Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Radical Recipe

I can't stop eating these.
Seriously.
Every day wouldn't be totally true.
Every week wouldn't do it justice.
You know how your mom used to say...if you eat any more cookies you will turn into a cookie.
You can call me Ms. Jalapeno.


My Poppers*

You need:

6-12 jalapenos
1 large can chicken breast
1 package 1/3 fat cream cheese, softened
Salt/Pepper to season

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cut off jalapeno tops
Cut in half lengthwise
Clean seeds out

Drain chicken
Mix with cream cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Line pan with foil

Generously fill jalapeno halves with cream cheese & chicken mixture and place on pan

Bake for 30 minutes or until golden bubbly and delicious

Best served warm


* My dad's version
Leave some seeds in jalapenos for more heat
Replace regular cream cheese with garden vegetable cream cheese
Shred sharp cheddar and top all poppers with cheese



Do where gloves when preparing peppers.
Don't blame me when you get addicted.
Do call me if you need my help or want some company while snacking.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Vintage Barn Sale

Went to the Vintage Barn Sale with my mom, mother in law and her bestie. We had a great time. We saw some great stuff. We got some good ideas. We giggled and soaked up the sun. Oh and we all found a few goodies.
It was a good day.



One of the vendors...she had amazing aprons. And the sweetest pink Raggedy Ann dolls. Of course they were gone when I got there. Sorry baby girl.



This is like my own little heaven. Look at all the goodies.


Cute sign, cute stuff.


My absolute favorite vendor. Do you see all that pink stuff? Hello lovah. I must have walked through a dozen times. She had a bed and the bed skirt was pink tulle. Adorable. I could've taken it all home.


These chairs are numbered. Not so sure why.


Photo for my sweet husband.


Oh, I am sooooo doing this next spring. An old door with wire garden fencing with plants in it. Ohmygosh!



Here are the pretties I came home with...


The old typewriter key necklace...its our letter.


Old pink plate for cakes, cookies, etc.


Old brackets for nightstand I'm making.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Not Me Monday






We went on a walk after dinner last night and saw a friend/neighbor of ours who is pregnant (due in 5 weeks). She looks absolutely stunning. I did not turn green with envy when she rubbed her belly. Ohhhh, I can't wait to have more babies.



I had three parties (my job) scheduled in the month of September. They all got rescheduled. I did not freak out a tiny bit. No parties...no money. It's ok, right about then God sent me some good news in the form of more work but more money. Yeah!!!


I did not find statements for two different retirement accounts that still have my ex husband as beneficiary. Oopsy! Don't worry, I did not call today and talk to Joe, who thought it was hilarious, to get that remedied immediately.

I was going to make a sammie for lunch last week...no bread. Was going to eat tacos...no cheese. Was going to have cereal...no milk. So, instead of going to the grocery store I did not have ice cream with bananas, walnuts and chocolate syrup. Too bad I went shopping this weekend...that sounds good right now for lunch. Hee Hee.


I did not clean out the freezer and find two pie crusts from who knows when that were broken to pieces. Um, I'm not really a pie maker. Must have been on sale. I am however a cake maker. I tried my luck/skill once again at a two layer cake. Usually they taste delicious but look a mess. I did not do a little dance, literally, when the cake turned out absolutely perfect. My dad said it was the best dessert I have ever made. My nephew said it was ultra good. And it was...good looking and good tasting.
Ahhhhh...Fluffy Vanilla cake w/pineapple filling and Vanilla frosting. Delish!


Friday, September 25, 2009

100

Post #100
My life in exactly 100 words.



Born in West Virginia, moved at the age of four. Went to private school until high school. Married high school sweetheart. Had baby boy who changed my life. Realized you don't know much in high school; got divorced. Life was hard and sad. Son was my saving grace. The best and worst time of my life. Pseudo blind date. Fell crazy in love. Married him nine months later. My soul mate and best friend. Life is fabulous. Had beautiful baby girl who made life even better. Blessed to be able to stay home. Dreams all came true. God is good.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

10 Things Thursday


10 steps to picking grapes off my grape vines yesterday

1. Take colander, phone, camera and two little girls with their toys outside to back yard.
2. Snap photos of grapes while still on vines.
3. Taste grapes to make sure this is worth my time...it was.
4. Give girls a few grapes of their own to eat.
5. Completely fill colander. Didn't realize there were this many grapes.
6. Go inside to get another colander...completely fill it as well.
7. Go inside AGAIN to get another colander...completely fill it too. What???
8. Wash grapes and remove from bunches.
9. Freeze to make jam later this fall.
10. Go to freezer numerous times a day to snack on delish frozen grapes.



Tuesday, September 22, 2009

God Always Wins

So that Satan is a tricky little devil, isn't he.

Let me explain.

My girlfriend and I were just having a conversation the other day about how I felt like something was missing from my life. My life is great. I am absolutely crazy in love with my sweet husband. I have two beautiful children. I spend my days with two precious girls (my daughter and my niece) where we get to go for a daily walk and giggle and have snacks on the floor. Life is good. Except for that one thing, that one thing that was missing. After a little discussion we agreed upon the fact that it was God. God was missing. Not missing completely. I have a personal relationship with God, I go to church, I pray. But I decided I needed more.

So I developed a game plan that included the following:
Wednesday: Small group weekly Bible study
Thursday: Morning women's group at church
Thursday: Host a middle school small group in my home.
Friday: Evening service church
Sunday: Marriage class at church
Sunday: Book club online w/500 Christian women

Overkill? Maybe. It's all or nothing with me. Go big or go home, right? Well, it looks like a good plan on paper. It looks like I will be busy. It looks like I will meet new people and learn a lot. It looks like I will have more God which is exactly what I was needing. I was excited.

And then it happened. Sneaky little Satan hit me. Like a ton of bricks. He knows where I falter, he knows where my weaknesses lie. He knows where and when to hit me with the temptations that I think I have conquered. And, he did. It was like he saw me trying to be better, trying to better my life. He saw me and he pounced. Dang Lucifer. I failed the test. Failed miserably. And today I find myself hurting and owing explanations and not being able to give them. I find myself ashamed and needing even more God. Maybe his plan backfired. Maybe this is just the push I needed. And if that is the case then, God wins again.

God always wins.
God always wins.
God always wins.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Not Me Monday







I did not see myself on an old home video when I was 16 and want to reach through the tv and slap myself. What a snot I was. I felt awful. I did not apologize to my mother over and over. Dang, I hope my daughter is not like that.


I did not develop some sort of rash on my shoulders and collar bones. I did not convince myself it was some sort of sign that I would be dead in 24 hours. When I told the sweet husband, he did not laugh at me and tell me to "knock it off".


Jill and Kelly found a two inch scar on my head above my left ear while doing my hair. I had no idea I even had a scar there. When I called my mom to see what it was from she did not tell me she didn't remember and to call my sister. My sister did not also not know anything about it. I did not consider this complete proof that I am adopted. They have been trying to hide it for years. Unsuccessfully.

I am always watching my sweet baby girl to make sure she doesn't get anything she shouldn't have. So she, for sure, didn't eat a bug at my parents house yesterday. And most certainly didn't eat dirt (the little aerated plugs of dirt) at cross country practice today and have mud, yep mud, all over her face and shirt. I did not just laugh about it and wipe the mud off and then kiss her clean forehead.


Times, They are a Changin

So my hair turned out wonderful. (10 things thursday #1)

Jill is amazing. It's dark and shiny with new bangs and layer upon layer upon layer of sultry. It makes my blue eyes pop. The sweet husband walked in the door and with a wicked grin said, "Oh, Hello." And my adorable son kept touching it and telling me how pretty I was. You know me...I ate it up. Well ,we (the girls) decided that we needed to let the new hair have it's debut. So, I put the kids to bed, put on some eyeliner, jeans, and Steve Madden shoes and met the girls downtown for some giggles and a cosmo.

We did have a lot of giggles and throw your head back and laugh moments. We also had a few shocking ones. What has happened to our sweet downtown? It wasn't that long ago that us girls got most of our cardio for the week from dancing all night. It wasn't that long ago that we knew 75% of the patrons at any local establishment. It wasn't that long ago that we were the young, hot girls. It wasn't that long ago that strange boys bought all our drinks while we smiled and graciously accepted. It wasn't that long ago that the dance floor was full of boy and girl dance partners. It wasn't that long ago that the next day we did it all over again.

And now. Now it is totally different.

Now the dancing is more like, um, well let's just say that girls have gotten pregnant without touching that much. (my dad's saying) We saw four people we knew, only two we talked to and a million that looked like half dressed twelve year olds. Kelly coined the name fossils for us. That is not a good thing...at all. This night our drinks were bought by Kelly's mother in law who gave her a $20 on the way out. (Love that Sheila) There was no room for us on the dance floor between the girls and girls and girls with girls. And the next day we slept in, were tired all day, had headaches and remembered why we do not stay out that late anymore.

The hair did turn a few heads but I missed it. Luckily, my sweet Kelly pointed it out to me as she knows me well and knows that I would love it. It was my early birthday present from her. A little beauty treatment that was much needed. Thank you Kelly. I love it and I love you. I also love an impromptu night out with my brunette girls. And there was that one boy who sat at our table to make that starving girl with the great shoes jealous. And it worked. Hee hee. Clearly, we still have it. We are hot fossils.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Today

Today...

I did not want to wake up. At all. Neither did the kids.
We left early for church...so early in fact that we got Dutch Bros drinks. Mmmmm, delish.
I read the Sunday paper while feeding the baby breakfast.
Clipped coupons and dreamt of all the pretties I would buy if I won the lottery.
I watched my dad and my son make shadow puppets on the church floor during the service.
I picked corn on the cob, potatoes and jalapenos out of the garden with my dad for the freshest lunch ever.
My dad laughed at me when I saw a huge worm on the corn and freaky freaked out.
I heard my mom laughing in the kitchen at my son from down in the garden.
She had found a picture he had drawn one other day at church.
It was a stick figure little boy (him) scratching his bum. I know, right?

He drew a picture of my dad on a motorcycle shooting a grouse.
The kids and I had lunch with my parents.
My son sat on my dad's lap and watched his moose hunting trip from 1994.
They also watched random videos from when I was a snotty teenager.
I felt awful.
My mom and I canned 16 pints of homemade salsa.
Fresh tomatoes, garlic, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, essential ingredients.
The kitchen smelled incredible.
We giggled, talked and had a great time.
I wanted a nap super bad.
I didn't get one.
My sweet husband coached baseball all day long.
I kissed his face off when he got home.
I made breakfast for dinner.
Caramel apple french toast, sausage, hash browns...the stuff champions are made of.
The family went for a walk and it was a little bit chilly.
I read a little of the book that I'm struggling with. (Still Life with Woodpecker)
I tucked in a little boy who makes me smile everyday.
I tucked in a little girl who melts my heart.
I crawled in bed with a man who makes my whole life better.
Was a good, good day.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

10 Things Thursday

10 things I am looking forward to.

1. Getting my hair done tomorrow. Tomorrow, tomorrow, good hair tomorrow, you're only a day away.
2. First soccer game for the Bubba on Saturday.
3. Saturday afternoon lunch with some of my favorite girls. It's been too long and I'm about to remedy that.
4. Brother in law coming in to town. I do love him...but my sweet husband and my son adore him and when they are happy...mama is happy.
5. Family pictures taken in my favorite season by my bestie.
6. What may be one of my best jewelry parties yet. Fingers crossed.
7. Annual trip to Green Bluff for the Harvest Festival to pick apples and pumpkins and have some snacks and get some pictures.
8. The birth of one precious little boy in Washington to one of my best friends. Yeah for little brothers, little boys and no more pregnancies ever. (for her...not me)
9. Josh Radin concert double date.
10. Starting new things...which is a another list in itself.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Radical Recipe

Fresh Salsa

2 cups fresh tomatoes, chopped
Chop as small as you like. I take a few tomatoes and put them in the chopper to make liquid...it's my son's favorite part, you know the part without the "veggies". It is also his job to use the chopper.



4 cloves garlic minced


Half an onion chopped


2-3 jalapenos seeded and chopped

Yes, those are gloves. I don't want my hands burning from their hotness. You can use more or less depending on if you are a sissy or not. I say the hotter the better. Sometimes I add half a can of hot chiles to it just for kicks.



Fresh cilantro


Sea Salt

Salt brings out the flavors of each ingredient.

Combine all in a bowl and mix. Chill in refrigerator for at least an hour to let the flavors marry.

Aidan loves it when I say that. He asked me last time if they were going to kiss. Oh, heck yes they are going to kiss...the tomatoes and the jalapenos. Hot kissing going on there.

Viola! Homemade delish salsa.

ENJOY!!!

Monday, September 14, 2009

Not Me Monday




I did not go completely, over the top, crazy without my computer for two days. I had hives. I would hold it and caress it and plead for it to work for me. I would check it every so often just to see if it fixed itself. I am an addict and I need help.



I did not think my sister was mad at me when she didn't bring her daughter to me on Friday. (She stayed home with her daddy which is totally normal) I did not not call her all weekend just in case she was.( I have a problem with confrontation) And, I did not feel silly when I read her blog and it was about me and what a blessing she considered me. Thanks, sis.



I did not love every minute of the two hour nap both the girls took this morning. At. The. Same. Time. I did not spend it watching Gilmore Girls and enjoying a grilled cheese sammie and a glass of iced tea.



I did not have my heart a little bit broken by an email from someone from my past. I never expected what it said and am not still in shock.



I did not take a pregnancy test last week. I also did not tell my sweet husband that little bit of information and only that little bit. No results or anything. Hee, hee. Clearly, by his response it is a good thing it was negative.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

10 Things Thursday

10 things about fall that make it my favorite season

1. Jeans & cardigans and my new black ballet flats
2. Craft fairs at local schools and churches
3. Apple Festival at Green Bluff which leads to: Apple pie, cooked apples, apples with dip or peanut butter, sweet fresh delicious apples
4. Lighting the candles in the house for that warm glow I miss all summer
5. Soups that simmer for hours & homemade bread to go with it
6. Grey's & The Office will be back. Don't judge.
7. Brightly colored leaves on the trees & piles on the ground perfect for photo ops
8. Caramel apple cider from Starbucks
9. Planting tulips for next spring
10. Thanksgiving planning; menu, traditions, invitations, decorations etc.

The Chosen One, Alright

Um, so am I the only person that doesn't know this? Maybe that is how it is supposed to be. Maybe I am the chosen one (which lets be honest, you know I like) and I wasn't supposed to find out. Or, maybe those around me know what a paranoid lunatic I am about the end of the world that they kept it a secret. Or, maybe they know how I feel about my birthday (should be a national holiday) another reason for a secret. Or, maybe I was supposed to find out so I could stop it from happening like some sort of super hero.

Well, I don't know, but I will tell you this. It FREAKS me out. Of course, it does right? I know, I know, crazy Ada. But, if your birthday fell on the day the world is supposed to end "as we know it" wouldn't you be a little freaked? Honestly. "It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine" thank you REM but I do not feel fine. Not about this. Not about my birthday which I celebrate for the whole month of December being "the day". Not about the end. And especially not about them being one and the same. Dang.

Let me explain. I was reading one of my fave blogs and there was a comment on his post that referred to December 21, 2012. But not much was explained. So I questioned the importance of that date (other than my grand birthday, of course). Well, then he told me. And more than that, he did this. Which led to more discussion and perhaps talk of sacrificing me. Perhaps.

So here I go to my trusty google. And this is what I find. I find the END OF THE WORLD website. Now, the only good thing about this is that there is an actual countdown to my birthday. And I love a countdown to my birthday. However, I start it on December 1st and it is for parties, presents and cake. Not for Armageddon.

The website has a TON of info on it. But in brief...
The Mayans had a calendar (or three) and this is the day the calendar stopped.
Nostradamus had his own prediction on WW III and 2012.
Stars will align which will affect the gravitational pull and the North Pole will become the South Pole and vice versa. I'm just assuming this is not going to be pleasant.
Einstein said we only have four years left after the bees are gone. And I've seen the Haagen Dazs ads to buy a carton & save a bee.
Plus they have celebrity believers: Smashing Pumpkins, Mel Gibson, Lil Wayne, etc.

I'm just saying. It doesn't look good.

Of course my sweet saint of a mom told me "No one knows the day or the hour" (quoted from Matthew 24) and my dad is of the mindset of "I'm ready. Take me home, Jesus." But, still I am not sure. I was supposed to have six more babies and that physically is not possible in three years. I want to see if my kids grow up to have my singing voice and Adam's metabolism. I want to take my mom & dad to Alaska. I really think I just might win a CMA. I have never been to New York. I have my list of must read books. I want to renew my vows at ten years with my husband in Maui. I would like to take the girls 40th bday trip (long way off).

It looks like this countdown is how much time I have left to get all my stuff done. Looks like I have some babies to have and some books to read. Looks like I will be celebrating on December 20th that year, just in case. Looks like I need some frequent flyer miles. Does anyone have any to spare? Can't take them with you, you know. :)

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Remember this post about the list of things I wanted to do?

Well, cross this one off the list. I did it!!!!

My family is happy about this. Happy and with full bellies.



Delish, right?

Mmm, mmm good.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Not Me Monday




I did not have big plans of cleaning, organizing and finishing house projects yesterday and instead go to Costco, make cookies, and snuggle with the baby girl. *update. At 2pm I got the bug and I did not clean, clean, clean, re-pot the plants, sand down a mirror, paint a frame and feel much better.



I did not go down the "expert" slide at our local water park and have a swimsuit malfunction a la Janet Jackson. The teenage lifeguard did not have a monster size grin on his face when I emerged from the water and he did not proceed to avoid my eyes for the rest of the day.



Saturday was family day so it was ended with a family competition of Dig Dug, Pac Man and Galaga. That's right...old school Atari games. I did not win at everything. Everything but Galaga. And for the record, that game is stupid anyway.



My daughter pulled herself up for the first time on a lounge chair while we were out Saturday afternoon. I did not miss it because her dad and I were in deep conversation about the state of the union. I can't actually remember what we were talking about but, I know that after we saw we missed it, we stopped all conversation and cheered for her and got out the camera. I have learned to plan ahead so the camera did not run out of batteries at that exact moment. Ugh.



Marilyn Manson was playing the same venue the night after the concert we attended this week. When we were looking for parking before the concert we saw a kid with long, dyed, black hair, a Manson tee shirt and just the menace to society look about him wandering the downtown streets. I told the sweet husband that clearly the kid was a day early and then continued on about Mr. Manson and his fan club and what exactly I though of them. Ugh. We found a spot in one of the lots close by and I told the hubby to park in between the these two nice cars, less chance ours would get jacked up. One was black, preppy, sporty and otherwise delicious. I thought to myself...I could fit that. Moments later that same menace from earlier came walking up the street and took out a set of keys and hit the button and opened the door and got in his car...the black, preppy, sporty & otherwise delicious, i could fit that car. I did not learn, once again, that I should not make snap judgements about people. Little miss judgey judgerton that I am.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Date Night

These are the tickets that I got the sweet husband for our anniversary. One of his favorite bands.




This is the shirt I wore to make him smile. And it did.



This is the delicious cosmo I drank. It's a mini glass with a refill. I know, right? The best. Oh, and that is his Mac & Jacks in the background.



This is what the scantily dressed, hot blonde on roller skates gave to me when she told me I looked like I could be one of them (roller derby girls) while we were waiting for the show to start.




This is the opening band that should fire all of their sound crew. Immediately.

And this is why we went...my favorite song. I love these guys.



***update***
Due to a certain comment from a certain Dave fan, that I love, here is a better version of the song since my camera is not all that and the boys deserve better than my little sony can provide.

Looky Looky

Look what I just found in the backyard.
The first sign of fall.
I love fall.
Sweaters & jeans.
Apple pie.
Soup that cooks all day.
Homemade bread.
Changing leaves...


10 Things Thursday Photo Edition

10 things I want from my parents house.

It is a big joke at their house about me wanting EVERYTHING and my older sister not getting anything. Clearly she can have some things. For example: the moose head ($1500 or not, I don't want it), the sewing table (she apparently already claimed it), the chip clips, the antler chandelier (pretty much any of the things w/antlers). See, I don't want everything.

But, here are the things I really want.




The picture of my grandma Margaret (mom's mom) signed by her for some suitor of hers. He didn't win though, she and my grandpa were happily married for 57 years.





My daddy's coal mining helmet. The glasses to the right are my great grandfathers.



A picture of my grandpa (dad's dad) and a fiddle my dad built when I was younger.


Virginia Rose dishes. My mom just started displaying these when she redid her dining room. Such a sweet lovely pattern.



An old church bench my dad shortened and refinished from a church in WV.


This is a picture series that my parents had taken. It starts at the top with my mom standing upon a hill and my dad riding his horse up the hill. It ends with my dad and mom embracing. I adore it.


The antique couple busts.


The shadow box frame with some of my Grandma Ada's (dad's mom and my namesake) things. That is her apron, some of the wallpaper from her house, come clothespins, safety pins, buttons and keys.



Ahhhh, my favorite. The Mccoy pink and blue stoneware dishes. I have found many of these over the years at antique stores to add to what my mom has. These are just three of the many many.


My dad. He watched me take pictures of everything in their house and laughed at me. So I snapped one of him. I would take him. I love him. My sister can have the lamp in the background...she broke the top anyway.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Morning Giggle

Ohmygosh!

I'm sure this is old news to most of you. But, somehow I just watched it for the first time last night. My family loved it. Especially Aidan, in fact, he woke up this morning with a "Good morning. Can we watch Charlie?"

This makes me laugh every time. The cutest. Check it out. And even if you have seen it...isn't it still super funny and worth the forty seconds.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Rad Recipe

Had dinner with our good friends, Kelly & Travis, on Sunday and I brought dessert. I had made the dessert pizza before and it was good but, almost too sweet so I changed some stuff around and took the result below.
It was a hit. A delicious hit.


Fruit Pizza
Perfect for a light summer treat using the freshest fruit you can find.


Ingredients
One refrigerated roll of sugar cookie dough
One package cream cheese
3/4 cup powdered sugar
One cap full of vanilla
Various fruit for topping
I used strawberries, kiwi and plums. Use your favorites to make different combinations.

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Flatten the sugar cookie dough out on an ungreased pizza pan.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cookie is golden brown.
While cookie crust is baking combine the cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until creamy and spreadable.
Cool cookie crust completely. Be patient, if you frost it too soon it will be a melted mess. :)
Frost cookie with cream cheese & sugar mixture.
Refrigerate while you prepare fruit toppings.
Slice fruit and place on top before serving.

Enjoy!

Kelly had a great idea...make it in a rectangle pan and use blueberries and strawberries to make a flag for Independence Day. Love it!