'Finish This' Week 23

It's that time of week; Finish This! I skipped last week. Why, you ask? Well, I skipped last week because my little mind could not wrap it around the tougher questions. Let's hope this week my brain will cooperate. 

1- The best compliment I ever received... was that I am a good mom! I am no where near perfect, golly gee, who is? I yell, my girls have learned all their curse words from me, I rarely sit and play with my kids, I don't make them eat a healthy diet, and I could go on and on. On the flip side I am very honest with them, I teach them right from wrong and pray that they hear me, I make them laugh, and make sure they have everything they need. In addition, I already survived raising 3 kids that I married into. As a family we went through a lot and we all survived. Two of the boys became Navy officers and our daughter is married with a child of her own. So I guess I am a good mom. 

2- Wearing red lipstick makes me feel....like a ghost wearing lipstick! I am so pale that I feel like red lipstick is the only thing that people see when I have ever worn it. 

3- The best investment I've made... was marrying my husband. I'm not kidding, hands down best ever investment. He took this girl out of the ghetto's of Mesquite, Texas. Ha, ha, just kidding about the ghetto. Well, not really, but that is not why he is the best investment. We marry well together! 

4- My best childhood memory... is running the streets with my neighbor friend, climbing trees barefoot and walking down to Joe's Convenience Store to buy candy; even though my mama told me I was not allowed. We would chase the snow cone truck and sometimes buy two and gobble them up before our parents found out. Oh my, how times have changed. 

Happy Father's Day to Daddy Fauci

This year Father's Day is June 15th and my kids and I planned something special for the man of the Fauci house. Instead of spending money on something that the dad of the household would not like, enjoy or need, we made a sweet video. So Happy Father's Day to Daddy Fauci! 

My kids and I are extremely lucky to have such a great, funny and awesome dad. Our big family is what it is today because of the daddy of the Fauci household. 

Penne Pasta With Meatballs

I have a weakness for pasta, therefore we don't make it too often in our home, but when we do... we eat it up! Since I was cooking for my girls I made sure to make it 'kid friendly'; aka simple, but good. 

Sauce: I make a simple sauce that includes 2 cans of sauce, 1 can of paste, fresh tomatoes and seasonings. Season your sauce to suit your taste buds. I use a combination of garlic salt, regular salt, pepper, Italian Seasoning, and Oregano. 

After your sauce has brewed with your meatballs and your noodles have cooked it is time to layer the goodness. After I spray my pan, I start with the meatball sauce mix on the bottom, add noodles, add cheese and then repeat. 

Bake at 350 degrees for around 20 minutes or until the glorious cheese bubbles. 

The Girl Behind the Blog

I am borrowing Ricci's idea from Imperfectly Ricci today. For those that do not know me, I thought that today would be a great day to tell you a few things about me that might interest you or even surprise you, so sit back, grab some corn, and get ready to become fascinated! On a side note, before we begin, Ricci has given us all permission to grab her logo and do our own 'The Girl Behind the Blog', so have fun! 

• I am the youngest of three girls and I have to say that I am the funniest and easiest going out of all of us. However, I will have to say that my mama gave birth to three of the most talented girls. From sewing to acting to photography to playing the viola to writing to creating custom designed children's clothing and accessories we are pretty darn awesome! Sadly, we are 'that family' that for whatever reason does not visit one another and rarely speak to one another. I can't quite figure out why that is. 

I'm in the pink  & was unknowingly pregnant w Bella. This was at our mom's memorial. Leave it up to me to wear pink at a memorial service.  

• I graduated the top 10% in my high school class. Sadly, I had no desire to go to college, nor do I now. In addition, I did not have any guidance on how to go to college, so I just got a job and worked my butt off and became independent at the age of 17. I believe in college but I also believe in technical training and on the job training. 

• I used to have a 'real job' at a company that I worked at for over 13 years and then when my second child was born I became a SAHM. Less than a year later I started my own business - Sassy Bratz Boutique - and a few months later started a home daycare. I think I was born to work one way or the other. 

• I am a pretty open minded person. Don't get me wrong, I have my beliefs and my opinions BUT I can listen and respect the opinions of others. I believe that we can all learn from one another and that we are all different for a reason. I will never understand how people cannot befriend those that do not have the same beliefs as themselves. People are people and God did not intend for all of us to think the same. 

• Growing up I was a Camp Fire Girl. I loved selling Camp Fire candy every year, it was so good! 

• I am a girl, but not a normal girl. You won't see me getting my nails and toes done except for maybe once or twice a year. I might get my hair cut once a year and I color it with a box of dye from the grocer. I hate massages of any kind and I don't care if I have panty lines. It's just me. 

• I have to say that I am a super nice person and I genuinely care about people; even those I do not really know.  If someone ever needs something I try to find a way to get them what they need and make their lives easier. I'm a born problem solver. 

• I watch scary movies with my hands over my face but peeking between my fingers. 

• Over the years I have created a hard shell, but inside my shell I am sometimes quite sensitive. 

These are just a few things about this 'girl behind the blog'... there is so much more to this girl, tho, so stay tuned.. maybe I will create a part 2! 

Crunchy Doritos Chicken - A 'House of Fauci's' Pin It or Forget It

I am always looking for different ways to prepare chicken strips, especially kid friendly recipes. Of course I seeked the wisdom of Pinterest and found the perfect recipe. I stumbled upon a recipe called 'Doritos Crusted Chicken' that was inspired by blogger Spend With Pennies. This recipe looked like a great kid friendly chicken recipe; especially since it included Doritos! 

I renamed it- Crunchy Doritos Chicken

What I love about this recipe is that it is simple with very few ingredients and it has Doritos and my entire family loves Doritos. 

Spice up your chicken with your favorite seasonings. I used a taco season, salt and pepper. In a Ziplock bag, add a couple of handfuls of Doritos and crunch them up. They don't need to be tiny pieces but not too big. In a separate bowl mix one egg and some milk. (I don't measure) Dip the seasoned chicken into the egg/milk mix and then put the dipped chicken in the Doritos Ziplock bag and coat the chicken; you may want to double dip and double coat for added crunch. Place on your cooking pan and reseason for added flavor. 

Bake at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Remove from oven and enjoy the crunchy goodness! After my family tasted this meal, we all decided that the Crunchy Doritos Chicken, aka Doritos Crusted Chicken is a .....

'American Girl' Dolls - A House of Fauci's Discussion

If you are a mom, grandma, aunt etc... to a little girl you have probably heard of the American Girl  store. Growing up I loved to play with dolls of all kinds. I played with dolls that could pee and dolls that could swim in the bathtub (retail value $10-$15). It was not until my Lexi was born in 2005 that I had heard of an American Girl doll; thank you Nana.

For those that know me, I am cheap. When I go shopping for clothes, I go straight to the Clearance section and when I have a chance to clip coupons I clip them and I get giddy when I get FREE stuff. With that said, I cannot wrap my mind around a doll that costs $75 plus. I just can't do it! I love my girls and I love their creativity when it comes to playing mommy and playing house, but I think they can do that just as good with a doll from Target that costs $20 (or less). So with this mindset of mine, how is it that my girls now own around 5 American Girl dolls each (except for little Bella- she has 1)?

I cannot take the credit for why my girls have ended up with so many dolls. The credit goes to my husband and his mom. When my Lexi and Gia were younger their Nana got them a Bitty Baby to share. At this time I had no idea how much that doll cost and when I found out I was amazed and did not want the girls to touch it, but had to let them. Before my youngest was born or even thought of, my husband wanted to get the girls their first (and in my head-- their only) American Girl doll. Even though I knew the cost of two dolls would really hit the pocket book, I stood aside and let it happen. They were thrilled and truly loved those dolls. 

Years later their Nana, who I might add has an AMAZING talent for finding bargains joined an American Girl doll Facebook group. With her talent she was able to wrangle up each of the girls 4 more American Girl dolls (Not the littlest one, she is too little). She surprised them with one for Christmas and then could not wait any longer and surprised them with the others a few months later. (I wish she would spaced them out, but she is the Nana, it is her decision). Then a few more months later when my middle child heard that we were going to Houston for the weekend, she some how conned her dad into getting them a set of Bitty Baby Twins and Bella her very first American Girl doll. I just stood and shook my head. 

So while we were in the great city of Houston, Texas we went to the doll store and my oldest two grabbed the twins and I was hoping we could walk out without my youngest even knowing what was going on, but she is a smart one and asked if she could have one also, so daddy obliged. 

While we were at the American Girl doll store I did a little bit of people listening (not watching but instead I had my ears open). Let me tell you that this store is never empty. Each time we've gone, including this time, the store is packed full of little girls and their moms or grandmas. Most girls, except mine, are dressed too cute and they have their little dolls with them and a lot of them are carrying them in a little American Girl doll bag. It's cute, really, just not over $75 cute. These girls and their mamas are hardcore American Girl doll fanatics. 

Okay, back on topic.. Here are a few things that I heard while I was people listening. I passed by a grandma and her grand child and it was sweet. Her grand daughter had a few American Girl doll bags, those awesome and sturdy red bags, and she was asking her if she had fun shopping. Then I heard a mom instruct her husband where they needed to go in the store to get 'Julie's' clothes. The most interesting conversation I heard was when I was in the restroom. I took my seat and then all of a sudden I heard another mom tell her friend that since her daughter started skating lessons that she needed to get her doll some skates and a gymnastics outfit and if she did not get her doll all of this she would be crushed. The entire time this mom was talking, all I could think about were dollar signs! Then I asked myself, 'Was the child going to be crushed if she did not get these outfits or would the mom be crushed?'

I guess if I was rich I would embrace the American Girl doll store and play along like a lot of the moms and grandmas I witnessed. Unfortunately, I am not rich but I also have the bargain shopping mentality. I think it is sweet that each child can pick the doll based on how they look and that each doll has its own personality. I do enjoy watching my girls play 'mommy' and 'teacher' and actually get along with each other as they play. I just can't swallow the cost of the dolls and the accessories, but they are cute. 

So what are your thoughts? Do you have any American Girl doll experiences? Are you an American Girl doll fanatic, if so, please explain to me the obsession of it?

 

How To Make a 'Schools Out' Congratulations Gift for Kids

I have always thought it was important to celebrate each year that our kids survive another year at school; no matter what grade it is. Celebrations can be in the form of going out to dinner, getting ice cream, a remembrance gift, a card or just something silly. I, personally, like the silly and fun gifts. Here is one idea on how to make your kids a 'Schools Out' congratulations gift. 

My girls, like most kids, love candy, so I thought that instead of just giving them some candy I would write them a little note to go along with it. 

I incorporated each type of candy within the note to make the note extra special and entertaining. 

Make sure to wrap the candy with pretty ribbon. 

Have fun and get creative! I love to surprise my girls and my after schooler's. If school has already dismissed for the year in your town, feel free to pin this for the next school year. 

Have a super and safe summer!