Happiness Challenge Day 3

Day 3 is Rearrange Your Furniture!

I live in a small apartment with lots of stuff and no room to rearrange furniture. If you do also, maybe rearrange your kitchen cabinets, your bath or linen closet, any closet, or bookshelves. There are many things you can move around that will make you feel better and happier.
Maybe change out some picture frames, take out the old ones and put in some pics. That is what I am doing.

Happiness Challenge Day 2

Do you exercise? I know, it is a much hated word in my book. Did you know even ten minutes of exercise a day releases endorphins that make you feel happy? So...

Day 2- Exercise

It can be a 10 minute walk, ten minutes of any kind of exercise will work. Challenging you to just try it.
As most of you know, I am handicapped and in a wheelchair some of the time. My mobility is like 70% gone. So the doctors have told me to walk, walk, walk. That is so hard for me and I am a big slacker when it comes down to it. But I took a ten minute short walk with hubby this morning and guess what? Yes, I was tired, but Happy! It makes me feel like I accomplished something good.
I will continue to walk daily til it gets too cold for me to, and hopefully build up some strength in my legs. Plus it helps me lose weight, and that is always a plus.
Extra plus- loving this Fall weather. It is so beautiful out. Have an amazing Tuesday!

Afterwards, sit outside for a few minutes also. How is your weather- just beautiful here- sunny and high 70s.

Happiness Challenge

I am starting today doing the 365 day Happiness Challenge. I feel like I need it. A little happiness in my day is worth a lot to me.
I hope you will follow along with me.

Day #1
Wear one of your favorite things today. 

Even if you are just at home doing nothing, put on something special. It can be a dress, gown, pj's, top, apron, shoes, socks, scarf, nail polish... whatever , as long as it makes you happy.

I am going to wear my favorite scarf today. Purple is my favorite color, so it's only right that I wear it to make me happy. I have to do some errands and this outfit I wore out with hubby will be perfect for this chilly morning. By the way, I love scarves and have about 40.

Please leave a comment showing or telling me your favorite thing you are wearing today. You can also comment on this page on Facebook here- https://www.facebook.com/lilmaddiesmeemaw/.

I'm back- for good this time.

I have missed blogging so much. I think about it all the time. I have been seriously busy with chaos at home this year, Sweeping, doing surveys and watching videos to make extra money, and praying....lots of praying.
I will be changing things up a bit this time. So please come on back and follow me. Missed you all!

Are you a reader?

Are you a reader?

I have loved books for as long as I can remember. My Mom used to take me to Houston Memorial library when I was a young child in the early 60's. It was a huge old house with giant white columns, a mansion I guess you would call it in our small town. We would both get books every Saturday morning. When I turned 12, I was allowed to have my own library card and go by myself. Back in those days, a kid could walk anywhere in town and be safe. It was exciting to me. I could not wait to get home and dive into a Nancy Drew novel and be part of her adventure, or visit a faraway place in another book.
Books have taken me places I'll never see, introduced me to characters that seem to be friends by the end, and told me love stories that make me believe anything is possible. I wish my granddaughters were readers, but out of five girls, each one would rather be doing more active things.
Books make me laugh, cry, think, and want to live my life in a new and better way, I have a kindle full of unread books, yet I always go for the hardback or paperback. It is what I love. It comforts me. The battery doesn't die and I love it. If you are a reader, we in some small way- have a connection. If not, you are missing so much. A reader I am, and a reader I hope to always be.

Monday Meals

Sorry guys, first hubby was sick and then I got it.

Today's recipe is from Amy over at The Idea Room. I have seen it floating around Facebook and Pinterest and had to try it. It was So easy and SO good. Hubby and I both loved it.

Baked Ravioli

1 bag (25 Oz. Bag) Frozen Ravioli with meat
1 jar (26 Oz. Jar)  Marinara Sauce (I used spaghetti sauce because I had it already)
2 cups Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
Parmesan Cheese for garnish

1. Pre­heat oven to 400°F. Spray a 9×13 rectangular baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Spread ½ cup to ¾ cup of the pasta sauce in baking dish.
3. Lay ½ of the frozen ravioli in a single layer over the sauce; top with some of the marinara sauce and half of the mozzarella cheese.
4. Repeat layers again, and use up the rest of the ingredients.
5. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. 6.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
7. Remove foil; bake uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes longer or cooked and heated all the way through.
8. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Eat and enjoy!

Spouse's Day

Today is National Spouse's Day so I am dedicating it to my spouse and best friend- Robert.

Robert is not only my husband, but my best friend. We have no secrets - none. We know each other better than we know ourselves. He is an all around great guy. Hardest worker I know. Of course, he is a man, so he is not perfect, lol. He has his flaws and vices, as we all do. I just love him as he is.

He is not my first husband. I married my first right out of high school, had two sons, and we eventually decided we wanted different things- I wanted adventure and travel and he wanted a younger woman of a different race that he worked with. We both got what we wanted. Funny thing is my ex and Robert even get along great. They painted the inside of my son's house together, they went to hockey games and ball games together, we all do Holidays together... Robert gets along well with everyone. Most people really like and respect him.

The best thing about my husband is that he builds me up instead of tearing me down, and I know some of you will say "Yeah right", but I Know this man loves me. He shows me every day. He loves my sons and he really loves our grandchildren. They know no difference- they are just blessed with an extra grandpa that loves them. When I got sick and had to have my transplant, we went through that together. I was in the hospital six weeks with complications ( and 3 major surgeries), and he was there daily. He came to the hospital every day after work (a 45 minute drive) and spent the night- then got up about 3 AM to go home, shower, and go back to work. He has been by my side since day #1. I love him more than words can say.

My new blog Day #1

Well, I have missed blogging so much. I really wish I could delete all my old blog posts and start over, but something tells me not to do that. I have never had the blog I wanted because I did not blog for me. This new start is all about me and my life. It will have Sunday Stories, Monday meals and recipes, Tuesday anything goes, Wednesday Weigh in and diet talk, Thankful Thursday, Friday photos, and Saturday links. Mixed in will be reviews, book talk, a daily journal prompt and reply, giveaways, and lots more things that I want to do for me. I really hope you will join me in this journey called life.

Monday Meals #1

CHILI PASTA SALAD
 (from www.simplystacie.net)

I found this on Simpystacie. net a few years ago and it a a favorite of ours! Please try it and tell me what you think! Then visit www.simplystacie.net and check out her blog.

• 4 cups uncooked bowtie pasta
• 1 tbsp cooking oil
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 green pepper, chopped
• 1  can stewed tomatoes
• 1  can kidney beans, drained & rinsed ( I use dark kidney beans)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/8 cup lime juice
• 1  package chili seasoning 

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and put in a large bowl. Set aside.
2. Heat the cooking oil in a large saucepan on the stove over medium heat. Add in ground beef, onions and green pepper. Cook until beef is browned and vegetables are softened.
3. Stir in package of chili seasoning mix. Add in stewed tomatoes and kidney beans and stir together. Remove from heat and set aside.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice and garlic. Add the mixture to the bowtie pasta and stir to combine. Add the chili into the pasta mixture and stir together. Serve warm or chilled.

HAVE AN AWESOME MONDAY!

AGAIN

Starting over beginning tomorrow!!!! Jan 23, 2016