Saturday, December 15, 2012

Annual Christmas Cookie Makin'

This year was no exception! We helped Beepa make her famous, Christmas cookies! :)

 Oodles, and oodles...

..and oodles of them!
 
We have our system set in place by now. Kathy and I measure out, mix, kneed, roll out, and cut out the cookies. From there, Beepa mans the oven. She knows when they are perfectly done. Then Cortney is assigned to the frosting/sprinkle station.
 
This was Kathy, helping make more frosting, for our froster...

 ...who broke a cookie! *gasp*
 
She fixed it...withhhh, another cookie, hahaha
 
Our #1 rule...one must eat any cookie that is broken, through this long process. This rule is strictly reinforced. :)
(frosting/sprinkle station)
 
Sugar Rush!

 
Toby is an excellent kitchen helper...we didn't need to clean the floor after ;)
 
Almost ready for Christmas!!!

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Christmas Tree Shoppin'

Out doing a lil' Christmas tree shoppin'

Kathy thought ahead this year, and brought a tape measure to make sure her tree would fit in her new house! :)
 
We did finally leave with 4 trees, and numerous other Christmas decor.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving this year seemed to suddenly appear and leave just as quickly. As always, lots and lots of family fun!
 
Before we all stuffed our faces, we of course were put through the never-ending, poses and pictures!
 Toby and I..and me 40 lbs or so, smaller! Hurray!

 Sisters
 
 Kathy and Jason, the newlyweds

 Gramma and Grampa, not so new, but still happily married :)
 D and D with their dogs :)
 
 Mother and Son
 

 

Mustaches anyone? (Everyone neglected to inform me that as we were taking pictures, mine was falling off, hah)
The Lorax??
 
I have no idea :)

Sister'staches
Could...not...smile...or else they would fall off :) 


This is what I am always most thankful for!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Read Any Good Books Lately?


Cloud Atlas: A Novel

By: David Mitchell

I just finished this book not too long ago. I will admit that I saw the movie trailer before I had ever heard of the book. The trailer looked so good I had to find the book! So glad that I did. It follows six different lives. Six different stories. All related. It hints at reincarnation. Peers into the  root of humanity (the good and the bad). Made me laugh, made me cry, it's a great read! I think everyone should read this at least once.
Can't wait to see the movie too!

Happy reading :)

Monday, October 29, 2012

Voting


I did early voting today! So glad for that, no lines.
Not to sound corny or anything. But THANK YOU to those from the past and present, that have given so much, to make voting even possible.
I have faithfully voted since I turned 18, and will continue to do so. 

Happy voting! :)

Monday, October 22, 2012

Gettin' Crafty

My first attempts at wood burning...

Mini snowmen gourds, got some of the same treatment...

...it's a start...hoping to get better at it. Having fun with it :)

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Pets: Always Good For A Laugh

My birthday balloon started to lose its buoyancy. That is about the time that, Lil' Mr. Boston, noticed it. After trying to viciously attack it. He proceeded to intently watch it. Ready in case he had to attack it again. Goober ;)



Sunday, September 2, 2012

Read Any Good Books Lately?


Ok, when I first heard of this book. My first thought was, "Are you kidding? Corny!" I did however break down and read it. I have learned, either through reading, or documentaries, a lot of history about Abraham Lincoln over the years. So I thought, what the heck? It was actually pretty good. Was full of facts, and the author worked in the vampires subtly.

Amazon says: 
"Indiana, 1818. Moonlight falls through the dense woods that surround a one-room cabin, where a nine-year-old Abraham Lincoln kneels at his suffering mother's bedside. She's been stricken with something the old-timers call "Milk Sickness."
"My baby boy..." she whispers before dying.
Only later will the grieving Abe learn that his mother's fatal affliction was actually the work of a vampire.
When the truth becomes known to young Lincoln, he writes in his journal, "henceforth my life shall be one of rigorous study and devotion. I shall become a master of mind and body. And this mastery shall have but one purpose..." Gifted with his legendary height, strength, and skill with an ax, Abe sets out on a path of vengeance that will lead him all the way to the White House.
While Abraham Lincoln is widely lauded for saving a Union and freeing millions of slaves, his valiant fight against the forces of the undead has remained in the shadows for hundreds of years. That is, until Seth Grahame-Smith stumbled upon The Secret Journal of Abraham Lincoln, and became the first living person to lay eyes on it in more than 140 years.
Using the journal as his guide and writing in the grand biographical style of Doris Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough, Seth has reconstructed the true life story of our greatest president for the first time-all while revealing the hidden history behind the Civil War and uncovering the role vampires played in the birth, growth, and near-death of our nation.."

So for a vampire book. It was pretty good. Let it be dully noted, that I don't read many vampire books. I think the one and only other, was the Twilight Series :)

Happy Reading



To Be Or Not To Be...

To be vegan or not to be? Hmm...VEGAN!! For me the option was kind of simple. Since I realized not too long ago that I am indeed allergic to dairy (not lactose intolerant). And eggs make me kinda sick anyways. The only thing left to cut out was meat. And I stopped eating red meat a long time ago (just lost the taste for it).
I have managed so far, to cut meat out, pretty much completely. Other than the odd slice of chicken once in a great while (eating out can be a challenge), or a crumble of bacon that I couldn't avoid. I have gone vegan.
There was a time when I thought there was no way in hell I would ever go vegan, or vegetarian for that matter. I thought I would have to eat like a rabbit the rest of my life. And the fact that I loved chicken especially, and ate meat every day as the main course for dinner. I thought there was no way I would ever change that. Nor did I see a reason to change it. 'Til about a month or so ago, and I read a certain book (Skinny Bitch), and my outlook changed, completely! I have also watched documentaries like Forks Over Knives, Food, Inc, and Vegucated.
I am now in the process of searching out vegan recipes, as I am at a loss as to what to cook. Since my 2" 3-ring binder is 98% full of meat consuming recipes. It is all still a little new to me and I have taken to trying all sorts of new foods.
So far I am greatly enjoying the benefits! I feel SO much better! Not so tired, full of energy. I can't even stomach meat now. I get a stomach ache later. I have dropped two sizes (leaving me with less to wear, haha). And trust me, I eat plenty. I love food too much to starve. :)
I am also grateful for how supportive most of my family is about it, and how much they have tried to accommodate me when we have get-togethers. Don't think it has gone unnoticed :)
Hope to keep losing weight, and find some fancy new recipes. So far I am loving going vegan!

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Homesick

As my heart aches to be up north. I am reassured by the fact that the calendar now reads: September. The weather will soon start to cool. Football season is starting back up. The leaves will slowly change into vibrant colors. Hoodies and jeans will once again be everyday attire. Soon, I will feel more at home.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Friday Fill-Ins 34



I haven't done a Friday Fill-In is about a year. Might as well :)

1. You don't have to be perfect, just your best. 
2. But it's the crazy people that tend to make you laugh the most. 
3. Basically, I can't wait until regular season football starts! 
4. How I interpret Fall, makes me giggly with glee. 
5. In this way, I try and keep what little sanity I have left. :)
6. I believe things will get better.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to reading...super fun, I know, tomorrow my plans include BBQ'ing and Sunday, I want to mow, veg, enjoy the quiet, and maybe finish the book I am engrossed in! :)

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Gestures

Came home today to a strange car in the driveway. Turned out it was a florist delivery! These were sitting on the porch, just because. :) BIG thank yous!


Tuesday, August 14, 2012

☼flowers

The sunflowers finally showed their happy faces! ☼




Sunflowers always make me smile from ear to ear ☺
I adore them!
♥

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

I ♥ Tea

I love my tea...but since I have cut out ALL caffeine, it's all about the herbals (though I greatly miss my green tea)!
I just realized, I may be turning into a bit of a tea hoarder ;-)




Saturday, August 4, 2012

Another Year Older


Had yet another birthday...31, eeek!! It just hit me that I reached the legal drinking age, 10 years ago! That made me feel old ☺ 
But I had a great birthday with family! And scored some fantastic loot ;-) 
Thank you ALL! ♥