Tasty Tuesday: Warm the Oven! Savory Chesse Dip Mix

Wow, I haven't done a Tasty Tuesday in almost 2 months, I need to get on the ball!! I wanted to do this one on an item that will be discontinued when the Spring/Summer line goes away on August 31st. It is the Warm the Oven! Savory Cheese Dip Mix!!! This has been a favorite of mine since I first started selling Tastefully  Simple and I have tried it in some many different ways but my favorite way to eat it is directly as a cheese dip. Just add 8 oz of cream cheese and bake to enjoy the flavors of onion, tomato, garlic and spices. Each box includes two packets and it is great served with crackers or some crusty French bread. Each package makes about 8 servings.

Here are some suggestions for using the Warm the Oven! Savory Cheese Dip:
1) Add 14 oz. can drained, chopped artichoke hearts before heating.
2) Spread prepared cold dip on fl our tortillas; top with deli meats or chopped vegetables. Roll; chill 2 hours. Cut in half for wraps or slice into pinwheels.
3) Stuff prepared cold dip into stemmed mushroom caps; sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until mushrooms are tender.
4) Spoon 3-4 Tbsp. warm pizza sauce over baked dip before serving.
5) Spread prepared cold dip on pre-baked pizza crust; top with diced tomatoes, cooked chicken, artichoke hearts, peppers and a sprinkle

A few recipes that I have tried:
Game Day Bean Dip
(My notes: I served it with Doritos and it was so yummy!!)
Savory Crab and Pasta
(My notes: Use REAL crab, not imitation!!) 

The Warm the Oven! Savory Cheese Dip Mix runs for $7.49 for a box that contains two .75 oz packages. You can order this product and many others by visiting my website: Jaime's Tastefully Simple Website Remember, this product will retire on August 31st, so order yours today!!!!!  

MilSpouse Fill In Friday #9

Here are this week's Friday Fill In questions from Wife of A Sailor If you are a blogger, follow her and join in the fun. If not, please share your answers in the comment section of my blog. I would love to hear what everyone has to say!!

1. If you could be a fugitive from the law for whatever reason, what would your crime be?
   It be for assault since I would love to beat the garbage out of every pedophile out there!! 
   
2. How long do you think you will be a military family? I am hoping for only 11 more years since that is what hubby needs for his 20 year mark but more than likely it will be longer than that. Who knows where life will take us!!
   
   
3. What’s your favorite recipe? I actually have 2 and they are both for something sweet. I featured them both in the Tasty Tuesday section of my blog. The first is Banana Bread , it is actually a Paula Deen recipe and I make it at least every 2 weeks!! My other favorite is another Paula Deen recipe and it is Ooey Gooey Cake. I prefer the pumpkin version of this recipe and make it often, especially when I have a pot luck to go to!! 
   
4. What would you want your last five words to be when you leave this life? Mom.....the Meatloaf!!! Just kidding and I know that is only 3 words. I think they would be "Always be good to yourselves".
   
   
5. Where do you hope to retire? My dream would be to retire anywhere relatively close to my family. However, I know that probably won't happen so we have been throwing around somewhere near the Smoky Mountains or somewhere in northern Florida. 

Heartwarming Homecomings

I am beat but I am trying to get back into my regular routine of blogging so I thought I would do a "quickie" tonight by sharing something special with you!!

My awesome friend USNchic started an awesome section in her blog called Heartwarming Homecomings. As military spouses, we all know that the best part of deployments, temporary duties or really any signifcant time away, is the homecoming. She is asking that people share their amazing homecoming stories as well as any pictures they have from that special time. She even created a Facebook page for it which you can find by click here:  Heartwarming Homecomings Facebook Page.

If you would like more information on how to share,  click here Heartwarming Homecomings. Thank you so much for boing this my awesome friend!!!

Bad Mommy...or am I?

Sometimes I hate the fact that my Irish temper shines through and I get so angry with my kids about random things in life. I have been known to put my kids in the corner with their arms to their sides, give out a spanking or two and even once use a wooden spoon to get the point across. While my children mind very well, I hate that they flinch every time I raise my voice at them for being naughty. It hurts my feeling and it makes me feel like a bad mommy that my kids are basically afraid of me.....

Until tonight, that is......

Tonight, I got a true lesson as to why I am the way I am and why I discipline my kids as such.  I have never kept my kids on an extremely tight leash. I like to let them explore the world around them and experience what life has to offer. If they get dirty, oh well, we have a washing machine. If they get a "boo-boo", Mommy will always be there to kiss it and make it better. If they have a question, I will always answer it. That is how I do things as a Mom but you can be rest assured that if you do something that will potentially injure yourself after being told not to do or how to do it the correct way, the "drill sergeant" is going to come out.

We decided to meet Nanny and Poppa for ice cream done by the lake. We have been spending a lot of time down there as the kids really enjoy all there is to do in that area. As we were saying goodbye, we were waiting at the crosswalk to cross an extremely busy intersection, when Jordan decided she wanted to let go of my hand and start trying to cross the street alone. I have never reacted faster in my life. I swiftly scooped her up in my arms and proceeded to lecture her in the middle of God and everyone, not giving a damn who stared, whispered or had something to say. The look of fear on her face was not of what she did, it was of Mommy's anger and she anticipated the spanking that was soon to follow. To be honest, had we not been in the midst of a police officer, I probably would have tore her hiney up right then and there. But I decided to wait until we got to the van.

However, by the time we got to the van, I was cooled off and had no desire to spank her. Instead, I took the opportunity as a teaching moment for both of my kids and had a conversation with them about the importance of holding Mommy's hand when cars are around (again). I am hoping that with how scared she made herself, me and even Noah, we can all learn a lesson from this.

After sitting and reflected upon the day, I find myself stuck on that moment and can't help but to wonder....is it a good thing my kids are so afraid of me? or is it something that will affect my relationship with them in the future? It worries me so much that I am going to screw them up somehow!! Lord, why didn't you send them with instruction manuals????

MilSpouse Friday Fill-in

I have missed the last few weeks but I really want to get back into the swing of things. So here are this week's Friday Fill In questions fromWife of A Sailor If you are a blogger, follow her and join in the fun. If not, please share your answers in the comment section of my blog. I would love to hear what everyone has to say!!

1. What is ONE thing you’d like civilians to understand about being a military family? Being apart never gets easier no matter how many times you have to do it, for no matter how long the time apart is and what the circumstances are. Despite the fact that we "opted" to be a military wife, it doesn't make our time apart any less significant than your spouse being away for an extended trip.

2. What is your favorite mistake? Telling my closest friend that I has a crush on my husband (who barely knew me at the time). While I was away one weekend, they attend a get together and she blurted out that I liked him. It all went from there!!

3. What indulgence could you give up for a year? Gosh....I think probably chips. I have a huge chip "fetish" but I think I could give them up if I could have popcorn or maybe peanuts in their place

4. If you could be a winged animal, what would you be? I would be a Pegasus. They are such a beautiful creature despite being mythical.

5. What is one question you’d like to see asked in a future MFF? If you could have any job in the world regardless of money, degree or experience, which job would you have and why?

What's Up Wednesday

Wow, it has been a while since I have blogged. We are still in NY and I find it difficult to sit down to blog, wanting to spend every moment I can doing things with or for my family. I have truly enjoyed our time here the last few weeks and while I haven't had a chance to catch up with old friends other than at the reunion, the bonding time that I have been afforded with my nieces has made me extremely happy. It has been so awesome to see the kids play together but in the same breath, it makes me sad that we live so far away and will probably never live close enough for them to be regular fixtures in our lives. Who knows what God's path will be for us though.....we shall see!!

The kids have been doing amazing here. Little Princess is speaking better and better every day and I frequently get comments from people on her speech in correlation to her age.  She cracks me up with the frequent mix ups of who people are; calling all the boys Uncle Corey, calling my mom's Yorkie-Poo Beau "Zoe" (which is one of my best friend's yellow lab's name), calling my dad Nanny-Poppa instead of just Poppa. It is all overwhelming for such a little person. But she adores her cousins and has become a partner in crime with Matilda!! They are inseparable and always have to be doing the exact same thing!! It is like having a twin sister for both of them!!

Little Man has truly blossomed being here. He is becoming such a little person now, not a baby, not a toddler but a little person. He helps with chores around the house, looks out for the girls and generally keeps out of trouble. Of course we have had a few bad days here and there but overall, I have been really pleased with him and his behavior here. He has really taken to my older brother and wants to constantly spend time with him. It is ironic too because when Little Man was little, he was afraid of him. Every day with him makes me sadder and sadder that he is starting school when we get back home but it will do him a world of good and I look forward to hearing his stories!!

As for the Hubby, he is extremely busy especially now that E7 results are out. He is sponsoring someone this year so it will keep him busy. Between school, work and sponsoring activites, it is a good thing we are gone because we would hardly see him.

We head back to NC on the 30th and then busy life starts!! Until then, we have several plans made and I am still hoping to at least catch lunch with a few friends!! I will do my best to blog a bit more but I am not promising anything....LOL!!