What a week......................

I am looking forward to the weekend! Gotta be better than the rest of this week.

Thursday night:
Bowling night. Bowled like crap. We lost all our games. Boo hoo...........

A winter storm is expected tonight and into the commute time tomorrow.

Wednesday night:

Had to attend a funeral. Freak accident happened to the brother of my H's aunt.

A 71-year-old man died after he apparently fell off a small tractor being used for the first time while working for the County Fish and Game Association, according to police.

The man may have fallen off the tractor or may have been checking the area of the mower deck when he was run over by the machine, according to the police report. The mower was not engaged, police said.

A neighbor noticed the tractor on top of the man and called for emergency services.

My husband's BD was today. We just had a quick dinner at Applebee's after the funeral. Not much of a celebration.

Tuesday night:




A heavy wind, rain, and snow storm blew through the county Tuesday night, leaving behind a trail of destruction. According to a press release , the storms were a part of a quick moving squall line that caused straight line wind damage in many areas across the central part of the state.

This was about 5 miles from us. Not to make light of this but.....................my husband immediately unplugged his new TV. I lit some candles in case we lost power. It was a relatively short storm but some very scary winds.
Edited to say that was NOT our house that was hit by the winds.

Be my guest

Some friends and I were talking about what makes a guest room comfortable. I don't have a very big room for guests but I hope they are comfortable in it. Using a trundle bed allows some walk around room when I have only one guest. The trundle pulls out and up making a place for two.

A small spot in the closet or wardrobe for hanging or folded items. My armoire has a small TV in it and some fresh towels.
A place to sit.
A few soaps and fragrant items. I try to have a basket of travel sizes items like shampoos and toothpaste in case they forget something.


I need one of these. A luggage rack or somewhere to place a suitcase or bag.
Nice sheets, extra blankets, and pillows. Ironing sheets is nice with a linen spray. I usually sprinkle some baby powder into my pillow cases.
I think an alarm clock, a night table on which to place a few personal items, and a reading light are nice to have. Curtains or shades allow for privacy. I have a mirror on one wall. I like to clear my clutter too.

What would you like to have as a guest in someone's home?

The twinkle in his eyes.

OMG.........You would think a new baby had been born yesterday. The twinkle in his eyes could just blind you. The smiles went from ear to ear. There she was...........a beauty...................the perfect picture.........................full of sweet sounds.........................and just in time for...................
THE SUPER BOWL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My H's "new baby"

Happy Sunday!

I am behind at passing some awards along. The "you make my day" award came from Carolyn (Grams) and Janet. The "you cheer me up" award came from Grams. Thanks ladies. I really enjoy chatting with you.

I know several of you have already received these awards, but if you haven't........please consider them passed on to YOU!

I also was tagged for the 4 things from Sunnispace. So here goes:
4 jobs I've had...

• Sales person
• Display person
  
• Store manager
• Director/VP
  

4 movies I watch over and over...

• Christmas Vacation
• You've Got Mail
• Sleepless in Seattle
• A Christmas Carol
  

4 places I've lived...

• Always lived in the Midwest
  

4 tv shows I watch...

• Boston Legal
• Grey's Anatomy
  
• Numbers
• Anything HGTV or Food Network

4 places I've been...
... and absolutely love:

• Cancun, Mexico
  
• St. Thomas, VI.
• Las Vegas
• Door County, WI.
  

4 people who email me regularly...

• Husband
• Friend, Diane
• Friend, Tammy
• Friend, BJ
  

4 favorite things to eat...

• Pasta
• Mexican food
• Chicken dishes
• Chocolate!
  

4 places I'd rather be...

• Shopping
  
• Traveling to new places
  
• Cabin in the woods
• Any place warm
  

4 things I look forward to this year...

• Learning my new job
• Getting into better shape
• Trying to be more "green" at home
• Picking up some of my art interests

4 people I will tag...

• I will tag anyone who wants to play. I know, I know........ that's not 4.
  

Have fun!

Updated for the holiday

I changed out my glass candlesticks to something more Valentine's Dayish. (new word) You might remember that I had moss, snow, and little pine cones in them at Christmas. In searching the house, I found red hots and pearls and I thought, why not.
I found the cute little heart shaped dishes at TJ Maxx. Also, the checked place mats with red heart napkins. That's all the decoration I'm doing for this holiday.

Your chocolate IQ

Have you taken the test for your chocolate IQ? I got 100% right. Yippee!!!!!!!!!
I just love chocolate, especially dark. What's your favorite food or drink made with chocolate?
I love chocolate cake and Godiva open oysters.

"A balanced diet is chocolate in both hands".

Learning to cuss!

A 6 year-old and 4 year-old are upstairs in their bedroom.

"You know what?" says the 6 year-old. "I think it's about time we started
cussing."

The 4 year-old nods his head in approval.

The 6 year -old continue, "When we go downstairs for breakfast, I'm gonna
say something with 'hell' and you say something with ass.

The 4 year-old agrees with enthusiasm.
When their mother walks into the kitchen and asks the 6 year-old
what he wants for breakfast, he replies, "Aw hell Mom, I guess I'll have
some Cheerios."
Whack! He flies out of his chair, tumbles across the kitchen floor,
up, and runs upstairs crying his eyes out with his mother in hot pursuit,
slapping his rear with every step. She locks him in his room and shouts,
"You can stay in there until I let you out." She then comes back downstairs,
looks at the 4 year-old and asks with a stern voice, "And what do YOU want
for breakfast, young man?

"I don't know," he blubbers, "but you can bet your fat ass it won't
be Cheerios."

National Pie Day!

NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Chocolate Chip Pie

Ingredients:

• 1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell *
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
• 1 cup (6 oz.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• Sweetened whipped cream or ice cream (optional)

Directions:
PREHEAT oven to 325° F.

BEAT eggs in large mixer bowl on high speed until foamy. Beat in flour, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat in butter. Stir in morsels and nuts. Spoon into pie shell.

BAKE for 55 to 60 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between edge and center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. Serve warm with whipped cream, if desired.

NOTES:
* If using frozen pie shell, use deep-dish style, thawed completely. Bake on baking sheet; increase baking time slightly.

Tammy at The Pink magnolia invited me to join in. Please join us. Her blog is private but if you e mail her, she will probably invite you in! She has Mr. Linky on her post. Stop by and see her.

Shepherd's Pie

Last night for dinner I made my own version of a shepherd's pie. I fried about 1/4 of a lb. of bacon and set it aside to drain on paper towels. I poured off some of the fat and to the rest I cooked a few tablespoons of flour, then added beef stock (in a carton), canned mushrooms, a little Worcestershire sauce and salt and pepper to taste. Then I added some leftover deli beef torn into bite size pieces.

Meanwhile, I boiled 4-5 potatoes in salted water. When soft, I drained them and mashed them with butter, milk and a little sour cream.

I sprayed a casserole dish with Pam and added the meat/gravy mixture. I spread the mashed potatoes over the top and sprinkled with the bacon and paprika.

Then, I just put it under the broiler until lightly browned. Pretty tasty and we have enough for 1-2 more meals.

Picture courtesy of Rachel Ray

Need your opinion..........

We are thinking of doing a little remodel in our master bath. We currently have a large jetted tub and a really dinky shower. Most of the time we don't have time to take a bath so often the dirty clothes hamper ends up sitting in the tub. The tub takes up a lot of space. My H wants to eliminate the tub and build a larger shower where the tub sits. He also wants to make a small closet for him on the end of the bathroom where the current shower is plus a little more space. I am so torn. I'd love a big shower but wonder about resale, not that we are planning a move. I'm thinking resale would be OK since we have another tub in the house. I also like the idea of a closet for him because that would give me the whole walk-in closet in our bedroom. But.............would I miss my jets???? Should we/could we put some jets in the shower for a reasonable price?

Got any good ideas for showers? We would do some sort of tile walls. I want a bench. I want an inset for shampoo etc.

Valentines Day- celebrate or not?

I know I'm a bit early but I was wondering....... do you celebrate Valentine's Day at your house?
The cards above are made using quilling papers. Do you remember quilling? I used to decorate wedding invitations with flowers and leaves made from the papers. These look even easier.

We don't do a lot for the day but we get each other nice cards and I usually make a special meal. My H likes steak so.........probably a nice filet with some twice baked potatoes, asparagus, or salad. For dessert, I often use my heart shaped cake pans or make creme brulee. I thought these cup cakes looked like an easy treat using red hots to spell out X's and O's.



Images from Martha Stewart Living.

About Exercise.................

This is dedicated to every woman who has ever attempted to get into a
>regular workout routine. A must read! If you can read this without
>laughing out loud, there is something wrong with you.
>
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
>Working Out
>
>Dear Diary...
>For my fiftieth birthday this year, my husband (the dear) purchased a week
>of personal training at the local health club for me. Although I am still
>in great shape since playing on my high school softball team, I decided it
>would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try. I called the club and
>made my reservations with a personal trainer I'll call Bruce, who
>identified himself as a 26 year old aerobics instructor and model for
>athletic clothing and swim wear. My husband seemed pleased with my
>enthusiasm to get started. The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart
>my progress.
>
>Monday:
>Started my day at 6:00 AM. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well
>worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Bruce waiting for me. He

>is something of a Greek God - with blond hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling
>white smile. Woo Hoo!! Bruce gave me a tour and showed me the machines. He
>took my pulse after five minutes on the treadmill. He was alarmed that my
>pulse was so fast, but I attribute it to standing next to him in his Lycra
>aerobic outfit. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted
>his aerobics class. I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching
>from holding it in the whole time he was around..... This is going to be a
>FANTASTIC week!!
>
>Tuesday:
>I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Bruce
>made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air - then he put

>weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made
>the full mile. Bruce's rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel
>GREAT!! It's a whole new life for me.
>
>Wednesday:
>The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying on the toothbrush on the
>counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a
>hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer
>or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot. Bruce was
>impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members.
>His voice is a little too perky for early in the morning and when he
>scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying. My chest hurt
>when I got on the treadmill, so Bruce put me on the stair monster. Why the
>hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered
>obsolete by elevators? Bruce told me it would help me get in shape and
>enjoy life. He said some other shit too.
>
>Thursday:
>Bruce was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin,
>cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half
>an hour late, it took me that long to tie my shoes. Bruce took me to work
>out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the men's
>room. He sent Lars to find me, then, as punishment, put me on the rowing
>machine - which I sank.
>
>Friday:
>I hate that bastard Bruce more than any human being has ever hated any
>other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic
>little cheerleader. If there was a part of my body I could move without
>unbearable pain, I would beat him with it. Bruce wanted me to work on my
>triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the
>floor, don't hand me the &*@*#$ barbells or anything that weighs more than
>a sandwich. (Which I am sure you learned in the sadist school you attended
>and graduated magna cum laude from.) The treadmill flung me off and I
>landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone

>softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?
>
>Saturday:
>Bruce left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly voice
>wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing him made me want to
>smash the machine with my planner. However, I lacked the strength to even
>use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the
>*$@#&$ Weather Channel.
>
>Sunday:
>I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and
>thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my dear
>husband will choose a gift for me that is fun - like a root
>canal or a hysterectomy.

A little remodeling

Window topper fabric.

Florescent light to rail lighting and pendant.

Dark to lighter paint and backsplash.

My brother is divorced and often asks for my input on decorating his home. He recently wanted to do an inexpensive remodel in his kitchen.

First, we got rid of the dark green paint. It was outdated and not a very good paint job. Patched the walls, primed and painted a lighter green paint. (He still wanted green.)

Then, we removed the florescent light fixture in the center of the ceiling. Patched and painted the ceiling. Replaced the fixture with rail lighting so that we could "spot" the cabinets. Added a red pendant light above the sink, as there was no lighting there before and you always had your back to the center light when doing dishes.

Next, what to do about a backsplash...........He wants to replace the counters down the road and we thought it was silly to tile the backsplash only to rip it out later if it didn't work with the counters. I found this pre-made backsplash that just mounts behind the stove. It goes up in under 10 minutes and comes down just as fast without damaging the wall.

Then, for a change, I removed the plates on the plate rail in the bay window area and I made some simple toppers. The green on the walls is in the fabric but it's hard to see here. I have some new fabric to cover the chair seats, as well.

Now, I'm suggesting some molding on the top of the cabinets and some simple accessories for above them.

Need some other accessories, maybe a chalkboard and something over the window toppers?

That's all the budget will allow for now. New flooring, counters, and oven/microwave combo will have to wait. I think it looks a lot better.

First Kiss

It's your First Kiss and several questions might come to mind:

Is it the right time?

Is anyone watching?


Does your partner even want to?

Is your breath fresh?

AND,---Should you use some tongue?


Then you say . . ..

'What the heck!' and Just Go for it!!!

The playoffs

Sorry to bore you with more football talk. I'll be brief.
Well, my Colts lost today. Boo hoo.......... We still have our GB Packers. I think the Super Bowl will end up being the Packers and New England. What do you think?

The Green Bay Packers will host the New York Giants in the NFC Championship on Sunday, Jan. 20 at Lambeau Field.

The Giants advanced by defeating the Dallas Cowboys, 21-17. Sorry, my Texas friends.

Football crazy!!!!

We are a bit crazy for football at our house. The Colts play today and we will be decked out in our colts attire. Even Bailey "dresses" for the game in his scarf.

We are "cheese heads" too. We love the Green Bay Packers . Hooray, they won last night!

Here is some good football food.

BBQ Chicken Wings
INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
• 1 cup oyster sauce
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 1/4 cup gin
• 2 dashes liquid smoke flavoring
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 1/2 pounds chicken wings, separated at joints, tips discarded
• 1/4 cup honey

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl, mix the teriyaki sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce, ketchup, garlic powder, gin, liquid smoke, and sugar. Place the chicken wings in the bowl, cover, and marinate in the refrigerator 8 hours or overnight.
2. Preheat the grill for low heat.
3. Lightly oil the grill grate. Arrange chicken on the grill, and discard the marinade. Grill the chicken wings on one side for 20 minutes, then turn and brush with honey. Continue grilling 25 minutes, or until juices run clear.

Edited to say: I leave out the gin because I don't like it.

Nacho Casserole
This is a delicious casserole that will remind you of getting a large order of nachos at your favorite restaurant. To cut the heat down omit the jalapeño pepper and hot sauce, or adjust to your liking.

1¼ hours 20 min prep

Change to: servings US Metric

2	lbs lean ground beef
1	cup water
2 (1 1/4	ounce) envelopes taco seasoning mix (low sodium ok)
1 (4	ounce) can chopped green chili peppers
2 (15	ounce) cans refried beans
2	cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 1/2	cups chopped tomatoes
1/2	cup chopped green onions or chives
1 (5	ounce) can sliced black olives
1	jalapeno, chopped and seeded
1 (13	ounce) bag golden tortilla chips or regular tortilla chips
	salt and pepper
	hot sauce
	sour cream
	guacamole

• Beginner Cook Appetizers
  
  
  
  
  
• Ground Beef Appetizers
  
  
  
  
  

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Grease 9x13-inch baking dish.
3. Brown ground beef.
4. Stir in water, taco seasoning, chilies, jalapeño pepper, salt and pepper.
5. Bring to a boil and allow to simmer for 3 minutes.
6. Spread refried beans in bottom of baking dish and top with beef mixture.
7. Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes or until bubbly.
8. Remove from oven sprinkle with cheese tomato, onions and olives.
9. Arrange 18-20 tortilla chips around edges of baking dish.
10. Bake uncovered for another 10 minutes until cheese is melted.
11. Remove and let cool for 5 minutes.
12. Top with sour cream, guacamole or fresh salsa.
13. Serve with remaining chips.

GO COLTS!!!!!!!!!!!

My Valentines

Here is my attempt at the picture frame plates that I saw in my magazine the other day. You may remember this from my post the other day. I had some other pictures of niece's babies that I was gonna use but I didn't seem to have the right sizes. I found the plain white heart plates at TJ Maxx. I think the total of all three was about $10. I took my Bailey's picture and his doggie friend, Laddie, and cut them out to fit the plates and just taped them on with double-faced tape. I found some rub on transfers in my craft stuff and rubbed on the "Best Friends" and the hearts. I tried weaving the ribbon completely around the edge of the plate but it covered up a lot of the decorative edge.
I can always change them out to something else if I want a different look. This took no time and was super easy.

Accessories for my office

No this isn't me. Maybe I would be this thin if I was 6 ft. tall. This is kind of my look, only on a shorter chubbier level.

I am in search of the perfect accessories for my new office at work. I know I should be focusing on "the numbers" but please...............................we have to look good while we're working don't we? My office has green and yellow/gold walls with green cabinets. I am fortunate to be in a fairly new building, just a year old. I like these colorful items because they are not just pretty but they will help keep me awake. LOL These are all from Room Service Home. I will probably search some local stores for less expensive versions of these looks. How do you like them?
I'll take pictures of my office once I get it prettied up!

The Daily Dose!

Karen and Carolyn (Grams) passed this award to me. Thank you so much ladies.

"So here's to all the blogs that you've discovered that you can't possibly live without. They make you laugh, cry, think and feel connected every time you read a post. They give you a thrill as you see them loading into your browser and you get an equally satisfying thrill when you see that they have commented on your blog".

I pass this award to some of my favs. It's hard to choose just a couple since I love many blogs.

Pat always has such wonderful travel tours and decorating pictures @ Back Porch Musings
Robin makes me smile with her silly/movie pictures @ Bitter Sweet Punkin