KK's Sautéed Green Beans

Who doesn't love the sautéed green beans from their local Chinese restaurant? I could eat them all-day.  I decided to take a shot at them at home and they came out perfect on the first try!! Try these easy steps and be sure to let me know what you think.

Sautéed Green Beans
(serves 4)

Ingredients

1 12oz Pack of Birds Eye Steam Fresh Whole Green Beans

Quart sized bowl filled with ice and water
2-3 teaspoons Dry Minced Onions
2 tablespoons butter
salt and pepper

Directions

Cook beans in the microwave according to the package directions.  Carefully remove from the microwave and open bag. Transfer the beans to ice water to cool and then drain (be sure to remove any ice).

Over medium heat, melt butter in a sauté pan, add the minced onions, and stir.  Once the onions are soft, add the beans, tossing often. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Thanks for KeepinUpwKaren, until next time!
~K

KK's Zumba Fitness 2 House Party

Thanks to Majesco Entertainment and House Party, I was able to convert out garage into a fitness studio and the ladies came over for an afternoon of fitness, food, and fun.

 The Zumba 2 Party Pack

 It's time to Zumba

 Lot's of freebies and coupons were in the party pack. The magazine was a hit and the Zumba bands were given to those who arrived early.

 It's a finess party so I tried to provide healthy food.

White Chicken Chilli

Thanks for KeepinUpwKaren! Until next time!!

~K

Making Strides to end Breast Cancer - Atlanta, GA - October 29, 2011

Hopeology (n.) 1.The science of fighting cancer 2. A selfless act in which living caring individuals participate in fundraising and volunteer efforts to combat cancer through research, education and prevention. 3. The act of supporting all efforts to find a cure.

Please consider making a donation and supporting me for this worthy cause
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=23108392&pg=personal&fr_id=36158&fl=en_US&et=oKdLVsSnyEwIBckhhBiyWQ&s_tafId=803121

2.5 million breast cancer survivors are alive today in part due to money raised through Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Please help me increase that number by donating to my fundraising efforts today! Together we'll create a world with less breast cancer and more birthdays.

Donate Now
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=23108392&pg=personal&fr_id=36158&fl=en_US&et=oKdLVsSnyEwIBckhhBiyWQ&s_tafId=803121 .

Thanks for KeepinupwKaren and making an impact!

~K

Guess who's student of the day today???

I'd like to congratulate my son.  I just received a call from his school counselor (ok, my husband) to inform me that Champ was selected to be today's Student of the Day.  What an accomplishment considering he's only been at this school for five weeks!!

I think this is becoming a tradition. In Elementary School, he was always Student of the Month before Thanksgiving Break and last year he was awarded the School's Chararacter Education Award by the School District.  What an honor it is to be his mom!

Champ will be rewarded with a FREE slushie at lunchtime and he had the honor of having this announced during the morning announcements.

I feel so proud to be his mother, I wish I could run over to have lunch with him, but I am told that mom's cannot have lunch with their middle-schoolers, darn!

Thanks for KeepinUpWKaren, until next time!

~K

Happy Birthday to me - My anti-aging secret

Today is my birthday and I am 29 (again)!!  While we can't turn back the hands of time, we can take simple steps to reverse the aging process.  Those that know me know that I do not wear make-up, so what you see is what you get.  I am often asked "What do you use on your face?"  The answer is quite simple, just soap and water.  When it is time to exfoliate, I simply whip up a batch of my secret ingredients and create a facial scrub.  Then, I use the remaining product (with a slight modification) for a body scrub.  I do not recommend making a large batch and saving, use the product the same day you make it.

Here is the recipe, you may have everything on hand already.  I would love for you to try it and provide your feedback.

KK's Facial Scrub

1 Green Tea Bag
Boiling water
Sugar
Honey (I use the honey packets from fast food places)

1. Place the teabag into a mug, fill with boiling water, and let it steep.
2. Add a few tablespoons of sugar into a plastic bowl, add the tea, and stir until it makes a paste.
3. Add the packet of honey to the paste.
4. Once the mixture has cooled, apply to your face, scrubbing lightly in circular motion.
5. Pay special attention to the areas that have blemished and are prone to breakouts.
6. Splash your face with cold water and then pat your face with a towel to dry.

Any product remaining in the bowl can be combined with the rest of the tea and used as a body scrub.  I generally add more sugar to create a paste.  Then, I add my shower gel and some olive oil to the mix as well.  I use this on my daughter that has eczema (sans the shower gel) and it really cools and softens her skin.  The body scrub works wonders on dry and rough areas.  Try it on your knees, elbows, hands, and feet and see if you don't notice a difference right away.

This is my birthday gift to you, Enjoy!

As always, thanks for KeepinUpWKaren.  Until next time!

~K

Champ Goes to Middle School

May 2011 marked the end of an era.  My youngest completed 5th grade -- no more Elementary School for us.  As the Summer went on, I noticed that Champ was growing and changing in so many ways.  I had no choice but to prepare to let him go off to Middle School.

Champ is my sidekick, we are attached at the hip.  I am not sure if it was the attachment parenting classes that I took or what, but I wanted to hold on to his childhood forever.  When he was born, my oldest was 14 and the middle child was 12.  They had already become self-sufficient.  I really needed this baby in my life!  We [purposely] built a house with his Elementary School in our back yard.  This made it easy for me to go over during the day and check in on things, volunteer, have lunch, the list goes on.

Well now my baby is no more. He is a young man and he makes me proud of him each day.  I know that he will do great in Middle School, I am just trying to come to terms with the fact that mom's should not have lunch with their Middle Schooler's.  Yes, this is truly and end to an era.

Good luck Champ and mommy is here should you need me!

Thanks for KeepinUpWKaren, until next time.
~K

Keepsake Kanz - Harley Davidson

I helped my dear friend on this Harley Davidson Keepsake Kanz.  I was able to help out by using Sure Cuts a Lot 2 (SCAL2) and my baby bug to create the Harley Davidson logo.  Be sure to like her Keepsake Kanz page on FaceBook and check her selection often as she is hoping to have a few college logo and seasonal kanz available soon.

Thanks for KeepinUpWKaren, until next time.
~K