Auntie Ang.

My sister had a baby boy June 14 2012. He is perfect. Seriously...best baby I have been around, ever. He's got an awesome temperament. It doesn't hurt that somehow despite brown haired, brown eyed parents he ended up looking like Aunite Ang. Melts my heart.

Let us update, here!

What a difference a year can make. 

Story of my life.  If I ever thought my life had been a whirlwind before, this last year proved I was oh, so wrong.  In hindsight it was a blessing. In the present it was a nightmare, until it wasn't. I almost moved across the country...for a life that would've been so wrong for me.  I'm thankful to him for seeing that since I was a clueless girl in a tailspin.  I got hurt. I lost ten pounds...yeah! I cried, I drank ;) and I thank God for my best friends....one who happened to end up needing a place to stay and I happened to have the room.  Thanks, God...we both needed that companionship...even when we just sat it silence, we weren't facing the world alone. 

Then it happened.  HE HAPPENED. I didn't know it right off, I knew he was cute...scratch that, he was sexy. He was sweet. So sweet. And kind. And a foot taller than me! I tried to blow him off, I cancelled dates twice. I advised him that I was a mess.  He wasn't deterred. I gave in.  Turned out he was everything I needed.  Sure, the timing was not ideal...but when is it?  You can wait your whole life for the perfect time.  I lept. I fell. It was amazing, so was he. 

Fast forward a year. Here I am, still in love. Content. Calm. According to my mother she can always tell if I'm not with the right man by how calm I am (or am not)...so calm is good.  If you follow my blog, you're either a BFF and know my story or you're thinking "This girl is a hot mess!"  And you are right sometimes :) but I'm h.a.p.p.y.  

Nine Months.

I thought that making a baby was the craziest life change that could occur in the period of 9 months.  Wrong.  In the past 9 months everything has changed in my life. 

 I have:

-ended a relationship

-cancelled a wedding that was 1/2 way planned

-mended bridges from my one that "got away" and moved on...ten years later

-made my home MY home again after sharing it for 2 years

-begun painting

-got accustomed to being alone often

-met someone different from anyone I have known

-become happier than I remember being

-realized how UNhappy I was previously

-lost a friend's momma

-gained a new perspective on what I want (and what I CAN have) out of life

-learned to sleep in the middle of the bed

-realized that I like to sleep and cuddle...and when I don't, I should have listened to that

-interviewed for a job in Florida

-perhaps moving 1,500 miles away from "home" for the next adventure

-realized I'm over the past & ready for the future

H-A-double L - O-W-double E-N spells HALLOWEEN....

I LOVE. LOVE. LOVE Halloween.

Every year I worry "am I too old to dress up??" 

Every year the answer is "HECK NO!"

I am slacking this year. 

I usually have my costume in the works by this time. 

I generally have pumkins carved...or plans to do so.

So...time to dig up some inspiration for the pumpkin season.

I've thought being a zebra would be fun. 

Like this...maybe a little less um, sexy.  But I love the tutu.

Audrey Hepbur as "Holly Golightly" would be fun...

And I somehow guess that Grace is NOT going to be down with this...

And Wembley would probably (totally) bite me for this...

New Favorite Song.

JJ Heller, Your Hands

 

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn’t there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That you would take my pain away
You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crooked lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

When you walked upon the earth
You healed the broken, lost and hurt
I know you hate to see me cry
One day you will set all things right
Yeah, one day you will set all things right

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

Your hands that shaped the world
Are holding me
They hold me still

 

Hope.

Hope 

Emily Dickinson     

 

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

A few of my favorite things...to eat.

Recently I had been asked for a few of my favorite recipes, so I figured why not blog them?  So here are a few of my go-tos in the kitchen.  In no particular order. 

Mom's Chicken Soup: 

• 1/2 package Grandma's Egg Noodles (frozen section)
• 2 cans of the 49oz Chicken Broth (or "stock")
• 2 large carrots (dice 3/4 of these - save 1/4 one!)
• 2 stalks for celery
• 1/4 cup chopped white onion
• 3 green onions, sliced
• 1 chicken breast, sliced & diced small
• 3 Bullion cubes (or 3tspn of bullion powder)

*In a large pot, add 3 tablespoons EVOO and chicken peices.  Cook on medium until chicken is no longer pink and is easy to cut with a plastic cooking spoon.  (if you prefer more "peppery" taste - pepper and salt your chicken at this time)

*Add the cans of chicken stock and bullion, diced carrots, celery, and both onions.  

*Shred the remaining 1/4 carrot (use a cheese grater if you don't have a food processor) into the pot. 

*Salt and Pepper to taste. 

*Cook until carrots are just a little softer than normal - about 5-8 min on medium.

*Take Gma's noodles - slit the bag in various places and microwave per directions.  Seperate 1/2 of the noodles out - if you like it REALLY noodley - use all - but these babies get HUGE.  (saran wrap the 1/2 noodles, put in freezer bag and re-freeze for next time!)

*Separate each noodle as best you can and add to the pot.  

*Cook for 12-18 min, or per the directions on the noodle package :) 

ENJOY.

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Redneck Casserole

• 1 pound ground lean beef (or turkey burger)
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 6 Velveta cheese singles (yes, like what you use for grilled cheese!)
• 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/2-2/3 bag frozen tator tots
• 1/4 cup chopped white onion

 * Brown meat and chopped onion over medium heat - you can add minced dehydrated garlic, salt and pepper as well as some Cajun seasoning for some pizazz - I recommend all of the above or this can be pretty bland :) 

*Bake tator tots per direction on the package

*Spray baking pan (9x13) with EVOO or the like

*Lay 2/3 of the tots in the bottom of the pan

*Cover tots with burger mix

*Spread can of mushroom soup over meat layer, top with the 6 cheese slices

*Add remaining tots to the top and sprinkle with cheddar cheese. 

Bake @ 425 for aprx. 20 min and Waaa-La...YUM. 

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Butterscotch Rice Krispies

• 1/2 bag large marshmallows
• 2 tablespoons vanilla
• 2 tablespoons butter (or the like)
• Box of rice krispies 
• 1/2 bag butterscotch chips

*Over medium heat, combine marshmallows, butter and vanilla in a large pot.  Stir constantly until marshmallows become creamy.

*Remove from heat. Mix in rice krispies 2 cups at a time until there is enough cereal to cover most of the mallow creme. 

*Mix in butterscotch chips to your liking - 1/4-1/2 a bag is PLENTY

*Pour into a SPRAYED 10x10 pan

*Spray a large spatula and press the treats flat. 

*Let cool - NOT in the fridge - this will make them hard :) 

Cut 'em up and try not to eat the whole pan at once