Irish Chicken and Dumplings

Hello Bloggers,

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR It is cold outside!!

Tonight I come to you with a recipe that will warm your soul!!! Goodness knows I couldn't resist it when I saw it and was needing something warm and yummy for dinner.
A couple of weeks ago I had bought a chicken- only because it was on sale and I thought "I have never tried cooking a CHICKEN!!!

So I started by boiling the chicken in a pot of water with salt and pepper to taste. I would recommend cooking it for 1-1 1/2 hours. The chicken will literally shred when you are done with it.
Once the chicken is shredded add that to the crock pot with the following ingredients:
1 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup

1 can of chicken broth


3 cups water

1 cup chopped celery

2 onions, quartered

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
 
5 carrots, sliced


1 (10 ounce) package frozen green peas

4 potatoes, quartered
 
Cook this till it is a rolling boil. This will probably take 2 hours.
 
While the soup is cooking mixture together the dumpling mix from Bisquick. When the soup is boiling drop in the dumpling mix in and let it cook for 10 minutes.
 
Enjoy this yummy recipe!!

Home Once Again

Good Evening,

As I write this post I am sitting in front of a roaring fire with Wrigley on one side and a glass of wine on the other. In my opinion a great way to end the long weekend.  Is there a specific location or regime that you follow when you write your posts??? I would love to hear about them.

We are home from another holiday visiting family for Thanksgiving. We are grateful to of had so much time with our loved ones and for our safe arrival and return.  We were able to see lots of family, and see some of Joe's friends while we were back in Albia.

I always look forward to Thanksgiving because I view it as the opening ceremony for many family gatherings and lots of holiday decorating. Today we got our Christmas tree, did some decorating and I couldn't be happier to be in my home. I think it is true Home is where the Heart is.

I am digging the smell of our real tree right now, I always do! It is so symbolic of the holiday season kicking off.  Our house is full of that sweet pine smell right now and I am already looking forward to heading out the door tomorrow to the sweet smell of our tree.

If you have a real tree this year I have a tip for you.Put 3 tablespoons of sugar in your water mixture 1-2 weekly when you are watering your tree. It will keep it soft and alive.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Later on this week I will be posting:
-Irish Chicken and Dumplings
-The Haluska Home decorated for Christmas!
-Video Log

If you are a new follower to this blog feel free to become a follower of this blog!!!!
Have a great Monday everyone!

A Time For Giving and A Time For Thanks

Good Evening Bloggers,

I hope you are staying warm on this November evening! The weather has taken a dramatic turn as yesterday it was in the 70's and today it is in the 30's only one word comes to mind with this swift change and that is
BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

I am not a cold weather person but I am trying to embrace it as I know I have many cold winters ahead of me with things like boots, scarves, and hats!! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

Tomorrow we leave to celebrate Thanksgiving with some of our families (sorry Turners you will be missed and we cant wait to see you in the weeks to come) We will head to Indianola tomorrow afternoon and then off to Albia on Thursday afternoon. Joe and I have a tradition to hit up the Black Friday shopping together. I am so appreciative that we carve out this time during holidays for one another. Saturday we will be heading back to Davenport because on Sunday we are getting our Christmas Tree!!!!!!

Tonight I come to you with things I am thankful for and things I want to give:

I am thankful for my home that shelters me, welcomes me home, and supplies me with endless projects to tackle.
I would like to extend a big invitation to all family and  friends and say that I would like to give you an anytime invitation to the Haluska Home in Davenport, Iowa.

I am thankful for the family that I have that loves unconditionally, that makes time to spend with Joe and I, and that has helped us be the people we are today.
I would like to give my family an ounce back of the love that they have showed me.

I am thankful for my husband. Yes I know this is cliche but as I have learned this year life is so very precious and you shouldn't go a day without looking at your loved one and showering them with words of love.
I would like to give my husband my unconditional support. You are inspire me with your work ethic and you tenacity for life. CARPE DIEM Mr. Haluska!

I am thankful for memories. As I think back over the last 12 months I have some very found memories and I am cherish them whether they are from planning the wedding, spending time with family and friends, or from my garden being wilded away from a dirt virus they are special and they have made 2010 a blessing.
I would like to give memories to my family and my husband. I hope to continue the traditions and look forward to starting new one.

I am thankful for my momma. When I call my mom, momma this makes my grammie laugh so I am doing this for her. She has had a tough road parenting me by herself and I am thankful that she has stuck through all the good and bad with me.
I would like to give my mom my appreciation. You have always put me first and now you put Joe and I first. You are the purest form of unconditional love.

Finally I want to give thanks for life. The last 12 months have gone by so fast and at some times I am saddened because they seem like a blur. Other moments have had a lasting impression on me like the moment I walked down the isle to marry Joe, stepping off the plan in St. Lucia, juggling work and the responsibilities of being a wife, to enduring loss of loved one, seeing the pain it has caused in loved one, the loss of friendships, or the simple fact of Wrigley chewing one more sock. They all make up my life and I am grateful. Life is the mixing bowl of  good, bad, raw, and beautiful.

I wish all my blog readers a very blessed Thanksgiving. I hope that your time is precious with your families and that you are able to stop and smell the yummy turkey!!!

Happy Birthday Joseph Steven Haluska!

Happy Birthday Joseph Steven Haluska

27 years isn't looking so shabby!!!!!

 The brothers getting ready to head out for an afternoon of football and wings!!! Cant get much better than that!

Heading out for Joe's birthday celebration with friends

Happy Birthday to my best friend and hubby- Joe!!!!

You make me so proud to be your wife! This is our first birthday as husband and wife and I cant wait for all the future ones we will have together. You are a man that loves unconditional and that inspires others to do the same. You are a man that works extremely hard to accomplish your goals and for your loved one. You are a man that shows the ability to show kindness and consideration at difficult times. You are a husband that takes your vows seriously and reminds me everyday why marriage is worth the work. You are a husband that protects and supports which is priceless.

We love you Joe Haluska, thank you for blessing us with you love and companionship.
Your Wife- E

What's On The Agenda!!!!

Good Morning Bloggers,

Happy Friday and I wish all of you a very happy and joyful weekend!!!!!!

Well I thought I would give you an update on what's being going on with the MR and the MRS.

This has week had literally BLOWN by, where did the time go I remember waking up Monday morning and that seems like it was just yesterday! Don't get me wrong though I am grateful to see the arrival of the weekend. HELLLOOOOOOOOOOO FRIDAY!!!!!

We have alot of fun things on the agenda for the weekend. Joe's brother Mikey arrives tonight for the weekend and we cant wait- we love having house guests!!!!!
Joe's project at work went out this week so he is ready for the weekend as well!! Hopefully he can cut out of work early today and enjoy some ESPN!!!!! YOU ROCK HUBBY THANKS FOR WORKING SO HARD.

And you might be wondering what today holds for me. . .. Well typically on my Friday's off I enjoy a cup of coffee and watch the TODAY show!!! Then I tackle laundry and cleaning! This afternoon I am getting the big SNIP SNIP- a HAIRCUT I am debating on what to do, I have to different styles picked out so you who knows what I will decide to do!!!!!

Saturday the boys plan to watch some of the football games and I plan on heading to MENARDS they are having a great sale on Benjamin Moore paint (thanks Poppy for this hint hint) and I WILL BE WALKING OUT WITH PAINT no second guessing or looking again I am making a decision.
Up for Saturday night I must keep that under wraps since it involves the HUBBY!!!!!! If you read this blog you probably already know the deal!

Also I haven't mentioned our other housemate and that is WRIGLEY aka THE WRIGSTER. He is currently attending K9 University for dog obedience. He is progressing and reminds every Tuesday night that a puppy is a puppy until they are 2- guess that means we have another year of puppyhood to muddle through! One of the main things we are working on is that when guest come to the door getting Wrigley to stay in one place and not hound the people coming through the door. That task is still a work in progress but we have faith in him!!!! WE also have to wish Wrigley a HAPPY BIRTHDAY he turns one the same day that Joe turns 27-how ironic?

So that is what is on the agenda for this weekend!! Is there anything you are looking forward to for the weekend?????

Have a great one!!!!!!!!!

Here It Is The Big News!!

Hello Bloggers,

I apologize I have not been a good blogger this week. I had plans for posts the past couple of nights and the time gas gotten away from me and I have lagged on my posts this week.

But here it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am going to start a new feature on this blog. And that is on Mondays I would like, oh wait let me say LOVE to feature posts from other bloggers. At times when I have been blogging I can feel like I am the only one writing and reading my blog and in recent months the doors have opened and I have really started to enjoy blogs and learning pieces about the bloggers that write them and what a better way to begin by inviting them to share a bit about themselves with you.

I have questions that I will give to the bloggers that I feature that will give you a glimpse into their lives and into their blog.

So the question is who is going to be my first guest blogger??????????????????????????

COME ONE COME ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have you thought about blogging but haven't taken the plunge yet? Did you recently start a blog and are looking for a way to get connected, do you have a mission or a topic that you are passionate about and want to spread the news??????????????? Well this is a great opportunity for you to jump in the WIDE WORLD OF BLOGGING!!!!! Leave a comment if you would like to be featured or you can email me at erinturner26@gmail.com.

I have one last surprise, A special gift for my first blogger. . . . The book by BLOG BAKERELLA
CAKE POPS!!!!!!!

Also I have to give a shout out to my friend Keli, she was the first to squeal about the big announcement I know she was thinking it was going to be something different and it was fun laughing about it at work. Keli all good things come in time- it will be here before we know it!!!!!! Love ya!!!!

Weekend Recap

Good Evening Bloggers,

Hope you all had a great weekend!!! WE DID!
It was a long one since I have been off of work since Thursday Whoot Whoot.

Thursday night my mom came into town and spent the night at our house!! She spoiled us with goodies from Trader Joes!! Thanks Momma! Please come back for another visist very soon!

Friday my grandparents, mom, Joe and I went to dinner and a movie. We saw "Morning Glory" with Harrison Ford, Rachel McAdams, and Diane Keaton. It is about a morning news show. We all thought it was pretty good and enjoyed being out together.

Saturday, Joe did some football watching and I did some SHOPPING. I needed some new clothes for work desperately bad. Saturday night we headed over to Joe's friend from college. He moved here about a year ago and recently became engaged so we had lots to catch up on. We had a great time and if you haven't played Rock Band I would recommend it I am not a big "GAMER" but we all did this and it was so much FUN!! Lots of laughing and good music!

Today I was a little bit under the weather but we did manage to run some errands and Joe raked our backyard. Today alone he had 6 FULL bags- to date I think he is at 17 bags. YIKES!!!!
This week we have full plates at work and at home. We head back to K9 University  aka Dog School for Wrigely on Tuesday night. And I will be getting ready for Mr. H's big birthday weekend!!!! Sorry I cant share any more details since he frequents this website daily!!

Have a great Monday everyone and up for tomorrow's post: EXCITING NEWS!!!!!