Author Archives: countrygirlbling

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About countrygirlbling

Hi, I'm hoping that my blog and my experiences will help to encourage you. Our journey through life can be unpredictable at times but KNOW that if you are a believer in Christ, HE will always have your best interest at heart! (Even when things don't make sense!) Toodles
Feb18

Home Made Granola Bars

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granolaI know this won’t shock any of you, but I found this recipe on Pinterest.  In my quest to not buy processed foods/snacks I thought I’d try making my own granola bars.  I’m not a big breakfast person, it takes me awhile to really “wake up”.  Usually about 10:30am I’m thinking I want something small to eat while I drink my coffee.

This recipe called for 4 cups of “quick oats” NOT “rolled oats”.  Ok, seriously, #1 – what’s the difference  . . . I thought oatmeal was oatmeal . . . #2 – I only had 2 cups of oats.  The label on my container said “Old Fashioned Oats” but under the “ingredients” it did say rolled oats, bummer.  So in my determination to make these things I Googled what was the difference between the two.  What I took away from the definition was that the quick oats were smaller & absorbed better sooooo, I thought to myself – I’ll just make them smaller so I chopped them up – totally made sense to me.  The problem was I still only had 2 cups. Long story shorter . . . I made them anyway. They are delicious!!!! I’m going to buy a new container of “quick oats” and make this recipe again. Very tasty!!! Here ya’ go . . . . (I only had creamy peanut butter & I added chopped almonds)

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup packed brown sugar 
1/4 cup peanut butter (crunchy)
1/4 cup unsalted butter
4 cup Quick Oats (not rolled oats)
2 cups crispy rice cereal
3 teaspoons vanilla   
*Makes 28 bars
 
DIRECTIONS

In a large bowl, stir crispy rice cereal, quick oats together.  In a medium saucepan, combine honey, butter, and brown sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat then bring the temperature down to low, and simmer till sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Pour in vanilla and stir.  Pour hot butter/sugar mixture over dry ingredients. Stir until all ingredients are moistened. Press into a parchment-lined jelly roll pan.

Press the granola bar mixture as closely and as tightly together as you can into the pan at about 1/2-3/4 inch thickness. Any thinner, and the bars will not hold together. Cool on the counter till they reach room temperature. Cut into bars. Wrap in plastic or store in a ziplock bag.

Here’s the link to the original recipe: http://alturl.com/tf668

 

Feb15

A Good Laugh . . .

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A Firmament in the midst of the Waters by Ben Canales, via 500px

I hate when it’s dark and my brain is like, “Hey, you know what we haven’t thought about in a while, Monsters.”
(Pinterest)

Since it’s Friday . . . I thought we all might need a good laugh – LOL I just cracked up when I read this one . . .

Happy Friday! Toodles

Feb5

New Spin on Canvas Art

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I finally put away all my Christmas stuff which meant I needed to change out my canvas art with the winter pics.  My friend Maurene suggested putting the canvases in a frame . . . great idea.  I found these two 8×10 frames at Home Goods, removed the glass and cut the backs off.  So it took a bit of persuasion with my rubber mallet to get them in but I did.  I guess I was a tad bit aggressive on one of the frames . . . bummer . . . it came apart in the corners but nothing a little old Elmer’s Glue and a bungee cord couldn’t fix!!! LOL

If you haven’t tried this craft yet, you really should – they look great & found the pics on . . . Pinterest!

Feb4

Heart & Breast Health Event . . .

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The event on Saturday went flawlessly (is that a word?).  We served about 60 women, 27 were scheduled for a free mammogram and we were able to get 3 more women in that showed up without an appointment.  There were another 30 that came for the speaking event and all felt it was very informative.  Two women that I spoke with left an impression on me. One had called me for a free mammogram because she had found a lump.  She (Janice) hadn’t had it looked at for a couple of years because she didn’t have health insurance.  Because she had a lump – she couldn’t do the mammogram on the van, she needed a “diagnostic” test.  I called Sandra Walters from St. Joe’s (one of our speakers) and Sandra was able to get her in at the Breast Care Center downtown.  Janice’s test came back fine and they told her to come back in a year for a follow-up.  It was the relief she had from a couple years of worrying that touched me.  She was so thankful to have that behind her now.  Another woman spoke to me after the event.  She had a call-back on a mammogram a while back and was afraid because no one really explained to her why she had to go back.  She told me how thankful she was because the speakers had answered so many questions that she had in her head.  I believe God put those women in the right place at the right time.  I felt like the event was a big success because my motive behind the event was . . . “Empowering Women With Knowledge”.  There was so much I didn’t know when I was diagnosed last summer, so I’m very thankful this morning that God opened the doors for this event to happen . . . a definite “note” going in my BLESSING’S JAR!!!!

A big thank you to all my friends who were so helpful and supportive!!! Thanks!!!!

Feb1

Super Bowl Weekend!

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bbqDon’t let the exclamation mark in my title deceive you by thinking that I’m soooo excited about the super bowl . . NOT, but it is a big deal for my friends & family in California . . . Doug Bailey can you even sleep at night with all your excitement???? Wish I could watch it with you guys, Angel are you making your awesome guacamole dip??? Anywho, I will be watching and rooting for your 49er’s . . . ahhh I remember the good ole’ days with Joe Montana, Dwight Clark & Jerry Rice!!

Thought you all might like to be introduced to the absolutely best, most awesome bbq sauce that you will EVER taste!! Seriously I am sooo addicted to this stuff.  Put it on bbq chicken, country ribs, chicken bbq pizza, mix with ranch dressing for bbq chicken salad or for game day get one of those mini crockpots and fill it with little “smokies” and a bottle of this magic sauce . . . . yummmmmm!!! Go niners!!!

Jan30

Heart & Breast Health Event

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iheartyouWell the event is finally here . . . this Saturday, February 2nd from 10am-Noon.  If you are local I hope I’ll see you there.  If you need more info – leave me a message here & I will contact you.

The Mammogram Van appointments have been filled and that means that 28 women without health insurance will receive a FREE mammogram this Saturday. The Exempla St. Joseph’s Hospital Mobile Mammography Unit is funded by the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital, Safeway Foundation and the Denver Metropolitan Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.  I am supporting the Susan G. Komen Foundation through this event and for every $100 collected a woman is able to get a mammogram for free.  I have been surprised at how many women do not have health insurance, which just makes me that more thankful for my job and health insurance.

If you would like to donate please go to http://www.info-komen.org/goto/iheartyou . . . Thank you!!!! Ronda

Jan29

Snow . . .

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Snow 2-29It starting snowing last night just before leaving work and it continued through the night.  I probably shoveled about 5 inches this morning, not too bad.  After living here for over 15 years it still amazes me how snow will stick to the tiniest of branches.  Blue skies today! Just gorgeous and we soooo needed the moisture.

Jan28

Smoke Detectors

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thSeriously . . . how is it that your smoke detectors ONLY chirp in the middle of the night!!!! Ugh . . . I was awakened very early Saturday morning (O’dark thirty) to the sound of one of my smoke detectors chirping because the battery needed to be changed.  Every minute that thing was sounding off with that high pitched chirp.  I finally got out of bed to see which one of the 3 upstairs it might have been.  So I stood there waiting . . . waiting . . . waiting to hear it and it NEVER went off again!!! It’s as if “they” know your there and they just want to yank your chain!!! Well because it NEVER chirps during the daytime I totally forgot about it.  So of course, it went off again (O’dark thirty) Sunday morning (this time I located which one it was), then it stopped and I forgot about it AGAIN! I went to bed last night and just as I got comfortable my eyeballs popped open & I remembered that I hadn’t changed the battery yet. So the big dilemma was do I get out of this oh so comfortable & toasty warm place to change that stickin’ battery NOW or do I just lay there and pray that it won’t go off at O’dark thirty AGAIN . . .  I totally considered praying about it but ultimately I got my rear end out of bed and changed the stickin’ battery! LOL