favorites

My favorites for this week are:

1. Taylor Lautner - The boy is just amazing!!



2. Talking - Yes, it's true. I like to talk... who knew? I never realized how much (even thought that was the ONE thing I always got told I did too much). We had a baby shower for Aley this weekend and it was so fun to just talk to the other women there and share stories. Also going to the movies with a group of gals was so great!! Got to spend all day Saturday with my closest girls and we had such a great time just talking and having fun.

3. New Moon - No, the answer is no. I probably would not love the movies as much if Taylor Lautner was not in them. I don't know what it is about that boy... Maybe the fact that he's just amazing... have I mentioned that I think he's amazing?? Ha!!

4. A packed movie theater - I never thought I would like such, but it was great! I loved watching New Moon with about 50 other people. It was so awesome to hear everyone gasp and cheer at the same times. Of course I remained reserved and quiet. Of course...

So, there you have it. My 4 favorites of the week. Hope you read up on your favorites soon!!

happy birthday michelle!!

Today is Michelle's birthday!! She's a great friend, loving mother and wife, and a blessing in our church... and a Twilight fanatic!! :) We are all going to go see New Moon tomorrow and cannot wait.
I hope you have a wonderful birthday, Michelle!!

Writers Workshop: Why, Hamlet?!?! Why??

Describe the most destructive thing your pet has done.


Well if you read my blog you know that I briefly had a dog named Hamlet. He was found by a co-worker and we volunteered to take him. At first, he was the most wonderful dog ever!!

Then... He would chew something here or tear up something there... Pretty much things that I thought were overlook-able.

Well one Sunday after church, I went home to take him out to potty and he went to the bathroom and seemed to want to leave with me but I did not take him.
About 2 hours later, Candace went to the house for a minute and came back and told me that Hamlet had destroyed the living room.

When I went home I could not believe my eyes!! My mini blinds were on the floor. Mind you I have one large picture window in the living room encased by two regular sized windows. This means that there are four sets of mini blinds. They were torn up, chewed up.. just totally annihilated. Along with the mini blinds, the lace curtains were ruined. Huge holes in them!! The curtain rod was in the floor, half way knocked off of the holder. I'm guessing he jumped onto the couch then onto the end table and took a flying leap into the window and it just escalated from there.

Needless to say Hamlet is no longer with our family. He now has a new one.

love

Do you ever have those days where you want to just gather your whole family in a house and just spend the day enjoying each other? I am having one of those days. My heart is full of love today and I wish it were Thanksgiving or Christmas or just a get together day. I would love to make up some homemade goodies and some apple cider or cranberry wasil and just tell stories and laugh. Of course the holidays always make me miss my lost loved ones even more, but I am so thankful for the great memories we have. What a blessing to have a family or two... God blesses us with things that we do not even realize are a blessing. Our families are a huge blessing from God and I am very thankful for mine. To all of my family, I love you!!!

favorites

So, I'm going to start something once a week. If you blog and want to do this with me, it will be fun!! I'm going to make Monday my "new favorites" day. I will make a list of my "new favorites" every week and I hope you enjoy!!!

This week my new favorites are...

1. Owl City - Have you listened to "fireflies" or "hello seattle"? If not, please do!!! I have really just fallen in love with this music.

2. My two favorite things said this week are - Bryson (4 yrs old) was watching The Wizard of Oz last night and said " I didn't know that scarecrows were made of hay. Not like hey, hello (while waving) but like another hay!! That was just precious!!!
Millicent (my wonderful friend, Michelle's 3 yr old daughter) was asked by Michelle what she wanted the name to be for her new baby brother/sister and her response was "Apple Dumpling". I LOVED this!!! She was interviewing her daughter for her blog and I read this answer and just could not wait to share it. I sure hope she does not mind. I certainly cannot wait for little "Apple Dumpling" to arrive!!

If you read this blog, please leave me a comment and go list your 2 new favorites for the week on your blog so that I can come read them!!

cracker toffee

Yesterday was Veterans Day and due to my line of work, I had the day off. I took advantage of the day and made banana walnut bread, pumpkin muffins and cracker toffee. I love cracker toffee and it is so very easy! Believe it or not it tastes exactly like toffee and it just takes a four simple ingredients.

1. Saltine crackers
2. 2 sticks of butter
3. 1 Cup of brown sugar
4. 1 Pkg. chocolate chips (milk chocolate is usually preferred)

Preheat oven on 375. Line a greased cookie sheet (with sides) with a single layer of saltine crackers. In a saucepan, melt the 2 sticks of butter and the brown sugar until it comes to a boil. Once it begins to boil, let it go for about 3 minutes on med-hi heat without stirring. Then, carefully pour the mixture over the crackers in the pan. Smooth out as evenly as possible. Pop it in the oven for about 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the bag of chocolate chips over the hot toffee. Spread the chocolate with a butter knife until it covers the toffee. The chocolate chips will melt almost immediately over the hot toffee. I'm not all that crazy about chocolate so I tend to like less, maybe even just drizzle a little melted chocolate over the toffee. Put in refrigerator to set up and cool. Break apart and enjoy!!! You can also sprinkle crushed nuts on top of the melted chocolate if desired.

coffee filters...

I got this email from my Aunt Pat this morning and thought I would share. I hate forwarding emails but I thought this one was worth reading.

25 uses for coffee filters:

Coffee filters .... Who knew! And you can buy 1,000 at the Dollar Tree for almost nothing even the large ones.

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.

2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome... Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.

3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.

4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.

5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.

7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.

8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.

9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.

10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.

11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.

12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters..

13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. It soaks out all the grease.

14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."

15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliquéing soft fabrics.

16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.

17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.

18. Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.

19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.

20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies.. Saves on having extra bowls to wash.

21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.

22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.

23. Use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie until they sprout.

24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book..

25. Use as a disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, etc.

.... and they are good for coffee too!!

happy birthday, pops!!

Yesterday, Nov 9th was my wonderful grandpa's birthday. I was sick and in bed and did not even think to call him. I feel terrible so I'm posting a blog in honor of his birthday, and just because I love him so darned much!!




He fries turkey for Thanksgiving!! What more could you ask for???



He plays football, or soccer, or just about anything that any of his grandkids want him to do. He's the best Bob I know!!



He's just an all around wonderful, sweet, loving, caring, exceptional grandfather and I am so VERY blessed to have him in my life.

I love you grandpa and I hope you had a wonderful birthday!!!

Love, your Karebear!

goodbye Hamlet!

Unfortunately my newest buddy Hamlet is leaving. He is a great dog except for one little thing... HE TEARS UP EVERYTHING!!! We came home Sunday afternoon to find that all of the blinds and lace curtains from the living room windows were on the floor, huge holes ripped in them. He had chewed through an entire box of Kleenex (brand new). This is just not acceptable. I hate to see him go but it will be impossible to replace anything and everything he decides to tear up. I thought about getting a doggie crate for the times when everyone is gone and he is alone but I think he's too old to start that now. I don't think it would be fair to him. He needs a place where he can be outside and run and just be free. We loved our Hamlet and will miss him, but yes... it's time for him to go!

Randomness

My sweet friend, Amy posted this on her blog and I loved reading it and learning more about her. I thought I would post it on my blog as well and any of you who read my blog, please enjoy and if you have a blog... please repost!!!

1. Do you like blue cheese? I love it!

2. Have you ever smoked? Sadly, yes

3. Do you own a gun? No, but really want to take the concealed carry class!

4. What flavor Kool Aid was your favorite? Grape!

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? It really depends on the reason I'm going...

6. What do you think of hot dogs? I used to despise them but now I enjoy them from time to time.

7. Favorite Christmas movie? Elf, but I'm going to start watching "the classics" this year that I've never seen so this answer may change.

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee

9. Can you do push-ups? the girlie ones...

11. Favorite hobby? Cooking, baking, crafty stuff... tons of crafty stuff!!

12. Do you have A.D.D.? I am not sure if it is actually A.D.D. but I have a few issues focusing at times.

13. What's one trait you hate about yourself ? I'm too set in my ways.

14. Middle name? Diane

15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? I want to feel better :( - I am ready for the weekend - I'm so thankful for my life and the blessings I have been given.

16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? coffee, tea, water

17. Current worry? Not worried at the moment.

18. Currently hate right now? this cold or allergies or whatever it is.

19. Favorite place to be? depends on my mood

20. How did you bring in the New Year? I was asleep before midnight.

21. Where would you like to go? everywhere!

22. Name three people who will complete this? I don't know that anyone will.

23.Do you own slippers? ...mmmm.... maybe

24. What shirt are you wearing right now? a t-shirt

25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Not really...

26. Can you whistle? I'm very good at whistling!

27. Favorite color? Green

28. Red or white wine? Both, but I prefer white if I drink it.

29. What songs do you sing in the shower? I don't usually sing in the shower.

30. Favorite Girl's name? I'm not sure. I have several that I like very much.

31. Favorite Boy's name? Emmett (my great grandfathers name)

32. What's in your pocket right now? Nothing.

33. Last thing that made you laugh? I think it was a picture that I saw.

34. Worst injury you ever had? a broken arm

35. Do you love where you live? I'm not unhappy but there could be better places.

36. How many TVs do you have in your house? 3

37. Who is your loudest friend? I better not answer that

38. Do you have any pets? I have a new dog! Hamlet!!

39. Does someone have a crush on you? I'm not sure...

40. Your favorite type of music? Christian mostly

41. Favorite Sports Team? OU ~Boomer Sooner!!!



Thanks for taking your time to read these pointless facts about me. :) Hope to read them on your blogs soon. Thanks for the idea, Amy!!

cranberry wasil

Sunday evening after service we had a pastor appreciation fellowship. We had delicious cake, candied pecans, cookies and this wonderful cranberry wasil. I had to get the recipe and wanted to share with you!!
Here is what it takes...

2 quarts of cranberry juice (not cranberry juice cocktail)...



2 cups of orange juice...



1 cup of sugar...




2 cinnamon sticks...



Simmer the above ingredients for one hour over medium heat. Remove cinnamon sticks before serving.

This very pretty, tasty and warm treat is the result and it will warm you right up on a cold, fall evening. Hope you enjoy!!!

so blessed

These are pictures of me and my brave mother. She was declared cancer free on October 1st and this is a picture of us from the last time she was in town. I am so proud of how well she has done through her battle. Her hair is growing back and she looks amazing, don't you think!!! It was such a blessing to see her looking so healthy. We really have been truly blessed this year. Not only my mom but my grandmother has beaten cancer as well!!! Yes, I come from a long line of stubborn women and I am very grateful for that. They have fought and conquered this terrible disease and I can only thank God for bringing them through it so gracefully. These two women mean more to me than they will ever know. I love you mom and grandma!!!

beagle business...

King Hamlet Maximus I (the first) is the newest addition to the family. He is a precious beagle and I have no pictures of him yet so this cartoon is going to have to work until I can take some. He is a wonderful dog!! He's housebroken and has not barked once!! I have heard of how loud beagles are as a breed but so far, so good!!! Hamlet is very loved already... What a wonderful new friend and family memeber.