My Thanksgiving Contributions

We had 2 Thanksgivings this year. Glen's family on Thursday and my family on Saturday. I didn't get any pictures of actual people though I did take some of my contributions. I find there are enough cameras that I didn't need to grab my point and shoot to rival the nice digital SLRs that all the relatives with kids have so you are stuck with pictures of food.

Pretzel Kisses

Key Lime Pie

Cream Cheese Pumpkin Pie



Multitude Monday, Week 31

345. my nephews
346. my niece
347. hair cut/trim that was way overdue
348. spending time with family
349. Sunshine daily double
350. sleeping a ton over the break
351. Glen agreeing to watch Yes to the Dress with me
352. shop vac
353. fellowship in Sunday school
354. the beginning of Christmas season
355. my birthday is in 10 days

Week 30

Friday Confessions: Teeth

As I have said before I am was a pretty intensely competitive person growing up. With that characteristic comes injuries. When I was in nineth grade, I had my two front teeth broken while playing lacrosse. The thing was I didn't cry or realize how bad it really was until I got to the nurse's office and saw myself in a mirror. Then I began to cry. Not only had my teeth broke, but they broke into tiny pieces. My lip was all busted up and let me tell you I looked awesome. I had to immediately go to the dentist for them to try to repair what was left. Luckily my root wasn't exposed which saved me a lot of pain. To this day I have fears of my teeth getting hit again. There is a certain hockey like game that we play at Junior High Youth Group and I always hold back due to my fears. I also have a recurring nightmare that my teeth just start to crumble and fall out of my mouth. I used to have this dream at least every other month, but I am pretty sure I have made it almost a whole year this time! (Oh no, I hope this didn't jinx it.)

Does anyone else have those recurring dreams/nightmares???

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone has an AMAZING thanksgiving. Glen, Abby, and I are headed to GA to celebrate 2 thanksgivings and sibling lunch inbetween. I am sure we will be stuffed by the end of this weekend.

Sorry Cosmo, you have to stay home. Your not a real car ride champ.

Friends Thanksgiving

We started a new tradition this year. Can I call it a tradition if its only happened once? Probably not, so it will be a tradition next year when we do it again. We had my small group Bible study girls and their families over for a potluck thanksgiving. It was a success. Not only did I successfully cook the turkey because last year it didn't really work out to well, but everyone brought the most amazing food. By the end of the night we were stuffed! I really wanted to take a group picture among other pictures during the night, but the picture below is the only one I got. I guess I will have to be better about it next year!

Multitude Monday, Week 30

335. a first Friends' Thanksgiving
336. a successful turkey
337. today, I am back at work
338. friends announcing pregnancies!
339. Glen only has to work 2 days this week
340. I only have to work 3
341. free books/movies from the library
342. chocolate pretzels
343. upcoming family events
344. cheesecake pumpkin pie

Week 29

Friday Confessions: Turkey

Last year I attempted to cook my first ever turkey. I was ready. I read all the instructions on thawing and cooking. I definitely knew what I was doing, and I was ready to tackle that turkey. The night before I checked on the turkey to make sure it was ready to go, and it was rock solid. I had taken it out of the freezer several days before, but it was still very frozen. I kind of freaked out, but I knew that I could thaw it in water in the sink. I however did not know how long that would actually take. So I filled the sink up added the rock solid frozen turkey and proceeded to change the water every 30 minutes like the directions instructed. This went on for a long time. It got so late that Glen said he would do it and let me go to bed. The next morning I got up at 6 am to start preparing the turkey, and I found that ole' turkey still in the sink. Glen had forgotten to put the turkey back in the fridge when he went to bed. So I called my mom and emailed the butterball turkey hotline. The consensus was that the turkey was not good to eat. So we ran to the grocery store, picked up some small turkey breasts, and never got to cook our turkey.

This year I plan to be successful with my turkey. We are having some friends over for a friends thanksgiving this weekend and I am determined to cook my turkey which by the way I got for $6! Yeah, that's a steal! Wish me luck!

Sick

What I thought was just allergies turned into a cold. So today, I will...

drink berry smoothies with Vitamin C and anti-oxidents

wear pajama pants all day

watch the entire TODAY show

update my blog

not go to work

clean the house

and take a nap!

Samples

When I started couponing I discovered the All You website. Everyday they post a free sample from somewhere on the web. Usually you have to fill out a short form and then they send you a free sample. I have gotten quite a bit of travel size stuff and even some coupons for a free full size item. Today I got a sample in the mail and it is the smallest, most ridiculously sized sample I have ever seen. I don't think I can even use something this small. Not your best, All You, not at all.

You can't see the detail in the picture but its only 0.5 fl oz.

Molasses Spice Cookies

After having tried to new Fall recipes and them being utter fails, it was good to make a tried and true recipe ~thanks to my sister-in-law Hannah!

Multitude Monday, Week 29

327. Fall cookies
328. Meeting new people
329. Free movies and books from the library
330. A long overdue coffee date
331. Lazy weekend
332. Fleece blankets
333. Getting to bed early
334. Cheap turkeys

Week 28

Friday Confessions: Elf

My favorite holiday movie is Elf. I laugh so loud everytime I watch it even if I am by myself. I can't help it. You could compare me to those Christmas music addicts when it comes to Elf. You know the ones who secretly listen to Christmas music in July. I can't even count how many times I have seen it, and I wouldn't want to, it would be embarrassing. I will admit that I think I might have watched it 3 days in a row last year... And maybe I secretly wish that I could wear an elf costume everyday during the holidays.

p.s. I am getting some *writer's block* when it comes to Friday Confessions. As much as I love it and I know you LOVE it, I will be retiring it at the end of 2010.

Lack of Recipes

I haven't posted any baking, cooking, or recipes in the last 2 weeks! What is wrong with me? Well I haven't been cooking as much lately. Maybe it's because we are super busy or maybe its because I am lazy. I did bake 2 things this past week which were both fails. One of them was a pumpkin gingerbread- not good. The other one was a mix- pumpkin scones- okay but I'll pass next time. It's been super disappointing. I do however plan to make Molasses Spice Cookies (recipe courtesy of my sister-in-law Hannah), and I know those will be amazing.

Window Project #2

We bought 2 windows a long time ago to do some art projects to hang in our house. We finally finished the 2nd project this weekend. Go here to see the 1st project. We wanted to turn an old window into a magnetic chalkboard to hang in our dining/living room. I have all our Christmas cards from friends and family hanging up and I wanted a better way to display them. Yes, we keep our Christmas cards up all year round! Is that weird? Does anyone else do that?

Anyways, the chalkboard part of the project didn't really work out since the surface wasn't smooth after we layered on 10 layers of magnetic paint, but the magnetic part was crucial so I deem it a success!

The cold

It got so cold this weekend. It was down in the 30s and I think below freezing at least one night. We are trying to hold off turning our heat on and that means it is absolutely freezing in our house. I think we made it all the way to December last year, but at this rate I don't think we'll last. We are taking measures to keep warm- layering extra blankets on the bed and wearing coats inside. Even Abby is having to take extra measures to keep warm...

Multitude Monday, Week 28

318. Extra hour of sleep
319. A restful weekend
320. Date with the husband and bang bang shrimp
321. 2nd window frame finally finished
322. Thanksgiving is less than 2 weeks away
323. Started walking with a friend again
324. new youth pastor is here
325. I am blessed
326. God is good

Week 27

Friday Confessions: the escaped kangaroo

I get very excited when I see things that are out of the ordinary. This week there was a deer at the entrance of my neighborhood. What in the world was a deer doing in the middle of downtown Columbia? Seriously there are no woods really near us just neighborhoods and city. This siting inspired today's Friday Confessions.

Last year I was on my way home from Christmas shopping and I was driving on Broad River Road near Greystone (where the zoo is). On the side of the road I saw a kangaroo that had been hit. I kinda freaked out. How could the kangaroo have escaped and made it all the way to Broad River and get hit? I was debating whether to call the zoo immediately to let them know or just wait till I got home to ask Glen what we should do. Glen was doubtful of what I saw but I was so sure. Why would I make something like this up? It was going to be quite a story to tell. So later that day doubting Glen made us drive past where I saw the deceased kangaroo because he still didn't believe me. Glen dashed my dreams of a good story because we drove by and saw that it was just a baby deer that was positioned in such a way that I thought is was a kangaroo. I later found out that the zoo didn't even have kangaroo at that point.

I really love a good story, but sadley the kangaroo story isn't true.

Multitude Monday, Week 27

309. prayer
310. rallying among friends
311. support from fellow believers
312. impromptu trip to Greenville
313. brisk weather
314. bonfires
315. cider
316. God is sovereign
317. God has a plan

Week 26

Pumpkin Cupcakes

Have I told you that I LOVE everything pumpkin? I made these for our pumpkin carving party and they were perfect. I have been wanting to make some ever since I ordered a pumpkin cupcake from Cupcakes a month ago only to discover it had nuts in it. Who puts nuts in a pumpkin cupcake? I understand carrot cake or some kind of spiced cake but pumpkin? I was utterly disappointed. Now I don't have to be disappointed. I can make my own!