My Cheeseburger Soup recipe!!! Line up for this recipe,its awesome!

So I searched the internet the other day,and by search I mean I went to one website couldn't find what I was looking for so I called my mother... but anyhow for a CROCK-POT Cheeseburger Soup. I found some recipes,but a lot had carrots. I like carrots but not in a cheeseburger. I found none that was for a slow cooker though. Even the one my mom had was no help so I decided to wing it. I made my own. It was delicious. Even more the second time around.

I have one rule when you read my recipes that you don't shoot it down because its missing something or has something you don't like in it. If I say celery and you don't like it then don't put it in. If you would add more salt then do it. Cooking is a open book.


1lb ground beef I use the less fattier kind 85% 
1/2 of a onion.
1/3 cup of Celery
3 Cups Chicken or Beef Broth. I used Beef.
5-6 Smaller sized potatoes peeled & cut up.
2 TBSP butter
1/2 Cup Half and Half
1 cup whole Kernel corn(I used canned and put it in last but you could use frozen and add at the same time as the rest of the food)
4 cups of Shredded cheese. I used double Cheddar and a blend called Mac and Cheese mix. You can use what ever you want. Most recipes call for a 1/2lb of Velveeta so you could use that instead.
Salt (I added quite a bit so you add what you want)
Pepper
Italian Seasoning
Basil
Garlic Powder

Cook your ground beef and onion with the butter in a pan. Once browned add to crock-pot with everything else except cheese,corn and half and half.

I cooked on high. In the 3rd hr of cooking, I put in the corn and half and half. Then at the 4th hr and about the time I was going to serve it. I put in the cheese to melt. Then Served. Of course make sure your potato's are cooked through and done. 

You could add taco seasoning,more cheese,more seasonings,carrots,diced tomatoes,chilli peppers...list is endless.

Sometimes simplicity in food is not what people want,they want clams in it and odd ingredients that I just don't cook with. For this house though that has two semi picky kids the soup was a hit! Thicken it up and you have a chowder as well. 

Happy Eating!

Who let the Seahawks out...

9 Chances out of 10 you have heard about the superbowl if you didn't watch it like the rest of the world. Haha.

I am a die hard Steelers fan but foremost I am a die hard FOOTBALL fan. So I watch the Superbowl with excitement even though my team was not playing!

Now I am a Peyton Manning fan, have been for years.  This is the kicker though, the moment I knew the match up for the Super Bowl, I knew the Seahawks had it.

Let me tell you why, and I am sure you are so tried of hearing about the game because to many of you, you were saying it was "blah" game "It was a stupid game" etc. Well to me it was entertaining and it was football my favorite sport of all time.

First of all the Seahawks had something HUGE to go for. P.Manning is a great QB we all know this. But the Seahawks have been waiting 35 years for something like this. That's pretty big. Now lets talk about one of my favorite people lately...that was a lie...But R.Sherman. Everyone was so negative and saying we would only know him for his anger. Those people clearly don't watch football for the actual game. He has been playing great,hes a good team player. And sorry to say..lied again..I am not sorry...he proved again he brings his A game and he does it with his team mates. Need me to re cap that score for you? Seattle 43-Denver-8. Just sayin'.   The Seahawks have made a huge difference in their performance thanks to many people. How did anyone not think they were gonna rise out of the ashes..Stole that from a song.. sorry anyway how did they not know they were gonna finish what they started. How did all the sports casters and the football freaks that watch football for the GAME didn't  notice the improving QB for Seahawks,Mr.Wilson? Because he is not Peyton we all just assumed he would fail? What kind of football fans are ya'll!?!?

This is out of the mouth of a babe(not really) that LOVES the SPORT. I watch the players not because of their tight pants but for the GAME. I knew what the Seahawks had done all season. I actually watch all games. Peyton is amazing and this game will not make anyone doubt how good of a QB he is but we made a hype of someone who really had nothing to prove. We forgot about the little guy who had a poop load to prove and the drive to do it. He also had a team who had different reasons among themselves to play the game the way they should. This was SuperBowl baby!

R.Sherman "Mr. ghetto","Mr.Gangsta"..Hope the people who called him that are working on their college degree now after that lose.  Did one thing a lot of sports players forget to do....he left the drama he had been enduring all through the weeks and played one mean game of football. No over abundance of stupidity due to cockiness. No coach stuck their foot out...yes My Steelers coach did that..We all heard about that.  No rude comments from the very doubted QB,Wilson. They came,The played, They conquered! And I mean conquered!

I do love a tight score game but for some reason this game was not BLAH to me...Or boring. Or stupid. It was a "IN YOUR FACE" "WE GOT THIS" game and I like those too because when it comes down to it I am a die hard football fan. 

I would also like to shout out to the awesome inspiring Derrick Coleman. A deaf NFL player whose team made it to the Superbowl and say it with me..WON!!!
Do not let anyone ever tell you, You can not do something.

I am sad that Peyton and the Broncos didn't have more fight. I like the team I do. But on record...I did say right out of the gate the Seahawks had this game. Oh c'mon woman have to keep bragging when they are right about something involving "Mans territory" aka sports. =D

You won't see me bashing Peyton. Maybe the Broncos because it was a funny loss. But when it comes down to it. I stayed up for it. I had fun. Its one I will remember and I am glad the Seahawks made it!

Watch for my Steelers in it next year!! <3

Well done once again Seahawks. Seattle 43-Denver-8. Peyton is still a great QB. Patriots should still be sad by loosing Welker and he still is rough but will get there. Broncos still are a good team. Its over. The End.

FYI- The commercials were not great.(Work on that,companies!!) Half time was good. Better when the R.H.C.P were out there. And that is.. The End. Wait no. I have to say this. The car commercials make no sense!! Really. Show me a car that can fit groceries,2 kids,2 adults and 2 big dogs and you will get my attention, O.K? good. The End.

?Raven?

Hip hip horray the kids are fighting said no Mother ever.

It's just 8am and my kids have been fighting the whole 45 mins they have been awake.

A normal in my home.

A normal that I am tired of. And by tired I mean I am ready to crack open a beer,put on my flip flops,grab a beach towel,go to my room and pretend I am somewhere exotic! 

This morning I made a mistake though. I made it because I was not calm. I was at my wits end.

My daughter heard the heat kick on and laid down on the heater. My son went ballistic. That made her go ballistic. I then joined in on the fun because obviously its fun if they do it so much! I told my son "to leave her alone and stop being hateful towards her for no reason. She can lay where ever she wants. Its winter its a cold morning,shes still in pjs. If she is not bothering him then don't let her bother you." He then replies with "Rich no like Weeda(version of my daughters name thanks to my Son mispronouncing it) on heat" I out of anger and clearly not thinking said "Is Rich here!?" followed by "No,he's not"..... Mhm. Go ahead think it. My son then states again how Rich does not like it and tells  "Weeda" to not sit on it. I ignore him and in that moment I realize I am ignoring him because he is right.

Instead of explaining to him that he could nicely speak to her and tell her the rules or calmly tell me what she is doing wrong. He goes right into hateful tone,raised voice and a brewing fight. He also does not stop. As I type this he is telling her that if Rich gets home she will get in trouble. So they are still fighting. I went against Rich and got a outcome I still don't want.  I could have just calmly spoke to him so that hopefully he will start behaving in the same manner. I did the opposite. I got irate as well and broke a rule that he obviously has been listening very closely too,which he should!

Of course I wish he also followed the no fighting rule. 

The no touching things that are not yours rule.

The no....

Well you get where I am coming from the one rule that went against his sister he found,remembered,told,fought about and now won't forget. Yet other rules he seems to forget.

Children!!

Now I have to go explain that Rich is right and he has rules he likes the kids to follow even when he is not here. I need to explain the right way to communicate. And I need to get stronger coffee. 

Happy Saturday!

?Raven??

I won't pierce my daughters ears.

This is not a topic where I think there is a right or wrong. Actually most topics I never think that way.

My daughter is 4 and has her ears look like little girl ears. No holes in them. My reason. Its a little simple and little complex.

Girls are in a world where beauty and doing things to their body is the main stream. Life would be down right awful if girls couldn't dye their hair and get glitter bracelets and outfits that take the class out of what woman really stand for....Not that most of us allow our girls to do this but I know looks are important to 97% of 12 yr olds in away that just was not heard of when I was a kid.

Today 12 yr old's have make up,their phone is full of selfies,clothes are important to be tight... 
Let me set the picture for when I was 12... I wore overalls,had a tamagotchi pet clipped to my pants,had an obsession with backstreet boys and Boys meets world and my hair looked like I stuck my finger in a light socket over and over again. I had no phone to take selfie's and no reason too because boys were friends only,kissing was gross and I liked dealing with drama that only came from my parents. lol. 
Of course I agree times have changed for the worse but I could talk about that and whats wrong with America for hours.

Right now though a 2 month old with earrings is just nonsense in my eyes. Why do they need earrings that young? To make them cuter? So idiots who can never tell your child is a girl or boy can? So that they never get to make the choice themselves?
I understand toddlers. They get to ask and you get to have a cute time taking them. I get that. I am not the mom that will do it but I do get it.

Girls from a very early stage automatically think they need added beauty. Now I have my ears pierced twice. Once when I was 12 and once when I was 14 and why did I ask to have them done? Because I wanted to wear the pretty earrings. Not because I thought it would effect my looks. I was old enough to understand that. Plus getting them done later in life gave me the option to choose,for my parents to tell me my grades need to be higher before I can get them done and etc. 

 I want her to want her ears pierced for reasons that are good. Just like all you moms who really just think its adorable,your doing no harm and I am not out to get you with this post. 

Girls have enough pressure. They deal with enough things in life that have to do with looks.

I just think its not a priority. 
My daughter is gorgeous without her ears pierced. No one has thought she was a boy either. They wouldn't want to with a mom like me  by her side... =D

I have seen so many infections in babies ears because they don't understand to leave their ears alone or how to be careful. Again I am not against it I just don't think its a must.

I try not to judge,And for the most part I don't.  I just personally do not like it. I think its portraying the wrong image. I think its taking a risk when the child is really young. And I think its fun to do a girls day out when they are older. Or use it to your benefit if they have bad grades or something else going on that you can tell them no piercings till ___ gets dealt with.

I don't want my daughter growing up faster then she needs to.
 I know piercing a kids ears is not the big issue in society today or the big issue with girls thinking they need to be perfect but for now I'll keep it for the future. For when my daughter is older and understands just a little more.

?Raven?

Breaking a Mom.

This won't be a funny post or even one about anything in the tabloids. No advice. No tips. 

Today's post is what goes on in a Mothers head when she thinks shes failed as a mom.
 There is one certain way to break a mom,a true mom. That's her thinking she has failed her own kids.

My son's report card came in today. He's in kindergarten so it comes a bit differently then your average A-F for grades. It stated every place hes at,every test he has done..etc.

My son,my oldest...my only son... Came in on 3 out of 5 tests at a 2 yr old level. He will be 6 in April.
Let me take a moment to breathe.Cry. And continue. 

He has always had speech problems. Never were addressed until he was 3 and by that point my Ex husband was not winning father of the year awards and snapped at his speech teacher and his services ended. Then he went right into Kindergarten. I am not sitting here and blaming his dad. I am sitting here and blaming me. I should have stood up for him and I didn't. I did eventually which is why I divorced his dad.

Homework is a struggle. Anything learning is a struggle unless he wants too and its hands on. He still can't write his name. He can count though!! His math is lovely.  His reading and writing, not good. His following directions, not good. His attention span in school, not good. Apparently he can not sing either but neither can I. Gym he got a 3 on it all. Arts,3 on it all. Graded from 1-3.  

But when I turn the pages and read about is test scores. My body almost felt like it had shut down. I stood in my kitchen and I just let the tears flow. 
My kids are my pride and joy. But I have always had connection issues with my son and I have always known hes had learning issues. Put those together and I have no idea how to help him. I will stay up all night if it means I am helping him learn. I will do what ever I need too. 

First step is getting his eyes checked. But where do I go from there? How can I incorporate ALL that he needs to improve on into his daily life all before 7:30pm bed time? I printed off sheets for him during his vacation that he did fine. I made a 1-10 poster for his room. His carpet is a ABC's carpet.  I ask questions so he will answer. He's not spoiled so he knows how to follow directions. Yet hes still not where he needs to be and that scares me.

I feel like I failed as a mom.
I feel like there is nothing left for me to do if I can not even be a mom the right way.

I heard already how this is not my fault.
I don't understand how people can say that to me.
I am his mom. If he fails then that means so do I. So have I.

I'm angry. I'm angry that I can't just make him get this.I can't make him have close friendships because he talks like a 2 yr old does,which I think is unfairly stated on that report card... I might be bias but he can talk better then a 2 yr old!!


Determination will set in now and I will try my hardest to succeed as a mom. But I have days where I am just down. I have to feel like a good mom. You can tell me all the time how I am but I need to see it,feel it and believe it myself. I need to see it in my kids. Feel it for myself and believe it enough to not feel like I need to make changes. I am sitting here already making decisions. Changing how some things will be done. My son is a smart kid. I know it. I know he can do this.

If I could share my struggles with other parents it might help but I sit alone. My son and I are in one corner while the rest of the people we know are in another. No one else knows what I am going through it seems. I know there are moms and parents just like me but sadly I do not know any of them. My son is alone. That's what kills me. My son is fighting this battle too. 

There is so much more I could write on this. And I might. One day. For now. Changes.Determination and love. Hopefully by the spring report card I can update you and tell you his testing came back at a 5 yr old level. =D 

?Raven?
 

Richard Sherman-An opinion.

You know that moment when you are working out and that song comes on and you all of a sudden become a badass? 

Yea? Well I think R.Sherman of the Seahawks had that moment.....

*There will be some cussing in the post but nothing full blown harsh*

Catch you up,Check out what Richard Sherman said after beating the 49ers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFYuwWCqmeU 

Now if that was not bad enough he also did another interview I believe today..not sure but either way here how that went

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10203212396095006&set=vb.1361557732&type=2&theater

Yea. Bad. But I decided to write this because I almost think we are maybe blowing this out of the water....

First If I made millions..played in the NFL..Yea I would be a little-a lot cocky. 

Second: Should everyone be determined to be better? YES!!!!! He might be a pompus jerk but if that makes him better,stronger,a asset to his team ETC then why are we bashing that? Don't we want to be better? Shouldn't we have goals? 

Third: So he does not have a sensor between his head and his mouth. How many people can relate? *Raises hand*

And fourth: If there is more that we don't know about, like a fued or words that flew behind closed doors between him and other players..and that made him angry enough to fight like hell and his team the Seahawks making it to the super bowl. Then what is wrong with that??? 

Personally when I am angry I can lift more in weights then when I am not. When that song comes on my playlist and I just forget every pain I have and work out till that song is over. 
When I am involved in something I tend to want to be better and I want proof of that. Like with Sherman he has his numbers to prove he can play football.

I admired the whole game. They came back to kick some arse and made it to the Super Bowl. Thats cool.

We should want to be better then everyone else. Why the heck not?  Okay maybe because he is part of a team and needs to focus on other things. Hey I never said I agreed with him or liked him.


Now this is another spectrum about this whole thing...What happens if he was white?
I am positive no one would have said "He is hood talking" "He needs to remember where he is and not in the hood!" Comments like that are just showing how uneducated some of us are.

I think he is a bit pompous and probably needs to work on his socializing skills and how to communicate to reporters BUT I think he has potential to be what some of us have stopped caring about and that is to be great. To be great at what he does. And again really? Stop acting like you have some filter between your brain and your mouth...Please. =D

I am rooting for who ever wins in the super bowl because I happen to adore both teams. I am a Steelers fan till I die but they are not in it so back to reality.

And to be honest that second guy that interviewed him. I didn't care for his attitude. Lol..

Lets not hate the guy lets stop being racist with the comments. Lets realize this is who he is. Hes not killing anyone. Hes not a rapist. He is not a pedophile.He is not a arsonist.  He is just someone who is confident-cocky-arrogant and knows what he wants to say and says it.
Don't have to like him. 
Don't have to like the Sea-hawks.


?Raven?

Worth More

A lesson I learned.

We were waiting at the school for my son. She asked me if.."(Enter her fathers name) had other kids?" I told her, "Soon" and went back to reading some recipes. Next thing I know she asked me "Will he buy presents for that kid like he does me?" and I replied with "Probably" and again went back to people watching and off and on recipe reading. 2 mins later she then commented about how he buys her presents. Okay ignored that comment. Half a second later she states that she has already misplaced the clothes to her barbies(presents from her dad and his mom). I look up and start to think. She then hits me again.. "When I see (enter her fathers name) again will he have presents for me?" 

Now my kids are not materialistic. We can go to a store and they will only ask for a snack 97% of the time nothing else.

That's when it hit me. He is only worth what he buys to her. And even then its not worth it because at the righteous age of 4...she misplaces things,ruins things..etc. So the materials are temporary items in her life that exit in a short timing matter. Now before I continue I want you to understand I am deep down not okay with this mind set my daughter has. I am not okay with her thinking presents are a must. 

But lets be honest. My ex's mother has done the same thing to him for 26 yrs. Material items met more to him then anything. She then turned around and did it to my kids. Comments made by her were things like "I want them to like me" "I brought presents so they will remember me for next time"... Now that I look back I should have put my foot down and hard!!

On that note I will. No more gifts. If he can not see them regularly,love them normally without all the gifts then he is only worth the dollars he spends and when he comes across like that..it also means my kids time,hearts and value are not high on his list. 

I know your thinking, here she goes again about her ex. No. I have caught a few people doing similar things. Maybe not as serious as my ex and how he is portraying himself to his own kids but things that I have put my foot down about.

For instance I caught myself and my other half,Rich. We tend to tell the kids what we have bought for them recently when they get their attitudes with us or get mad at a toy.  Instead of stating what we have done emotionally,mentally and with them...We went right to the material things. We also kept forgetting to remind them of right and wrong. This is how a frustrated conversation went just a few months ago.

My son: "Stupid car! *slams door to his room* Comes out of his room *throws the car*...

Rich or I: "We just bought you that!! "

Another version that I can remember:

My son: "I'm mad at you!!"

Rich or I: "Fine then we will take everything we have bought for you back!"

Now in some cases taking away what kids like and enjoy is good resource for punishment but in this case we were making comments...comments that put our worth into dollars. Our heart is worth more then money could buy and we want them to understand that. Love is priceless. Being with family is better then anything from a store.

Now we say stuff like "I can only play with you if you use your listening ears" "Please do not throw things because your angry,one day you will miss that(enter toy) if it breaks after you throw it" and things like that.

Funny how things take time for parents to realize they some times cause their own problems when it comes to their relationships with their kids. Also what we instill into our kids. 

We as parents are worth more then the objects we buy our kids. Our time,love and devotion is the best thing we can ever give. 


*Some presents are of course going to be the best thing ever in our kids heads but should never top love.

?Raven?