"GOOO CASH! GOOOO CASH!"

Before I start blabbing about whatever is on my mind today, I want to go ahead and throw out a disclaimer. (I think that's the right word? Who knows, but we'll go with it..) I typically don't touch on too sensitive subjects on my blog after any sort of huge world disaster occurs. One one hand, I feel like the humor and playfullness of this blog is necessary, but on the other, I would never want it to appear that I'm not devastated by everything that is happening in Japan right now. Absolutely heartbreaking. I found it hard to even watch the news today with all of the images of the victims that flashed on the screen. It goes without saying, but please pray for the helpless people of Japan. I know it seems so far & alien to us, but they're people. And it could've been us.

And remember that just because I’m talking about useless, domesticated nonsense on this blog doesn’t mean that I'm a cold hearted bee-yotch.

With that being said, I’m sure you will all be fascinated to know that I made the best Baked Ziti I've ever had the other night. Three words. Easy. Ragu. Hollaaaaa.

 

BEST BAKED ZITI IN ALL ZI LAND!

NEED:

- 1 lb. Penne Pasta (It's a denser noodle than actual ziti)

- Olive Oil (to coat pan)

- 1 tbsp. Minced Garlic

- 1 lb Ground Beef or Turkey (We used turkey.. boys don't know it!)

- 1 can of your fav. Ragu (don't be scurrred!)

- ¾ cup Sour Cream

- ¾ cup Cream Cheese

- 1 cup Italian blend shredded cheese (Parmesan, Romano, Mozz)

- 2 cups Mozzarella Cheese

- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (optional..but never left out in this house!)

STEPS:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, cook pasta 8-10 minutes until al dente. Drain and set aside.

2. Coat large, deep skillet in olive oil and add garlic to brown. Place ground beef or turkey in the skillet and brown over medium-high heat. Drain excess fat, add in spaghetti sauce, and reduce heat to low. Season with crushed red pepper flakes (or don't..but I do..) and simmer for at least 10 minutes.

3. Mix together sour cream, cream cheese and Italian blend cheeses in a bowl.

4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13 casserole dish.

5. Add cooked pasta to the pot of simmering sauce and thoroughly mix together.

6. Add half the pasta/sauce mixture to the baking dish, then cover with the sour cream/cheese blend. Layer the remaining pasta/sauce on top.

7. Evenly cover top with shredded mozzarella, and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until all cheeses are melted.

Please let me know how this works out for you. I'd like to know that I'm not the only psychopath who thought it was the greatest meal of all time.

 

Anyone remember that little Kindle book I mentioned on my last blog?? Heaven is For Real? Let's just say.. I finished the entire thing in two hours. I started reading late the other night, and couldn't stop until I finally reached the end. IT WAS SUCH AN AMAZING STORY! I found myself tearing up during multiple parts, and completely blow away in fascination during others. The most powerful part of the book (in my opinion) is the child's description of Jesus. If you don't remember from the last blog, the book documents a 4 year old boy who goes into a life-saving surgery and lives, but comes from it saying that he "visited Heaven." He retells intricate bible-based details that no four year old could just make up, and he even says that he met Jesus. His parents make a "game" out of pointing to various paintings/portraits portraying Jesus Christ when they come across them, and the child always says that they "aren't right." Later in the book, the father gets forwarded an email about a Lithuanian girl with Atheist parents who was on the news because she claimed to "visit Heaven." Her details are strangely similar to the little boys, and she had never even been taught who Jesus was. She became a child protege for her insanely detailed artwork that depicted all of the visions she had of Heaven. This email contained an attachment of the portrait that she painted of Jesus. The father, simply out of curiosity, called his son into the room, leaving the picture pulled up on the computer. As the 4 year old boy walked in, his face froze and he gazed at the photo on the computer for a long time, then excitedly told his father "That's it! That's what Jesus looks like!" The book has a photo of the girls painting, and I must say.. it blew me away. After finishing the book, I kind of convinced myself that it was the first ACCURATE picture that I'd ever seen of Jesus, although I could be wrong. I REFUSE to post the picture on this blog, (although you're probably biting your nails in anticipation now! THANKS STORMI!) because I want you all to read the book.. Let me know if you love it as much as I did!

Did anyone have someone near & dear to their heart get married this weekend?! I DID! One of my sweet sweet closest friends Melissa got married! I posted pictures of her bridal shower we hosted a couple of blogs back. Her wedding was almost as beautiful as her, and I was so thankful to walk in it with her. After all of my "official bridesmaid duties" were over, Cash was allowed to come to the reception for the fun. I figured this situation had the small chance of becoming something horrific, considering he's only 17 months old and there was an overhaul of loud music, flashing lights and people. Oh..how I was wrong. It turns out, my child is a party animal. A seasoned dancing professional. He ran straight for the center of the dance floor and didn't leave until I forced him out. I found myself standing back with my mouth wide open as he danced within a circle of grown adults, screaming "Gooo Cash! Gooo Cash!" as he busted moves that I had never even seen him attempt before. He even tried to slow dance with every girl under 4 in the building, and a couple coug's that were 7 or 8. It's time like this that I wish I would've had a hired-on videographer. Hopefully I'll be able to supply a couple of photos for proof from Mel's wedding photographer and a longtime family friend of mine. She was so fun and felt more like part of the wedding party than hired on help. She even forced my ghetto boo-tay into my too-tight bridesmaid's dress.. Cat's out of the bag, Melissa. (if you're reading this, that is.) We almost had an emergency on your wedding day because Flabifer Lopez over here couldn't get in my dress.. (We hid that one from you for the sake of your sanity.) Anyway, if you're looking for a fun & fabulous photographer for your babies, kids, events or occasions.. I'd suggest Tonya Neuman with Lasting Memories Photography! Here's a link to her Facebook Page, and I'll post some of the pictures she took from the wedding in a later post!

  http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Lasting-Memories-Photography/249389358400

HOT MESS OF THE WEEK ALERTTTTT!

BASKETBALL WIVES:

I wasted thirty precious minutes of my life last night watching a rerun of the show, "Basketball Wives." I don't know if I was more in awe of the fact that they had their own show, or the fact that anyone with a brain in their head would make them a "wife." But here's the best part: The majority of the women on the show aren't even wives.. they're ex wives. Or even better.. "Ex-Fiances." WTH is that?! Their formal introductions consist of naming their husband's/ex husband's team & position before ever even stating their own name, to put it simply. I'm over each & every one of them by my first episode, but especially the chickenhead on the far right who wore velvet pumps with a leather dress on tonight's episode. EW! I think all television networks should get together and have a legal ban of all "Wives" shows, minus all of the Real Housewives series, and Army Wives.. In fact, whoever came up with Army Wives is a genius, because women in that position definitely need a show like that to be able to relate to. I can't imagine being away from the one you love for long amounts of time like that. At Mel's wedding, one of the guests teared up because "her husband was just deployed for six months." It must be so hard.. Lucky for me, I fell for a car salesman, so the only thing I have to deal with is long hours, car brochures piling up in my house, and being persuaded into anything by his exaggerated selling. For proof, see pictures of Man Cave Ceiling..

 

Along with my Hot MESS of the week, I should also highlight my Hot-NESS of the week. If it wasn't enough that Rachel Zoe is killing us all by being 9 months pregnant and hardly showing a bit, she then hits us with this number:

 

Is that not the most beautiful diaper bag you've ever laid eyes on? Yes, it's a freakin' custom Alexander McQueen diaper bag. Yes, those are her tiny initials engraved on it as well. No big deal..

Guess who got a haircut? The big 17 month old dancing man himself!

And guess who's last four pearly whites are coming in? You guessed it.. SAME DUDE!

 

I'll leave ya'll with a fun ABC survey! Ta-tah for now!

A. Alltime favorite pair of shoes: White BCBG flats with Silver Buckle.. I may ask to be buried in them.

B. Bed size: QUEEN. Because I am the queen. I thought that was big enough.. until I had a child who likes to cuddle.

C. Chore you dislike: All of them. But mainly washing clothes..

D. Dogs: Not right now.. or maybe not ever. I have a strange fear of Cash getting attached & then it dying :(

E. Essential start to your day: Brush teeth, make bed, a chapter of a book on my Kindle, then it's off to wake my little monkey.

F. Favorite color: In case you can't already tell...PINK!

G. Gold or silver: Silver. Silversilversilver. People still wear gold?

H. Height: 5'3

I. Instruments you play(ed): Piano

J. Job title: CEO of NgChee boys Enterprises, Mama, Baby Mama, Diaper Changer, Chaffeur, Maid, and Part Time Cheer Coach.

K. Kids: Cash-Man

L. Live: Liberty, Tx

M. Man: of my dreams!!!

N. Nicknames: Storms, Storm-Troop (half of J's friends call me this one. Kinda silly.

O. Overnight hospital stays: Cash's birth

P. Pet peeves: Wedding guests in white, wearing heels you can't walk in & teeth grinding.

Q. Quick Stop snacks: Evian and a Slim Jim.

R. Rate your life 1-10: 9. Perfect isn't real.

S. Siblings: 3 sisters. Kaci. Kara. Alexis.

T. Time you wake up: 9:30. Jealous? ;)

U. Underwear: Always. Ew if you don't.

V. Vegetables you don’t like: Cabbage. Gag me. Don't open the pot around me.

W. What makes you run late: Cell phone. Errands. Cash.

X. X-rays you’ve had: Ultrasounds?

Y. Yummy food you make: Oh there's a ton.. but lasagna is up there!

Z. Zebra or Leopard: Neither in my house, but leopard for clothes/accessories.. Timeless!