Zuppa Toscana

A gf from work gave me this recipe and I tell you now...IT IS AMAZING!!! It's a knock off of the Olive Garden soup Zuppa Toscana. It's super easy, quick, and only 5 ingredients!!!

1 lb. Italian sausage
4 cans (14 oz) chicken broth
8 small red potatoes, quartered and thinly sliced
1 envelope Italian salad dressing mix
2 cups fresh or frozen spinach

Brown sausage.

In separate pot combine broth, potatoes and salad dressing mix. Bring to a boil; cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Drain sausage. Add sausage and spinach to broth. Heat through and serve!

Summer Fun!!!

So here are some pictures taken over the summer.... Thought I'd share!!!

My sister made me a beautiful chocolate, hazelnut & strawberry birthday cake!!! YUMMMM!!!

My old car, Sour Grapes! We sold her to Dave's cousin and she won the Porter County Fair Demo Derby!!! I always knew she was special!!!

Me & my Aunt Mike!!! I've called him Aunt Mike since I was tiny, he calls me Uncle Steph!!!

Davey wrote out our dinner menu one night...mmmm Sbgety!!!

One of our Foster KittenCats, Tiny. Up close & personel! She sheds like crazy but is such a lover!!!

Tiger Nails. Grrrrowllll!

We need to talk.

I'm rereading "The King Must Die" by Mary Renault. There is no arguement, there is no debate. It IS the best book ever written. EVER. I have read it now somewhere around 40+ times!!! You cannot go through life without reading this book if you like Greek mythology.

It's about Theseus of Athens, told from his point of view. He tells the story of his life, starting when he was a young boy going into early adulthood. It's beautifully written. You can picture everything in detail!!! There is a 2nd book that follows, "The Bull from the Sea". It tells finishes the tale of his life. Check it out!!!

I'm out of control...

Seriously, out of control! Haven't been watching what I've been eating AT ALL. Haven't been working out AT ALL! Haven't been reading AT ALL...I gotta get a grip people!!!

1st Official Beach Day!!!

That's right folks!!! It finally happened this past Sunday. I took the kids to the beach!!! It was beautiful even though the water was absolutely freezing. That didn't stop my kids from getting in and splashing around...

We stayed maybe 2 hours tops and the kids already have tan lines!!! The weather since then has gone dramatically downhill but I'm hoping we'll be able to hit the beach by the end of the weekend...keep your fingers crossed!!!

Become a Character in the next Jolie book Contest!!!!

Check it our folks! HP Mallory is one of my favorite authors and you could win a chance to be IN her next Jolie book!!!

Looking back...

This picture was taken almost exactly a year ago. What does that mean? It means that this time last year it was hot enough to go the beach...it ain't that hot this year!!! Come on Mother Nature, throw me a bone here!!!

Side note: Look at my cute little Water Bugs!!! They can't wait for the beach either!!! Have a great weekend y'all!!! <3

Molasses...52 in 52 update.

Yep, as in as slow as...As you can see at the top of the page, this is Week 21 folks and I'm on Book 41. I know, I'm still 20 books ahead but I was really steaming along there!

I've just swapped books with a friend. I gave him The King Must Die and he gave me The Princess Bride. I've seen the movie and I like it...we'll see how I like the book.

Who actually reads this?

So I'm sitting here, checking all the blogs I follow, and I'm wondering who actually reads this blog of mine...? I checked my sitemeter account and people all over the world are stumbling across here. I wonder what they think of this little piece of the internet. It also occurs to me that it really doesn't matter. I write this for me. Every now and then I got back and look at previous posts. Some are entertaining. I don't even remember writing them. It honestly feels like I'm rediscovering who I was in that particular moment. Some of the posts are painful. I tend to brush over those but still they're there to remind me what I've experienced, how I've changed... Just thinking out loud folks.

So do me a favor, if you're reading this, even if you just stumbled across it on a google search for something far more exciting, leave me a comment. I'll be sure to drop in on your piece of the internet and see what you're up to!!!

Also, a 52 in 52 Update - I haven't read anything new in a week and a half! I know, shocking! I've got a new release coming tomorrow and I'm excited to see what happens. It's the 3rd book a series by Aprilynne Pike. If you haven't checked her our, please do. She's fun and imaginative. I'm enjoying her books so much!!!

Rain, rain, go away...

While I love a lazy rainy day every now and then this is getting a bit ridiculous. Every morning this week I've woken up to the sad sound of rain. And yeah, I get that it's April, and April showers bring May flowers and all that jazz...blah, blah, blah. I just keep reminding myself that I will value the warm and sunshiny days so much more...when they finally get here...right?

52 in 52 update: I haven't read a new book all week. I've got my eye on several books, I just don't know which one to start. Most of them are part of a series...all new authors.
Donna Grant
Shayla Black
Robin McKinley
Joey W. Hill
Colleen Houck
Jill Myles
Aprilynne Pike

Just a 52 in 52 update

Okay, so, it's week 17 and I've finished 37 books! Yep, I'm 20 books ahead...and yeah, I'm an obsessive reader. I used to smoke and now I read. A lot. All the time. Everyday... Do you get what I'm sayin? ;o)~

Autumn Dawn

Just found this author on Barnes & Noble Steals N Deals. I'm loving her Dark Lands series. I'm on my 4th book!

Book 30 / Week 16

BOOYAH!!!

52 Books in 52 Weeks Update

Well, hey out there! It's been a while since my last post! Not a lot going on and yet, life feels crazy at times! The Lamberts just enjoyed a fantastic STAYcation over spring break last week. Oh! It was so nice to just float through the week, no schedule, no timetable. Loved it! It's Day 2 back to work and getting up was a bit harder today than yesterday...I need a day off! Whew!

It's week 15 of the year and I started my 25th book last night! Yep, that's right folks, I'm 10 books ahead! Am I feeling a little cocky? Betchur bottom dollar I am! I know what you're thinking..."Steph, how are you getting all this reading done?". Pretty sure it's my Nook! One of the best gifts I ever got!!! I love, love, love having my library at my fingertips!

I've discovered some new authors that I'm really excited about through Barnes & Noble's Free Nookbooks and Nookbook Deals. Definitely worth checking out if you like paranormal romance! Check them out and let me know what you think!
H.P. Mallory
Nicky Charles
Dakota Cassidy
Dianne Duvall
Penelope Fletcher

Happy Reading!!!

Nook

So, I got one. Dave gave me a Nook for Valentine's Day! I love it! I was on the fence but I absolutely love it! I am a bit bummed to find that my two very favorite books are not available...who do I complain to! ;o) <3

What I long for...

The iPhone...available through Sprint. Seriously! It's the best phone I've ever had and I WANT IT BACK!!! Ugh...sorry, had to vent. But I would just like to point out that I do believe that Sprint and Verizon share similar technology so I don't see what the Universe can't just give me what I want already...

And now...back to your regularly scheduled lives...

Alphabet Meme

A is for Age: 32
B is for Beer of choice: Coors Light

C is for Career: Not really, just a job.

D is for favourite Drink: Cherry Pepsi

E is for Essential item you use everyday: Cell

F is for Favourite song at the moment: "Jar of Hearts" by Christina Perri

G is for favourite Game: Speed Slice on the Wii

H is for Home town: Valparaiso, IN

I is for Instruments you play: N/A

J is for favourite Juice: Apple

K is for Kids: 2

L is for Last kiss: Dave

M is for Marriage: 10 1/2 years...including the pits and potholes...

N is for full Name: Stephanie Ann

O is for Overnight hospital stays: Birthing my babies.

P is for Phobias: BUGS!!!

Q is for Quote: "If wishes were fishes we'd have some to fry!" - The Bronze God Double Buck Buster (aka my Dad)

R is for biggest Regret: Broken hearts...

S is for Sports: UFC

T is for Time you wake up: 3:45am

U is for colour of Underwear: Pink

V is for Vegetable you love: Corn on the cob

W is for Worst Habit: Laziness

X is for X-rays you've had: Cervical Spine, Wrists, Shoulder...I think that's it.

Y is for Yummy food you make: Double Coconut Cream Pie

Z is for Zodiac sign: Cancer

Compassion

You Are Compassion

You are not a petty person. You truly want the best for people, and you feel empathy for them in their struggles. You believe that we are all interconnected. When someone is happy, it makes you more joyful. You believe that you have gained a great deal of freedom from not judging others. You don't believe that anyone should have to suffer. It pains you to see others living a hard life.

Which of the Four Divine States Are You?

Blogthings: Learn Something Surprising About Yourself

Things to come...

So we made it through the Holidays just fine. The kids still believe in Santa, I wonder if they will next Christmas...I hope so. We stayed up New Years, that is Dave and I stayed up, the kids fell asleep just before midnight. They were a bit startled when we ran into the bedroom shouting Happy New Year!!! All in all, the Holidays were relaxing, I was on vacation the whole time and I loved it! Definitely gonna do that next Christmas!!!

No New Years Resolutions, I usually don't make them. I do find myself thinking about 2010. All the crazy things that were going on in my life. Good crazy AND bad crazy. The places I went, the people I was with... While I am so looking forward to this new year there are things that I miss from the last...

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with the path that I'm on. I'm usually not the type to think about Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda...but every now and then, I do. I guess this is the time of year to do that...

I'm starting my 52 Books in 52 Weeks again. I'm almost done with Book 1. I made it through 55 books last year! I'm hoping I make it to 60 this year! I definitely need some new books!!! I've almost reread my entire library!!!

I'll post some Holiday Pics when I get the chance folks!!! Happy New Year!!! 4-5-9!!!