tscruz

tscruz last signed in Oct 12 2009 and has been on Bukisa since Jul 31, 2009.

About Me:

I'm a working mom with two amazing teenagers and a handsome husband who just happens to be my best friend. I enjoy cooking, reading, writing and hanging out with family. My idea of a perfect day is playing games with my kids, listening to husband and son make beautiful music on their guitars, reading a chapter of my daughter's most recent writing project and then watching a great movie together. I love living in wind-swept Wyoming. Give me a glass of ice-tea (unsweetened of course, this is the West!) a good book, and then leave me alone--I'll resurface eventually!

How to Host a Great Book Club

Published August 16, 2009 /

0 comments /

BOOKChoosing a good book club book isn’t as easy as it sounds. You want a book that promotes dialogue; a book with enough controversy to encourage discussion but not a fight! And if you’re not a literary critic or English professor, you’d like a book that comes with a

How to Make Beef Stew in 30 Minutes or Less

by tscruz | in Food & Drinks > Soups & Stews

This quick recipe for beef stew is decidedly not the long-simmering kind, but still has lots and lots of home-cooked goodness that you can easily make on a busy night. Add a crusty loaf of French bread and you have a great meal!
Easy Family Favorite Meatloaf Recipe

by tscruz | in Food & Drinks > Recipes

Nothing says comfort like meatloaf and mashed potatoes. But kids can be picky. So I started making this easy, simple meatloaf with Campbell’s soup and everyone was happy. It’s not my grandma’s meatloaf, but it’s the only one my kids will eat. Maybe your finicky eaters will like it, too.
How to Create an Effective, Engaging PowerPoint Presentation

by tscruz | in Business & Finance > General

Have you sat in a meeting where the PPT presentation was difficult to read--actually a distraction verging on an annoyance? The font's too small, it's crazy, it blends into the background. Someone in front of me is blocking the text. Slides are spinning, making me dizzy. Make sure no one is thinking these things during your presentation!
How to Make an Easy Pasta Salad with Ingredients From Your Pantry

by tscruz | in Food & Drinks > Salads

I know pasta salad is the staple of every salad bar and potluck across America—did you know it could be so simple and delicious to make at home? This is a great no-cook meal for summer. Make this early in the morning before your house heats up, let it marinate in the fridge and it's ready by lunch time.
Easy Chicken Pot Pie Recipe with Puff Pastry

by tscruz | in Food & Drinks > Recipes

I love to spend hours in the kitchen, but sometimes I need a meal in a hurry. This recipe was born out of that need. The freezer held chicken, frozen vegetables and puff pastry. Condensed soup in the cupboard, milk in the fridge. Put them together and I ended up with a meal that became a family favorite.
Mystery Dinner - An Easy Party for All Ages

by tscruz | in Events & Holidays > General

Need a sure-fire party idea? Don’t have a lot of money? And the party’s tomorrow? No problem! This party combines dinner, entertainment and a budget into a guaranteed-to-please occasion for any age. This is NOT a murder mystery dinner. This is Mystery Dinner—the dinner is the mystery! As Ricky Ricardo said, “Let me ‘splain.”
Help Your Child Cope With Mental Illness in the Family

by tscruz | in Family > Family Health & Safety

First of all, these are suggestions only. I am not a counselor, psychologist or other licensed mental health practitioner. That being said, I am a mom who has been coping with a mental health issue in our family for over two years. Our two children, 11 and 15 when it started, are now beautiful, healthy, compassionate 14 & 17 year olds.
Six Great Ideas to Help Your Family Celebrate Christmas

by tscruz | in Events & Holidays > Christmas

Christmas is my favorite time of year. I want a Dickens’ holiday. I want a Little House in the Big Woods Christmas. I want a Christmas so special it could double as a prime time TV extravaganza. And I’m not talking about just Christmas Day either. I want the whole month to be magical.
Easy and Delicious Summer Squash Recipe

by tscruz | in Food & Drinks > Recipes

This side dish very simple. It really showcases the summer squash. Often we hide the flavors of our food with heavy sauces or intense seasonings, but summer time provides fresh produce that needs a minimum of enhancement. Take advantage of summer’s bounty with this easy, quick side dish that goes as well with hamburgers as it does with steak.