A Tribute

I wish I was one of those super cool ultimate bloggers that had a 'Tribute to 2007'. I'm not... but I will tell you exactly what this year will remembered for... for me...

3 things:

1. Bryson (born 1/7/07)
2. F L O R I D A (PA School wifey)
   
3. Regi & Keri (and other 'rock solids' that I endear)

I get a happy/joy feeling when I reiterate '07'. Yes, and now I am starting to feel that mushy overwhelming feeling that I am secretly extremely blessed, life is utterly fantastic, and that I need to HOLD ON TO IT! But I will resist being over dramatic and just unreservedly enjoy it.

'08 is looking pretty good. Job... paycheck... ya, things are really getting exciting.

Happy New Year!

If I had the energy I'd post about:

• the infomercial I saw this morning at 5am on the Shark steamer mop. I'm SOLD!
• the Honker (big huge swan) that nipped me in the knee last week.
  
• the fact that it has not escaped my attention that not matter how warm it is inside the house the toilets seats will unassuredly be ice cold. (Unassuredly is not a real word, is it?)
  
• and other stuff that I don't have the energy to write.
  

( :

Just a few of my thoughts...

• Does "Auld Lang Syne" make anyone else cry besides me?
• Has anyone else showed up to the airport the day before their flight was supposed to leave?
• Why haven't I seen "National Treasure II" yet?
• Could I just know ahead of time exactly what day I'm going to get the flu?
• Why is this tiny little zit making my entire neck hurt? Who gets zits on their neck?
• My playlist has got to change.
• It's freezing here in Utah and my blogweather says it's 51 in FL tonight. Hm!
• I predict that Alana's Oreo chocolates are going to be fantastic.
• I can't wait to get doped up on NyQuil tonight? (Did I say that outloud?)
• Has anyone else tried Tylenol Serious Cold & Flu? That stuff is AWESOME.
• I consistently spell awesome wrong about 50 percent of the time. (awsome)

It is a totally insane hour for me and I have a serious head cold. These are not optimal blogging conditions.

Welcome to the land of bloggers, Lane.

Too Frequent Blogger

Because of all my cooking posts I've been googled a lot lately. So I figured I better post a link to Mormon.org in case anyone happens to 'pass through' and discover the truth. How fabulous would that be?

Oh, and yes, I do realize I have become one of those too frequent bloggers. Five posts in one day? Embarassing!

Paula Dean's 2-Layer Pineapple Upside Down Cake

I thought this cake looked really neat so I tried it. I'm a little upset about the fact that it's not entirely flat. It didn't taste good enough to post the recipe - Sorry. (The Missionaries did like it, though).

Next cake? Paula Dean's Chocolate Malt Cake. Yea! Can't wait.

Next coveted cooking tool: a huge oversized cake spatula.

Updates!

First of all, Alyssa referred me to an absolutely FABULOUS Christmas card design website... Custom Holiday Cards. It was exactly what I was looking for.

Also, I found Texas Roadhouse's Ranch Dressing Recipe online. They have one of the best Ranch Dressings I've ever tasted. (I have the feeling I may have just committed multiple grammatical errors.) Anyway, here's the recipe. I haven't tried it yet and honestly... it doesn't look like it would taste anything like Ranch but try it I will.

3/4 c mayonnaise
1/4 c buttermilk
1/2 t garlic powder
1/4 t cayenne pepper
1/4 t freshly cracked black pepper
1 dash dried minced garlic
Mix well and refrigerate

Exquisite Christmas Cards

I've received some fabulous Christmas cards in the mail... When I open them the design is so exquisite that angels brake forth in singing. When the song is over and the chorus is done, I look and study inquisitively for some sign of what company was used to portray such merryment in so exquisite a fashion. I never find such logo. I'm looking for an online Christmas Card company whose designs are unique, classy, trendy, modern. If you know of such company and have said knowledge, please divulge.

Confession!

They're playing Celine Dion's concert "A New Day" in surround sound at the Regal Theatre tomorrow. I want to be present for it.

Christmas Preferences

Wrapping Paper or Gift Bag? wrapped wrapped wrapped

Real or Artificial Tree? Artificial, prelit. (with some pine spray, of course)
When do you put up the tree? Thanksgiving weekend
When do you take the tree down? The day after New years while singing the song, "I cry the day I take the tree down".
Do you like eggnog? Love it, especially spiked (with Cherry 7up)
Favorite gift you received as a child? Pink radio.

Do you have a nativity scene? A stuffed animal one but I'm on the hunt for the perfect displayable one.
Hardest person to buy for? Dad
Easiest person to buy for? Bryson
Worst Christmas gift ever received? Coal! Just kidding, I was never a bad girl.
Christmas Cards - Snail mail or e-mail? Snail mail forever.
Favorite Christmas Movie: Home Alone II, Scrooge, It's A Wonderful Life
Favorite Christmas Show: Nothing comes to mind.
When do you Christmas shop? All year long.
Have you ever recycled a Christmas gift? NEVER... that I can remember.
Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Decadent Chocolates
Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear
Favorite Christmas Song: Feliz Navidad
Travel at Christmas or stay home? There's no place like home.
Can you name Santa's reindeer? Never forget them.
Angel or Star to top the tree? A big beautiful star from Crate & Barrel. Or a homemade doily angel. ( ;
Open presents Christmas Eve or morning? One present Christmas Eve at 10pm, the rest Christmas morning.
Most annoying thing about this time of year? Impatient drivers
Shopping at the mall or online? Online forever. The mall is for window shopping, lallygagging, and not really getting anything done.
Decorate outside or inside? I wish Dan was here to make the tiny little palm tree right outside my apartment look like temple square. Then I would stand out there and hand out passalong cards to all the onlookers. ( :

Favorite Christmas Decoration: Oranament holder from Crate & Barrel that Bryan got me for my birthday last year.
Favorite Christmas cookie? Sugar Cookies forever. I have the best ever recipe courtesy of Heidi Russell.
Do you own Christmas-y clothing or jewelry? No but I would like to aspire to that.
Do you believe in Santa? Do you?
If you could have a single Christmas wish for you and you alone, what would it be? That it would never ever ever ever end. JK! That currently is too hard of a question.

Other things that I REALLY like at Christmastime...

Going to the movies, the Christmas Hymns ("Hark the Herald Angels Sing" always makes me really emotional), the bags of peanuts & candy at the Oak City Christmas program, caroling, a blazing fireplace, sledding, and hot hot chocolate.

And Don't Forget Dessert...

Penny gave me some Peanut Butter Balls the other day and I held her hostage until she gave me "The Recipe"...

Keri's Chicken Enchilada Soup

This was FABULOUS! I'm sure it has nothing to do with the pound of velveeta that's in it.
Click here for the recipe.

I Am Truly Blessed

I would really like to have a moment where I just sit down and think... "I have done everything I ever dreamed of accomplishing this very day... everything I needed to do, everything I wanted to do... and now I'm perfectly content to just sit here and see what comes my way." Has anyone ever had a moment like that IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND?

There's always that nagging list at the back of my mind of not even things that I NEED to do but things that I WANT to do... digital scrapbooking, itunes, online photo album, the biography of George Washington, Paula Dean's Pineapple Upside Down Cake, .... 'The List' refuses to leave my mind. It just hangs out there waiting for that opportune moment when everything is done and it's time to relax to spring to the front of my mind and make me feel an urgency to get to work on all these things that I want to do. (That may have been the longest sentence in the history of mankind.) Can I not just be satisfied with a clean house and dinner on the table? No, I have to have a billion hobbies, a billion undread magazines, a billion websites to check out, a billion untried recipes, and a billion things to blog about.

I am truly blessed to have this concern.

Hankstown comes through...

A fabulous find by the folks at Hankstown (aka cousin Natalie & hubby Brian)...

www.whatshouldireadnext.com.

After finishing reading the Twilight Series my friends and I were perplexed, dumfounded, lost... in a sea of 'what in the world could we possibly read next'. Well I typed in the magic words on that website and here are the findings...

Vampire Kisses - Ellen Schreiber
The Alchemyst - Michael Scott
Blue Is for Nightmares - Laurie Faria Stolarz
Ironside: A Modern Faery's Tale - Holly Black
13 Little Blue Envelopes - Maureen Johnson
Jackaroo - Cynthia Voigt
The Darkest Hour - Erin Hunter
Darcy & Elizabeth: Nights and Days at Pemberley - Linda Berdoll
Shattered Mirror - Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Wicked Lovely - Melissa Marr

Results look pretty good if you ask me! HeeHaaHaaHaaHaa (scary laugh)!

Yay for 73

My cousin, Anjanette, posted 100 random facts about herself for her 100th post and I was riveted through the entire thing. Somehow I find it extremely fascinating that she drinks pickle juice (or maybe it's the fact that she admitted it), irregardless (sorry, inside joke from 'Mean Girls'), it's fascinating. So I thought instead of waiting for my 100th post, I would celebrate my 73rd.

1. I secretly fear how long this might take me...
2. I secretly love my hideous green carpet because I can spot a cracker crumb a mile away and then can't rest until it is destroyed. Hence, always vacuumed carpet.


3. I wish I could play the piano like nobody's business. (I secretly think I can and want to own one to prove it to myself). ( :


4. I say 'secretly' a lot... and will continue to do so.


5. I'm an "Air Quoter" but I feel it helps me express myself.


6. I'm an 'all or nothing' kind of girl. It's never a marathon, always a sprint.


7. I hate running and I blame it on my body type.


8. I really would like to find a happy place where I can be satisfied with my hair color.


9. I secretly wish I could look great in a pixy cut.


10. I love having inside jokes and can't stop them from showing up in my blog posts.


11. I'm extremely fascinated with anything miniature.


12. I never want to learn to ride a unicycle.


13. I never want to start my own business.


14. I'm fascinated with sifting flour. A flour sifter has become my new, coveted cooking utinsel.


15. I'm intrigued by Ben Franklin and can't figure him out.


16. I like Engelbert Humperdink because my dad listened to him on our trips to Oak City.


17. I'm not a car person... I just want a really nice sound sytem in it.


18. I've never met a car place I could trust.


19. I secretly really REALLY love my new blog background.


20. I do not intend to deny that I spend too much time in bloggerland.
21. I do not intend to deny that I should be more frugal.
    
22. I do not intend to deny that Bowen watches too much TV.
23. I have had a movie star crush on River Pheonix, Keanu Reeves, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Mat Damon.
    
24. I think Nutcrackers are creepy.
25. I have seen the movie "It" by Steven King. A grave mistake.
26. I used to dream that I was a 'Little'.
    
27. I'm a scaredy cat.
28. Did anyone love Junior High?
29. How did Anjanette come up with 100 things to say?
30. I sacrifice environmentally savvy practices for conveniences.
31. I've been on the constant verge of buying 'green' bags to use at the grocery store instead of plastic bags.
    
32. I want the front of my fridge to look like cupboards.
33. I think it would be so cool to build little passage ways and secret 'play rooms' in our house.
34. Owning a pool scares me to death.
    
35. I, like Anjanette, never go to bed with dirty dishes in the sink.
    
36. Painkillers are my friend.
37. I feel like I've been born again when I get to go to the grocery store without my kids.
38. I don't understand how some people go without internet because they can't afford it. I would get rid of my TV before the internet.
39. I find I enjoy sitting a lot more as I get older and older.
40. I have no desire to ride in a horse and carriage. Somehow it's just not romantic to me with all the 21st century cars blowing exhaust in your face.
41. I want a copy of the declaration of independence on my wall.
42. I feel a constant urge to copy words of hymns down in beautiful script and frame them.
43. I'm afraid that Bowen might be really smart and that I'm supposed to be doing something about it.
44. I would be happy with a new purse every month
45. I would love to read my mom's journals.
46. This is the first year in 4 that I haven't had a Christmas relapse in July.
47. I'm going to buy the 'Bourne Ultimatum' tomorrow and pay too much money for it.
48. I have a special dislike for dogs that I give myself counseling for.
49. My favorite meal used to be Pizza, Nacho Cheese Doritos, and Pepsi Free.
50. If I could, I would eat all the crunchy edges of the lasagna everytime.
51. Why is it that the little Pizza restaurant in Savannah, GA had the best ranch I've ever tasted and why haven't I found a 'best ever' ranch recipe yet?
52. I think most wrapping paper is not cute.
53. You better bet I'd have a cleaning service if I could afford it.
54. I'm too lazy to think of 19 more things...

Ben Franklin

I'm about to make an extremely powerful and profound statement about my assessment of Ben Franklin... I just really don't get him! Of course he... founded the first circulating library, established the first hospital in North America, invented the glass armonica, the odomenter, bifocals, the franklin stove, refrigeration, overhauled the postal system, discovered electricity, was a french diplomat, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and a member of the FreeMasons. But what I really don't get is all his work on perfecting himself... striving to lead a 'good and honest' life when in reality he left his wife for years at a time (try 15) and stayed with a widow and her daughter in England (who I can only assume was his mistress). He didn't attend two of his daughters' weddings, wasn't there when his wife died, published 'half truths' about the Penn's because of his dislike for them, and appartently had quite a large ego. Perhaps I should read his Autobiography and maybe that will give me some insight.

I love how I think it's a great accomplishment to read these 130 page sterling biographies that are written for 8th graders. But I do learn a lot AND they're aesthetically pleasing (which is very important).

Chocolate Creme de Menthe Cake

Funny Story: I made this cake for the Ward Christmas Party tonight. I'm determined to make every recipe in Paula Dean's Holiday Baking Magazine (a checkout line impulse - worth every penny). I've never made a successful 3 tier cake before (many attempts) but somehow this one looked beautiful and made it to the party. About 1 minute after I put the cake down on the table a sweet little boy came and knocked it over. There it sat, face first in the pretty little Christmas tablecloth. Yes, it was sad... for about 2 seconds... and then it was instantly hilarious. We salvaged it and then devoured it. It tasted FANTASTIC! Here's the recipe for your baking pleasure.

He Walks!

I read the "It Couldn't Be Done" poem to Bryson (see below) and I think that's what finally gave him the courage...

Documented first steps: Nov.29th, Evening

A Poetic Crush

"It Couldn't Be Done" by Edgar A. Guest

Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it";
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That "cannot be done," and you'll do it.”

Edgar A. Guest is a genius. I have a poetic crush on him (sorry, inside joke).
I'm dying to get a complete collection of all his poems.

You're only 27 once!

For my birthday I did something I NEVER do... I curled my hair. You're only 27 once, right? And since this is something that never happens I decided it had to be documented...
Here's the back.


And here's Regi and I documenting my actual birthday day.

That night (from the picture above) we ate Tator tots (my fav), spinach dip, Keri's Lil' Smokies, icecream, and watched Hairspray (after a couple hours of girl talk, of course).

Updated Recipes

There've been a few additions... check 'em out!
Trying to get ALL my recipes on here. Workin' on it. Then I'll add all the absolute best evers to Dinner On a Dime.

Bernhardt Turkey Bowl

Bowen is the star of the team...

Bryson fumbles the ball...

Thanksgiving in Savannah

Yes, we went to Savannah, Georgia for Thanksgiving this year. It was fantastic. Since Marmi and Pappa ('Little Women' lingo) are 2,600 miles away we had Thanksgiving with our Florida family... Regi, Dylan, Reese, Keri, Shawn & Savannah.

In this picture we are at none other than Paula Dean's famous "Lady & Sons" restaraunt. If you're at all into cooking you know who this is...

She's as Southern as they come and so is her cooking. Every item on our Thanksgiving plate had a stick of butter in it. It was awsome. She was actually there at the store IN PERSON! I figure I'm pretty cool because as I was peeping through the window of her store to gawk she waved at me.

Here's Regi and Keri doing their own peeping trying to get a wave of their own. ( :

You might think that would be the extent of our 'paparazzi' personality but Keri had a stalker side of her I never knew about... Dying to get a picture with Paula Dean to put in her cookbook (who wouldn't?), here's Keri wedging her way through the crowd to be next to Paula (who didn't quite acknowledge). The reason why I am laughing out loud at this very moment is thinking about how Keri is smiling and posing for the camera as if Paula Dean had her arm around her doing the same. It's really crackin' me up.

We stayed in the fantastic Hilton Garden Inn that was blocks away from the Riverwalk. Savannah, GA is timeless... authentic... freakin' awsome. Old buildings (very old), haunted taverns, mammoth oak trees. The place is so old I could practically see horse and carriages clopping around on the cobblestone streets. From a secret history buff's point of view... this place was 'to die for'.

Of course, not to be enjoyed to it's full extent with an almost 3 year old and an almost one year old. Why do I always forget that adult vacations with little tiny children are an incongruency? A big one. Extremely delicious and expensive food and nap time do not mix. Nice, fancy hotel rooms and up all night as well as 6:30am do not mix. Bedtime at 7pm and going out to dinner do not mix. Stopping to stare at old buildings and two year olds do not mix. One of the best vacations I've had is when Bryan and I took the boys to Orlando, stayed in the Radisson... nap, eat, swim. Happy kids = happy mommy = happy daddy.

I love my friends. I'm so glad we took this adventure. It will never be forgotten and I have pictures to prove it. Such a fun Thanksgiving. I'm going to put Keri's stalker picture in my cookbook so I can laugh everytime I open it.

Sneaky Sadie

I received a package in the mail today from none other than sneaky Sadie. It was full of surprise and adulation. How is it that she remembered that I have this quirky little fixation with miniature things? What a dubious little notetaker. For my birthday she sent me the miniature keychains for the games Scrabble, Clue, Yhatzee, and the little fisherprice toy called the corn popper. I LOVE THEM! Not sure what I'll do with them except buy a miniature armour to put them in for display. They're just so dang cute.

Good Morning Baltimore!

My fabulous friends (who are absolutely fabulous) got me this fantastic present for my birthday!

What do we do all day...

Watch TV... in style, of course!

Play dress up...

Wrestle...

Read books with friends (with no clothes on apparently)...

Put no makeup on, let roots grow out 2 inches, always wear flip flops whether it's sweatshirt weather or not, and constantly be working on some crafty homemade cookbook, scrapbook, or other...

And lastly, play bumper cars for FHE. We probably did this for a good half hour...

You've been elfed!

Regi, Keri, & I!
Us!
Mom, Dad, & Joe!

Bo sings Twinkle Twinkle

PYZAM

I love Pyzam. They have fantastic blogger backgrounds. Since my recipe blog and wishlist blog don't have very many widgets on them, I use them to experiment with Pyzam backgrounds. Has anyone figured out yet how to put a Pyzam background on without losing all your widgets? I'm sure I could figure it out if I was 'html' fluent.

As you can see my new background is the extremely new and fantastic (sarcasm) minima dark. My attempts to create a fabulous, uniquely me background always spiral into an embarassing spectacle of unmatching colors, uneven patterns, and hours of wasted time. (sigh)

Family Portrait

Getting a family portrait at a 'professional studio is always a nightmare for us... yet always seems to be worth it.

Eclypse Movie Trailer

TAGGED!

Amanda, in a desperate attempt to get my head out of Twilight, tagged me. So I'm supposed to list of few things that are... 'Interesting or Not'. I find that a VERY broad subject and quite open to interpretation. Hm, this WILL be interesting... OR NOT!!!

I battle with things like... watching 'The Office'. Sometimes I think it's absolutely hilarious but when it's over I feel like I'm dumber than when it started. I can't decide if the trade-off is worth it.

I lose my personality after 9:30pm. My girlfriends are well aware of this from our many (and continued) attempts at late night girl parties. I'm always really excited about it until it's too late and then I lose all my facial expressions. They go into hibernation as does my enthusiasm. My sudden party pooperness has become expected and continually denied (by myself) and ignored (by my friends). It's just an accepted part of our friendship.

I'm secretly 14 yrs old. I always say 17 to my friends and pretend like it's the honest truth. The Evidence? The fact that I love High School Musical. I get chills listening to "Status Quo". I've finally come to a point in my life where I'm not afraid to admit it.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE to cook. With some stipulations, of course. It has to meet one of three criteria:

1. A recipe I've never tried before.
2. A claimed 'Best Ever' recipe by myself or someone else
3. A quick, easy, satisfyingly delicious meal that makes me feel like I'm doing a fantastic job as mother and wife (a least culinarily). This usually interprets to a crockpot meal that smells up the house.

The funny thing is... I don't even want to eat it. I want to taste it and then give it away. And I'm not a fan of leftovers no matter good it was in the first place. My friends and neighbors think it's a fabulous 'problem' that I have since I often end up trying out a new recipe that serves 8 and inviting them over for dinner.

Which leads me to my kitchen gadget infatuation. I know I've mentioned this before but I'm utterly hopeless. I want a Bosch AND a Kitchen Aid Mixer. I want a pantry big enough so that half of it can be used to store platters and dishes, pans and appliances, silicone baking mats and beautiful (as well as matching) paper plates and napkins. And I don't want just practical, I want beautiful. My new meat tenderizer is not only efficient, but a work of art.

I'm obsessed with Washington D.C. I'm a patriot (by my own definition). I suppress tears almost every time I hear the National Anthem. I'm proud of my country and in awe of those serving it. Eddie is my virtual hero by fact of his red baray (sp?) or whatever color it is. He stands for freedom. And I feel confident he would protect me from the Tutsi (see 'Hotel Rwanda').

ENOUGH! I've heard enough 'interesting... OR NOT' for one day. I'm tagging... Mark (who never seems to answer tags), Amy (who doesn't seem to be bloggin lately), Mom (who's also been a non-blogger), and Keri (to get her out of Twilight -- HAHA!)

Other people I want to tag but I don't know if I'm allowed that many... Jackie (get a blog FCOL), Riki (whose constant fear of snow tells me we're going to be great friends), and Colin (who I doubt reads this but we'll see). ( :

Twilight Party

Shaun (Keri's husband) thought we were having a seance (sp?). I said, "Do you think we could summon Edward?" I don't think seances work for fantasy worlds, though.


Attendees (L-R): Amber Westfall (reading the latest from Stephenie Meyers fansite), Regi Daniels, Meredith Rodgers, Keri Willis, Beth, and Jerami Pack. Catherine Castillo was also there but she is in the next picture.

I didn't think our party would be complete without Edward and Bella and all the other characters so here they are on our magnet board. Edward is being played by Henri Caville (at least that's in my version).

We covered all important items of business first...

• What was your favorite part of the book... please tell us again... and again... and again!
• Edward VS Jacob debate. Debate? There's no debate!
• Who's coming with us on our trip to Forks, WA?
• Who in real life do you suspect is a civilized vampire?
• How obsessed are you really? I mean, really? No seriously, really, how obsessed?
• And last but not least... Will we ever be the same again?

What a fantastic party. Everyone went home with their own copy 'Twilight Playlist favs' CD, vampire fangs, Dentyne Ice gum, Dentyne Fire gum, a tea light, and dove dark chocolate. The only thing we were missing was Stephenie Meyer herself and our own personal copies of her un-edited manuscripts of 'Forever Dawn', 'Breaking Dawn', and most of all 'Midnight Sun' (sigh).

FINISHED

Relieved! Yet also a little anguished. What am I supposed to read now? My cooking magazines like I used to? Blah! At least now I don't constantly have butterflies in my stomach. I haven't let go, though. Why, when now I can just go back and relive he best moments... with corresponding music? It's almost MORE exciting now recapping when he saved her life, took her to the meadow, confessed! Sorry, spoilers not intended. The great thing about this is... my friends followed me here... to Vampire land. Or rather, I followed them. Either way, we're all lost in our world of imaginary friends together. So I told them it was utterly useless... we had to have a party. This Thursday, day after Halloween. Perfect! I can't wait to spoil all my friends with a 'Twilight' night. I feel like Alice ( ; We're going to be extreme. Doing everything that an obsessed fan would... recapping, analyzing, confessing. We'll also vote on our favorite actors who'd play the characters, explore all facets of the story... the real town of Forks (repressing our desire to plan a actual trip). It will be tantalizing. Perhaps then we'll get it out of our system and go back to our cooking magazines. (doubt it). I admit, I'll be first in line for 'Breaking Dawn' and 'Midnight Sun'.

Woops

I had 'Creep' by Radiohead in the Twilight playlist and noticed that it had a very bad word in it. Sorry if anyone played it and had to endure the cringe. I couldn't find the radio edited version of it to put in. Too bad... it's perfect for the book.

ECLYPSE

Ok, I am WAYYYYYYYY gone. I apologize to anyone who hasn't read the books or who actually tried and couldn't get into them (all 2 of you out there) because I just don't think you'll be able to fathom what's going on right now. For those who have read the books, I think you know exactly what's going on. I just finished reading 'New Moon' this morning at, oh, I don't know... 3am? I simply could not rest until 'certain things' were resolved and 'certain someones' returned. It was a bit unnerving (actually WAY unnerving). I have never been more affected by a book before in my life. I've been to Stephanie Meyers website, ate up her outtakes, spewed over her pics of Edward, Bella, Carlisle..., I even downloaded the playlist she suggests for each book (which happens to be my new autostart playlist when you go to my blog... for now). Knowing the story... the songs are heartwrenching - HEARTWRENCHING. It's exhilirating to live in this alter world that I feel like I own for a minute. I wish you could fathom how excited I am to 'get involved' with 'Eclypse' (the third book). I can't wait to get lost in that little world yet I have this strange apprehension to finish... and be left waiting, yearning for the next book (JK, I'm being melodramatic). I may be obsessed, but I do that on purpose... it's so much more fun that way.

Twilight

I started reading "Twilight" tonight. It's 10pm now... I predict tired excitement tomorrow.

"Of course he wasn't interested in me, I thought angrily, my eyes stinging - a delayed reaction to the onions. I wasn't interesting. And he was. Interesting... and brilliant... and mysterious... and perfect... and beautiful... and possibly able to list full-sized vans with one hand." (pg. 79)

I'm sorry, but I'm rapidly becoming infatuated with this story. I must get back to Edward Cullen...

Addicted

It's official. I'm addicted to cooking. I love it. I'm infatuated with it. Buying a new kitchen utensil is thrilling. I bought a meat tenderizer the other day and used it for the first time tonight. It was exciting. I tried to pound a 2 lb flank steak into 1/2-inch thick. That was hard. Can you buy it already pounded? The reason why I had to pound my heart out is because I discovered a fantastic recipe in the Racheal Ray magazine. I can't pronounce it, but it was delicious.
Mulfetta-Style Braciola.

It was seriously absolutely fantastic. A little pricey and a bit involved, but completely worth it. Try it. You'll love it.

Recipe for Natalie

My cuz, Natalie, decided that instead of doing the email recipe exchanges (because she deletes them... as do I) that she would just post a recipe exchange on her blog.

So here's my recipe...

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE from Paula Dean's Holiday Baking magazine (that I couldn't resist buying in the checkout line). Here's the professional picture from the magazine...

And here's my version...

Not too bad, huh? It was DELICIOUS! It would look even better if I knew how to take a good picture.

I end up with Mr. Darcy

Take the Quiz here!

You are Elizabeth Bennet of Pride & Prejudice! You are intelligent, witty, and tremendously attractive. You have a good head on your shoulders, and oftentimes find yourself the lone beacon of reason in a sea of silliness. You take great pleasure in many things. You are proficient in nearly all of them, though you will never own it. Lest you seem too perfect, you have a tendency toward prejudgement that serves you very ill indeed.

Our 3 Grandmas

My wonderful mother-in-law, Jill, wanted to come out and visit us and so when I found out that Regi was going to Utah for 2 weeks while Bryan was going to be gone on his Chipley rotation I told her, "that would be a good time to come". That time was the last 8 days. It's been about 8 hours since they drove off to fly back home and we've been utterly bored and sad since. I worked out my saddness by taking Bowen to get a 'dia' (quesadilla) at Taco Bell and then I ate half of it. Bowen was still hungry so I fixed him some wonderfully healthy Ramen noodles (I'm trying at all costs not to fix a real dinner for some reason). Bowen worked out his boredom and sadness by throwing all his noodles on the floor, making sure to cover everything within a 10 foot radius. We've been spoiled with 3 grandmas for the last 8 days, how do you expect us to act?

The three grandmas that I'm referring to are Grandma Jill (Bryan's mom), Grandma Rula (Jill's mom), and Grandma Aunt Bula (Rula's twin sister). I'm not sure I've ever had so much fun cooking for anyone in my life... In case you're wondering (as I would be because I'm a recipe nut) this is what I had on the menu for our special guests...

Baked French Toast Casserole by Paula Dean

Breakfast Casserole by Emeril

Chicken Salad Crossaints (sp?)

Chicken Ceasar Salad Pitas (ceasar salad kit, crush croutons, add chicken, pamesan cheese, and extra dressing, stuff into a pita - deelish)

White Chicken Chile (Grandma Lyman cookbook)

Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Salad

Dan T's Raspberry Chipotle Chicken with Island Rice

Tres Leches Cake

Monkey Bread

Half the time I made them eat on my pretty dishes, even for breakfast. I just can't resist wanting to pretend like my house is a real bed and breakfast. It's too much fun to spoil.

When I picked them up at the airport instead of coming back here to Gville, we went to Siesta Key for 2 days. Powdery white sand, perfect weather, temptuous shopping. (I'm not even sure if I can use that word (temptuous) but I thought I'd try). The only thing we struggled with was that Bryson wanted to nap even before we got done with breakfast. And then of course Bowen was the same way except his was after lunch. Naps are so wonderful and convenient at home but just happen to be so inconvenient on vacation.

We drove home from Siesta Key on Thursday and anxiously awaited Bryan's return on Friday. We couldn't resist taking our special guests to see the Alligators at Paynes Prairie. We didn't get too far before they decided they'd seen enough. (we were able to spot about 25 of them)

Then Bryan took Rula and Bula out and gave them a tour of the town and the U of Fl campus.

At night we usually hung out outside and visited, watched 'Dancing with the Stars', or played 'Phase 10'.

Yesterday Rula, Bula, and Keri and I went to see a movie... 'The Game Plan' starring The Rock. Um, it was cute but I'm not sure I'd spend the money to even rent it.

Bryan thought it was pretty dang funny that that's the movie we picked to see. It was either that or 'Why Did I Get Married'.

All in all, I'm pretty dang SAD that they're gone. I guess now it's time to check out of the 'Bed and Breakfast' and get back to real life. Back to 'Dias' and fruit snacks and enjoying my beautiful children by myself. Thankfully Bryan is coming home tomorrow. Hallelujah!!! I love him.

Cafe Rio Fiesta

Today I tried out the Cafe Rio Pork Salad recipe that I found online. It was FANTASTIC. You all must have your own little Cafe Rio party of your own. There is almost nothing more satisfying than succesfully replicating a restaraunt favorite.

We also had 'Tres Leches' cake to make our fiesta complete.

On a side note, I think that Cafe Rio has one of the coolest websites around.

Surprises to Myself

I love to order books and magazine partly because I love to read them and partly because I love getting them as little surprises to myself in the mail.

Just subscribed to...Received my first magazine today... It's fun. It has a lot of neat ideas.

Want to subscribe to...Bought the Oct/Sept issue last night and am loving it.


Just received from Jill as an early B-day present...

Great ideas about hiding vegetable purees in mac n cheese and other toddler friendly meals.

Just received in the mail...
Can't wait to read it.

Just ordered on Amazon.com...Absolutely CANNOT wait to get it.

I'm a living specimen...

Our own Private Lake

After the big rain yesterday we let the boys (Bo and his friend, Reese) go outside and play. They had the time of their lives as you can see by these videos.

Pop Goes My Heart

This song is dedicated to Bryan who is in Chipley right now for his Primary Care Rotation. Bryan, you are gold and silveherher.

A Numa Numa Revisit

Remember this? Good times!

Bowen Gets the Giggles

New Pics

I've updated our Pictures. Check 'em out.