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Thursday, June 30, 2011

Bloggville- I heart naptime

This is one of those GREAT mommy blogs.  Lots of things to do (while your kids are napping hehe)
Recently she was posting about organizing your craft room: (be still my heart) 
There are so many pages and catagories of great stuff:
under DIY Projects (there were WAY many to choose from)  I chose this mirror--it has an acid wash on the back that makes whatever you put on the back show through,  way cool
and under the crafts header- again tons and tons of crafts, for you, for kids for the holidays--- (and I do love me some candy corn)
Easy recipes... I've made several of her treats:
easy Taco Soup
She also has linky parties so you can get ideas from other people too. 
way too much for just one sitting.  Be sure you have extra time .. because there will be NO napping when checking out this blog.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Wednesday Wisdom

"Television––a medium. So called because it is neither rare nor well done"     (Kovacs)

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

I dream of red, white and black

Here are some prototypes of the place cards for THE wedding (each table will have a different color paper):
and this is a really cute box that will house a yummy chocolate... 
 picture a red bow?
or a great sticker on top-
maybe R&K in red (Russell and Kieri)  you know... the bride and groom--

Monday, June 27, 2011

This one's for you

I love my blog friends, You Are All Awesome.
(I do not use the word awesome lightly,  it is a very serious word in my vocabulary).
I enjoy the journey through your lifes. 
I enjoy your friendship and comments, even if it IS to tell me my bedroom is too dark and boring!!
I can't thank you enough for helping me answer some of life's most pressing questions.
How old is too old to NOT wear nylons to church or work: here
Housekeeping questions.. like how many towels are enough, can I have too many: here
Help using an ipod: here
Or my recent diagnosis of optical migraines: here

When I first saw the road of awesomeness, I though about when I used to teach the young women at church.  I miss that so much.  I sit (hide) behind the piano for the little kids each Sunday and it is just not the same.  I miss the energy of the youth, the highs and lows and the caring.  Mostly the caring.  I miss caring about them and their day to day adventures of jr high and high school.  It is a very turbulent time of life.  All our youth need adult role models.  Parents are of course a big part of their world but when you can have another adult that cares about YOU... I can only hope that each and every young woman of today can feel the love, advice and caring from another adult-whether at church, school or family member.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Food Fun Friday- Gooey White Chocolate Fluffernutter Cake Bars

This is it, my new go-to recipe.  I had everything on hand...
box of yellow cake mix (of course.. Lauren's favorite)  little bit of peanut butter, little bit of left over marshmallow fluff, small can of sweetened condensed milk..
This is really good !  but certainly not good for the healthy eating lifestyle, good thing I made it to give it away.


Gooey White Chocolate Fluffernutter Cake Bars

1 box Yellow Cake Mix
1 large egg
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup marshmallow creme
1 small can sweetened condensed milk
12 ounce bag white chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and line a 9×13 inch baking dish with foil and spray with cooking spray.
2. Place cake mix, egg, and butter into a large bowl. Mix until well combined, will be the consistency of thick dough. Press dough into prepared baking pan.

3. Place peanut butter, marshmallow creme and condensed milk into a large bowl and mix until well combined. Pour over crust then top with white chips.
4.Bake for 23-25 minutes, until cooked through.(I even added 10 minutes onto that time!) Center will seem somewhat jiggly, but will set up while it cools. And let me tell you that it is really hard to let it cool and not eat it right then... but --really let it cool, it is easier to cut when it has set up.
5. Let cool completely, cut into squares and serve.
Makes 12 bars

Found here:   http://picky-palate.com/

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Bloggville- Wedding Blogs

yes, I have A CERTAIN Wedding on my mind.
In only 2 months 2 weeks we will be having a wedding in the family.
Weddings are beautiful...
and I find that I am spending all my time thinking, and looking at beautiful wedding ideas and pictures....

I need to get off my butt and MAKE all the things that need to be made.
but.. how can I tear my self away...
I found a list of beautiful wedding blogs.. and I have been stuck in my seat staring and drooling over the beautiful pictures!!

So, here's the list    go look for yourself...
http://www.valleyandcoblog.com



http://www.bwedexclusive.com


http://madeofhonorweddings.blogspot.com


http://www.engagedandinspired.com


http://www.marryyoume.com


http://www.landlockedbrides.com


http://pizzazzerie.com


http://lapetitecoquin.blogspot.com


http://lovelylittledetails.com


http://www.fabulouslywed.com/


http://flowerandhoney.blogspot.com

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Wednesday Wisdom

Don't wait for a crisis to discover what is important in your life.
Author unknown

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

furniture question

So here is the question possed to you-all..............
How do you decide on a 'good' piece of furniture? 
The company that makes it? 
The cost of it? 
The color? 
The financing available?
The special SALE price you get on it?
oh and of course the answer REALLY isn't for me, its for my daughter's who will be buying furniture in the NEAR future!! 
really, because I won't need ANY NEW furniture. (wink)
only when I move to a new house,
which doesn't look like THAT will be happening any time soon!!!  Thank you housing market.  Thank you plethora of foreclosed properties.  Thank you banks that pick NOW to scrutinize everyone.  It is what it is.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Randomness

When we got married a little over 5 1/2 yrs ago, we got a BEAUTIFUL pan at Bad Breath and Beyond.  It was ExPeNsIvE, as in hundreds of dollars.
as I was washing up the other night i saw this:
ewwwwwww  is that what the bottom of my expensive pan really looks like... have I been eating the crap that has flaked off the bottom of my pan??????   I am grossed out and ashamed and irritated.  When you pay a lot of money for something it should last! 
so I went to walmart and bought a 25.00 pan and plan to throw it away at the first sign of flakage.

 In other news, I got a new car! 
not bragging, just sayin'
I am so excited.  It even has a tiny back up camera so I won't run over the little old men that walk early in the morning in my neighborhood (that means you Bill!)

Saturday, June 18, 2011

job jokes


"Getting an excellent performance review but then no raise is like being told you get dessert, then learning the dessert is celery."






My go-getter coworker asked me, "Andrea, why put off till tomorrow what you can do today?”
I replied, "On the chance that I get fired this afternoon and don’t have to do it at all.”

-the guy's I work with shop here:

Friday, June 17, 2011

Food Fun Friday- Pecan Pie Muffins

Let me start by saying that yesterday was a sad day in whoo-ville...   MY CROCK POT DIED....
I love my crock pot!
I was making this yummy Mediterranean chicken.
I put in the 4 chicken breasts in the morning and was going to arrive home in the evening, chop up some olives and steam some broccoli.  yum yum
I arrived to a COLD crock pot and slimy chicken breast that Mr. Produce said I COULD NOT cook, as they had been sitting out all day and meat, especially chicken, CAN NOT be kept at a temperature above 41 degrees (41 are you serious??)
So not only did we not have dinner AND his lunch for Friday, but I had to throw away the chicken and the crock pot.
sad
sad
sad
here is a recipe from my files:  yummy but not healthy... because I am not in the mood for healthy eats!

Simple.  Even better sitting overnight.  Not too sweet, a little bit squishy in the center with a nice little crust around the edge..

Pecan Pie Muffins (Makes 9)
Ingredients:
2/3 C softened butter
2 eggs
1 C brown sugar
1 C crushed pecans
1/2 C flour, (set aside)
3 T of butter


Instructions:
1. Blend butter and eggs.
2. Add in the rest of ingredients (except the 3 T. of butter), just until combined.
3. Pour into 9, greased muffins.
4. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees.
5. Add a pad of butter to the top of each muffin and let 'em melt.
http://christyrobbins.blogspot.com/2010/11/pecan-pie-muffins.html

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Bloggville - Decorpad


What a great design site:
"Decorpad is a source for decorating  and home building."

many many pages of Style:
Paint:
wow great ideas... love this color:

Bookmarks:
mostly about shopping ideas
Photos- you can look up spacific rooms about:
bathroom-bedroom-decks-garage-dinning... you get the idea. 
I'll just show  a couple of pictures I am drooling over:
mmm what an office:
and just look at this chair, HEY it's D for Davis
This one makes me laugh, can you just SEE Mr. Produce in a pink living room? uh, no
Look 4 less
This is a great area that talks about this(the high price item) vs. this (the 'cheaper' item)
example
this lamp for $895
or this one for 295 (that is STILL a big laugh for me, sure, how about 29.50, I'd pay that!!!!)
Forums shop

you have to be a member to view all the chats and people asking questions and sharing ideas.

enough said.

all in all I love looking at the photos,
and just so you know, I am not going to shop here

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Wednesday Wisdom

Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.

John Wooden 

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Happy Fathers day to my Dad

My mother had me go through some boxes in her garage ... you know looking for SOMETHING ELSE we packed away that she needed.  I found a box of what I thought were old church manuals and leaflets and Sunday school books... but there were several manila envelops of pictures. GREAT black and white pictures of her and my dad. 
I think have mentioned that my mother HATES to have her picture taken.  There aren't many pictures around... well I found them all. And quite a few of my dad.
So today we will show and talk about my dad.
He was my best friend.  He was my teacher.  
Here is a young salesman in San Francisco. 
(I think he's mad about the dent in his car) 
This is my dad and his mother, Mona.  She was a single mom.  Oakland, CA.
My dad had several hobbies.  He loved photography... even had his own dark room (which Will had to dismantle when my mom sold her house, Thanks Will). 
Here he's kidding around like he worked for the local news station!!! haha always the kidder. He was a little crazy that way.  Never afraid to make waves or goof around.  He was everyone's friend.
Jim F. David, born Feb 7, 1926    died July 28, 1988   62 yrs old.  Mickey Mouse was his alter ego. 
He was the best dad ever.  The best Primary teacher ever, all his kids said so.  It hurts so much to think about him because I miss him so. 

and yes my maiden name was David... I only had to change one letter!

Monday, June 13, 2011

I love weekend! It's not located in Storage

On most weekends I can usually carve out a little "creative time" and it makes me happy.
This weekend Lauren sent me a picture of a headband she bought... and wants me to make her more.
I had fun experimenting...
and then I was all ready to get started making a whole slew of them (visions of esty dancing in my head)...
I only have one box of material (the other 7 are in storage-- you know the downsizing-love it or lose it thing I did in FEBRUARY)
so I don't have the right material
and then couldn't find black thread (hello BLACK?  oh yea, all my thread IS IN STORAGE!!!
so today after work I am off to the Joanns to get black thread, brown material, red material and needles.  The one in my sewing machine broke and yes you guessed it, the replacements are IN STORAGE. 
(I will learn patience, I will learn patience, I am having a hard time learning patience)
I did make one that I really like, only....is a 50+ yr old thin haired grandma too old for a funky headband?

Saturday, June 11, 2011

thoughts for my current situation:

Friday, June 10, 2011

Food Fun Friday- Chicken Parmesan, in a Crock Pot

First of all I have to say that Crock Pots make me happy.
I don't have to worry all day about what is for dinner.
I don't feel rushed when I come home tired after work.
It's all decided, AND DONE! 
I love you my sweet Crock Pot-


Chicken Parmesan in a Crock Pot
2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 C bread crumbvs
1/4 C parmeasan cheese
1/2 t Italian Seasoniong
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp Kosher salt
1 Tbl olive oil
1 beaten egg
sliced mozzarella cheese
favorite jarred marinara sauce

Spread the olive oil in the bottom of your crockpot stoneware insert. 
Whip the egg with t fork in a separate bowl. 
Mix the bread crumbs with the seasonings and the Parmesan cheese in another separate dish. 
Dip the chicken into the egg, then into the bread crumb mixture coating both sides with crumbs, cheese and seasonings. 
Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the crock pot. 
Layer the 2-3 slices of mozzarella cheese on top.
Cover with entire jar of marinara sauce. 
Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4.  If your chicken is still frozen it will take longer.   ( I do think next time I will use frozen chicken because 10 hours on the crockpot made the cheese a little bit rubbery!)
Serve with your favorite pasta.