She says, “I use various colored peppers instead of all green – just looks prettier. I also use regular chili w/beans instead of the Hormel w/out beans. I use two packs of the taco seasoning. You can use as much as you want if you prefer more ‘flavor’. I’m a wimp and don’t do spicy. You can use any hot sauce you prefer as well. Anyway just cut up the cheese in small chunks and throw everything in the crock-pot and stir. It’s great over hot dogs or baked potatoes too!”
Inredients:
2lbs Velveeta Cheese
4 diced green peppers
1 finely chopped onion
2 cans Hormel Chili (no beans)
3 cans chunk chicken (like the canned tuna)
taco seasoning
Tabasco sauce

• Rice Cakes: Sure, they’re low on calories, but they’re also low on nutrition.  Plus, add in some flavoring and you could be consuming a lot sugar.
• Smoothies/fruit drinks:  Sugar is a common theme here, and store-bought smoothies are no exception.  You’re better off making your own at home and including some healthier ingredients (like spinach!).
• Granola: In small portions, granola is a great idea.  The problem is, it’s usually sold in larger portions and coated with (you guessed it!) sugar.

Find seven more snacks that aren’t really that healthy on Yahoo.

• Don’t spend it before you have the money:  This can get you into trouble as there’s always a risk of overspending.  Just like it’s not a good idea to put something on a credit card you can’t pay back, don’t spend money you don’t actually have.
• Save some of it:  They recommend saving at least a third of it.  This helps you make sure you have money on hand when life’s emergencies pop up.
• Pay off debt: My wife and I are hoping to pay off one of our debts with our refund this year.  That’ll help us get our debt snowball moving (yes, we took the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace class).

For more ideas and tips, check out the full article.

You can listen to the interview below.  For more information about Girls Scouts (and the cookies), visit their website.

• Your financial style and history: More conflict comes from assuming your spouse will be fine with how you’ve always used money.  What you learned from your family might be different than what he learned from his.  Make sure you’re on the same page.
• Spending limits: Some things you and your spouse will probably agree can be purchased without permission (i.e. – a cup of coffee).  But decide ahead of time what items or what cost will require consent from both sides.
• Your money plan:  Don’t only work through the budget together, make sure you’re both on the same page about how your money will be used.  Going to take on Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace?  Make sure you’re both on board with the debt snowball before one of you starts without the other.

Find these tips and more on Yahoo.

I found the idea to make Valentine’s themed plates, with hearts on them at the Life Your Way blog.  Check it out if you want to give it a shot, or for an idea starter.

-Our daughter-in-law is pregnant with our third grandchild. This is wonderful news but she is really quite sick at this time and so we ask for peace and that God would bless the medication she is taking to keep nausea to a minimum.
-I am taking a college level course called “Perspectives On the World Christian Movement.” This is a wonderful class on missions. Pray that I can keep up with the reading with my busy schedule and that the Lord will show me new things about his plan through this time.

Station Requests:

-We are looking for one more person to fill out our staff. Pray for the right person to come along to join our team.
-Casting Crowns is coming in April. Pray that the Lord would use that time to draw many to himself.

Nothing is more moving to me than to witness a person of honor and influence humble himself as did Kent especially when he shared about how God used a very difficult time in his career to show him how his misplaced priorities had an adverse effect on his health and his most important family relationships.

I want to thank those who made this day so special and a special thanks to Kent and Julie for their transparency and challenge for all of us.

Who: Casting Crowns, with special guest Matthew West

When: Thursday, April 19th at 7:00pm

Where: McLeod Center on the UNI Campus in Cedar Falls. Get directions here.

Tickets: Tickets start at $22.  Additional fees may apply.  Tickets go on sale Saturday, February 11th at 10am.

Tell us who you’d like to take the concert and why. Share your story using the form below and you could win 2 tickets for You and 2 tickets for your friend.  It’s YOU plus 2!

For more ticket information, click here.

Please read the official rules before entering.