Just a couple more days..,,

Just a couple more days and we will be back to our normal posting routine! The computer repair and data transfer took longer than predicted ! (:sFrustrating to say the least!)

In the mean time, please enjoy our Facebook page: Pine Creek Style....there is always "something extra" posted there...besides the blog postings....and don't forget our Pinterest Page and Instagram !
Don't forget to "Like & Share with Style"..with your friends & family....

My hope is to have a new post by at least Sunday maybe sooner! Thank you for your patience...
XO,

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Hang in there....

Just a quick note to my viewers....For a while now I have been having trouble with my computer....time for a new one! It affected EVERYTHING! so Long Story SHORT....I bought a new computer and I am transferring everything over.....therefore, the reason for MY delay on the POSTS! Give me another day or so and I will be back! Thank you for your patience....
XO,

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Foodland's Market & Deli

If you have ever been to the Hawaiian Islands, I'm sure you have seen the Grocery store Foodland.

Whenever we visit the Islands it's our go to grocery store! I love that they carry local island products. We  like to try items from the areas we travel too! They are never short island choices.
The new store in Kapolei, Oahu is close to the KoOlina area. It has the BEST Deli! Look as some of the many awesome selections......

 The food & wine selections are alway plentiful. We have always been happy with their staff. They are consistently friendly & helpful. The Deli department "knows" their product! The recommendations are always perfect!

This is Ornery's Famous Pineapple boats! He's such a great Sous Chef!

 Living on the West Coast we are always spoiled with our fresh fruit & veggies....This store has plenty of fresh selections to choose from.

 OH My....LOOK at that selection! What to choose??? Yummers!

 Love this Market!

 The fresh meats in the Deli are so good....We love trying their large selections of Salami's & such!

 Oh....and the fresh bakes breads from the bakery......MMmm! You can see my cart is filing up!

Just one of OUR many "Lunch Platters"...made with the delish foods from Foodland! If you go to the islands, stop in and check out their store. You won't be disappointed! Oh and try the local items, you will have a happy tummy! Don't even get me started on the dessert choices......

Foodland is My Style of Good Food...

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PineApple Pound Cake Topped with Macadamia Nuts...

PineApple Pound Cake topped with Brown Sugar Cool Whip & Macadamia Nuts

 We had some relatives come from out of town (Alaska)! They were on a whirlwind trip....I wanted to serve something quick and easy to my guests. My refrigerator is out of commission!

YUP! Broken, NOT working...indisposed!

2 weeks before it's FIXED!

Yikes...company was coming!

So....a coffee cake would work nicely!

 Very minimal ingredients needed for this recipe!

A cake mix, (mine was sugar free), One can of crushed pineapple, do NOT drain, brown sugar, cool whip & macadamia nuts!

THAT is IT!!!

 I used roasted & salted macadamia nuts...

Some whole and some crushed!

 Mix the pineapple & cake mix together, blending well!

 I prepared the pan with pam, used sugar to dust the pan (well, I used stevia)...tossed in some brown sugar (Splenda brand for ME).

Then poured the blended cake mix in the pan...adding a little more brown sugar to the top!

 Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes!

 OOPS! A foodie FAUX PAS....

GUESTS WERE ARRIVING ANY MINUTE! THE CAKE WOULD NOT TURN OUT OF THE PAN!!!

SOLUTION found!

Ice Cream SCOOP to the rescue...

I served it like a Brown Betty or a cobbler...

NO ONE knew EXCEPT HUBBY...and now YOU!

 Ta-Dah!!!

 Yummy for My Tummy!

 I added some brown sugar cool whip (just stir in a little brown sugar too taste and let blend with the cool whip!)

Toss on a few NUTS and I was done!

We served it with COFFEE!

It was a HIT!

Pineapple Pound Cake with served with Style...

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New Year's Resolutions...

It's that time of year...

New Year's Resolutions, WE ALL MAKE THEM! But, do WE KEEP THEM?

Most people make a list (or at least a mental list) of everything they want to change or improve over the coming year. Trouble is, we attempt to complete the list, but how many of us really "do it" in the end? If we had a camera or video crew following us around 24/7  then maybe, just maybe we would complete our goals.

I love to cook, sooo, I love to eat! We are busy, busy all the time. I don't make time for Me or Exercise! (Those two things always make my New Years resolution list!) And, when I think about it..."IF" I exercised on a regular basis, that would be taking time for ME! In essence I could "kill-two-birds-with-one-stone". Mmm, something to ponder! 

I use to exercise on a regular basis, before ARTHRITIS. NOW, its hit and miss! Most of the time it's a MISS. My Doctor would be much happier if I could keep my New Year's Resolution, at least once.  MAYBE...my hubby would join me if I made exercise a habit once again. Part of a regular routine.
Instead I chant; "The Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda EXCUSE."

I LIKE THIS!
So, once again, I will attempt to treat exercise as my regular routine. Just like the medications I must take on a regular basis. If I can sacrifice during lent without a problem, I CAN DO THIS! Right?
 I am going to make it ME-time...that should work! RIGHT?  We'll see.....

BOY, THAT'S THE TRUTH!
Who knows what the future will bring. I just might "DO IT" this time... 
It could HAPPEN!

Make your New Year Resolutions with Style...

*Photos were found on Pinterest

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Charity Begins at Home...

It is the season to give & receive. This week I witnessed GIVING!

 Our nephew was asked to "do something charitable" this holiday season by his Mom. He chose to "Ring the Bell" at the local grocery store for the Salvation Army.

 It was a cold evening, but he and his friends worked their whole shift. For every donation they received, they gave out a candy cane. They had a lot of fun while raising money for their charitable cause. 
"Boys...thank you for GIVING your time to help others!" 

~~~

We met our daughter's family for dinner friday night at a local steak house. We had brought these hats (see photo below) for the girls, they LOVED them! Our  youngest grand daughter was so excited about her new hat. She told me they had donated some of their toys to a local charity for Christmas. 

She said, "Mama said if we shared some of our toys we would get some new stuff from Santa... 

AND NOW WE GOT FROG HATS TOO!"   

Too CUTE!
Needless to say, when the girls asked to spend the night at our house, we said YES! (Who could say NO to them!)
Their brother was happy to see them go. Especially since he had a friend spending the night! So everyone was happy.
So glad the girls came over. We were able to get their parents Christmas gifts made. (Yeah, One more thing done for Christmas!)
~~~

Early this morning the view outside was breathtaking. I couldn't resist showing you the photos of the river mist and the morning sunrise.

 ENJOY the view!

 Day Break

Sun Rise in the Mist

 Beautiful in the Bitter Cold

The River Mist 

 Awesome

A Winter Morning

A Stylish way to start your day...

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Top Parenting Blog Award..."I WON"

On Thursday I received an email from eCollege Finder regarding my nomination for their Top 115 Parenting Blog Award.

See my previous article from Friday, Dec 2nd, 2011; 

"I've been Nominated..."

Keeping it short, it read:
Congratulations! Your Blog stood out amongst stiff competition and is now featured on our site as a recommended parenting resource. 

     Sincerely,
   The eCollege Finder Team

    eCollegeFinder.org.

Wow, that was truly awesome! A very nice honor, indeed.
Take a moment and visit their site to see all of the award winners.

Thank you eCollege and I will be looking forward to hearing from your students/readers!

With Gratitude and Style,

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I've Been Nominated for a Parenting Blog Award...

* A note from NeeCee:

An extra Te'te-a-te'te article will be posted today.

 Please read below to find out why.

I've got some great family photos included.

 I hope you have a wonderful weekend full of "STYLE"... 

On November 14th, 2011...I received and E-mail from Brittany @ eCollegeFinder. "You've been selected as a nominee for the Top Parenting Blogs Award!", I read. Wow, I thought, Me? That's nice, but I never really thought of myself or the blog as a parenting tool. WOW, that was a nice complement! So even if I don't get selected for the Top Parent Award, it has been an honor and a privilege to be  a nominee. (Google eCollege's site today and learn more)
*I would love to hear your PARENTING COMMENTS, post one today.
Read the article below:

eCollegeFinder is an established online education resource representing over 120 accredited  online institutions. They began hosting a series of Top Blogger Wards in early 2010. Winners of the Awards are listed on their website providing students with resources to help them through their college years. Their goal in hosting the award was two-fold; enriching their students and giving high-quality blogs the recognition they deserve.

It was an honor to be nominated!

Many of their students are parents (Moms & Dads) who have returned to school through the eCollegeFinder website. The Top Parenting Award was created to provide students with a collection of helpful and encouraging blogs from other parents...(in my case...a Mom & a Granny!). The nominated blogs address several issues regarding thriving through tough times, keeping a sense of humor, being frugal, or crafting. A lot of their students are working parents who are going to school while trying to maintain 
(which really means; "Trying to stay SANE")! 

WOW, and I was nominated!
(Was it the sane or the insane part that got me the nomination? LOL)
Just being considered for the "Top Parenting Blogs Award" was awesome. To know that I have made an impact enough to even be considered was humbling.

I was asked to answer two questions. They (eCollegeFinder) had guidelines; 2-4 sentences per question. WELL,... that was enough to set my HEAD spinning! YIKES! Visions of school TESTS ran through MY brain!!! Besides, I'm NOT an authority on parenting! WHAT are THEY thinking?  I can't have a SHORT conversation let alone 2-4 SENTENCES! Certainly NOTHING is less than a chapter in MY book of GAB!!!
 (I hear my family and friends agreeing with laughter!)  

"With our Grandchildren"
The Questions & Answers:
1. How would you describe your Blog to our readers?
My blog was started after my daughter's encouragement to record my recipes, home decor, my rambling advice, thoughts and stories. My only real talent (in my mind) is striving to be the BEST Wife, Mom and Grandmother I can to my family. Pine Creek Style by NeeCee reflects who I am; a Mom who likes to cook, decorate, be with and do for my family. I am an untrained, unofficial foodie, wanna-be interior designer who shares the silly, funny, serious things that life brings us.


2. What inspirational words or advise can you provide our student parents?
PRAISE as you RAISE; set standards, rules and boundaries for yourself and your family.
DISCIPLINE with LOVE; don't waiver, stand strong in your decisions and guide your children on their path of life.
Instill a YEARN to LEARN; guide them to believe in themselves so they may achieve their dreams. 
We have choices in life, RIGHT and WRONG; choose what is right, correct the wrongs and always remember...we are only human!
  NeeCee @ Pine Creek Style

"With Our Children"
There are so many things one could say regarding advice to parents.
 But, not ONE person has all the answers.  The best thing you can do, is DO YOUR BEST! There has NEVER been nor will there EVER be a perfect parent. 
I've told my kids this before; "I've never had to DO this before SO we will just have to LEARN as we go! BUT, I'm the parent and you WILL do as I SAY!" 
I have also told them;
 "This is going to hurt ME more than YOU!  AND someday YOU will understand what that means!
 I also used this one many times;
 "Blame ME, make ME the bad guy IF you need to say NO to your friends!
 I WILL always have your BACK, because I LOVE You!"
CHOOSE your battles WISELY, LISTEN with your HEART and LOVE with your BRAIN!
If you make a mistake, SAY you made a mistake! Use WISDOM, it speaks volumes of KNOWLEDGE. 
Let your FAITH be BIG! And, you will have STRENGTH to face life's CHALLENGES.
Do NOT EVER be your child's BEST FRIEND! YOU are the PARENT! 
That's why THEY call it PARENTING!!!
AGAIN, when children are teenagers DON'T be their FRIEND.
They WANT and NEED you as THEIR PARENT!    
 AND when THEY are forty (40), YOU will be their HERO!
ONCE a PARENT, ALWAYS a PARENT!  
 ENCOURAGE, (don't DISCOURAGE) your children from inviting their friends to YOUR HOME.
Be the KOOL-AID MoM or DaD of the block! Be the CHAPERON, get to KNOW their FRIENDS and THE friends PARENTS. If you do this, even their friends will think of YOU as a MOM (or Dad).
Children GROW UP to be ADULTS!
 TEACH them how to be RESPONSIBLE adults and LOVING parents who CONTRIBUTE to SOCIETY.
~~~
"Train a child in the way he should go,
 and when he is old he will not turn from it" 
Proverbs 22:6
I have rambled enough for today...
Show-off your BEST Parenting with Style...

P.S. I tell my kids of this all the time: 
"I'M THE BEST MAMA YOU'VE EVER HAD, I DO THIS, BECAUSE I NEED YOU TO TAKE CARE OF ME WHEN I - AM - OLD!" :)

"With the whole Family"

"WE may NOT have it ALL together, BUT together WE have it ALL"

*Family photo's, property of Pine Creek Style by NeeCee

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