Tea For Two-sday ~ This Guest Has Good Taste

It is the start of my little blog break so I can enjoy Spring Break and a visit from my Dad. My blog friends really stepped up to help me out with guest posts - I am so blessed! Please give them lots of comment love!

My fabulous friend Kim blogs at Homesteaders Heart. You shouldn't expect any canning or pioneer posts over there. Her blog is a light-hearted look at the real life of a homemaking, home schooling, rather competitive, slightly OCD, super silly, kind mom! She hosts Friday Funnies and Show & Tell Saturdays. And I'm sure she would like for you to know that she is my Top Commentator - LOL! Kim likes tea, too, and has a wonderful Tea For Two-sday post to share with you.

For this edition of Lisa's Tea for Two-sday I wanted to do a little tea review on some new tea I bought. I always make it a point to stop in the aisle where they have all the wonderful teas and just kind of stand there perusing it all. There is always something new to find. A couple of weeks ago I stumbled across Kalahari Cafe Artisan Chocolatte' Green Tea Matcha Mint. Phew that's a mouthful.

I wasn't real sure at first if I wanted to give it a try. I usually can't picture chocolate with tea but I threw caution to the wind and bought it. Let me tell you I am some glad I did. As soon as you open the little package the tea bag is in, the aroma just permeates the air. It smells soooooo good. I know sometimes I've gotten tea that smells good but tastes awful but not the case with this. It tasted wonderful. They say you can add milk to it but I like all my tea plain. I like to taste the tea and all it's pungent flavors. This tea has a very minty flavor with chocolate undertones. I highly recommend it.

On another note. Do you like the tea cup that my new found tea is in? I had written on my blog about my first tea cup that was given to me by a wonderful friend of mine and how I really don't like buying my own, hence the reason I only had one! LOL. But my husband was at someone's house to buy a mosquito killer ( that's another story entirely ) and the people had just had a garage sale the weekend before and they had their leftovers sitting in the garage and this tea cup was still there. Can you believe that? It's beautiful and without a chip.

Here's the best part. He only paid a dollar for it!!! Can you say SCORE!!! So I officially have 2 tea cups in my collection. I can now invite one of you over for tea. Who wants to be first?

Plugged Back In - A Redecorating Tale

Well, I was unplugged on Friday - part of Kimba's event at A Soft Place to Land. Today we're talking about how productive we were since we stayed away from the computer. Go over there and check out what everybody was actually doing on Friday!

Well, I was busy on Friday and spent most of the day out of the house which made it rather easy to stay off of e-mail, blogs, and twitter. But I had a hard time not checking everything first thing in the morning before leaving. And then when I got back, I just wanted to sit down and be on the computer for a while - but I couldn't! I had to find something to do!!

Knowing that I couldn't be on the computer, I decided to head to a thrift store with a friend in the afternoon. I found some pillows there that I thought would work out for more of a Spring feel in my living room. When I came home and couldn't be on the computer, I decided it was time to try out the new pillows in the living room. Which led to...

Pillows didn't look right the way living room was arranged, so I started to change things around. This led to rearranging furniture and then redecorating, but only with items that I already owned. Kept working on it until I was happy with it. This led to feeling the need to make a couple of rearrangements in the family room, which led to the need to move a large piece of furniture out of the family room. This led to the need to move a bookcase out of the dining room to make room for the other moved cabinet, which led to moving furniture in the spare bedroom to make room for the bookcase. In order to move the bookcase, it had to be emptied out. It contained cookbooks, stationery, and a lot of JUNK! This led to a big sort and reorganization. All of this led to a LOT of dust being revealed, which caused a lot of extra cleaning to be done. Cleaning the floor led me to notice that the windows needed to be cleaned. After all of that, I had regular cleaning to do. This all started on Friday but continued on Saturday. And did I mention that during all of this I discovered that my Dad would be arriving Sunday immediately after church? So I HAD to get everything finished that I had started!

On a sidenote, let me just say that I was inspired to rework my room using what I already had from A Soft Place to Land and The Inspired Room! I really didn't think I could do it, but I did. The room is not perfect, but it's so much nicer than before and hubby and son even like it! I think I made our house a little more beautiful - something that Melissa at The Inspired Room tries to do as part of A Beautiful Life.

How's THAT for productive? And as a good blogger, I do have pics of the rearranged living room with the pillows from the thrift store that I went to since I was unplugged which was all because of KIMBA - LOL!!

Living Room Before

Another View of Living room Before

Living Room After

Another View of living Room After

Thanks Kimba for my "new" living room - ha,ha!

And this was the start of Spring Break - it's wonderful to have accomplished so much in the house at the beginning of the break! My Dad is now here visiting and I am actually taking a blogging break the rest of the week. But, never fear - I have fabulous guest posts lined up for you this week! I know you will enjoy them. Please do give them lots of comment love and visit their blogs - they are worth your time.

Have a wonderful, blessed week!

*Dad is now gone, so maybe I'll accomplish a couple of other things...like taxes. Seems like there might be a deadline or something for those. ;) I've also linked this post to Your Life, Your Blog with Sarah at Real Life. Go over there and link your favorite post from the previous week!

Friday Funnies - on Saturday!

Since my friend Kim from Homesteaders Heart also "unplugged" yesterday, she's having Friday Funnies today. Since I am plugged back in with nothing going on, I can actually participate! Stop over at her place for lots more funnies and get some laughs for your weekend!

This was from an e-mail that I got. I was a child in the 70's and 80's, so I have seen the list of 70's items that are familiar to me. Now here's the list of items from the 80's that you might remember. It really makes me laugh because too many of them are true!

1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word SIKE.
2. You can sing the rap to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and can do the Carlton.
3. You know that "WOAH" comes from Joey on Blossom.
4. If you ever watched "Fraggle Rock".
5. It was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.
6. You wore a ponytail on the side of your head.
7. You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school.
8. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side.
9. You played the game "MASH"(Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House).
10. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of it.
11. You know the profound meaning of " WAX ON , WAX OFF".
12. You wanted to be a Goonie.
13. You ever wore fluorescent clothing. (some of us...head-to-toe)
14. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off and his cheeks shifted.
15. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.
16. You took lunch boxes to school...and traded Garbage Pailkids in the schoolyard.
17. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.
18. You still get the urge to say "NOT" after every sentence.
19. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.
21. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes.
22. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying "I know you are, but what am I?"
23. You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up".
24. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates.
25. You have ever played with a Skip-It.
26. You remember boom boxes and walking around with one on your shoulder like you were all that.
27. You remember watching both Gremlins movies.
28. You thought Doogie Howser/Samantha Micelli was hot.
29. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac.
30. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool...and don't even flinch when people refer to them as "NKOTB"
31. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved By The Bell," The ORIGINAL class.
32. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.
33. You just sang those words to yourself.
34. You still sing "We are the World"
35. You tight rolled your jeans.
36. You owned a banana clip.
37. You remember "Where's the Beef?".
38. You used to (and probably still do) say "What you talkin' 'bout Willis?".
39. You're still singing shot through the heart in your head, aren't you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

How many are true for you? I think at least 28 of them are true for me. Do I dare admit to #30??

Hope you got a laugh or two from some of these memories! Have a great weekend!!

No Chocolate Friday - I Am Unplugged

Just wanted to put up a reminder that I am Unplugged all day Friday (Kimba started it!). For me, that means no blogging, no twittering, and no e-mail. If you see me tomorrow in any of those places, you better slap my hand! Hopefully I will accomplish a lot because I do have company coming in a few days.

Sorry if you are missing the chocolate, but if you just scroll down through a few posts you'll find some. And maybe check your cupboard.

"See" you on the weekend! :)

Review: Ballas Hough Band CD

I recently signed up with One2One Network. So glad I did - I received the new Ballas Hough Band CD to review!

A lot of you will know who they are - two of the best dancers from the show Dancing With The Stars! But can they sing? Oh yeah! And they can play too!

The best way I can describe their sound is to take Maroon 5, Jonas Brothers, Back Street Boys, and throw in a splash of Jackson 5! I've already listened to the CD a few times and it gets me dancing around the house and trying to sing along (OK - fun for me, but not a pretty sight or sound for you - LOL!).

I don't know how they have the time and energy to be professional dancers, singers, and musicians (while I can barely keep up a blog) but they do it all so well. You can keep track of what they're up to at their website.

I have a few favorite songs on the CD. I really like the first two: Do You Love Me and Devastated. They make me want to dance and sing! I love the song Longing For - it sounds so pretty with Emily Grace's lovely vocals mixed in. The songs Birthday and Together Faraway have a little Jackson 5 flair to them that I like. And the last song Underwater is sad and pretty at the same time - will really appeal to anyone who has experienced a breakup. I know there will be lots of people playing that one over and over...and over.

Overall it's a great upbeat energetic CD. I do enjoy the sound and am impressed with the vocals and the music from these multi-talented kids (yeah, it's a bad sign when you start referring to people in their 20's as kids - means you are starting to get old, right?). The CD was released 3/10. If you're interested in buying it, stop here.

All you kids have a great day!

Works-For-Me Wednesday: Dried Spice Tips

Finally, I have a post up today! It's Works-For-Me-Wednesday at We Are THAT Family. Be sure to stop over for hundreds of great tips!

Though I love to use fresh herbs and spices when I can, it's just not always practical. I have a cupboard bursting with a collection of dried spices. I like to try a lot of recipes, so I seem to need a variety of spices (sadly, many are rarely used more than once or twice).

Haven't you always wondered how long you're supposed to keep the spices? Seems like I am always hearing 6 months to a year. After a little research, I discovered that it's quite alright to keep dried herbs and ground spices for up to 3 years. And whole spices can be kept up to 4 years. Dried spices should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place. If you notice any change in color or smell, or no smell at all, it's time to toss. One good idea I've heard is to write the date you open it on the container.

Somewhere along my cooking journey, I heard another tip. I can't remember if it was from a cooking show or in a book. When using dried spices, crush and rub them together in your hand before adding to food to help release the scent and flavor. If you heat them up a little, it also releases the scent and flavor.

Just a couple of "spicy" tips that work for me! Happy cooking!

P.S. I have a post over at Chic Critique today - check out my virtual makeover!

It's A Party And You're Invited!

It's Tuesday and I usually post something about tea like teapots, tea poems, or tea links (Tea for Two-sday), but I knew you wouldn't mind if we just had a party instead, especially if we start off with tea and scones!

5 Minutes For Mom is hosting a HUGE party all week - the Ultimate Blog Party 2009. There are live parties happening, bloggers linking up, and prizes to be won! Stop over there to join the fun and meet some new bloggers at the same time.

Come on in and get that cup of tea and a White Chocolate Apricot Cream Scone before they're gone.

And you should know that there is always chocolate available here! Try a piece of Chocolate Cinnamon Bread, some Cookies & Cream Dessert, or a Marble Bar. I'm sure you'll find something you like!

Stop back here on Fridays for "Would You Like Chocolate With That?" to get some great chocolate recipes and link up your own.

You are welcome to browse here as much as you like! You can start with 100 Things About Me to see how many things we have in common. Maybe, just maybe you like chocolate as much as me! :)

Since I enjoy parties so much, I like them to last longer - so I occasionally have theme weeks. Look for fun ideas at Summer Campout Week; get yummy pumpkin recipes from Pumpkin Potpourri Week; and warm up with new soup recipes from Simmering Soup Week.

In fact, there's another party coming up here in a couple of weeks (4/9) - my 1-year Blogoversary Party! Come on back for fun and prizes!

I hope you enjoyed stopping by today and that you will come back soon! You can subscribe by e-mail here or subscribe in a feed reader on my sidebar. And follow me on twitter (@stop4chocolate) so you don't miss anything.

Thanks for partying with me today! Take some chocolate with you while you go to a few more parties!

Coming Up...

I thought I would give a little update of what's coming up on my blog in the next couple of weeks or so. It's partly for you so you don't miss out on anything and it's partly for me so I don't forget about anything - LOL!!

~ Friday 3/27: There will NOT be a Chocolate Friday! I am taking Kimba's challenge (from A Soft Place to Land) to completely "unplug" this Friday. Her button is on my sidebar if you'd like to join in or get more information. Her timing was perfect as I was already planning a Bloggy Break next week! Let's see what I can actually accomplish on Friday by staying away from the computer (chest tightening, palms sweating) for the entire day!!

~ Monday 3/30: Kimba wants us to link up on Monday 3/30 (the start of a 2-week Spring Break for us!) to tell about our "unplugged" experiences. I will post about that on Monday, but the rest of next week I will be trying my best to stay mostly away from the computer and enjoying some time with my son and my Dad who is coming to visit.

~ Tuesday thru Saturday (3/31-4/4): I have some fantastic guest posters lined up for next week! I think you will really enjoy their posts - please give them lots of comment love and visit their blogs too!

~ Thursday 4/9: It's my 1-year Blogoversary and there will be a party happening here!! Yes, there will be chocolate. Yes, there will be giveaways - a few of them actually! Some very sweet people are even donating some of the prizes. You won't want to miss out on the fun! I will let you in on a little secret right now...the instructions for entering to win one specific prize will only be given on twitter...so you may want to get signed up on there and start following me now - I'm @stop4chocolate!

I think I've covered all the important stuff! What's happening with you this next couple of weeks?

Show & Tell Saturday ~ Handmade Items

It's Show & Tell Saturday today, hosted by my friend Kim at Homesteaders Heart! Be sure to stop by over there to see her cake decorating skills and link up your own handmade post.

I don't have many examples of handmade items to show you, other than food!

I did crochet an afghan all by myself a few years ago!

I have made a few other things, but don't have any examples to show you (things like decorated picture frames, chalkboard placemats, t-shirt pillows). They were all given as gifts. I will have to work on making some more handmade items in the near future! It's fun and even frugal!

I do like making biscotti -

like Dried Cranberry Biscotti...



and Double Chocolate Walnut Biscotti.



I like to make desserts, especially cakes!

Here's a Chocolate Chip Cheesecake...



and our favorite Amaretto Cake.


That's about all I have to show you today! Thanks for letting me share with you!

What kinds of things have you made?

Would You Like Chocolate With That? ~ Did She Say Chococarmaccino?

Chocolate Friday again! Have a bit o' chocolate to start your weekend off right! :) I am glad it's Friday, though I feel like I'm missing a day this week. Anybody got an extra 24 hours to spare?

A couple of times recently, I have tried blending my own caramel lattes instead of giving Starbucks a bunch of money to do it for me. :) I was doing another one yesterday when I realized my lack of chocolate (all because Alyssa reminded me - ah, the beauty of twitter).

I decided to throw caution to the wind and throw in some of the only chocolate I had around - chocolate chips! They blended up so nicely in there - I was surprised! And then I went ahead and added more, and a few more, as I wanted to have a kind of java chip experience.

The result was yummy! It was a nice caramel coffee chocolate chip frapp sort of thing.

Maybe we could call it the...
Stop-and-Smell-the-chococarmaccino!

Here's the "recipe" to make your own:

1 cup milk
2 teaspoons instant coffee (or mix 1/2 cup strong coffee and 1/2 cup milk)
4-6 tablespoons Torani Caramel syrup (or 3+ tablespoons caramel sundae syrup)
3+ tablespoons semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 cups ice cubes

Blend it all up, pour and drink! Adjust the above ingredients any way you like according to taste.

This filled the large glass in the pic twice plus a little extra. Definitely enough for 2 people, though I drank it all. Yes I did! I justified it by telling myself it was like a venti size drink with a lot of overflow that had to be put in a tall cup on the side - LOL!

Warning - falling chocolate ahead!

You might need to give it a stir or two while drinking to keep those chocolate chip bits well-mixed.

Try it out or make up your own concoction! Perfect as the weather starts to warm up.

Do you have a chocolate post to link up? I'm sure you can find something! Since today is the first day of Spring, you really are obligated to celebrate in some way and linking up some delicious chocolate to share with the blogosphere is the perfect way to do that! You can find details here or look at last week. Link on up with Mr. Linky below.

I Could Write About...

I do understand a little better how people get blogger's block. It's not that I have nothing to write about - I just don't feel like writing about any of those things!

I could write about...how we lost our free cable a week ago (it was legal, people) and we are perfectly fine without it.

I could write about...my son's first couple of baseball games for this season - they lost both, but played well.

I could write about...how I'm looking forward to Spring Break which starts in a week and a half and lasts for 2 weeks!

I could write about...my Dad coming for a visit during Spring Break and that's why I want some guest posters during that time - wanna help out?

I could write about...my 1-year Blogoversary coming up in 3 weeks and the fact that there will be giveaways - let me know if you have a product that you want to give away on my blog!

I could write about...my wonderful blogging friends who I am happy to "visit" with daily!

I could write about...Lost or American Idol or Amazing Race and some of you would happily join in the conversation.

I could write about...my struggles with daily Bible reading or keeping my household or meal planning.

I could write about...chocolate. Aaaahhhh - chocolate. Let's do talk about chocolate! The only chocolate I could find to eat was a bag of chocolate chips, so I did have some. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do! At least Chocolate Friday is coming tomorrow! And the chocolate post I have for you? I have NO idea! I'll come up with something and you come up with something too and come here and link it up! You can find ideas here. Did you see all the links last Friday? Yum! Plus my BFF cupcakes got linked up (coffee and chocolate together in cupcake form - they could become your BFF too - LOL!).

So I am sorry that I could not come up with a single thing to write about today!! :)

What could you write about?

Wordless Wednesday ~ Sleeping Dog

It's Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes For Mom - stop by for lots of fun pictures!

I know you've seen a lot of Buster lately, but I couldn't resist posting this pic!

Advantage of Basset Hound ears: built-in sleep mask to keep the light out (so he can get his "beauty" sleep - LOL)!

Tea For Two-sday ~ Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Well, top 'o the mornin' to ya! Happy St. Patrick's Day my friends!

How about some Irish tea links today?

Here's a little info about Irish tea.

Lyons is a popular brand of tea in Ireland.

Try out a recipe for Irish Tea Cake or one for Irish Currant Scones.

And this has nothing to do with being Irish, but stop over at Reviewsings for a Celestial Seasonings tea giveaway!

Have a wonderful green day!

Motivate Me Monday ~ Getting Offline

It's time for Motivate Me Monday with Sarah Mae at Like a Warm Cup of Coffee. Stop over there for great motivation for your week!

I had planned to write something completely different today, but stopped and took some time to read a devotional, my Bible, and then the book Passionate Housewives Desperate for God (highly recommended by my friend Kim at Homesteaders Heart). Just from what I read in that book this morning, I am motivated to take my homemaking duties that the Lord has called me to do, a little more seriously. And what that means is that I need to get "offline" today and care for my neglected household.

I plan to stay off the computer until this evening. I encourage you to try it too, if you haven't already! Go and tackle some of those chores you've been neglecting. Be motivated and free to do so!

Have a blessed Monday and I will see you - later!

Show & Tell Saturday ~ Favorite Pet

My fabulous friend Kim at Homesteaders Heart hosts Show and Tell Saturdays and today's theme is your favorite pet. Stop over there to read about other pets, but also to link up your favorite!

Well, I suppose that I have to say that our current pet is our favorite so he doesn't get his feelings hurt - LOL! Here he is...

That's our Basset Hound - Buster.



He is a funny dog and my son absolutely adores him! He's a very mellow dog which is perfect for our family.

I have always been a cat person, and a bit afraid of dogs. But Buster is growing on me, even with the drooling and dog odor! :)

We have had him for almost 3 years. Shortly after we moved into this house, some people were giving Buster away and we had been looking for a mellow dog to help my son get over his fear of dogs. They brought him over to meet us and he never left (um, unless you count trips to the vet, the groomer, and a few "escape" attempts - LOL)!

He's a purebred basset hound with papers and fairly obedient (they are naturally stubborn). He was already trained to scratch at the door when he wants out. He was bigger than we expected - weighs over 50 pounds, though he is not overweight. If you want to see a video of him, you can look here.

Hope you enjoyed hearing about our favorite pet!

Don't forget: to stop by Kim's to read about other pets, to stop by my other blog to enter a giveaway, and to stop by yesterday's chocolate post to drool over all the great chocolate that was linked up!

Would You Like Chocolate With That? ~ More Updated Chocolate Pics

Welcome back to another Chocolate Friday! Chocolate and the weekend make a good pair, just like chocolate and every hour of every day of the week - LOL!

As I make recipes that I have featured on past Chocolate Fridays without pictures, I am doing my best to remember to use my camera! I have 3 more updates for you today. My goal is to get a picture for every recipe. That means I have to make a lot of chocolate recipes...again. I have a tough life, don't I? ;)

Here are some yummy updates for you:


Cookie Salad




Toffee Cookies




Double Chocolate Walnut Biscotti


Those are all yummy recipes - maybe you should give one a try this weekend!

OK, you know what's coming now. I put the responsibility fully on your shoulders to find your chocolate posts and come back to link them up with Mr. Linky below! They can be old or new and you can find more info here about what to post.

You can do it, yes you can!
Link up chocolate for a fan!

Please, save my readers from more bad cheers - link up some chocolate posts!

Have a fabulous, chocolate-filled Friday!!

P.S. I am also at Like A Warm Cup of Coffee today with a guest post, which she linked up below. She has a wonderful blog that you really should check out! And, my 100th post is up at Stop Eating All The Chocolates - go over there to enter a giveaway!