Jackie & Her Children

I was recently asked 91 questions in an interview for an exciting thing I will be involved in later this year. One of the questions I was asked was;

Who, in your opinion is/was the best dressed woman?

I answered Jacqueline Kennedy. I googled images of her recently and became instantly obsessed with the images of her and her beautiful children. It must be my current nesting instincts which drew me to these photos. I thought I'd share a few here today. Aren't they beautiful...

Mexican Lasagna - Recipe

One of my favorite meals to make at home is Mexican Lasagna. It is seriously addictive.

I'm not typically a fan of Mexican food, but this is different. You can control how hot or spicy you make it by the level of salsa you put in it. Since I'm a wimp when it comes to anything hot or spicy, I use mild salsa.

Here's the recipe, modified to my personal taste:

2 lbs Ground Beef (I use 80/20)

1 16oz can Refried Beans

1 16oz can of Black Beans, drained

1 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp leaf oregano

1 tsp cumin

Lasagna Noodles, uncooked

2 1/2 cups water

2 1/2 cups salsa

2 cups sour cream, not fat-free

1/2 cup chopped green onion

1 small can of black olives

2 cups shredded cheese (I use the colby and monterey jack mix for more flavor)

Here's how to make it:

(Heat oven to 350 degrees)

Brown the beef. Drain thoroughly.

In a bowl (while the beef is browning), mix the beans, spices, and 1/2 cup water.
Mix thoroughly and then add to the drained beef.

Stir well.
Remove from heat.

In a 9 x 13" pan, layer the lasagna noodles.
(Spray pan first with a cooking spray so the noodles don't stick)

Top that with 1/2 of the meat mixture.

Add another layer of noodles, and the rest of the meat mixture.

Sprinkle enough of the shredded cheese to cover the top.

In a separate bowl, mix 2 cups of water and 2 1/2 cups of salsa.

Pour that over the top. Use a fork to lift noodles a little so that the mixture gets into the whole pan.

Bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours.

Mix sour cream, green onions, and olives.

Top the lasagna with the mixture, sprinkle with the remainder of the cheese, and bake for 15 more minutes.

(I don't like green onions and hubby doesn't like black olives, so I omit these when making it for us.)

When it's all done, it'll be ooey-gooey yum-yum-yummy.

Now scoop you up a plate full and enjoy.

 

(This is a prescheduled post.)

 

Reviewed in the Oklahoma Gazette

We had a surprise visit from the food editor of the Oklahoma Gazette at our restaurant, Italian Jim's recently, which resulted in an impressive article that just came out in the May 26th, 2010 issue. Read pages 26 and 27. They talked about our food and our blown glass. Thanks Carol and Shannon for the favorable words and great photo!

Rememberance

It's Memorial Day Weekend.................

As you go about celebrating with family, attending picnics, barbeques, and parades, having fun at the lake, or taking the extra couple of days to get caught up on things around the house, please remember the reason for the holiday...........

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The wars that have changed people to the deepest part of their core...

The mothers who will never hold their children again.

The fathers, brothers, and sisters who grieve that same loss...

The husbands and wives who are raising children alone because their spouses committed to give their lives for our freedom - and did...

The soldiers, both men and women, who have literally lost their arms and legs to war, to try and make life better for someone other than themselves...

The soldiers who see the faces of dead comrades each time they close their eyes.

The soldiers who suffer in the elements and go without food and sleep for days on end to protect those around them.

The families and friends whose lives have been forever altered because their loved ones layed down their lives to help give freedom where there wasn't any.

The veterans who are now homeless because their participation in a war has taken their senility, removing their ability to function in society.

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Please acknowledge these men and women who serve in the military because they want to create a better world for you and me to live in. Try to understand the commitment tied to those uniforms when you see them and let the people wearing them know how much they are appreciated.

(I once heard a kid tell a soldier that he wanted a costume like his to wear for Halloween. The soldier replied, "Son, this isn't a costume, this is a responsibilty." The kid said. "Then I want a responsibility."  Oh, how little they understand....... ) The soldier just smiled and rubbed the little guy's head, "Maybe someday kid, maybe someday.")

I'm remembering my own dad today who served in The Korean War. Although he didn't lose his life to that war, he was greatly impacted by his service to it.

We all love and miss you so very much!

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This is a prescheduled post. I hope it works this time.

Video from Youtube.

Out & About: SGAR Opening

Renai Grace & Paul Spiro stand in front of one of the paintings we purchased last night by artist Simone Louise Gillespie

This is the other Simone Louise Gillespie painting we purchased

It was so nice to get out of the tracksuit pants I've been sporting all week and into some proper clothes with make-up on last night to head out to the opening of Spiro Grace Art Rooms in Spring Hill.

Brad, Harry & I decided we needed some adult time out so we decided to leave Max with his gorgeous Nanny Rhonda for a few hours whilst we attended the gallery opening. I had my first glass of French champagne in 9 months upon arriving at the gallery. It went straight to my head of course. We ended up purchasing 2 paintings by emerging artist Simone Louise Gillespie. I was so thrilled we decided on them straight away as every painting I looked at as the night progressed had a sold sticker.

Gallery owners Paul Spiro {yes he is related to me - he is my uncle} and Renai Grace will be showcasing emerging {and therefore quite reasonably priced} artists in their space on a quarterly basis. I for one can't wait for their next exhibition.

For all enquiries or to be added to SGAR's mailing list email Renai renai@sgar.com.au

Modern european interior design style

Home Interior Painting Ideas

When Someone You Love is Hurting

See this handsome guy.........

This is my nephew and I love him like he's my own. Ask anybody that knows me, they'll tell you. If you know me, you know about him.

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He is hurting right now. So bad.

And my whole family is hurting with him.

He recently lost his best friend/cousin to suicide and he doesn't understand how to process his feelings.

His pain runs very deep, and it affects my entire family.

I understand his pain all to well, as my own best friend was murdered 9 years ago. It is a deep, gutteral pain that is felt in every fiber of your being.

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When someone you love is hurting, especially in this way, the family that has scattered and separated themselves from each other, suddenly find a purpose to draw close to one another again. That happened yesterday in my family.

~~~~~~~~~~

Yesterday I saw my sister in a whole new light.

For the first time in years, I saw her hurt like only a mother can.

And it hurt me to see her hurting so deeply.

If only you understood how significant that was.

~~~~~~~~~~

A love for one person, shared by so many, can make you lay aside any ill will you may harbor toward another in an effort to help the one you all love. 

~~~~~~~~~

Yesterday I got a call telling me I needed to come home.

I got in the car immediately and did so.

A few months ago, it would've taken me days to get here.

~~~~~~~~~~

When we decided to move back near home, my husband asked me why I wanted to move back and all I could say was that God was directing me to do so.

He completely understood, and we proceeded to move back.

No questions asked.

He loves me that way.....

~~~~~~~~~~

Can I just tell you, God's timing is perfect. He knows when we're needed, and where we're needed, and He makes provision for us to be there.

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I have to take a little break for a week or so, so that I can be there for my family. I won't be here on the blog, or able to visit yours. I know you understand.

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I'm calling on my blog friends to unite in prayer with me for him. His name is Tyler. 

 "Where two or more are gathered in his name, believing, so shall you receive....." 

SHALL, not might, not maybe, but SHALL.

I'm holding on to that for a perfect healing for this child my family loves so much. The pain goes much deeper than I can tell you about here and it has drastically impacted those that love him.

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You all know how much I believe in the power of prayer, and I know I can count of all of you to help lift him up.

With so many people praying for him, I just know he'll feel it deep in his heart where it truly counts.

Thank you, each one of you, from the deepest part of my heart.

An Update

Max


The shop renovation in progress

A snippet of one of the rooms in our new Design Studio

Last week we welcomed our second son, Max into the world. He is perfect in every way. Thank you for all your lovely emails and comments.

Our shop renovation is proceeding very well...still lots of work to be done. Our Design Studio is now in full swing upstairs. The girls and I are enjoying having a very special space just for our clients. Some photos are above for your viewing pleasure. I'll be back soon with some more news and posts. Just enjoying my newborn for the moment. Hope you are all well.

xo

Anna

Summer magic.

School is getting out and I don't know who is happier, the kids or the teachers.  Today I made a list with my little boy on "Things we will do this Summer".  It looked a little like this: Swim, go to movies, swim, camp out, swim, paint new art work, swim, build a camp fire, swim, make some slime, swim, ride bikes, swim.  Owning a swimming pool sure would help, but for now we will just have to rely on friends.  Wishing all of my friends in the Northern Hemisphere a wonderful Summertime.  Enjoy, Heidi

Country Living

Image Unknown

 

Image Unknown

 

Image Unknown

Veranda

 

Found on Oh Hello Friend

My Guy

This is my guy and I love him a whole muncho-bunchos.

Two days ago we celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary, and 23 years together. And today is his birthday.

We laugh together, we cry together, sometimes we make ugly faces at each other, and lots of times we talk baby talk to each other. We text funny things to each other all the time. He washes dishes, does the laundry, and goes grocery shopping, so I think I'll keep him for a while longer.:)

We've been on the mountain top together, and we've trudged through a few valleys along the way. We've been close to rich and we've been really close to poor. Whatever we are, wherever we are, it's always together, hand in hand.

He's a funny, funny guy, but I'll never admit it to him. :)

People who don't know him well don't believe it when I tell them the funny things he does. He comes off as so serious to other people, but I get the playful side of him at home.

 

Happy Birthday my Willy-Billy.

Pookie bear loves you.

Blue and White Bliss

Blue and White are the best friends of color.  I never seem to get tired of looking at rooms in the combination, especially when shells, bamboo and palms are added.  Enjoy, Heidi

Country Home Magazine

Ashley Whittaker Design

Ashley Whittaker Design

I think that this image is Ralph Lauren

James Merrell

                      Sara Ruffin one of the editors of Domino

 Sara Ruffin's Home via Domino

Barclay Butera

Barclay Butera

Coastal Living

Horchow

Lynn Morgan Design

Phoebe Howard

Phoebe Howard

Phoebe Howard