sorry, what was that?

Good Golly, I just got invited to my 10 year high school reunion! How did that happen?! I can't believe I've been out of high school for 10 years! I'm suddenly the age I never thought I'd be. So July 16th, yours truly will be back in the hometown seeing people I haven't seen in 10 years. Should be fun!

A Day in my Life via Instagram

S'more Cookie Bars

This recipe is so yum! I got it from http://www.bakedperfection.com/

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups marshmallow fluff

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/3 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

2 supersize chocolate bars

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8 inch baking dish. mix butter and sugar until mixed. beat in egg, vanilla, flour, graham crumbs, baking powder and salt. divide dough in 1/2. press 1/2 into the baking pan. place chocolate bars on top. Spread marshmallow fluff over chocolate. Put other 1/2 of dough in a big baggie and roll flat with a rolling pin. cut of a side of the baggie and transfer flat dough onto fluff. remove other side of baggie. Bake 30-35 minutes.

Cool completely then cut into bars.

Mexican Lasagna

9 6 in tortilla's

1 1/2 lbs ground turkey

1/2 packet taco seasoning

1 tsp white pepper

1 tsp black pepper

2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp chili powder

1 large can diced tomatoes

1 can original rotel

1/2 onion chopped

1 1/2 bag shredded cheddar cheese

1 bag shredded mexican mix cheese

Brown onions and turkey in a pan with all spices. Add both cans tomatoes and bring to a boil. Simmer 5-10 minutes. Layer tomato/turkey mix, layer of 3 tortillas, cheese, tomato/turkey, 3 tortillas, cheese, tomato/turkey, cheese. Bake 30 minutes at 375.

French's Onion Baked Chicken

1 cup french's fried onions

1 cup flour

1 egg, whisked

3 chicken breasts

Crush onions in a large baggie. Add flour and mix up. Dip chix in eggs, then onion/flour mixture. Place on cookie sheet and bake 20 minutes at 400 degrees.

I am Blessed.

that's our saturday

Today i got up and went grocery shopping at Walmart. I'm telling you, the time to go is Saturday before 10am. It's amazing! This afternoon, we had a lovely time over at the in-law's. Zach made us an awesome chinese lunch. Then we played bowling and other various games on the Xbox 360. Then we played a game of Zombies. It was such a nice day! We were supposed to indoor camp this weekend, but with both of the guys feeling not so hot, we deferred until next time. After visiting with the in-laws, we came home and Jon took a nap while Josh and I puttered around the house. Tonight is calling for laundry, hot dogs, and a Godzilla movie. So yeah. That's our Saturday.

NomNomNom

Today I had the best cupcakes! There was an anniversary at work and cupcakes were brought. They were amazing! They were from Take the Cake bakery. I decided to go by the bakery and get some cupcakes on the way home. We tried the chocolate chip cookie dough, vanilla, chocolate, white chocolate white chocolate chip, lemon cream, and red velvet varieties. They were amazing! The cupcakes are moist and fluffy yet dense. They're an oxymoron! The frosting is light and fluffy, yet creamy and not too sweet. So good!

This one is the lemon cream.

Yum! This brings me, in a roundabout way to a decision that Jon and I made. I have seen on several blogs that people are making the choice to eat local. I have been thinking about it for a while now, and after talking to Jon, we are going to try to eat at local restaurants instead of the big chains when we eat out (except for pop, which you can't really grab to go at a local mom and pop place). I really want to support local business in Seymour, and I think this is a way to do it! We have started a list of local non-chain places to eat. Now I can add this bakery to the list! Hopefully we can stick to this decision!

Fill in the Blank Friday

{http://thelittlethingswedo.blogspot.com/}

1. If my house was on fire and I could only grab 3 things I would grab my laptop, my cats (I count them as one, not two), and my camera. I'm assuming my husband can run out on his own here .

2. A smell I really like is cut grass, anything baking, and my husband's deodorant. Don't judge, he smells nice! .

3. Something you might not know about me is .I am totally scared of spiders, clowns, and china dolls.

4. Some of my favorite websites to putter about on are see the list on the side of this blog, durr .

5. This weekend I will be indoor camping with Jon and Josh .

6. Nothing makes me happier than spending time with my husband.

7. A bad habit I have is interrupting people. I'm working on it!.

5 things I'm loving right now

1. Dexter

I have officially finished season one of Dexter and OMG!!!!!! I freaking love this show!!!! I started season 2 today and I'm already in deep! Love!

2. Coffee

Sadly there isn't a Starbucks in Seymour, but I have been rocking their beans in my coffee maker.

3. My sewing machine
I finally got that sucker to work! I made curtains for my kitchen. They may be crooked and unfinished, but I made them! I'm working on a cover for my camera strap now. Sticking with the strait edge basic strip for now. Yea!

4. my iPod

I am so in love with my new iPod! I have some killer apps and I just can't stop playing with it!

5. Dead Space 2

Jon got Dead Space 2 and it is currently scaring the crap out of us!

The Night of the Opossum

It all started about a month ago. The cats kept jumping on our heads in bed so that they could see out the window. They were always staring back behind the neighbors house, always looking at the same spot. Eerie! We had a mystery on our hands. At 11am on the night of January 26th, Jon and I were accosted by one of the cats, Jersey. He just HAD to see out that window! Curiosity got the better of us and we pushed the cat out of the way to see what he was looking at. What we found was terrifying. A huge-ass opossum. It was lumbering across the road, past the neighbors house, into the creek that runs behind our row of houses. Scary, I know. This thing, this creature of the night, has taken over our neighborhood. What are two fantastically awesome, yet terrified of opossum's people to do? To be continued...

Test

Ok let's see if this works. I am attempting to put a video on here. If it does work, please excuse the weirdness that is me. I really shouldn't be allowed on video.

Edit: Woot! It works! So I may, or may not, start doing some vlogs! Or am I far too annoying live action?

Chinese Crockpot Chicken

4 chicken breasts

1 bottle Panda Express Mandarin Sauce

1 tbsp pepper

1/2 head cabbage, sliced

1 cup sliced carrots

1/2 cup sliced bok choy

1/2 cup sliced mushrooms

Put everything but pepper and sauce in the crockpot. Sprinkle pepper over this, then pour sauce over the top. Cook on low 6-8 hours. Yum!

My New Toy

I did it! I went and got an iPod touch! Yea! I am so loving it! I so far have gotten the following apps: Instagram, Pocketbooth, Spider Solitaire, 8mm. I don't plan on getting anymore. I have a secret love of Spider Solitaire, even though I've never beaten a game. The app was free so I decided to go for it. I got Instagram to take cool photos and have seen it on several sites and blogs. I saw the Pocketbooth and 8mm apps when I was searching apps and decided to buy them. They are both awesome and I love them! I'm probably done with buying apps to tell the truth. I'll look at the free ones, but I can't let myself get carried away buying them. The music quality with this iPod is awesome too! LOVE! I've been playing with it since we got it this morning! Here are some of my samples! Please excuse the silly/goofy test stuff!

The view from my front door using Instagram:

Using Pocketbooth

I'm a goofy goober

Yesterday, I woke up and my garage door was frozen shut. Bollucks. So Jon had to come pick me up and take me to work. I was late of course, but at least I got there. As of right now, there is still no getting that door open. And I have to work today. Grrrr. I'm either taking Jon's car or he is dropping me off. Stinking Saturday work. I am more than ready or spring/summer/fall. Anything but winter!!!!

Last night, Jon picked me up from work and we went to the liquor store. I got something new. Adult Chocolate Milk! It is pretty darn tasty! Isn't the bottle adorable? I am such a sucker for pretty packaging. At least this time, it turned out that I really like the actual product! It really tastes like chocolate milk.

After work I went grocery shopping and I have never seen it that busy! It was crazy! Zach came over to hang out and now Jon and I are just chilling out, trying to stay warm. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to get a new ipod tomorrow. Jon's went kaput awhile back, so we are going to get a "family" ipod. I'm so excited!

By the by, does anyone know where to get fresh vanilla beans? Or any vanilla beans?
I can't seem to find them! I want to make homemade vanilla extract and I kinda need those magic beans to do it! I did make my own hot chocolate mix (the lazy/cheap girl way. I mixed all the hot cocoa packets we had in a jar.). Isn't it purdy?!

Edit: The car has been released from the garage. Repeat, the car has been released from the garage!

Loving

Please forgive the awful lighting. It is nighttime and we are in the middle of a snow storm. Lighting is an issue tonight.

hmm....

hmm....Well my Ipod is corrupted. Seeing as its getting on in years, that's not altogether surprising. I think I see an IPod touch in my future. And an Instagram app. Oh yeah........

hmm....We went to BW3's with Jon's fam for dinner tonight. It was good.

hmm....I think I have decided on the final 2 tattoos that I want. My total will be 3. I think I'm going to get at least one of these tat's this year.

hmm....I wish Mass Effect 3 was coming sooner

hmm....I am loving my new fish eye lens. LOVING!

hmm....I have to work Saturday

hmm....Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I can say this everyday and it will be true.

The X-Files

Confession: I have never seen The X-Files. I know it's terrible! So Jon and I got the whole series on Netflix and we are going to watch it through! Yea! We are through episode 2 and I am loving it!

"When does the human cost become to high for the building of a better machine?" Mulder I heart you so hard!

Longest Day Ever. That is all.

A Day Off

I had such a great day off! I watched a LOT of season one of Dexter (catching up from the beginning) and did some scrapbooking of the wedding. I also spent several hours with one of my favorite people, Amber! We hadn't hung out in forever so it was really nice to get some girl time together!

Tonight, I made turkey burgers for dinner and watched more Dexter! I think I may be becoming obsessed with this show! I started watching it half way through season five, so I need to catch up from the beginning. Luckily, Netflix has season 1 and 2 and Dustin and Amber have season 3 and 4, so I should be able to catch up fairly quickly. I'll probably watch it on my lunch hour.

In other totally unrelated news, I began painting my fingernails. In color instead of clear. See, I used to be a nail biter, so I never painted my fingernails. Then once I stopped biting my nails, they just stayed short and I didn't think that short nails looked good painted. I recently changed my mind and decided to start painting my nails again. I like it! I need to get neater at it b/c they are super messy, but I suppose that comes with practice, like anything else.

Anywho, that's been my day off! I wish I had a never ending supply of days off. ;) I'll leave you with some of the pictures I've been taking lately.

Pearberry Sangria

I made sangria for our Sunday night get together and everybody really liked it! Here's the recipe!

1 bottle red wine of your choice

2 cups sugar

2 cups juicy juice cherry

1 1/2 cup blueberries

1 1/2 cup blackberry's

1 1/2 cup slice strawberry's

1 bosc pear, cubed

Mix it all up and stick in the fridge for at least 8 hours. Drink/Eat/Enjoy!

The Comfy Pants

Yesterday, after my very productive day, I thought I'd treat myself to my comfy pants. Everybody has a pair of the comfy pants. They are the pants that you pick to wear above everything else you own b/c they are so very comfy. They are the pants you wear for 2 days on vacation, and on day 3 think you really should wash them, but instead you sniff them and decide they pass as wearable one more time. They are the pants you put on after the big meal b/c they have the extra stretch room. They are the pants that go perfectly with your comfy socks (see photo below). They are the pants that you wear constantly, even though you dread the day they all apart b/c you will never find another pair quite as comfy. They are the comfy pants. So go ahead and go put on your very own comfy pants. Ah. Now doesn't that feel better!

(My own comfy pants, comfy socks, and a nice cup o' joe!

Chicken and Corn Pie

10 oz tomato sauce

1 can rotel

2 cups corn (I used frozen)

1 tsp chili powder

2 cans chicken

1 pkg cornbread mix

2/3 cup milk

1 large egg

2 tbsp veggie oil

2 cups shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix tomato sauce, rotel, corn, chicken, and chili powder. Pour into an 11x7 dish. Mix cornbread mix, milk, eggs, oil, and 3/4 cups of the cheese. Spoon over the chicken mix. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and back 30-45 minutes.

I got this from a Taste of Home cookbook.

Obladi Oblada Life Goes Oooon!

Today was a productive day. Yep, very productive. I got up at 8am and headed to Wally World to get my oil changed and buy this weeks groceries. I was home by 10am and started in on cleaning the house. Josh cleaned the bathroom while Jon and I put away all the laundry. I swept and mopped the kitchen and cleared away the clutter that was on top of the hutch. Then I put away a bunch of junk in the bedroom and picked up in there. I swept and mopped the entry way too. Oh and did a crap ton of laundry. See?! Productive!

On a less than productive note, I attempted to make new curtains for the kitchen, but I'm having some trouble figuring out my new sewing machine. I just can't quite figure out what I'm doing wrong when putting in the bobbin. Hmm. Don't worry I'll figure it out!

I tried a couple new recipes today, see before and after this post. Note that there is no recipe for quiche, even though I tried to make one. EPIC FAIL! Apparently I need more practice with that one! Anywho, that's what I've been up to today.

Oh yeah, and I had a solo dance party in my bedroom while I was cleaning. I was listening to my records of the Grease and Dirty Dancing soundtracks and singing and dancing along. My cats enjoyed the show, but Jon and Josh not so much, lol!

On a closing note, I keep remembering scenes from The Proposal and randomly cracking up. I'm pretty sure one of the ladies at work thinks I'm completely crazy, but oh well! Hehe. Just remembering the dancing in the woods scene again. Best scene in a movie in a LONG time. LMAO!!!!! Seriously, you must see that movie if you haven't already!

"Do you prefer Margaret or Satan's Mistress"?" - The Proposal

Pumpkin Pudding Cake

1 box yellow cake mix

3/4 cup pumpkin pure

1 box pumpkin instant pudding

1 tsp vanilla

2 tbsp milk

4 eggs

1 cup water

2 cups powdered sugar

Mix it all up and back at 350 degrees for 50is minutes.

Edit: I love pumpkin, but the hubs doesn't. Next time, I'm going to use banana pudding and mashed bananas in place of pumpkin!

Best Icing Recipe Ever!

I made a pumpkin pudding cake, but forgot to get icing for it. Best mistake ever! I had been wanting to try my own butter cream frosting for some time, but hadn't gotten around to it. I decided this was the time to do it! I looked up some basic recipe's and concocted one of my own from the pieces.

Basic Butter Cream Frosting

3 cups powdered sugar

1 cup butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

Mix all that up and spread over your cake! It is sugary yumminess! Yup, made that up, but it fits here! Oh, and if you use this, you will have to put the cake in the fridge. I mean, this frosting has a bunch o' butter! Enjoy!

A New Look

Well today I changed the look on the blog. I use ShabbyBlogs, and since I had to update my background due to them moving servers, I decided to switch up the look I had. I like my new owl friend, but I gotta admit, I miss the cheery yellow.

So it's been quite a week around here. Sorry I haven't blogged, I've just been busy with this crazy thing called life. I did try a new recipe, so that will be coming soon. Other news, I got my wedding dress back from the cleaners, so it's all boxed up and stored in the office closet. I heart my wedding dress! I finally saw The Proposal. So awesome! Seriously, I absolutely loved this movie!

I laughed, I cried, I loved. Go see it now, nuff said. In fashion news, I ordered, received, and am currently loving a couple new cardigans I got from Old Navy! This is the only one I have a picture of, which works since it is my absolute favorite!

The sleeves are nice and long and it is super comfy! I also got a few tank's with ruffle embellishments on the fronts that look nice under my plain cardigan's. You know I love me some clothes, but my favorite purchase this week is this baby!

I am so excited! I got it on super sale on amazon and now I'm just waiting for it to get here. I have always wanted a fish eye lens. I know they are just a fun lens, but I couldn't resist! I can't wait to use it! I found an idea on my favorite blog of the moment http://mandycrandell.blogspot.com to use a sunglass lens to change the color of your photo. I tried it and it is pretty cool! She has some great tips on photography!

So that's what I've bought recently. Yeah, I'm totally boring today, sorry. I guess it's the seasonal depression thing. I just feel like doing nothing! Bah! I need some warm weather! At least I get Monday off work, so I'll try to do something worthy of blogging! Have a great night interwebs! May your dreams be filled with cupcakes and unicorns pooping rainbows!

Today

This mjorning, Jon and I woke up and thought, "nope, don't feel like cleaning the house today." So instead, we called David and Kate and went shopping in Columbus. We got a few things. My favorite thing?

I so loved this show when I was little. We had lunch at Penn Station, so good. Then home it was. I may not be around for a few days, but don't fret, I shall return! In the meantime, try to stay warm!

Life as I know it

Strangest thing. I got a call from Walmart saying they had photos from Nov 15th. I don't remember dropping photos off, but apparently I did and forgot! I'm kind of excited to see what they are! Anywho, sadly there has not been much going on around here. Work is good, marriage is good, Josh is good, life is good.

This week, Jon and I both have a cold and are just wiped out from it. I hate colds that just make you extremely tired with the sniffles. Blech! We did get out earlier this week to Target and picked out a throw pillow for the couch together. Here is the front...

and the back.

We both really like it. I wasn't sure about the bird at first, but it looks great on our couch with our other pillows.

I just finished reading Here We Go Again: My Life in Television by Betty White. I know some may think I'm biased b/c of my deep love and admiration for this golden girl, but It was such a good book! It was like sitting down with Betty and reminiscing! So good! I would highly recommend this book to anybody, even if you don't have the love for Betty! I'm now reading Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith. So far I am really liking it! I'll let you know when I'm done!

This weekend, we are planning on tackling some things that need done around the house. Other than that, we don't have much going on. I know I am totally boring lately! I'm going to choose to blame the cold weather! It is freezing out! All I feel like doing is staying inside where it's warm and cuddling up with my husband and a cat! Well kids, that's life as I know it for today!

Tator Tot Casserole

2 lbs hamburger

1/2 onion, chopped

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 bag tator tots

Layer hamburger, then soup and onions, then tator tots in a 9x13 dish. Bake at 350 degrees for an hour.

Crab Salad ala Lasagna

1 large tub ricotta cheese

1 jar alfredo sauce

2 stalks celery, chopped

1/4 onion, chopped

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp salt

1 box oven ready lasagna noodles

2 cups crab meat

Mix crab, ricotta cheese, celery, onion, and spices. Layer one layer of noodles, crab mix, one of alfredo. Repeat. Bake 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

Mushroom Beef Stew

1 lb beef stew meat

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can beef and mushroom soup

1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced

1 pkg dry onion soup mix

2 potatoes chopped

1 1/2 cups frozen mixed veggies

Mix it all up and cook on low in crockpot for 8 hours.

I missed it!

I can't believe it! I missed my blogiversary! I know!! On January 2nd, I celebrated an official year of blogging, and I totally missed it! I give no excuses. So here is my belated obligatory I can't believe I've been blogging a year post! It really has been quite a year and I'm so glad that I had this blog to chronical my adventures, if you will. Here's to another year of blogging in 2011! I hope it is every bit as exciting as 2010!

Creamy Veggie Casserole

I have a quick recipe for you! Jon really liked this side dish!

Creamy Veggie Casserole

1 bag frozen veggie mix (carrot, cauliflower, broccoli)

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1/3 cup sour cream

1/2 cup shredded italian cheese blend

1 cup french's fried onions

pepper, to taste

garlic powder, to taste

Mix everything together and cook at 350 degrees for 40 minutes!

That's it! It's super easy and tastes good too!

1/1/11

Well it is 1/1/11 so that's pretty cool. How did I spend this day? Doing laundry, cooking meals, playing Nintendo Monopoly, taking down Christmas decor, etc, etc, etc. Oh yeah and I tried to take a nap, but the cats had other ideas. I love them to death, but sometimes they drive me crazy! I attempted to make Pioneer Woman's Buttermilk Chicken Fingers, but it was a complete disaster! If anyone can tell me how to make the breading stick to the chicken, let me know! The side dish was a definite hit, Creamy Veggie Casserole. See the above post for the recipe! Now we are just chilling out and letting Saturday wind down. Anywho, that's how I spent the epic 1/1/11.