I Think She Liked IT!!!

I’m not 100% sure, but I think Hopie likes chocolate pudding!   :-)

On a very sad note, I found out that very good friend of mine from high school lost her battle with breast cancer.   I am just in shock and so sad over this news.   We had lost touch in the last couple of years but I’ve thought of her often and am very saddened by the news.

On a much lighter note – if you’re looking for a gift for someone this holiday season (and you’ll have to think of something else for me because I already have this :-) ) I highly, highly, highly recommend this cookbook:

I pre-ordered it from Amazon (click link to go directly to it!) and it graced my mailbox the other day.  I sat down and read it from cover to cover!!!   I absolutely LOVE  The Pioneer Woman anyway and have made many of her recipes.  I love (and appreciate) the step by step instructions and pictures that she provides with each recipe.   I actually make my Thanksgiving turkey using her method/recipe  - tried it a couple of years ago and will never ever make a turkey any other way.   I’ve already made two other recipes from this cookbook and they are wonderful.  Be warned – she is not a low-fat cook – that’s what makes it all so good!!    Perfect item in time for the holidays!

I love the Amish!!

Every year a group of us girls takes a “Girl’s Weekend” this same time of year.    We usually spend the whole weekend shopping and basically doing whatever we want to do.  :-)  I really think it is important to have some time with just the girls to talk, laugh, shop, laugh, vent, laugh, eat, laugh, eat and really have fun.

Last weekend was girl’s weekend.   We had such a great time.  We shopped til we dropped – and sadly for me the drop happened earlier than I expected.   Not sure why but I lost my shopping groove early….could have been the weather – it rained ALL the livelong day.   But we’re troopers and we forged ahead!!!   I didn’t do too much damage (cough**lie**cough).  

I did discover a new love – one that is like that boyfriend you had as a teenager with a motorcycle or a fast car – sooooo not good for you – and yet so good!!   We hit an Amish grocery store called Walnut Creek Cheese and let me tell you I thought I had died and gone to heaven.  This place was amazing!!!     They had it all – bulk food, mixes, cheese homemade candy.   But the bakery was my favorite place of all – and where I found my fast car boyfriend – the fry pie.

Doesn’t that look amazing??!!  It was heavenly with the flaky crust and the fruity deliciousness on the inside and that sweet glaze on the outside!!   Oh my.   The best part was that each of them were in individual baggies and there was steam on the inside of the baggie because they had taken them right out of the oven.   Good thing I only bought 8.   I could seriously overdose on the fry pie.  

All in all (even despite the rain) we had a great weekend and I just love those gals.  I feel rejuvenated and already looking forward to next year so I can buy 3 dozen fry pies spend some quality time with my girls.

Open letter & I’ll give bullets a shot. :-)

Dear nice, nice people at the Groomer:

I love you all dearly but……. please don’t ever do this to my girl again.  She hid under the dining room table for about 2 hours.  I’m certain my laughter didn’t help but you started it.   Can’t you see the embarrassment in her face??!!   Thank you for your attention to this very serious matter.

Now onto the bullets:

• Go BUCKS!!!!  
• Go BENGALS!!!!
• It was a great weekend for football although the Bengals are going to have to start providing nerve pills to their fans if this keeps up.  
• Loved seeing all the pink items in the NFL!!!  You can see more details here:  NFL Pink

• Hubby’s Aunt and Grandma are visiting from California – love having them visit!!!   His Aunt and I get along famously and we have the best time together.  They are good people.
• Sad day is coming – the boat will be put in storage for the winter next weekend.  This summer has been so odd weather wise that we don’t really feel like we’ve gotten enough boating time in and now it’s time to put her away for the winter.   Boo.   
• 900+ days that we’ve been logged in.  Enough said.
• I don’t dislike Fall, I dislike losing summer.   But it has to happen so I’m going to go with it.   I do like the smells of Fall – especially Yankee Candle Fall scents.  Be Thankful and Pumpkin Spice are my faves!!!    I also love to bake this time of year.   I’m still searching for the perfect Pumpkin Bread recipe.  
• We are taking the younger kids to an apple orchard on Saturday.  I’m excited!!  I’ll be doing more baking – and more eating which is not in line with my weight loss plan.   But it’s for the kids.  :-)

Go Ahead and Make Yourself Comfortable

We spent the weekend at the lake which was absolutely lovely.   A bit chilly for my taste but I guess I can’t fight Mother Nature on the coming of Fall.  She is certainly a force to be reckoned with.   We got to watch the OSU game and although they lost,  Buckeye fans are some of the most fun folks around!! 

Saturday morning I got out of bed and went to start the coffee.  When I came back this is what I found:

I couldn’t believe it!!!  The funniest part was that he had pawed at the fitted sheet and pulled it off the mattress without disturbing the pillow!!!!  I guess it was cooler for him to lay directly on the mattress!   The other funny part was that when I walked back in to the room both Riley and hubby were snoring away!   Riley was very careful not to wake hubby because he knows he is not allowed on the bed!!!  Goofy dog.

And I am so proud of this chick, my niece Lindsay (pictured here with her mama, my sister) :

She is a sophomore at University of North Texas and she was accepted into the Honor’s College!   She’s such a smartie pants.   She moved into the sorority house this year and my sister has been helping out there – I guess she was preparing meals in this picture considering she is wearing an apron.  I don’t think she wears it just around town.  :-)    Lindsay is going to medical school so she will be leaving UNT after this year.   Beauty AND brains – she get all of it from her aunt!  :-)  I am so proud of her.  

Love Without Boundaries

You can go here and get this book for $5.00 (just shipping!!).    A friend of mine loaned me this book early in our adoption process and it was AMAZING!!!    And LWB is a great organization doing wonderful things!!   

Love Without Boundaries

Holding on Tight

Karly spent the weekend with Hubby and I a couple of weeks ago.   It was painfully hot outside so we were looking for something “cool” to do (cool as in not hot and cool as in fun for her – we are are a full service Aunt/Uncle).  

We ended up taking her to the mall and going to Build A Bear.  That was my very first time in BAB.  Wow was it fun.   It was surprisingly not crowded so she had a blast making her bear and giving it a bath (who knew??) and looking at each and every piece of clothing that they had in the store, which was a lot!  I couldn’t believe how many outfits they had for those bears!   Anyway she had a great time and picked out a really cute bear and a cute outfit.   She named her Lilly and she held her tight the rest of the day!

We then took her to a picnic we were invited to.  We didn’t stay long because it was really hot.   But what we didn’t know was that they were going to have a pool!!!   She was so excited but we hadn’t brought her bathing suit so what else is a good Aunt to do?   I stripped her down and she went in her undies and an extra t-shirt.   She had the best time but it obviously wore her out because this is what she looked like before we got out of the parking lot!!!!   Notice she is still holding on tight to the carrot sticks that she snagged as we were leaving.    According to her it was”the best day”!!!  Makes me happy.

 *forgive the quality of the photos – both were taken with my iPhone.

True Friend or Secret Motive???

Karly spent the night with us the other night which is always fun!   It was a beautiful day and Hubby was working on putting together a gazebo for the deck.  Karly was “helping” him which I’m sure he appreciated!    I just love when she comes over.   Guess who else loves when she comes over?????   Especially when she is eating a bowl of ice cream……

My view for the next few days

Will be this:

A little rest, relaxation, good food and family fun.   Good times.   Have a great holiday weekend!

Well now…….

that was one serious break!   Yes, I took a very long and very much needed break from things.    I say needed but what I really mean is neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeded.   I got to the point where I was not in a good place emotionally for many reasons and I decided I needed to step back and regroup and really just find my mojo again.   Well guess what……….I found it!   I’m feeling much better about most things – some not so much – but most.  I’m in a better place and my mind is clear of some unnecessary thoughts.  

Back in June my mom and I took Karly to see Dora Live!!!!  To say she was excited would be a severe understatement.   She was thrilled!   Here she is looking adorable in her Dora dress waiting so patiently for Dora to appear.

Then in July hubby and I took a much needed trip South.  We went to the Keys for a few days. It was beautiful.  We had the best time.   We stayed at a gorgeous resort - Hawks Cay.  It was very relaxing. 

We drove down to Key West and spent a day just roaming around – love, love, love the whole vibe of the Keys – laid back and not a care in the world.   It was exactly what I needed – that’s where I found my mojo – it was hiding in the Keys.   Who would have thought?!

And why don’t they make these in women’s sizes???!!!!   :-)

Football season is upon us – GO BUCKS!!!!

Dreaming of....