up for it! I like it! I like my house and I like my things and if you do too, I say ENJOY them! It does not make us any less of a person. Just might make it a little more work for those we leave behind. But then again, they may like our stuff!
xo,
Amy
My Triple Threat....
Today I will make a heartfelt confession and one I hope other moms can learn from....
As I sat watching my beautiful JP recently during one of his brilliant performances, I got a little sad. Not sad because of my mom, not sad because he was growing up, but sad because he is 14 years old and I was JUST REALIZING who he is and HOW MUCH TALENT HE HAS.
In the ARTS, I guess he is called a "TRIPLE THREAT". The boy can play three instruments that I know of and he is only trained in one. He can Act like you would not believe. When he is on that stage he transforms into whatever character he is and it is so fun to watch. He can sing, Oh my lord the boy has some pipes, and now I realize he can dance....and what a beautiful site to behold when he is dancing.
My first point is, doesn't that make him a quadruple threat? We are talking about a instrument, acting, singing and dancing....my calculations say that is a quadruple effect... Just sayin......but my real point here is I am so sad that it took me so long to figure this out. I will tell yall, people quite often would say to me when he was young, "JP is meant for the stage!" I would smile and say, "He is quite the character." But yall! He IS meant for the stage! Why didn't I listen?
I will tell you why. This is an honest heart felt confession.
Because I had an image of what being a boymom was and it did not include the stage. It included soccer fields, football fields, basketball courts, baseball fields (even though I despise baseball), golf clubs, track, and the list goes on and on, but you get the point. It did not include an instrument. It did not include a stage and costumes or god forbid make up, and it really did not include tights. Why? Because I selfishly had an image of what I THOUGHT A BOY SHOULD BE OR DO.
It is kind of odd really, being that I grew up acting with plenty of boys and even dated them.
As I sat there watching him move gracefully across the stage, I thought to myself, "Did I hold him back? Where would he be today had I listened?" I don't know and no one does. What I do know is I could have had a professional coach on JP at the age of two for any sport and it would not have made a hill of beans. JP did not like or want to play sports. He did not have the mind or desire to learn a game. His mind loves the stage. His heart loves the stage. Not some field or court.
Why do I share this with you? I share this story with you simply because I don't want people to make the same mistake I did. I don't want to see others put their "idea" or "image" of what a particular kid should do on them. I promise you it will not work. And in this broken world it will only add yet another layer of stress to our poor kiddos. Trust me JP told me it was awful when I kept signing him up for football and not listening to him.
I consider myself one of the lucky ones. JP was secure enough in who he is to basically push back and FINALLY get to his love. Some kids are not that confidant. I don't think I was at that age. So in this day and age, when our kids are already stressed out and trying to fit in, lets all work harder on not pigeon holing our kids into what WE THINK IS RIGHT OR BEST for them. Instead let's empower them to be who they are and to do it to the BEST OF THEIR ABILITY and TO SHINE!
xo,
Amy
Christmas morning Casserole
What are you serving Christmas morning during all the excitement? We are having a dish that you can prepare the night before and the WHOLE family loves! Take a looksy and see for yourself!
If you are looking for something you can serve Christmas morning that is yummy and good, keep on reading. This is a breakfast casserole dish I got from Shay Shull at www.mixandmatchmama.com and I just love it! And the really cool thing about it is you can mix it up ahead of time and bake it the next day. EVERYONE in the Berry Family loves this casserole! I think everyone in your family will too!
INGREDIENTS:
1 pound of breakfast sausage
1 batch of cornbread prepared (I use jiffy from a box, but you can make it homemade too)
6 eggs beaten
2 cups of milk
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
2 (4 ounce) cans of chopped green chilies
2 cups cheddar cheese, divided
PREPERATION:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (if preparing and serving right away)
Grease a 9 x 13 baking dish. Set aside. Brown your sausage over medium to high heat until cooked through and crumble.
Combine the eggs, milk, soup, chilies, and one cup of your cheese in a mixing bowl.
Layer your cooked sausage across the bottom of your baking dish and then crumble your cornbread on top of the sausage. Next pour your egg mixture over your sausage and cornbread and top with your remaining cheddar cheese.
If not baking immediately, cover and refrigerate over night.
The casserole bakes uncovered for 50 minutes if you are baking it immediately or for 1 hour if it is coming out of the refrigerator.
Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes. I usually serve this with box prepared blueberry muffins and fruit.
If your family is like mine they will go GAGA for this dish! We have been known to eat it on occasion at night when the boys request B for D! (Breakfast for Dinner!)
Enjoy and xo,
Amy
For The Men in your Life
I am not an expert when it comes to girl gifts, but if you have men in your life, I think I can help you out. Check out these ideas and let me know what some of yours are.
Christmas is Closing in and I am scrambling and my hunch is you might be too. Today I have made an easy list of what my little guy is asking for as well as somethings for the bigs as well. Hope this helps make your holiday shopping a little easier!
First up is the World of Nerf. We have about 10 little boys on our block alone and Nerf is all the rage, specifically this gun! It shoots 3 bullets at once!!!!!! What kid would not love that!
Don't forget your bullets! Lord knows we go through the bullets!
Another toy that has been all the rage on this street is the Hover Board. Santa is bringing this particular one along with knee pads, elbow pads, a helmet, and bubble wrap! Ha! Just kidding! Kind of! But we all know boys will be boys!
And last but not least the Garmin Jr to help Graeme tell time, know how much activity he has been doing, and bonus it helps to teach chores!
The teens in my world have been a little harder to buy for this year and I am really struggling as all they want is cash. I know that would make my life so much easier just to do that, but I want to wrap SOMETHING other than cash for under the tree. So far all I have come up with is the following few items. If you have ANY ideas for a teenage boy, PLEASE put in the comments below. I will be forever grateful!
Now on to my better half! Trey is so hard to buy for and I believe I will get him the fitbit above, but for anyone who knows my spouse all he wants is the gift of time and touch! There, I said it! But, I LOVE to wrap gifts and watch him open them so he will probably get the watch along with a coupon book full of "love gifts" and a funny gag gift! Here is what I have come up with:
Yep! A salt gun! Trust me! If you know Trey Berry he will be digging on this! Honestly all the Berry Men will!
So there ya have it! A complete list of gift ideas for the dudes in your life! Hope it helps and let me know if you have any I can add to my collection!
Happy Shopping!
XO,
Amy
The Day my Water Broke
It is my sweet boy's birthday.....and it has been 16 years of miracles and growth and love!
December 8, 2001 is a day that I will never forget. I was pregnant with our first baby, Will, and my water broke.
At the time, Trey was a pilot in the Navy and we lived in Oxnard, California. It was a gorgeous day I remember. My mother in law was staying with me as Trey was in Mississippi house hunting for our next move. I remember she made the most delicious lasagna, because my brother in law Marc had come to visit.
After lunch, I went for a walk on the beach. I walked for almost an hour. When I returned, Marc and my mother in law were having what appeared to be a serious conversation, so I decided I would go lie down. When I woke up about an hour later I went to the restroom and my water broke! I was shocked as this was my first baby and I had ZERO clue what was going on. Will was not due until January 27 so I was not quite sure what to do as this was only December 8.
I called my mother in law into the bathroom and very calmly said, "I think my water just broke." I remember her reaction like it was yesterday. Her voice kind of went up a notch and she said, "Your water cannot break! It is too early! You must of gone to the bathroom on yourself!" I remember thinking she is crazy! I did not do that! But, before I said something rude, it happened again. All this fluid rushed out and I was wearing a dress. She looked down on the floor and I looked at her and she yelled, "Your water broke!"
Long story short, one of Trey's friends, Ben, happened to stop by right at that moment. My mother in law explained what was happening. I remember Ben went into a little bit of panic and literally said to my MIL, "Boil some water and get some towels I am going to run to the bathroom right quick!" I started laughing and said, "Ben, its ok, we are not going to have this baby right here, right now, but could you please take us to the hospital?" He was like, Oh right!
My Wonderful Driver and Dear Friend Ben with Will
Sweet Ben drove 10 mph all the way to the hospital as I made a gazillion phone calls filling everyone in on my big news and asking for prayers as it was so early. When I finally got a hold of my husband to tell him the news I remember very clearly saying, "Honey, my water broke, I need you home ASAP and WHATEVER you do, DO NOT FLY SOUTHWEST!" Would you believe he is a pilot for them now!? I was scared if he did he would NEVER make it due to all the stops they make! Now he flies for them! Funny how life works!
Good news is, Trey did make it to the birth of our first born and William Geary Berry IV was born at 2:10 am on December 9, 2001. He weighed 5lbs 10 ounces and was 19 inches long. All in all he was in GREAT health considering he was so premature and after an 8 day stay in the hospital we got to bring him home.
16 years ago today God blessed us with the most beautiful gift. Will. He has grown into such a fine young man. Ever since the day he was born I have tried to be the best parent I can be to Will and his brothers. Having a baby changes EVERYTHING! Namely your priorities. Now my priorities are Will and his brothers and our precious family.
Priorities of helping them feel important, empowering them, teaching them about Jesus, finding time for the things that matter. Laughing with them, crying with them, growing with them, and all the moments in between. Sure we disagree and my biggest fear when this happens, do they know that even in disappointments I love them? I ALWAYS LOVE THEM. No matter what, I love them!
So as I reflect back on these past 16 years, I am humbled and I am blessed and I am so in love with my boy! Happy Birthday Son! You are a treasure and you are a gift! I am so proud of who you have become and cannot wait to see what the future holds for you!
All my love, Mom!
Guest Post: My Web Designer - Shay Paulson of Merit Media
I keep getting so many questions about who designed my site and helped me launch my blog that I came up with an idea. A guest blogger! And that guest would be the my social media coach! Meet Shay! I think you guys will love her! I know I do!
Hello, Worthy Heart readers! I’m honored to be guest posting for Amy today. We were introduced through a dear mutual friend several months ago, and hit it off - of course. I mean, who doesn’t feel like they’re best friends with Amy?!
Amy and I were finally able to meet in person with Lyndsy, who introduced us. We enjoyed a fun evening eating and chatting at Rise. I'm sure you'll come to know our girl Lyndsy soon, but you may know her by the Berry Family's nickname, "Blizzard."
Shay, Amy and Lyndsy (aka Blizzard)
Amy and I quickly connected over our love for building relationships and so much more. She’s a hoot. I’m not a dancer, but it’s on my list of things to do soon - go to one of Amy’s dance classes.
Amy’s been through a tough season after losing her mom and caring for her dad, but the beautiful thing is that she’s looking for an outlet to use her pain for good to encourage others through this blog. I love that!
Once Amy pitched her idea to me on wanting to start a blog about motherhood, grief, life, and everything in between, I knew it would get a great response because she’s already so relatable. In just the short time since we launched her site, so many people have commented, liked and shared, which was exactly what we'd hoped. Definitely the power of community.
Amy asked if I’d be willing to share a bit about what I do for a living, since she’s getting so many questions about who designed her site and helped her launch her blog. (Insert the girl raising her hand emoji here - that’s me!)
About My Business - Merit Media
I own Merit Media, a marketing and public relations company that specializes in web design, social media strategy, managing relationships and media. I started my company about four years ago when my husband and I moved to Jacksonville, Florida for him to attend graduate school. We’re moving back to Dallas next week, and I’m thrilled to be back in my hometown and the land of Tex-Mex.
It was risky to start just as we moved, but I had four clients who believed in me, and I went for it. That is my biggest piece of advice - just go for it!
So many times we want things to be perfect before we put them out in the world. You know what? Life’s too short and too precious for that.
A Little Background & My Experience
I have a degree from Baylor University in Journalism and Public Relations, and for the first part of my career, I worked for the March of Dimes as a fundraiser and event coordinator. Their mission to have healthy moms and healthy babies is near and dear to my family’s heart, because I spent three weeks in the NICU with bacterial spinal meningitis when I was a newborn.
It’s because of prayers and miracles and my time in the NICU that I have no complications from this disease. (Unless you count not being able to navigate a map very well. But thank goodness for Google Maps! I figure that’s the least of my concerns.)
After the March of Dimes, I had a short stint as a communications director for a trade organization, and then we moved to Florida. I was crazy and started a business two weeks before we moved.
Who Do I Work With?
It is one of my greatest joys to grow this business and work with a wide array of people, companies and causes.
I spend quite a bit of time reading, researching and staying up-to-date on the latest social media trends and news, in order to convey to my clients what’s happening and what is most important to focus on. Social Media is always changing, and I know it can be overwhelming. That’s where I come in to help!
I work with personal bloggers, non-profits, restaurants, interior designers and musicians, just to name a few. It keeps me hopping! I love it. (Have I mentioned that?!) Because each client is unique, I start with a general inquiry email and then schedule a time to talk on the phone. If we’re in the same city, I’ll do my best to meet up with you in person, too. I have clients from the east coast to the west coast, so I am able to travel a fair amount.
If you’re curious about the Marketing & PR Services I offer, here’s a short list. I’d love to talk to you personally if you think I might be able to help you grow your idea or company.
- Graphic Design
- Logo Design
- Web Design
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Social Media Management
- Media Relations
- Start-up business consulting
- Non-profit consulting
- Event coordinating - weddings, events, fundraisers, media days, etc.
I’m booking 2018 dates and would love to help you grow your business or manage your event.
Here is my Merit Media website or you can email me directly at shay@meritmedia.net.
I hope to hear from you soon!
Yummy, Healthy, Pasta! Say What?
Do you love pasta, but your waist line does not? Look no further.....I have the solution and it is DELISH!
It's the holiday season and if you are anything like me, your waist line is feeling it! I LOVE TO EAT! Just ask my dance teacher Alana! She is always commenting on how much my friend Linh and I can put away!
This year, I have really tried hard to pay attention to what I am eating and drinking during the week. I know me, and I know full well, if I am at a party with friends and fun, well I am not watching my waist line! I can promise you that. So I have been experimenting with some recipes from different sites I follow and playing around. Tonight I tried one with the family and everyone loved it! I got it from Primal Mom. If you don't follow her and you really want to eat healthy, you should follow her. Most of her recipes are easy and they are ALL healthy!
For this particular recipe I did it a little different in that I baked it where she uses the crock pot and I brined my chicken before hand. Other than that everything else is the same.
If you want the crock pot version shoot me a message and I will be sure to send it your way.
CHICKEN BASIL PASTA
Ingredients:
2lbs of chicken thighs
1/4 cup olive oil
1 teaspon salt
2 tablespoons dried basil
1 tablespoon parsley
1 cup parmesan (more for topping)
1 cup sundried tomatoes
1 lemon
spaghetti squash (I get mine at Tom Thumb or Central Market already made into spaghetti for me!)
Instructions:
15 minutes to an hour before you want to cook brine your chicken. This is very easy. Fill a bowl with warm salt water. Place your chicken in the bowl for 15 minutes up to an hour. If doing it longer put in the refrigerator.
In a mixing bowl mix all your ingredients with the exception of your lemon and squash.
Place your chicken in your baking dish and cover with the mix in the bowl. Mix around to wear all chicken is coated nicely.
Place in preheated oven on 350 for 45 minutes or until chicken is cooked thoroughly.
While chicken is cooking saute your squash noodles in some grass fed butter or olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
Once done plate your noodles and your chicken and spoon juice from the pan over the dish as a sauce. Then squeeze the lemon over each dish. Top with parmesan.
*****Disclaimer: The Berry Boys eat real noodles and that is okay too They still love it!******
Hope you enjoy! Would love to hear what you are eating during the crazy fun filled holiday season!
xo,
Amy
Salty but Sweet!
Thanksgiving 2017 at the Beach did not disappoint! It was VERY sweet and salty!
I was really worried about Thanksgiving this year with it being the first year without mom, but I have to say it was really ok! It was Salty but sweet! Luckily for me, we have been doing Thanksgiving with Trey's side of the family for over 6 years now. It is kind of what I am use to so mom really was never with me. Maybe that made it easier. I don't know, but I can tell you I am just thankful for how wonderful it was.
Typical family photo for us!
We took the boys out of school early....shhhhh....don't tell! And we headed to Inlet Beach, Florida. For those of you not familiar with Inlet, it is in the 30a area and right next door to Rosemary Beach. You guys it is GORGEOUS! The entire area is stunning and really a neat place.
This is what I woke up to for 6 days! Heaven right!
The water is AMAZING and you can see 10 feet down! I swear! The stingrays would swim right up to the shoreline and it was so fun to watch! We got lucky with the weather this year as it was warm enough to swim. We spent most of the 6 days on the beach with our toes in the sand building all kinds of unique sand objects and making all kinds of memories. Graeme, our six year old, made a little friend the very first day and they had so much fun the entire week! This trip was just what my soul needed as my heart has been missing my mom so much.
I did not know how I would feel about not cooking the "traditional" Thanksgiving dinner, but let me just tell you, IT WAS AWESOME! There was no stress and the food we ate was UNBELIEVABLE. We ate at Fish out of Water, which is part of the Watercolor Inn and Resort, on Thanksgiving day and they knocked it out of the ballpark. It was not necessarily traditional, but it was so good! Take a look at some of these photos of our dessert options! Delish! If you ever go to Watercolor I highly suggest Fish Out of Water.
We may have not of had the traditional Thanksgiving meal, but in true Berry form we carried on our tradition of "Grubba Guitar!" Grubba Guitar is a holiday tradition The Foley side (my side of the family) and the Berry side started doing after every family holiday gathering. I am proud to say we have been doing it since Trey and I were married in 2000! So 17 years of this amazing family memory. Everyone looks forward to it and it is really a great time full of lots of fun! Here are some pictures of "Grubba Guitar" Thanksgiving 2017.
So as you can see from my pictures above, Thanksgiving this year was spectacular. Sure we had moments, but all and all, this Thanksgiving is one that will go down in the record books. We swam, we fished, we ate, we sang, we shopped, and we made memories! Now that is something to be Thankful for and I am so Thankful! Especially for my Party of 5!
Berry....Party of 5
xo,
Amy
The First Family Tree
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A UNIQUE ADVENT CALENDAR, I HAVE FOUND THE PERFECT ONE.
Have you ever heard of the Jesse Tree? I had not until just recently when a friend gave our family the COOLEST advent calendar EVER! It is LITERALLY the genealogy of Christ, so essentially the first family tree. I am so excited about this that I just had to share it with you!
A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY:
Jesse was the father of King David and known for being the first person in the genealogy of Christ, hence the name The Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree has been used over many years through art to explain the genealogy of Christ from the time of creation up to Christ birth. They say you see it in stained glass art in windows. Originally the design showed a branch of a tree growing from a reclining figure of Jesse. Throughout the tree the various branches had pictures of old and new testament figures who were ancestors of Jesus. The top of the tree were figures of Mary and Jesus.
LITTLE BIT ABOUT ADVENT:
Advent literally means: The arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. In the Christian faith it is the first season of the Christian Church year, leading up to Christmas and including the four preceding Sundays:
Do you see why I love this Calendar? It is not just a calendar leading up to Christmas with a piece of chocolate, or lego figurine to build, or a tiny gift, it is truly the story of God's Salvation Plan beginning with creation, continuing through the old testament, all the way to the coming of the birth of Jesus.
Isaiah 11:1 a shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit
The art and idea for this beautiful calendar was literally born from this verse from Isaiah and it is literally showing us the Royal lineage! How cool is that?
This advent calendar and this beautiful tree does not have all the lights and garland that your typical tree has. It does not have the candy and the treats your typical advent calendar has. What it does have is a beautiful ornament that you hang daily to your tree. Each ornament is a symbol that points to the Coming Savior. Each day you can take time with yourself and your family to really reinforce and emphasize the true meaning of Christmas. What a beautiful gift! And just think, you can unwrap this beautiful gift together as a family and draw closer to our Lord and Savior everyday. Won't you join me and my family this beautiful season as we unwrap the Wonder of Christ?
Our Jesse Tree
What do you do with your family at Christmas to remember Jesus is the true gift and the reason for the season? I would love to know.
xo,
Amy
November Book Reviews
It's my November Book Review! Take a look and see what I have been reading and tell me what you are reading! I am always looking for a good book!
After finishing off October with Jodi Picoult's, The Story Teller, I needed something light, quick, and funny, with a little bit of romance. While I loved The Story Teller, it was just a heavy read and I needed a little breather. I chose The Barefoot Summer, by Carolyn Brown.
The premise of the book sounded hilarious! Three women at a funeral who knew NOTHING about each other and learned that day they were all widowed from the same guy! "OH YES! SIGN ME UP! THIS WILL BE JUICY AND FUNNY!" The first page was funny, but then I felt it got a little slow. I am not going to lie, there were some hilarious moments and moments I thought, "Oh the Magic is coming back," but then the magic would fade.
I finished the book simply because I found it so interesting to see how three people, with three entirely different backgrounds, likes, etc fell for the same con man and ended up living together. It was fascinating to see how they ended up becoming friends and how really you never know what tomorrow will bring or who tomorrow will bring. I was glad I finished it, but it did take me a while, but it was worth getting to the end. (side note about me, if I start something, USUALLY, no matter how bad I have to finish....curiosity gets me every time!)
Once I finished The Barefoot Summer, I chose the book Class Mom, by Laurie Gelman and let me just say, "NAILED IT!" This book was down right knock your socks off funny! The book was actually PERFECT for me! I too, like the main character, have a kindergartner and two in high school so I could really relate to her and her thoughts.
This book is an easy read about a mom who has taken on the task of room mom. This is not her first rodeo either as she has two in College and little Max in Kinder. She makes no bones about what she expects from her classroom moms and dads and she is downright funny about it! GREAT book to read! ESPECIALLY if you have a desire to be a room mom, have been a room mom, are a teacher, a principal, or just want to laugh! I mean OUT LOUD laugh! HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book!
Next up I chose Cancel the Wedding by Carolyn T. Dingman. I picked this book because it is Carolyn Dingman's Debut and seeing that I am just starting out with my blog I thought we had something in common. Weird reason I know seeing that she has written others now, but it is true, AND it is a story about two sisters who have lost their mother and one sister in particular is on a quest to figure out who her mother was. Another thing I had in common.
I will not lie, I wanted to give up on this book once or twice, but I am so glad I did not. The mystery of Olivia's mom kept me pushing on and I am so glad I did. Between the mystery and the budding romance between Olivia and Elliot, I found this book to end on a high note. It was just one of those books that until midway through I had to work at it, but once it kicked in.....well let's just say I stayed up until 1:15 am finishing it! And anyone who knows me, knows this is not normal! So I do recommend this book if you are looking for whimsy, humor, love and a little bit of mystery! It will not disappoint.
For my little readers this month I chose The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. What a sweet sweet book! And the perfect book for anyone who has a child who is apprehensive about going to school or anywhere really without you. Graeme and I really enjoy reading this book together and we even use the same gesture the Raccoons do now! Such a neat tradition!
What have you been reading? I would love to know!
xo,
Amy
Yummy Pizza Bread
Want an easy, knock your socks off recipe? If so, look no further....
Want a recipe that will knock everyone's socks off? If so, read on, because boy do I have it! It is my mother in laws Pizza Bread. My first time to experience this was in January of 1992. It was Trey and I's second date and he brought me this bread and I fell in love! Not only with him, but with the pizza bread! I promise you this recipe is a crowd pleaser and EVERYONE who tries it will be asking, "How can I get my hands on this recipe!"
Not only is this recipe delicious it is VERY easy and VERY fast. There is one TINY detail and that is you have to let the frozen dough thaw and rise, but I promise it is worth it!
INGREDIENTS
Frozen loaves of Bread. You find these in the frozen food section next to the sister schubert rolls. They usually come three to a pack, but Kroger actually carries them 5 to a pack which is perfect for my family of boys!
Hard salami cut into pieces
pepperoni
mozzarella
parmesan
olive oil
salt to taste
Ranch dressing for dipping
PREPERATION
Place your frozen dough on a cookie sheet and let thaw and rise
When ready to bake, roll out your dough flat, use flour to keep from sticking to rolling pin.
Once flat layer with cheese, salami, cheese, pepperoni, and one more layer of cheese (I usually do first and third layer mozzarella, and second layer parmesan)
Roll sides up to make a big calzone like loaf
Brush with olive oil and salt and put three slits in it for air
Bake at 350 of 30 minutes
Use Ranch for dipping
I promise you, EVERYONE will LOVE this! So if you are looking for something easy to bring to a party or to feed a crowd, look no further! Pizza Bread is the answer! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
xo,
Amy
Grateful for Family
It was thanksgiving last week and we were suppose to be Grateful Right?! So then why oh why do we get so stressed!!!!!
It was thanksgiving last week and we were suppose to be Grateful Right?! So then why oh why do we get so stressed!!!!! I mean seriously people! We spent Thanksgiving at the beach! You heard me, the BEACH! Who gets stressed at the beach? We did and sometimes you could feel the tension....inside of me...inside the room...or inside of one of my family members. Why?
Well, after Church at the Chapel of Seaside, I realized why. The sermon really put it into perspective for me and I think it MIGHT help me at any family gathering in the future. OPERATIVE WORD here is MIGHT! We are human after all and we tend to forget things when we are stressed or mad or angry. And let's face it people....that is what sometimes comes out when we are all together as a family.
Think about all the family dynamics that are coming together....In my family on The Berry side alone I think we have 7! SEVEN! Lucky seven maybe? 7 different ways we all were raised, 7 different ways we celebrate, 7 different ways we discipline and the list goes on and on! Imagine how many if we had included the Foley side! Holy Guacamole! But thankfully this week it was just the Berry's. We had the dynamics of:
Grubba (my father in law)
Gramzee (my mother in law)
Trey and Tom (husband and brother in law) and the way they were raised
Me
Jobeth (my sister in law)
The way Trey and I raise our boys
The way Tom and Jobeth are raising their girls
Do you see how it could get sticky here and there? Lord Love a Duck it can get sticky! Throw in the fact that we had a six year old blowing snot rockets, an eight year old little Shirley Temple twinky dink, an 11 year old who LOVES to sit in her corner and read (God love her she was the sweetest and quietest one), and TWO TEENAGERS! To say it was GLORIOUS 24-7 would be a LIE! TOTAL LIE!
I decided after hearing the amazing Sermon by Pastor Gary Wingo that I would dig in deep in my QT and really focus on what I could do now that I understand why it gets Sticky. What I came up with and what MIGHT help you and I in the coming weeks is to remember it will be "Weird" and "Stressful" at times. It can't help to be. So together, lets challenge ourselves in the following.
A. Patience and Love-this is probably the hardest. Especially when you are tired and all you want is to be quiet or to read and someone in your family wants to talk to you. Practice it here. Breath and smile and remember this time together is oh so brief in the grand scheme of things. Talk to them. Make them feel special and show them you are listening....this will go far.
B. No Complaining in your head or outward-Yet another hard one. Especially if you feel like you are the only one participating in whatever (Cleaning, cooking, errand running). What I have learned this week here is we all have our strengths. One person's might better at laundry, dishes whatever while the other person might actually be better at calming situations just by their smile and laughter and crazy sense of humor. Sometimes someones beautiful smile is all you need to calm the tension, but both help in stressful times.
C. Don't be critical of anyone-Only Encourage one another, build one another up-Yep, you guessed it! This is hard too! What happens when you encourage and build someone up is so much more beautiful than when you tear someone down. Especially when you do it when you are angry, hurt, or irritated by someone....SERIOUSLY try it! Build that person up and watch the miracle work between you both! I dare you! You might be in for a pleasant surprise.
I put this challenge into place with myself last week and no it was not easy and no I did not "Nail It", but it did bring me much more peace and calm. I truly think I enjoyed my week so much more just by TRYING to apply these three things and I am going to Challenge all of us to apply them in the future. You might be surprised at the JOY you bring to your heart and to your family!
And always remember: HOME IS WHEREVER A BUNCH OF CRAZIES ARE!
Just kidding! Home is your story of who you are and a collection of all the things you love.
This is Us....And boy do I love Us!
xo,
Amy
Gift Ideas
Christmas is such a magical time of year and if you are anything like me you love to find the PERFECT gift for each person in your life. I honestly hate the idea of giving a gift card or cash, but my teenagers seem to think the latter is the perfect gift. I still however, strive to find the PERFECT gift even for the not so fun at times beast we know as a teenager.
Christmas is such a magical time of year and if you are anything like me you love to find the PERFECT gift for each person in your life. I honestly hate the idea of giving a gift card or cash, but my teenagers seem to think the latter is the perfect gift. I still however, strive to find the PERFECT gift even for the not so fun at times beast we know as a teenager.
Today I have put together a few things I am giving this year and maybe just maybe this will make your life easier as you are putting together your Christmas list.
FOR THE RENTS:
Parents and Grandparents are so hard to buy for. Let's face it....nine times out of ten if they want something, they just go out and buy it. This year I am giving a gift that will last for ages and will bring joy, laughter, and maybe some tears to the entire family. It is a book that ask questions so you can learn who they were as a kid, teenager, young adult, etc. I have been doing this book with my father and I so wish I had it when my mother was alive. I have learned so many fun, interesting facts about who he is was and how he came to be the man I love and adore. The book title is: Tell Me So I Know and you can find it here:
FOR THE WIFEY OR ANY FEMALE IN YOUR LIFE REALLY
JEWELS! I mean come on! What Women does not like a new pair of earrings or a necklace? Now if you are on a budget and you can't afford the real deal I have the next best thing! B Stellar! Her stuff is AMAZING and so different and PRETTY! If you find something you like on her site type in the code AMYBERRY and you will get free shipping! Bonus! Here is a pair of my favorite earrings that people always comment on!
www.bstellar.co
TEENAGERS OR YOUNG ADULTS
Like I said early, I realize they all want cash, but I have found the perfect gift that you can give along with that cash if your heart so desires. It is a small, simple, easy read....and it even has large type! LOL! It is a written by a former Navy Seal and it was actually a speech he gave to a graduating class. The book is so inspiring and gives the reader simple things to do to change his or her life and possibly the world. GREAT book for any teenager or young adult, honestly it is a great book for anyone in general who wants to make a difference. You can get it here at:
THE HUBS OR MEN IN YOUR LIFE
If your husband or significant other is anything like mine, Christmas revs him up, but not in the sense of Tis the Season. More in the sense of OMG look at our pocketbook! LOL! Mine is always saying, "Amy do not get me ANYTHING!" And yall he sincerely means it. So I am always on a quest for the perfect gift. Last year I surprised him with an enormous canvas photo of our three boys! I must say I nailed it! This year I am struggling....So far all i have come up with is a coupon book that I bought! (I have ZERO CRAFTING SKILLS!) So if you have any ideas for me I would love to hear them and in the meantime if you are not a crafter like myself here is the link for the book and the neat thing about this is, if your husband or significant other likes it the last coupon is a coupon for another coupon book! ADORABLE!
THE LITTLE MALE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE:
So this is the area where I do go crazy and I do need help! I could buy toys all day everyday! This year however our little man/child has asked for the minecraft x box and a bike. Jury is still out on which he will receive. It is up to santa, but I have included the links below along with some other things he wants.
FOR THE LITTLE FEMALES IN YOUR WORLD
I don't have these personally in my house, but I do in my family and boy do I love buying for them! So hear are some cute ideas for you:
So there you have it. A little bit of inspiration to get you jump started on your holiday shopping. Do you have any inspiration for me? I would love to hear it!
xo,
Amy
Are You in the Club?
It's Thanksgiving...do you find yourself in the "firsts" club like me?
It is thanksgiving! Today is a day that is suppose to be full of love and gratitude, but for some today will be empty, lonely, or dark. For all my friends who are in the club of "firsts", know you are not alone.
Some of you are asking yourself, "what does she mean." I am talking about the first thanksgiving without a parent who has past within the last 365 days. For me it is my mom and for one of my best friends it is her dad.
It is not a club you want to be in, unfortunately, it is a club we all find ourselves in eventually. It is a sad reality, but there is hope in this reality. Hope in Jesus Christ and hope in the beautiful reality we will all be together again in Heaven and what a glorious Thanksgiving that will be.
For some of us in this group, this hope will be what gets us through this day. Others of us might still be doubting and this is ok too. Trust me, after my mom died I was in the trenches of doubt. Lean on your family and friends if you find yourself doubting. Some of you might even find yourself downright mad. That is ok too. Trust me when I tell you I was not just mad, I found myself pissed off at God, for lack of a better word. Seriously! So if you find yourself there, it is ok too.
Wherever you find yourself, it is ok. Go easy on yourself. Trust me on this. Don't expect today to be anything, matter of fact, my advice is take each minute of the day as they come at you with zero expectation. Then you won't be disappointed in someone or yourself. This has been a huge coping mechanism for me. ZERO EXPECTATIONS!
Most importantly my dear friend and reader, know your loved one is up their in the mysterious place known as Heaven and they are watching over you. Look for them today. Listen for them. You will be so surprised when you hear their whisper from heaven, it will bring you a peace that overcomes your soul. Trust me. They are with us and they will reveal themselves to you at the oddest moment and you and only you will know, "Ah, this is my loved one".
Happy Thanksgiving and much love and hope and joy to you today and always.
Amy
What's for dinner
With Thanksgiving right in front of us followed by all the Christmas parties and Christmas, I really need to be watching what I eat. Here is a quick and healthy recipe that I think you and your family will enjoy!
With Thanksgiving right in front of us followed by all the Christmas parties and Christmas, I really need to be watching what I eat. I tried another Primal Mom recipe and my family LOVED it! I did it a little differently than she does, simply because I hate cooking meat on my stove in a pan, so I tried baking our chicken and it was amazing! You should try it too! It is super easy and very fresh and delish! You can also make each kid's plate right to their liking which is always great in this house!
PRIMAL MOM TOMATO MOZZARELLA SALAD
INGREDIENTS:
4 Chicken Breast
grape tomatoes (you will plate these and can use however many each person desires)
2 cucumbers or more if your family loves cucumber
1 Tablespoon Dried Basil
1 Tablespoon Dried Parsley
2 Tablespoons real Kerry Gold Butter
4 Cups Mixed Greens or more if you have a lot of rabbits at your table
1 Cup Pistachios
Mozzarella
Salt and Pepper
INSTRUCTIONS:
First step in baking the most delicious chicken is brining it. Yep you heard me. I always brine my chicken. It is so easy too. Just fill a large bowl with warm water and salt and let the salt dissolve. Add your chicken and let it sit there for 15 minutes. I have been known to put mine in the frigelator for 6 hours and it is unbelievable!
Next cut the chicken breast in half. Melt your butter in a bowl and add your basil and parsley and brush over your chicken. You can then salt and pepper to your liking.
Now I like to cook my chicken on high, but you do what your family prefers. I preheat my oven to 450 degrees and cook those babies for about 18 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked (160-170 degrees F).
While the chicken is cooking you can cut up your tomatoes, chop your cucumbers, and cut up your mozzarella into chunks.
When all is done you will evenly plate each plate with the greens. Top each with the chicken, tomatoes, cucumbers, pistachios and cheese.
And if your family is like mine, some will get greens, some will not. Some will get tomatoes some will not. Each plate you can build however you heart desires.
Such a fresh and healthy meal that has something for ALMOST everyone!
Hope you enjoy!
Tell me what you are eating that is healthy these days? I would love to know!
xo,
Amy
Option 3!
I had a dream last night and when I woke I could not remember ANY OF IT! Has this ever happened to you? It is so annoying! Especially if you are like me and remember your dreams. As I laid there trying desperately to go back to sleep, thoughts of my mom washed over me.
I had a dream last night and when I woke I could not remember ANY OF IT! Has this ever happened to you? It is so annoying! Especially if you are like me and remember your dreams. As I laid there trying desperately to go back to sleep, thoughts of my mom washed over me. This happens from time to time. I guess it is all part of the thing they call GRIEF.
The day my mom said she was not scared....
This night, for some reason, all I kept thinking of was one particular day when she was in the ICU at Presbyterian Hospital. This particular day was haunting me. LITERALLY. My heart started racing, I tried my breathing techniques I had learned from lots of different sources, and nothing was working. I decided I had a few choices:
I could get up and read or watch a TV show
I could keep breathing in and out like I was, but I was getting dizzy!
I could just really go back to that day and let whatever it was that was bothering me work itself out.
I chose option 3. If there is one thing I have learned from the grief from the loss of my mom, it is that you cannot control it. You cannot bury it, you cannot swipe it under a rug, you cannot put your head in the sand like an ostrich. It will not let you! Trust me. You might think you are running from it, but the rest of the world sees you and it is there. So I have learned somedays or nights you just got to roll around in it and get dirty!
As I laid there I really focused on that day that was coming to mind. I could see the two of us in her ICU room. She was sitting up which was a huge success and we were talking. I remember her saying, "I think I am dying Amy." Very calmly and very matter of fact. I didn't know what to do with that I remember. I recall saying, "Are you scared?" She calmly said, "No, everyone has to do it sometime."
It was all very surreal. We did not say much more, but I remember holding her hand and just looking into her BEAUTIFUL blue eyes willing her not to die. Have I ever told you she had the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen? I miss those eyes.
Thinking back on it that day I wish I would have said more. I wish I would have asked her more. She was such a spiritual person and so close to God that I wish I would have pushed more on why she thought she was dying, why she was not worried, or what would she miss the most. Maybe if I had I would not be so worried about her. I don't know.
Dying is a scary and uncomfortable thing to talk about. ESPECIALLY with your mom while she is recovering in ICU. I feel like I was not finished with that conversation with my mom. I feel like maybe she came to me in my dream and forced me to deal with that day. I don't know. I somehow fell back to sleep because the next thing I remember is my alarm going off. I think my mom came to me that night and sat with me until I finished our conversation in my own head and came to some kind of peace that she was ok.
I am still so sad about losing my mom and I still find myself really wondering if she can hear me and see me when I am struggling. What I am learning through all this though is you have to choose option 3. You have to face it dead on (for lack of a better word) and look it square in the eyes and deal with it. Then and only then can you live your life to its fullest and I know that is what my mom would want for me and I am sure that is what your loved one would want too.
Won't you choose option 3 and Choose life along with me?
xo,
Amy
Faith of Bee-rad and G money
Have you ever heard the quote "faith like a child"? I have numerous times and last night Graeme Berry displayed faith that I only wish I could have an ounce of! His faith was so innocent, so real, and so big that my heart burst with love and joy watching him speak.
Have you ever heard the quote "faith like a child"? I have numerous times and last night Graeme Berry displayed faith that I only wish I could have an ounce of! His faith was so innocent, so real, and so big that my heart burst with love and joy watching him speak.
A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY
We have a neighbor, Brad, who was an olympic hopeful back in his day. Long story short, Brad was in a car wreck on the way to the olympic trials and basically died but was revived. He sustained a major head injury and was in a coma for a month if my memory serves me right. Brad went from being a Prince grad, aspiring surgeon, and a US olympic hopeful to a hospital bed with years of physical therapy. Brad would tell you that today he is 30 which he is not. He is probably in his mid 50's, but he likes to think that when that happened, he got a second chance. He cannot drive a car so he rides his bike everywhere and I think he has been hit by a car 9 times! And he giggles about it and just keeps on keeping on! He is such an inspiration in the Berry House. He is on fire for God and we always talk about how angry we would be if our lives were turned upside down like his was, but not Brad. He is grateful!
Graeme LOVES Bee-RAD, this is the nickname my husband gave him. Anytime Bee-RAD is here, Graeme is right by his side and asking questions and hanging on to every word Bee-RAD says. I see it all the time, but just the other night it became very evident.
I was really tired and missing my mom one night and decided to lose myself in a TV show and I chose Chicago fire. I was watching the show and Graeme walked in and I did not notice because I was so into it. (Another mom fail on my part! Told you these happen all the time here!) Anyways.....there was a man about to jump off of a building and take his own life. The firefighters basically save his life and a commercial comes on.
I turn to hear Graeme saying, "Mom, that would of been really bad." I was like, "Um, yes....Very Bad....he would of died and then the people that loved him most would be so sad." Graeme looked at me so calmly and said, "Not if Jesus woke him up when he died." I was very perplexed and said, "Graeme, that does not happen." He shook his head and looked at me square in the eyes and said, "Yes it does mom, it happened to Bee-RAD. Jesus was not done with him on this earth and he woke him from the dead and the only reason he did not wake up Grandma was she did what he needed her to do here, so he brought her to Heaven."
WOW! WOW! WOW!
I really was speechless and for those of you who know me that NEVER happens! I hugged Graeme tight and with tears in my eyes just said, "Thank you Graeme. Thank you for reminding me that anything is possible with God".
I really wish I had the same simple innocent Faith as my little man/child has. I know I don't, but his little heart is so full of faith. When do we lose that innocence and strong belief in anything is possible? I guess when the world gets a hold of us. This is a broken world after all. Bad things happen daily and to good people. I guess all we can really do is try really hard to get back to the faith of a child or the faith of someone like Bee-RAD and see the world through their eyes and heart. Maybe then we can live in peace knowing that sometimes bad things that happen in our lives that put us directly on a path to some of the best things and times that will ever happen to us. We just have to have a little faith....
xo,
Amy
B Stellar and Be You!
I honestly had not planned on blogging today, but after the amazing day I had yesterday, well, I just had too! Yesterday, I got to play with Jewelry and dress a model and help a photographer! As a boy mom, I promise you this is a day in paradise for me! A day away from stinky soccer shoes, stinky dance shoes, and stinky six year old boy clothes!
Our model Stephanie!! Is she not the cutest! You can find her at
So fun watching them work and playing dress up!
Starbucks and earrings! Yes please! Earrings at www.bstellar.co
I honestly had not planned on blogging today, but after the amazing day I had yesterday, well, I just had too! Yesterday, I got to play with Jewelry and dress a model and help a photographer! As a boy mom, I promise you this is a day in paradise for me! A day away from stinky soccer shoes, stinky dance shoes, and stinky six year old boy clothes! AHHHHHH HEAVEN! I AM IN HEAVEN!!!!!
My extremely talented and gorgeous niece has a jewelry line that I asked my adorable friend Stephanie to model for and blog about. (you can find her blog at www.krusingthroughthekhaos.com) Yall it was so much fun that I just have to share it with you now!
Meet my niece Misty!
First, I would like to brag about my niece. Her name is Misty and she is an artist. She paints, she draws, she is a mom and a wife and she is so talented. She draws most of her inspiration from nature, however, she gets ideas daily from everything around her. She has an amazing eye and everything she does is "line driven". I honestly have ZERO idea what that means, however if you are an artist I am sure you do. All I know is I LOVE HER STUFF! I think you will too!
I played dress up too! LOVE THESE EARRINGS!
The name of her company is B.Stellar and she pretty much came up with the idea because her maiden name is Misty Burns. The B is for Burns, and Stellar, well....the definition of Stellar is:
Exceptionally good, outstanding, marvelous, superb!
So BAM! B.Stellar-it is her call to action for "Be"....Be something EXCEPTIONAL!
Penny Lane! Love this three chain necklace! Called the Penny lane because the hand is holding a compass...meaning behind it...a girl does not know who she is until she finds her way holding a compass
I love that she is empowering people subliminally through her jewelry! So cool! Only an Artist could do that! And an even cooler fact is all the pieces are named after women of influence, women she knows, or women in art. There are some men's Artist names that she uses as well, but only if they stand out to her.
Is she not the cutest?! Necklace and Earrings B.Stellar
Our amazing photographer Lorena
Her Jewelry really is amazing! If you like what you see, just go to her website at www.bstellar.co and use AMYBERRY as your code and you will get free shipping! Perfect timing for the holidays!
This is a one of a kind so if you like it message me and I will get a price for you. Just think....you could be the only one in the world with this beauty!
Happy Shopping!
xo,
Amy
Ju Ju's Taco Soup
It's Fall Y'all! Who doesn't love a warm bowl of soup? This soup is from Graeme's God Mother, a.k.a. Ju Ju, and as Graeme Berry says, "Happiness in Ju Ju's soup!"
It's Fall Baby! Time for the leaves to fall, the weather to change, and time for SOUP! I love me some soup y'all! And Ju Ju's taco soup is just the thing I needed to welcome in brisk cool air of fall! I love it!!!!! I think you will too! Give it a whirl and let me know your thoughts! I bet it makes you Happy!
Ju Ju's Taco Soup
Ingredients:
1 Lb Ground beef, Olive Oil, Onion, garlic, 2 cans ranch style pinto beans (my family prefers one with Jalapeños and one without) 1 can corn, 1 can chopped green chilies, 1 package of ranch dressing, 1 package of taco seasoning mix, 1 can of stewed tomatoes or 2 can’s of rotel. If you do 1 can of stewed tomatoes then use 1 can of rotel (I prefer the one with lime in it) and we prefer 2 cans of rotel because the tomatoes are chopped up better. 1 can of water and 1 beer of choice (and no it is not to drink!). Pepper and Lawrys season salt.
Place 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil in a big pot, Throw in one chopped onion and as much chopped garlic as your family would like. Let those soften a little then throw your ground beef in and brown. Next dump every can in and do not drain. Throw in your seasoning packets and as much salt and pepper as your family would like for taste. Add your beer of choice and one extra can of water and let it simmer.
When you go to serve garnish with Shredded Cheese, jalapeños, sour cream, and chives and serve it up with a nice slice of cornbread! Oh so Good!
What kind of soup do you like? I would love to know!
xo,
Amy