Wednesday Recipe Share

Wednesdays are going to be Recipe Share day.  I've chosen some of my very favorite recipes to share today.  I hope you try them out and please let me know what you think.

Easy Meatballs

1c Cattlemen's BBQ sauce

1/4c French's Worchestershire Sauce

1/4c molasses or honey

36 (1") frozen meatballs, unthawed

Combine BBQ sauce, worchestershire sauce, molasses and meatballs in slow cooker.  

Cook until heated through.

This is really yummy served as an appetizer or over rice for an easy meal.

Muddy Buddies

1 t vanilla

1 1/2 c powdered sugar

1/2 c peanut butter

6oz (1pkg or  1c) semisweet chocolate chips

1/4 c margarine or butter

9 c Chex cereal (any variety)

Measure cereal in a large bowl; set aside

Microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and margarine in 1-quart microwavable bowl uncovered on high 1 minute; stir.

Microwave 30 seconds longer until mixture can be stirred smooth. 

Stir in vanilla.

Pour chocolate mixture over cereal in bowl, stirring until evenly coated.

Pour into large plastic food-storage bag; add powdered sugar.

Seal bag and shake until well coated.

Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

Pay It Forward

I am currently following several blogs, and one of them, Fo-Shizzle, recently had a fabulous giveaway. It was such a great idea that I decided to join in and do the same.

So...

Here are the Rules:
1. Be one of the first three bloggers to "follow" my blog and leave a comment at the end of this post, which entitles you to a handmade gift.
2. Winners must post this challenge on their own blog, meaning that you will Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift for the first three bloggers who "follow" you and leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway!
3. The gift you send can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: It’s the Spirit and the Thought That Count!
4. When you receive your gift, feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate Linky Love
5. If you are not one of the Top Three to comment on this post, you can still play along. Please start your own 'Pay It Forward chain', and encourage your blogging friends to do the same.

And, I would be most pleased if you could just join in the fun!!

Click the "follow me" button first, then leave your comments below. And remember to include your email address so that I may be able to contact you!! 

The Jewelry Shop on ArtFire is my featured studio today. This Howlite and sterling bracelet is only one of the great pieces they offer. Look at the great detail. I love how the stone and metal compliment each other so well!

The handmade and vintage jewelry available at The Jewelry Shop is made by Amy, Jim, and Lynda. They offer handcrafted wire wrap jewelry, beaded jewelry, and the occasional silver fabrication piece. Check out their great selection today.

Beating the Train

The other day I was sitting at a red light enjoying the music on the radio. I was relaxing on my day off with the kiddo with a sitter. When all of a sudden, the railroad crossing lights and bars start going. There is no train in sight but a worker truck comes barrelling down the tracks. The lights stop flashing and the bars are rising so the truck stops short of the roadway. The next thing I know, the lights are flashing again and the bars begin to lower. The following actions are what caught my attention. The worker truck started toward the roadway and FIVE vehicles proceed to speed up to beat the lowering bars. Not just one car...I counted five.
So my mental question was how often do I attempt to beat the lowering bars and warning lights in my life.

Artisan Stone Soup Challenge

Today I came across a discussion in ArtFire about Stone Soup. I visited the Stone Soup Challenge to see out what all the commotion was about and I'm excited to share the details. I like this challenge because it focuses on supporting our community and making a difference rather than turning the spotlight onto ourselves.

I found the story of Stone Soup on Wikipedia for us to all enjoy together. "According to the story, some travelers come to a village, carrying nothing more than an empty pot. Upon their arrival, the villagers are unwilling to share any of their food stores with the hungry travelers. The travelers fill the pot with water, drop a large stone in it, and place it over a fire in the village square. One of the villagers becomes curious and asks what they are doing. The travelers answer that they are making "stone soup", which tastes wonderful, although it still needs a little bit of garnish to improve the flavor, which they are missing. The villager doesn't mind parting with just a little bit to help them out, so it gets added to the soup. Another villager walks by, inquiring about the pot, and the travelers again mention their stone soup which hasn't reached its full potential yet. The villager hands them a little bit of seasoning to help them out. More and more villagers walk by, each adding another ingredient. Finally, a delicious and nourishing pot of soup is enjoyed by all."

The grassroots movement of the Stone Soup Challenge was started by Laura Bray as a way for artists and crafters to help one another. The challenge is for each artist to pledge a percentage of their NET profit (the amount you profit after all costs) to purchase items from other artists. Each artist will decide what pledge amount works best for them.

I, for one, am pledging 10% of all my net profits to support other artists through the Stone Soup Challenge. I signed up this evening as the 55th supporter. If you do not have your own shop but would like to help support other artists, please visit my studio. I encourage all artists and crafters to take this challenge with me. If you're looking for a place to set up shop, you can use the link on the top left side of my blog to get your very own ArtFire studio.

Intro

I want to start off by introducing myself so you get a chance to know me before I start pouring my heart out in this blog.

My name is Tyra.  No, not THE Tyra.  My last name is not Banks and I do not have my own television show (yet).  

Now that we have that out of the way, here is who I am.

I was born in Oklahoma but arrived in Texas as quickly as possible.
I have been to Paradise. Heck, I lived in Paradise! 
I made friends and lost friends. I had my heart broken and did some breaking of my own. All too numerous to count.
I loved my school and I loved to run and dance. 

I adored Friday night football and Saturday track meets.
I met the love of my life ~ and he didn't remember me.
I spent a week with strangers in Florida to dance in a Bowl game. Only to spend the majority of my time on the phone with a cherished friend.
I left Paradise for college and danced even more.
I became very ill but great friendships and much love helped me recover quickly.
I followed my heart to College Station and added more hours to my transcript.
I received a proposal on Thanksgiving Day, 1999, in the most perfect place surrounded by sparkling lights.
I said I Do in April 2000 and began the hardest journey of my life.
I survived in Texas until 2002 when I moved to the Evergreen State.
I learned to lean on my partner and trust in God during that three year adventure.
I cherished the mountains and the scenery.
I relocated to North Texas and endured the heartbreak of a miscarriage.
I rejoiced at the sound of my daughter's heartbeat in her first ultrasound.
I experienced the miracle of being a mother.
I am learning to go with the flow and enjoy every day

I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you.  And I can't wait to hear your thoughts and comments.