Princess Flufferbutt

Sunday catch up

2011-10-02T22:47:00.005-04:00

So, it seems as if I've fallen to old ways... it's been awhile since I've posted. In my defense, I have been SUPER busy, and I don't see any signs of slowing down any time soon. In the blink of an eye Christmas will be here and I'll be wondering what happened to October and November. In a nutshell, here's what's been happening...

1. September 11 was a hard day for many reasons. For one, it was a day of rememberance for our country. This year it became a somber day for a more personal reason. I began having a miscarriage, and as I was in the emergency waiting room I received word that my Pappy had passed away. Needless to say, the past few weeks have been filled with doctor's appointments and hospital visits for bloodwork, but I'm HOPING that this past Friday was my last blood test. With all that said, we are doing well and I'm anxious to move on and try for another. (Barry is excited that he has a few more weeks of guaranteed sex... sorry mom...)

2. My Tastefully Simple business has blown up lately and I have been super busy with Tastefully Simple freezer meal workshops. They are a BLAST and have been getting rave reviews!

3. Yesterday was our semi-annual Crop for a Cure for JDRF. My mom does an AMAZING job at planning a fantastic fun filled day of scrapping for a cause very close to our hearts. If you are local, you MUST register for our Fall Love Crop. It is so much fun! I got 7 pages complete!

4. Emerson is doing something new each day. She now loves to go down her slide and climb her 'rock wall' that we have in the play room. She also gets a kick out of running with her eyes closed (the walls have been taking a beating), walking backwards, walking in circles, eating Oreos, and drinking beer... ok, maybe not drinking beer, but she loves toting around empty cans, pretending to drink. Don't call the authorities. I swear the cans are empty.

5. My cousin is getting married in 3 weeks and she has a herniated disk in her back. Yes, she would make a fine bride for Quasi Moto (sp??). We've been working on music, jewelry, and other last minute details to make it the perfect day!

6. I managed to stay on track with Weight Watchers for one week. Yep, one week. Today I ate a cheesesteak and fries from a Mom n Pop shop. Don't flog me. It was Heaven.

7. I MUST read a book by October 18th. I already pooped out on two books for book club in August and September. I must represent for October.

8. I'm thinking about knocking a big ass hole in my kitchen wall. There's always a project that needs to be done.... I'm also thinking about adding another counter and cabinets... Projects, project, projects!

9. My house is beautifully decorated for Halloween. I can't take credit... the Musder took over and painted the house orange and black... figuratively, that is. Thanks Mus for bringing the holiday spirit! It probably would not have been done without you!

10. I just realized I have a heaping load of laundry in the washer that's been sitting since 7:00... oops... off to switch it over before the hubs has a fit!

Summer Review (Wordless Wednesday)

2011-08-31T20:52:00.002-04:00

I've got some balls...

2011-08-30T21:02:00.002-04:00

Balls. Don't you wish every food could be made into a ball? They're so much more fun to eat! Cake balls, gum balls, meatballs, donut balls... whoever came up with the idea of rolling food into balls is a genius. Don't ask me why, but food tastes better when balled. Mmmm...
Today I am going to share my AMAZING and EASY Mozzarella Stuffed Meatball recipe. What's better than a delectable Italian meatball? One stuffed with cheese, thats' what!

Ingredients:

* 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
* 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
* 1/4 cup Panko bread crumbs
* 1 1/2 tsp. salt
* a pinch of pepper
* 1 egg
* 1/2 cup milk
* 1 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
* 1 clove garlic (I use Tastefully Simple's Garlic Garlic)
* 1 Tbs. dried onion (I use Tastefully Simple's Onion Onion)
* 1 bunch chopped parsley (I use Tastefully Simple's Spinach and Herb)
* Fresh mozzarella cheese ball

Mix all ingredients except for meat and cheese in a large bowl. Add meat and loaf up with hands. Use a small cookie scoop to gather each ball, and roll tightly. Poke a hole in the ball and insert a small cube of cheese. Cover the cheese with meat and roll tightly.
Mmm... Love me some balls! Refrigerate your balls so that the cheese is not too soft when ready to cook. This is a great 'make ahead' recipe! Make them while the kids are sleeping, then dinner is just about ready the next day!

When your balls have had time to chill, heat up about 2-3 Tbs. olive oil in a pan. Brown the meatballs, turning every few minutes so they get nice and brown on all sides. You can continue to cook them on the stove, as I did, or you can place in the oven to finish them. When your balls are done and the juice is clear, drain on a paper towel.

Serve over pasta with some marinara! (I used Tastefully Simple's Italian Marinara Sauce!)

Dive right in and indulge in the ooey gooey cheesy ball goodness! (Please excuse the poor photography as I, myself, am poor and still use a point and shoot...)

Bon Apetit!

What do you want?

2011-08-19T15:52:00.002-04:00

What do you want? This is a question that I think we have all asked ourselves at some point in time. Many of us may ask ourselves this question daily. We get one life. Just ONE. So what do we want? If you would have asked me this question 10 years ago, I would have said, “To get a job, meet a guy, and be happy.” Well, I accomplished all three, but something was still missing. Then came Emerson. She rocked my world and made me want EVERYTHING life has to offer… for her. I want her to have every opportunity that is out there. I want her to grow up with rich experiences and happiness. I always knew my dream was to be a stay at home mom to my kiddos, and after having Emerson, I will eat Ramen noodles for life if it means that she can have a filet mignon. (I would miss my Oreos though.) Fortunately, I don’t have to eat Ramen noodles for life. Emerson has a happy mom and limitless opportunities at her fingertips. And I have Tastefully Simple to thank for that.
For years I have been Tastefully Simple’s number one customer. Our products are AMAZING and have truly changed the way I cook in the kitchen. They even inspired my husband to cook, and let’s face it… a few years ago he couldn’t boil water. My sisters, who are both consultants, finally urged me to become a consultant because they knew I could NOT go back into the brick and mortar classroom. I just can not leave my Emme. After having my first party, I turned a profit. My first party paid for my start up kit. I remember sitting on the couch after an awesome evening with friends, family, and food, and asking myself, “Why the heck didn’t you do this sooner???” What was stopping me from embarking on a journey with Tastefully Simple? I know I made all kinds of excuses: I don’t have time, I don’t know anyone who would order, ESPECIALLY because I referred most of my friends to my sisters, I’m not the ‘home party’ type, yadda, yadda, yadda…. I realized the question I SHOULD HAVE asked myself is, WHY THE HECK NOT? What did I have to lose? Most of my start up kit was edible, so what was I afraid of?
I don’t have an answer. I don’t know for sure why I waited so long to start my business. But I DO know that Tastefully Simple has SO MUCH to offer. I have attended conferences, met new friends, shared my love of cooking, and I am helping to support my family. I am having FUN while making money. I schedule WHEN I work and I run my business MY way. What more could I ask for?
Tastefully Simple was founded on the belief that anyone can be a gourmet chef in their own kitchen for little money and with little effort. And they treat their consultants with the utmost respect. They VALUE us. And they LISTEN to us. I could not ask for a better company to be a part of.
And now YOU can be a part of our awesome team for as low as $35.00. No, I didn’t forget a ‘0’. You can start a business and CHANGE YOUR LIFE for $35.00. Seriously. That’s it. So what do YOU want? Do you want extra money to shop with? Do you want to pay the mortgage bill each month? Do you have your eye on a new car? Are you looking to stay home with your kids and still contribute to the household income? No matter what you want or what your goals are, Tastefully Simple can help you reach them. My team is FABULOUS and FUN, and I would LOVE to help you make the most of your business. Feel free to contact me or visit my website for more information. www.tastefullysimple.com/web/bleonard
heyteacherteacher@yahoo.com

How to freeze fresh corn

2011-08-16T21:06:00.004-04:00

There is absolutely NOTHING better in the summer than fresh picked corn on the cob. I could seriously eat a dozen by myself. Seriously. There is nothing that can beat a crisp, sweet, crunchy, juicy, enticing mouthful of corn from the cob. As the end of August draws near, I find myself tirelessly scouring the tri-state area for the last of the fresh sweet corn. I HAVE to freeze some before it's gone! Opening a bag of frozen sweet corn on a snowy day is the best way to beat the winter blahs. Below is a SUPER EASY way to freeze fresh corn so that you and your family can enjoy the flavors of summer all year long! Obviously, your first step is to husk the corn. Remove as much silk as possible, but any that is left will boil out. To blanch your corn, you will first boil it for about 3 minutes. You want it to start the cooking process, but not fully cook. After 3 minutes, remove the corn and give it an ice bath to stop the cooking process. I did mine in batches of about 5 or 6 at a time. You do not need to wait for the water to bubble before putting the next batch in. Boil and bathe, boil and bathe... it's a beautiful process.

After a cool bath of about 5-10 minutes, remove the corn from the ice water and allow to dry a little. I set mine in a bowl to rest while I am cutting off the kernels of other ears.

Here's a little trick: put a glass in the bottom of a deep bowl and rest the corn cob on the top to cut. It brings the corn up to a height that is easier to work with. This way, you aren't banging your hands against the bowl and you aren't trying to get the knife down in the midst of a pile of corn kernels. Another tip: Don't cut the corn down to the cob. Cutting into the cob can skunk the flavor of the corn. Don't ask me why, but it does.... not that I speak from experience or anything...

After cutting the corn off the cob at about 3/4 of the kernel, use the back of the knife to scrape out the goodies. The goodies are the BEST part of the corn. They are sweet and milky and creamy and you will be praising Jesus that you scraped them out. Don't let them go to waste! Mmm... look at all those goodies! (Don't hesitate to sample your corn to, you know, make sure it's ok! You would never serve brownies that you didn't first sample, would you?)

The last step: Bag it up! I like to bag mine in 2 cup portions. It seems to be the perfect amount for just about any recipe, and it's a great 'serving for 2' size. Lay the bags flat so that they can be stacked in the freezer. Voila'! You now have corn to enjoy all year round! I find that one dozen ears of corn generally produces about 10-12 cups of corn, or 5-6 bags. Hopefully you found this guide helpful! Tomorrow's agenda: Find more corn!

Ch Ch Ch Changes

2011-08-12T12:19:00.012-04:00

1. Emerson is walking. Scratch that. RUNNING, CLIMBING, HOPPING, FLYING. Ok, maybe not the last two, but she is on the move! We have gates everywhere and now need one for the top steps, which I didn't think we'd need, because she is obsessed with climbing the stairs to chase the cats.

Here kitty, kitty....

2. Emerson turned one in May. Here is a little peeky at her party.

The whole house exploded with cupcakes! We had a cupcake garland, photo garland, cupcake favors, decorations, you name it... The treat table was my favorite place to hang!Emerson donned a cupcake tutu and shirt, cupcake shoes, and a pink tiara. She was cupcake royalty!Emerson truly had an amazing birthday. I hear nightmarish stories about kids being overwhelmed and things going wrong. Her birthday was flawless, and she enjoyed every minute! She loves being surrounded by friends and family!

What's a cupcake party without a giant cupcake? Emme had no problem digging in!

Even Mom-Mom joined in with the kids and had a great time! So young at heart!

3. I am no longer teaching online. I am majorly going to work on building my Tastefully Simple business and I will start tutoring online in the fall. I am also going to search for students to tutor in my home, so if you know of anyone, send them my way! And if you are looking to get your hands our Spring/Summer products before they disappear, check out my website! www.tastefullysimple.com/web/bleonard

4. I have been super stocking up and using coupons like you wouldn't believe. The money I've saved is unbelievable, and this winter I will only need to get the basic staples like milk and bread. I LOVE that we are stocked and I will have more free time to spend with Emme instead of having to go out and get groceries. My pantry is organized and my freezer is packed! I'll share some money saving ideas and tips in posts to come!

5. If you've followed me for awhile, you may remember my epic closet clean out post: http://princessflufferbutt.blogspot.com/2009/06/closet-chaos-post-of-epic-proportion.html
Well, I've done it again... I now have HALF of ONE closet! Unbelievable, I know! Now Barry has the task of majorly cutting down HIS wardrobe. We bought an extra dresser for his sweaters and hoodies, but it only holds about 1/3 of them. Oy. He has some work to do!

My side... can you believe it?

6. I've been taking on a lot of projects around the house and have really been trying to get rid of crap. It's amazing how much crap one person (or two people) can collect in a few years. My goal is to be crap free. If I don't use something frequently, it's going on Ebay or to yard sale. I'd rather give Emerson fun life experiences than have junk that I don't NEED around the house.

7. This summer is one of the busiest I've had. I feel like I am always on the go, and I don't know where the past few weeks have gone! I'm really trying to spend time with friends and family and enjoy the outdoors while we can. I'm in two book clubs that meet monthly and I'm looking into stroller-arobics (insert laugh here), swimming classes with Emerson, and possibly a music class taught by one of my new friends, who is totally awesome and everyone raves about her classes! I also am thinking about doing Mom's Day Out, which is offered by a local church. Emme can play with other kids two times a week for half a day while I get some work done. It's win - win. She'll get to interact with kids, which she LOVES, and I can get stuff done around the house without her feeling neglected. It's going to be a busy fall!

8. Speaking of busy fall, I can't wait for Penn State Football Season!!! My cousin is also getting married (go Kaytee!) and I swear this is the LAST wedding I will ever be in. Don't even waste your breath asking, cuz I'm gonna say 'no'. Not that I don't love my friends and family and feel honored to be asked to stand next to them at the altar, but I'm getting too old for this and I look hideous in dresses. So seriously, I'm done crash dieting to fit into your pretty little dresses that seriously will never fit me again. After the wedding, I'm chowing down and I don't care. No more dresses for me. NOW, if someone wants to get married and allow me to wear sweatpants and a comfy t, we'll talk.

9. Have you read The Hunger Games yet? If not, then RUN, seriously RUN to the bookstore or download the series on your reader. Move over Twilight, there's a new love triangle in town! I'm totally obssessed with this series and I can not wait until the movie comes out in March! (I even signed Barry up to be an extra in the movie. He didn't get contacted back. Go figure...)

10. Here are some random pics of what we've been up to....

Emme loves to show us her 'funny face'. She is such a ham! And apparantly, judging by this pic, she snuck some of my Oreos. She and I may have to have a lil talk.Emme is a TOTAL FISH! Last year she wanted nothing to do with the water. This year, she would stay in all day if we could. When we go out to swing each day she points at our neighbor's pool and cries to get in... makes me feel bad, but I'm so not interested in getting a pool! Uh oh... someone has moved to the big girl seat! She loves her big girl seat and gets a kick out of facing forward and watching Mommy in the mirror. She is so silly and loves to dance in her seat, and it is obviously comfortable... she was out in no time!

Recipes are coming! Stay tuned!

I got a facelift

2011-08-11T00:54:00.003-04:00

Ok, well, not ME personally, but my blog. Princess Flufferbutt. My life. Everything has changed. I beat my record of 4 months without posting. Yup. It's been 5 months. FIVE MONTHS since I have posted on this here ole blog. And who is reading this now? Probably no one. Maybe my mom. Ok, definitely my mom. I'm sure that, even though it is 12:55 am, she will be on here reading with excitement because I FINALLY posted something new. Not only did I post something new, but I am starting over fresh. A LOT has changed in the past 5 months. Heck, a lot has changed in the past 5 days. I am not one who typically deals well with change, but I am embracing it and I am loving it. Change is good. Because it is 12:57 am, I will not drone on about the many changes that have happened since I've been gone, but I promise to update in as few words as possible and in as few posts as possible. I can also promise that I will post again, and it won't be in another five months. That's like, almost half a year! And I miss my blog, and I miss my bloggy friends. So if you're reading this, I am back. And I promise to stay. And because I haven't been the best blogger lately, I will be posting some FABULOUS recipes to make up for my absence. I'm serious. I have some amazing treats to share. Soon. But for now, I am hitting the sack. Because it's 1:00 am and I am tired. If I keep this up, I just may need a facelift fo' real...

I'm BaaaAAAAaaaaackkk.......

2011-03-18T23:06:00.004-04:00

Is it possible? Could it be? Am I really sitting here, on a Friday night, POSTING a blog? It can't be... it's only been since NOVEMBER that I last updated. And here I am, on a Friday night, reading blogs, posting blogs, and feeling almost normal again. Normal. Routine. Free Time. These words have been out of my vocabulary for what seems like a lifetime. Recently, however, God has decided to shine down from above and bless me with a little girl who will now talk herself to sleep for nap time and who actually goes to sleep and STAYS asleep at a decent hour of the night. What does this mean? ONE. HAPPY. MAMA. THAT'S what it means. I have been able to finish TWO books for book club, tonight I am reading blogs I haven't looked at in ages, and look.... I'm actually posting. Problem is, you (you, as in, the few, select, I-can-count-on-one-hand group of peeps who used to actually follow me or check back every now and then) probably will never read this since I'm sure you've all moved on to bigger and better things. I can't say I blame you. However, if you're reading this, then I know you're still here for some reason, so I better make this a good one! I guess I'll make it about the best part of my life: Obviously, Emerson. Below are her 9 month pics...I can NOT believe next week will be 10 months! Enjoy and feel free to comment!
I love this pic! Emme is always busy, and this shot has me wondering what her busy little brain is conjuring up. She is SO SMART, and I'm not just saying that because that's what all Mamas say... she truly is amazingly intelligent. I'm so glad she got my genes... ;)

I love the pictures my friend, Julie, took of us reading Emme's favorite book. Emerson is obsessed with her 'Touch and Feel Animals' book. She has to touch every page, but it's more of a quick slap rather than a gentle touch. Imagine how our cats feel... Emme is NOT a dainty flower; she is rough and ready to rumble! I love how much she loves animals. Whether in books, tv, or in real life, she just beams when she sees any living thing. Definitely like her Mama. I'm waiting for the days where she brings in every stray she finds. I rescued everything from bunnies, to cats, to caterpillars... I hope Barry is prepared to run a zoo, because I can't say 'no'! (Ugh, on a side note, I totally need a haircut....)

Ugh. She melts my heart. She is such a sweetie and has the best temperment. I could not ask for a better babe.

Emerson has grown SO MUCH in the past few months. It seems like at 7 months she just took off and has become more and more 'Emme' every day. She definitely is her own unique person, and I love every bit of her. She is a total snuggler, and today she started hugging and snuggling my arm while I change her. I love it. And I love that I'm able to be with her and take the time to let her snuggle and hug my arm. With Emerson, time stands still....and yet flies by so fast! I'm indulging in and cherishing every minute with her and I love watching her become the person she was meant to be.

Happiness is...

2010-11-11T20:09:00.004-05:00

...having the world's GREATEST cupcakes staring at you in the fridge, bright and early in the morning. (Thanks Nana!)

...devouring an apple streudel cupcake at 8am. Have I mentioned that these are the world's greatest?

... having the SWEETEST little girl to laugh and play with all day.

... having SOME sense of health and eating a salad for lunch, you know, to counter-act the cupcake calories. Hey, I got a serving of fruit from the cupcake and a serving of veggies: go me!

... when the SWEETEST girl in the world takes a nap.

...when I am greeted with love at the door by my fur baby.

...when the SWEETEST girl in the world discovers Mommy's toes.

... getting your first pair of Skechers. (Thanks Nana!)

... having someone else cook dinner AND clean up afterwards. (Thanks Nana!)

Capping the night with the world's GREATEST cupcake: A Blackout from Crumbs. (Don't worry; I only ate half!)

Happiness is indulging in each and every ordinary day, and knowing that every day, no matter how bad, can offer a little bit of happiness.

Happiness is knowing that the weekend is only one day away...

Because it's Wednesday

2010-11-03T22:18:00.003-04:00

Because it's Wednesday, and because I need a break from... well... everything, I'm doing a post of randomness...

1. I'm UBER EXCITED for book club(s). Last spring, my bestie Brooke started a book club. Really, it's just an excuse to get together and drink and gossip, but we really do discuss the book... for about a minute or two... It gives us a few hours to escape life and just be giddy, gossipy girls. My mother aka Musder also started a book club a few months ago. This club is unique in that, well, we actually READ AND DISCUSS the book. Imagine that! AND... we also have to bring a recipe to share that was inspired by the book. If you know me, you know I love to eat. This club is right up my alley! Our first book, Little Bee, was set in Africa and England. We had everything from an African banana dish to Earle Gray Tea cupcakes! Our second book, Snowflower and the Secret Fan, was set in China. Mmmm.... Conchee, fried rice, Shanghai Chicken.... mmmmm.... NOW, for the exciting part: We just read The Help, which is set in the deep heart of Mississippi in the 50's. SOUTHERN SOUL FOOD!!!! Oh baby. I am making pinch biscuits and sausage gravy and a southern chocolate pie. I can't wait!!!

2. I've been on a mean clean streak lately... and the house is still cluttered. How does this happen?

3. I've always been a firm believer that nothing is to ever go INTO your butthole. Things are meant to come OUT, not IN. There are a lot of things I believed firmly in but have changed since Emme came along. Like mommy lick baths. Ew. But they are sometimes necessary, as was our adventure with a q-tip today. You tell me that when your wee one doesn't poo in over 5 days and is screaming in pain that you won't swab that hole with some vaseline. And it worked. It worked REALLY well. Like, massive explosions well. The things you do for your kids...

4. I am obsessed with Hellcats. Ok, maybe not obsessed, but its a new favorite on my Wednesday night line up.

5. I am truly obsessed with Raising Hope. Truly obsessed. There are so many things wrong with that show that it just seems right. I love it. And the baby... OMG! SOOOOO cute!

6. I'm thinking of joining a cookie exchange this year. Do I have time for this???

7. My calendar is FILLING with party dates for Tastefully Simple. I absolutely LOVE having my own TS business. I've met so many new people and I get to go out and party for a living. It's one of the best decisions I've made!

8. I've been cooking up a storm. In the past few days I've made chili, Indian chicken, Ravioli and Vodka sauce, corn bread, boneless spare ribs, baked corn, sweet potato wedges, and so much more. I love my kitchen challenge and have had a lot of fun getting creative. Friday I hope to make a chilled corn and bacon soup. Yum!

9. We had a GREAT Halloween! Emme made the most adorable kitty!

10. I can't wait until Thanksgiving. I need a break. And turkey. I totally need some turkey.

She is the cutest!

2010-10-17T14:41:00.008-04:00

The L family has been VERY busy over the past few weeks. The coming of Fall brings football, festivals, food, and... wow, look at that alliteration! Emerson and I have been doing a lot of travelling lately. Last weekend, the hubs and I went to the PSU game, then I had a Tastefully Simple Open House for my cousin on Sunday. (She earned $95 in freebies PLUS the level 2 hostess incentive!!!) Then I booked it home, and Emerson, hubs, and Musder and I packed up the van and headed to Reading for a Holocaust Conference. The conference was 2 days, and my mother received an award for Best Practices in Teaching the Holocaust. Way to go Mus! We headed home after the conference on Monday, then Tuesday Emme, Mom-Mom and I headed to Mechanicsburg for a professional development day at my school! Whew! I am so glad to be chillaxin this weekend! Emerson is a SUPER traveller and I can't wait until she is older and we can go to Washington DC, New York City, Philly, the beach, and wherever else we decide to venture to!

Challenge Update: The challenge continues! I did make one grocery stock up trip two weeks ago, and I had some coupons to use up yesterday, but otherwise, we are quickly using up what we have. Our 'big' trip of the month was full of savings! I saved over $77 in coupons! (Yes, it was all on stuff we actually use!)

This weekend we decided to just chill. Yesterday we went downtown to the Apple Fest. The food was sooooo good and the vendors offered a great variety of interesting and unique handicrafts. Emerson was way too cute in this hat... she is a total hat girl! After Apple Harvest, Emme's Meemaw and Peepaw came over to take us out to dinner for my birthday. We went to the Orchard's, and my meal was FLAWLESS! It was absolutely amazing. We took pumpkin cheesecake on the road for dessert and I am still drooling over how good it was!

Today I did a major kitchen cleaning and now I am taking advantage of Emerson actually taking an afternoon nap. Speaking of the lil' Cupcake, I'll now take the opportunity to show off some random pics. Cuz everyone knows she's the most adorable almost 5 month old there is!

Emme doesn't like being on her belly. At all. But... she LOVES her new friend, Violet. Violet was a gift from our friend Theresa, and it is a God send. She is programmed to say Emme's name and I got to pick her favorite things and songs to sing. It's so cool! If you have a wee one in your family, you gotta get Violet or Scout (for little boys)!

When Daddy comes home from work, he is always quick to grab his chica and chill. It's their special time. She won't sit with me like that, oh no. She won't let me sit at all... but Daddy is a different story...

"Whatchu talkin' bout Willis?" She makes the funniest faces!

There is not a doubt in the world that Emme is adored by her Nanny. She is totally spoiled with love.

I'm extremely lucky to have the world's happiest baby. Truly. She rarely fusses, unless something really is wrong. It breaks my heart to hear her cry, and I can't let her cry, because the only time she does is if she has reason to. 99% of the time, this chick has a smile on her face!

Uh oh... has Emme already picked up bad habits from her Uncle Adam??? Uncle Adam is known for having his crack hanging out at every moment. Let's hope she doesn't follow in his ways...

What did I tell ya? Happy kid! I can't believe how strong and big she is getting. This is her 4 month picture. No one can ever believe she is only 4 months! My great-grandmother, Nan-Nan, used to always tell me, "I can't wait til you grow up to see what color your hair is." Now I find myself saying that to Emme. One day it is dark, one day it is light, and most days it has a reddish tint. I'm anxious to see what grows in!

Emme has become a bone fide thumb sucker. I'm waiting for her thumbs to wittle away to nothing, like a lollipop or popsicle.

Spastic. That's all I can say...

Take beads away from a teething baby, and you're asking for trouble. Trust me. You don't want to test it. Things could get ugly.

Yeah, I did say Emme hates being on her stomach. No, I wasn't lying. I caught her in the first few moments of tummy time before she KNEW it was tummy time. When I see this pic, I imagine her saying, "Oh, hey! What's up Mom?" Notice the drool. My shoulders have been wet since September 21st...

I love that Emme has a silly side. She is so hysterical sometimes. We have so much fun together!

Now THIS is the life! Prop me up on a pillow, turn on the game, and let me chill with my friends... ahhhh.... it ain't easy being me...

....especially when you put me on my belly!!!! Have you seen the gut??? Who would want to lay on that?!?! Turn me over, turn me over, turn me over!!! See... I told you she hates it on her stomach! Violet looks happy though.

Thanks for humoring me. I love this chick, and I love seeing her daily changes. Every day brings new sounds, new habits, and new happiness. Two days ago she really found her voice... I have a feeling Cupcake will be babbling and talking nonstop very soon!

Enjoy the Fall y'all! I'll post a yummy recipe soon!

~ Bex

KITCHEN CABINET CLEAN OUT CHALLENGE (2)

2010-09-25T14:55:00.004-04:00

Ok challenge takers... how ya doin'??? It's been 2 weeks since I have stepped foot in a grocery store, and I gotta tell ya, it feels GOOOOOOD..... I'm amazed how much can be done with the few things I have on hand. Ok, that's a lie.. I have a TON of food on hand. I have had a lot of fun coming up with new recipe ideas and I feel a whole new creative energy flowing. I love it! Here is a peek at the masterpieces I've been creating, and I'll even give a sneaky peek into what I'm planning for next week! First up: Indian Take Out
I don't know about you, but I LOVE take out, and I LOVE Indian food.... SOOO.... I made my own! This recipe is HEALTHY, EASY, and DELICIOUS. Oh, and let's not forget that it's a ONE POT MEAL! And it's CHEAP! Let me introduce you to my new love....
Indian food is so hard to describe. The flavors are sweet, savory, cinnamony, (is that a word?) and just delish! To make this meal, I heated up oil with Tastefully Simple's Garlic Garlic and Onion Onion. I added a pinch of our new Flavors of India season salt. Slice up some chicken and saute, adding more Flavors of India seasoning. Once cooked through, add diced carrots and broccoli. I had a steam and eat bag of broccoli that I heated then put in the pot. Stir and simmer until carrots are soft but still have a bit of crunch. Serve over rice. Voila'! It served 4 people with lots of leftovers! Overall, I estimate this dish to be under $2.00 per serving! AMAZING!

Another easy dish I made this week is Loaded Lasagna Bowls...
To make these, I used oven safe individual bowls. I cooked the lasagna noodles so that they were flimsy but still firm. In another pot, I used hamburger that I already browned and had frozen and mixed it with a jar of sauce and 1/4 jar of water. In a separate bowl, mix a tub of ricotta cheese, an egg, 2 cups mozarella and I also used a bit of cheddar cheese. I had no parsley, and I don't think parsley has any flavor anyway, so I used Tastefully Simple's Spinach and Herb seasoning. I can't even tell you how many times Tastefully Simple has saved dinner. Wait, yes I can, just about every night! Layer the meat sauce, then noodles, then cheese mix, then meat sauce, etc... The last layer should be noodles with a bit of sauce to keep moist, then sprinkle with cheese. Bake on 350 degrees for about 25 minutes covered, then remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes. These were SO GOOD! The best part: I didn't have to worry about scooping out leftovers and finding a container for them... I just wrapped the extra bowl and popped it in the fridge!
For snacks this week I made a box of cookies that I had on hand, I used up fruit that I got for free (Thanks Musder!), and I made grilled cheese and other sandwiches to use up the leftovers from our tailgate. I didn't spend a DIME on any food! LOVE IT!

Next week I look forward to making:
* Blueberry Muffins
* Stuffed French Toast and sausage (for dinner)
* That little turkey that's been chillin in the freezer
* And I'm not sure what else.... any ideas???

And for those who need a dose of cuteness today... Here's my cutie: Emerson! She is now LOVING her saucer and is big enough for her Bumbo! She hardly ever fusses or cries, and when she does, I know something is wrong since she is always so content. Tuesday is her 4 month appointment... NOT looking forward to more shots. Hopefully everything goes well and she takes them like a champ!

Such a happy kiddo!

Ugh! I love this chick. Have I ever mentioned that before??? Have a great weekend everyone, and feel free to post any recipes that you've been proud of lately!

KITCHEN CABINET CLEAN OUT CHALLENGE!

2010-09-16T21:03:00.004-04:00

Today I am issuing a challenge. A challenge to myself as well as to all of you. It's no secret that we are in a recession and times for many are tough. We are used to living in a spoiled 'gotta have it all' world, and let's face it; in our country we have everything we could possibly want right at our fingertips. Now that many of us are feeling knocked down by the economy, people are becoming more creative in their lifestyles. I think in any hard time, there is always something positive in the outcome. I am enjoying the challenge of finding ways to save money, find a good deal, and be creative in how we spend our money. I think my creativity and savviness have disipated over the years because I haven't HAD to penny pinch. Sure, I cut coupons in the past, but now we rely on them. So where am I going with this? Well, Barry and I have been making some changes lately. Last month we tracked all of our expenses. I mean ALL of them. We saved every blasted receipt. And you know what we discovered??? We spent over $800.00 on food last month. No, I didn't add an extra zero by mistake. Seriously. $800.00. On food. For two and a half people. In one month. O.M.G. Now, granted, there were some diapers and toiletries here and there, but it was predominately food. I was sick to my stomach. SOOO... my goal this month is to cut that bill in half. We will eat out only once this month. We will use up gift cards. ANNND..... my challenge: Ready to hear it? I am challenging myself, and all of you, to a KITCHEN CABINET CLUTTER CLEAN OUT! This month, we are buying only the staples: milk, butter, eggs, etc... I will be using ONLY what we already have in stock. My goal is to not step foot in a grocery store for at least 2 weeks. After the first 2 weeks, I'm hoping to extend the goal, but baby steps man, baby steps... It makes me ill to see how much food we have on hand, so I am looking forward to seeing how creative I can get with my meals. Check out my stash!

My fridge isn't too bad right now. I have a lot of dressings and condiments that I'm looking forward to using in new ways.

Freezer number 1. Don't flame me for having Eggos and TGIFriday's potato skins. They are yummy, and I love them.

Tastefully Simple cabinet #1. I have 2 TS cabinets. I LOVE their products. So much so, that I now have my own Tastefully Simple business! For 7 years I have been their number 1 customer. I wish I had joined sooner! I LOVE partying with awesome people and spreading my love of cooking and creating recipes!

Cabinet number 1: Think I have enough pasta and rice? I have about 5 other boxes of pasta in another unpictured cabinet.

This is my 'baking' cabinet. I have already been inspired to make a cookie or brownie bar for tomorrow night's digiscrapping night!

Snack cabinet. Yeah, this majorly needs cleaned out. FYI: The Twinkie and Nutter Butters are the hubs'. Ok, maybe not the Twinkie.... ok, so I bought the Nutter Butters for him but I'm the one who has been eating them... whaddya want from me???

Meat freezer. I'm anxious to use that little turkey...

Overflow freezer. I am almost out of freezer meals. I may have to spend a weekend whipping up another batch. I love the convenience of heat and eat!

Here is the first 'economy' meal I made: Pioneer Woman's creamy tomato pasta! I used Tastefully Simple's Onion Onion and Garlic Garlic since I didn't have an onion or garlic, and I added some shortcut chicken I had in the freezer. (I got them last month as a buy one get one free!) I had leftover rolls from our tailgate last weekend and buttered them up, added some Garlic Garlic, Parmesean cheese, and mozzarella cheese. The peas were frozen and were screaming to be used! Voila'! A delicious home made meal that cost us nothing! (At least that night it didn't!)

Today I used the rest of the rolls and made bread crumbs. I toasted them for 10 minutes on 400 degrees then popped them in the blender. I can't wait to make some chicken with them!

I'm really gung ho and ready to go! Giant, you will not see me for awhile. Not even for snacks. I know your fully stocked shelves will miss me, but I promise to return... some day. Are YOU up for the challenge??? If so, post your 'use em up' recipes! It's time to get our kitchen creativity back! (And our money too!)

~ Bex

I love this chick!

2010-09-12T21:14:00.003-04:00

Yes, I realize it has been a very long time since I have posted. Between internet outages, football and parties, starting a new business with Tastefully Simple (which I LOVE), trying to read for two book clubs, starting back to school, trying to maintain the house, yadda yadda yadda, I haven't had much time to sit back, relax, and blog! I decided to focus on the biggest love of my life; Emerson. She is growing so stinkin fast! I can't believe how much personality she has. She and I have so much fun together: shopping, cleaning, watching tv, going on walks, and just laying together and laughing! She really is too sweet. See for yourself!
Emme found her thumb early on at about 4 weeks or so, but lately she can rarely be found without it in her mouth. She is definitely starting to teethe!

Oops! I totally uploaded the wrong pic here, but oh well! Emme was in mid sneeze I believe! We celebrated Musder's 60th birthday in August. Isn't she a hot tamale?!?!?! 4 generations has never looked better!

If you know me, you know I'm a tree climber. I don't know why I'm drawn to trees, but when I see a good one, I just have to climb it! (No, I'm not a dendraphiliac!) Emme looked so cute in the tree with the leaves as her backdrop. I can't wait until she is able to climb this one on her own!

Before Emerson was born, Musder couldn't resist buying this adorable Indian-inspired sparkly ensemble! For a fun day of shopping, I decided to throw together my own Indian-inspired ensemble (minus the sparkles) and match my little beauty!

Such a fashionista! Emerson loves trying on hats! She tolerated her Nana putting on multiple hats and taking multiple pictures without a fuss!

Woo hoo! She finally is able to play in her saucer! She LOVES being in the jungle with her animal friends! She laughs and plays and dances to the different jungle tunes. I love seeing her interact with her friends and have fun!

She's so hood! lol I love this pic. Who doesn't love being comfy in a hoodie and jeans? It's my favorite outfit! She looks so snug and comfy!

Emerson has had a lot of 'firsts' lately, and this day was her first Penn State tailgate! It was a little chilly, but she was a trooper! We were total tourists, visiting the Lion Shrine, all the downtown stores, having lunch at the Corner Room, stopping to see the pigs, and getting her first stuffed Nittany Lion! We Are.... PENN STATE!

It's no lie, Emme gets her stomach issues honest! I felt HORRIBLE that she displayed her lovely talents all over Sami's lap! Sami is a past student of mine who was SO EXCITED to come and meet Emerson. Poor girl... This is birth control in it's purest form... Sami was a trooper though. One might even say she is a pooper trooper! Ok, that was low, but it made me giggle... and even snort a little...

"She got it from her mama!" Now that Emme has learned that she can grab with her hands, she won't stop flashing people!

I always said we wouldn't gush over Emme and what a 'princess' she is... but she is a total princess... a rockin' princess!

PSU vs Alabama called for a tailgate party at home! We didn't plan on having a bunch of people over, but you know how it goes... We bleed blue and white! Emme was excited to don her PSU diggs again. She is definitely PSU proud!

So, I am going to make it a goal of mine to blog more often. I know the fam is anxious to see Emerson grow up, and I have had others ask me if I'm ever going to post again, so I promise to give it my best! Look forward to seeing some more recipes, random thoughts, digipages, and of course, Emme!

Today I...

2010-07-31T23:07:00.002-04:00

1. Accomplished my goal of scrapping 6 pages with a small group of great gals!
2. Helped to found a recipe and book club. We will read the book and bring a recipe to share that was inspired by the book!
3. Laughed and played with an amazing little girl.
4. Was a guinea pig for Pioneer Woman's egg salad sandwiches. They were delish!
5. Got pooped on.
6. Was a non-stop milk machine for a hungry lil' one.
7. Thanked God for having the best life ever with the best people in it.
8. Watched old episodes of Rob and Big and almost peed with laughter. I heart him.
9. Watched a movie from my childhood, "Now and Then", and remembered the countless times my 3 friends and I reinacted scenes from the flick. I miss being 13... Wait, not really.
10. Snuggled with my kitties, who desperately seek snuggle time from their momma.
11. Created our new budget book and began our plan to save for Emerson and do all we can to give her the best. Anyone want to make a straight donation to her school fund?
12. Made a blog post.
13. Envied my husband and his 2 and a half hour nap.
14. Spent two hours putting a tired, constipated lil' one to bed... she is still awake but is content.
15. Was about to pour a heaping bowl of Frosted Flakes, which I haven't had in YEARS, only to find a full half gallon of spoiled milk in the fridge. I wonder if Emme would mind if I used... no, can't go there.
16. Ate two cupcakes and a small brownie. I wonder why Emme can't poo....?
17. Gazed at my daughter, loving her more each second, and prayed she doesn't give me hell like I did my mom. I'm sure she will. Better start preparing now.

What did you do today?

3 weeks of Angelic Adorableness

2010-07-19T16:59:00.005-04:00

Has it really been since June 12th for my last post? I guess you could say this has been one of the busiest summers I have ever had, yet I can't really say I've accomplished anything. (Unless you want to count raising a newborn!) My Grammy has been begging for some new pics, and my own father had to ask me where the heck I've been since the ole blog has been vacant, SO... this post is for you Grammy! I just received pics from Emerson's 3 week pictures. It's crazy to see these now that she is 8 weeks old and is so much bigger! She has REALLY filled out and is wearing some 3 month clothes! Mostly though, she is still in her 0-3 month outfits, but I have a feeling it won't be long until she is in a 6 month wardrobe! The past 2 months have gone by so quickly! Emme was a superstar throughout the whole photo shoot. She didn't fuss once; not even when we put a brain bow on her! (What's a brainbow you ask? Stick with me and see for yourself!)

Emme is a total kicking machine. When pregnant, I always said she would be a gymnast or a kickboxer, and she still kicks like crazy! This shot was not an easy one to get, but Marie of A Day In The Life Photography (http://www.marietaylor612.typepad.com/adayinthelifephotography/) is persistant and snapped at the perfect moment. I love it!

Emerson LOVED to be swaddled. Not so much anymore though. I think she takes after me, kicking the sheets off every night!

Da DA DA DAAAAAA!!!!! I give you, the brain bow. Even though she has a TON of hair, she doesn't have enough for a hair band, so it is more of a bow on the brain. A brain bow. I thank Marie for that term. Anywho, this pic is classic. She has attitude written all over her face. This is a chick not to be messed with.

The best part of this pic, other than the sheer adorableness of it, is the fact that about 3 seconds later Barry got peed on... all over... My sister, Annisa, had the most classic pic ever of her son peeing on her face as she lifted his naked little self over her head. Barry's response, "You people are stupid. Why would anyone take a picture of a naked baby? You know they would pee and poop everywhere!" hee hee... it's so worth it though, don't ya think?

I can't get over how tiny she was! She looks even smaller next to my swollen hand! ha! Thank goodness they are finally back to normal!

This picture is so magical to me. I guess magical is the word I want, I don't know how to explain it. It just reminds me of mushrooms and fairies and magic. Don't ask me why, it just does.

Well, hopefully with this post I'll get back into the swing of things. I will definitely post more recent pics, I have some cute videos, new layouts, and some recipes that are to die for. (Think Oreos and Ice Cream and homemade fudge and... well, you'll just have to wait...)

Grammy and Pappy, we miss you and can't wait to see you soon! Until then, enjoy the pics!

She is Love

2010-06-12T14:04:00.001-04:00

Because so many have asked... I now introduce you to Emerson Rosalie! More to come!

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Spreading some sunshine... sunshine CAKE, that is...

2010-05-20T20:39:00.003-04:00

I've been cooking and scrapping my way through family favorite recipes, and though many of them are sacred and unsharable, I am willing to share this AMAZING cake my grandmother makes because a) it's not a family recipe b) it's actually a 'healthy' cake c) it's perfect for your next cookout (think Memorial Day!) d) it's too delicious to keep to myself!
Since Emerson will be here on Tuesday, I figure this may be my last baking opportunity for a little while and I have been dieing for this cool and creamy, fruity delight. So without further ado, I give to you: Pineapple-Orange Sunshine Cake! * Preheat oven to 350 degrees
* In a large bowl, mix together:

* 1 box yellow cake mix
* 1/4 cup applesauce
* 4 eggs
* 1 can (11 oz) mandarin oranges in light syrup(syrup and all!)

* Mix gently and pour into a greased 9X13 pan
* Bake for 30-35 minutes
* Cool

For Frosting:

* Blend the following:

* 1 container (8oz) thawed Light Cool Whip
* 1 pkg. (3.4 oz) Instant Vanilla Pudding
* 1 15 oz can crushed pineapple in juice (I drain a little bit of the juice, but not much)

* Chill for 20 minutes or so
* Spread thickly on cake
* Keep chilled

Here's the greatest part: Each piece is only 212 calories, 3.6 grams of fat, and 40 carbs! There's no need to feel guilty sinking your teeth into this amazing fruity delight! Make it and enjoy! Next time you'll hear from me I'll have the little one here to inspire a more interesting post, but hopefully you'll enjoy this tasty treat! Have a great Memorial Day!

Countin' down the days...

2010-05-10T17:55:00.002-04:00

It's hard to believe that only 9 months ago, Barry and I were celebrating an exciting 9 months of anticipation and surprises! And now...
Here we are! The past 9 months have FLOWN, but at the same time, they couldn't have gone fast enough. And now, as we approach 38 weeks, we are facing the end. Or is it the beginning?

Barry and I found out last Wednesday that Emerson is breech, or flipped upside down. Apparantly her head is really wedged, and though my doctor is the self-proclaimed "best flipper there is", she didn't seem too hopeful that manually turning her will work. So, this Wednesday we will see where she is. Is she stubborn like her parents? Let's hope not! We both are pretty bull headed, and adding a third bull to the pen may create havoc in our household! Hopefully she'll give in and flip on her own, but if not, we may be scheduling the 'big C' for either the 17th or the 24th. Which means.... THIS MAY BE OUR LAST WEEK AS BEX AND TEX! It will be totally weird being a threesome rather than a couple, but I can't wait!

So, knowing that I may be a little more immobile than I had anticipated, I need to get some more cooking and cleaning done. Thank GOD I cooked up a storm the other week and froze it all. Barry can barely manage a grilled cheese, though he is getting better, but if I didn't plan ahead for some heat and eat meals, we'd be the pizza man's favorite people for a few weeks!

Though I feel like I've been working my butt off getting the house ready and making sure everything else is taken care of, I feel like 20 things get added to my list each day. Now I have to make sure everything is ready for my sub to take over for school, make some more food, give the house another scrub, and get all the laundry done. Any volunteers want to help?!?!

Fortunately, I have completed my Master's Degree (WOO HOO!) and don't have to worry about classes anymore, I have a fantastic person taking over for me when I take off work, and I have the best friends and family who are anxious for Emme to arrive. (Shout out to Amber and Julie for bringing me milkshakes on Friday!)

The birthing class is done, the nursery is ready, the car seat will be in place tomorrow, and the hospital bag is packed. (And stuffed with food for Barry!) Emerson, if you're listening, you can come any time now!

Massive Monday Musings...

2010-05-03T18:56:00.014-04:00

Do you ever write in your head? I am ALWAYS creating in my head; whether it's characters' voices in potential novels or my own random ramblings that would make a good blog post, my mind is always on fire with words. So why do I find it difficult to post a blog more often? Well, partly because the last thing I want to do after typing all day on the computer is type on the computer. And part of the reason is I don't feel like uploading pictures since Blogger takes FOREVER to do so. So today I am bringing you a MASSIVE update chock full of goodies, from updates on life, digi pages, recipes, and tips. Yes folks, you are getting it all, wrapped up in one post of giant proportions! So, if my ramblings and musings bore you, please feel free to scroll through until you find something appealing, and if nothing appeals to you, then I am sorry to have wasted your time. And because Blogger is such a pain to load pictures into, the order of random ramblings is, in itself, well.... random!

1. Spring is definitely here! I love looking out the windows and watching all the baby bunnies playing and exploring their new world, and the screeching of baby birds howling for full bellies is non-stop. Not only are the wild and wonderful busy with new life, but so are the humans in my small little world. My friend, Jess, just welcomed her baby girl to the world as did my cousin, Amanda. Both little girls are adorable! My cousin's wife, Molly, will be debuting her little one in June, and Emerson can show up any time now!

2. Here are some digi pages I've completed recently. Well, recently, as in, like weeks ago... I totally didn't do any scrapping on National Scrapbooking Day last Saturday, but I will be making up for it this Friday! If you're looking to get some scrapping done, holla at me yo! The more the merrier!
I can't remember if I have posted this page before or not. If I did, my apologies, but I love it. Barry is a people magnet. Everyone is drawn to him, and he loves talking to 'random people'.

So, it's only been a few days, but I am already in Green withdrawal. *sob* What HAPPENED guys?!?! And for all those haters out there: Green did not lose the playoffs, our offense in power plays lost the playoffs! Ok, glad I got that off my chest...

3. Barry turned.... *gasp* THIRTY in April! I think I will sob until I can't breathe when I can no longer say I am in my 20's, but Barry handled the decade change with poise... he played some pong and enjoyed the many friends and family members who joined us to celebrate! I worked my BUTT OFF to plan his surprise party, cleaning the house for two weeks, room by room. He was totally surprised until I had to tell him because of him not feeling well... I wasn't sure whether or not to cancel! But, in good ole' Barry fashion, he said, "The party must go on!" or was it, "Let them eat cake!".... or maybe it was neither, but either way he wanted to see his friends and family and have a great night. And he did. As evidenced by the pics below...

Ryan and Barry are ALWAYS trying to make deals and trades for their fantasy leagues. A fast game of pong for trades turned into an hour long spectacle of 'double or nothings'... after all of their negotiations and bets, they ended up even on their trades. But all was not lost; we had a great time watching the show!

Can ya tell how exhausted I was??? It was a long night, but well worth it. Barry is the best and I love being able to show him how much he is loved!

Tom Petty is no more... now I can present to you Tony Hawk! What am I talking about you ask? Barry's dad, Barry Sr. His hair was so long he looked like Tom Petty's twin... in fact, he has been stopped by strangers and asked if he was, indeed, Tom. But he showed up sportin' a new do, now resembling Tony Hawk! (Ok, maybe Tony in 15 years...) Barry and Robin are amazing people and would do anything for their family. Rumor has it... Robin has already purchased over FIFTY outfits for Emerson... yeah, that's a big 5-0! Think she may be excited for her arrival?

Barry has great genes... he is so lucky to have a great dad and step-mom, AND a great mom and step-dad! Julie and Jeff are also, obviously, excited for the arrival of their first grandchild and I know that they are going to help support her in all her endeavors. Barry's Nanny is also a very special lady and has always been welcoming and kind to all she meets. I've got quite a guy, and it's no secret where his greatness comes from!

Jeff found this heinous hat online, and it fits Barry perfectly! He loves it! He is so anxious for the first Penn State game! (Especially now that hockey is a wash....)

What's a birthday without some cake? Julie made Barry's favorite: chocolate cake with Peanutbutter icing. Mmm... the cake was devoured and we had a very happy birthday boy!

4. Our furniture is SUPPOSEDLY coming tomorrow! It's about time!!! It's only been since March that we've been sitting on lawn furniture and an air mattress in the family room! Grrr... Let's just keep our fingers crossed that it is in perfect condition and is built the right way since we had the pieces reversed...

5. It's official: I've hit the 9 month mark! I woke up a few weeks ago, and when I looked in the mirror I yelled, "HOLY ummm... well, you know what word usually comes after 'holy'. Gotta keep it PG for the fam...) Anyhow, where in the world did this GUT from? I... I.... I look like Larry the Cable Guy! When I went to the doc, I had gained 6 pounds. In two weeks. Yes, SIX pounds in TWO weeks! As if that wasn't crazy enough, when I went back a week and a half later, I was up ANOTHER 6 pounds. So in 3 and a half weeks, I gained the exact amount it took me 7 months to gain! No wonder the elastic in my jeans snapped! Now that I am on weekly appointments, I'm anxious to see my scale tipping total on Wednesday. I'm not stressing about it though. I'm told 24-34 pounds is ideal, and I just hit the 24 mark...

Yup... I'm ready to pop! The doctor estimated Emerson to be about 5 to 5 1/2 pounds and thinks she may get to be 8 8 1/2 pounds by the end of the month... HOWEVER... she also said she is thinking I will go at least a week early. Cheers to that!

6. My feet are so swollen, I could do laps around Fred Flintstone in the Bedrock 500. I was tested for preeclampsia, and I have heard nothing. So I am thinking no news is good news! (I'll spare you pictures on this one...)

7. Barry and I had maternity pictures taken last Saturday. Our photog, Marie, is PHENOMENAL! She has a sneaky peek preview posted on her blog, http://marietaylor612.typepad.com/adayinthelifephotography/

Check her out! She is one talented chica! Book a shoot now! She is wonderful to work with (Barry liked her, which says a lot considering he cursed out our wedding photographer!) and her prices are so affordable. I can not wait to see the rest of the pictures! Oh, and our wedding photographer... she understood his frustration as his button popped off about 2 minutes before he was to make an appearance at the altar... all was good in the hood.

8. The hospital bag is packed and we are ready to go! I even packed a bag of food for Barry! If you can think of anything that may be missing from my bag that saved you while in the hospital, please let me know! I think I have all my bases covered, but you never know...

9. Last Sunday I spent all day, and I mean ALL DAY cooking meals to stock our freezer in preparation for Emerson. As tiring as it was, I know it will be worth it when she is here and we can just heat and eat with no clean up! I made well over 10 recipes, totalling tons of servings to get us through a few weeks. The best part was doing it on a budget. I get a kick out of saving money. Our total was almost $400.00 at the store... until I gave my coupons! I know some of you out there are Coupon Queens who end up getting paid to shop, but I was proud of bringing my total down to under $260.00!

Here is a tip I learned from a Pea on the twopeasinabucket board... (Boy are they some smart 'peaple') TIP: When freezing meals, line the pan in foil. Leave enough foil draped over the edges of the pan. When cooled, fold over the foil and freeze. Then you can pop the foil wrapped meal out of the pan and pop it in the freezer! That way your pans aren't tied up in the freezer, money isn't wasted on disposible foil pans, and you can just pop it back into the same pan to reheat when ready! How smart!

Look how easy! After it's frozen, just put it in a bag like the above pic and label it with cooking directions. It's a huge space saver too!

As much as I like to cook, I have never roasted a chicken before! Since Giant had a buy one get one deal on their roasters, I saved a ton by cooking my own! I stuffed these hot mammas with onions, lemons, and garlic. Then I rubbed them down in butta and salted and peppered them. Aren't they GORGEOUS??? I was so proud! Here are a few of the freezer meals I made:

1. Pioneer Woman's baked chicken spaghetti

2. Picky Palate's Smoked cheddar BBQ chicken mac and cheese (OMG)

3. Pulled chicken BBQ

4. Sloppy Joes

5. Tex Mex Rice Casserole

6. Baked Corn

7. Carribean Jerk Chicken

And a few others. It's tempting to eat them now, but alas, I will wait...

10. I was called to Jury Duty and was actually picked! I couldn't believe it, but then I got lucky... the case was settled outside of court and I no longer have to report! Woo hoo!

11. I've been out testing kiddos for PSSA's for the past two weeks. PSSA's are our state tests, and like the kids, I am so glad they are over! It was awesome getting out and meeting some of my students though! Now I get to hunker down and prepare for my replacement to take over!

12. This Saturday Barry and I will be doing an all day birthing class. Surprisingly, Barry is the one who insisted we attend. I think it will be very beneficial for him to know what to expect, though he said in college he had to watch the 'miracle of birth' video and needed to leave the room... I hope this class helps to calm his nerves and reassure him that everything will be ok!

13. I'll end the massive Monday madness (I love alliteration!) with a prediction: Emerson will be making her debut on Sunday, May 9. If it isn't the 9th, I'm thinking 19th. For some reason, I have the number '9' in my head... Feel free to offer up your predictions!

Hopefully I'll get another post in before the grand arrival of Emerson! I hope to post the maternity pics as soon as I have them, but it may be after the big D-day! Keeping my fingers crossed for a safe delivery, hopefully sooner than later!

Sneaky Peak: The Nursery is finished!

2010-04-05T19:58:00.010-04:00

Creating the perfect nursery can be the most exciting and most frustrating thing an expecting couple can do. When I get an idea in my head, I go into it full force and either end in satisfaction or get so into it that I get overwhelmed and my OCD butt gets tired of it and gives up. Obviously I couldn't give up on creating the perfect nursery, but it was definitely a LONG process from initial idea to final execution. As soon as I found out we were no longer going to be a part of the 'childless and selfish couple club', (DISCLAIMER: Not all childless couples are selfish! It's a personal choice, and we enjoyed our years just the two of us and there would be nothing wrong in keeping it that way if that's what we chose to do!) the idea of making the perfect room popped into my head and hasn't left since. Yep, that's 8 MONTHS of stressing about this room. I wanted it to be neutral so that I could get a head start without knowing what we were having, but at the same time, I am not a fan of the typical green or yellow 'neutral' rooms. I need bold color, I need a theme, and I need something that can be defined when we find out. So of course, with my love of everything ocean, Barry agreed it would be a great theme to soothe the baby to sleep in, watch the baby play in, and was neutral for either a boy or girl. Here is the 'before'. I wish I had a real before picture. You can't tell, but the color of this room was an ugly slate blue that looked gray. The window treatments were hockey sticks as the curtain rods and red curtains. We called it the 'Graig room' after a friend who plays hockey. Needless to say, I took over the closet and the rest of the room was just filled with junk. You may remember this room from a previous closet organization post. It was FILLED with clothes for consignment. I had a LOT of cleaning and purging to do to prepare this room for someone else!

I really wanted to go with a light teal and sandy brown for the ocean theme. This way, it could be turned boyish if needed or could be decorated with fairies or butterflies or whatever if it's a girl. I wanted all white accents and furniture to set off the nautical tone. Our friends, Lynn and Terry (aka Big Terr), spent two nights at our house replacing the chewed and marked baseboard with the white board and also hung our chair rail. They did an AMAZING job! Now that the walls were painted (thanks to the Musder who painted while I was signing my bank account over to Toyota) and Lynn and Big Terr finished the details, I was ready to fill this sucka with furniture!

Barry put together the rocker/glider and crib while Rahjah ate the plastic wrap from every piece. Cleaning up plastic wrap puke is not fun. Just thought you'd want to know.

Everything I bought or registered for, I did so after lots of thought and research. I read reviews, I tried to be practical, and I imagined what I would actually USE versus what people THINK they will use. I didn't want to have to try to get rid of a changing table in a few years, so I was elated to find this changing table that has a removable top. When Emerson is older, it just pops off and she'll still have a dresser! Boy, was I ever smart! Uhhh..... yeah.... until it was time to put it together! What a PITA! (Pain in the ass for those of you who were imagining a tortilla or taco) After 4 hours of labor, we discovered parts were missing. The room was left as a disaster zone for about 2 weeks until the parts came and we invested another 4 or 5 hours into completion. Now, we are fairly intelligent people, but this sucker was a nightmare. The reviews told me that. I should have listened.

Now to the completion! It's no surprise that Emerson has her own pets before she is even born. Blame the Musder. She's the one who had fish at my baby shower. Of course I took some home! Her fish tank is the perfect finishing touch to making it the perfect ocean room!

Having once been an elementary teacher, my bookshelves runneth over. I still have about 5 or 6 boxes in the basement that have leveled books awaiting our kids to read them! Pictured are over 300 picture books. No, I didn't count them. My neurotic mother did as we placed them on the shelf.

Even though it will be awhile before Emerson sleeps in the crib, it is ready to go!

Raggedy Anne is chillin on the changing table.

My friend Julie found this "E" plaque that fits perfectly in the room!

Of course girlfriend's closet is already bursting at the seams! I didn't know this, but apparantly my mom saved a bunch of my baby clothes and they have been sitting in my basement for a few years. Shows what I know! It was fun watching her pull things out and remember me wearing them. It'll be cool to see Emme in some of my outfits, and I'm sure I'll stash away some of my favorites for her when she has a kid!

Here is a view of the left side when you walk in. I love the curtains! When Mom found them, they fit perfectly! Again, it's been a process, but piece by piece everything came together.

Standing where the rocker is, this is the view of the.... well duh, the closet! (Do you know how hard it is to find white closet doors that aren't boogered up?!?! Everywhere we looked they were dinged and damaged! We ended up painting the old doors and calling it a day.) Oh, and I'm sure these doors will get 'boogered' up in the future.... ew... I can't wait...

My totally obsessive compulsive self hunted for paper for Emme's letters for probably about one to two months. You wouldn't believe the different papers I brought home, the numerous arrangements and combinations I made, and the anxiousness I had to make them just right. By the time I had the perfect paper for the project (I love alliteration!) I didn't want to make the letters in fear that I'd mess them up. So I passed the project on to Musder and she did a bangin job. They are PERFECT! I love all of the 'Nana touches' in this room!

The crib, assembled by Barry with not a single beer or curse word. Amazing, I know.

And this is the view when you first walk in the door. I LOVE the finished product! I should have taken a picture of the light, as it resembles the inside of a seashell, but I'm not one of 'those' people who takes pictures of 'everything'... geesh... those people drive me nuts...

Anywho, that's it! The nursery is ready to go and is eager to welcome Emerson Rosalie! Barry loves this room and often just lies on the floor with the cats and watches the fish. It's really cute. I'm not one for known characters, like Disney and what not, in the room, and Barry even described it as 'classy'. haha! Really the color theme was inspired by the seahorse you can see on the wall. We got the seahorse at the boardwalk art show in Virginia Beach on our first vacation together. I'm so glad it is now a part of our first baby's room! Our light switch plate is a sea turtle we got the next year.

Well, that's it! For those of you who have been asking, there's your sneaky peak! Now I guess I can just sit back and relax and wait for Emme to come.... oh, wait... that's right... I forgot I am in the middle of redoing the family room as well as changing the dining room into a playroom... *sigh* The fun never ends.

The best shower eva!

2010-03-24T22:05:00.009-04:00

Let me start by saying I have the most amazing family and friends. They threw the best baby shower I could ever have imagined. I felt awkward at my bridal shower because I knew about it, and people couldn't believe that I knew about it, so I had asked that I don't know about my baby shower if anyone planned one. Boy did they ever try hard to keep it a surprise! I kind of knew when it was, but I was never 100% sure, even with people telling me when it was! I still thought maybe they were trying to throw me off. Even Barry kept it a secret! I appreciate all of the effort that went into keeping it a surprise, and I am so fortunate to have people care so much to want to make this a special day to celebrate Emerson. My mom took 98 pictures (no surprise) so I just picked a few to share.

The table arrangements were AWESOME! I have always LOVED the ocean. Some of my family jokes that I wanted to be a marine biologist so I could live at the beach. In reality, I just love ocean life. There is something intriguing about the unknown, and so much of the ocean is undiscovered. I would love to be able to work with ocean animals, but obviously life didn't have that plan for me. Maybe Emerson will be inspired to work with animals in some way, but knowing my luck, she'll be a beach bum. ha!

Surprisingly, having live fish was my mom's idea. She HAD to have known that I would go home with some. Sure enough, I ended up with 6 fish at the end of the day and needed to rush to Wal-Mart to get an aquarium! Barry and I had fun naming them: MoJo, Sushimi, Sea Skipper, Sharkey, Sharkbait, and Gold Digger. They are all still kickin and lovin their new home!

It was funny that even the presents matched the oceany theme that we have in our nursery!

Walking in and seeing so many friends and family members was wonderful. Though many were missing, they were in my thoughts. The springtime is such a busy time!

One of the first games was to cut string to see how big people thought I was. Most people cut HUGE pieces of string! I don't know if I should be offended that they thought I was that big, or happy that I'm not that big! A lot of people came really close!

Julie and Kelly tied as being the closest! They got to go home with some Tastefully Simple yummies!

My mom is one of the most talented people I know in so many ways. She created this GORGEOUS blanket with a matching outfit for me to bring Emme home in. Apparantly I chose the colors years ago: light teal and purple. See, my tastes haven't changed. It matches perfectly with the nursery! I can't wait to wrap Emme up and snuggle her in the soft blankie!

Oh yeah, we will NOT have a princess. She'll be a total rock star.

Barry's mom, Julie, got us a pack n play. Oddly, I was so excited for the pack n play. I can't wait to set it up! I think it affirms that a baby will actually like, BE in it soon!

Julie also got Emerson the cutest Penn State onesies and hat. She is going to be set for Penn State football season!

Karen, a very special family friend, gave Emerson the softest blanket. It is adorable! My grandmother, Mom-Mom approves since it has an elephant! I may have to steal this for awhile before Emme comes...

Of course she HAS to have an elephant rattle too. And the best part? It's PURPLE!

Poor Barry... he always said, "Boy, girl, I don't care. There wil be NO cheerleading outfits. Our kid will wear the lion suit." Sorry Barry... Nana trumps you on this one!

Deb, my step-dad's cousin, is another crafty lady. She made this incredible Raggedy Anne doll for Emerson. Isn't she gorgeous? I can't wait to see Emme cuddle and drag her around. What a special gift!

Julie S., a friend, has great fashion taste! This dress is so CUTE! I want one for myself! I wonder if Osh Kosh makes it in my size.....

This has got to be one of the tiniest outfits I've ever seen. Seriously? My FOOT won't even fit in this!

A friend of Annisa's makes the most incredible cakes. She made a pretty wedding cake for Sasha's wedding themed birthday party, and she didn't disappoint with this amazing ocean cake. Just look at that mermaid! I don't have the heart to eat her or throw her away, so she is still chillin in my fridge...

Mmmm..... and the taste? Incredible. One layer was chocolate and vanilla layers with chocolate mousse or ganache in between the layers. Oh is it ever good! The other layer is a white cake with a lemon curd and cream in the center. Oh my gosh! I need to go eat another piece of leftovers.... and I would.... if I didn't already have two big pieces today....

Brooke, Aly, and Steph are some of the most caring people in my life, and they remind me of how lucky I am to have good friends.

To all who were able to make it out on Saturday, THANK YOU so much for your support and excitement as we anxiously await for Emerson to arrive. She is the luckiest girl in the world for having you all in her life.

To my mom, Julie, Annisa, Jen, Katie, and Brooke, THANK YOU for all of your hard work in making this day extra special. You all mean more to me than I can ever put into words. You are such special people and we love you!

I can't wait for Emerson to meet you all!

I gave in to Temptation...

2010-03-09T20:15:00.010-05:00

Have you ever had one of those moments? You know, where you're just sitting on the couch, nothing on tv, so you flip through the channels... and inevitably you stumble on a home shopping network. There is just something about those home shopping networks that draw you in and brainwash you to think you HAVE to have something and you will just DIE without it and how have you LIVED for so long without it!?!?!?!

So, of course, I gather all of my willpower and watch with just a curiosity, because, you know, there is nothing else on. I tell myself over and over that I don't need anything. Of course it's a cooking show, and my weakness is cooking essentials. Yes, essentials. If you've ever tried to cook without the essentials, you know how appealing cooking shows can be. So I watch, thinking that the only thing I need is a dutch oven. Maybe they'll have deals on dutch ovens. But no, they are selling bakeware.

Now, if you've been in my kitchen, you know that the LAST thing I need is bakeware. One can only have so many 9X13 pans and meatloaf pans and serving trays and the like. My house is so STUFFED with bakeware, I have it hidden in the hutch, the drawers, the cabinets, and the downstairs coat closet. Yeah, I'd say I have enough. So I tuned it out. I was good. I didn't even pay attention to whatever was on.... and then Barry had an epiphany...

"Hey! This stuff is really cool! Check it out! You should get this." Oh. No. So I look up, and there it is.... Temp-tations bakeware. A stackable, portable, coverable, dishwasher, oven, and microwave safe bakeware set. A set that has an accompanying cookbook that tells you exactly which piece to use for each yummy recipe. A set that has SIXTEEN pieces for under $40. A set that I do NOT need....but oh look! It's pretty too!

So of course my mind is filling with all of the places I can take this, all of the events I can host using this pretty set, and all of the yummy foods I can make, bake, and store.... crap.
But then I have an epiphany of my own: If I am going to get this set, I have to PURGE. And I mean GET.RID.OF.STUFF. So I made myself a promise: I am going to clean out all of my cluttered kitchen storage areas, and I need to get rid of stuff to make room. If I haven't used it in a year, it is gone.

So, here's what I did: The befores:

This is our hall closet. I always have to ask Barry to reach up and grab what I need, and 9 times out of 10 I hear him curse as everything topples on top of him. Hey - he has long arms - I can't reach it by myself!

This is my hutch. The one where, if I want something, I have to take out EVERYTHING and the put it all back in. Some day something's going to break as I try to shimmy out a plate or bowl.

My hutch threw up. This is everything it had swallowed. It is definitely time to weed out the things I don't need or use or have 20 of...

This is my kitchen cabinet. It's not too bad, but I don't use a lot of it, so it needs a good cleanin' out.

This is Barry's most despised cabinet. He can never seem to slide out the pans and get them back in. After a lot of bangin' and clangin' I have to come up and rescue him.

This is my oven drawer. It isn't too bad either, but I don't think I need all of the 9X13's that it contains...

SOOOO.... here's my inspiration....

I anxiously awaited it's arrival. I couldn't wait to tackle my reorganization, and I was not disappointed when it arrived. They said it was a 16 piece set, but really it has 24 pieces: a 9X13, a servong tray that fits as a lid for the 9X13, a glass cutting board/trivet for each size piece, a black iron carry basket for each piece, and a locking lid for each piece. I don't know the exact measurements of the other pieces, but there are 8 dishes in total. They are PERFECT for cooking and serving side dishes!

So pretty!

And it all STACKS so neatly! This is going to save me so much space!

The lids, baskets, and trivets stack too!

Oh! And BONUS! Look what I found, hiding in the back of my closet, still in it's plastic wrap: A food processor that hooks into my blender! I've been wanting a food processor, and here I had one the whole time!

And here's the afters:

My kitchen cabinet is now clean and organized AND it holds my new bakeware and accessories!
My hutch now has space! I can easily get what I need without worrying about crashing everything in the process!

The closet is clean! WOO HOO!

This is all the stuff that will hopefully make someone else's kitchen happy! Does a person really need 7 9X13 pans, 4 8X8 pans, a bunch of cheapy vases, and other clutter? Nope, and I certainly am tired of being a collector. Soo....
Sometimes giving in to temptation can provide a bounty of benefits. If you are fighting a temptation of your own, see how it can turn into a blessing, not a sin. It is such a relief to have an organized kitchen full of things I actually USE. There is no need to hold on to things just because I 'might' use them or I have some weird sentimental attachment to them. I'm on a kick to detox my house. It's so refreshing to have unfilled space. I don't need to fill every square inch just because it's there. I don't need to have the latest and greatest and I don't need to hold on to things that I don't use. It's time to make room for baby and make use of what I have. Though I bought something new, it was an investment in organization and decluttering... and I can't wait to purge some more!

OH, and in case you are looking to give in to Tempt-tations, you can find the set on QVC.com. They are washable stonewear and come in many colors. And the cookbook... yeah, I got that too...It's on backorder until the 29th, so look for some recipes coming soon!

I was made fun of today

2010-03-02T21:32:00.003-05:00

My kitties are my babies. Many people say, "Wait til Emme comes, you'll not treat the cats like your babies." Nothing will change with my girls. I absolutely adore them, and I would do anything to help them. Yes, I am one of those people who would pay anything and do anything for another animal. My mom thinks I'm crazy, but I just really value animal life, human or otherwise. That being said, I have been fighting for Rahjah lately. Something is not right with her eye, she has a black growth in it and now another one forming, she has been sneezing, and her eye is gunky and watery when stressed. Clearly signs of herpes in cats. And it is contagious, and now Salem had a runny eye the other day. My vet keeps dismissing me, but of course she doesn't mind charging an arm and a leg to do so. So, after thinking of switching vets, I decided to give mine one last shot, but I requested to see the other vet. So I brought Salem and Rahjah in today, and I brought the pictures of Rahjah's gunky eye as well as some of the info I found from researching online and talking to other people. The vet tech looked at both girls, noted that Salem's one eye looked glassy, and she noted the spots in Rahjah's eye. She leaves to get the doc, and outside the door, I hear laughing and snickering. Then I hear... I couldn't believe it... I hear the following:

"Oh, one of those who diagnoses online. Gotta love em'." (doc)
"Hahaha! You're so MEAN! haha!" (vet tech)

Enter the doc and the vet tech. Oh, and not the doc I requested... the same doc that I specifically did NOT want. The same doc who charged me $65 to look at her eye and then tell me it's nothing, but I should probably go to an opthamologist. What, so she can get a recommendation compensation? Don't think so. I was furious. And what does she say? "I've treated what you think it is, and it is not that. It might be a tumor, but you'll have to see an opthamologist two hours away. Otherwise, just keep an eye on it." Ummm... whatever she has, she passed it on to Salem, and now I have two sick kitties and another huge vet bill. Not only was I made fun of, but my vet request was denied, I was dismissed once again, and once again referred to a specialist that I can not afford. Needless to say, I will NOT be going back. Before this whole eye herpes thing, this same doc tried to send me to an orthopedic surgeon in Washington D.C. for Rahjah's foot. They have squeezed the last penny from me. I thought vets would appreciate a pet owner who is persistant and wants the best for their pets, someone who does research and tries to find solutions. Apparantly my EX vet cares about a paycheck and that's about it. I miss my old vet. *sigh* He was so caring and took time with the girls. He even let me in the back room once to look at ear mites on a microscope. If you have fur babies, value and appreciate the good docs. I'm off to find one.

Contentment

2010-02-25T22:58:00.003-05:00

I, like many others, often get into a slump where it feels like nothing can go right. It's these times when I don't want to be patronized or coddled, and the worst thing someone can do is try to 'put things in perspective' for me. Sometimes you just need to vent, ya know? I have to admit, these are not the moments in life that I am proud of, and I try really hard to put things in persepective on my own, despite the efforts of my mother and her words of wisdom. ; ) I feel like we often get caught up in life and the little things that don't matter so much, and it is really hard to get ourselves back into focus.
Barry and I have been blessed in so many countless ways, and I am so thankful for everything in our lives: the friends, our family, our home, our health, the opportunities for fun we've had, our careers, our cats, the baby, and I could go on and on and on. Do we want to add on to our house and make it more conducive to what we need? Yes. Do we have the money? No. Is it a big deal? NO. Am I frustrated beyonf belief with my grad classes and professors? Yes. Will it matter in a few weeks? NO. Could I do without some of the health issues I've been dealt? Absolutely! Could it be worse? ABSOLUTELY!
I guess what I'm trying to say is, though I have always been thankful for all of the SO MANY blessings in my life, I am finding more contentment with who I am, who I have around me, and the opportunities that lie ahead. I am so fortunate, and though I may not have the titles, posessions, or opportunities that some have, I have SO MUCH MORE than what many have. And the only thing that matters is happiness, and that can't be found anywhere but within myself. I am content with who I am and who I'm going to be, and I am in love with my life.

Love Crop

2010-02-20T22:14:00.009-05:00

I'm on the road to recovery, and man does it feel good! I don't know about you, but when I get sick it's like I can't remember what it felt like to feel good. I get really wimpy and feel like I'm on my death bed. This time around wasn't so bad though. I got better pretty quick and I had a pretty relaxing week to recover.
Today was our semi-annual crop for JDRF. We hold a HUGE crop every October and in February we have the Love Crop, which is just a basic crop. I made it my goal to get 10 pages completed. That's quite a task, since the crop was only from 9 - 4 and I had to help out here and there. Because it was a more relaxed crop, I got a lot done! I didn't reach my goal, but I did manage to crank out 7 pages. SEVEN PAGES! Now, I'm no good at math (stifle the laugh Dad) but if you add the three pages I did a few days ago, then that equals 10 pages! The other three I completed are recipe pages, which have me excited. I have about 20 recipes created and scrapped!
After the crop today, which raised almost $1,000 for JDRF, Musder and I weren't ready to stop, so I picked up some Chinese and Barry got a cheesesteak and we headed home to meet the Musder and Jim. We watched the Olympics while scrapping some more! Here are the pages:

Salem has a knack for leaving her fuzzy trademark of fur in the most inconvenient of places. She LOVES to lay in the guest room on the bed, but if the whole bed is empty save for one of Barry's shirts.... she'll be on his shirt. Never fails. So of course as soon as she saw his underwear drawer open, she jumped right in and claimed it as hers.

One of my favorite holiday traditions is Barry's Valentine's Day dinner. He NEVER cooks, but once a year he busts out the Ragu alfredo sauce and makes me fettucine. I look forward to it every year!

I felt horrible for leaving Barry on Valentine's Day this year, so I recreated an old-fashioned date night (old-fashioned for us) and we went to Montezuma's and then played games like we used to, you know.... before the whole marriage thing happened and we became old fuddy duddies. Did I really just say fuddy duddy? Ok, ignore that... we aren't old. Or fuddy. Or duddy, whatever that means...We just haven't played games together in awhile, so it was nice to have a relaxing evening of competitive Family Feud fun! (He kicked my butt, and I don't know how that happened.)

If you're on the east coast, you can sympathize with the above. This has been a nasty winter, and I've loved every minute of it!

Ice fest this year was awesome! Though FREEZING cold, we loved meandering the streets of our quaint little town, taking in the amazing artistry.

On our way to the Caps vs. Red Wings game, Barry declared, "Dude do you have your camera?" (Dumb question) "I want my picture taken with the Capstronaut!" Sure enough, after an exhilierating win, we walked outside to catch the train when I looked up and saw him... the Capstronaut was within a few feet! I ran up to him and begged and pleaded and cried for a picture. Actually, I just said, "Excuse me, but we watch you on tv every week and my husband loves you and wants a picture with you." He was totally nice and posed with his Jeanie for us. I love it when people humor me.

The Hershey Bears are the Caps' minor league team, and are they ever on a winning streak! They confirm that the Caps are going to be the team to beat for the next few years. Friends of mine from school have season tickets and were able to get us lower level tickets right behind the goal for $30 TOTAL with parking! We had a great time watching the Bears trounce the Binghamton Senators.

Tomorrow I have no plans. I am caught up with my school work (all 13 busy work, pointless assignments) and I am good to go for school on Monday, so who knows.... maybe I'll scrap some more. I'm gettin my groove back baby and am on a roll! Tomorrow will be a productive day... after I sleep in for a few extra hours...

Silver Linings

2010-02-16T22:34:00.004-05:00

Every cloud has a silver lining, or so they say. I have had many gray clouds lately, but I have been fortunate enough that the old adage has been true. Despite the bad in my life, there is so much good. Everything is going really well right now, except for the fact that I am really sick. I did SO GOOD avoiding sickness, because when I get it, I really get it BAD. Unfortunately, while in Washington D.C. over the weekend, I got it bad. I'm on an antibiotic that makes my mouth and jaw hurt, which is a weird side effect, but I need to get better for me and for Emme, so I'm staying on it. I also have so much going on and coming up, so I need to be tip top asap. But aside from feeling like mud, I have a lot to celebrate. Here are my silver linings:

1. I got my new computer today, and so far I am in love! I love the touch screen feature and the backlit keyboard. I'm really excited to use it this weekend!

2. What's this weekend? It's our 3rd annual Love Crop for JDRF. I NEED to feel better and be better so that I can digiscrap all day while supporting this amazing cause! We started with a big crop in the Fall a few years ago, and my mom has done the best job ever at now having a semi-annual crop to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. This organization is so important to us because they are making great strides in improving life with diabetes and finding a cure. My nephews and many students afflicted with this disease are waiting and hoping for a cure!

3. Emerson is moving more than ever! I think she may be a kickboxer when she grows up. I'd be ok with that.

4. The Holocaust conference that I attended in D.C. was great. (Aside from feeling horrid) If you have seen the movie Defiance, you will understand my excitement. I was able to hear amazing speakers and meet great people. The screen-play writer was our first speaker, and it was interesting to discover the ins and outs of how the movie came about. It's crazy that it took over 10 years to even be considered! I also met a man who lived with the Bielski Brothers Brigade for over 3 years in the woods. He confirmed the events shown in the movie and told other stories of the hardships they faced. It's sad to think that this may be one of the last conferences, if not the last conference, that I attend with my mom.

5. I'm officially half way through my last online class! I can't wait until it's OVER! My professor and I disagree on some issues, and to be honest, I haven't learned anything from her. I have butted heads with many professors before, but this is the first time I can say I haven't learned anything. I hope that changes in the next 4 weeks.

6. I got my digi pages in the mail today! I printed my first few recipe pages and 65 other pages I completed over the past year. They turned out pretty good!

7. My rocker/glider is in! I just have to go pick it up! That means, after I finish putting together the dresser, I can put the chair together and get the toy box - then the furniture in the nursery is done!

Hopefully I'll start feeling well soon (like, how about tomorrow???) and I can get some things done that I want to accomplish. I have had no energy or motivation to do anything, and even grading papers today took a toll on me. My brief burst of energy is dwindling, so I am off to take a pill and hopefully get some sleep. Here's to hoping tomorrow is a better day!

~ Bex

Fabulous Fruit Fluff

2010-02-09T20:06:00.003-05:00

I can't tell you how much I LOVE the snow. However, I don't love the panicked phone calls from a husband who can't get home due to the roads, the constant shovelling said husband must perform, the dirty salt-soaked floors that need constant cleaning, and the fact that our tickets to the Caps vs. Penguins game last weekend are still sitting in a drawer upstairs unused. But I do love snow. And I can't wait to go outside tomorrow and build a snowman. In fact, I just may build a little snow family, cats included. Let's just hope the snowpants fit my blimpy self. I'll be really bummed if I can't go out and play! I also hear that more is to come on Saturday, which may once again cancel my plans in D.C. I'm supposed to go to a Holocaust conference. It is most likely my last one, so I DON'T want it to be cancelled! Oh well. Ya deal with what you're dealt...
So... now that I mentioned my blimpy self, here is the latest pic, taken on Friday. Friday marked 6 months! Time is flyin' by, and that's a good thing. I can't wait for May. If you notice on the floor, furniture is in pieces due to parts missing, but it's coming together! I ordered the rocker/glider last night and just need the toy box, then it will be furnished and I can start putting stuff on the walls. I can't wait til it's finished!
So here's the 6 month gut shot. PSA: If you are knocked up, don't try sucking your gut in. It doesn't work... or so I've heard...

And now for a recipe:

I posted earlier about a heavenly dessert that is so easy to make and is HEALTHY too. Yeah, usually 'dessert that I make' and 'healthy' don't fit in the same sentence, but this time they do! This is only ONE POINT if you are on weight watchers, and if you aren't on weight watchers, you can still indulge without feeling guilty. A teacher at a school I used to teach at gave this to me. I am grateful. (Thanks Amy!) Here it is:

Fabulous Fruit Fluff

1 cup boiling water
Stir in one box sugar free jello (2 minutes)
Add 1 cup ice cubes (stir until ice almost melts)
Put in refrigerator for 10 minutes (TIME THIS!)
Use mixer and add 1 box sugar free, fat free instant vanilla pudding to the jello and mix until blended
Add 1 tub fat free cool whip
Fold in fruit
Refrigerate and enjoy!
I have only used orange, but I bet cherry or strawberry with bananas would be great too!

AJ: I hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think after you try it!

This will make about 10 servings or so.

For those of you hunkered down in your homes during Snowpocalypse 2010, enjoy the comforts your home has to offer! Get creative and do something you maybe haven't done in awhile. For those who have to work tomorrow, I feel your pain too, as I am both hunkered down AND working. *sigh*
Enjoy the week!
~ Bex

Week in Review with a lil something extra

2010-02-05T19:50:00.007-05:00

I hate it when I forget that I have eye makeup on and try to rub or itch my eye. Yeah, I don't know why I started with that, other than the fact that I just did that and I don't feel like getting up and washing my hands and checking the racoon status of my eye. Oh well, it's 8:00 and I'm snowed in, so who cares if it looks like I just got sucker punched.

This week has been pretty uneventful, but I do have good news to report. Here's a recap of my week:

Monday I made an amazing Chicken Parmesean. I love making chicken parm. I feel like I belong in the Olive Garden kitchen when I make it. I'm not big on Italian food, but this dish usually hits the spot.
Tuesday I had class. I am taking Issues and Trends in School Law. Yes, it's as drab as it sounds. And my 'professor' doesn't care for me too much because of the fact that I teach online. Oh well, it's just a few weeks. I am also taking an online class about different cultures in the classroom. I haven't learned anything yet, despite the 37 assignments I have completed so far over the past 3 weeks. Really, that number is not exaggerated, and I have two more for this week due tomorrow night. Then I get to start a whole new week of 13 assignments for this one class. I can't wait until May when I'll earn my Master's!

Wednesday night I had my dad and Linda over for dinner. I made Pioneer Woman's Crash Hot Potatoes. Despite not having a potato masher, I think they were the hit of the plate. I also had 'unfried' chicken, veggies, and an orange dream dessert that is only ONE POINT on weight watchers and is super yummy! I just may have to post the recipe... I love spending time with my dad. I miss playing backgammon and cards with him. My dad is also doing better after his hospitalization with pneumonia. I'm really proud of his weight loss so far and his eating habits have really improved. It sucks that he has had health issues lately, but hopefully with a continued diet change he'll be back to his old self soon. If Emme gets her dad's mouth, we're going to need my dad around for a LOOOOOOOOONG time.... (Let's just say Barry had 11 cavities, needed a root canal, and needed a gum graft when I met him. Thank God Dad's a dentist...) Now, if we could just get Dad's house fumigated so there's no more smoke...

Thursday I had an outing with students at my school and when I came home, my school computer was waiting for me and was FIXED! (At least so far it's been great!) I also received an amazing letter from my principal with some great gifts inside. It's so awesome working for someone who shows appreciation of employees.

Friday (today) I had my 6 month baby appointment. SIX MONTHS! That's like, HALF A YEAR! I am getting anxious for May. Barry has been since September. Everyone keeps telling me to 'enjoy being pregnant'. I'm neither enjoying nor not enjoying it. It just kind of... is. I just want Emme to be here. She's moving like crazy and has kept me up a couple of nights. Barry saw her move for the first time on Wednesday night. That was pretty cool.
I am excited to be snowed in! I was hoping to relax and do some digi scrapping, but I don't have Photo Shop right now. I broke down and bought a new computer on Monday. I can't wait to get it! I looked at Macs, as I am totally over PCs (Problem Computers), but I can't afford a Mac... *sigh* So I built a Dell Studio 17 with Touch Screen. I'm excited! I've heard that once you download Photo Shop so many times the disk stops working, so I don't want to download it back onto my school computer and then not be able to download it on my new computer. So, I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I may have to hunker down and read, as I only have 3 weeks to read Eat, Love, Pray for our new book club that meets soon. I just finished Dear John and can't wait to see the movie!
I'm going to end tonight with a few pieces of randomness about Barry. Why? Well, he's just awesome. He has been so relaxed lately, had no problems with me spending a small fortune on a new computer, waits on me hand and foot without me expecting him to, enjoys just sitting and talking to me about nothing for hours, texts me for no reason, always shows his concern for me and makes sure I'm not endangering myself or Emme, cleans up after every meal, has the best sense of humor, enjoys doing things with me - even if it is as mundane as grocery shopping, asks me how my day was with general interest, has been working very hard on his principalship, likes to read with me at night, sends me pictures of the cats doing weird things if I am not home so I don't miss it, and is just Barry. There is definitely no other out there.

I now bring you some Old School Barry: Some of my favorite blast from the past moments that could only be brought to you by Barry himself:

Barry has a reputation for being obsessive compulsive, especially when it comes to cleaning. It was no surprise that during our first New Year's Eve party, he celebrated the new year by making sure the house was clean. Yes, he seriously broke out the Swiffer to get crumbs that were on the floor...

Yeah, he thought he was cute when he bought this shirt after a long, strenuous day on the golf course. It's the guys' tradition to go to Hooters afterwards. Unfortunately, this shirt is now in my drawer. After it's first wash it shrank.

Any time there is something to try on, Barry is all about it. He was totally all over these beer goggles.

Barry is known for his Britney Spears karaoke skills. 'Hit Me Baby One More Time' is a Barry classic. After a humiliating attempt at a Guitar Hero contest at the local bar, he redeemed himself with his Britney rendition.

I don't think Barry realized that when he took on the role as Best Man, he was to look out for the groom all night, not need a sitter himself. This was taken shortly before he went into the girls' bathroom to get rid of some of the evidence of a fun night...

He has this thing with taking pictures with 'random people'. After our team won 2nd place in an 80's trivia contest, this guy from the opposing team came over and shouted, "Show me the Money!" Yes, Barry makes friends very easily.

Nothing is beneath him. Not even wearing a pink, furry princess crown in public. The man has no shame. I love it.

I don't even know where to go with this one. It was check out time in NYC, and Barry decided he needed to wear a shower cap home. So he did. He accessorized in the hotel room, proceeded to the lobby, and waited patiently for the car as onlookers checking in whispered, "You really DO see all kinds in the city..."

This is one of my favorite pics. It is the only of it's kind. Rahjah ONLY cuddles with me, and when Barry whisper yelled one night for me to come quick, I was glad I brought my camera. It has never happened since.

Barry is a very passionate person. Whether it's sports, cleaning, singing, making friends, or caring for me, he puts 100% into all he does. How did I get so lucky?

I thought hell week was for sorority pledges...

2010-01-28T20:55:00.004-05:00

The past two weeks have been absolutely hellacious. But wait, before you think this is going to be a whiny venting post, I will tell you that there is a light a the end of the tunnel.
It started with my school computer crashing just in time for end of semester progress reports. That may not mean much to you, but when teaching online, and when trying to pull data, create spreadsheets, access student information, yadda yadda... you NEED a working, functioning computer. I, unfortunately, have not had one of those in two weeks. Needless to say, the past two weeks at work have been a nightmare. THEN.... a day later.... my external hard drive crashed. Yes, the one mentioned before that had my LIFE on it. But I told you there was a light at the end of the tunnel, right? Well, I got my new external back today, and EVERYTHING was recovered! Woo hoo! Now here is my PSA: GET ONLINE BACK UP NOW! Don't put it off! Externals can not be trusted. I got my school computer back tonight too, and so far so good... I'm keeping my fingers crossed, as it as been sent back twice. My toes are crossed too.
So it may not seem like a hell week to you, but a lot of other things contributed to my stress: changing table came with missing parts, so it is now in pieces on the floors for the next 10 days. My online class had 10 assignments last week, and with no computer, it was a lil' difficult. I got them done... just in time to start the 13 assignments due this week. I started my 2nd grad class on Tuesday: yuck! I spent almost 2 hours loading my shopping cart on Old Navy (that's how slow my home computer is!) only to not be able to use my 25% discount code. I spent ALL WEEKEND doing school work for class and for work. Toyota never sent us a bill for our car, and they wouldn't return our calls. Then out of the blue we were threatened with credit damage if we didn't pay. Found out that they sent the bill to our old address, which was never given to them. Our salesman took the liberty of putting that address on since that is where Barry lived when he sold him his other car 5 years ago... grrr...
And then there was Monday... I hosted a team meeting at my house, so I frantically cleaned, prepared food, made sure everything was updated for school and ready to go, and.... I got nothing done that day for several reasons, one of which was a non-functioning computer. So I was a little miffed. Everyone said, "Just make it to Monday, and the rest will be easy." If Monday was any indication of how the rest of the week was going to go, I should have just stayed in bed.
Then Barry got home. As I was cleaning from the day's activities, Barry walks in, and like radar, his eyes dart to the creamer that has been sitting out all day... *crap*
"How long has this been sitting out?" he asked in a snarky and peeved tone.
"Uh, like an hour?" I lied through my teeth, knowing the explosion that was about to occur.
"An HOUR?!?!" *sigh, huff, puff, sigh* "Well I guess I have to go get creamer. I have so much to do. Why would you let this sit out? You know I need my morning coffee." *sigh, huff, puff, sigh* "Why would you do that?"
"It's no big deal... It was only an hour...I'll go get you creamer." (The grocery store is only .6321 miles from our house) *Keep washing dishes. Breathe deep. It's only a trip to the store. It's going to be ok. You had a crappy day. But it's alright. Just breathe deep.* The tears started flowing. No, not flowing, GUSHING. But I didn't lose it. I was stolid and kept scrubbing the dishes stacked in the sink.
*sigh, huff, puff, sigh* "I guess I'll have to go get more. I have to have it tomorrow. I have so much to do tonight. I just came home. I don't have time for this."
Old Faithful erupts. The tears are now Victoria Falls on my face. I've always wanted to go to Victoria Falls. But that's another story. Barry sees the eruption and takes pity. Doesn't he understand that I have stress too? And a baby? And hormones? And... it's the middle of HELL WEEK and it was supposed to be the END of hell week? Yeah, he does understand. He let me finish the dishes as he silently stepped away, opened the garage, and left to get his creamer.
Creamer. Yeah, the creamer brought me down. Made my face contort, turn red, streak with mascara and foundation, the lip quiver, and the nose snot. But I recovered. Barry told me the other week, while I was having an all out panic attack, that I was ugly when I cried. His attempt at making me laugh? He tries. Gotta love him for it.
So, tomorrow is Friday. A whole new weekend is approaching, and a whole new week will be starting in 4 days. I can make it. I plan to just focus on the fact that all is not lost on my hard drive. That is one positive that makes up for a lot of negatives. Oh, and tomorrow is Friday. It's Ice Fest, which means downtown shopping. I may have to do some Vera Bradley therapy. I would also love to do some digi therapy. If I can pull away from school and work, I'll post any creations I can manage to squeeze out! For anyone who has had a crummy week like me, it can only get better from here, right? Have a great weekend y'all!
~ Bex
**EDIT: My school computer just froze again... go figure.... *UGH!* I need a margarita...

Devastation is

2010-01-17T13:47:00.002-05:00

your external hard drive crashing. Losing everything. I mean EVERYTHING. Pictures from the last 5 years, all digipages, my recipe project, all digimaterials, music, and other stuff that doesn't matter. Gone. I don't even know what to do. So I'll turn to the positives:
*No pics of Emme were lost, since she isn't here yet
*I can look forward to rebuilding my digi materials
*A few of my pages are on my blog
*My scrap room will get use once again as I work on old pics
*I'm not dieing, just my heart is

~ In mourning.... Bex

Authors, a warning, and a belly shot...(alcohol free, of course!)

2010-01-16T19:17:00.009-05:00

WARNING: The following post is true. It contains information that may come as shocking, unbelievable, and unexplainable. If you suffer from a heart condition, anxiety, or are pregnant, please read at your own risk, as shortness of breath, unexplainable heart stoppage, or early labor may result.
I cleaned today. Yes, I know, you don't believe me. You are probably shouting from the rooftops, "There's no way in hell she just said that." But it's true. I was a cleanin' mutha'. I don't mean taking one pile and hiding it within another pile in another room. I mean all out, on my hands and knees vacuuming the kitchen floor with the hose cleaning. I mean, scrubbing the cabinets, dishwasher, and oven cleaning. And those cabinets were a bitch to clean. Pardon mon francaise s'il vous plait. I didn't know kitchen cabinets could look so semi-decent but be so disgusting. They were bad. If you know me, you know that cleaning like this happens once in a... well, I don't know how long but it rarely happens. Don't get me wrong, we are clean people. Have you met my neurotic husband? But the little things seem to slip us... like the beveled edges on the bottom of furniture. Know how dusty those little rippled edges get? It's crazy! After a morning of cooking: bacon and Pioneer Woman's sour cream pancakes, which are DELISH and easy and cheap... my 3 requirements for cooking..., I checked my email, facebook, and favorite blogs and then got the bug to clean. I sadly took down all of the Christmas decorations, which made me cry, partly because they were dusty and it got in my eyes and made me sneeze, and then I SCRUBBED the family room, dining room, living room, and kitchen. I have to be in the mood to clean, or else it doesn't get done, and let me tell you... I think the nesting bug is hitting me early. I have a ton of organizing and cleaning projects running through my mind, so after this post I am going to make a list, since I am a total list person, and I look forward to crossing off my projects!
After my cleaning spree, I made chili for the first time ever. And guess what?!?!?! It was actually good! But something is missing, so I am going to play around with perfecting it before I post it. I also made cornbread and then baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Yes, my feet are swollen, my hands are like the Marshmallow Creme Puff man, and my back is aching, but I am still in the mood to get some things done! I hope the motivation lasts. And now... I am blogging while waiting for the Ravens kick off. Barry is chillin with some peeps and I'm going to get some digi done while I cheer on the Birds! Here are some other random tidbits to catch you up with lil ole me...
1. My Grammy rocks! She sent me all of the recipes she knew I was wanting of hers: HANDWRITTEN! She has carpal tunnel in her writing hand, and I can't believe she copied all of these for me. THANK YOU GRAMMY! I can't wait to show you the scrapped pages!
2. My husband is awesome. He is so excited for Emerson to be here, and he is always making sure I'm ok. Granted, he has always been very caring and has always helped me with anything I needed, but he is super in tune with helping me and making sure I'm feeling good. (If Momma ain't happy, ain't no one happy!) Thanks Barry for being the best husband ever, and I can't wait for you to be the best daddy too!
3. I'm almost done reading Dear John. I can't wait to finish and then see the movie in February. I am currently staring at the tower of books that have been staring right back at me, begging to be read. I'm not sure what to start with, but I may not have a choice. Brooke is starting a book club and we are in the process of selecting the first book to read. Any suggestions?
4. I ordered the dresser/changing table for the nursery yesterday. I can't wait to get the room all together. Next item I'll be splurging on is the glider, and then all that's missing is the toy box and things for the walls. I'm so anxious to have the room be complete and ready for Emme!
5. I start grad classes again on Tuesday. I am taking two classes and will then have my Master's degree in May, hopefully before Emme arrives!
6. Though I took down all of the Christmas decorations, I did put up a few Valentine's Day decorations. I'll post pics later, but my buffet looks pretty cute!
7. I chaired the luncheon committee for the annual National Convention for Teachers of English conference a few months ago. One of my favorite things to do is stalk authors, I mean MEET authors, and let them know how much their writing means to my students and me. I'm a total author groupie. Between the conference I attended in NYC two years ago and the conference this year, I have met well over 75 authors, including Avi, Jerry Spinelli, Laurie Halse Anderson, Lois Lowry, Kathryn Lasky, Jordan Sonnenblick, Patricia McCormick, and so many others. Here are a few other favorites of mine:
Sarah Dessen is an amazing writer of young adult fiction. She writes novels that appeal not only to teenage girls, but to adults as well. She is HUGE at the middle school and high school level, and her books were impossible to keep on my library shelf.

Lauren Myracle is a HOOT! She right away looked at me and said, "Oh my gosh! Do you know who you look like?" My mind raced, and within a nanosecond I thought, "Ummm.... no, actually, I don't. No one who is famous would ever look like me. They have too much money to improve themselves... except Melissa Joan Hart. I used to get that, but not anymore...." "Uh, no, who?" "Lindsey Lohan!" she exclaims. "Uh... ok???" I thought. "Only you're cuter. That's what it is. You resemble her cuteness..." Ok, I'll take it. It could have been worse. I ran into Lauren a few times throughout the convention, and she always smiled and said 'hi' and would talk to me if she had a free moment. Oh, and her books are also amazing. They are written as if she were the 12 year old narrator. She has such great voice in her writing, and they are totally relatable for teens.

Ok, so this guy is the only person I was DIEING to meet. He wasn't listed on the author schedule, but I brought my book anyway, hoping, dreaming, drooling.... When I saw him sitting there, my jaw hit the floor. "Oh. My. GAWD! It's JAY ASHER!!!" If you have to ask me who Jay Asher is, my only response to you is run... RUN to Borders or Barnes and Noble, or immediately stop reading this post and go to Amazon. Buy his book, 13 Reasons Why. It is by far the most fabulous book I have read in a long time. It is a young adult novel that should be read by teens and adults. NO SPOILERS: It is about a girl who takes her life, told through the narration of a boy she dated. She sends a tape to 13 people in her life who influenced her decision. It will open up discussion with you and your kids that could be revealing, thought-provoking, and maybe just needed. A student of mine turned me on to the book last year, and I have since passed it on to everyone I know. A former student of mine said, "That could be written by ANY kid in my school." The best part of meeting Jay was that he was SO friendly, and I ran into him so many times and every time he stopped to talk to me. While I was in line for an event, he chatted with me for about half an hour! He is so interesting, and he is working on his second book. I can't wait! PLEASE JAY, HURRY AND FINISH THAT BOOK!

If you have kids, and you don't know about Skippy jon Jones, again, head to the book store. They are HILARIOUS! Skippy is a Siamese cat who thinks he is a Chiahuahua. My favorite book is called Skippy jon Jones: Lost in Spice (Space) How cute! The author, Judy Schachner, signed every book and HAND DREW a Skippy on the inside cover with a message. She made all of mine out to Bebe Leonard. We waited for an hour and a half to meet her, but it was so worth it. And we met a lot of great people in line!

Ok ladies, don't shoot me for not photoshopping this pic. I know he has demon eyes and it's yellow, but I didn't feel like photoshopping. Sorry, my motivation pot is dwindling. BUT... yes, that is who you think it is... NICHOLAS SPARKS! I got to meet him, talk to him, joke with him, and TOUCH him! He signed a book for my mother in law and signed one for me, even though he wasn't supposed to. It's great to have connections when you work at a conference! He was SO funny, and it was interesting to learn the secrets of some of his books. All of his novels come from a life experience. He has not had an easy life, and for a man who has experienced so much heartache, he has the most winning sense of humor and the greatest outlook on life. I'm anxious to get my hands on his biography, written by him and his brother. (He's cute too!)

*Schew!* I guess I babbled on for long enough now. I'll end it with the belly shot for month 5. I'll also leave you with a sneak peek into the nursery. Sticking with the ocean theme, the bottom is a sandy brown, the top an ocean teal, and the accents and furniture are all white. Hopefully the next nursery shot will be the final, finished product!

I hope you all have a happy, productive, and long weekend! (Do you have off for MLK day??? I do!!!)

~ Bex

Creatin' Mutha'

2010-01-13T21:24:00.014-05:00

One would think that after the holidays, our chaotic lives would take a pause and we would be able to make plans to have fun and socialize with those we've lost touch with.... yeah, is there EVER a time when we find ourselves with nothing to do? Well, we tried... On Sunday, my sister Annisa, my mom aka Musder, Stephanie, and Tina came over to scrap. Keep in mind I invited about 15 people, but alas, few people have a free moment in their schedule to relax and have fun. I can't say anything; I'm usually one of those people.

We scrapped all day from about 11:30 until 8:00. Much of my time was spent unzipping and organizing digi folders. (About 200 or so!) I took a break to go see my dad at the hospital. He was admitted with pneumonia... yikes! (He returned home today and is on the road to recovery, and if you're reading this Dad, know that I will kick your ass if I find out you've been eating crap and are around smoke.) ANYWHO, we had a great time scrapping, eating, and watching The Hangover. Can you really watch that movie too many times? I don't think so.

I've been working on a recipe book containing family recipes that I want to preserve. I've been having a lot of fun making the recipes, and even more fun eating the yummy goodies! That's the good thing about being knocked up. I don't feel guilty about eating...wait...did I ever feel guilty about eating???

Aside from scrapping recipes, I've also been trying to catch up *insert laugh here* with other pictures and projects. I finished my Virginia Beach pics from 2008, and I've been working on my New York City trip that you may or may not have read about over the summer. So, without further ado, allow me to share some of what I've accomplished!

I'll start with two recipe pages. As I've mentioned before, I'm hesitant to post family recipes because I treasure them so much. BUT, there are a few recipes that are just family favorites, not necessarily passed down through generations. So I'll share some of those.

Blogger has been very frustrating lately, and it is not allowing me to type between pages, so I'll make my confessions down here. Pages 2, 7, 10, and 11 are quickpages, so I can't take full credit for those. I have about 7 other recipe pages completed that I may share at another time. Thanks for looking! Enjoy the rest of your week!

Smooth Moves

2010-01-08T18:57:00.006-05:00

Barry thinks he has moves. You can't tell him otherwise. He enjoys performing his signature moves whenever the opportunity arises; bat mitzvahs, weddings, random strip teases for my cousin, New Years, whatever. Really, he doesn't need an occasion to break out the "point and clap", the "leg lifter",the "crotch watch", and the newest move: "the Texman Shuffle". Yes, he is quite the mover and shaker. He dreams of teaching our daughter to dance so she can be a Penn State Nittany Lionette. I dream of the cost of dance classes to correct the bad form he instills in her. Nevertheless, I have yet to meet a person whose face doesn't curl into a smile when Barry is in action. We got a new camera, and now the world can benefit from his carefree, talent-free moves that only Barry can pull off. Enjoy.

Pregnant Women are Smug

2010-01-06T12:05:00.001-05:00

Now THIS I could not resist! Haha! So true....

2010-01-05T17:54:00.003-05:00

I couldn't resist. This is my new favorite song, and the cameo at the end is amazing... *sigh* The only unfortunate thing is Barry has now adopted the Ovie Shuffle as 'his new dance move'.

Randomness and Recipe

2010-01-03T20:44:00.009-05:00

Today is the last day of vacation, and I feel like posting some random thoughts.

1. It seems like it was just yesterday when Barry took 7 tries to string the lights. This is always a big fiasco for him, but the end result is always so worth it. It may take him forever, but that's ok. He's a perfectionist. (Duh! Look who he married!)

2. Our beautiful tree... I just don't have the heart to take it down. So I didn't. We'll give her one more week. 3. My favorite 'rendition', or tradition, is going to Mom-Mom's house on Christmas Eve. Though so much has changed since I was a kid, many things have remained. We still eat traditional spaghetti, we have to pose in front of the tree for our yearly tree picture, and the kids run like mad throughout the house in anticipation of Santa coming. One thing that has changed is the singing of The 12 Days of Christmas. Mom-Mom has glasses with the 12 Days of Christmas on them, and we always end up fighting over the 12th glass, as we are forced to sing whatever glass we have. Over the past two years, the glasses have magically 'disappeared', but the tradition lives on in our memories.

4. I miss Grammy and Pappy. I wish they lived closer. They love their grandkids and their great-grandkids, and I am so excited for Emerson to meet her Grammy and Pappy in a few months!5. Jeff and Julie, Barry's parents, are very excited to have a baby coming in the near future. It's been awhile since the cries of a little one were heard in their house. Knowing how much they love Emerson already is amazing beyond words. We are so lucky, and I know Emerson is going to have SO MANY people to support and love her.

6. If I try to take down the Christmas decorations, Salem may claw my eyes out. Ok, so she's not really hissing here... she's yawning because I woke her up. But still, she loves the festivities as much as I do!

7. Every year Barry and I throw a New Year's party, but this year we decided to take it easy. We invited the Musder and Jim as well as my sisters and their families. The kids played downstairs while we indulged in another family tradition, a card game called May I? To make the evening more cozy and fun, we made it a pj party and went for comfort! We had a HUGE spread of food and had a great evening together on our last night of 2009. I can't believe the kids made it until past midnight!8. I made it a goal over break to read at least one book, and guess what?!?! I DID IT! I read the book PUSH, or Precious, as it is now called on most covers. It was made into a movie, and because the title "Push" was already taken, the title was changed. It's kind of sad though, because 'push' was the theme of the book and I think it kind of takes away some of the meaning, but oh well. It was a fabulously disturbing book, but it's so real. The author is all out raw in her writing and I give her major kudos for truly understanding her characters. Although disturbing and graphic, everyone should read this book. I can't wait to see the movie. Tonight I will be starting the book Dear John by Nicholas Sparks. (Whom I was able to meet last month!) It is also coming out in a movie, so I better read fast!

9. You would think that I would be bummed about going back to school tomorrow, but I like to look at the big picture; the sooner I go back, the sooner I'll be finished and enjoying the presence of Emerson.

10. I promised a recipe, so here it is: My mom's incredibly delish baked corn. I don't know where this recipe came from, though it could have fallen from Heaven. That's the only reasonable explanation given my mom's cooking skills... (Ha! Kidding Mom!) But seriously, this stuff is good. And cheap. And easy. And it freezes well. So without further ado:

Baked Corn

The stars of this show? Let me introduce you:

1 Box Jiffy Corn Muffin mix

8 Ounces sour cream

1 egg

1/2 stick butter

1 can creamed corn

1 can corn, drained

THAT'S IT??? Really, that's it. No spices or seasonings. Don't ruin it with salt or pepper. Coming from a huge salt lover, that's a bold statement.

Procedure:

Mix all ingredients in a bowl.

Mmm... smell the yummy goodness. No, seriously, INHALE the sweetness. Just don't get your nose too close. You want to keep it all in the bowl. It smells so good I could eat it raw, but I won't.

Next you just pour it into a greased baking dish and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees. This will serve about 5-6 people, so I usually double the batch to take to potlucks. It only needs to be baked for an hour still.

Mmm... indulge in the bubbly, baked goodness. Isn't she beautiful?Now grab a heaping spoonful and pile it on your plate. Don't be shy, because once others catch a whiff, then a taste, it won't be there for long!

In 2009 I...

2010-01-01T12:29:00.002-05:00

Started a new job teaching online from home
Completed 4 classes towards my Master's degree
Sold our townhouse
Made a baby
Made new friends
Started this blog
Got into digi-scrapping
Started cooking more
Had the best students ever
Met Mike Green <3
Renovated 2 rooms in our house
Worked with a national teaching committee to plan and organize a national conference for english teachers
Met TONS of authors
Bought a new car
Saw Blink 182, Fall Out Boy, Panic at the Disco in concert
Started a family recipe keepsake
Spent time with my amazing family
Made incredible memories

In 2010 I...

hope to have a healthy, happy baby girl
plan to finish our family recipe book
will finish my Master's Degree in May before the baby comes
will have the nursery finished
will be putting a new roof on the house (oy!)
will learn to juggle teaching from home while raising a kiddo
will find new ways to have fun cheaply
will be better at meal planning
hope to make the time to move my butt before it moves on it's own...
make new friends through Brooke's book club
keep my house clean, well, at least the floors...

Here's to a happy new year filled with memorable moments, lasting friendships, time with family, and accomplishing goals that are important to you!

Ho ho ho!

2009-12-28T22:53:00.004-05:00

I Ho Ho HOPE you all had a wonderful holiday! After 8 family Christmas celebrations, we are EXHAUSTED! We started last Friday with Barry's mom's side of the family at his aunt Judy's house. It was great seeing his cousins and having everyone together. Everyone was in great spirits and we didn't want to leave. But, alas, we knew that we had a LONG way to go as far as celebrations were concerned.
Our next celebration was Christmas Eve. We always go to my grandmother, Mom-Mom's, house. It has been a tradition since before I was born, and it's one of my favoirte family traditions. We had our traditional baked spaghetti, a birthday cake for Jesus, and a whole lot of laughing and memory making. This year's big joke? Parmesean cheese. I'm a date checker (thanks to Barry) and when I checked the first can of Parmesean cheese, it expired in June of 1998. Yes, 1998!!! The next one expired in 2003, and the other in 2006. Uhhh... yeah, I'll pass on the cheese...
Christmas #3 was Christmas day. After Barry and I exchanged gifts, we headed to my mom's house for our big exchange. It's so much fun watching the kids tear into their presents and I have to admit, I enjoy seeing my pile of greatness waiting to be unwrapped. My favorite gifts from Mom? That's a hard one. Right now I am enjoying my Slanket (SOOOOooooo much better than a Snuggie) and I got a lot of cooking tools including Pioneer Woman's cookbook. We dined on our traditional breakfast casserole and baked cherry oatmeal. I'm not a breakfast person, but on Christmas morning I am! We had to leave before lunch though, because Christmas #4 was lunch at Barry's mom's house in Waynesboro. It was rainy and sleeting, but the roads were ok thank goodness. Julie, Barry's mom, always makes a traditional turkey dinner, and it so hit the spot! I was of course picked on for being the 'mixer'. I think his family was taken aback the first time they witnessed me eating a turkey dinner. I start with a layer of mashed potatoes, pile on the corn, layer on the turkey and stuffing, pour on the gravy, and then mix it all together. YUUUUUUMMMMMEEEEE!!!!! They're used to it now, but I still meet some grossed out stares here and there. They are straight-laced non-mixers, but they don't hold it against me.
Christmas #5 was spent that evening at Barry's uncle Larry's house. This is his dad's side of the family's celebration. Again we had a traditional turkey and ham dinner, but does anyone really get tired of eating turkey? I, for one, do not. I could have Thanksgiving every day. The star of this dinner, however, was not the turkey. It was a trifle made by his aunt Jan. O.M.G. It consisted of peanutbutter Oreos, Reese's peanutbutter cups, chocolate pudding, and whipped cream. So to die for. I could have eaten the whole thing. You would think by this time I would be so stuffed you would have to roll me back home. You would be correct. But you know what? One day a year is ok. The pain and suffering was worth it.
Christmas #6: The day after Christmas was the day of the Fegan family Christmas. This is my step-dad's side of the family. This is an evening of amazing food, warm and thoughtful family, and CHAOS! There are SO MANY kids running around, you almost have to pop a couple Tylenol before you step foot through the door. However, this year was a little different. The kids were given free reign of the basement, so the noise was kept to a minimum. The evening consisted of Pap Fegan making sure everyone's wine glass was full, Gram Fegan making sure everyone's belly was full, and everyone catching up with how big the kids have grown, what's new, and what's to come with the new year.
Christmas #7 was held yesterday. We had lunch with Barry's step-dad, Jeff''s, family. Once again, we were gluttons, guilty of stuffing ourselves with food and family. We are both so fortunate to have amazing 'step' families that welcome us in with open arms.
Our last Christmas, #8, was my dad's 'winter solstice' gathering. He amazingly had a tree up this year. Two, actually, as there was a small one in the kitchen. Looks like the 'Original Scrooge' has been growing soft... hee hee. I love going to my dad's for several reasons. The first is the obvious, I love being with my dad. The second is seeing my grandparents. I don't get to see them as often as I wish I could since they are in State College, but I'm so glad they come to every family event they can. Grammy always brings the most AMAZING cookies as well as her famous poppyseed bread and date nut bread. Dad has started the tradition of making his famous pork loin and veggies. This meal would make Emeril melt into a puddle. Yeah, it's that good. Dad loves being with the kids and they love their Pap. Unfortunately, being the last leg of our 8 Crazy Christmas tour, we were so tired and ready for a great night's sleep.
Sooo... to wrap up an extended celebration, Barry and I slept in this morning, watched Talladega Nights, met with our roofer, then I headed out for a girls' night with Kelly and Brooke. What's on the agenda for tomorrow? A day out with my sister Jen and then we are taking the kids to see Alvin and the Chipmunks Squeakuel.... then Wednesday I am doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! NOTHING I TELL YOU! Because Thursday is New Year's and Friday is our football party.... *sigh* The fun never stops!

Ten on Tuesday

2009-12-15T21:01:00.004-05:00

Is it really only Tuesday? I feel like it should at LEAST be Thursday, but if it's Thursday, that would mean right now I am baking a butt load of cookies and Lynn and Terry are here finishing the nursery and I am preparing for a Gingerbread Wonderland themed day out at school tomorrow... *sigh*... it never ends... At lot, as usual, has been happening lately. Let me catch you up!

1. Yesterday was a rough day. I felt like EVERYTHING was thrown at me at once and I couldn't even leave my seat to pee, which I have to do about every two minutes. My butt made a permanent indentation in the couch. Yes, the couch. My back is killing me so I now spend my days on the couch with a body pillow, computer, and papers to grade.

2. Despite having a rough day yesterday, I found out that I won the most ADORABLE little critter from an incredible blogger, the Creative Junkie. Her blog is awesome. You have to check it out. Her sense of humor and sarcasm are so refreshing. Please, check her out! Anyway, she was giving away two cuties from an amazing craftsman on Etsy, Tiddlywinks. I'm telling you, her creations are just smooshable, huggable, scrumptious! Check out some of my favorites:Don't these guys just make your day? They made mine, and I get to hug and smoosh and love one! Well, actually, we will be giving it to L.L. (Little Leonard). I am inquiring if she can make an ocean themed animal since we are doing an ocean nursery, and if not, I only have like, 100 that I want. Know what the best part of these guys is, aside from being so loveable? They are WASHABLE! That's right; baby drool and dirt smudging up the cuteness? Throw it in the washing machine! I can't wait to get mine in the mail! Of course I'm going to have to sleep with it first, you know, to make sure it's soft enough for the baby...

3. I've been cooking a lot lately, which is fun. I finally have the motivation again. However, tonight's meal wasn't that great. I used leftover ham and potatoes and made a casserole recipe I got from Tasty Kitchen... I would have thrown it away if Barry didn't say he actually liked it. I enjoyed a Lipton Cup o Soup while he munched away on the casserole. To each their own...

4. I can't wait to bake Christmas cookies. I love baking Christmas cookies. I'm going to start on Thursday so that I have snowflake cookies for school on Friday and a mix of cookies to go with the gift cards for Terry and Lynn. The way to a guy's heart..... you know the rest...

5. Annisa and I are starting a new project together. We are scrapbooking a family recipe cookbook. We are each adding recipes from our hubs' families as well, but otherwise we are sharing the pages that we create from our own family favorites. I have a huge list of recipes that I can't wait to make and scrap. I got a head start over the weekend, and so far I completed 4 or 5 recipes. Woo hoo! I want to post the pages, but at the same time, the recipes are family treasures, so I don't know if I want to share them yet or not... I'll think about it...

6. This Saturday Mom-Mom is coming over to teach me how to make her AMAZING ham slippery pot pie. Mmmm.... I can't wait to make it, eat it, and scrap it! She was going to give me the recipe, but I love spending time with her and actually making it with her. When we made hog maw together, I learned so much and really enjoyed the time I spent with her. I can't wait to get back in the kitchen with her and cook away!

7. I need to call Barry's mom, his step-mom, and my Grammy in State College for a few recipes as well. I wish I was closer to Grammy, well, for many reasons, but I wish we could cook together too. There are so many recipes that I want from her. She is such a good baker and I can't wait until she visits for Christmas, bringing her infamous Hershy Kiss cookies, sugar cookies, and Poppyseed bread... mmmmm..... I'm hungry!

8. I have all of my presents wrapped. Well, almost. Barry's last gift won't be ready for pickup until the 22nd. That's going to be a busy day! I have my school holiday luncheon in Harrisburg and then I have to rush to Waynesboro for a cardiologist appointment, then I have to rush back to Cburg to get Barry's present, and then he wants to go to see Avatar in the theater. Tuesday at our local theater is Stimulus Tuesday, and all popcorn and drinks are only $1 each! Sweet!

9. I miss Glee, and it hasn't even been a week since the finale. I don't know if I'm going to make it.

10. I'll leave you with three pics: The first is our Christmas tree that took Barry seven, yes, 7 attempts at stringing the lights. *sigh* Poor guy can never do anything without it being a dramatic ordeal. He did it though, and we are proud of our beautiful tree. The second pic is of our baby girls enjoying their daddy's handywork. They LOVE the tree and are a little miffed now that the presents are blocking their hiding spot. The third pic is the highly anticipated belly shot. I'm not a mushy gushy person, so I don't really 'oooh and ahhhh' at baby bumps and what not, but everyone else seems to be excited about it. I also am not a touchy feely person, and already I have had quite a few belly grabs as if anything were there. Every time I walk into a room, eyes dart to the gut. It's quite aggravating, but I guess it comes with the territory of being preggo... so... people can stop asking. Yes, I am fat now... have a look-see for yourself, and when I see you at Christmas, if you touch my gut you may lose a hand... ; )

That's all for today! I hope the rest of your week is merry!

~ Bex

Swimming in Nachos

2009-12-13T14:12:00.002-05:00

What do you do with 10 pounds of tortilla chips? You eat them of course! Instead of lasagna soup, I made a Mexican queso chicken and corn soup instead. I asked Barry to go to our favorite restaurant, Montezuma's, and pick up a bag of their INCREDIBLE tortilla chips and salsa. Oh, was I looking forward to these authentic chips and uber yummy salsa! We decided to invite Jim and Musder over again since I had so much soup, so I told Barry he may need to pick up another bag of chips, just to make sure we had enough. Well.... he couldn't judge by the bag hanging on the wall JUST HOW MANY chips he was getting, sooo... he came home with like, TEN POUNDS of chips! We have been swimming in nachos, but no worries: They are delish!

What's up with me with a few recipes!

2009-12-10T19:32:00.006-05:00

So, a lot has been going on lately. Can you tell? It's been eons since I've last posted. And really, I tried to get back into posting, but after an hour of hard thought and labor only to have my post deleted, my mojo has disipated as well. I'm sure I spelled that wrong, but I really don't care. I'm here to update. Sooo....
Barry and I have been busy. Doing what, you ask? Here are some things that have passed our time, specifically within the last two weeks. Bear with me, cuz I have some fun stuff for you at the end of the post!

1. We finally took the plunge and bought a new car. We have been looking for two years, and it was finally time. We sold my car a few months ago and Musder and Jim have been gracious enough to let me borrow their van. Thanks guys! Car buying is SUCH A HEADACHE! We first went to Antrim Way Honda. My sister got her Odyssey there, and she loves it. We decided on a mini mostly because I wanted automatic doors and space. I have seen my sisters and what they go through with kids, so I paid attention and learned exactly what I wanted, needed, and didn't need. Well, I didn't need the rudeness of the car dealer. The first words out of his mouth, I kid you not, were, "So, how likely are you to walk out of here with a car tonight? I don't want to waste our time." Uhhh... seriously dude? That question popped up numerous times, he told us of his pathetic personal life, what he makes, and so on. There was no one else in the dealership, so what else did he have to do? He had attitude the whole time and I could go on and on with obnoxious things he said, but I won't. ; ) We went to Fitzgerald Toyota, and to make a long story short, we had to wait a little over a month for our car to come in. After threatening to walk away from a guaranteed sale, our fabulous salesman Wendell got us our car and we are THRILLED! We got a 2010 Sienna LXE, and her name is BeBe. (B.B.) She is silver, like a silver bullet, but she is a mini van, and a mini bullet is a B.B..... soooo.... hence the name. I love her.

2. Barry has been dieing for an elliptical for quite some time. When we had gym memberships, that's all he used. We didn't renew our memberships last year, and he found one he liked on Black Friday for less than half the retail price. So off to Sears he went to get his elliptical and he is happy as ever. My baby is gettin buff. Woo hoo! (He didn't name her, at least, not that I know of...)

3. I just finished my 2 grad classes and registered for my last two plus graduation. Yup, Me's will be a bona fide colledge gradgiate again. I'll finish my Master's just in time for me to have about two weeks to relax before Little Leonard comes.

4. We remodeled two rooms over the weekend. When I say "we", I mean my mom and me. And really, it was mostly my mom. She painted the whole nursery by herself while we were car buying, and then she and I painted the bathroom and replaced hardware and lights and what not. Pictures will come shortly when everything is totally finished. I still don't have a towel rack or shower curtain. My friend Kelly's husband and father, Lynn and Terry, are in the process of putting up baseboard and chair rail in the nursery. The crib should be coming soon too! I can't wait until the nursey is finished! Again, I'll post pics when it's all done. Jim painted the ceiling for us while we were in Philly. The nursery has truly been a team effort. Little Leonard is so blessed to have so many people care about him/her and put so much effort into giving him/her the perfect room to grow in.

5. Mom, Barry, and I went to Philly a few weeks ago for the National Council for Teachers of English and Language Arts. We were the host affiliate, meaning we were in charge of the luncheons. It was a LOT of work, but was so worth it. I met TONS of authors, including Nicholas Sparks. No, I didn't stutter.... Nicholas Sparks. And I had a fun conversation with him. He is pretty cute and funny too. I'll have to make an author post, or in the meantime you can check out Musder's at martinasmoments.blogspot.com.

6. We need a new roof. Know of any roofers who are cheap???

7. I finally have all my Christmas decorations up. Usually we do it the day before Thanksgiving, but I spread the work out over a few weeks and finally finished last weekend.

Soooo.... I could go on and bore you with my life, but instead I'll get to the fun. Because of all the major expenses we've had lately, not to mention Christmas expenses (yikes!) Barry and I are starting to budget and tighten up our fists when it comes to clenching money. For the most part, this means limited dining out. I love to cook, but hadn't had the desire until maybe a week or so ago. So I put Barry and myself on a grocery budget for each week and I will be meal planning. This week, our first week, Barry and I were 9 cents, seriously, $0.09 UNDER our new budget. I was SO PROUD! Barry even tried to grab an extra air freshener and I had to fight him and tell him no because I wanted a candy bar. It was fun finding solutions to stick on track rather than just say, "It's only a $.50 candy bar." So how is this fun? Well, I'm going to share with you the first 2 recipes that I made this week that were super yummy and super cheap!

Swiss Steak

2 lbs burger
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup water
seasoning (I used Tastefully Simple's Bacon Bacon, Onion Onion, and Spinach and Herb)

Mix all but one can of soup together and form into patties. Brown each side in skillet and place in baking dish. Pour second can of soup over top (I mixed a little water in with the soup) and bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours on 350.

These were so easy and so yummy! It made about 12 steaks, so I had my parents over and then froze the rest. Sweet - dinner for another night!
I made a scalloped potato dish to go with, but I didn't like it, so I won't post it. Everyone else liked it, but I didn't. It was basically sliced potatoes and carrots, miracle whip, parmesean cheese, and parsley. I thought it was vinegary. yuck.

The next recipe came from my ex's mom, and I used to LOOOOOOVE when she made this recipe. So I stole it. Actually, I didn't, I asked her for it, and she shared it. And boy am I glad. Again, it is super easy and cheap. Ready for my favorite meat dish?

Potato Chip Pork Chops

1 bag Utz potato chips (Do not improvise. They must be Utz. Because I said so.)
2 eggs
Pork chops - I like the more thin cut chops, no bone. I usually make about 7 or so in a batch.

Crush the bag of chips into crumbs with some small chunks. Whip the eggs together and dip the chops in the egg and then coat in the chips. The chips may not stick well, so I sprinkle crumbs on top as well. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes, flipping after 20 minutes.

Again, so cheap and easy, and EVERYONE will love these. Barry doesn't like pork chops, but he LOVES it when I make these. They are just. so. good. They heat up perfectly the next day too, so they make a great lunch. I like to serve these with peas and rice. I know it's bad for you, but I love Rice a Roni. This is definitely comfort food.

This has been a daunting post, but hey, it's been awhile. Try these recipes and let me know what you think! Tomorrow's meal: Tastefully Simple Lasagna soup. I can't wait!

10 On TUESDAY - SIKE!

2009-11-17T21:53:00.003-05:00

So, I totally just spent 45 minutes creating my 10 on Tuesday list, only for Blogger to not load it and delete it. I am really fed up with Blogger and may be finding a new home soon...

I've been creative lately...

2009-11-01T11:51:00.012-05:00

I haven't scrapped any pictures since the end of August. I know, I'm bad. But if you remember, I have no motivation to really do anything. So three weeks ago, my husband invited a friend over to watch the Caps game, and his wife is a friend of mine who scraps. Reluctantly on my part, as I have no deisre to entertain, we made a night of it and Alli and I, along with her friend Kathleen, scrapped the night away. I still wasn't inspired, however, until last weekend. We had our 4th semi-annual Crop for a Cure for JDRF. I got 3 pages done! (I had school work to do too) The bug hit me a little harder, and last night Musder came over to watch the Penn State game, hand out Halloween candy, and digi-scrap. We are multi-taskers! Musder made a great meal and invited Mom-Mom too, so we had a great family night! Cory and Annisa brought the kids over and they loved passing out candy with Barry. After the monsters and princesses and gremlins were gone, I got my scrap on. And scrap I did! I stayed up until 12:30 scrappin away!!! And this morning.... I woke up with the urge in my bones. I created 5 pages already! So, without further ado, let me show you what I've done!

I was elated to finish my pictures from Virginia Beach TWO YEARS AGO! I also finished my pages from my last year of teaching at Greencastle. It was great to get some closure on some groups of pictures that needed scrapped. Now I'm off to eat some lunch, grab a shower, and then.... SCRAP SOME MORE!!!

~ Bex

Fear not! I am still here!!!

2009-10-18T12:11:00.004-04:00

Woa! Has it seriously been 2 MONTHS since I have last posted??? It's been so long, you have all probably given up on me and don't even check me out anymore. I feel like I am starting all over again. I'm sure you all can sympathize; life has been REALLY busy! So why have I been absent? Well, let me explain...

1. I started a new job which I LOVE. I am now teaching online from home. One would think that if I am teaching online, I should be able to post more often, but that's so not the case. I am really busy throughout the day, and when I'm done at 4:00, the last thing I want to do is be on a computer.

2. It's Penn State football season. If you know me, you know I bleed blue and white. Barry and I are season ticket holders and can usually be found in Happy Valley on the weekends. If we aren't in the valley of happiness, we are in DC checking out Mike Green and the CAPS.

3. I've been really tired lately and don't feel like doing anything but plopping my big butt on the couch and watching tv. Actually, I often don't even want to watch tv. I just want to lounge around and do nothing.

4. So you probably think I am totally lazy, but no, I'm busy building a human. Growing a kid is tough work, and I have no energy or motivation to do anything else. I see it as a good thing; it shows that I have focus and am committed. So when I don't want to do anything with you, remember, I'm hard at work 24/7.

5. Barry and I have been enjoying just being together. We've been going to sporting events, playing Wii, putting together puzzles, and just chilling and watching movies. We're trying to make the most of our time with just the two of us. Our together time is dwindling, so we're making the most of it!

So, as you can see, I've been a busy girl. But, I promise to get things up and running again. I've missed you guys, and I have so much to catch up on! So much, in fact, I think I may just start with the here and now, and maybe offer a blast from the past post every now and then. Thanks for your patience! Until next time...
~ Bex

Pages and Opinions

2009-08-20T21:56:00.007-04:00

I haven't had much time to scrap lately, but here are a few pages I've managed to crank out...

I guess it's only fair: I posted pics of Barry in a 70's dance off at the Hagerstown Suns game, I guess I have to post my pics. Barry and I went to the game with Musder and Jim for Thirsty Thursday. The highlights: 1. Barry being told by a former student, "Hey Mr. Leonard, so much for DARE!" as he had 3 or 4 brews lined up in front of him. If you don't know, DARE is Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education. HAHA! 2. Barry and I competing in the 70's dance off. I killed them with my cartwheel into a somersault into a fishflop. Yeah, I totally won. A player from the other team said, "I really liked your somersault." He was a cutie too!

Last summer Barry and I went with Musder and my sisters' families to Hershey Park. Though the rides are awesome, I don't find it as exciting as I used to. It is just WAAAAAYYYYY too crowded. The smell of chocolate all around almost makes up for it. Oh yeah, and Annisa flashing us and other visitors in Chocolate World was an added bonus at no extra charge... (It was a fast flash... no bewbies were visible...)

Please excuse the pony and lack of makeup. I find that at an amusement park, the heat mixed with water rides, mixed with all day walking and movement means that my hair needs to be up and makeup doesn't matter.

I love a man who wins prizes for the one he loves. Or for himself, whatever. At least he did it on the first try! I always have to laugh at those who spend $50 to win a basketball. I guess it's all a part of the fun...

The zoo is always a neat place to visit. My favorite animals were the prairie dogs. There was one with 3 legs that I was captivated by. He was so cute!

Well, that's all I have for now. Next up is a recipe post, but I'm not sure which to post, so what would you rather see: How to make my Mom-Mom's Hog Maw, which is THE BEST IN THE WORLD AND IS MY ALL TIME HANDS DOWN FAVORITE FOOD.... or my chicken potpie, which is my hub's favorite food....??? And if no one replies, I understand that I am a total loser and the only one who reads my blog and has an opinion so I will post whatever I feel like. Kidding. I will just assume no one really cares and will still go on living my life. No offense will be taken. HA! Have a great weekend all!

NYC Chronicles Part 7: The Final Installment!

2009-08-07T23:13:00.008-04:00

I have been hesitating with this final installment of the NYC Chronicles. For some reason, every time I sit to write, I am just, well, unmotivated. About a week ago I became motivated enough to load the pictures, but I then stopped and went no further. So why is today the day? I need closure. I need NYC out of my head, no longer nagging at my motivation monitor. And I have SO MUCH other stuff that I want to post. If you are OCD like me, you may understand the feeling of having SO MUCH to do, that it is easier to just do nothing at all. So that's exactly what I did. Nothing. At all. And now I am playing a major game of catch up. So, without further ado... Da da da DAAAAA!!! The Final Installment of the NYC Chronicles...

With so much to see and do in NYC, there are always some experiences that don't really have a category to fall under. So this is a hodge podge of New York.

Let's start off with this guy, our friendly Subway train driver. Mom and I entered a brand spankin new subway car, ready to head back from China Town, and we sat. And we sat. And we sat. After about 10 minutes or so, our driver comes back and tries to open our door. It doesn't budge, so we are directed to follow him to the next car. It doesn't budge. Now, if the Hubs was with us, panic mode would have settled in after two minutes of waiting. Mom and I just laughed as we mosied like a cattle herd from door to door until he finally was able to pry one open. Apparantly there were issues on the train, and we had to board another. Good times.

I couldn't resist a pic of this guy: a Glambert wanna-be. Dude, you can be a fan, but get your own style. You are obviously a poser. Ha!

St. Patrick's Cathedral is an absolutely amazing piece of architecture, a pure work of art. It is by far a landmark in NYC and is open for visitation year round!

What's a trip to NYC without a stop in Central Park? I'd done the carriage ride thing a few years ago, so on this day we just went for a leisurely stroll. We happened upon this totally gnarly tree... haha! Get it?? "gnarly"??? Anyway, I am such a tree climber, and I had to take a pic. Someone once called me a dendrapheliac since I love trees so much. I looked it up. I don't love trees THAT much... Next time we go to the city I'd like to have a picnic in the park. It's on my 'to-do list'. Maybe we'll picnic under a tree...

Every year, Broadway holds an amazing event called Broadway Barks. Broadway celebrities as well as tv celebs get together with various animal adoption agencies to promote and support giving deserving and desiring animals a good home with a forever friend. They take turns bringing out various dogs, tell their life story, and then tell us where we can adopt the loving, and cuddly little creature. The dogs were ADORABLE and their stories were heartbreaking. It was SOOOOOO hard not taking one home. If I were with the Hubs instead of Musder, I would totally have a forever friend on my lap right now. Actually, he or she would be fighting Salem and Rahjah for my lap right now, as they each are perched on a separate leg at the moment!

Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters host the event annually. Their love for these animals really shone through.

Ugly Betty star, Michael Urie, was phenomenal in talking up these pups. You could tell he is a real animal lover! (And he's really cute!)

Audra McDonald of Private Pracitce also gave it her best in helping these fine pooches find new homes. It was amazing to see so many people come out and take home a new family member. It reaffirmed how important it is to spay and neuter our pets and do our best to stop the overpopulation of cats and dogs. Every animal has it's own personality, character, and worth. It is so important to do our part to take care of them!

Our last morning in NYC, as we were rushing to Sephora with cupcakes on our brains, we saw film trucks and crew sprawled over 3 or 4 blocks! The trucks were Paramount Films, so we knew it was something big. We went to Rockefeller Center, where the filming was taking place, and we got as close as we could. The guard told us they were filming a movie called Morning Glory starring Rachel McAdams, Diane Lane, and Harrison Ford. WHAT A CAST! Rachel was there on set, and I did all I could to get a peek at her, but it was impossible. She is such an amazing actress! We were able, however, to get pics of the equipment and the director. That was pretty cool! I can't wait to see the movie!

My sister, Annisa, has this habit. Whenver Barry and I are posing for a pic, she chimes in at just the right moment with her cheesey smile to interrupt our sought after perfect pic. We have quite a few of these moments captured on camera, and for some reason, as I was taking random pics in the hotel room, Musder decided to carry on the tradition and butt herself in on my Kodak moment.

But, you know, I can't be mad at her. Without her, this trip would never have been possible. My mom is the best travel buddy there is. She is fun, outgoing, loves adventure, is spontaneous, and is always up for anything. She enjoys the finer things and yet is comfortable with the simple things. She is just fun. She is one of those girls that should be advertised on the bathroom wall: "For a good time, call Martina...." Ok, maybe I wouldn't go THAT far. But she truly is the best. And I love her.

Well, that's it folks. My NYC journey has come to an official end. Look forward to more frequent posts involving life changes, great food, crafty projects, and random happenings!

NYC Chronicles Part 6: I'm just a Broadway baby...

2009-08-04T22:04:00.010-04:00

I have always had a passion for dramatics. Something about watching a live show inspires me to be someone other than who I am, better than who I am. But, after silently singing and dancing to my own beat in the comfort of my own home, I am quickly dropped from cloud nine on my flat butt and brought to reality; I can't carry a tune with a handle on it and the last great dance performance I had was at the age of 8. *Sigh* I can act though. Ask anyone. I am pretty darn convincing. I am just waiting to be discovered.... but in the meantime I will enjoy the dramatics from the theater seat. And this trip to NYC delivered the goods... just wait till you see what I got to do...

The first show we saw was called Next To Normal. It was fantastic. It was rather dark and different. Most of Broadway is uplifting in some sort of way, but this one was 'real'. And it was good. And the lead, Alice Ripley, was SUPERB!

This is Alice Ripley. Her singing is AMAZING! She was so humble and gracious and I was excited to meet her!

This is Adam Chanler-Berat, and he is soooooo hunky! (Do you see how close he pulled me? I almost fainted!)
His voice is so soft and husky... I could just eat him up!

Louis Hobson played two different doctors. He was great!

Jennifer Damiano played the daughter, Natalie. She had the role of a teenager nailed!

J. Robert Spencer played the husband, Dan. His role was VERY emotion-packed, and he was flawless.

Last, but not least, is Gabe, played by Kyle Dean Massey. Isn't he SMOKIN'?!?!?!

As far as shows go, this is one not to miss. It is compelling, heart wrenching, and thought provoking. And real. Very real. As far as age.... I would recommend for ages 18 and up, but 15 and up is ok too, but they may not appreciate it or 'get it' as much.

The next show has a story tied to it. A sad story with a happy ending. Mom and I had tickets for Wicked 2 years ago. We were excited. Ecstatic. Enthusiastic. But right before we were off to see the Wizard, the stagehands went on strike. Booo... Here's the happy ending: We went to an off-Broadway show called Altar Boys, and laughed so hard I lost 20 pounds. You have GOT to see Altar Boys. Ready for more good news??? We got tix to see Wicked this time, and we loved it. This is a show for all ages.

Have you ever watched a show or a movie and wondered what it would be like if told through another character's point of view? In this show, the antagonist gets to tell her side of the story through the protagonist. Interesting twist, eh?

The stage is set. The props and set were incredible. This show has A LOT invested in it. I have a feeling it will be running for a very long time, which is a good thing, because the Hubs wants to see it and I want to go again.
Hottie alert! HOTTIE ALERT! This is Fiyero, otherwise known as Kevin Kern. He plays the lover of the Witch... I won't tell you which witch, which would spoil it... ; )

Alex Brightman plays Boq. He was SUPER nice! When I asked for his autograph, he said, "Don't worry. I promise to get to all of you." I love gracious and appreciative performers.

Elphaba aka The Wicked Witch of the West, played by Nicole Parker. Unfortunately Nicole will be leaving the show to pursue other endeavors. I have never heard a voice like hers. She is a top notch performer, and you can now see her in the theaters in the movie Funny People with Adam Sandler! She can also be seen on Mad Tv. Such talent...

The next show made me envious, starstruck, and left with a cougar puppy-crush. Billy Elliot. THE must see show on Broadway. Seriously. Go see this show. See it with your kids. They will thank you. Then they will ask you for dance lessons. Especially little boys. And it's ok, because when you see these kids in action, you will kick yourself for ever thinking dancing is for girls or sissies.

Incredible. That's really all I can say....

And here's the star.... SUCH a cutie. Cougar alert! (Wait, I am only 27... can I classify as a cougar???) This is Kiril Kulish. The Tony Award winning Kiril Kulish. He is one of three "Billys", and though I am sure the other two are great, Kiril has to be the best. I can't imagine anyone being able to dance like this kid. He would blow away ANYONE on So You Think You Can Dance, and he is 15. Yes folks, FIFTEEN!!!

And cutie number 2??? Meet David Bologna. He plays Billy's friend, Michael, and he is HILARIOUS! He, too, is a great talent. I never knew kids could sing and dance and bring the house down. Absolutely amazing.

Now.... how did I get to meet all these fine performers and get their pictures and autographs, you ask??? Shhhhhhh....... I'll let you in on a little secret........ This is THE fool-proof secret to getting a front row spot at the stage door. It has been timed, tried, tested, and approved. Mom and I are stage door whores, backdoor groupies, and we never miss the opportunity to meet these talented peeps. SO... when at a show, if you want to meet the cast, here's what you need to do:

1. Ask an usher where the stage door is.

2. Ask another usher... you can never be too sure. Make sure you ask BEFORE the show starts.

3. Carry a sharpie with you. More and more actors are bringing their own, but you always want to be prepared!

4. Lock your eyes on the nearest exit/escape route that is the closest to the stage door.

5. At the close of the show, when everyone stands to clap, make your move. Stand, scoot through the seats, and make your way to the door. No apologies. This is crucial time people.

6. Make your way to the barricade. Stand right where the door is, so they see you first. MOST people make their way through the crowd, but they are human and they do have lives. Some rush off, only signing a few, so make sure you are one of the few. The proud. The..... ok, I'll stop...

7. Be courteous to other fans. Make sure that when you have your picture and autograph, you help others get theirs too. Rule of thumb: Children First!

8. Thank them, compliment them, boost their esteem. They deserve it!

9. Make friends with the bouncer. This is the most important rule. THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE!!!! Want proof????? Well, here ya go.... PROOF that you MUST make friends with the bouncer......

That's right... You're not seeing things.... That's Yours Truly on that stage. On that BROADWAY stage, making her debut....
I KNEW I would be discovered! Ok, ok.... so the bouncer at the door took a liking to Mom and me and allowed us to have an exclusive tour backstage and under stage of Billy Elliot. HOW COOL IS THAT?!?!?!?!
I almost CRIED when he opened the door and let us in. He had some more bodies to guard, but later came in and asked if we were having fun. I ran up and gave him a big hug and thanked him profusely. He probably thought I was strange, but he gave me one of the best gifts a person could give. A once in a lifetime experience. This is behind the curtain, stage left. Right? I don't know... it's the right of the stage if you are facing it, so it's the left, right??? Whatever.... this is behind the curtain.
Part of the set. The kitchen, obviously...
These big, colorful, uhhh..... things.... are HUGE dresses hanging from the ceiling. In the show, they dance. Yes, huge dancing dresses.
Going down..... the pit. The orchestra pit... As a former flute and piccolo player, I almost peed my pants. Almost.
These are Billie's boxing gloves. I touched them, yes I did. It was so cool to be taught the interesting ins and outs and little-known secrets behind the show. They actually had to dig a 150 hole under the stage for the scenery. While digging, they found bones and had to have a crime scene crew come in. Turns out they were porkchop bones!
Locker rooms aren't just for atheletes... welcome to the changing room! With so many children on the set, many guardians had to be employed to watch over them and protect them. The guardian that gave us the tour REALLY cared for these kids and had their best interest and protection in mind.
Oh, what goes into a show.... It was late at night and the show had been wrapped for quite some time, yet there was music and laughter in the air. These busy bees were hard at work repairing all the hairpieces needed for the show. One doesn't often stop to think about all the behind the scenes work that goes into the show. These happy folks were plugging away well into the night to make sure that tomorrow's show is flawless.
The fruits of their labor.

The tour was AMAZING! It was every stagedoor groupie's dream. It was a night that my mom and I will NEVER forget. Shout out to the stagedoor guy!

Other shows I HIGHLY recommend:

The Lion King
Chicago
Mama Mia
Avenue Q aka Puppet Porn aka Sesame Street on crack... NOT for kids, but HILARITY for adults. Sadly, it is closing soon... so go see it NOW!
Jersey Boys, so my mom says
Phantom, so my Hubs says
Cabaret
Hairspray.... (Is that still running???)
Sadly, my other recomendations are no longer running.... BUT, I have plans in the near future to see Hair and Rock of Ages... so if you've seen either, let me know what you think!

NYC Chronicles Part 5: SHOPPING!

2009-07-31T20:52:00.006-04:00

"You know that thing when you see someone cute and he smiles and your heart kind of goes like warm butter sliding down hot toast? Well that's what it's like when I see a store. Only it's better." Can you name this one? Huh? HUH? Where is it from?!?!?! Well, if you don't know, I'm not telling. But I will tell you; this one line encompasses the tingly sensation I feel when I see a store front, a catalog cover, an online sale ad, or a cute girl with great style struttin' her stuff. I love to shop. I was BORN to shop. And I get it honest. The shopping gene runs through my veins. In a perfect world, I would be a personal shopper. I am always picking out cute stuff for my friends or my mom or the Hubs and loving how awesome my taste is when they look pimp in what I put together. A personal shopper. Yes, that is the perfect job for me.

So, where do I like to shop in NYC?

SHOES! Glorious SHOES! Hey - it's catchy! I fell in love with these sexy wedges, but alas, where would I wear them? *sigh* If I had a place to wear them, they would so be mine.

These are so cute! And they match my pedicure! And they are uber comfy! I HAVE to have these shoes! (Put the shoes DOWN Bex. Walk away... slowly..... thatta' girl...)

Oooooh! Now THESE are the perfect mix between the two! They are cute wedges with an ultra comfy, soft microsuede cushion. They can be casual, they can be dressy, I can wear them with jeans, or capris.... SOLD! So, where is my all time favorite place to pick up cool kicks??? Skechers, my friends. You can NOT go wrong with Skechers. They are comfy, cute, come in SO MANY styles and varieties, and last FOR. EV.ER. EVERY time we go to the city, we pick up at least 3 pairs each. I did really good this trip; I only bought one pair. If you have read my closet clean out post, you know why.

It's random picture time! This is the inside of Macy's. Everyone goes to Macy's when they visit NYC. Even though Macy's can be found in a town near you, there is still something special about this one. The hustle and bustle makes you feel as if you are in the middle of a mall on Black Friday. You can find anything here. Really. Anything. They even have a cafe and food court!

One of these things is not like the others; one of these things just doesn't belong. Yes, I am in Old Navy. Yes, I know they exist everywhere. But I love Old Navy. I am a cheapie, and they have clothes for cheapies.

Another favorite of mine? H & M. I am getting to the point where their clothes aren't really fitting anymore, but I still like to go in and look. I did actually get a shirt dress to wear with leggings. Tres cute!

Shopping is far out man! I am so ready to see Hair on Broadway... what's that Mom? We aren't seeing Hair this time? You mean we have to come back to NYC again if we want to see Hair??? Groovy baby...

Another Times Square landmark: Sephora. Again, I know they are everywhere, but I enjoy saving up to go to Sephora as a special treat for myself. I love to go in and experiment and try new looks. Do I want to go punk? Goth? Angelic? Natural? Nah... I'll just be me: funky and fun!

This guy was *raises voice* FABulous! He was all about complimenting my caterpillar Oscar the Grouch eyebrows. Last time I was here, I was told how hairy my face is and given a major complex. Major, I tell you. But this guy.... he made me feel like Britney Spears. Before the whole crazy head shaving thing. He told me how great my makeup was done and that I have great eyebrows. Did I mention how much I loved him?

On another fine day in Sephora, I was able to get a fantastic free manicure in the window where I was able to relax and people watch! This woman was wonderful as well. She said it would be a 'quick' manicure since they were getting busy. Her idea of 'quick' worked for me: she did a base coat, two coats, top coat, and quick dry oil AFTER she filed and buffed! I love being pampered!

Laila Rowe LOOKS like an upscale boutique. Located on 5th Ave., one would definitely think it is a pricey place. But guess what?!?!?! Their stuff is SUPER cute and SUPER cheap! I'm talking like, $10 bucks for necklaces and $15 bucks for purses. And they are all totally trendy and chic! I love Laila Rowe. It makes me feel like I am shopping at an expensive boutique when I am really scoring major deals. Laila Rowe makes me feel special.

Isn't this place caUTE?!?! It's all set up by color, JUST LIKE MY CLOSET!!! Did you notice the sign in the background??? The whole store was 30 to 70% off! I got my bestie, Brooke, a gorgeous silver and freshwater pearl necklace for... get this... $7.00!!!! (Shhhhhh..... don't tell her though.... it looks REALLY expensive!!! And I told her I got it on 5th Avenue.... she feels really special. And she should. Because she is.)

**WARNING*** The folllowing graphics are, well, graphic. If you are easily offended, I suggest you go no further.

You know, when you tell someone NOT to look, they always look. It's human nature. You WANT to see what is so graphic, but then you may scoff at what you see and say, "I can't believe she posted that! Or, you may think, what's the big deal? Why would anyone be offended? Well, ya know, I do not offend easily. Actually, I don't offend at all. I get it honest. If you know my dad, you know what I'm talking about. Nothing is off limits. And truthfully, I don't apologize for who I am. I find humor in anything. And what you are about to see was SUCH an easy target for a fun candid camera moment....

So... my mom, a former student of hers with whom we met for the afternoon, and I were strolling through Columbus Circle and decided to go into the little shopping mall. Upon entering, we were greeted by Big Bertha, who was naked, and large, and naked, and.... and... she made me feel so good about myself.

Why her naked large self was planted in the entrance to a shopping mall, I have no clue. But I like her. I was so excited to make a new friend, that I almost missed, don't ask me how, that she already had a friend!!! And guess what!?!?!?! Her friend is of the male persuasion... get what I'm gettin' at??? AND... he has a special talent, so I'm told. Legend has it, that if you want good luck for life, you have to uhhhh..... uhhh..... well see for yourself....
You have to rub his shiny spot!!! Now, consider this: the statue was made of bronze or copper, and we all know that it oxidizes and turns the brownish hue that is Big Bob. BUT, if you polish it, it becomes shiny and golden. So you know when a spot may be polished. It sparkles and shines. Big Bob's appendage was very shiny and golden. What does this tell me? It tells me that I am not crude and obscene for wanting a little luck in my life. It's obvious I am not the first to want to get lucky, and the way I see it, Big Bob got lucky too. I am just helping to spread the luck around! And... and....and.... MOM DID IT TOO!!!!! (She's just too chicken to share her pics!)

Ok.... moving on... Mom and I were feeling like kids again and... wait, we ALWAYS feel like kids... so we had to go to Toys R Us. Mom actually wanted to check out the Leggos for my nephew, Aidan, and I just wanted to play. I was so excited when I saw these guys: SMURFS! My sisters and I still have all of our original Smurf figurines. It's cool to see all of these toys from the 80's return.

This broke my heart. Pound Puppies! Doesn't he look so sad??? I still have my Pound Puppy, Chocolate. I also rescued my friend, Stephanie's Pound Puppy at a yard sale and named him Butterscotch. They are chillin in a plastic tub in my storage room. With them is my mini Pound Puppy, Spot. I miss them. I may have to go down there tonight and 'adopt' them again. I also still have my She-Ra's (with castle and waterfall), He-Man's, My Little Ponies, Troll Dolls, Barbies, and many other collections. I love reminiscing... Mom had to pry this guy from my hands, but she promised me that when I have a kid, we can go pick out a Pound Puppy... Barry?!?!?! BAAAAAAaaaaareeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.......... Can we have a Pound Puppy???

NYC Chronicles Part 4: FOOD! Glorious Foood....

2009-07-28T21:02:00.009-04:00

Food! Glorious Fooood..... Can you name the show? Huh? HUH??? Can you??? Ohh.. and who sings it??? This song always comes to my head when I see something delish about to fall victim to my wrath. I tear into food, let me tell you... So, where did we dine while in NYC? Of course, as stated before, this post is only about places we ate on this one trip. I didn't score any vendor food this time, but vendor food is a MUST if you have never had. Pretzels, hot dogs, Mediterranean... pick your poison. Anywho.... let's start with a tradition of ours in NYC... Daniella's Trattoria.....O.M.G.
Daniella's is just around the corner from the Milford Plaza and is the best place to eat in downtown Manhattan. First off: the atmosphere is cozy Italian. The doors and windows open for fresh air dining. The food..... AMAZING and INEXPENSIVE! Favorites of ours include Penne Vodka, Lasagna, and for breakfast their oatmeal and croissants are delish. The croissants are brought in freshly baked, and the oatmeal, which I hate oatmeal by the way, is so good with fresh fruit on top. You get HUGE portions, and a pasta dish is about 10 bucks. You can't beat authentic Italian food in the city for 10 bucks! Want to know what the best part about Daniellas is???? THEY FLIRT LIKE MAD!!!! As soon as you walk in, the men scope you out, bump elbows and smile, and wink you up and down. They smile as you walk by to use the restroom, they wink when they catch your eye... they KNOW how to make a girl feel good... or naughty... depends on how you look at it. One time, while my sis, Annisa, was with us... our waiter asked if we needed anything else. Annisa replied, "Could you just stand there and talk all day?" Yeah, their accents are HOTT too! I love Daniella's, and we go there MULTIPLE times every visit. Please please PLEASE check them out next time you are in the city.

Next on the list is Rachel's. Mom and I were looking for a good place to stop before a show, so we headed to Restaurant Row... we walked up, we walked down, and we were indecisive. So finally, I just pointed and said, "Let's try Rachel's!" So we did. And we were not disappointed.

I ordered a turkey dinner. Everything on the menu looked incredible, but for some reason I was craving comfort food. And this was comfort at its finest. It was an herb rubbed turkey with mashies and carrot and pea mash. The seasonings were savory and I wish I could have boxed it up and taken it home. The atmosphere was so quaint and cityish. We dined outside on a little patio with large umbrellas and twinkling lights. It was the perfect place for a girl's night out!

Ruth's Chris. NOT Ruth Chris'. Get it right folks. Ruth's Chris has been on Musder's list of 'Places I HAVE to try' for some time now... We had tried a few years ago, but others we were vacationing with objected due to price. I'll admit: this place is pricey. But when Musder heard that Sean Hannity eats there and highly recommends it... well, duh... she was sold. So after seeing Wicked we had a reservation for two...

The steaks are drenched in butter and cooked on an 1800 degree grill. They are served on a plate with a temp of 300 degrees. Needless to say, these babies are HOT! The butter was literally popping and splatting all over the place, and I couldn't wait to sink my teeth in...

I am an onion ring faREAK, so there was no question that they would be a side. The sides here are done family style, and they serve about 2 peeps. At almost 9 bucks a pop, we decided on two. Onion rings and sweet potato casserole...*Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh* (Imagine that as the sound when the gates of Heaven open...) The casserole was to DIE for, so sweet and creamy and buttery and perfection on a plate. I was really impressed with the onion rings too. I usually am a fan of the small straw type, but these were crisp and subdued. Often times the onion is so stinging in flavor and the coating just slips off. Not these pups. One bite was crisp and the coating stayed intact. Yummy!

Now, as for the steak... I gotta be honest... I have had better. I was psyched for this steak, and it was ho hum. It was very tender and juicy, but it was lacking in flavor. If it was seasoned beforehand, it just may be a winner. Don't get me wrong; it wasn't bad. It just needed a little more 'umph' to justify 45 bucks... for JUST the steak... Obviously you can find Ruth's Chris in many areas, so while in New York, I would probably branch out and try something different.

Recognize the location? We frequented Bryant Park, well, frequently. I love words that can be used in different forms, don't you? Anywho, we were down with a quick and cheap lunch, so we grabbed salads at a little deli store and copped a squat at our table in the park. We felt like locals as we relaxed and vegged out... hahaha....get it??? Sorry... I am lame... I know...

Here is another favorite of ours: Juniors. Most people know Juniors for their exquisite cheesecakes, but their food is unbelievable too. Not that cheesecake isn't food... you know what I mean. Their sandwiches are huge and served on chala bread. (I probably spelled that totally wrong.) I had a simple grilled cheese there once, but there was nothing simple about it. They have great food and should be known for their meals as well. But.... on to the reason for notoriety...

CHEESECAKE!!!! NOTHING says REAL cheesecake like Junior's. My favorite is the chocolate mousse cheesecake. As you can see, there is a huge slab of cheesecake heaven TOPPED with a humongous slab of light and fluffy chocolate mousse. There is no crust. The edge is a cagillion little semisweet chocolate chips. There are no words to tell you how bangin this cheesecake is. I CRAVE it daily. Seriously. And the price is just as good. 8 bucks. That's it. And it could easily serve 3 dessert hounds. I think of measily peasily places around my hometown that try to be 'upscale' and charge an arm and a leg for crappy wannabe desserts... they can't even compare. There's nothing like a cool summer evening on the deck of Junior's...sharing a plate of Heaven with my mom.

Of all the times we've been to China Town, we have never before seen Little Italy. Lo and behold, there it was; right between Mulberry and Canal Street!
It was early in the morning, yet the street was filled with the aroma of garlic and cheese... oh how I love Italian food, and oh how it hates me! ha! As we were strolling, I saw a girl filling fresh canolis right there in the window. Well duh, nothing beats a freshly made canoli in Little Italy, so it's obvious I HAD to have one. **Note** This was also a day of cupcakes and other savory treats. Thank goodness NYC requires walking!
I did snack smart, however. This canoli came from Snacky's and was a mini canoli! I love the sign: "Slices, Ices, and Fun Foods"... my kinda store! Next visit will definitely involve some gelato. When Musder and I toured throughout Europe, it was definitely a gelatto tour through Europe. We couldn't get enough!
Last stop on our food tour? CHINA TOWN! China Town is known for it's knock off handbags and cheap cheap cheap jewelry, but it should be known for it's incredible food. I gotta admit, I was hesitant at first. Seeing naked ducks basking in the windows is not appetizing to me. But seriously - break the comfort zone, don't resort to McDonald's, and try something new. I recommend going to the shadiest looking hole in the wall to dine. You know hole in the walls have the best food. It's a known fact. Really. I wouldn't lie.
My first experience with food in China Town was at a back alley basement hole called Wo Hop. This place is so elusive, it took us forever to find it, and we have yet to find it again. But the food... SOOOOoooooooo goood. Of course Barry was sketchy at first, but after seeing the celeb photos on the walls, he figured it couldn't be that bad. And it was that good. But this time we were forced to find some place new, and FAST. My sugar was crashing and I was entering moody wench mode. That happens to me at the drop of a dime, and trust me, you don't want to be near when the transformation occurs... it's like Incredible Hulk, only without the big ripling muscles. Or the green. Or Ed Norton. That's a shame though. Ed Norton is 'sooooo hott. Want to touch the hiney.' (Any movie buffs out there? Name that flick...)
We chose the Excellent Dumpling House. And they served..... ready for it????
Excellent Dumplings. Don't they look scaRUMPTIOUS??? They were. I wanted them all, but alas, I had to share with the Mus...
We also shared a plate of beef and broccoli. It wasn't typical 'American Chinese' beef and broccoli. The sauce wasn't thick and sticky and.... well, saucy. It had great flavor and didn't feel like it was going to stick to every organ it passed through.
I impressively ate every single bite with chopsticks, cuz I'm cultured like that. Mom needed a fork. She tried to stab with her chops, and it just wasn't workin'. I even managed rice. It was a proud moment.

As you can see, we mostly accomplished a food tour throughout NYC. That tends to happen when Mom and I travel together. We map out our day around food. We want to experience it all, and there is just no way. It's hard too, because when you are back visiting, you want to go to the places you love, but you also want to try places that are new. I encourage you all to try these hot spots on your next trip, and if you have any favorite food recommendations, please share them! I am always up for trying some place new! Bon Apetite!

NYC Chronicles Part 3: Bow Chicka Wow Wow

2009-07-23T20:07:00.007-04:00

Ideally I wanted to post about all of the amazing food that ran across my tastebuds while in the city. It would make sense to have all of the food in one post. That's what any other person would do. It only seems logical. But then I realized, there is a food out there that deserves a post all its own. A food so delectable, so delicious, so dreamy that it wouldn't be fair to all the other savory delights that we indulged in to have to share a post. So what food am I talking about? It's only THE latest trend in the food world. It is the cupcake. But not just any cupcake. A CRUMBS cupcake. Crumbs is a synonym for FREAKIN GOOD.

"Where is Crumbs?" you ask... You can find Crumbs on Madison Ave. or across from Bryant Park. Either one, you can't go wrong.

"I'll get you my pretties..." Sorry, flashback to Wicked, which you can read about later.

So where do I start? So many cupcakes, so little belly room... I started with the Artie Lange. Vanilla cupcake with chocolate ganache center, chocolate buttercream icing, chocolate fondant, and sprinkles. O.M.G.

So handsome, isn't he? My sweet, delicious Artie Lange...

CHOMP!

Mmm.... look at all that fillilng. This guy was HUGE! I had a really hard time biting into him, but after one nibble, I got over the difficulty and chomped right in! Mom went for the Baba Booey. Booey is loaded with peanutbutter and chocolate goodness. If you are a Howard Stern fan, you may recognize the name of these little cakes as two of the 'characters' on his show.

As we were noshing our treats in Starbucks while people watching, a gentleman asked if we had tried Magnolia's cupcakes. "Magnolia's?" my mom and I asked each other... "Well, where is it?" We went, we smelled, we drooled, but when we saw their cupcakes, they were standard size with no frills or excitement... so we passed.

The next day, as we were randomly perusing various stores, we got a hankering for some more Crumbs. It was like an unspoken moment between us as we looked at each other and smiled, knowing that we had cupcakes on the brain.

This time I went for the best seller: Red Velvet. Doesn't she look amazing?

Isn't she looooovelyyyyyy? Isn't she wooondeeeerful... Yeah, food makes me sing. It's a habit. And when it is amazing food, I dance. Right now I am cabbage patching thinking of how good this baby is.

Dare I strip her down and sink my teeth into her soft, moist, tender flesh?

Well duh! cupcakes are for eating silly!

This time Musder got a FlufferNutter. Oh the peanutbuttery goodness... it's just too much to handle.

We made friends while chowing down in the park... these birdies weren't singing... they were SCREAMING, "Hey peeps! Throw us some Crumbs!" Haha... get it? CRUMBS... hahaha... *sigh*

Excuse the vulgarity, but we ran a train on these cupcakes. Oh my GAWD are they good! SO GOOD in fact...

We went back the NEXT day and bought a bunch to take home! I grabbed a Red Velvet and Baba Booey for the Hubs, and I got myself an Oreo Cream and Blackout. Surprisingly, they did make it home unbitten. Needless to say, I now know that the only thing I need to bring back for the Hubs when I am away is a Red Velvet cupcake from Crumbs. His response, muffled by red, delicious crumbiness??? "Oh my God! This is the best thing I ever ate!" I'm ok with that statement, because I get it.

And the best thing???? THEY DELIVER!!! YES, my friends, you can go to crumbsbakeshop.com and have a 6 pack delivered right to your front door. This ain't your husband's 6 pack. This is so much more...

So... I have told you all about Crumbs. It is up to you to fulfill your cupcake devouring destiny and give them a try. I will warn you; if you are going to place an order, you better get a Blackout. And you better get more than one. And you better thank me for introducing you to Heaven. It will have you singing, "Bow Chicka Wow Wow Chicka Wow Wow!" Yes, my friends, they are THAT GOOD. And the Blackout is a chocoholic's dream. Seriously. I mean it. Go to the website and place an order already!

Now, I will say, Musder and I got curious about Magnolia's. We heard several people comment on them, and from what we heard, Sex and the City made them famous. Sooo....

On our last morning there, while walking down 5th Ave., we decided to give Magnolia's a try.

So, we entered and decided to split one. It was still morning, after all.

It smelled amazing in there, and the colors were really pretty, but I have to admit, there didn't seem to be anything really 'special' about these cupcakes. They were average size and loaded with regular ole whipped frosting. BUT, I just KNEW the taste had to be amazing to make up for the aesthetics and bells and whistles that were lacking...

We stabbed at this pretty little thing with a fork and took a great bite of hopeful anticipation and..... we were sadly disappointed. I don't know if it was a random fluke, a cupcake that just happened to be a bit old and slipped in the case by mistake or what, but it was honetly... gross! The cake was really hard and the icing was not all that. Let me preface this by saying that I am a sweet JUNKIE, and for me to say that a cupcake was not good... says a lot. Our local Sunnyway and Giant grocery stores make a much better cake... Again, it may have been a fluke, but that fluke cost them our business. I will not attempt a Magnolia's again. I am a Crumb's girl through and through. Now, if you'll excuse me, my Crumbs shopping cart is waiting for me to check out...

NYC Chronicles Part 2: Times Square

2009-07-20T21:08:00.006-04:00

Times Square. The heart of Manhattan. THE number one tourist spot in the USA. If you ask a first grader where Times Square is, chances are, he or she would know. So what is the big deal about Times Square?

At first glance, the blinding lights, the heavy foot traffic, and the sound of honking horns and dinging bike bells send a tingle of excitement down my spine. Then the aroma. Steer clear of the sewer grates and trash heaps; the aroam of hot dogs, roasted nuts drenched in cinnamon, soft pretzels, and taxi cab exhaust can not be replicated.
Did you know that the average passerby in Times Square is bombarded with over 80 advertisements per second? You know you made it when your picture is posted on a bilboard in Times Square. Right now you are staring at BILLIONS of dollars in advertising. Unless, that is, you are distracted by my radiant beauty.... HA! Ok, seriously, that is a lot of moolah...

If you are a Times Square virgin, you may get a little edgy with all of the hustle and bustle. The bumping and touching and random stepping on the back of your heels can be gross and aggravating. Stepping in random puddles of who knows what in flip flops can also be kinda icky. Always wash your feet when you get back to your hotel room. Random drippings on the head are also kinda gross, but you get used to it. I LOVE that there are now chairs in the center of Times Square. One can sit, have a rest, people watch, eat, and chat. Not only is this the perfect place to rest, but it REALLY has noticably 'cleaned up' the crowd. One can now move pretty freely on the sidewalks or the street. Great idea NYC!

We rested our piggies on quite a few occasions.

There are many oddities in Times Square. Like this concrete baseball glove, placed smack in the middle of the street. It was screaming at me to pop a squat and take a picture.

One afternoon on our way back to our hotel, we heard a commotion of clapping and yelling. Of course we had to check things out! We happened on a group of breakdancers trying to make a buck and make a name for themselves. They weren't bad, and they were pretty witty too. The 'ring leader' chanted, "Obama wants change, but we want dollars!" Pretty clever... On a side note, now that I was reminded of Obama, there were also condom peddlars on the street selling Obama condoms. Their slogan? "Obama condoms. The ultimate stimulus package!"

Times Square is where magic happens. In one day, in a one block radius, you can:

Get breakfast, lunch, and dinner with snacks and desserts.... and never walk in a building...

Have a complete makeup makeover for free (Sephora)

See various shows being filmed (Mtv studios, People's Court reporters)

See random celebs

Score tickets for Broadway

Buy sunglasses, jewelry, scarves, purses, artwork, condoms : )

Grab a coffee or ice cream

Grab a bike ride, taxi, or subway

Catch a random music or dance show

Tell off a homeless guy for $1

Watch a movie, show, or commercial be filmed

See fashion trends from every corner of the world

Be immersed in 100s of cultures and languages

Feed pigeons

AND SO MUCH MORE!!!!

But what REALLY makes Times Square so special???

THE PEOPLE!!!!

Like these guys... What the heck??? They were actually kinda creepy. They were dressed as these old medieval nights from outter space. They also carried these huge samarai swords in their belts... FaREAKY!!!! The weirdest thing was, as mom and I were in Junior's on the patio about an hour later, they marched by in rows lead by a guy out of costume... sometimes I just don't 'get' people... lol

Nanananananananana BATMAN!!!! This was one unique Batman... aside from the obvious, if you take a closer look... go ahead... you know you want to..... I think he was just as excited for this picture as I was... ok, maybe even a little bit more.... Yeah... THAT was a little weird!

But, I must say, it was a fun photo op! "Oh Batman! Rescue me from this horrible nightmare! You are my hero!"

Always watch where you're going when crossing the street. Taking pictures when crossing can be dangerous. You might get hit by a car, run into something, or have some weird guy in the background.

So, what should one do when going to Times Square? EVERYTHING! Take it in. Experience it all. Eat dirty vendor food. People watch... but don't snicker... appreciate that so many different people with different tastes, lives, styles, and attitudes are all a part of your Times Square experience, and you are a part of theirs. Grab a seat and enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells. Experience all you can, while you can. Don't hold back. Have fun, and watch where you are stepping!

NYC Chronicles Part 1: Start Spreadin The News

2009-07-17T21:55:00.007-04:00

Where do I start? How is it that a girl who goes to NYC quite often can manage to take over 200 pictures in one short 4 day visit??? NYC is really starting to feel like a second home. It's cool to 'know' where I am throughout the city and feel comfortable navigating and making recommendations to others. If you asked me after my first visit how I felt about the city, you would have heard, "I hate it! It stinks! The people are RUDE! I can't manage the crowds without an inhaler and Xanax. Everything is DIRTY! There is no place to PEE! I am NEVER going back!" I was coming off of a bad experience at Macy's where the fitting room attendant was rude and obnoxious to the point where I dropped my HUGE stack of clothes on the spot and walked out, people touching and bumping me, foul odors randomly attacking my nosebuds leaving my defenses unable to predict and defend an attack, blisters like no foot has ever seen before, and noise Noise NOISE!

So, what brought me back, you ask? (Ok, if you didn't ask, humor me and pretend you did) Maybe it was the essence of Broadway beckoning me to come back and be blown away once more. Maybe it was the food. Everyone knows the food in NYC ROCKS. Maybe it was knowing that I should't judge the whole city by a few isolated instances. Or maybe it was the HOT waiters at Daniella's Trattoria who shamelessly flirt and make you feel like the hottest girl on the planet. Whatever it was, I returned. Again. And Again. And Again. And I LOVE NEW YORK CITY!!!
So, I am going to give you an "Average Girl's Guide To New York City: What to See, Where to Eat, and What Not to Miss". Obviously there will be things I miss, as I am only writing about this specific trip, but trust me; I will give you enough info to keep you busy for at least 4 days on a LOW budget!

Let's start with what REALLY gets me in the mood......

Ahhhh..... the first glimpse of the NYC skyline. It screams, "You have arrived! Come and see all I have to offer!" That is impossible, by the way. I don't think, sadly, that I will ever be able to see all NYC has to offer. She is always changing and growing, but that is part of what makes her so fun and exciting! You never know what trouble you may get into....

The Lincoln Tunnel. She can be your best friend and keeper of the key to the city, or she can be your worst enemy, delaying your entry and prolonging your eager anticipation. On this particular trip, we were coming from Philly. Mom and I are chairing the National Conference for Teachers of English and Language Arts this year, and we had to go and taste test 9 FULL meals and desserts! I know, my life stinks... but someone has to do it! SOOOO.... we entered the Lincoln Tunnel with full aching bellies at about 3:00. We ZIPPED RIGHT THROUGH with no traffic whatsoever. Needless to say: Mental note: Time your trip to enter the tunnel in the mid-afternoon to avoid heavy traffic. When we left on Sunday, the traffic to get in at around 12:30 was insane. INSANE I TELL YOU!

See how little congestion there is? There is actually SPACE between bumpers! When going through a tunnel like this, the obvious questions always race through my mind: How was this thing built under the depths of the water? What happens if there is a crack in the ceiling and water comes gushing in? How does the pressure hold? If a car caught on fire, would all oxygen be depleted? And they go on and on... if I dare VOICE one of these questions in front of the Hubs, he freaks and gets upset that I would 'even THINK to ask something so stupid as that!', so I have learned to keep those kinds of questions to myself...

The first welcoming sites IN the city are the GAP billboards. They are always prominantly displayed, welcoming you to the city. Unfortunately, at this time they were advertising for Baby Gap. I was saddened to not see the hot guys. I love when they have HOT, STEAMY models half dressed advertising their tight jeans......*sigh*..... where was I??? Oh, right! Entering the city...

I never really noticed before, but The New York Times building was right on our way to the hotel. I guess when people think of NYC, The Times is often synonymous...
"You have reached your destination." Gotta love TomTom... We always stay at the Milford Plaza. We stay here so often, in fact, THEY should be paying US! Ok, I know that will never happen, but we love the Milford. It is RIGHT OFF of Times Square, on the same street as many Broadway shows, and is right by the subway. You literally take only 20 steps and you are in the heart of Manhattan. Actually, I lied... we did try a different hotel one year. BIG MISTAKE! We once stayed at the Hotel Wellington.... aside from the rooms being SOOOO SMALLL and not conducive to getting ready in the morning, the mice were no luxury ammenity either. As we were unpacking, my cousin Kaytee yelled, "There's a MOUSE!" Barry instantly jumped on his bed and scaREAMED like a little girl! Watching it jut out from under the bed was not a help. As he called down to the desk, it made yet another red carpet appearance, and while on the phone Barry squeals, "There it is! There it IS!!!! Oh my GOSH!!! It's a mouse! A MOUSE!!! Get it! GET IT!!!! Oh my GOD!" Yeah.... never again.... We learned, dear Milford, that you are our home away from home. Your rooms may be a bit tiny, but we only need you for a place to rest our heads, and you never let us down.
So, we're here. We have arrived. Are you ready for us New York? Next stop... Times Square...

Where oh where have I been?

2009-07-14T22:42:00.010-04:00

Where have I been? In NYC baby! I usually get to go to the Big Apple about twice a year, but this year it didn't look like I'd make the trip: until my mom saw a show advertised about a Holocaust survivor... we just HAD to go! So she planned a girls' weekend, booked a hotel, booked tix to the show as well as to Wicked, and we were set: a Wednesday through Sunday girl week. We were excited for Wicked because we had tix two years ago, and the stagehands went on strike. Bye bye Wicked.... Now we had tix. Everything was right in the world. Except.... Irena's Vow, the whole purpose for the trip.... was CANCELLED!!! What???? Seriously??? What shall we do??? Well... we got tix to TWO more shows! We saw Billy Elliot and Next To Normal. I will be posting all about our NYC adventures over the next few days. There is just not enough time and space in one little post. And boy did we have some adventures! Just to keep you on the edge of your seat, I am going to stop talking 'NYC' and move on to something else a bit more mundane... more normal... but keep checking back. The NYC CHRONICLES are not to be missed!

I have been fortunate enough to get some scrapping done. Here are the pages I was able to complete. **Disclaimer** A few were done with quickpages, so I can claim no creativity points here... just points for having a good eye and using someone else's schtuff...

Quickpage: This is my bestie Brooke. She is expecting baby #2 and deserves some pampering. Nothing like a pedicure to perk up your piggies!

First Fridays in Cburg are always a good time. I love perusing the art and sampling great food and sprightly spirits!

Magic ice cream is coming to Cburg! This stuff was GOOD!

Quickpage: Seriously??? I've been married THREE years?!?!?! Where does the time go???

Aidan is my homeboy. I know I am partial, but I seriously have the most ADORABLE nieces and nephews. If you think you do, sorry, but you are in denial. Look at this guy. He makes me smile just looking at him. Aidan has grown so much and I can't believe he is 7 already! I sound like a mom, but I really can remember the day he was born and the first time I held him. I didn't want to go home and leave him! Now he is an all star ball player and boy is he talented! Watching the kids grow up is one of the best things in the world.

Quickpage: The fourth of July holds so many great memories. 3 years ago on this day, Barry and I were 4 days from being Mr. and Mrs. when my Aunt Tammy said, "So you have everything taken care of: table arrangements, flowers, marriage license..." Wait. What??? You mean you need a LICENSE to get married???? Uhh... how long does it take to get us one of those? A couple days you say??? Ohhhhh.... Shhhhhiiioooottttt.......... Needless to say we were able to get it the morning of the rehearsal, but we had a backup just in case: We were going to get hitched in West Virginia where a license isn't needed, or it takes only a day or something, and then our wedding would just be for show! Thank goodness everything worked out!

Quickpage: My mom and Mom-Mom are the best! We know how to rock the red, white, and blue!

Quickpage: It's been a bit chilly in the evening this summer. So much for the whole Global Warming theory! After a wardrobe change, we grabbed some beer, some wine, and some snacks and headed in town to the fireworks!

Though the show was short, likely due to financial cut backs, the fireworks still strike a patriotic chord. It is so important to remember why we are free and why we are allowed to celebrate our freedom on this day and every day: our United States soldiers and families both past and present. I am so thankful for indebted to those who give of themselves to serve others.

Barry and I tend to get bored while riding in the backseat... can you tell? We have quite a few pics depicting these moments of boredom... hey, if you can't have fun in the backseat of a car, where can you? The best was knowing that everyone in the clustered jam of firework viewers was looking at us like, "What the......?"

Well, that's all I've got for now. I will start with the NYC Chronicles HOPEFULLY by Thursday. Here's a sneak peek at what you can expect to see: Food, Cupcakes, Shopping, Shoes, Cupcakes, Times Square, Celebs, Cupcakes, Broadway, Cupcakes... I feel like I am forgetting something.... Oh! Right! CUPCAKES!!!! Just wait... you will be drooling. You may want to keep a napkin handy... Until then,

~ Bex, OUT!

CAT IN THE KITCHEN: Veggie Pizza

2009-07-04T23:04:00.006-04:00

Let me start with a disclaimer: What you are about to read may sound gross, unsanitary, or just plain weird. Let me assure you that my kitchen is VERY clean. In fact, I am a bit of a sanitation nut. I promise you, my cats do not touch any food that I actually use, and I make sure the counters are cleaned if the cats get on them, which is a very bad habit of theirs.

Ok, now that the disclaimer has been made, let's get on with it.

For some reason, Salem has an obsession with cooking. I really think she was a chef in another life. As soon as I am in the kitchen, she is on the counter supervising everything I do. Because of this unique bonding time, I have decided to name the cooking session of my blog "Cat in the Kitchen". Granted, she may not be in all the cooking blogs, but she may make an appearance once and awhile. Here is an example.... while making tacos, she would not leave the taco box alone!
Does Old El Paso meet your satisfaction Salem?

BUT.... that is not today's recipe, obviously. I can do better than that. Today's recipe is VEGGIE PIZZA!!! SUPER YUM!
I started with my base, or 'crust'. I am a HUGE Tastefully Simple fan, and if you haven't ever heard of Tastefully Simple, you MUST visit their website. My sisters are both consultants for the company and love every second of it. If I weren't in direct competition with them, I would so be a consultant in a heartbeat. I love this stuff, you don't even know. Oh! The website, you ask? Visit www.tastefullysimple.com/web/ameyers . SO... my crust is made with focaccia bread. Not just any focaccia, but TS's Mediterranean Herb Focaccia. How do you make it, you ask??? You add a beer and mix. Seriously. That is it.
Evenly and thinly spread the mixture onto a cookie sheet or bar pan. It is about a half an inch thick. I then brushed the top with about 2 Tbs. melted butter. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes. Smell the aroma and drool. It really is THAT good.
While your focaccia is baking, mix up a batch of TS's Spinach and Herb dip. This is seriously my hands down, number one favorite and most used product. I should buy stock in it. It lasts FOREVER, and I use it daily, no lie. It is so versatile. I use it on veggies, in dips, as an herb in pot roasts, on chicken... possibilities are endless... but today I am using it as a dip, or the 'sauce' to the pizza. Mix the dip as directed on bottle. Of course you could use any type of dip, but the Spinach and Herb is so fresh and cool tasting. I HATE spinach, but I LOVE this herb!
I let the dip chill overnight. The longer you let it chill, the stronger the flavor.
After the focaccia and dip have had time to chill, spread the dip over the 'crust' and sprinkle a little cheese on top. I used a small pinch of mozzarella and an even smaller pinch of cheddar. It's not about the cheese in this pizza. No, the veggies are the star in this show! Now it is time to add the veggies, but the weirdest thing happened when I did...
Salem just HAD to inspect the carrots. Notice that they have not been peeled yet. I did then wash and peel them. But Salem developed a rare fetish with these carrots. She reacted in a way in which I have never seen before...
Oh wait, I HAVE seen this reaction before.... with CATNIP! I had to give her a small bag of her own carrot pieces because she fell in love with these orange delights. She rubbed all over them and growled when I got near! Look at her eyes... I see druggie paranoia written all over her face.
She just couldn't get enough! And just when I thought things couldn't get weirder...
Rahjah aka Princess Flufferbutt found a small slice of carrot on the floor, and went NUTS! What is in these carrots??? Hopefully they will have the same effect on those who are about to indulge in this delectable treat!

But let's continue with the topic at hand: VEGGIE PIZZA! After the 'sauce' and cheese have been sprinkled, chop and sprinkle the veggies of your choice on top. I chose carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli. I put green pepper on half because it has a strong flavor that can't be 'picked off', and I know that not everyone, including myself, likes peppers.

VOILA! Veggie Pizza! Mmmmm..... was this ever good! My nieces even delighted in this healthy and delicious treat! I encourage you to try your hand at this easy peasy recipe!

10 on Tuesday

2009-06-30T15:14:00.000-04:00

I have yet to do a 10 on Tuesday, so I thought I'd giver' a whirl... Here we go...

1. I think it is a little weird still seeing Billy Mays on infomercials... may he rest in peace.

2. My mother in law is having open heart surgery next Thursday after a year of stints and surgeries. Please keep her in your prayers.

3. Barry and I got to visit my niece and nephews in Maryland last weekend. We hung by the pool and got to see Aidan play in his All Star game. He is an AMAZING little ball player! It was neat seeing him in action and hearing the coaches praise his 'hustle and back up'.

4. My next organization project is my kitchen. I already started on the cupboards and freezers and fridge, and I didn't take any before pics, so don't expect any after pics either. I will say that this organization kick I have been on is actually fun!

5. My sister wanted me to join her Bible study group today. They are discussing the book The Shack. There is nothing I hate more than a book or movie being spoiled, so I woke up at 5 this morning, went back to sleep until a bit before 6, then woke up to try to finish it before the meeting today. I didn't make it, so maybe I will go next week. I am 30 pages from being done.

6. I scored a deal on ebay for EA Active for Wii. I am excited to start a work out routine, and am even more excited that two people can play at once!

7. I digi scrapped yesterday with Steph. Here is the page I got done:

8. Barry and I are going to see Blink 182, Fall Out Boy, Panic at the Disco, and Chester French on August 12. This is part of my anniversary gift to him, as Blink is one of his favorite bands. He actually got to meet Tom, one of the lead singers, a few years ago at a concert. I can't wait to be 12 rows from Blink and from Pete Wence!

9. My mom and hubs think I am crazy, but I am worried about North Korea. I believe an attack is imminent, and I am not comfortable with our president. I just keep hoping I am being neuortic (spelling?) and that everyone will be safe and ok.

10. I have been working on a secret project. I just HAD to tell someone, but I am still not ready to tell what it is... stay tuned!