Cookie Cutters

I bought 3 new cookie cutters today!  I am super excited for them to come in the mail!  I got a onesie (for baby showers), a pig (for a razorback), and the state of Arkansas.  I used to be a cookie-making machine, but I haven't made any in a while,with the exception of the snowballs I made this weekend.  The pig and the Arkansas cutters are for game days.  I thought that would be festive!  And of course the onesie is for making cookies for baby showers.  I have seen so many of these onesie cookies on other people's blogs and I always thought they were so cute, so when I saw them on Off the beaten path, I knew I had to get one!  So now I just need a reason to use them!!

No sleep weekend

Man, this weekend was super busy!  Friday night I went to the card ministry meeting at my church.  We started working on our Christmas cards.  All I did was cut approximately 1 million green strips of paper at 5.25 inches.  OK maybe not a million, but a whole lot!!  I did that for an hour and a half, so no telling how many I actually did....  Afterwards we went to Alley Oops for dinner.  It was very good!  Then when I got home I had to cook all of my tailgating food for Saturday's game.  I made Tamari Cashews and Devil's food Oreo cupcakes.  (p.s. this was not a picture taking weekend... I think I took 5 pictures the whole weekend.)  Both of these were super simple, so I can tell you the recipe even though I didn't bring them with me to work.  :)

For the cashews, you put a tablespoon of oil in a baking dish, then put in 1 pound of cashews.  Stir them until all the cashews get coated with the oil, then bake at 350 for 15 minutes, then put in 2 tablespoons of soy sauce.  Stir again until all cashews are coated, and then bake for 5 more minutes. 

The cupcakes are easy too.  All you need to do is prepare a devil's food cake mix according to package directions and crush up a box of Oreos and add to the mix.  Then bake according to directions on box.  I only did 2/3 of the Oreos because I wanted to eat some (ha! imagine that!), but I think they would have been better if I would have added all of them. I thought that these would be good to take tailgating since they didn't have icing and wouldn't melt too much.

Saturday morning I took the food over to Karen's house since they were going to tailgate early and I couldn't go with them.  Then I went to a wedding shower.  It should have taken me about half an hour to get there, but it actually took me almost an hour because I got lost.  Luckily my brother called me and he was by a computer ( I don't have internet on my phone... I know I am stuck in the dark ages), so he was able to help me get there after driving up and down the same road about 4 times.  It was interesting, that's for sure.  At the wedding shower, I only knew 3 people:  the bride, her mother, and the maid of honor.  It was a nice shower and I ended up only being able to stay about 45 minutes since I was late.  Here we are at the shower:

Then I went over to tailgate at the golf course next to the football stadium.  That was quite entertaining too, because the people in the row across from us were doing keg stands on top of a hummer.  It was all fun and games until some people fell off and they broke the keg and then some boy and girl broke up.... Free entertainment at its finest. 

The girls out tailgating:

Me and my brother:

I was there from about 11:30 until I left for the game about 4:30.   I wanted to make sure that I was there in time to see the band do their pregame show and have time to go to the bathroom before that in the stadium because I was NOT going to use a Port-a-Potty or pee in the grass.  :)  Of course, in my typical fashion, I was waaaayyy to early and sat bored in my seat for a while.

Here's my favorite part of the pregame show: The Big A!

The Razorbacks beat ULM 31-7.  It was a little scary there in the first half when we were only up by 7, but I guess Coach Petrino talked some sense into them at halftime.  I was a little surprised that the band did not do a patriotic halftime show since it was September 11, but I did enjoy the show.  I was a little sick at the game (probably from being so hot and eating only crap that day) and the girl next to me kept elbowing me in the stomach.  I actually had to miss the Go Hogs spellout because I had to go to the bathroom since I felt like I was either going to pass out or throw up.  Luckily there was not a line.  :)

Sunday morning I got up with the chickens at 5:45 am (ok so I don't really know what time chickens get up.)  I had to play handbells in church and we had to be there at 7:15.  I had to leave a little early since I had to run by Starbucks (yum- Pumpkin Spice!) and then get there in time to put out some fliers at church before we practiced.

After church I had to run home and start cooking again!  The Women's Bible study at my church started up yesterday and I had to bring snacks.  Luckily Ashley (who needs to update her blog) helped me do the snacks!  I "made" tacquitos, which was the easiest thing since they are frozen and all you have to do is throw them in a pan and stick it in the oven.  However, the package lies when it says they will be done in 15 minutes.  Just so you know.

I also made snowballs, which are some cookies covered in powdered sugar and that have a hershey's kiss in the middle.  Those were a pain haha.  And then I made spinach dip, which was super yummy.  I happen to have the recipe because my grandmother loved it so much that she had me email her the recipe:

Spinach Dip:

10 ounce package frozen spinach, thawed

2 cups sour cream

1 cup mayonnaise

1 envelope vegetable soup mix

1 small white onion, chopped

8 ounce can water chestnuts, drained and chopped

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Squeeze out water from thawed spinach and do NOT cook. Add all other ingredients and mix.

I also had leftovers from the tailgate party so I brought that stuff too.  My stupid air conditioner overflowed the drip pan, and so I had to do some laundry from the towels that I used to clean up the mess.  I can't seem to get the water to drip into a trash can.... instead it seems to like to go anywhere else.  Apparently this is common after the fan motor goes out, and I saw on the internet that it said to pour a cup of bleach down the pipe. So I tried that and I'll let you know if it worked!  I sure hope so because I am sick of calling the air conditioner people to my house!!

Blink

This is one of my favorite songs right now: Blink by Revive.  I think so many times I am in such a hurry that I don't slow down to enjoy where I am at that moment.  I'm trying to work on that!


Teach me to number my days



And count every moment


Before it slips away


Take in all the colors


Before they fade to grey






I don't want to miss


Even just a second


More of this






It happens in a blink it happens in a flash


It happens in the time it took to look back


I try to hold on tight but there's no stopping time


What is it i've done with my life?






It happens in a blink


It happens in a blink






When it's all said and done


No one remembers


How far we have run


The only thing that matters


Is how we have loved






I don't want to miss


Even just a second


More of this






It happens in a blink it happens in a flash


It happens in the time it took to look back


I try to hold on tight but there's no stopping time


What is it i've done with my life?






It happens in a blink


It happens in a blink


It happens in a blink


It happens in a blink






Slow down


Slow down


Before today becomes


Our yesterday






Slow down


Slow down


Before today becomes


Our yesterday






It happens in a blink it happens in a flash


It happens in the time it took to look back


I try to hold on tight but there's no stopping time


What is it i've done with my life?






It happens in a blink it happens in a flash


It happens in the time it took to look back


I try to hold on tight but there's no stopping time


What is it i've done with my life?






It happens in a blink


It happens in a blink


It happens in a blink


It happens in a blink


In other news, I applied for GRADUATION today!!!  So hopefully in December I will graduate with my Graduate Certificate in Management and Masters in Business Administration.  I had some trouble applying since I had to apply for 2 things at the same time, but I finally got it taken care of!!!

Ronald McDonald House Day of Change

Today is the Ronald McDonald House Day of Change!  If you get a chance, swing by your local McDonalds and drop a little spare change in the box for the Ronald McDonald House.  (You can do it every other day too at McDonalds). 

The nickels, dimes and quarters dropped into RMHC Donation Boxes at McDonald’s restaurants last year added up to more than $19 million.  All that change made it possible for Ronald McDonald House Charities to keep 4 million sick children and their families together in communities across the country. And sick children cope better and heal faster when surrounded by their family.

Labor Day Fun

Better late than never....

Monday I went to my grandmother's house for lunch.  We were all supposed to bring something, so I brought some stuffed mushrooms and I tried to make some peppermint petit fors.  This is one baking experiment that did not go well.  Although I'm not so sure that we can even call it a baking experiment because I didn't use the oven, only the microwave.
This is what they looked like before the icing:

Unfortunately this is about as good as it gets.  The icing did not work properly, even though I used my new candy thermometer and followed the directions exactly!  Every time I try to make something with cream of tartar as an ingredient, it never works out.  Pretty soon I am going to boycot all recipes with this as an ingredient!!  I still took them to the lunch, and they really were not that good. haha.  What a waste of a perfectly good pound cake.  :)

After lunch, my mom and I went to see the Traveler's last baseball game of the season.  It was really freaking hot.  I got pretty sunburned on my chest and arms and legs because I forgot sunscreen....

Here we are:

We actually broke the rules because we were supposed to sit in the berm, but who wants to sit on the grass?  I didn't mean to buy berm tickets.... luckily nobody cared and probably thought we were stupid for sitting in the burning hot sun instead of standing back in the shade behind all the seats.

This was the first event in the RazorRock Festivities and after the game there was some kind of food festival.  We stayed because it was free, but then you had to pay for food and like I have already said, we were about to die because it was so hot, so we looked at some jewelry and then went to Sam's to pick up some necessities (i.e. Vitamin water and Flinstones vitamins... ha!).  I also had handbell practice on Monday night, where I proceeded to give myself bruises from dampening my bells.  I looked pretty funny yesterday with my sunburn and bruises.  Both are starting to fade now, so you can't really see it, otherwise I would take a picture to show you.  :)

Unfortunately nothing exciting has happened since then.....

Saturday and Sunday

Before we head into the events of Saturday and Sunday, I forgot to mention one tiny little detail of my sick day on Friday.  I was so sick that I had to go shopping.  I got a new dress, 5 new bras, a new pair of fancy shoes, a pair of jeans, and 2 new shirts.  Woot!  It was even better because my grandmother went with me and bought most of my stuff for me!!  :)

Saturday I went to the grocery store two times.  (Yes the same store!)  They had Willy Wonka candy on sale for 49 cents!  and I had a coupon that if you bought 3 then you get $1.50 off, so they were free.  My mom and I went back to the store and stocked up on Halloween candy. haha.  It actually is pretty good.  (of course I had to taste it to make sure it was ok!)

I can't remember what else I did in the morning, but in the afternoon I made some chocolate chip cookies to take over to Andrea's house.  We bought the Razorback game on Pay-Per-View and watched Razorbacks win over Tennessee Tech 44-3.  Woooo pig sooie!  I took my cookies on the cutest little Razorback platter that my grandmother gave me. 

I was so tired when I got home.  It has been a very full weekend.  Sunday we did not have Sunday School because hardly anyone was in town.  I was taking care of feeding my grandmother's and cousin's dogs while they were away for the weekend.  I went there before church and my grandmother's dog tried to escape.  I had to chase him around the driveway, and after I finally caught him, I decided that I deserved McDonalds. ha!  I like their Mocha frappe, and it is cheaper than Starbucks!

At church, Mary asked if my sister and I wanted to go to Wild River Country (a water park) with two kids of her kids.  Of course we went!  Who would turn down free tickets to WRC??  :)  Anyway, we had a super time, and I didn't take any pictures because I left my camera in the car.  I have a funny looking sunburn on my back where I couldn't reach to put on the sunscreen. haha.  Story of my life.  :)

After I took my sister home, I went to eat at my favorite Greek restaurant: Taziki's!  I had a greek salad gyro with chicken.  I love that place.  Then we went to Target to look for some stuff and I got some really great deals!

I can't believe that I only had one picture from all of that.... don't worry, there will be more to come tomorrow!

Blog Slacker and Fake Illness

So much has happened since I wrote my last post that I think it will have to be done in a couple of different posts.  I think for this one I will stick to Wednesday-Friday.

Wednesday I wasn't feeling really great in the afternoon, so I took my temperature at work (yes I am a hypochondriac and carry a thermometer in my purse.  I also have a blood pressure meter.  So what??) and it said I had a low fever, so I decided to go home so I didn't infect anyone else.  I did decide to make the stuffed mushrooms and I got lots of compliments on them.  (I'll post the recipe at the bottom of the post.)  Then on Thursday morning, I took my temperature at home before work and it was normal, so I went in.  After lunch I took my temp again out of curiosity and it was high again, so I went home early again.  It was high on Friday morning, so I called in sick then too.  Then I was curious so I found another thermometer in my house and compared the results.... One told me that I have a fever, and the other was exactly normal.  I forgot to take a picture, but I just took one so you can see the difference.  (they are not acurate as I am drinking some juice now)

The blue one is the one I was using in the beginning, and it has been consistently reading higher than the white one. lol.  I haven't been feeling bad so I think the blue one just reads too high.... so all this time I thought I was sick, I really wasn't. ha!

Friday night I went to Loca Luna with some friends to celebrate Ashley and Andrea's birthday.  We had a good time!

Me and one of the birthday girls!  Forgot to take a picture with Andrea...

The whole table.

We ended our meal with dessert... 3 of us all got the same thing.  It wasn't as good as it sounded, but I liked it. 

Now for the Mushroom Recipe:

Triple Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

2 lbs white mushrooms

10oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed

4 oz crumbled feta cheese

2 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup finely chopped green onions

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/4 tsp salt

Clean mushroom caps; remove and discard stems.

In case you were wondering, 2lbs of mushrooms is a lot!  I took them to 3 parties!

In colander, squeeze liquid out of spinach until dry.  In large bowl, mix spinach, feta, cream cheese, green onions, and salt until well combined.  Fill each mushroom with spinach mixture; top with Parmesan.  Transfer to pan, bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until mushrooms are tender and filling is golden brown.

These were not hard to make at all, and everyone liked them!  My grandmother even requested that I bring them again to our next get together. 

The rest of the long weekend may come tomorrow.....