French Onion Soup

By Kristen Ashby

3 T. Unsalted Butter
2 Medium Onions Sliced
1 t. minced garlic, fresh or jarred
4 cups water
5 t. beef base
1 bay leaf
1/2 t. dried thyme leaves

Melt butter in 3qt. pot. Add Onions. Sautee' until caramelized.
Add garlic and cook an additional minuet. Add Water. Bring to boil.
When boiling, lower flame to very low and add beef base, bay leaf,
and thyme leaves. Simmer over low flame for 15 minuets.

Yield: 4 appetizer servings or 2 main dish servings

Traditional serving is in a crock with a toasted crouton and melted
parmesan or Swiss cheese over the top. This is optional. I just like
it in a bowl all by its self, but that's me. And don't forget to remove
the bay leaf before you serve.KKA

Just for fun- Meme

Meme

For fun...

1. What do you think of when you see the color red?
Love, Blood, Life.

2. Which​ of your family​ members has the worst​ tempe​r?​
Mark. Me. Mark. Me. Mark. Me. UMMM…. I think it's a tie.

3. Have you ever throw​n somet​hing at someone out of anger?​
Yup. My sandal.
4. When you'​re mad do you prefer​ to glare and scowl at them or yell?​
I do both. But yelling is my M.O.
5. What'​s your main goal in life?​
No clue....really....no clue.
6. Do you want to have child​ren?​
Yes. Have. Do. 4 of em. Enough! Done!

7. Is it bette​r to have loved​ and lost than never​ loved​ at all?
I am glad there is love. I am glad I have love. I never want to loose the love I have, but will be grateful for what I have had if it ever happens.
I know that our love will last an eternity. That is my promise. I am glad for that.

8. Do you believe in love at first sight?
Nope. Only in love.

9. Does anyth​ing hurt on your body right​ now?
We have strep going around my house. So…yep my throat! My face full of schmutz. And oh did I say my throat?
10. What city was your last taxi cab ride in?
Kodiak, Alaska
11. Have you ever licke​d a 9 volt batte​ry?​
UMMMMM….NO!! But have caught my kids licking batteries before….. Sometimes I wonder if they actually come from me???
12. Have you ever been in a beaut​y pagea​nt?​
Never ever. Nor will I ever allow my girls to be either!
13. Have you ever won a trophy?​
No trophy's but a few medals for music in high school.

14. Have you ever had to wear a unifo​rm to schoo​l/​work?​
I' a chef. I wear a chef coat to work. Does that count?
15. Ever throw​n up in publi​c?​
Out the car door while pregnant. Other than that, no.

16. Who was the last perso​n you visit​ed in the hospi​tal?​
My hubs, Mark, after his stroke last fall. NOT FUN!
17. What is the message you have set up for your voicemail?
Just one with my name and info. Simple and direct.
18. What was the name of your first​ pet?
Sampson
19. Is your first name a common/popular name?
Pretty much….unfortunately. I hate it too!!! I'd rather be Kate. Kristen is soooooooooooo boring.
20. Would​ you share​ a drink with a stranger in a bar?
Don't go to bars….so, um, no!

21. Would​ you ever becom​e a veget​arian​?​​​​​
Never ever. I love veggies, but meat is my friend. Besides what kinda chef would I be without meat!

22. Have you ever had a guy best frien​d?​​​​​
Not really.
23. Favorite food to eat after you've been drinking?
Don't drink, so I couldn't say.
24. Is your bedroom window open?
Nope.

25. What are you listening to currently?
Emma singing. Nice sound since she hasn't been off the couch in a week sick with strep and all kinds of other crap!

26. How old will you be in 3 birthdays?
3 years older
27. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Sleeping. With feaverish 4 year old feet crammed into the small of my back.

28. Do you sleep on a certain side of the bed?
Yep. The right side.

29. Do you know how to drive a stick?
Yep. Sure can.

30. What are you allergic to?
No clue. Junk in the air. Other than that couldn't say.

31. What is your favorite salad dressing?
Catalina
32. Would you rather wear a big poofy​ dress​ or a short​ party​ dress​?​
Um…a long one is fine. Nothing short. Nothing "poofy"

33. Do you ever cry durin​g a roman​tic movie​?​
Not usually.
34. Would​ you ever leave​ the house​ witho​ut make-​up on?
All the time. I hate putting the crap on. But gotta with my new job. YUCK!
35. Would​ you kill for choco​late?
I wouldn't kill for anything. Espicailly something as unsubstantial as chocolate.

36. Do you think it would be possible to kill someone using shoelaces?
Probably not. They are not strong enough. Ok…is it scary that I would know that.

37. What is the largest sum you are willing to spend on a haircut? Just a cut, nothing fancy.
Whatever super cuts charges I guess.
38. How often do you wash your bed sheets?
Once a week.
39. If you could change one thing about your work schedule, what would it be?
No clue. Don't have my new schedule yet. Should be getting it later today.

40. Do you believe that online social networks (such as Facebook and MySpace cause more drama in people's lives?
Don't spend much time on either. So don't really know. I do have a myspace page. But don't mess with it much.

To pamper or Not to pamper? or Day 3

Okay, yesterday wasn't very fruitful around the house. But it was productive. In a way. I wear glasses. I would like to have contacts, but can't afford to have both contacts and a back up pair of glasses and won't do contacts unless I have a pair. So, once every other year, I get new glasses when we get tax returns. Well, I wasn't going to get them this year, because we have no income right now. But, between my best friend and my husband, I was convinced that it was a real need and not just a luxury.

So….. Yesterday I went out to the mall and got new glasses. I had to wait 2.5 hrs for them to be made, so I spent some time shopping, something I don't get to do very often. I only ever shop clearance or really good sales. I hit a few clearance racks in Penny's and Sears. Didn't find much worth my time or money. Did get Caleb 2 shirts and got myself a sweater and one top. I also went to Bath and Body works. That is where, "To pamper or Not to pamper", question comes into play. So, is it wrong to spend money on something that you can live without but you only do once a year? I buy cheap shampoos and use cheap deodorant body soap all year round. When I realized I may have a job coming that I am going to be in front of customers while I work, I decided that I am going to have to wear makeup on a daily basis. Not something I usually do. But am determined to because it makes me feel more confident and out going. Something I am going to need in this perspective job. The other night, I went to Wal-Mart to get some eye makeup remover. I came out of there not only with what I went after, but a total of $50 worth of stuff. All just for myself. Face cleanser, nice shampoo and conditioner, a woman's razor and shave gel, a new brush. Stuff like that. Plus a tub to keep it all in on my bathroom shelf.

But wait there's more! I also went to Bath and Body works in the mall. Had a coupon for 10 off a 30$ purchase. They had buy 2 get one free. So I got myself some of their new fragrance. Black Raspberry Vanilla, YUMMMMM!!!! I got shower gel, body spray, and some body lotion. That plus two other small $1 things, and I came out of there with $40 worth of product for only $20! First and foremost you must know about me. I said it earlier….I don't buy things, except food, unless I get a good deal. Either it's clearance or on a good sale. I saved 50%!! So…. That's good, but I feel bad. I spent money on something that could be construed as frivolous. Is it bad to get something for yourself? Something that you could live without? All year I don't do for myself. I do for everyone else. Husband and children always come first. They eat first if we are low on food. I buy them clothes first before me. So am I wrong? I just don't know.

It will be done or Day 2

I am very much determined to do better! I have troubles following thru though.

I get this way about once a year. Usually towards New Years. I just don't how to follow through with it. I am making small doable daily goals. Not over thinking things. And keeping it simple. I just hope I can find a way to make it work.

Getting new glasses today. I'm pretty excited. Going to go to the mall and have a little fun shopping and picking out new frames. Wish I had a friend to go with me, but Stacie and Mary are working and Rhonda bailed on me. Oh well…. I will just have some alone time.

Dear Lord, help me to accept and apply Your loving discipline to my life. Thank You for loving me enough not to overlook my faults. You want me to be all that You have planned. Forgive me when I stubbornly stand in the way of the work of Your great love. It warms my heart to know that You accept and cherish me in Your heart, even enough to discipline me when I need it. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

 
 

Today's prayer:

Father, Thank you for all my blessings.

Thank you for my loving family. Thank you for my health and home. Thank you for all I have and am able to do. Help me to make the most of my day and life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Today's prayer:

Father, Thank you for all my blessings.

Thank you for my loving family. Thank you for my health and home. Thank you for all I have and am able to do. Help me to make the most of my day and life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

A New Beginning Day 1

Here is my goal: Become more organized.

I know that is kind of broad. And I will be narrowing it down to something more workable. But for now become more organized will have to do. I go thru this about once a year. I get a strong urge to clean up my act. Be more "adult". And now that I have a degree and career it is also along the lines of be more professional.

As a wife and mother, I have an urge to make a comfortable home for my family. To please my husband. To have a safe and healthy home for my children, and to teach them responsibility along with that. To do as Heavenly Father wants me to and lead and teach my children the right.

As a professional woman, I want to be able to find a balance between my home and work life. To be the best employee I can be. Being unemployed , currently, I wish to find work, and keep it.

So, those are some basic, beginning ideas. My first step is to get up at 6am and spend some time organizing my thoughts. Writing out my goals for the day, and get a head start on the family.

Today's Goals:

Laundry
Clean off counter
Take pictures of house

Today's Prayer:

Father, Grant me the ability to go forward in my life. Help me to be a better wife, mother, friend, employee, and all around person. Open my heart to thy will. Give me strength to do all these things so that I might be closer to thee. In Jesus name, Amen.

Kristen Kai Ashby