I have been envious of so many people that have been going to Casper to the Artisian Alley and doing a paint class. I signed the kids and I up and away we went. It was such fun. They walked us through step by step the entire time listening to great music. You could even enjoy a glass of wine while you’re painting.
We are already signed up again for next months family painting. If you have one of these studios in your area I Highly recommend that you go.
Isn’t this the best drink dispenser ever. I found it at Sams club when I drove up to Casper a while back.
I finally got it out of the trunk of my car today. So in the middle of a snowstorm, I made a huge vat of lemonade. The kids decided they would charge us $1.00 per glass. Well at least they have a sense of humor about them.
What has occurred in my house is almost unforgivable. It is an unjust that can not be undone. It is just so…..well hard to talk about. What my children have done to me is almost to much for me to carry.
You see I am a very odd type person. I hoard weird things. For example when we go out to eat. I never drink very much of my drink. I just don’t. I hoard it. I have it for later. My husband and my children never! They guzzle it all away and then in 15 minutes have nothing. Then there is Mom’s drink! I have mine because I don’t want to be thirsty later. I always come home with almost and entire drink left. Unless we are on a road trip and then I give it up to those who have nothing. It’s weird and it drives my family crazy.
Well at Christmas last year I asked my mother to make and send me two things. These two things remind me of home and remind me of her. Being 1500 miles away I wanted those memories at Christmas. Well she sent them. That’s right I got to large tins filled with coconut balls and peanut butter balls. I was never so happy. I opened my tins, took a look, smelled the aroma of chocolate, peanut butter, and coconut. I then took one small ball out and slowly enjoyed the taste. It lingered in my mouth. Each bite was pure heaven.
As I pictured my mother making these especially for me. Well I decided to hoard them. I put them straight into the freezer. I never mentioned to the family what was in the tins or that it was there.
Here comes the moment of pure double crossing. My children come upstairs this past Sunday, smiling and grinning! They laughed and laughed. When I finally asked they told me that they had been into my stash. What! You have been eating my candy. Yes, they had been slowly sneaking candy since Christmas. I opened my tin and I only had Five. Count them 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 left. I almost cried.
These are my balls. My candy! My candy made for me by my MOMMY!! Well what to do. I couldn’t yell at them. It was sent to us. As it was pointed out by my children it didn’t say to you only and you don’t eat it. It is true. I hadn’t eaten it since that one taste at Christmas. It is true that they need to be eaten because like all southern women, my mom will be wanting her tins back come June.
I learned something very important. Next year I will hide them at the hunting house!
Around 2005 I was introduced to this amazing company. It is Thrive foods out of Utah. Let me just say it has changed my life. Well it changed my fridge and grocery bill. It also changed my cooking. I guess that does encompass my entire life. I am not sure what else I do someday besides cook, clean, cook again, clean, and repeat. Do you see a pattern? I think most wives experience this pattern. It’s awful, but it’s wonderful at the same time. I mean would I rather have my husband in the kitchen all the time? Ummm. No, probably not. I enjoy cooking too much.
I am not a one of those disaster nuts and I think that some see these foods as disaster planning. However I do have quite the stock of Thrive foods and I keep replacing what I use. Does that make me a stock nut? Maybe? There is quite a bit I have downstairs in storage for emergency use. But others I use on an almost daily basis.
I was skeptical at first. However after the party. (There is a sales rep, and you can do a home party just like Pamered Chef, tupperware, Mary Kay, etc. ) I wanted some things for when the power was out and when I was in desperate need. My Rep. Susan Pillen out of Newcastle, Wyoming, showed us so many recipes and ways to use the items. I was amazed at how good. Plus here is the BIG WINNER – NO PRESERVATIVES. If it says carrots, it is just carrots. DING DING Winner!! I love this. LOVE it!!!! Basically they freeze dry the
foods and they are amazing. It is so easy to throw them in recipes to plump back up and cook or you can put them in a little water and they plump back up to use as you wish! What is better than that? I’m not really sure.
Once my shipment arrived I began to use a few more items more than others. However I have used about everything. My kids love the yogurt in their lunches. Little dried yogurt bites. Why didn’t I know of this stuff when they were little. Ugh. It would have been my best friend. What am I saying, it still is my best friend.
My husband has always been a stickler for using the fresh veggies in our fridge. Let me say I was one that always bought carrots. Constanlty for use in soups and stews, etc. Other than that I didn’t really use them very much and guess what? Yep, they rot. I wish they didn’t, but they would. That is money thrown away. It was depressing because I like them in things and need occasionally. Now, with the thrive carrots. I use them when I need them. I rarely buy carrots unless I need whole baby carrots, which is maybe 1-2 times a year. These carrots are perfectly cut little pieces perfect for soups, stews, casseroles, pasta, etc. The list goes on. I don’t have to chop anything. I just throw them in.
My other is finely diced onions. What a life saver. My son hates onions and these are chopped so finely that you don’t notice them, but the flavor is outstanding. When he is cooking, he can get a little handful and throw them in. I don’t have to worry about him cutting onions or not putting them in because he doesn’t like them. He just opens the lid and Wham there they are perfect every time.
Check out their website! Host a party, do what you must, but Buy some of their food. You will never be the same. You don’t have to thank me. You will want to, but you don’t have to. Well you can. Just send me an email or better yet send me the recipe that becomes your favorite after you start using these products.
Check it out: http://www.thrivelife.com
The Modern Ranch Wife 