Oven Roasted Sausages, Potatoes and Peppers

Good Tuesday morning!

RANDOMNESS - I'm in my 50s. There. I said it out loud... AND I wrote it on the blog. So it must be true.

The following is a list of "things" I noticed about my 50th year of life...

1. I had a really good "hair year" last year. I wore my hair a little longer and a lot bigger, but it suited my mood... even if it did take a lot more time to fix.

2. I realize Spanx or no Spanx, I am who I am. I need to embrace it... Or have emergency scissors and a special bracelet with instructions in case I pass out from lack of oxygen.

3. The ages 60 and 70 no longer seem "old" to me. In fact, they seem almost doable!

4. The person or persons who declared "40 is the new 30" and "50 is the new 40" should be shot. At once. Multiple times. But only in the foot. No need to become too violent this late in life. (I realize that may seem a little harsh, but so is waking up and realizing 50 is NOTHING like 40.)

5. Except for a little graying, Mikie still looks younger than me. And even though I love him, it gets on my last nerve.

6. Because I have been so "open and honest" about menopause and my "season of life," Roxie has decided to skip this season of life altogether. (If anyone can skip a season, it would be Roxie.)

7. I've accepted the fact I will never (intentionally) wear skinny jeans. I may wear "too tight" Mom jeans, but if you see me out and about, know they never, ever were skinny jeans.

8. I've also accepted the fact I will not be able to attend Body Pump classes until the day I die... unless, of course, I die while taking a Body Pump class.

9. I still adore and love my family, but I have to admit, they take up a lot of space... and oxygen. Oh. And food. They eat a LOT of food.

10. I've discovered the best way to apply make-up is to unscrew one of the three light bulbs over the sink in the bathroom. (I promise. It takes off two years, at least!) And I'm considering unscrewing another one to see if I can look 46 again!

And here are some more of my birthday pictures for your overall enjoyment!

Roxie and Zac were in attendance.

If there had been a contest, Melia would have won for "best wrapping."

And the gift in the package was really good, too! Loved it!

Mikie and I are now officially the same age... for a few months. (And this picture is tinted because we clash in color.)

Austin chose not to clash with me, so he was able to keep his "pigment."

And I had to take one of Austin and Melia... because they didn't clash, and they're so cute.

CONTEST! CONTEST! CONTEST! - This is my 997th post for A Simple Life. The countdown continues!

The Contest will be simple. The rules are as follows:

Beginning today, leave your NAME followed by the word "CONTEST" in the Comment Section of A Simple Life, e-mail me (mfaulkner1306@charter.net) or go to my Facebook page.

You can enter the Contest ONCE A DAY (each and every day including Saturdays AND Sundays) until Thursday, August 30 at midnight. (Your name could be put into the drawing bowl a total of 3 times between now and Thursday, August 30!)

I will write my 1,000th post Friday morning, August 31.

I will draw from a HUGE BOWL of names, and a winner will be announced the morning of Friday, August 31.

The winner will receive a $15 Gift Certificate to one of the following restaurants:

1. Another Broken Egg
2. Original Pancake House
3. Olexa's
4. Lucia's Italian Restaurant in Helena

It will be Winner's Choice!

If you win and you live somewhere other than Alabama, you will win a $15 VISA Gift Card!

"May the odds be ever in your favor!"

(I'm going to be saying that for the next 3 POSTS!)

NEW THING! NEW THING! NEW THING! - I'm going to post one of my favorite posts each day from the past four years until August 31.

During the time I was receiving the Martha Stewart Living Magazine (2010), I loved comparing my calendar to Martha's Calendar. Here is a short and sweet version of one of those comparisons.

RANDOMNESS - Originally Posted September 15, 2010

I received my Martha Stewart Living magazine yesterday, and, as is my custom, I went straight to Martha's Calendar. It's an amazing calendar. Although I did the same thing last month, I want to do a little comparison. Bear with me, please.

MARTHA'S CALENDAR - October 1

Morning workout
Plant garlic
Apply compost to vegetable gardens

THE ENCHANTING BELINDA'S CALENDAR - October 1

Eat breakfast
Walk two miles
Eat second breakfast
Water dead fern
Pretend "brown" is the desired color of all outside plants

MARTHA'S CALENDAR - October 2

Schedule a mammogram
Remind female friends to do so, too
Take down outdoor clothesline

THE ENCHANTING BELINDA'S CALENDAR - October 2

Take a moment to be thankful mammogram isn't until January
Wash three loads of clothes
If dryer is broken, throw wet clothes over neighbor's fence

MARTHA'S CALENDAR - October 3

Put away stable fans
Replenish supply of vitamins and fish oil
Set up humidifiers throughout house

THE ENCHANTING BELINDA'S CALENDAR - October 3

MARTHA TAKES FISH OIL, TOO. COOL!
Host Josh's 17th birthday celebration

MARTHA'S CALENDAR - October 4

Morning workout
Have house boilers serviced
Horseback ride

THE ENCHANTING BELINDA'S CALENDAR - October 4

Eat a piece of Josh's birthday cake
Walk two miles
Eat second piece of Josh's birthday cake
Find out what a "house boiler" is

See. We are so similar it is uncanny.

Oven Roasted Sausages, Potatoes and Peppers

You will need the following:

1 pound of your favorite sausage links
4 to 5 potatoes
1 small jar banana peppers
1 to 2 bell peppers, sliced
1 large onion, sliced
3 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper
2 teaspoons dried rosemary (optional)
3 tablespoons creole seasoning (optional)

1. Spray a large baking pan with nonstick spray. (Do not use a flat baking sheet.)

2. Slice sausages into thin rounds, about 1/5″ thick.

3. Cut potatoes into 1/2″ chunks.

4. Slice onion and pepper into strips.

5. Place all ingredients on baking sheet and drizzle oil. Use hands to toss everything together in the oil, making sure everything feels coated.

6. Add salt and pepper (and spices).

7. Top with sliced banana peppers.

8. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes (until potatoes are fork tender).

Mikie said, and I quote, "THIS is really good!"

"You mean as opposed to anything else I cook?"

"No. I mean I want you to make this again and again and again."

Okay. I can do that!

This is a picture of the dish BEFORE cooking. It looked just as pretty and yummy when it came out of the oven, too. (I just forgot to photograph it!)

Have a fun Tuesday. I'll be back tomorrow with Wednesday Wisdom, a Seasonal Tradition, an oldie, more pics and Randomness.

Take care, and I'll talk to you in the morning.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda